Chapter 137
On the contrary, they had endured for so many years, and this emergence signified that the tranquility of the Xuanwei Realm would soon be disrupted.
Earlier, Senior Sister Yuan had told him that when Senior Sister Zhang went out, she encountered a Yuanying (Nascent Soul) and had her own means of self-preservation.
At that time, Senior Sister Yuan had seemed quite at ease.
Because among the various sects, there was an unspoken understanding that Yuanying cultivators generally did not engage in conflicts.
But this understanding was never formalized.
Moreover—what kind of understanding did the demonic sect have with you?
Senior Sister Zhang's trip to Taiyang County might present a situation far more perilous than Zheng Fa had anticipated.
Even without mentioning Senior Sister Zhang's care for him, her significance to the Jiushan Sect was extraordinary.
Zheng Fa understood clearly that without Senior Sister Zhang, without the Jiushan Sect, he was merely a Qi Refining stage cultivator.
He might even be inferior to Zhao Jinglan.
Furthermore, if he wanted to leverage modern advantages, he needed a solid foundation.
The transformation from research results to practical application was inextricably linked to the Jiushan Sect.
His fate was intertwined with the Jiushan Sect and Senior Sister Zhang.
But Senior Sister Zhang told him nothing—perhaps she viewed him the same way Zhao Jinglan viewed the Seventh Young Master.
The only thing he could truly offer to help Senior Sister Zhang was the refinement of the "Foundation Establishment Method of Talisman Path."
He took out a Ningyuan Dan (Consolidation Pill) and swallowed it.
This was the sixth Yuansymbol he had condensed, and there wasn't much choice—
What he needed to condense now was the first Yang-type spirit talisman, which, in terms of the Five Elements, corresponded to Earth.
In the revised "Ling Mountain Method" by the sect leader, he had combined his talisman array techniques with the "Ling Mountain Method" created by the Jiushan ancestors.
In other words, to cast the "Ling Mountain Method," one needed a specific spirit talisman—the Qiling Talisman (Awakening Talisman).
This talisman had limited utility—it could impart a bit of spiritual energy to lifeless plants, stones, and mountains.
Generally speaking, cultivators in the Xuanwei Realm used this talisman for marking, like leaving subtle signals or directions for fellow travelers.
However, the sect leader had utilized it to set up formations, enhancing the "Ling Mountain Method."
The Qiling Talisman quickly settled into his dantian, and in Zheng Fa's consciousness, the originally vague lotus began to reveal the form of the Qiling Talisman.
After a long while, he opened his eyes and took out the jade tube given to him by Uncle Pang, diligently taking notes.
...
In modern times, at Old Bai's house.
Tang Lingwu was in a posture resembling the Songhe Stance, while Zheng Fa placed his hand on her back, slowly channeling spiritual energy into her body.
For the past few days, Zheng Fa had been helping both Tang Lingwu and Old Bai practice the Linghe Body technique.
Perhaps due to her youth, Tang Lingwu's speed was significantly faster than Old Bai's.
With one hand resting on Tang Lingwu's back, Zheng Fa's mind wandered to thoughts of Senior Sister Zhang.
He certainly hoped to further analyze the talisman diagrams to provide the greatest assistance to her.
But he didn't have much confidence in that—thinking about it made a worried expression appear on his face.
Old Bai, observing the two, noticed that while Tang Lingwu was immersed in her visualization, Zheng Fa seemed distracted and troubled.
"Zheng Fa? What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking that our research on talisman diagrams is progressing too slowly," Zheng Fa sighed.
"Slow?" Old Bai was taken aback. "I’ve never seen you this anxious before!"
Zheng Fa shook his head. He knew that research couldn't be rushed, but given the current situation, it was hard for him to adjust his mindset.
Seeing Old Bai's puzzled look, Zheng Fa sighed again. "I want to help someone."
"Help someone?" Old Bai pressed. "Is it someone important?"
"Very important to me."
"…Is it a man or a woman?" Old Bai asked, stroking his chin.
"…A woman."
Zheng Fa looked at the old man in confusion. What did gender have to do with anything?
Old Bai rolled his eyes, glancing at Tang Lingwu, who was still pretending to focus on her training. Could her ears be any more attuned?
Suddenly, Tang Lingwu's shoulder blades surged, and her curvy legs in denim jeans pushed off the ground, leaping towards the ceiling of Old Bai's house.
Fortunately, Zheng Fa was quick enough to grab her ankle—otherwise, she would have tested the structural integrity of the old building with her head.
"Is this… jealousy?"
Old Bai stared blankly at the bewildered Tang Lingwu, murmuring to himself.
(End of this chapter)
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Chapter 143: A Gift (5K)
Chapter 143: A Gift 5k
Tang Lingwu had mastered the "Linghe Body."
Just like a person with a hammer always looking for a nail, or someone who finds a straight stick hoping to encounter a patch of foxtail grass.
Now that Tang Lingwu had perfected the "Linghe Body," she felt the urge to let loose.
The three of them arrived at the small park where Zheng Fa had practiced before.
It was already quite late, and the sky was devoid of stars, making the night even darker.
The park was old, with sparse streetlights casting a dim yellow glow, often requiring one to walk through long stretches of shadow before encountering a hazy light.
It was a summer evening.
Mosquitoes buzzed around, making it less than ideal for a leisurely stroll.
Yet, they were not alone; as they walked, they encountered several young and middle-aged couples holding hands.
Initially, the three of them spoke cautiously, as they occasionally discussed matters related to cultivation.
But after walking for a while, they realized that while they were wary of running into others, those others were even more wary of encountering them.
The young couples would lower their heads upon seeing them, while the middle-aged folks would quickly distance themselves, pretending to be strangers.
"Tsk… I wonder who’s more embarrassed here," Old Bai shook his head, a look of envy for the declining morals of society on his face.
He and Zheng Fa walked side by side.
Ahead of them, Tang Lingwu bounced along, her ponytail swaying, giving off a lively, glossy appearance in the night.
To an outsider, she looked like she was sprinting, bounding forward like a short-distance runner.
But only Zheng Fa and Old Bai could see that she wasn’t exerting any effort at all; her knees barely bent, her shoes just lightly tapping the rough stone path, gliding effortlessly, leaping two or three meters with a mere touch.
It was clear she had controlled her strength well.
Tang Lingwu seemed to revel in the rush of wind as she moved quickly, unable to suppress her joyful smile, radiating genuine happiness.
Only when she spotted someone approaching did she obediently stop, waiting for Zheng Fa and Old Bai.
Seeing her childlike demeanor, even Old Bai couldn’t help but smile like a proud aunt.
Zheng Fa’s mood lightened considerably as well.
"Not in a hurry anymore?"
Noticing his expression, Old Bai asked softly.
Zheng Fa nodded slightly, watching as Tang Lingwu turned back to look at him with concern.
"I’m anxious, but it’s useless."
To be honest, rather than feeling anxious, he felt uneasy—he had finally been enjoying his time at the Jiushan Sect.
Now, with the situation in Taiyang County, he couldn’t shake off a sense of foreboding.
"Right, being anxious doesn’t help," Old Bai nodded, waving to Tang Lingwu ahead, as if he had something to say to the two of them.
Tang Lingwu, curious, walked over to them.
"I’ve taught you a lot of random things before," Old Bai pondered for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts before slowly speaking to them.
"How to do academic work."
"How to study mathematics."
"I’ve told you to work hard, to collaborate, to strive."
Old Bai looked at the two of them, who seemed to be deep in thought, then glanced around the park before continuing, "But there’s one thing I’ve been wondering whether I should teach."
"?"
Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu exchanged glances, puzzled by Old Bai’s conflicted expression.
"Besides hard work and collaboration, which are old clichés," Old Bai spoke slowly, as if carefully considering his words, "you also need to learn to let go."
"…"
"We’re all human; no one can solve every problem." Old Bai glanced at Zheng Fa, "Even in cultivation, aren’t there countless troubles?"
A bitter smile crept onto Zheng Fa's lips.
Is cultivation good?
Of course, it is.
But do people in the Xuanwei Realm live happier lives than those in the modern world?
Zheng Fa doubted that the disciples of the immortal sects would think so.
"Do I want to become a great mathematician? To win a Fields Medal or a Wolf Prize?" Old Bai pointed to himself. "I dream of it."
"Do I want to ascend to the heavens? Of course, I do. But after practicing the 'Linghe Body' with Lingwu for so long, she’s already perfected it, while I’m still far behind."
Old Bai's words made a hint of embarrassment flash across Tang Lingwu's face, as if she felt her earlier behavior had been a bit too showy.
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