Chapter 2737: with translation of chapter title

2639.2538 Transforming the illusory into the real

"Master, give it a try." The youth continued to persuade.

"Let's discuss later." Yan Master seemed uninterested in his suggestion, but his eyes flickered uncertainly.

"Master, what's Junior Uncle like? How did he come to think he needs to undergo the tribulation?" The youth asked helplessly and curiously.

"He had no talent for cultivation from childhood; as soon as he practiced Qi his head would hurt, and sometimes it hurt so much he'd bang his head against the wall." Yan Master recalled those trivial matters from the past, his expression softening.

He gently stroked the yellowed paper before him with his finger, as if back then.

The youth did not interrupt his train of thought, standing silently with hands lowered, listening.

"Later, he began cultivating the art of refining and transforming, and when he reached the Exterior Corporeal stage, I could faintly see rosy light in his eyes."

"Rosy light?"

"Mm, evening glow, burning clouds. It doesn't happen every time; I think it's due to his unstable realm."

"Oh oh, what about now?"

"Your Junior Uncle says he has already reached the state of forgetting emotions in the equality of all things, his true qi gathering into substance within. But the substance is slightly disordered, the Governor Vessel cannot circulate true essence, especially at the Changqiang point. After a moment I will steady my mind and go take a look at him." Yan Master weighed the situation in his mind and spoke softly.

The youth looked dumbfounded at Yan Master, not understanding what "transforming the illusory into the real" meant, nor what "forgetting emotions in the equality of all things" meant.

To him, these were all too mysterious.

"Your Junior Uncle says he might need to undergo the tribulation, asking me to stand guard. I've never seen a tribulation before, I'm panicking inside, that's why I went to Boss Zheng to ask him to take a look." Yan Master said.

"Boss Zheng is just an ordinary person, he..."

"Nonsense! Boss Zheng has great fortune, how could he be merely an ordinary person?" Yan Master said sternly, "Forget that remark; don't say it in front of Boss Zheng!"

"Oh." The youth stuck out his tongue and replied obediently.

"What you say also makes sense; I'll ask Master Song. She's been mentioning Boss Zheng lately, so she must be interested."

The youth smiled, his face showing an eager-to-try expression.

"Master, what is transforming the illusory into the real? Please explain it to me."

"All things in the world can be transformed."

"The Seventy-Two Transformations?"

"Don't talk nonsense; generally speaking, the path of Qi cultivation sees qi travel through the hundred apertures, strengthening the body and health, and when practiced to the utmost its uses are endless. This method has existed since ancient times; over a hundred years ago, one of your ancestral masters awakened to the way of transforming the illusory into the real, but unfortunately it attracted heavenly tribulation, resulting in death and the disappearance of the Dao." Yan Master said.

The youth fell silent, finally understanding why Master had called Boss Zheng for help.

Heavenly tribulation, death and the disappearance of the Dao—this is the most important matter. As long as one lives, everything is fine; but if one casually invites heavenly tribulation, it's terrifying.

He suddenly recalled the incessant lightning over the sea that night.

"Alright, let's leave it at that." Yan Master sighed softly: "If Boss Zheng doesn't come, it's fated that he will face this tribulation. Give it a try, by the way—ask your senior brother whether he has any recent contact with Boss Zheng, see if you can approach from that side and invite Boss Zheng over."

"Okay." The youth replied promptly, then ran out to make a call.

Yan Master gazed at the yellowed paper before him, continuing his mind-wanderlust. This time his fingers lightly tapped the paper, the sound low and deep, as if beating a war drum.

"Master, Senior Brother says Boss Zheng has recently been researching methods to treat late-stage cancer, and his lab has a nanotechnology project and many things Boss Zheng needs." The youth said.

In this old house, facing the yellowed papers covered with the marks of time, sometimes talking about heavenly tribulation, sometimes about transforming the illusory into the real, sometimes mentioning nanotechnology, the youth felt no sense of incongruity.

"As long as there is a pursuit, that's enough." Yan Master smiled slightly and said: "Your senior brother is also an ordinary person, just like your junior uncle. They have taken completely different paths—this is fate."

"Master, do you mean the senior brother's path is right, or the junior uncle's?" The youth asked.

"Who knows." Yan Master said, "First accompany me to open the gate and take a look at your junior uncle, then we'll go find Master Song together."

……

……

Zheng Ren wore a bitter smile, while Su Yun became excited.

"Boss, undergoing the tribulation! In the eyes of the earth master, you are already..."

"Don't talk nonsense, science, science, you're still a graduate student—do you have any scientific spirit?" Zheng Ren frowned and said seriously.

"Then let's talk about scientific matters." Su Yun blew a breath, his black hair fluttering before his forehead, "Yan Master's eldest son mainly manages a venture capital fund with a registered capital of 20 billion."

"Huh? That much?"

"Don't digress; his direction is very clear, the future trend of technology. I estimate he has received guidance from experts, and many of his investments have hit the mark. Besides, this group of people is somewhat interesting—they occasionally glance ahead at the most esoteric of esoteric matters and then reap excess profits."

"Hmm?"

"Masayoshi Son, it's said he greatly reveres an earth master, and there are many rumors..."

"Talk about something related to science." Zheng Ren isn't interested in gossip, but he is interested in Xiao Shitou's illness.

"Or maybe you've got a screw loose—a 20-billion venture capital fund focused on future technology; if you just bet on the right one… it's like owning penguin shares in the 2000 Little Superman. If you don't sell, go to Tokyo to mess around with real estate, and now he has more money than his father."

"Hmm, continue."

Zheng Ren didn't want Su Yun to gossip about whatever Master Yan said regarding the tribulation; he himself was just an ordinary person, and even Big Pig Trotter couldn't cure an allergy to tonic water, letting his liver and kidney functions suffer acute damage. Thus Zheng Ren subconsciously avoided contact with monstrous power and chaotic spirits—isn't it better to stay alive?

"There are a few technologies; they have first-round venture capital in their hands, and I only learned of this recently when looking into acquisitions." Su Yun said while counting on his fingers, "Nanotechnology—even if you're not interested now, I want it. Shi Hua Ru's side has already started moving; I estimate we'll have news in a few months."

"I'm interested, but first Xiao Shitou must survive until Shi Hua Ru succeeds." Zheng Ren said.

"Right, Yan Zhangsen's venture capital... there's a child with Beighton syndrome, they raised 21 million in charity funds to custom-make a drug treating genetic disorder, which is exactly the lab he invested in that is starting work on." Su Yun said, "Their research on tumor-targeting drugs is also at the world-leading level."

……

Zheng Ren seemed to have already seen his own future—going to guard Master Yan's junior uncle undergoing the tribulation? This is utter nonsense. What era is this, the 21st century, with science flourishing, how could there still be tribulation?

Shouldn't we be riding a spaceship to the sea of stars? That would be humanity's way out.

"I know what you're talking about; the doctor tested Mila's genes and found only the known Beighton syndrome mutation on one chromosome. After the family members underwent whole-genome sequencing, they finally discovered a 'missing' pathogenic mutation on the other chromosome."

"There is no existing drug or therapy in the world that can cure Mila's illness; she has a rare fatal disease." Su Yun said, "Just like Xiao Shitou."