The Path of Survivor begins with obtaining titles - Chapter 596:

Chapter 596: Chapter 302: Feathering_2

“Therefore, when my life is nearing its end, I choose to return to the Outer Sect and reside in District C number 38 as a tribute to Master Yun Yi.”

“Senior Brother is actually a student of Yun Yi Zen Ren, I apologize for my lack of respect.” The middle-aged man bowed again in a fist salute.

“Senior Brother, there’s no need to mourn. Whether we can establish our foundations depends on luck and opportunity. Being able to enter Yun Yi Peak in this life is already without regrets.”

“Indeed, you’ve already done your best. There’s no need to leave with regrets.”

“If you ever need help in the future, please feel free to ask us.” Many of the surrounding spirit farmers also joined in the conversation.

Lin Yi cupped his hands in thanks: “Thank you all. However, I think I can handle these five acres.”

Nobody doubted him. After all, he was a senior brother who had been in the Inner Sect, and his cultivation was naturally at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. Even as his life neared its end, taking care of these five acres of Lower Grade Spirit Fields would be a piece of cake.

Gradually, a year passed, and Lin Yi had indeed become a Spirit Farmer. He spent each day tending the fields, occasionally helping fellow spirit farmers to solve troubles and disputes, and answering their questions about cultivation.

His status as an Inner Sect Senior Brother became well-known throughout the Spiritual Field Area, and many people were willing to let him judge disputes for them.

Over the course of the year, he harvested from his field twice, each time with a bumper crop. Of course, he never wore his farming title, otherwise, the yield from this field would have been tremendous.

After reaching the Golden Core stage, he spent most of his time cultivating. However, he still set aside some time to plant Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine, as well as tea leaves, either on Yun Yi Peak or in the Dan God Secret Realm.

By now, his farming title had advanced to the fourth stage and had officially become “Spiritual Groom”, abandoning the preceding qualifier. The effect this title brought had greatly increased.

This was why the tea leaves he planted tasted so good and even had some insights-inducing effects.

During this period, Gold Sword True Monarch, True Monarch Jing Yun, as well as several Golden Core Real Persons from Yun Yi Peak, had all visited the Outer Sect Spirit Farmer Region. However, they used spells to disguise themselves and pretended to be visiting Disciples from other regions.

Each time they came, Lin Yi would steam a pot of his homemade Spiritual Rice and pick some vegetables from his garden. He’d also get some eggs and add a bit of Monster Beast meat.

However, these Nascent Soul True Monarchs and Golden Core Real Persons enjoyed the meal immensely, devouring all the rice and dishes until nothing was left.

Now, with little more than a year left of his lifespan, Lin’s appearance aged even more, and his life force within his body was so weak that it seemed like a flickering candle, ready to burn out at any moment.

In his current physical state, any significant use of Spiritual Power could cause his body to collapse. He could now only use some spells of the Qi Refining Realm.

Having witnessed several of his fellow students pass away, Lin Yi was very clear about their conditions at each stage, hence his appearance seemed so real.

In the second year, he didn’t even need to lift a finger as the surrounding spirit farmers took the initiative to finish the farming work in his Spiritual Field, with several farmers scrambling to get rid of even a single insect.

He had gained great prestige in the entire Outer Sect Spirit Farmer Region and was deeply respected and admired by the spirit farmers.

As for the actions of the spirit farmers, Lin Yi didn’t refuse. In return, he occasionally gathered some spirit farmers at his home to conduct a teaching session. At these times, Manager Chen from District C would also sneak by to eavesdrop on the course.

Finally, after spending two years in the Outer Sect Spiritual Field Area, he only had a few months left to live. His vital energy was only a fragile flame now, and his face was as old and wrinkled as dried tree bark.

With the depletion of vital energy, his body’s meridians, including his Dantian, had shrunk. His cultivation level was rapidly declining, and his meridian shriveling became more severe, to the point that they could no longer accommodate a single thread of Spiritual Power.

In the last few months of his life, old friends from inside Liu Yun Sect visited him more frequently. The two Nascent Soul True Monarchs even urged him to return to the Inner Sect to rest, arguing that he would be more comfortable there.

Lin Yi declined gently, insisting that he was fine in the Outer Sect and there was no need to move. With no other options, the two True Monarchs could only let it be.

At that time, he often just sat at the entrance of his home, basking in the sun, with a big yellow dog by his side. Xu Yu Rou had originally wanted to come and take care of him, but she too was rejected.

Previously, aside from dying in Liu Yun Sect, he had another idea: to silently leave and sever the connection between his Divine Soul and the Soul Lamp in the Monster Forest or other dangerous places, creating an appearance of death.

In this way, he could achieve a state of being ‘vanished without a trace’. Moreover, because these places had some shielding effects, even with the guidance of the Soul Lamp, they wouldn’t be able to find the exact location of his death.

However, he abandoned this idea. Although Xu Yu Rou appeared frail on the outside, she was extremely persistent in her heart. As long as she hadn’t personally witnessed his death, even if his Soul Lamp extinguished, she would continue to search for his whereabouts in the future.

Therefore, it was better to choose to die of old age in Liu Yun Sect.

In the Lower Realm, the identity of Lin Yi would cease to exist, but in the Upper Realm, it would reappear.

Although a virtual identity has no time limit and can be used indefinitely, he couldn’t possibly abandon his original identity. Regardless how good a virtual identity is, it remains virtual. It can be used occasionally, but he couldn’t treat a virtual identity as his real self. He was Lin Yi, and this would never change.