Chapter 542: Goat’s Intestine Trail, Everyman a Wild Cultivator

The so-called path turned out to be nothing more than a winding, narrow trail, akin to the intestines of a goat, clinging precariously to the mountainside. It snaked its way upwards, barely wide enough for a single person to pass, and the slightest misstep would send one plummeting into the abyss below, a certain demise awaiting them.

Along this treacherous route, figures could be seen, solitary and scattered, each a lone traveler braving the perilous ascent. These were the “wild cultivators” – individuals who, lacking the backing of established sects or clans, pursued the Dao through sheer grit and determination, scavenging for resources and knowledge wherever they could find it. They were the unacknowledged backbone, the hidden root system nourishing the sprawling tree of the cultivation world.

Their attire varied wildly, ranging from patched-up robes that had seen better days to simple, homespun garments, a testament to their humble origins. Their cultivation levels were equally disparate, some barely scratching the surface of Qi Condensation, others possessing a core of nascent power, nearing the Foundation Establishment stage. Yet, a shared fire burned within their eyes, a yearning for something more, a burning desire to transcend their limitations and achieve immortality.

The air crackled with a raw, untamed energy, a blend of spiritual Qi and the sheer will of these struggling cultivators. Each step they took was a victory, a testament to their resilience in the face of adversity. This was the realm of the unpolished, the unrefined, the raw potential waiting to be unleashed. Here, upon this perilous goat’s intestine trail, every man was his own sect, his own master, his own pathfinder.