chapter 1 Return from the world of cultivation

In the outskirts of Greenville City, on a nameless barren mountain.
"Boom!"
A sudden loud noise shattered the tranquility of the deep mountains.
In a cave filled with spider webs, a figure shot out, embedding itself into the rock wall at bullet speed, shaking the ground and mountains.
"Cough, cough, cough... Finally, back again."
This was a young man dressed in ancient garb, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his long hair flowing.
His name was Castor Williams, who had just returned from the realm of cultivation.
It's quite absurd when you think about it. Two thousand years ago, Castor, an adventure enthusiast, ventured to this desolate mountain during his high school summer vacation. Unexpectedly, he was transported through an ancient teleportation array to the realm of cultivation.
Entry stage, Initiation stage, Mystique stage, Fruition stage, Rebirth stage...
With his mediocre talent, it took him two thousand years to break through to the Rebirth stage and become an ancestor of the sect.
The teleportation array opened once every two thousand years. Today, he intended to return to and have a look at Earth, but unexpectedly, he was attacked by a group of mysterious people!
"Clay Ball Palace shattered, primordial spirit severely damaged, dantian leaking... Was I injured this badly?"
"This is bad, the teleportation array is also destroyed. With such injuries, it's impossible to heal without returning to Mini Heavenly Realm. The spiritual energy on Earth is so scarce."
Blood trickled from the corners of Castor's mouth, his face deathly pale.
Shaking his shoulders, the rock wall exploded, and he landed in front of the cave, picking up a dirt-yellow backpack.
"Wait, my backpack that I left here, how is it still so new?"
Castor patted off the dust on the backpack.
Suddenly, the sound of a vibrating phone came from the backpack.
His expression changed.
It’s been two thousand years, not even a Nokia could have such a long lifespan!
He quickly took out a phone with only 1% battery remaining.
The contact displayed on the screen: Mom!
"Mom..."
Castor felt a twinge in his nose.
Having struggled in the realm of cultivation for two thousand years, the word 'parents' had become a distant memory.
He glanced at the date: August 29, 2025.
He was stunned.
Two thousand years in the realm of cultivation, and only one summer had passed on Earth?
If it weren't for his earth-shattering cultivation still intact, he would have thought it was a dream.
"Hello, Mom..."
He pressed the answer button.
"Son of a gun! Are you trying to die? Not answering the phone for a month, do you want to kill your mother with worry?! Tell me, where have you been running off to this time?!"
"Mom, it’s really good to hear your voice again."
"Castor, what are you talking about? Don't scare me, where are you right now? Are you safe?"
"Very safe."
Castor smiled.
To him, Earth was like a beginner's village. Dismantling tanks with bare hands, slicing planes with a sword was child's play.
But unless necessary, he would never do such things.
The shattered Clay Ball Palace meant he could no longer absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for cultivation.
Simply put, he was like a broken power bank, only able to discharge and not recharge.
Unless he found some heavenly material or earthly treasure to repair it.
"Castor, school is about to start. Remember to go to Greenville to find Aunt Jo. I'm a bit busy, so I'll hang up now."
His mom, Madalene Smith, hurriedly said these few words and hung up the phone.
Castor's face was bitter.
Having a ‘monster’ in the Rebirth stage go to university, wasn't that a joke?
"Aunt Jo is mom's best friend, also from Northern-Shrine county.
Hearing that I got into Greenville University, she took the initiative to invite me to stay at her house, and mom agreed. Seems like she has some intentions of matchmaking me with Aunt Jo's daughter..."
Thinking of these, Castor moved his mind and flew into the air.
Feeling the slow loss of spiritual power in his body, he sighed bitterly and had to return to the ground, walking out of the mountain.
...
At noon.
He arrived at the coffee shop near the Greenville train station, the address his mother had given him.
Two young girls had been waiting for a while.
"Why hasn't he arrived yet? I've finished my coffee. Delyna, maybe you should give him a call and ask him to hurry up."
A cute girl in a Hello Kitty shirt, her chin resting on the coffee table, pouted, "I'm so hungry."
"I can't get through to him on the phone. Let's wait another five minutes. If he doesn't show up, I'm leaving!"
"It's really baffling. Of all the people in the company, why does my mom insist on me picking up this Castor Williams? I was supposed to go to Cat café this afternoon."
A tall, glamorous girl complained with her arms crossed.
She seemed around seventeen or eighteen, slender and exquisite, standing at about 170cm. Her slightly curly champagne-colored hair fell to her waist, and her unadorned pretty face had a cold demeanour.
"Because he's the son of your mom's best friend."
The cute girl, resting her head on her hands, giggled, "By the way, Delyna, do you think Aunt Jo is trying to set you up with this Castor?"
"Follia, what nonsense are you talking about!"
Delyna Hill being annoyed, replied, "A guy from a small county town, how could my mom like him? That's like throwing her daughter into a fire pit."
The cute girl then teased, "What if he's a handsome guy?"
Delyna's eyebrows relaxed, and her cheeks turned slightly red, "Well... then I might consider it, for dating and stuff, but marriage is a bit difficult."
The cute girl stuck out her tongue, "Heartbreaker!"
"Are you Aunt Jo's daughter, Delyna Hill?"
At that moment, a gentle male voice came from behind the cute girl.
"Ah!"
The cute girl jumped up like a rabbit from her chair, "Who are you? Why did you pop up like that all of a sudden?"
"Are you Castor?"
Delyna pointed at the man standing in front of her, covered in scratches and mud, still carrying a dirt-covered backpack, her pretty face gradually stiffening.
Where's the handsome guy she was promised?
She couldn't possibly be going to eat with this bumpkin, could she?
No, please no. If someone she knew saw her, it would be so embarrassing.
"That's right, she's Delyna Hill!"
In a critical moment, Delyna grabbed the cute girl as a scapegoat, whispering, "Please, Follia, it's an emergency, I'll buy you a lipstick later."
The cute girl, Follia Carter, whispered back, "Three, Givenchy!"
Delyna patted her shoulder, "Deal!"
Castor: "..."
Did these two girls take him for a fool?
"Hello, Castor, it must have been tough coming all the way from Northern-Shrine county."
Follia greeted Castor with a bright smile, "Let's have lunch first, we can talk while eating."
"Sounds good."
Castor rubbed his stomach.
He wasn't hungry, but the broken Clay Ball Palace caused a slight loss of spiritual energy.
Though negligible, if this continued, his spiritual power would gradually weaken.
"Who would have thought that one day, I, a mighty Rebirth stage cultivator, would have to rely on mortal food to maintain my cultivation."
With a bitter smile on his lips, Castor followed the two girls out of the cafe.
Unexpectedly, Aunt Jo's daughter drove a car.
And it was a pricey Porsche Panamera.
Knowing that Delyna was the same age as him and just started her freshman year, the fact that her family could afford such a luxury car showed their substantial wealth.
"How about it, nice car, right?"
Delyna took out her keys to unlock the car, glancing at Castor from the corner of her eye.
The small-town youth surprisingly didn't light up at the sight, which somewhat surprised her.
Castor nodded, "Yeah, not bad, just a bit slow."
Delyna was immediately unhappy hearing this, "Slow? Humph, may I ask, Mr. Williams, what kind of car do you drive?"
Castor casually said, "I don't have a car. I usually ride clouds or fly on a sword."
"Riding clouds? Flying on a sword? Pfft..."
Follia burst out laughing, "Classmate, you've been reading too many cultivation novels, you’re so cute."
What a fool!
He must think he's being funny!
Delyna rolled her eyes and said, "If you think my car is slow, feel free to take a taxi. Let's see who's faster."
Castor appeared indifferent, "Sure."
Delyna was surprised that Castor dared to take the challenge, "Really? We're going to Intime City in the west of the city, about six or seven kilometres away. Do you dare to race? The loser pays for the meal."
"If you want to race, let's race."
Castor always spoke nonchalantly, like an adult dealing with a child impatiently.
"But just so you know, I have a big appetite."