Chapter 99: Dao Body

In Bai Lao’s house, the atmosphere was heavy.

Bai Lao and Tang Lingwumin looked at Zheng Fa, their eyes filled with hesitation—wanting to ask but afraid to.

“Actually… it’s pretty normal, right?” Bai Lao fell silent for a while, then let out a dry laugh: “The human body carries electricity anyway; yours is just a bit stronger, gives a bit more of a shock.”

Tang Lingwumin nodded beside him, solemnly adding: “I’ve seen it in movies—it’s scientific!”

Zheng Fa: …

This old man and this girl probably understood this was his secret and didn’t want him to say more.

Zheng Fa truly didn’t want to tell them right now.

Although he could cultivate, the destructive power of weapons in this world was astonishing—he wasn’t sure he could guarantee his own safety.

But Zhang Shijie’s “Rune Foundation Establishment Method” changed his mind.

In the “Rune Foundation Establishment Method,” Zhang Shijie, drawing from the four rune patterns in the Shanhe True Form Rune, designed a way to condense a composite rune within the dantian:

At each of the ten Qi Refining stages, one rune is condensed; ten runes together form a single composite rune.

Zhang Shijie’s logic was clear:

Use the rune’s ability to attract similar runes to absorb spiritual energy.

Use the composite rune’s capacity for stable existence to solidify it within the dantian.

In other words, the “Rune Foundation Establishment Method” requires you to design your own composite rune and then condense it within the dantian.

Zheng Fa didn’t know how Zhang Shijie had designed the composite rune, but clearly the outcome hadn’t been good—her Golden Core was flawed.

Solving this problem would require Bai Lao’s brain.

So even without this accidental exposure, he probably wouldn’t have hidden it much longer.

In his mental image of a cultivation laboratory, these two were likely his first choices—intelligent and relatively trustworthy.

Zheng Fa understood he could still stay silent now, but it would be hard not to make these two feel mistrusted.

A certain degree of openness was the best choice.

He fell silent for a moment, then spoke: “Earlier, I said I came from a secluded sect…”

Bai Lao froze, then blurted: “This is actually true?”

“Yes. That sect is called Jiushan Sect; its disciples… can cultivate.”

After saying this, Zheng Fa looked at the two.

Bai Lao opened his mouth, then sighed: “Is this something we’re even supposed to know?”

Tang Lingwumin beside him said nothing.

Neither of them seemed particularly surprised.

Then again, neither was foolish—they’d noticed how strange he’d been.

Bai Lao had even tried to comfort Zheng Fa.

“Zheng Fa, you’re still young—don’t tell anyone else about this,” Bai Lao gave a bitter laugh. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

Tang Lingwumin nodded simply: “I’ve already forgotten.”

“Does your sect have any spell that can make me forget this without hurting my brain?” Bai Lao asked, as if Zheng Fa didn’t believe him.

His face showed eager anticipation, as if curious what it would feel like to be hit by a sect spell.

“… ”

Wait, why are you two being more cautious than I am?

Zheng Fa realized: these two probably thought they knew too much.

“What I mean is—you two can too.”

Bai Lao stiffened, staring at Zheng Fa.

“Us?”

Zheng Fa nodded.

“Aren’t you afraid…?”

“Jiushan Sect isn’t out of people,” Zheng Fa said confidently.

Well, they just weren’t in this world.

Bai Lao shrank back slightly.

“True—hidden this long without being found, maybe we don’t have to worry…,” Bai Lao muttered: “But I’m even more scared now.”

Don’t be afraid—you’re already a Nascent Soul.

Bai Lao and Tang Lingwumin exchanged glances; their hesitation outweighed their joy.

“Besides, only by following me can you cultivate.”

This was the guarantee that truly reassured Zheng Fa—the Lingshan Method meant he alone decided who could cultivate.

As long as he ensured his own basic safety, those who craved cultivation would naturally join his side.

“Master!” Hearing this, Bai Lao didn’t look disappointed—he beamed, as if a heavy stone had lifted from his chest: “I knew from the first glance you were an immortal with divine bearing!”

“Wait,” Zheng Fa raised his hand. “Jiushan Sect has requirements for accepting disciples.”

“Requirements?”

“Those rune patterns…”

Bai Lao froze, then suddenly understood: “So that’s why you cared so much about them.”

Zheng Fa nodded.

“Your sect is pretty academic…”

… He thought of Jiushan Sect’s disciples hurling runes, and said nothing.

“So… how did you get into the sect?”

Bai Lao didn’t curse, but Zheng Fa felt deeply insulted.

“… I’m exceptionally gifted!”

After a few more words, they turned to Tang Lingwumin—the girl had said nothing.

“I… don’t want to cultivate.”

She bit her lip, then suddenly spoke.

“Huh?”

“Does Jiushan Sect have any spell that can cure… hysteria?” Tang Lingwumin looked up at Zheng Fa, her eyes holding a longing he’d never seen on her face before.

“Huh?”

“My mother… has some issues in that area.”

Zheng Fa suddenly understood.

He remembered many things.

The car always following behind when he walked beside Tang Lingwumin.

Tang Lingwumin had once said she understood psychiatric hospitals.

And that quiet remark: “Don’t want to go home.”

Beside him, Bai Lao sighed, glancing at Tang Lingwumin.

“Shall I tell it?” His face showed concern.

“I’ll tell it myself,” Tang Lingwumin shook her head, gazing out the window as if she could see the black car parked below at the corner.

“My mother… has a bit of a problem. Not serious, but she cares too much about me. She won’t let me talk to men, won’t let me do anything beyond studying, and insists on following me everywhere…”

Zheng Fa remembered: Wang Chen had once said a guy tried adding Tang Lingwumin’s contact, but ended up adding her mother instead.

He’d thought she was just cold, but he’d also suspected—she didn’t act that cold with him. He hadn’t been so arrogant as to believe she’d taken an instant liking to him.

Now he understood a little.

“Even my social media account—I registered it secretly,” Tang Lingwumin said, lips pressed tight.

Of course.

“Then… why haven’t I had any problems?”

Zheng Fa thought—he realized he’d probably been noticed by Tang Lingwumin’s mother long ago.

“Ahem.”

Beside him, Bai Lao cleared his throat, wearing a smug smile of hidden merit.

Even Tang Lingwumin looked surprised at the old man.

“Your mother called me. I talked to her.”

“How did you convince her, Bai Grandpa? She’s like that.”

Tang Lingwumin’s eyes lit up.

“Oh, nothing much—she was easy to convince. Just need an open mind,” he pointed at Zheng Fa: “I told her he doesn’t like girls, you two are best friends, and this kid would rather like me than you.”

His expression held a gleeful disregard for Zheng Fa’s fate.

“… ”

Zheng Fa stayed silent, not responding.

He was wondering whether he had the ability to help Tang Lingwumin.

Tang Lingwumin’s gaze grew anxious.

“I’m good at topology too…” She glanced at Bai Lao, as if her skills weren’t enough, then added: “I have money!”

“Money?”

“Her father, Tang Zhiqiang—you’ve probably heard of him.”

Zheng Fa paused—he had actually heard of her, someone who sometimes appeared in the news.

Hmm… mostly gossip columns, plus a bit of financial news.

Zheng Fa now understood why Tang Lingwumin’s mother had some psychological issues.

He thought of Zhang Shijie, then looked at Tang Lingwumin again.

Zheng Fa couldn’t help but doubt his own talent—was he some kind of Rich Mistress-Attracting Body?

“I’m not unwilling, I just don’t know if I can help your mother.”

Tang Lingwumin nodded: “I know, but hope is better than no hope.”

With that, she pulled out a bank card and slapped it on the table—no matter how much money was in it, her practiced gesture left Zheng Fa deeply stunned.

“...” Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then said: “How about I try first?”

“Fine!” Tang Lingwumin slipped the card into her pocket.

“How much money is in this card?” the old white-haired man asked curiously.

“I don’t know. Tang Zhi—my dad—gave me this card and said he’d keep depositing allowance into it.” Tang Lingwumin said indifferently: “A few hundred thousand?”

...A little regretful.

In the Xuanwei Realm, Zheng Fa woke up and immediately began cultivating the “Rune Foundation Establishment Method.”

He had originally planned to study the technique further first.

After all, Zhang Shijie had already fallen into a trap.

But now that a bit of his cultivation secret had been exposed, he had to start practicing.

Exposing himself in front of the old white-haired man and the other was not too bad—he still trusted their character.

But he was unwilling to place his safety in anyone’s character, no matter who.

Yet the modern world had no spiritual materials, so Zheng Fa’s most skilled rune techniques were essentially useless.

But the “Rune Foundation Establishment Method” could solve this problem:

By forming rune diagrams within his dantian using this method, he could activate them without any spiritual materials.

For example, Zhang Shijie—he had never seen her draw runes on paper.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and drew a basic elemental rune on a blank sheet of paper—the Upright Invisible Rune.

The Upright Invisible Rune could conceal his form, voice, and even scent for a short time.

In the Xuanwei Realm, its effect was minimal—a Xuan-grade Upright Invisible Rune could be seen through by someone at late Foundation Establishment.

But in the modern world, this thing was quite powerful…

Compared to runes focused on offense or defense, Zheng Fa was most concerned about the modern world’s strict surveillance—hidden abilities were far more terrifying to an ordinary person in this world.

Having chosen the rune diagram to form, Zheng Fa stepped out of the room.

To form a rune diagram within the dantian, he needed a pill—the Yuan Condensation Pill.

Zheng Fa went to Jiuzhuan Pavilion, the shop specializing in elixirs.

Jiuzhuan Pavilion was nearly empty; even the clerks were scarce. Zheng Fa stood at the entrance for a long time before one clerk lazily shuffled over, glancing at Zheng Fa’s clothing, then seemingly sensing his low cultivation level, his face twisted into a bored disappointment.

“What do you want?”

“Do you have Yuan Condensation Pills?”

“We have them…” The clerk didn’t move, just stood there: “Twenty spirit stones each.”

“...Goodbye!”

Honestly, no wonder he was a clerk—his eye for talent was sharp.