Chen Haotian's cultivation was gradually getting back on track. Although circulating spiritual qi and learning spells would still take time, his inner anxiety and impatience had subsided significantly. Day after day of practice allowed him to gradually adapt to this path, and he had come to understand a fundamental truth: the most important thing on the path of immortal cultivation was not instant success, but taking firm, steady steps forward.
However, life in the city would not change drastically just because he had stepped into the world of cultivation. Chen Haotian remained an ordinary urban youth, still living the typical nine-to-five routine and occasionally encountering annoying trivial matters.
Ever since the Inner Demon Trial, he had completely let go of his past distractions and restlessness, devoting himself more fully to his cultivation. But this did not mean he could completely ignore the various disturbances of urban life. In fact, it was precisely these daily trifles that made him realize that his growth was not merely about breakthroughs in cultivation; more importantly, it was about how to face this complex society, how to get along with others, and how to find his own place in this massive metropolis.
At noon that day, Chen Haotian was standing downstairs at his company, getting ready to go to a nearby small restaurant for lunch with his colleagues. Just as he lowered his head to look at his phone and hurried to reply to a client's message, he suddenly heard a familiar call.
"Haotian!"
He instinctively raised his head and saw a familiar figure walking toward him. It was Wang Qiang, his college roommate. Wang Qiang was tall, dressed in a suit, and exuded a mature and steady demeanor—he looked very much like a young man who had achieved considerable success in the metropolis.
"Wang Qiang? What are you doing here?" Chen Haotian was momentarily stunned, then stepped forward and greeted Wang Qiang with a smile.
"I should be asking you that! You're actually still stuck at this company?" Wang Qiang chuckled and patted Chen Haotian on the shoulder. "I heard you've been at this company for two years now. It must be pretty tough, right?"
Chen Haotian smiled, shook his head, and said, "It's not really a big deal. How about you? How have you been lately? Judging by your outfit, you seem to be doing quite well."
"Not bad, I just got a promotion recently, so I've got a bit of something to show for it," Wang Qiang said with a smile. "To be honest though, I really didn't expect you to stay at this small company all this time. Have you ever thought about changing jobs?"
"Changing jobs?" Chen Haotian paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Of course I've thought about it, but this company is stable. The work isn't too busy, and life is decent, so I haven't wanted to go through the hassle."
Hearing this, Wang Qiang frowned, seemingly unable to understand. "Don't you want to pursue higher goals? A company like this will get you, at most, an ordinary staff position with no prospects."
Chen Haotian did not reply, merely offering a faint smile. Although Wang Qiang's words were harsh, he knew Wang Qiang meant no malice; he was simply viewing things from his own perspective. Nowadays, Chen Haotian was no longer obsessed with so-called career promotions and monetary wealth. Instead, he was more focused on his cultivation and state of mind, wishing to lead a more reserved and peaceful life.
Yet the pressures of urban life came from far more than just work. Sometimes, disputes in interpersonal relationships were the most vexing of all.
After returning to the company, Chen Haotian continued to handle the work at hand. This was an internet company; although not particularly large in scale, it was enough to handle daily demands. As a project manager, he had to deal with a vast amount of project progress, team communication, and client requirements every day. While the work was somewhat tedious, it remained orderly.
Lately, however, he had run into some trouble. Some of his colleagues at the company had grown dissatisfied with his work attitude and started gossiping behind his back.
"What's going on with Chen Haotian? He's clearly a project manager, but why is he always so listless? He completely ignores the details and drags his feet on everything. Can't he take things seriously?"
"Yeah, I could tell a long time ago. He doesn't understand project management at all and always passes the buck. I honestly have no idea how he managed to land this position."
Hearing these discussions, Chen Haotian furrowed his brow slightly, yet his inner mind remained largely undisturbed. He knew he was not the most outstanding employee in the company, nor did he possess any extraordinary highlights. The reason he had been promoted was largely because he was low-profile, steadfast, and never caused too much controversy. Coupled with the fact that he was not eager for quick success, was unskilled at curating favor with superiors, and sometimes appeared rather reserved, it was inevitable that people would feel he lacked ambition.
He didn't take it to heart, continuing to bury himself in his cultivation. Yet deep down, a voice always told him that this kind of life was not what he truly wanted, and his potential was far from being fully unleashed.
"What is it that you want to do?" Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind. Chen Haotian did not realize this was his own inner self-inquiry; he paused his work, lost in thought. Cultivation was certainly important, but his life in the city could not be overlooked either. Since he had already decided to walk the path of immortal cultivation, how was he supposed to balance his cultivation with urban life?
At that moment, a message popped up on his computer screen—a reply from a client. Chen Haotian took a deep breath, reined in his thoughts, and went back to work.
During the lunch break, Chen Haotian stepped out of the company as usual and headed to the park on the street. Although cultivation had granted him greater inner peace, as a city dweller, he still felt perplexed and exhausted by trivial matters from time to time. Walking down the bustling street and watching so many people hustle for a living, Chen Haotian couldn't help falling into deep contemplation.
"What is it that I actually want?" he couldn't help asking himself.
He had lived in this city since childhood and had never truly pondered this question. Higher education, job hunting, employment—these seemingly ordinary matters actually concealed complex choices and invisible pressures. He gradually realized that he had never genuinely considered the life he wanted; he had simply drifted along with the push of his surrounding environment, moving ever forward.
Now, having embarked on the path of immortal cultivation, he knew his goal was not merely cultivation and longevity, but a renewed reflection upon and choice of life itself. Cultivation had given him a new way of living, yet he still needed to find his own place within this city.
At that moment, his phone suddenly rang. It was a message from Wang Qiang: "Free tonight? Let's grab a drink and talk about the old days."
Chen Haotian smiled faintly and replied, "Alright, see you tonight."
Even though he occasionally felt doubtful about urban life, letting go of his inner burdens for a moment and sharing a brief slice of tranquility with friends might just be a form of living wisdom.