Chapter Forty-Five: The First Cultivation

As I walked, I couldn't help but wonder: who is so intent on making me see all this? Or perhaps, who is actually helping me?

"Hey, hey, hey, wait up!" Chen Chen shouted from behind.

I ignored him, lost in thought.

...

"Tsk... Seems like overthinking isn't good for me..." I muttered to myself in a melodramatic whisper.

I also realized that ever since I reached the first rank of Spiritual Leaf, the scars and acne on my body had all disappeared, even the birthmark on my left arm.

"I guess I could be considered a young heartthrob now..." I strolled home lazily, the bright, sunny day matching my mood—both radiant and full of light.

As I wandered along, I noticed a small stall on the side of the street, where a middle-aged man was selling trinkets.

Yet I sensed something different about him; there was a demonic aura emanating from him.

Honestly, I didn't really know what a demonic aura was, but the energy he gave off was vastly different from everyone else.

I squinted, hands clasped behind my back, and walked over.

"Don't miss out as you pass by—new necklaces and bracelets, all beautiful!" the middle-aged vendor hawked his wares enthusiastically.

I had half a mind to rid the world of a menace, but on closer look, he didn't seem evil. After all, everything comes in both good and bad; it's unfair to judge them all the same.

"Young man, what would you like?" The man noticed me approaching, and whether he sensed my spiritual energy or something else, he actually lowered his head and didn't dare to meet my gaze.

"What kind of demon are you?" I crouched down, pretending to examine the jewelry as I whispered.

"Honored immortal, I am a wild boar demon," he replied.

I nearly burst out laughing at his answer—who would've thought there were wild boar demons?

"From now on, don't cause trouble among humans. Live a good, honest life," I said, fixing him with a piercing gaze.

"Yes, yes, I understand," he replied quickly.

Only after hearing his answer did I stand up, reassured.

"I'll take a necklace—this one," I said, pointing at one with a red gemstone.

"Alright, here you go..." he said, handing it over as I paid.

With the necklace in hand, I mused: So this is the martial world I've dreamed of—not endless slaughter, but mutual respect and help.

Lost in thought, my hand happened to brush the gemstone in the center of the necklace.

To my astonishment, the next second, something incredible happened.

The necklace began to shed its skin—yes, literally shed its skin! Within seconds, it had completely transformed, going from a plain, cheap trinket to a resplendent piece of jewelry.

I brushed off the flakes of rust, looking at the necklace anew.

Now, the central red gemstone had turned blue, and within it shimmered a universe, dazzling and multicolored.

I also discovered that the blue gemstone could be detached from the chain, though for now, I saw no purpose for it.

No matter—I could give it to Nangong Xi as a gift when I got home.

I was already in good spirits today, and now with this unexpected find, I was even happier. When I bounced home, Nangong Xi saw me and asked,

"What's up? Did you win the lottery?"

I fished the necklace from my ring and handed it to her. "This is for you~"

This necklace was no ordinary trinket; it was clearly an artifact from the world of cultivation—any girl would probably love it.

"Wow..." Nangong Xi's eyes widened as she examined it.

I slipped past her, ready to indulge in a blissful nap.

"Thank you... brother."

Brother? When did I become her brother?

Well, she is a few years younger than me, so I suppose that's only natural.

"No need to thank me~" I waved her off and collapsed onto my bed, falling soundly asleep.

...

When I woke, it was already two in the afternoon.

"Ah, you're up. Come eat, I'll heat the food," Nangong Xi called.

I nodded and joined her for a meal.

To keep her from getting bored at home, I had even bought her a phone and taught her how to use the TV. Now, other than cooking and tidying up, she spends most of her time playing games—a classic case of loving to play but not very skilled.

After our usual banter, I wandered onto the balcony, sat in a chair, and took out the Record of Tanzi.

Second Uncle had said yesterday that the Record of Tanzi was obscure and difficult. After reading a few pages, I had to agree.

With nothing else to do today, I decided to try translating it.

I pulled out my phone, opened the search engine, and began looking up annotations as I translated.

But it wasn't easy—some rare characters couldn't be found at all, and after a while, I was sweating with frustration.

Luckily, there weren't too many unfamiliar words, so I managed—though haltingly—to finish translating the first page.

Perhaps this was the most focused I'd ever been reading a book...

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I gazed at the full page of translation, a surge of accomplishment rising in my heart.

This Record of Tanzi had no table of contents; right from the first page, it taught the basics of cultivating spiritual energy.

In summary: "Absorb the essence of heaven and earth, draw in the spiritual energy of sun and moon."

It even illustrated the best posture for beginners, to maximize the absorption of spiritual energy, though experienced practitioners could use whatever stance they preferred.

I crossed my legs, formed a sword-finger with my right hand and held it vertically before my chest, while my left hand, channeling qi, rested horizontally over my lower abdomen, my back straight...

But it wasn't just about the posture; the right mental method was also essential.

So, with utmost seriousness, I began my first cultivation practice.

At first, I found it exhausting to hold the position for so long.

But gradually, as spiritual energy circulated through my body, I could feel it grow with each circuit.

The sensation was intoxicating; I soon forgot my fatigue.

Before I knew it—bang!—a sound broke my concentration and I ended the session.

I slowly lowered my hands and exhaled a mouthful of stale air.

I could distinctly feel that the spiritual energy in my body had increased—not by much, but you can’t get fat in one bite.

I glanced toward the kitchen; turned out Nangong Xi was finishing cooking.

I looked at the clock—it was already eight in the evening!

Had I really practiced for six hours? No wonder, in those dramas, cultivation masters retreat for decades at a time—time really does fly.

While Nangong Xi cooked, I practiced my Bajiquan in the living room.

Bajiquan's moves are swift, unpredictable, and the footwork is agile; although I haven't learned sword techniques, my Bajiquan fundamentals are strong enough.

So I can't neglect Bajiquan.

Now, my punches were much easier, and tricky moves came effortlessly.

When I finished my last move, even the curtain in front of me fluttered from the force of my punch.

Satisfied, I withdrew, then took a long, hot shower.

Just as I sat down to eat, a call came in.

"Hello, Lin Yao? It's Chen Chen. I've found a lead on someone named Li Ping'an. Are you coming tomorrow?"

I was taken aback, then replied,

"Send me the location tomorrow. Let’s meet and talk at eight."

"Alright."