Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty-Nine: Gathering and Exchange

During the gathering, Yao Lao awoke, and after Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan explained things to him, Yao Chen only then realized his disciple had such a tremendous opportunity.

However, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan did not tell Yao Chen about the matter of the book Dou Po Cang Qiong, only telling him about the chat group.

The greatest gain of Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan's trip was exchanging some alchemy knowledge and herbs from different worlds with Ye Fan and Han Li.

Yao Chen's alchemy knowledge was still considerably ahead of everyone else's, so he gave these promising youngsters a few lessons.

Everyone's background was pretty much clear by now, and Han Li didn't hold anything back either. He took out the little green bottle and helped Su Lin grow quite a number of spirit plants on this mountain peak. After Ye Fan, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, and Yao Chen witnessed how extraordinary this thing was, they quickly took out their own treasured collections of various spirit plants and immortal herbs.

Apart from Su Lin and Weigong Shilang, these two academic weaklings who found studying quite painful, Yao Chen didn't forget that the two of them didn't have much foundation, so he would also find time separately to give lessons and teach some basics.

Weigong Shilang, on the other hand, shared his only meager knowledge of magecraft with everyone. The group was very interested in this method of extracting so-called ether elements, and at the same time they also examined Weigong Shilang's innate constitution.

"I told you this guy was quite suited for sword practice."

"Isn't that obvious? Change the style a bit and it's basically what you'd call a natural sword bone, although the difference is still somewhat significant."

Under everyone's guidance, Weigong Shilang trained his projections on one hand while attempting some introductory cultivation on the other, and on the fifteenth day he touched the threshold of entry.

"......"

In fact, Ye Fan and Han Li had already been considering how to sell counterfeits in their own worlds.

Weigong Shilang's ability to project weapons was quite interesting. Once he cultivated to a certain level in the future, he could disguise himself and go sell fake goods to his enemies or the Ancient Royal Clan.

And this time wouldn't be too long. Based on Weigong Shilang's future trajectory, his ability could achieve rapid growth by sharing from his future self. With diligent cultivation later on, perhaps within a few dozen years, an entire industry could be formed.

This was a reliable source of income.

Ninety days passed in a flash. Without any scheming or infighting, everyone helped each other and exchanged knowledge and abilities, using their own opportunities and abilities to help one another. During these days, everyone got along wonderfully, creating an excellent atmosphere.

"The cultivation system within Water Mirror Peak is very similar to the system of my world, but vastly different from Brother Ye's world's system." Han Li's voice came from the side, a jade tablet in his hand as he examined its contents.

"Moreover, I seem to feel that from Foundation Establishment onward, everything is different." Han Li's expression was somewhat incredulous: "More..."

Han Li seemed to be thinking about how to describe it.

Ye Fan supplemented: "Perfect."

"Right, exactly perfect."

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Han Li wouldn't have believed that their world's Foundation Establishment techniques were completely different compared to this one — this was another similar yet distinct path.

It was as if the path he had been walking all along was a country lane, while what lay before him now was a broad, straight highway.

"The inheritance within Water Mirror Peak has no problem cultivating to the Mahayana realm, but the method of breaking through to immortality..."

"The key lies in this very step of breakthrough." Ye Fan spoke up: "This is an incomplete, deficient method."

"Too unorthodox." Han Li commented.

"Perhaps it was only because there was no other path that they thought to blaze a new trail," Ye Fan guessed.

"Is there a way to complete it?" Su Lin sat in a wooden chair, casually refilling tea for himself and the two beside him.

"Not at the moment." Han Li smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Brother Su, perhaps the future me and Ye Fan could do it."

"But for now..."

"One Core Formation, one Dao Palace." Ye Fan pointed at Han Li, then at himself: "Big shot, right now the two of us are just rookies, not the late-stage powerhouses from the book."

Su Lin nodded upon hearing this. Perhaps in a few hundred years they could help him revise the technique, but that was too long.

Sufficient strength was the material guarantee for enjoying a laid-back life.

He could cultivate it for now, and switch to another method later when one became available.

"Moreover, besides the method of becoming immortal, there are side effects inherent to it." Ye Fan said solemnly: "I don't know where you got this inheritance from, but cultivating it to the end until not even a shred of desire remains is just too dull."

"'Preserve heavenly principle, extinguish human desire' — there's nothing wrong with that in principle, but personally I feel the effect of this technique is a bit excessive." Han Li affirmed Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan's words, saying: "At most cultivate to Nascent Soul, then it's better to switch to another technique afterward."

That said, once Han Li returned, he might also reference this technique to practice first. Unlike the techniques from their world, it didn't require Dissipating Power and recultivating — it was compatible, mutually complementary.

'I owe him more and more favors.' Han Li thought to himself.

"I understand, thank you." Seeing them say so, Su Lin expressed his gratitude.

But if he could practice it, he definitely had to keep going. Nascent Soul — that was still a long way off.

This 【Gu Tianwang】 technique was indeed a top-tier method, quite efficient too, no need to exchange techniques directly from the system.

The techniques in the system could be directly mastered and even came with cultivation, but the further you went the higher the price. For example, a complete Taiyi Star Art — 5,000 for entry, 500,000 to cultivate to Mahayana. Although the cultivation was included, they dared to ask 20 million for Human Immortal to Heavenly Immortal. How many worlds would he have to run through to get that?

There was a pattern to the items in the system: things where power belonged to oneself were expensive, while ordinary items or those with time limits were cheap.

"Speaking of which, Brother Ye, did you feel it?" Han Li said to Ye Fan.

"Mm, I felt it." Ye Fan nodded in confirmation.

"Feel what? Stop being riddlers, will you?" Su Lin asked curiously.

"It's not that we're being cryptic. This World is Brother Su's place, so Brother Su probably can't sense it." Han Li said with a smile: "Our cultivation speed has been gradually declining."

Su Lin asked belatedly: "Repulsion?!"

Ye Fan calmly picked up a spirit fruit he had brought himself from the fruit platter and took a bite: "I feel it's more like a restriction — the chat group's restriction on us."

Ye Fan and Han Li exchanged a smile.

Su Lin had no intuitive sense of this chat group restriction. Well, that made sense — the return time point wouldn't change. If someone went to another world and cultivated for a few hundred years before returning, they'd immediately leave their opponents far behind.

"Well then, it's about time to say goodbye."

Han Li rose and cupped his hands.

"Cultivation is truly fascinating. I'll have to return to city life next time."

Half an hour later, the group gathered by the pavilion beside Water Mirror Lake, bidding each other farewell.

"There's plenty of time ahead, everyone. Come back to visit in a few days." Su Lin smiled as he saw them off.

This gathering had lasted quite a while too — everyone had stayed in his world for three months.

There was more than one World-Breaking Talisman, and one was sent every month. The problem was how long this restriction on cultivation would take to lift.

As agreed, the few would take turns coming once a month to test how long this restriction would last.

After all, they also had quite a few spirit plants and medicinal materials planted here. When they came over, they could conveniently harvest some. They actually found this place safe and convenient, and had cultivated quite a few herb fields.

Added to Han Li's little green bottle, the spiritual energy density of Water Mirror Peak shot up several notches in an instant.

An ordinary person coming here to stay for a while would probably just extend their lifespan and end up in tip-top shape.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan seemed to remember something and asked Weigong Shilang beside him: "Have you thought about that question I asked you last month?"

"Huh?" Weigong Shilang scratched his head blankly. "Which question was that?"

"Which heroine to pick?" Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan sighed, exasperated that his friend was hopeless. "Take them all, or pick which one?"

Good lord. Su Lin could only exclaim, good lord.

Amid the crowd's jeering and laughter.

Weigong Shilang's face flushed red as he stammered out something about Sakura being his junior, Rin being a good friend, Saber being a good partner, and that those were Parallel World matters—how could Parallel World matters count as heroines?

While saying this, he frantically opened a portal and prepared to take his leave.

At that moment, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan added: "Got it, it's that little girl called Dada Liya, right?"

It startled Weigong Shilang, who had half a foot already in the portal, into stumbling and falling flat in his own bedroom.

"Shilang, what happened?" Saber next door heard the commotion and called out.

"It's nothing..."

This won't do at all.

Ye Fan cast a teasing glance at Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan—that guy only knew how to bully honest people.

"Alright, alright, hurry back to Yunlan Sect for your three-year appointment with your old flame's disciple, hahaha." Ye Fan laughed as he opened a portal and slipped away; he wasn't about to give Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan time to expose his weak spots.

Medicine Elder felt his disciple was a bit embarrassing, smacked Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan on the head, and returned to the ring.

"Let's go, disciple."

Han Li nodded in acknowledgment and, without lingering any longer, returned to One's Own World.

He was going to find that person's reincarnation. Back then he hadn't known, only felt she looked somehow familiar—who would have thought...

The once-bustling Water Mirror Peak was left with only Su Lin.

Su Lin exhaled a puff of white mist.

Under the sun's rays, the sky was dotted with a few white clouds.

Not long after the lively scene dispersed, Water Mirror Peak once again became wreathed in mist.

Su Lin took out his phone: "Hey, Dad."

"Mm-hmm, don't worry, I've found a job, I'm doing alright."

"Eh? What kind of job?"

"Uh..."

"Farming... agricultural products... yeah, the large-scale kind."

———————————————

At first, it was only some odd people and strange events, or some pictures and videos that looked Photoshopped.

Inside a venue in the Magic Capital, a cosplayer wearing Emperor Armor and a cosplayer in a Kamen Rider Decade suit were fighting with swords, drawing the surrounding comic-con attendees to stop and watch.

"Where are security? What are security doing?"

Someone couldn't stand it and prepared to find security to maintain order—although the two's moves were spectacular, the fight was starting to feel wrong.

What if they hurt some passing beauty cosplayer?

But before long, someone noticed something was off.

The Emperor Armor lit up with Jin Guang, and flames ignited on Decade's sword.

Then the two, as they fought, crashed through the venue's glass and continued to tangle in midair.

"They're going for real...?"

A photographer's DSLR clattered to the ground.

Apricot City, night

The last subway on Line 3—several college students had just made this train, preparing to head back to school and wrap up their gathering.

They were chatting and laughing; besides them, the subway also carried quite a few corporate employees rushing for the last train.

Unlike the college students' laughter, most people just wanted to hurry home and rest, ending this exhausting day.

At that moment, a man in ancient costume appeared at the joint between subway cars.

His bearing was lofty, and on his back was a model of an ancient sword.

The subway's swaying did not affect his balance; he merely stood not far away, his eyes fixed tightly on a man in a branded hoodie at the door of the car ahead.

Just as someone took out their phone to film the two of them.

"Qingyuan Road, arriving..."

The in-car announcement had not yet finished playing.

The hooded man in a black mask shot out through the car door at a speed the naked eye could barely catch.

The man in ancient costume, unhurried, leaped into the air and chased after him.

All sorts of incidents like these had been occurring in cities large and small across the country over the past few months.

As for Su Lin, these past few months he'd been living the complete life of a useless person.

Occasionally using Historical Projection to manufacture some hot and attention-grabbing topics.

That's right, all of the above was caused by Su Lin.

After careful consideration, he used a large portion of his remaining points to exchange for a ring.

【Cause-Concealer】: Conceals heavenly secrets and karmic ties. If one encounters someone capable of piercing through illusion to trace karmic cause, this item shatters as the price to erase the karmic traces left from the day it was worn. Conceal the cause, and the effect cannot be seen. With no cause, where would the effect come from? What is seen as effect is itself cause.

Combined with the ability of Historical Projection, it would be a waste not to shear Earth's wool while it was there for the taking.

Although one could cultivate immortality, there was no reason not to stockpile land widely and hoard plenty of grain.

During the day, it's all about eating and drinking, playing games, watching dramas and anime, and chatting in group chats.

Every now and then, he'd cultivate for a few days, then vacation in other worlds for a few months—ah, what a wonderful life~

He ate delicacies and rare treasures from other worlds, and drank exotic spiritual springs and fine beverages.

After dinner, he'd wander around, scout locations, and design scripts for causing trouble.

Occasionally, he'd transform into an emissary of justice, punishing some lawbreakers and criminals.

Mm, recently the Batman in various places chasing fugitives, Spider-Man showing up to save people, Li Xiaoyao riding his sword to sweep away organized crime, Sun Wukong beating cultists with his staff, and the Armor Hero capturing human traffickers—all of that was his doing too.

Although he was just a minor Qi Refining cultivator, that didn't stop him from freeloading using historical projections.

There were also some one-time-use props that could be exchanged and used.

Su Lin's main consciousness took over control of one of his own historical projections, currently hidden in the sky above the city, overlooking the scenery.

Defying gravity, he stood at a ninety-degree angle on the outside of the office building's glass curtain wall.

Looking down at the city—at first, it gave him a sense of gazing upon all living beings from above.

But now, looking at the same scenery, the feeling was different—watching the sesame-sized vehicles below, the crowds like black dots.

The mortal world's prosperity, the myriad states of human life.

A year ago, he was still working the 996 grind, envying others' comfortable lives while working hard himself.

A shrill horn from below interrupted Su Lin's reminiscence—alright, time for the superhero to spring into action again.

A certain-brand car with frequent brake failure was about to plow into pedestrians on the crosswalk—when a thunderous boom erupted in the sky.

Lei Ting's rumble struck the cement road, sending a shower of pebbles flying.

A burly man wearing a Marvel Thor cartoon mask, in the instant of the fall, sent the car flying with a strike; in a movement too fast for the naked eye to follow, he sliced open the car roof with his ability and dragged the driver—a family of three plus a dog—out of the vehicle.

After setting them on the ground, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, he pressed two fingers together, gave a greeting salute to his forehead, then leaped up.

"Honey... did my eyes fool me?"

"Your eyes are fine—it's me who's hallucinating."