Chapter 57: Cultivation Increases Just by Lying Down

The group had lunch at noon and strolled through the park in the afternoon; since Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya had interviews the next day, they did not stay together too late and departed separately.

On the way, Gu Zhao felt the Five Thunder Talisman in his Sea of Consciousness tremble; he had gained a wisp of Fiend Qi, but since he had not received a message from Daoist Yan Song, he did not ask.

Now that he was back home with free time, Gu Zhao used the Five Thunder Talisman to chat across realms with Daoist Yan Song.

A reply came from within the Five Thunder Talisman: "I am right here in the village. Can't you cross over? You can cultivate while you're at it."

"Just got home, took a shower, and I'm too lazy to change clothes to come over," Gu Zhao said lazily.

Daoist Yan Song sighed. "Young people don't know how to cherish things. If I had your conditions when I was young, I'd probably soak here twenty-four hours a day, focusing solely on cultivation."

Gu Zhao said softly, "Isn't that because you are here?"

Daoist Yan Song: "..."

Gu Zhao used the Thunder Seed derived from the Five Thunder Talisman to enlighten Daoist Yan Song; Daoist Yan Song cultivated hard to raise his cultivation, slaying demons and monsters to harvest Fiend Qi; the Thunder Seed submitted the Fiend Qi to the Five Thunder Talisman; the Five Thunder Talisman then refined the Fiend Qi to replenish Gu Zhao, aiding Gu Zhao's cultivation while simultaneously condensing a new Thunder Seed.

A closed loop! Perfect!

"Capitalist! A few decades ago, you'd be hanging from a streetlight!"

"But I have a new name now: Domineering CEO."

"The world's morals decline, and human hearts grow ancient no more; the good old days for this old Daoist are gone forever!" Daoist Yan Song shook his head in sigh, finally returning to the previous topic. "It was a household in the neighboring village. A man brought a ghost back while walking at night; it sucked his essence and qi. I exorcised it."

"The neighboring village? They found you?" Gu Zhao asked curiously.

"Didn't we build a lumber mill behind the village? People from several nearby villages come to sell timber. They heard you once killed a female ghost, so they came looking for me."

"He hadn't eaten or drunk anything for three or five days; everyone said he was possessed by evil. They carried him over to ask me to look." Daoist Yan Song's tone carried pride. "The moment this old Daoist saw him, I detected the evil qi on his body. I stimulated it with True Qi and dragged that fierce ghost right out."

A few days ago, upon hearing news of a fierce ghost, Daoist Yan Song had told Gu Zhao to report it to the Public Security Bureau; now he could tear a fierce ghost apart with his bare hands.

"Uncle is awesome!" Gu Zhao offered his routine praise.

Daoist Yan Song offered his routine modesty. "A small ghost with over a decade of cultivation, attaching itself to an ordinary person to suck essence and cultivate. It's said to have killed seven or eight people."

Gu Zhao sighed, "A serial killer. In a world with ghosts, people are truly pitiable."

Daoist Yan Song, on the other hand, cared little. "Young people mourning spring and grieving autumn. In ancient times, that would mean nothing; war and famine kill faster than ghosts and monsters."

Gu Zhao couldn't help but ask, "So the Great Ning Dynasty is still considered a prosperous age?"

"No war, food to eat. Even if it's not a prosperous age, it's at least not a chaotic age." Daoist Yan Song paused, then added, "But judging by what that little fox Bai Ke said, I reckon the chaotic age isn't too far off."

"Then what should we do?" Gu Zhao asked.

"Of course, we emerge from the mountain during chaotic times to subdue demons and exorcise ghosts," Daoist Yan Song said matter-of-factly. "How is the design of the Taoist temple coming along? Later, when we bring other Daoist friends over, we'll need a decent base, right?"

"I've already had someone design it; it's guaranteed to be stunning," Gu Zhao added. "I've also contacted several factories and ordered stone and bricks; I'll bring them all back in a few days."

"Thorough consideration. Excellent. You already look like a Sect Master." Daoist Yan Song nodded, catching the meaning in Gu Zhao's words. "You're not coming tomorrow, then?"

"I have something to do tomorrow; I'll come over the day after," Gu Zhao said earnestly. "I'll leave matters over there to you, Uncle."

"You little rascal, you're just lazy!" Daoist Yan Song cursed and hung up the phone.

"Days where cultivation increases just by lying down are simply too comfortable!"

Early the next morning, Gu Zhao woke up refreshed. Although the Fiend Qi he gained yesterday was not much, part of it condensed into a Thunder Seed while the rest replenished his cultivation, equivalent to several days of cultivation in the Otherworld.

With his thoughts clear, he felt his state of mind had improved somewhat, and even his desire to display miracles before modern people had faded a bit.

"Summer has arrived; what was missed in spring cannot be delayed until autumn." Gu Zhao picked up his phone to check the time, then checked his messages, before getting dressed and heading downstairs.

Zhang Hang was already parked at the community entrance in a Cadillac. "You have a driver's license; why don't you buy a car?"

"Because you have a car, and several of them," Gu Zhao replied. "Since I have a free driver, why should I buy a car?"

Zhang Hang glanced sideways at Gu Zhao. "Does that mean when you're picking up girls, I have to watch from the side?"

Gu Zhao thought for a moment; it seemed Zhang Hang had a point. "Then I'll find time to buy one."

"Buy a Maybach!" Zhang Hang urged. "Let those two girls see your strength!"

Gu Zhao glanced sideways at Zhang Hang. "How old are you this year?"

"Damn!" Zhang Hang let out a curse. "Get in the car!"

Once Gu Zhao was in the car, Zhang Hang seriously analyzed the situation. "Of course, buy a new energy vehicle now. Get an AITO M9; then we can go on a road trip together."

"What about you? I remember you don't have an SUV, right? You said that's bad for picking up girls," Gu Zhao asked.

"Times have changed. I'm planning to buy another Yangwang U8; then we can take turns driving," Zhang Hang said.

Gu Zhao shook his head. "AITO is for urban off-roading. If you really want to drive off-road in the wild, you need a Yangwang, a Tank, or a Fangcheng Bao."

Zhang Hang nodded. "Tank and Fangcheng Bao are good too."

What man doesn't like cars? Gu Zhao and Zhang Hang discussed the pros and cons of these models all the way until they arrived at the hotel where Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya were; the two women were already waiting at the hotel entrance, holding their instruments.

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

"Put the Pipa in the trunk; the Guzheng has to be held and placed in the back seat," Gu Zhao said as he got out of the car to open the door for them.

"Thank you!"

Jiang Shishi first put the Pipa into the trunk, then helped Xiao Ya hold the Guzheng and get into the back row.

Back in the car, Zhang Hang asked, "Do folk music ensemble interviews require you to bring your own instruments?"

"Small instruments are brought by yourself; large ones can actually be provided by the ensemble," Xiao Ya explained. "But if you use your own, of course, they are the most familiar and easiest to use."

Jiang Shishi chimed in, "We carefully tuned them yesterday; the performance effect will definitely be better than the shared ones."

Zhang Hang gave a thumbs-up. "Professional!"

Gu Zhao asked, "Can we help you take the instruments inside later?"

"Only into the waiting room," Xiao Ya said. "And once the instruments are delivered, we have to leave; we can't wait inside."

"Then no need; we'll wait outside," Gu Zhao replied.

Jiang Shishi leaned over. "After the interview, Xiao Ya and I will treat you to lunch!"

Gu Zhao nodded. "Good!"