Chapter 54: |
When people encounter happy events their spirits are lifted, Chen Mo was also no exception. To celebrate Chen Mo's breakthrough to the first level in Tong Zi, Xuan Zong decided to splurge.
He took out a crumpled one-yuan bill went to the market and treated Chen Mo to a big meal. Four large bowls of rice, two meat dishes and one vegetable dish. Chen Mo hadn't indulged in such a carefree feast for a long time, he dug in feeling extremely happy until Chen Mo slurped up the last drop of soup from his bowl and reluctantly wiped his mouth.
Xuan Zong couldn't help but laugh, "It's okay, when I was young I could eat even more than you. Practitioners should eat like this."
Chen Mo felt a little relieved at his words.
During this rare rest time he couldn't help but flip through the book "Tong Zi," again. In the past half year he didn't know how many times he had read this book, already memorizing it backwards. Unknowingly this time also he flipped through to the end again.
At the end of the book, it detailed the insights into the fusion of Yuan Yang Qi and internal energy after reaching the third level of the Tong Zi and introduced several rare and precious auxiliary cultivation items that were needed, including spiritual ginseng and blood bodhi, which were mythical spiritual items that were beneficial to the cultivation of the Tong Zi.
When Chen Mo saw the introduction of an item called "Yuan Yang Bone," he couldn't help but furrow his brows, showing a pensive expression.
"Master, what is a Yuan Yang Bone?"
Xuan Zong upon hearing this couldn't help but look surprised, then shook his head.
"Huh?" Chen Mo asked in surprise, "Does it have to be the throat bone of a Fire Qilin or Fire Phoenix?"
"Not necessarily," Xuan Zong said. "The Yuan Yang Bone is just a general term. Other ancient exotic beasts with fire attributes or creatures with their bloodline may also have it. But I advise you not to think too much about it, in this world-" He stopped halfway, suddenly remembering something.
"I almost forgot you are not from this world. Are there such exotic beasts in your world?"
Chen Mo apologized, "I'm sorry, as you know I cannot give specific information."
The light brain data chip has considerable penalties for leakage of information, this is basic common sense.
"Mm." Xuan Zong obviously had some understanding of natural disasters and didn't inquire further.
Chen Mo didn't continue the topic. He had just confirmed that the Yuan Yang Bone, which was extremely precious in this world, was quite common in the Disaster World. He remembered that in the skull room, where Stone previously slept, there seemed to be such a magical bone that could emit warmth all the time. Because of this, the temperature in the skull room was always higher than outside, helping Stone survive the cold nights.
‘Regardless, after returning to the Disaster World, I'll go back and see."
Night fell.
Chen Mo practiced basic skills alone in silence. Every time he practice here, when he sees the old man not far away studying the chess games silently, Chen Mo feels full of motivation!
As the night grew colder, the old chess king finally went home.
Chen Mo took out the psychic ball and practiced the skills of psychic bullet and despicable mind shield. He didn't want to attract attention, so he had to be careful with these training.
Prompt: Your psychic bullet skill, proficiency level +1.
Prompt: Your psychic bullet skill’s level has reached Lv4, activating additional attributes.
Prompt: The additional attribute of your Lv4 psychic bullet: skill damage +3.
"Finally reached Lv4." Chen Mo muttered.
After all, it was just an E-level skill, with a short cooldown and low energy consumption, the proficiency level naturally increased faster. Although, the additional attribute brought some changes, it did not cause a qualitative change in the skill.
However the additional attribute of +3 damage was undoubtedly quite practical. Today, Chen Mo's mood was really good when he walked back.
When he returned to his room and was preparing to rest, he found Xuan Zong standing at the door talking to Mrs. Zhang from next door. Usually at this time of the day Xuan Zong would have already been asleep.
"Chen Mo, come here."
Hearing Xuan Zong's call, he hurried over.
"Mrs. Zhang."
Chen Mo greeted Mrs. Zhang and noticed that behind her there was a girl who was a full head taller than Mrs. Zhang. She was standing shyly behind Mrs. Zhang, almost touching her head to her toes.
"Xiao Mo."
Mrs. Zhang smiled and looked at the strong young man in front of her, nodding constantly.
This made Chen Mo somewhat uncomfortable. He kept using his eyes to ask Xuan Zong, but saw that Xuan Zong looking serious and saying to Mrs. Zhang, "Although my nephew here is not very eloquent, he is very kind-hearted and hardworking. It's not a bad thing for young people to interact more. Whether they can make it or not depends on their fate."
"Yes, yes." Mrs. Zhang smiled and pulled the simple-dressed tall girl behind her.
She looked at Chen Mo and said, "This is my niece from the countryside, Tao Lan. She is kind-hearted and hardworking, efficient in her work and has a good appearance. She doesn’t have high requirements, she just wants to find a kind-hearted, hardworking man who can support her."
"Come Xiao Lan, come and say hello."
In Chen Mo's stunned eyes, the girl raised her head shyly, glanced at Chen Mo and then quickly lowered her head again, softly saying "My name is Tao Lan, you can call me Xiao Lan."
"Hello, I'm Chen Mo."
After some awkward small talk when Mrs. Zhang finally left with Xiao Lan Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief.
He hurriedly caught up with Xuan Zong and asked "You know I'm practicing Tong Zi now, what's this about?"
Xuan Zong smiled faintly, "I'm helping you."
"Helping me?"
Facing Chen Mo's puzzled questions Xuan Zong explained, "In practicing Tong Zi besides external assistance there is also an internal method of assistance, which is to face the myriad temptations of the world but always maintaining an unwavering heart. You must recognize what is external influence and what is your true heart. This is the Tong Zi's pursuit of invulnerability to evil means."
Xuan Zong continued with deep meaning "Remember practicing Tong Zi is not about abandoning desires but about seeking your true heart within those desires."
Chen Mo pondered upon hearing this.
"But, I can't lead her on and hurt her later."
"Then you should openly and honestly reject her and stick to your true heart."
After saying this Xuan Zong fell into sleep, leaving Chen Mo lost in thought.
In the following days whenever Chen Mo returned from work at the dock, Xiao Lan would already be lined up, using a wooden basin to fetch water for Chen Mo to use, handing it to him shyly.
Many neighbours who were shirtless and queuing up to fetch water envied this scene and cheered making Xiao Lan even more shy.
At first Chen Mo was also a bit embarrassed, thinking about how to reject Xiao Lan gently but he didn't know how to start. After Chen Mo finished washing up and changed his clothes, Xiao Lan looked at the well-dressed Chen Mo and became even more shy.
The two gradually went from not being able to say a word to each other to talking more and more.
Unknowingly, half a month of time went on. Chen Mo's 240-day stay limit was getting closer and closer.
When Xiao Lan was with Chen Mo she was as happy as a lark. Every evening when Chen Mo came back from work the time they spent together was her happiest moments. All the unpleasantness seemed to be forgotten.
Seeing Xiao Lan like this, Chen Mo's mood became heavier instead. After these days of being together, he seemed to have developed some feelings for this simple, kind and beautiful country girl.
If at first he just couldn't bear to hurt her, now he didn't want to see this lovely girl leave him and become someone else's wife in the future.
Now he finally understood what Xuan Zong meant by saying wanting to help him. Influenced by this, Chen Mo was obviously out of sorts in the next few days.
Xuan Zong, like an eminent monk who had attained enlightenment, saw all of this.
"Now is the time when you are closest to your true heart. You need to ask yourself whether you truly like this girl or if it's just possessiveness at play. This is the test of your invulnerability to evils."
Xuan Zong's words reminded Chen Mo of Xiao Ya, the girl who also had feelings for him.
"I understand."
Night.
During their usual walk, Chen Mo finally spoke up and rejected her kindness.
Xiao Lan was stunned.
She looked at Chen Mo blankly tears welling up in her eyes, and asked grievously, "Is it because Xiao Lan did something wrong, or because Xiao Lan is not pretty enough?"
"Neither."
Chen Mo said calmly "You are good and a beautiful person. It's just that I have more important things to pursue, we are not from the same world, I'm sorry."
After Xiao Lan left Chen Mo felt genuinely sad but at the same time he felt that influenced by Tong Zi, as Xuan Zong had said beofre, he had truly improved.
It seemed that in this short time, it was enough to make up for his two months of hard training.
"Recognize your true heart, gain the invulnerability to a hundred evils."
Chen Mo suddenly understood what Xuan Zong had said. Any martial arts technique had corresponding martial arts thoughts as support. If one couldn't comprehend these thoughts, then even if one achieved something step by step, it would just be superficial and couldn't be truly utilized.
On the other hand, if one could comprehend the martial arts thoughts the practice would be twice as effective. Most martial arts thoughts require practitioners to eliminate distractions and focus on diligent practice, though they may go about it with different methods. Tong Zi was no exception.
The so-called invulnerability to all evil was not an empty concept, it can be achieved through rigorous training. By repeated tempering achieving the unity of body and mind, martial artists can gain the so-called invulnerability to all evil.
After understanding this, when he return to the Disaster World and wherever he was practicing Tong Zi, it would be twice as effective, far more effective than any auxiliary spiritual item.
(End of chapter 54)
