Chapter 57: Lying Down and Gaining Cultivation

The group had lunch, then spent the afternoon strolling through the park; since Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya had interviews the next day, they didn’t stay out late and went their separate ways.

On the way, Gu Zhao felt the Five Thunder Talisman tremble in his spiritual sense, gaining a wisp of malevolent energy, but since he received no message from Daoist Yan Song, he said nothing.

Now that he was home and had time, Gu Zhao used the Five Thunder Talisman to communicate across realms with Daoist Yan Song.

Daoist Yan Song replied through the Five Thunder Talisman, “I’m right in the village—why don’t you just cross over? You could even cultivate while you’re at it.”

“I just got home and took a shower—I’m too lazy to change clothes and go over,” Gu Zhao said lazily.

Daoist Yan Song sighed, “Young people don’t appreciate what they have. When I was your age, if I’d had your conditions, I’d have spent all twenty-four hours a day here, focused on cultivation.”

Gu Zhao murmured, “Aren’t you here already?”

Daoist Yan Song, “...”

Gu Zhao used the Five Thunder Talisman to spawn a Thunder Seed to enlighten Daoist Yan Song; Daoist Yan Song toiled in cultivation to raise his base, slew demons and spirits to gather malevolent energy, the Thunder Seed submitted that energy to the Five Thunder Talisman, which refined it and returned it to Gu Zhao, aiding his cultivation while simultaneously condensing new Thunder Seeds.

Closed loop! Perfect!

“Capitalist! A few decades ago, you’d have been hanged from a lamppost!”

“But now I have a new title: Tyrannical CEO.”

Daoist Yan Song shook his head in lament, “The world has declined, morals are gone—my good days are over!” Then he returned to the topic: “It was a household in the neighboring village—the man brought home a ghost while walking at night; it drained his essence. I exterminated it.”

“The neighboring village found you?” Gu Zhao asked curiously.

“Didn’t we build a lumber mill behind the village? People from nearby villages come to sell wood—they heard you killed a female ghost, so they came to me.”

“He hadn’t eaten or drunk for three or four days—they thought he was possessed, so they brought him to me,” Daoist Yan Song said with pride. “I looked at him and immediately sensed the malevolent energy. I jolted it with true qi and pulled the demon out.”

A few days ago, when Daoist Yan Song heard of the demon, he had Gu Zhao report it to the Public Security Office; now he could tear apart a demon with his bare hands.

“Uncle is mighty!” Gu Zhao offered his usual praise.

Daoist Yan Song offered his usual modesty: “A ghost with only a dozen years of cultivation, possessing an ordinary person to drain essence and cultivate—it’s said he’s killed seven or eight people.”

Gu Zhao sighed, “A serial killer. In a world with ghosts, people are truly pitiful.”

But Daoist Yan Song wasn’t fazed: “You young ones get all sentimental. Back in ancient times, that wouldn’t even count for much—war and famine killed faster than ghosts.”

Gu Zhao couldn’t help asking, “So the Da Ning Dynasty is still a golden age?”

“No war, food on the table—it’s not quite a golden age, but it’s not chaos either,” Daoist Yan Song said, then paused. “But from what that little fox Bai Ke said, I suspect chaos won’t be far off.”

“What should we do?” Gu Zhao asked.

“Of course, we emerge in chaos to subdue demons and exterminate evil,” Daoist Yan Song said matter-of-factly. “How’s the Daoist temple design coming? We’ll need a proper base when we bring in other Daoist allies.”

“I’ve already hired designers—it’ll be stunning,” Gu Zhao added. “I’ve also contacted several factories to order stone and bricks; I’ll bring them back in a few days.”

“Thoughtful. Excellent. You’re starting to look like a Sect Master,” Daoist Yan Song nodded, catching the implication in Gu Zhao’s words. “You’re not coming over tomorrow?”

“I’ve got something tomorrow—I’ll come the day after,” Gu Zhao said earnestly. “I’m leaving the matters there in your hands, Uncle.”

“You lazy good-for-nothing!” Daoist Yan Song cursed, then hung up.

…

“The days of gaining cultivation while lying down are simply too comfortable!”

The next morning, Gu Zhao woke up refreshed. Though the malevolent energy he’d gathered the day before was slight, part of it condensed into a Thunder Seed, part returned to aid his cultivation—equivalent to days of cultivation in the other world.

With his mind clear, he felt his spiritual state had subtly improved, and even his urge to reveal himself before modern people had dimmed.

“Summer’s here—spring’s missed chances can’t wait till autumn,” Gu Zhao checked his phone’s time and messages, then got dressed and went downstairs.

Zhang Hang had parked a Cadillac at the gated entrance. “You’ve got a license—why don’t you buy a car?”

“Because you have a car—and several,” Gu Zhao replied. “Why buy one when I’ve got a free driver?”

Zhang Hang glanced sideways at Gu Zhao. “When you’re chasing girls, am I supposed to sit there watching?”

Gu Zhao thought for a moment—Zhang Hang had a point. “Then I’ll buy one when I get the chance.”

“Buy a Maybach!” Zhang Hang urged. “Let those two girls see your power!”

Gu Zhao shot Zhang Hang a look. “How old are you this year?”

“Damn!” Zhang Hang swore. “Get in!”

Once Gu Zhao was seated, Zhang Hang turned serious. “Nowadays, you buy new energy vehicles—get a WENJIE 9. We can go on a road trip together.”

“What about you? I thought you didn’t have an SUV—you said it’s bad for chasing girls,” Gu Zhao asked.

“Times have changed. I’m buying a YANGWANG 8—we’ll take turns driving,” Zhang Hang said.

Gu Zhao shook his head. “The WENJIE is an urban SUV. If you really want to drive off-road, you need a YANGWANG, a TANK, or a FANGCHENGBAO.”

Zhang Hang nodded. “The TANK and FANGCHENGBAO are good too.”

No man dislikes cars—Gu Zhao and Zhang Hang spent the whole drive debating the pros and cons of these models, arriving soon at the hotel where Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya waited, instruments in hand, at the entrance.

The two women had accompanied Gu Zhao for their graduation photos yesterday; today he accompanied them to their interviews.

“Put the pipa in the trunk, but the guzheng has to be held and placed in the back seat,” Gu Zhao got out to open their doors.

“Thank you!”

Jiang Shishi first placed the pipa in the trunk, then helped Xiao Ya carry the guzheng into the back seat.

Back in the car, Zhang Hang asked, “Do you have to bring your own instruments to the folk music ensemble audition?”

“Small instruments you bring yourself; large ones can use the ensemble’s,” Xiao Ya explained. “But if you bring your own, it’s naturally more familiar and better.”

Jiang Shishi added, “We fine-tuned them carefully yesterday—the performance will be far superior to the ensemble’s.”

Zhang Hang gave a thumbs-up. “Professional!”

Gu Zhao asked, “Can we help carry your instruments inside?”

“Only to the waiting room,” Xiao Ya said. “And once you bring them in, you have to leave—you can’t wait inside.”

“Then we won’t,” Gu Zhao replied.

Jiang Shishi leaned forward. “After the audition, Xiao Ya and I are treating you to lunch!”

Gu Zhao nodded. “Alright!”