Chapter Seventeen: Surviving in the Slums—A Method to Never Go Hungry Again!

Help me… My talent has not yet been unleashed. My Dragon Elephant Physique, my Cosmic Insight, my Dao Canon, my Qi Refining Method… I have not defied fate or changed my destiny. Whoever saves me will be saving a treasure.

Lin Qiye wailed loudly, hoping his cries would draw the old woman’s attention.

“Hm? Where’s that stray cat crying? Wait, no—it sounds like a child…”

The elderly woman was extremely cautious, gripping her long wooden stick tightly as Xiao Xin parted the grass.

Within the thicket, Lin Qiye, fair and tender, forced his bright eyes open. His jet-black pupils sparkled. He squeezed out an adorably soft smile for the old woman, blooming like a little flower, radiant as the newborn sun.

That gentle, charming smile melted the old woman’s heart.

“Such a pitiful child, abandoned right after birth? What a cruel heart! So heartless! Poor thing, oh dear!”

The old woman gently picked Lin Qiye up, cradling him in her arms.

“Hush now, don’t cry. Come home with Granny Lin. If I have a bite to eat, I’ll share half with you. Warmth and full bellies may be hard to come by, but I won’t let you freeze to death out here.”

She held Lin Qiye close, her words full of kindness and comfort.

In that instant, warmth spread through his little body. Security returned to his heart. Exhausted to the limits, Lin Qiye closed his eyes and sank into a deep sleep.

In his dreams, the Dao Canon circulated of its own accord, cleansing Lin Qiye’s organs until they were spotless, pure as snow.

Without realizing it, his nine strands of innate true qi grew into thirteen!

…

The next day.

A fierce hunger jolted Lin Qiye awake.

He lay on a wooden plank bed and opened his eyes. Before him was a low, cramped iron-box house, its walls stacked with all manner of junk. The space was stiflingly narrow.

Without a doubt, this was the slum, the shantytown.

Conditions were harsh—but Lin Qiye didn’t mind.

“As long as I survive, that’s all that matters. If I can make it to two or three years old, I’ll soar to the heavens. No one will be able to stop me!”

Confidence brimmed in his heart.

Swaddled in cloth, he opened his mouth wide, drawing in air with all his might.

Granny Lin crouched in the corner, cooking porridge, occasionally glancing back at him.

When she saw Lin Qiye blinking his dark eyes, silent and calm, her wrinkled face twisted with a strange expression. Then she reached over and gave his bottom a solid smack.

The pain made Lin Qiye bawl.

“You must cry! Babies should cry!”

Granny Lin scolded playfully, then ladled the thick rice soup from the top of the pot, blew it cool, and fed it to his mouth.

Food!

At last—food!

Lin Qiye was overjoyed. He hadn’t eaten for more than ten hours. The aroma thrilled his famished senses.

He opened his mouth wide, greedily swallowing the rice soup. The warm liquid slid into his stomach, nourishing his hungry little body.

After eating his fill, Lin Qiye smiled at Granny Lin, a soft and joyful smile.

She smiled too, her wrinkles folding, her eyes full of gentle affection.

In that moment, she felt the joy of family, her eyes moist with emotion.

“Heaven has not treated me poorly, after all. It’s sent me a good grandson!”

Granny Lin teased her little bundle.

“Rice soup may not fill you, eh? I’ll catch a few lizards later, maybe find some lizard eggs for egg soup!”

She pressed down her silvery hair and lifted her chin with confidence.

She had a special skill—catching lizards!

Lizards hid in places seldom trodden by people; few had the patience to hunt them. But she was different.

She was a master at catching lizards! She knew every kind, their habits, their escape routes, favorite haunts, and where to find their eggs.

It was by scavenging and catching lizards that she eked out a living in the slums, surviving to this day.

Thinking of this, Granny Lin felt quite proud.

She drank up the leftover porridge, wrapped Lin Qiye in a thin blanket, then used wooden planks and cardboard boxes to block the sides of the bed, so he wouldn’t fall.

Once all was secure, she grabbed her little basket and headed out.

“Good grandson, Granny’s going out to find you some food. Stay home, don’t be afraid. The house is safe.”

With that, the sound of a padlock came from outside.

A battered, large brass lock clicked into the rusted iron door. Unless someone broke it by force, Lin Qiye would be safe.

Soon, Granny’s footsteps faded away.

Now, in the little house, only Lin Qiye remained, his spirit bright as he gazed at the “ceiling.”

“Huh? After that nap, I feel stronger! My body is now as sturdy as a two-month-old baby!”

Lin Qiye was astonished.

“So… the Dao Canon operates on its own? What a miraculous cultivation method! I must bring it back to the main world! After all… it cost me forty thousand mobility points!”

“And… my unparalleled Dao bone, I must find a way to bring that back too!”

A powerful desire welled up within him; his intuition told him that returning with the Dao Canon and the Dao bone would bring endless benefit.

“But to take away these two extraordinary treasures, I’ll need at least an SS rating. I must get it!”

Thinking thus, Lin Qiye exhaled deeply.

He calmed his mind.

The Dao Canon began circulating rapidly; innate true qi flowed through his organs, and with each cycle, a new strand emerged.

Several hours passed in a flash.

His innate true qi increased from thirteen to fifteen strands!

Lin Qiye was ecstatic.

Normally, innate true qi dissipates after a baby is born. But his qi not only persisted—it grew stronger.

When enough innate true qi accumulates, it can form the Divine Innate Body!

He didn’t know what mysteries the Divine Innate Body held, but his flesh was now utterly spotless, pure as could be.

To go further would be unimaginable.

“In any case, I must forge the Divine Innate Body. With that, I’ll have much more confidence in achieving an SS rating!”

Lin Qiye smiled gently, preparing to continue cultivating.

A sharp click sounded.

The lock outside was opened.

Granny Lin quickly darted into the house, relocked the door, and carefully pulled out three tiny lizard eggs and two lizards from her bosom.

“Good grandson, time to eat! I’ll go catch more later—won’t let you go hungry!”

She immediately began to butcher the lizards, make egg soup, and stew lizard meat.

Soon, fragrant egg soup and lizard meat stew were placed before him.

He gulped it down, feeling warmth spread through his body.

But the food was a bit meager.

Babies consume a lot—and he not only needed to eat, he needed several meals.

If tomorrow there were only two or three lizards, he’d risk malnutrition and stunted growth.

That wouldn’t help him rise.

Lin Qiye fell into thought.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

He had found a solution.

From now on, he would never lack food again!