Chapter 92
**Chapter 105: Value**
Tang Lingwu looked at Zheng Fa, her eyes filled with both pleading and determination.
Zheng Fa shook his head slightly and said to her, “It’s not that I don’t want to help; it’s just that I can’t right now.”
Aside from the "Fu Dao Foundation Establishment Method," what he cared about most was the "Ling Shan Method."
However, the minimum requirement for the Ling Shan Method was to reach the seventh level of Qi Training.
In essence, this was a practice that required one to be abundant in spiritual energy to help others cultivate.
Reaching the seventh level of Qi Training was just barely enough to start practicing.
This principle had been proven: if you want to save the world, you at least need to be a Buddha yourself...
“...I have money,” Tang Lingwu pointed to the bank card on the table. She didn’t question whether he believed her; instead, she stubbornly said, “If it’s not enough, I can ask my dad for more…”
“It’s really not about the money…”
“I just don’t want to live under my mom’s watch all the time,” Tang Lingwu suddenly said. “Even a moment of freedom, no matter how brief, would satisfy me.”
“…” Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment before saying, “When the time comes, I will help you.”
Tang Lingwu stared into his eyes and slowly nodded, as if she believed in his promise.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy with silence.
Beside them, the old man Bai shook his head, seemingly trying to lighten the mood. He said, “Speaking of which, even if we don’t reveal the secret of cultivating immortality, we could still have someone who understands computers take a look at these symbols.”
Zheng Fa slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering someone.
He opened a social media app and searched through his contacts for a little white dog...
But he couldn’t find it.
After flipping through his phone’s contact list, he finally found the name Han Xiaobai.
The person’s profile picture had changed to that of a lone wolf wandering in the desert.
“Brother Han, are you there?”
He sent a message.
“What's up?”
The response was brief, clearly showing impatience.
“I’d like to consult you about something.”
“Go ahead.”
The other party didn’t refuse.
Zheng Fa briefly described the main ideas of the "Fu Dao Foundation Establishment Method."
“So, you mean you have a way to categorize those symbols, but you don’t understand their patterns?”
After a long explanation, the other party finally grasped Zheng Fa’s meaning.
“Pretty much.”
Sister Zhang had already categorized some of the symbols using Yin-Yang and the Five Elements.
But there were just too many symbols, and she could only experiment with a small portion.
“This isn’t easy; we can only try our luck. The only thing I can think of is using machine learning algorithms for image recognition,” the other party typed rapidly: “Use the images you’ve already categorized as a training set, then let the computer summarize the features and determine what type the other images belong to.”
Zheng Fa understood a bit more; it was about letting the computer find some features since he couldn’t identify them himself.
As for whether those features were correct, that would depend on future validation.
“However, I can’t guarantee the accuracy,” the other party continued, “It’s a bit of a fool’s method.”
Old man Bai nodded slowly as he read the message: “It’s a method; we can analyze it later.”
Zheng Fa typed a few more words: “Brother Han, can you do this?”
“I can do it; it’s not difficult…”
“Then what’s the price this time?”
“I don’t want to do it; find someone else.”
“?”
Seeing the other party’s straightforward refusal, Zheng Fa was taken aback.
Just as he was pondering how to respond, a small hand suddenly reached out in front of him.
Zheng Fa looked up to see Tang Lingwu.
She extended her hand and softly said, “Should I do it?”
Zheng Fa thought for a moment and handed her the phone.
He watched as Tang Lingwu typed four words: “I can pay more.”
“I just don’t want to do it.”
The other party explained.
“Ten thousand.”
Zheng Fa raised his hand.
No, I can’t handle such a quote!
“Fifty thousand.”
“It’s really not about the money!”
“Hundred thousand.”
Zheng Fa watched as Tang Lingwu expressionlessly raised the price, feeling a sudden sense of awe.
Had he been too loud in front of this little rich girl before?
“Brother, aren’t you an orphan? Why do you treat money so lightly? Were you just fooling me before?” The other party seemed exasperated by Tang Lingwu’s insistence and sent another message: “I wanted to make money before because I had a girlfriend.”
“?”
Tang Lingwu was taken aback, glancing at Zheng Fa, a bit confused by the logic.
“Now I don’t have one; money means nothing!” Han Xiaobai explained bluntly, “Even though I’m poor now, I’m very happy! Money is useless to me!”
Zheng Fa suddenly remembered.
This person had been willing to work before mainly to buy a phone for his girlfriend.
Now it seemed, the girlfriend was gone?
“Now I’m empty and carefree, just short of renouncing the world,” Han Xiaobai said. “You should find someone else.”
Old man Bai nodded, somewhat lamenting: “That’s why people should get married, right? A man without a wife has it too easy; he lacks motivation to work.”
“…” Tang Lingwu frowned, suddenly opening the camera and sending a selfie.
Zheng Fa and old man Bai were both taken aback, not understanding what she was trying to do.
“You’re a girl?” The other side was clearly shocked by Tang Lingwu’s appearance.
“I’m his girlfriend.”
“...Are you trying to trick me with a picture of a beautiful girl from the internet?”
Tang Lingwu directly initiated a video call.
After a long wait, the other party finally answered the video.
On the screen appeared a face with a high hairline, clearly someone who had been burning the midnight oil—Zheng Fa understood why this person found dating so difficult.
“Holy crap!” The moment he saw Tang Lingwu, the guy suddenly exclaimed, “You’re real?”
“I’m not lying to you.”
“…” It seemed he rarely spoke to girls; Han Xiaobai stammered for a while before suddenly asking, “Was that you who was just raising the price?”
“Yeah, he wasn’t lying to you before,” Tang Lingwu glanced at Zheng Fa. “I’ll cover the costs.”
“...He has a girlfriend as beautiful as you, and you’re willing to pay to help him?” Han Xiaobai was clearly taken aback. “Working for such a scoundrel? I refuse!”
“I’ll teach you how to date.”
“I’ll do it!” Han Xiaobai quickly changed his tune. “I guarantee it’ll be quick and effective!”
It was clear he was genuinely eager to learn.
After hanging up the video call, Tang Lingwu handed the phone back to Zheng Fa.
Her face radiated pride, as if to say: mission accomplished!
When Zheng Fa reached out to take it, Tang Lingwu suddenly said, “I can help you a lot too.”
Zheng Fa was taken aback, looking at Tang Lingwu, suddenly realizing why she had done all this...
In Tang Lingwu’s eyes, Zheng Fa needed old man Bai for his mathematical knowledge.
In comparison, her own skills in math were indeed lacking.
What she had just done was merely to show that she could be of real help.
In truth, Tang Lingwu was overthinking—her identity as a rich girl was enough to make Zheng Fa yield.
...
When Zheng Fa returned home, he saw the adjustable transformer on the chair and immediately thought of the thousand-year-old purple bamboo that Sister Zhang had mentioned.
Sister Zhang said it was the only one in the Jiu Shan Sect, unique to Master Pang.
He had felt envious when he heard about it.
But looking at the adjustable transformer he had bought for under two hundred, he thought, well, who can’t afford a unique spiritual treasure?
Zheng Fa plugged in the transformer, grasped the wires, and adjusted the voltage to 90V.
The familiar tingling sensation returned, but today the current felt a bit weaker, as if this voltage was lower than usual.
When he stood in front of the mirror, he finally understood why—he had completed his skin tempering!
He could clearly see that while running the "Five Thunder Method," a thin membrane appeared on his skin, shimmering with a luster like white jade.
Zheng Fa grabbed a kitchen knife and lightly scraped it across his fingertip.
The blade felt like it was gliding over tough leather, unable to break through that thin membrane on his finger.
...
In the Xuanwei Realm, Zheng Fa’s small courtyard.
Han Qi and the others had become familiar enough to knock on the door and walk into the yard.
Zheng Fa had just finished drawing the symbols and came out holding five spirit talismans.
Han Qi took the talismans, his face beaming with joy: “Junior brother, you can draw five spirit talismans in a day now?”
“Yeah, I advanced to the second level of Qi Training a couple of days ago, and my spiritual energy has increased quite a bit.”
Han Qi and the others exchanged glances, excitement evident in their eyes.
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