Chapter 451
"How about we prepare a bit more?"
The old man Bai murmured softly.
"We've prepared enough," Tang Lingwu shook her head and smiled. "I feel it's time."
Zheng Fa nodded. According to the experience of practitioners from the Xuanwei Realm, foundation establishment shouldn't be rushed, but it also shouldn't be too slow; taking too long could lead to a loss of courage.
Sometimes, following one's instincts is the best choice.
Seeing Zheng Fa nod, the old man Bai and the others fell silent. Bai touched his chest and sighed, "My feelings right now are just like when my daughter was taking her college entrance exams."
That was quite an apt comparison.
Or rather, the success or failure of foundation establishment could determine a person's life even more than the college entrance exams... especially for someone like Tang Lingwu, who didn't need to take them...
The tension in Bai and the others' hearts likely stemmed from another reason: Tang Lingwu's success or failure was tied to their own future cultivation.
When it comes to oneself, it's only natural to feel more anxious.
Tang Lingwu grinned, showing her teeth, looking even more relaxed than they were, but her gaze remained fixed on Zheng Fa.
Bai wanted to say something, but Teacher Tian beside him tugged at his sleeve.
"What are you pulling me for?"
"I need to talk to you!"
"What can't be said here?"
"…"
Teacher Tian fell silent and forcibly pulled Bai out.
Tang Mu Dao was quick-witted and followed the two out of the dining hall.
Inside the room, only Tang Lingwu and Zheng Fa remained.
"I'm a bit scared…"
Tang Lingwu, who had just been laughing carefree, suddenly spoke weakly.
Zheng Fa didn't say anything; he simply reached out and patted Tang Lingwu's head.
"I've memorized the techniques really well," Tang Lingwu squinted her eyes, her mouth still moving, "and I've remembered everything you taught me…"
Zheng Fa was worried, of course, and wouldn't let Tang Lingwu figure things out on her own. He brought over all the records related to the foundation establishment techniques and carefully analyzed them for her, even simulating potential problems that might arise.
In simple terms, they had gone through several rounds of mock exams.
"I'm actually a bit scared. If I fail, will those newcomers doubt you…?"
Zheng Fa shook his head, feeling that Tang Lingwu was still a young girl with too many thoughts—whether they doubted him or not, he didn't care; he wasn't seeking their approval.
"Don't overthink it. Just focus on your foundation establishment."
Seeing Tang Lingwu's brows slightly furrowed, Zheng Fa spoke to comfort her.
Tang Lingwu slowly nodded, falling silent.
The room fell into silence.
"Earlier, Professor Bai said that the mood is just like sending someone off for exams…"
Tang Lingwu suddenly spoke again.
"Yeah?"
"I've sent someone off for exams, but I've never taken the college entrance exams myself." Tang Lingwu pouted, "What a loss."
Zheng Fa suddenly recalled the cheongsam Tang Lingwu wore back then.
Was she trying to get him to comfort her? Or encourage her a bit?
What to do?
Wear a cheongsam?
That would be too much, right?
A warm, fragrant breeze wafted in, and when he turned around, Zheng Fa saw Tang Lingwu standing in front of him, arms outstretched, face tilted up.
Seeing him turn, Tang Lingwu said with a serious expression:
"Cheer me on!"
Zheng Fa stood up and gently embraced Tang Lingwu.
After a long moment, they finally parted.
Tang Lingwu shook her head, a sly smile spreading across her face, looking quite pleased with herself:
"I was just kidding."
"Huh?"
"Actually, I'm not scared~"
Zheng Fa was speechless. Was that a fake-out hug?
Couldn’t she have made it a bit more convincing?
This girl might not be skilled in deception, but her charm was certainly natural…
…
A few days later, Cheng Yun brought Professor Wang and the others back to the nursing home, which would now serve as their dormitory.
On the way, Cheng Yun was still boasting, "I know this nursing home like the back of my hand! Boss, I'll have your back from now on!"
Seeing him so arrogant, Professor Wang's face darkened.
The backyard remained the private territory of Zheng Fa and his group.
For the past few days, Zheng Fa and the others had been guarding the door to Tang Lingwu's room, just in case something unexpected happened.
"Why is it so quiet?"
Professor Wang noticed the complete silence in the nursing home and quietly asked Cheng Yun.
"I heard that Chairman Tang is about to establish her foundation, and Director Zheng hasn't left the house for days."
"Everyone's afraid to make a sound."
Professor Wang nodded slightly, looking toward the backyard, feeling a strange sense of anticipation.
In the backyard, Zheng Fa sat cross-legged in front of Tang Lingwu's door, eyes closed in meditation.
Old man Bai and the others were also there, occasionally glancing inside but hesitant to speak.
Suddenly, Zheng Fa opened his eyes, not saying a word, just smiling.
It worked!
Old man Bai and the others felt a surge of joy in their hearts.
"Look outside!"
Outside, the small building on Dongshan Cliff was enveloped in a layer of multicolored light, spiritual energy transforming into a gentle breeze that caressed the grass and trees in the courtyard.
Old trees sprouted new buds, birds chirped in the forest, and even the fish at the bottom of the pond were splashing about.
Professor Wang, watching this scene from the main building, was momentarily stunned, even though he had been mentally prepared.
Everyone was in a daze when a graceful figure stepped out of the small building.
With the multicolored building behind her, the breeze fluttering her dress, under the pressure of spiritual energy, Professor Wang and the others felt a weight in their hearts, looking up at this young girl with a sense of awe.
Tang Lingwu glanced at them, her gaze somewhat dazed and indifferent.
But at that moment, no one felt offended.
They inexplicably sensed that this indifference came from the power to destroy them with a mere wave of her hand.
It was a difference in life levels.
But the next moment, when Tang Lingwu landed, she humbly lowered her head toward a figure stepping out of the small building, as if to pay great respect.
Zheng Fa frowned slightly, raising his hand to support Tang Lingwu from afar, his expression one of confusion.
"The grace of imparting the Dao must not go unacknowledged."
Zheng Fa looked at the bright eyes in the main building behind her.
He knew that this statement was mostly directed at them.
Zheng Fa shook his head and patted her head: "You think too much!"
Tang Lingwu indeed had many thoughts, but they were quite useful:
She had deliberately put on a lively act.
The next evening, Zheng Fa felt the enthusiasm of the new scholars.
It wasn't that they hadn't been enthusiastic before, but scientists tend to believe in seeing things for themselves. The simple golden elixir Zheng Fa had was of another use, and his personality wouldn't push to showcase it to them, so they hadn't seen it yet.
Seeing Tang Lingwu establish her foundation greatly inspired them.
The largest conference room in the main building of the nursing home was now arranged like a hall.
In the hall, Zheng Fa was giving these scholars an introductory lesson on immortality—since they had invited these people in, he naturally had to teach them about cultivation.
Zheng Fa sat on a cushion, starting from the basics of the rune system.
Tang Lingwu sat in the front row with old man Bai and the others.
The rest sat behind them.
In a perfect version without a single mistake!
Cheng Yun sat next to Professor Wang, initially sizing up the big shots nearby:
Many of them had white hair.
Some he had seen in textbooks back when he was in college.
There were even a few whose words could change the allocation of resources in a discipline, altering the direction of national research.
In the past, he had always seen them standing on the podium, not sitting in the audience.
But at this moment, everyone was taking notes or using electronic devices, carefully listening to the young Zheng Fa's lecture.
It felt like a complete reversal from the past.
Noticing Cheng Yun lost in thought, Professor Wang suddenly nudged him with his elbow.
"Boss?"
"What are you daydreaming about? Pay attention!" Professor Wang whispered.
"…"
"Seize the opportunity!"
Cheng Yun snapped back to reality, looking ahead. In the three seats in front of him, an elderly man who frequently appeared in the news was scratching his head, earnestly and eagerly watching Zheng Fa, as if he didn't want to miss a single word.
Some scholars were older and had just started cultivating, even struggling to enter the realm of martial arts; their bodies couldn't handle it.
So Zheng Fa only lectured for about two hours each night.
The next morning, Cheng Yun opened his door to find Professor Wang rubbing his eyes as he stepped out, seemingly ready for breakfast.
"Professor? You're awake too?"
"Awake?" Professor Wang looked at him, his gaze strange. "Who slept?"
"…"
Cheng Yun felt a chill run down his spine.
"You didn't sleep!" He stared wide-eyed, "What were you doing all night?"
"Practicing martial arts, reviewing the content Zheng Fa lectured on, and when I got tired, I looked up some Daoist texts and materials science textbooks to refresh my mind…"
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