Chapter 304: The Old Thing Decides to Hate Bai Bufan

"No matter, Grandpa Shanqing, I'm the kind of person who likes to keep my feet on the ground." Lin Li, his teeth gritted to powder, spoke to Daoist Shanqing with positive energy.

"Good, with this temperament, you can achieve the Great Dao." Daoist Shanqing nodded in relief upon hearing this, then returned to the topic at hand:

"This formation should be controllable at will by the one who set it; its expansion and size can be determined in a single thought. The fundamental reason you, little friend, can only control it slightly upon touching the formation core is insufficient cultivation.

Actually, normally speaking, Lin Li, with your cultivation you fundamentally cannot drive it; it should be that your divine ability exerted force from behind."

Lin Li nodded.

Since it isn't the most basic formation, it's only normal that I can't fully control it.

Lin Li not only wasn't dejected, but even felt a kind of surprise — originally thinking it was trash, now discovering it's a treasure.

Thanks to the System for exerting force from behind me.

Though next time it'd be even better if it could go to the front; Lin Li likes being in the back.

"This formation gathers the surrounding spiritual qi to the center, so naturally the larger the better, but in this dead land it cannot be allowed to expand freely. Once it leaves this mountain realm, there's a high probability it will be struck by Wujiu Thunder. That thing, I can no longer fully control."

Daoist Shanqing continued explaining.

Lin Li nodded; this way he couldn't let it run unchecked, but it was no big problem — same as before, just spare some attention on the formation.

"Then within the summit area of Inverted Hanging Mountain, I should expand this formation as much as possible, right?

Right, Grandpa Shanqing, I want to ask — can the formation approach those flowers near the summit's edge? They seem quite threatening."

Lin Li placed his hand on the formation core and asked while beginning to expand the formation.

"Those flowers, best stay away," Daoist Shanqing smiled. "They are heaven-and-earth treasures that mutated over a hundred years, nurtured by the sword intent my dao friend scattered during the great battle back then. He named them Azure Cloud Flowers — unspeakably tacky.

They have the effects of tempering sword qi, tempering the lightning body, and stabilizing the soul. When I wake him another day, I'll have him pick a few to gift you. Only he can pick them to maximize the preservation of their marvels. Although your cultivation is insufficient now, there will always be a chance to use them in the future."

"Then I'll thank Grandpa Shanqing in advance." Lin Li immediately bowed slightly in thanks.

"Nothing to thank for; it's originally an ownerless land, and we three are already dead. Your divine ability let you come here, so this world is your destined opportunity."

Daoist Shanqing waved his hand.

Since it can't be allowed to expand freely, I can only do as before — expand as much as possible within the controllable range.

Currently, once the formation exceeds the controllable range, the components will slip from control and expand outward irreversibly; at that point the only option is to recall them into the 【Warehouse】 and reset.

"Lin Li, how much do you understand about formations?" Daoist Shanqing watched this scene and asked curiously.

"Eight orifices open out of nine — one orifice blocked." Lin Li spoke the truth.

"I can tell," Daoist Shanqing nodded, then lifted his brush and waved 'ink'. The gathered spiritual qi actively ran before him, then gradually converged into page after page filled with text.

A stack of scrolls appeared before Lin Li just like that.

"The Dao of formations, this old man knows a little. These are basic knowledge about formations; if you can read through them, they may help you."

Daoist Shanqing pointed at this book and explained, then added:

"But this old man doesn't know if it can maintain this state after leaving this world; most likely it will dissipate. So it's best to read it right here."

Lin Li's eyes lit up.

This is exactly what I need!

"No problem, Grandpa. My phone has a camera function; I can photograph them and study slowly back home." Lin Li took out his phone, opened the camera, and said excitedly upon seeing the book still exist on the screen without disappearing.

So Lin Li began photographing page by page, while activating 【Strong Memory】.

Although 【Strong Memory】 gives him a photographic memory, Lin Li's reading speed ultimately isn't as fast as photographing. Activating it now is just to get an initial impression for easier subsequent study.

"This isn't me! Is it an illusion technique?"

Lin Li was photographing when a startled, doubtful voice came from ahead.

He looked up and discovered Daoist Shanqing holding his phone pointed at himself, his hand now slapping his own cheeks.

So Lin Li stepped forward to look, then said with a smile: "Grandpa, you just turned on beauty mode. Turn it off and it'll be fine."

"Oh oh."

"Heh—"

Not long after resuming photographing, Lin Li heard Daoist Shanqing's laughter again.

"What is it, Grandpa?"

"Lin Li, is your world's definition of beauty this weird? Why can such a countenance be called beautiful?"

Daoist Shanqing looked at the phone with a cheerful yet somewhat unbearable-to-look-at expression.

Lin Li walked over again.

The face with smoothing maxed out turned into a peeled boiled egg; the face-thinning effect sharpened the old man's jaw sharper than a flying sword; under "big eye" mode the eyes occupied nearly half the face, with glitchy effects inside; cherry blossoms drifted on both cheeks — several petals even stuck in the suddenly appeared cat-ear effects.

It turned the old man into a grandson.

Lin Li leaned in close, head lowered — Bu Huo, this is a don't-laugh challenge.

After explaining the definition of beauty, Daoist Shanqing finally understood and continued researching the phone.

The scrolls contained a lot of content; Lin Li spent quite a bit of time before ensuring all were photographed clearly.

"Grandpa Shanqing, can you help me look at a few more things?" After flipping through the album, Lin Li looked up and asked.

"Of course." Daoist Shanqing flashed to Lin Li's side. "What to look at?"

Lin Li noticed from the corner of his eye that the phone screen had already turned into Angry Birds.

The Daoist didn't watch documentaries; he played games first.

Fine fine fine, really gave you stuff to learn and you don't learn.

Lin Li manifested "Holy Dragon Essence Blood" and "Thunder-Conceiving Seed".

When the Holy Dragon Essence Blood appeared, that scorching heat still made the current Lin Li somewhat unable to cope, until Daoist Shanqing, his expression much more serious, wrapped it in rings of spiritual power — only then did it improve.

The Thunder-Conceiving Seed didn't get this treatment; the current Lin Li, though still feeling stinging pain, could already pinch it for a short time without issue.

"This is dragon blood? And not an ordinary dragon's blood?" After suppressing the aura, Daoist Shanqing asked doubtfully.

"This is dragon blood? And it's not even an ordinary dragon's dragon blood?" After suppressing the aura, Daoist Shanqing asked doubtfully.

"Yes, seems like Holy Dragon Essence Blood, but I have no concept of it."

"... Also given by the divine ability?"

"Mm."

"Your divine ability..." Daoist Shanqing started to speak but stopped, "It's truly divine and all-encompassing, how come you can get your hands on anything."

However, he also didn't feel Lin Li was bluffing him; he knew Lin Li's this divine ability wasn't a divine ability in the cultivation world's sense, but a title Lin Li gave to make himself understand better.

Now it seems, it's more like something akin to a secret realm; there are many things inside.

"Whether consumed, refined, or used as material, this item is a supreme-grade treasure."

"Even for this old man, when alive, if I saw this item I would crave it, however..." Daoist Shanqing suddenly found it amusing:

"Lin Li, for the current you, this is thoroughly and completely of not the slightest use; you needn't even speak of consuming it, the fact that you didn't directly explode and die from such close contact just now is already the divine ability helping you again."

Lin Li: "?"

Can it be dangerous to this extent?

"Put this back into the 'divine ability' first; ordinarily don't take it out to show people; if there are other mortals around your lower realm, it might trigger a tragedy."

Daoist Shanqing returned the porcelain bottle containing the Holy Dragon Essence Blood to Lin Li:

"Wait until later when your cultivation is higher; this old man might be able to assist you in consuming this item, but now is too early."

"Thank you, Grandpa, I understand." Lin Li immediately stored it back into the 【Warehouse】.

Let it gather dust!

"As for this item, the Thunder-Containing Seed, it contains a trace of thunder power, usable for cultivating thunder arts at the foundational stage."

"How to use it, directly absorb the thunder power? But at my current stage, holding it for long makes me feel a stinging pain; is that also because my cultivation hasn't reached the threshold to use it?" Lin Li asked curiously.

"Oh, young friend, you also know thunder arts?" Daoist Shanqing also returned a question with a hint of interest.

Lin Li smiled faintly, tossed his head handsomely: "Grandpa, watch closely!"

Only to see Lin Li's palm condense a lightning ball the size of a palm, then smash it onto the ground.

"Pop!"

"Pop!"

Never mind whether the lightning ball left any traces on this Inverted Suspended Mountain peak's strange black stone; just say whether this sound was loud or not.

Louder than a throw-down firecracker.

Win!

"Grandpa, how do you rate my level." Lin Li set his hands on his hips, laughing heartily.

Daoist Shanqing blinked, raised one hand horizontally, his arm slowly rising, thunder patterns flowing in his palm.

The countless blameless thunderbolts dormant outside Inverted Suspended Mountain, like flood dragons returning to their nest, gathered toward the direction Daoist Shanqing pointed.

When his hand fiercely descended—

"Boom!!!"

Purple lightning condensed into a sky-piercing, earth-penetrating crimson-purple giant blade, crashing down.

The void trembled, mountains resounded in unison; in an instant, the entire forbidden land was bright as day.

"..."

"Hum—"

"..."

"Lin Li, how do you rate Grandpa's level."

Looking at Lin Li rubbing his eyes and making 'aiyo' sounds from his mouth, Daoist Shanqing asked with a smile, blinking.

"Seems... a bit more formidable than me."

The tinnitus finally faded; opening his eyes, Lin Li stroked his chin, nodding slowly with a serious air.

"Hahaha—" Daoist Shanqing laughed heartily.

"You brat, you really know how to amuse people."

He saw through it; Lin Li's exaggerated posturing to show off the thunder arts he had mastered just now was entirely deliberate,

For the purpose of 'showing off his meager skills before an expert' in front of himself.

"Heh," Lin Li smiled, touched his neck.

He naturally couldn't truly think he was very skilled at thunder arts.

Looking at the sky outside the mountain, Lin Li formed a guess: "So, Grandpa, the blameless thunder outside the mountain, is it formed from the thunder power that dispersed from your great battle back then? Same nature as that flower?"

"Counts as such; in the Dao arts, thunder arts are what I'm relatively skilled at." Daoist Shanqing nodded, then picked up the Thunder-Containing Seed and gave Lin Li a brief introduction:

"Regarding this Thunder-Containing Seed, direct absorption is a method, but not the best; combined with spirit qi infusion, using this method, see this base shell? Like this, you can better absorb and temper..."

Lin Li immediately studied seriously.

"Right, Lin Li, what thunder art do you cultivate? Did you learn some technique? It can't be that you're self-taught without a teacher, or that the divine ability directly bestowed it on you?" Daoist Shanqing asked.

"There is, called 'Pure Righteous Thunder Control Art',"

Lin Li directly manifested the technique original and handed it to Daoist Shanqing.

Daoist Shanqing received it and began flipping through; the flipping speed was very fast, almost only a few seconds per page.

And Lin Li didn't disturb Daoist Shanqing, but manifested spirit stones and began using the Thunder-Containing Seed according to the method the Daoist taught him.

Effect remarkable; having a teacher is good indeed.

"Hiss—" To the side, Daoist Shanqing who had flipped halfway made a sound.

"Grandpa Shanqing, what's wrong? Is this technique also very basic and low-grade?" Lin Li asked, also prepared for the technique to be disparaged.

"Very basic it is extremely basic; there are too many advanced moves in thunder arts, this technique doesn't mention them at all, but you say it's low-grade, it absolutely isn't." Daoist Shanqing shook his head, "I just took a look; not only did I not find any errors, I also didn't find any points where its content could be improved.

That is to say, even this old man can only perfect and expand it, cannot improve it.

Even... the few assertions put forward in this cultivation method seem even more accurate than the understanding of lightning arts I've immersed myself in for many years and believed I'd thoroughly researched.

There isn't even a single place that needs correction... honestly, if I hadn't already lost my true physical body, rendering cultivation meaningless and ineffective, I'd really want to try this "Pure Righteous Lightning Body" myself.

Who knows, it might let me advance a step further in this Dao."

Hearing Daoist Shanqing's lament, Lin Li raised an eyebrow.

He completely hadn't expected that this cultivation method would actually receive such high praise from his mouth.

"I originally wanted to pass on my lightning arts to you, young friend, but since you've already embarked on this path, you might as well continue down it; no need to switch paths — this should be the lightning art most suitable for you right now."

Daoist Shanqing shook this lightning art manual and said with a smile:

"Lin Li, next time bring paper and brushes that can be taken back to your world.

Its content is ultimately still too basic; it doesn't mention a single word about the more advanced variations of lightning arts.

The ceiling is too low; if you cultivate to the end your achievements will also be limited. I'll help you perfect the subsequent cultivation method content."

"Okay okay, thank you Grandpa." Lin Li immediately agreed upon hearing this.

This was something he could only wish for.

"Grandpa, can you help me look at these two cultivation methods too?" Lin Li didn't stand on ceremony, directly taking out "Eight-Section Body Forging Art" and "Basic Sword Formula" and handing them to Daoist Shanqing.

"Especially this 'Eight-Section Body Forging Art' — I always feel like I'm not practicing it properly; can you give me some pointers?"

Perhaps Daoist Shanqing's pointers could become the opportunity to complete Task One.

"Wait a moment, let me take a look first."

Daoist Shanqing nodded, accepted the two cultivation methods, and began reading them.

"Same as the 'Pure Righteous Lightning Art' — both are very good foundational cultivation methods; although shallow, the content written in them still contains no errors or improvable points whatsoever, at least none I can achieve.

I really want to meet the existence who wrote these things; they must have truly achieved mastery of a subject, thoroughly returning to simplicity and authenticity."

Daoist Shanqing softly lamented as he returned the two cultivation methods to Lin Li.

"Lin Li, I can perfect these two too, but they definitely won't be as comprehensive as the lightning art perfection; when those two wake up later, perhaps they can do better than me."

Lin Li nodded in thanks.

Suddenly felt the system is like a matchmaker only looking for HR — really loves doing personnel work.

It actually gave such good things on these cultivation methods that lay one's foundation; Lin Li almost thought they were the dime-a-dozen basic trash of the cultivation world.

Meaning following the system to cultivate, one definitely won't make mistakes.

"Thank you Grandpa Shanqing."

Grandpa Shanqing waved his hand, then lifted his chin:

"As for you saying you're not practicing properly, you demonstrate the 'Eight-Section Body Forging Art' you've grasped for me right now; the cultivation method itself has no problem."

"Okay."

Lin Li nodded, stood before Daoist Shanqing, discarded all distracting thoughts, immersed his mind, and began practicing.

To complete all eight chapters of the "Eight-Section Body Forging Art" once takes a very long time — six hours isn't enough — but fortunately, after Lin Li practiced for half an hour, Daoist Shanqing called a halt.

"I roughly see the problem." Daoist Shanqing spoke.

"Please teach me, Grandpa." Lin Li said with utmost respect.

"You lack common sense — accurately speaking, you lack the common sense of our world."

"Although this 'Eight-Section Body Forging Art' is excellent, it's crude... can't really say it's crude either; the writer probably never imagined someone from another world would obtain this cultivation method."

"Therefore, on breathing rhythm and spiritual power circulation pathways, it doesn't explicitly annotate, causing you to have a large number of flaws in these links.

But this is content outside the cultivation method, and it's not your fault.

Can tell you've practiced very seriously, even self-taught a crude breathing method without a teacher — astonishing talent."

Daoist Shanqing slowly explained.

Lin Li suddenly realized.

This is indeed an unavoidable matter; these things readily available in the cultivation world, Lin Li fundamentally couldn't access.

As for 'self-taught without a teacher', it should be something he groped out relying on his martial arts talent enhancement combined with these two months of experience.

"Can Grandpa teach me?" But now he had a teacher, no need to work so hard; Lin Li said expectantly to the old man.

Rich guy, I don't want to work hard anymore.

"Of course." Daoist Shanqing kindly nodded and immediately began demonstrating:

"First teaching you the breathing method suited for this body forging art; come, learn from me — abdominal cavity guiding Qi like a stream pouring in, not chest cavity swelling up, obstructing meridians..."

"Grandpa Shanqing, remarkable results!" Lin Li, who had opened the door to a new world, was full of delight.

Suddenly realized his utilization efficiency of cultivation methods was actually very low.

"Your comprehension is very good; you understand quickly. Lin Li, remember everything just now; practicing with these from now on will definitely yield good improvement."

Daoist Shanqing also nodded quite satisfied.

Every teacher likes students with talent and good grades.

— Xue Jian excluded.

If he gets first place in the whole class on this midterm and Xue Jian still treats him with his usual attitude, Lin Li will be so angry he'll secretly hide in his blanket and shed little pearls.

"It's because Grandpa taught well," Lin Li flattered.

"Anything else you need me to look over?"

"None for the time being." Other things aren't urgent.

Lin Li manifested the "Spirit-Gathering Heaven Array", and while controlling the array spoke: "Grandpa, then I'll start learning the array knowledge you gave me?"

"Good, fine. Anyway if you have any other questions just ask me."

The Daoist Qing Shan nodded, then returned to his laptop and began using his phone.

……

The remaining time flew by in cultivation.

Every hour or so, Daoist Qing Shan would come to ask Lin Li what phone and computer issues he had encountered during that hour.

Very quickly, he became proficient.

Meanwhile, Lin Li was distractedly controlling the formation while studying the formation Dao knowledge given by Daoist Qing Shan; likewise, whenever he didn't understand something, he asked the old man.

They helped each other.

After just a few hours, his mastery of the Spirit Gathering Heaven Formation had greatly increased, and its range could now become larger.

With Task One achieving key progress, Task Three had been steadily rising, and the cultivation method that had previously constrained Lin Li would now be perfected.

Everything was developing in a good direction—awesome.

Since only five minutes remained, Lin Li collected and stored the accumulated spiritual fluid, then stood up and walked toward Daoist Qing Shan.

"Ah!"

As he approached Daoist Qing Shan, he happened to hear the old man let out a sigh.

"What's wrong, Grandpa Qing Shan?" Lin Li asked with concern.

"This phone is indeed precise—something I couldn't have imagined before—but… it's still too unresponsive. Why must it require physical touchscreen contact to react to spiritual energy? That's unreasonable."

Daoist Qing Shan pointed at the angry bird on the screen and said discontentedly:

"I don't understand why this little bird won't move as I wish—five more… whatever they're called… pixels upward? If I launched it like that, I'd get a higher score."

"My body clearly followed my command precisely, moving a distance equivalent to five pixels on the phone screen, so why didn't it respond?"

Lin Li: "..."

Daoist Qing Shan, you're also a micro-operation master, right?

That vibrant, teeming realm of myriad things flourishing still lay before Lin Li's eyes.

"Grandpa Qing Shan, aren't you already three-star?" Lin Li asked, squatting down to look for a while, then grew even more puzzled.

"Three stars isn't enough—since higher scores are attainable, how could I easily let them go? If cultivation were this easily satisfied, one could never reach the peak!" Daoist Qing Shan replied seriously.

Lin Li: "..."

That's very ambitious.

"How about, Grandpa, you let me try?" After watching Daoist Qing Shan play for a while, Lin Li spoke up.

"Come on." Daoist Qing Shan handed the phone to Lin Li, watching expectantly from the side.

Lin Li then operated the phone with tiger-like fierceness, and upon checking his results, they were truly tiger-like.

"Hey, why does it feel like you just randomly tossed it, Lin Li, yet your score is so much higher than mine?" Daoist Qing Shan looked puzzled.

"If the goal isn't just three stars but a high score, then many factors must be considered.

Grandpa Qing Shan, remember: the scoring mechanism for Angry Birds triggers a combo when multiple targets are destroyed consecutively within three seconds, doubling the score. Although my operation wasn't precise just now, I first used the blue bird's split to shatter the glass, establishing the foundation for a chain reaction, then detonated the black bird to completely destroy the building structure—that's the key to high scores."

Lin Li handed the phone back, explaining.

Daoist Qing Shan suddenly understood: "I said it—this little blue bird may split, but its power is too weak; I never get high scores with it, so I've been disliking it."

Lin Li let out a startled "ding":

"Oh dear, Daoist, why do you care so much about this scoring mechanism—"

Daoist Qing Shan: "?"

Lin Li stopped mid-sentence, realizing Daoist Qing Shan wouldn't get it anyway, and said with a smile: "Daoist, you shouldn't obsess over temporary gains and losses—look at the whole picture. There's no need to chase the highest score on every single bird; instead, view the overall situation."

"I've already realized this," Daoist Qing Shan nodded, "Thank you for the guidance, young friend."

"Truth is heard in sequence, skills have their specialties—such is it. Well then, Grandpa, I'm leaving."

Lin Li waved goodbye to Daoist Qing Shan with a smile.

"Good."

And so Lin Li disappeared.

"..."

"..."

The old man continued playing Angry Birds.

He fumed for a minute.

Daoist Qing Shan glanced around guiltily twice, confirmed Lin Li had indeed left, coughed twice, and retreated to the phone's main interface.

"Bufan, wake up." The old man spoke.

"Woof woof, I'm here."

"Help me open and play the pornographic videos on the phone."

"Woof woof, sorry, but the current operation violates legal regulations—I cannot assist you."

"No, Bufan, here the heavenly laws have already shattered—what could possibly be non-compliant?"

Daoist Qing Shan flared up: "I've already smashed the laws of this heaven and earth to pieces—why are you still obeying some damn regulations?"

"Woof woof, sorry, but I cannot understand what you mean."

"Bufan, you lung fog!"

"Woof woof, sorry, but I will continue striving to improve."

"Then help me find the pornographic videos on the phone—just like the ones I saw on Lin Li's phone last time, the kind he skipped over and wouldn't let me see!"

"Woof woof, sorry, but the current operation violates legal regulations—I cannot assist you."

"Bufan, you lung fog!"

"Woof woof, sorry, but I will continue striving to improve."

Daoist Shanqing: (╬~皿~)

Forget it, things have come to this, let's continue playing the game.

……

"You stinking little bird, you're lung fog too!"

(End of chapter)