Chapter 7120
Cultivation and Crisis
As dawn broke, the morning light spilled over the eaves of the houses on Gusong Street.
Tang Zhen walked out of the courtyard gate, dressed in simple robes. At first glance, he looked no different from an ordinary commoner.
If you look closely, you will find that his aura is like an ancient pool in the deep mountains, with a calm and steady surface, but a bottomless depth.
Like a quiet volcano, once it erupts, it is devastating.
The bloody aura that wiped out the Black Serpent Gang in last night's battle has now completely vanished.
A demigod cultivator conceals their talents in the mortal world, hiding their traces among the common people, quietly comprehending the Dao of Heaven, and then integrating it with their own skills, finally condensing the framework of a godhood.
This is the first step, and also the most important one. A tall building starts from the ground up; without a foundation and a clear path, everything is just empty talk.
Having nothing to do today, he planned to take a good look around the city of Nuchuan.
Nuchuan City is nestled against mountains and beside water. While not a top-tier city, its geographical location is extremely crucial.
His reputation was usually low-key, but in fact, the government deliberately downplayed it in order to hide some astonishing secrets.
Opportunities and dangers can both be found here.
To the west of the city, there is a mountain called Wangyun Mountain, where the scenery at the top of the mountain is quite beautiful.
To the east of the city, there is also the Nuchuan River, with its rapid currents and turbulent waves crashing against the cliffs, a truly breathtaking sight.
There is an ancient temple in the south of the city and a flower field in the north.
Tang Zhen walked along at a leisurely pace, like a true idler.
I looked at the scenery, the street scenes, and all sorts of people.
The breakfast stalls on the street were steaming hot, and the aroma of various dishes mingled with the hustle and bustle of the city.
Peddlers carrying loads, early-morning vendors, and schoolchildren with schoolbags on their backs—a vibrant scene of everyday life.
Tang Zhen walked among the crowd, his breathing calm, his steps light, and a faint smile on his lips.
First, we went out of the city to climb the mountain and enjoy the scenery.
The mountain path was not steep, the vegetation was lush, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the birdsong in the forest was crisp and clear.
Tang Zhen slowly climbed the mountain, emptying his mind, not practicing his internal energy or cultivating his spirit, but simply looking at the mountains, the water, and the growth of plants.
For a demigod cultivator, meditation and cultivation are no longer the norm.
The trials of life are about refining one's mind amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, making it more rounded, clear, and flawless.
Reaching the mountainside, there was a place called Listening to the Spring Terrace, where Tang Zhen casually sat down on a blue stone.
The clear spring gurgles, and a sense of wonder arises spontaneously.
He closed his eyes slightly and did not consciously draw out his qi, but the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him naturally drew towards him.
Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, it silently merges into the mountains and rivers, without disturbing the slightest sound.
A group of people came up the mountain path not far away.
The group came from Nuchuan Academy. The leader was an old scholar surnamed Su, with white hair and beard, well-versed in poetry and literature, and also a cultivator.
Behind him were more than a dozen young disciples, who were also cultivators, but their levels varied greatly, with the weakest having just entered the path.
This group of students and cultivators originally intended to go up the mountain to enjoy the scenery, but as they approached the pavilion near the Listening Spring Terrace, they all stopped in their tracks.
"Master...that, that person..."
The vortex of spiritual energy could not be hidden from cultivators at all. Tang Zhen being in it naturally attracted everyone's shock and attention.
Old Master Su raised his hand and pressed down on his anxious disciples, signaling them to be quiet, but his own heart was already racing and his face was full of awe.
He had lived for 160 years and this was the first time he had ever seen such a person.
The man sat on the stone, as ordinary as a stone, yet the heavens and earth and all things around him seemed to revolve around him.
There was no oppressive aura, no divine light, but rather a natural and serene presence, as if "heaven and earth were one with it."
This is a true master!
A reclusive master who has transcended the mundane world and is close to the Dao.
Mr. Su immediately bowed and led his disciples to a distance, bowing his head and holding his breath, even his breathing became soft.
The disciples followed, trembling with excitement. They only dared to steal a glance and dared not disturb the peace in the slightest.
Tang Zhen naturally noticed it, but he was too lazy to pay attention.
Being revered as a superior person is nothing new to him.
He sat quietly for a while, his mind clear, and he gained a clearer understanding of his own path before getting up and going down the mountain.
When he passed by Mr. Su and his group, he simply nodded slightly as a gesture of greeting and then left.
Only after the figure disappeared down the mountain path did Mr. Su finally breathe a long sigh of relief, his back soaked with cold sweat.
"This person... is unfathomable."
He said in a deep voice, “If we meet again in the future, remember to observe from a distance and pay your respects. Do not approach, do not talk to, and do not inquire. A truly wise person dislikes worldly disturbances the most.”
The disciples nodded repeatedly.
The news quickly spread within a small circle of the academy, and the existence of a powerful cultivator in Nuchuan City quietly circulated among a few knowledgeable individuals.
No one dared to make a fuss, and no one dared to visit them.
After descending the mountain, Tang Zhen walked towards the banks of the Nu River.
The river flows mightily and ceaselessly, dotted with fishing boats, and the sounds of fishermen's songs rise and fall.
He stood on the viewing platform, gazing at the rolling river, his mind becoming increasingly open. He stood by the river for a long time, until the sun rose higher, before turning back to Gusong Street.
As soon as I arrived at the gate, I saw a small figure squatting there, gazing longingly into the courtyard.
It's Lin Xiaoman.
When the boy saw Tang Zhen return, his eyes lit up immediately, and he skipped and hopped up to him, saying, "Mr. Tang, you're back."
Tang Zhen nodded: "Have you been waiting a long time?"
"Not long after!"
Lin Xiaoman smiled brightly, "I just wanted to come... to cultivate with Uncle."
After what happened a few days ago, the boy's will was stronger than gold and stone. Every day before dawn, he would come to keep watch, hoping that Tang Zhen could teach him real skills.
Tang Zhen saw the determination in his eyes and smiled slightly: "Today is perfect, so I'll start by teaching you the basics."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoman trembled with excitement and nodded repeatedly, "I'll learn! I'll definitely study hard! I won't be lazy!"
Tang Zhen led him into the courtyard and had him sit cross-legged.
"Cultivation begins with cultivating the mind, and breath control begins with training the body. You are young, so a solid foundation is most important; you cannot be impatient for quick results."
He didn't teach any extraordinary martial arts techniques, only the most basic breathing exercises and a set of Qi-inducing body-strengthening fist techniques.
Breathing exercises are the fundamental way to draw spiritual energy into the body;
Body tempering is the foundation for carrying spiritual energy.
Tang Zhen moved slowly, breaking down each move clearly, explaining the breathing rhythm, the points of force exertion, and the flow of qi and blood in great detail.
Lin Xiaoman stood to the side, studying very seriously, her eyes never blinking, afraid of missing a single word.
The boy's talent has not yet been revealed; he is like a rough gem, still needing guidance and refinement.
If you don't get it right the first time, try ten times. If your posture is wrong, correct it repeatedly. Even with beads of sweat on your forehead, you won't stop.
Tang Zhen occasionally reached out and gently pressed his fingertips on his acupoints.
A gentle divine power quietly seeped in, helping him to unblock his meridians and regulate his qi and blood.
Lin Xiaoman felt warm all over, all her fatigue vanished, and her muscles and bones felt like they were soaking in warm water, so comfortable that she wanted to sigh.
"Mr. Tang, I can feel it! There's something cool moving around inside my body!"
"That's spiritual energy."
Tang Zhen said calmly, "Calm your mind and continue your breathing exercises."
Lin Xiaoman immediately shut up, sat cross-legged, her little face tense, looking like a little adult.
Tang Zhen sat to the side watching, nodding slightly.
In the following days, Tang Zhen lived a leisurely and regular life.
During the day, he would guide Lin Xiaoman in strengthening her muscles and bones and familiarizing her with breathing exercises in the courtyard.
When Lin Xiaoman was in school, he would explore all the sights of Nuchuan City by himself.
Listen to the bells at the ancient temple in the south of the city, watch the sunset at Luoxia Slope in the north of the city, sample snacks in the alleys of the city, and listen to idle chatter in teahouses and taverns.
Lin Xiaoman's progress was also astonishingly rapid.
In just a few days, he had become proficient in breathing exercises and could steadily draw a wisp of spiritual energy into his body.
He practiced the body-strengthening boxing with impressive skill, and his originally thin body became much stronger.
The Lin couple were extremely grateful and sent him vegetables and meat every day in different ways. Tang Zhen couldn't refuse them, so he occasionally accepted a little as a token of his appreciation.
That afternoon, the sun was not strong, and a gentle breeze was just right.
Tang Zhen led Lin Xiaoman into the city, found a teahouse on the street, and sat down by the window to drink tea.
Lin Xiaoman sat obediently to the side, sipping her tea and curiously observing the passersby downstairs.
The teahouse was bustling with people from all walks of life, and it was a place where news was most readily available.
Tang Zhen was just casually listening to the commotion, but the conversation of a few burly men dressed as hunters at the next table made him raise an eyebrow slightly.
The voice was low, but it didn't escape his ears.
"Have you heard... something's been wrong lately in the depths of the forest outside the city?"
A bearded hunter lowered his voice, his face showing apprehension, "It's very strange."
"Something's not just wrong, it's deadly!"
Another person chimed in, their voice tense, "I heard that many first-tier demonic beasts have appeared, and someone even encountered three or four blue-striped wolves!"
"Blue-striped wolf? Isn't that a second-tier beast? It usually stays deep in the forest, how did it end up on the edge?"
"Who knew! Not only the Blue-striped wolves, but also Ironback Bears, Poisonous Scale Snakes, Wind Blade Leopards... they're all popping up everywhere, several times more than usual. The government has already started sending people to exterminate them, and it's said they've suffered considerable casualties..."
“My relative is a merchant, and he said that there are roars every day deep in the forest, so many caravans are afraid to travel back and forth.”
"Now people from the villages outside the city are starting to move into the city. Everyone is panicking. They're saying that the monsters are about to riot, and maybe...maybe they'll storm the city!"
"If a horde of mutated beasts really comes, can Nuchuan City really withstand it?"
Upon hearing this, everyone at the table fell silent. (End of Chapter)