Black Wind Mountains, outskirts.
Lin Bucong lay on a piece of bluestone that was scorched by the sun, feeling like a dying salted fish.
"Well..."
This was the one hundred and eighth time he sighed this morning, no more, no less, just enough to complete a set of Great Circulation, round and harmonious, full of Taoism - bullshit.
After traveling to this world of immortal cultivation for a hundred years, Lin Bushong's cultivation has been stuck in the late stage of foundation building for five years. It's not that he is not talented, but mainly because he is - not good.
He was the only Taoist with no ambition in the world. The Taoists of the same period either fought for a few small things in the secret realm, or worked as slaves for the big sects, living a miserable life. Only Lin Bucong, after building his foundation, found such a remote corner, opened up a cave that could only accommodate one person, and slept diligently every day.
My name is Lin Bushong, and I'm a time traveler.
In my last life, at the moment before I died, I was lying on a small, rented computer desk. On the screen was a PPT that I had revised nineteen times, titled "Some Thoughts on Improving Team Efficiency."
Looking back now, this is truly the greatest irony of my life.
I was thinking about how to improve the efficiency of the team, but I "optimized" myself instead. Literally, I worked myself to death, which is medically called "overwork-induced sudden cardiac death."
I remember very clearly that in the last few seconds before my consciousness faded, there was no flashing lights in my mind, no memories of my short and miserable life, only one thought, so clear it was terrifying:
"What should I do about next month's mortgage payment?"
Yes, mortgage.
I, a typical "worker", have been working diligently since graduation, like a blindfolded donkey, chasing a carrot that I can never eat. I believe in "only hard work can bring success", "996 blessings", and every pie the boss draws. I exchange my health for KPI, sleep for project bonuses, and use my entire life to support a "pigeon cage" in a third-tier city with an area of 50 square meters and a 30-year loan.
That is the whole value of my life and the only proof that I have struggled.
The result? I died. The house wasn't even warm yet.
Then, I traveled through time.
I came to this world of cultivating immortals where I can fly, hide in the ground, move mountains and fill the sea.
At first, I admit, I panicked. Looking at those monks who would kill people, steal treasures, and destroy the world at every turn, the sense of crisis of being a social animal in my DNA immediately came up. I even thought, should I use up all the hard work I had in my last life, find a big sect, start as an outer disciple, and strive to build my foundation, form my elixir, and become a Nascent Soul as soon as possible...
Until one day, I saw two Qi Refining cultivators fighting to the death for a "low-grade cave".
Then it dawned on me.
What is a mansion? Isn't it just a cave?
In my previous life, I risked half my life and took on debts for thirty years, only to get a concrete shell.
In this life, I only need to find a mountain, spend half a day, and use a broken iron sword to dig one for myself!
No! need! to! purchase!
Even the land is free! The mountains are ownerless, the land is natural, there are stars when you look up, and green water when you look down. The distance between neighbors is measured in "li", so there is absolutely no trouble of neighbors dancing in the middle of the night!
At that moment, I realized.
Rat race? Not at all.
Isn't the so-called internal circulation of immortal cultivation just an upgraded version of the workplace PUA that I experienced in my previous life?
Isn't a sect a company? Isn't a sect leader a CEO who makes big promises? Isn't an elder a middle-level manager who pushes people to work? Isn't a fellow disciple a colleague who fights for life and death? Isn't a spiritual stone a pitiful KPI performance every month? Isn't a cultivation resource a project dividend promised by the boss but never distributed? Isn't going out for training a forced business trip under the euphemism of "young people need to exercise more"? Isn't a heavenly tribulation the final layoff or assessment? If you can survive it, you will be promoted. If you can't survive it, you will be kicked out. Oh no, it is to be reincarnated directly.
In my previous life, I fought to my death for a house.
In this life, I don't even need to buy a house. The ultimate dream is already achieved from the beginning. Why should I struggle?
Screw the "child of destiny", screw the "Prosperity shifts from one place to another over time", and screw the "My destiny is in my own hands".
I can sleep whenever I want and wake up whenever I want.
Cultivate immortality? Of course you should cultivate. But the purpose is to live longer and sleep more peacefully, not to compete with others for first place.
For me, longevity is not for dominating the three realms, but for having endless time to be in a daze, to relax, and to enjoy the cheapest and most luxurious thing that I squandered in my previous life - freedom.
I, Lin Bucong, have already died once for a house.
In this life, I just want to live a good life for myself.
So, Work hard, everyone! What? me? I'm sorry.