Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Forming Good Bonds with Immortals
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Food, tools, energy, medicine, clothing, miscellaneous.
These are the six main categories of supplies in the safe house, each divided into many subcategories.
Yang Shi could grasp the gist of five categories, but he was completely baffled by the 'energy' category.
He couldn't understand what the "28 square meters of high-efficiency solar photovoltaic panels" and "large-scale storage battery with 100 degrees of storage and discharge system" referred to by his ancestor meant.
Fortunately, he knew that flipping the switch on the wall would light up the lamps overhead.
After staring for a long time, Yang Shi was shocked!
"My eyes, why can't I see them?"
"Ah~ I'm blind!"
"Is this the technique of an Immortal?"
After a while, he could see clearly again.
This time, he didn't blindly look around but went straight to the wall cabinet labeled 'food'.
He took out three cans.
Luncheon meat, canned peaches, canned tomato beef.
After opening them, he couldn't wait to stuff his mouth full, taking big bites.
As he ate, tears involuntarily fell, and he said with a choked voice:
"Great Ancestor... you truly... really... mm... so delicious."
"Great Ancestor, you smell so good."
"No, no, no, it's the iron cans from the Great Ancestor that smell so good."
Watching Yang Shi eat like a stray cat devouring cat food, Yang Genshuo couldn't help but swallow and ordered himself some takeout.
At this moment, a prompt popped up on the screen.
"Do you want to accelerate?"
A fast-forward button appeared on the screen.
Yang Genshuo clicked it, and the world within the game suddenly sped up, with Yang Shi moving quickly as if he had grown wings on his legs.
Rows of descriptive text appeared in the "Quick Info" column on the right side of the screen.
[Day 1, your descendant Yang Shi checked all the food and tasted 10 kinds of can, 2 kinds of compressed biscuits, brewed a cup of tea, a cup of coffee, a cup of milk powder, and a cup of orange juice.]
Yang Genshuo glanced at his watch; only 4 minutes had passed in real life, but a whole day had already passed in the game.
[Day 2, after filling his belly, Yang Shi's wounds from the beating started to fester, and the chronic ailments from his years of begging became more evident. He looked at the drawers full of medicines but didn't know where to start...]
Yang Genshuo saw this and immediately slowed the game speed back down to its normal flow.
[Manifestation]
[Incense Fire Value -1, Remaining Incense Fire Value: 18]
A golden hand floated up from the grave and pointed at alcohol, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and painkillers respectively.
"Use alcohol to clean the wounds, take antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and painkillers."
Yang Shi was startled; his Immortal Great Ancestor was watching over him all the time.
He kneeled down on the spot and kowtowed, "Thank you, Great Ancestor, for bestowing the Immortal Elixir!"
Yang Genshuo chuckled. To the ancient world, this stuff was no different from an Immortal Pill.
Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are no joke; they'll travel through your body and directly kill any infectious or inflammatory germs. Even passing white blood cells would get slapped twice.
Not to mention painkillers - whoever takes them feels revitalized.
After the [Manifestation], Yang Genshuo once again set the game time to accelerated mode.
[Day 3, Yang Shi's external wounds healed quickly, and he felt very energetic.]
[Day 10, Yang Shi's body had largely recovered, the negative attribute 'Injury' disappeared, he was in high spirits, and enthusiastically practiced the Beggar Gang's General Martial Arts - Dog Beating Stick Technique, increasing his proficiency.]
[Day 28, Yang Shi's injuries were healed, his qi and blood were abundant, and he made a breakthrough to the Third Layer of the Body Refining Realm: Qi and Blood Condensation.]
[Yang Family's descendant achieved his first breakthrough to the Third Layer of the Body Refining Realm, significantly raising the family's Martial Virtue, Incense Fire Value +30!]
[New Blessing - Vitality: Enhances the metabolism of descendants, 1 Incense Fire Value / day / person]
After watching for 2 hours, a new feature appeared in the game.
"The breakthrough gave a lot of Incense Fire Value, and the new [Blessing: Vitality]... is like a buff, right?"
After eating his takeout, Yang Genshuo patted his sexy belly, producing a duang~duang sound.
As a fitness enthusiast with 5 years of experience in online fitness, he knew well the changes that an increased metabolic rate could cause.
Recovery power, growth power, immunity, mental state... the function of the entire body would significantly improve, just like the description in [Blessings], becoming very vital.
"Spending 1 Incense Fire Value to give Yang Shi a vitality buff for one day, I need to save up on Incense Fire Values, manifest less and provide more of this Blessing to accelerate his martial practice."
Meanwhile, in the game, Yang Shi, after being joyful for a while, suddenly fell into deep thought as if pondering over some troubling matter.
After sitting under the sun for a whole day, Yang Shi knelt in front of the grave and respectfully kowtowed.
"Descendant Yang Shi seeks the guidance of the Great Ancestor."
A prompt appeared in the game: [Do you respond to the descendant's request for guidance?]
He could choose to ignore or respond.
Responding would cost 1 point of Incense Fire.
"What is it?"
Two golden characters floated above the grave.
Yang Shi hurriedly said, "Great Ancestor, my Talent is dull, and it was not until today, at 18 years of age, that I've broken through to the Third Layer of the Body Refining Realm, far behind many of my peers in Martial Arts. But in this world, where Martial Arts are revered, and the weak are prey to the strong, without practicing Martial Arts, I can't even win a meal by begging. Bearing the deep enmity of the Yang Family and with your support, Great Ancestor, should I not focus more on Cultivation?"
"Makes sense."
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Seeing the ancestor's approval, Yang Shi was delighted and took the opportunity to say,
"My Cultivation has encountered a major problem. The speed of condensing qi and blood in the third layer of Body Refining largely depends on external factors. Consuming medicinal herbs that supplement qi and strengthen blood can make the training faster. There are rumors that someone once consumed a natural treasure and achieved Perfection in condensing qi and blood overnight, breaking through to the fourth layer of Body Refining."
"Medicinal herbs that supplement qi and blood are quite expensive, I was thinking... can I use the resources from the safe house to make some money for my Cultivation?"
Yang Shi asked tentatively.
Yang Genshuo thought for a moment before agreeing.
"Yes, but you must act carefully and not attract attention. Stability is the priority."
"Yes! I will heed the elder's advice!"
These days, Yang Shi had already studied the items in the safe house thoroughly, and Yang Genshuo believed that he would use these resources wisely.
Besides, even if Yang Shi didn't say it, Yang Genshuo had already planned to let him go down the mountain to earn some money. Otherwise... next year when offering sacrifices to the ancestors, would he bring back a mountain of canned food for himself?
He wanted to have the specialties that only this world could offer!
After consulting with his ancestor, time accelerated again.
[On Day 30, with trimmed hair and dressed in work protective gear, a refreshed Yang Shi carried a survival bag down the mountain and arrived in Qingshi County town.]
[On Day 31, Yang Shi entered the Treasure Pavilion and was invited into the VIP room after showing the items in his bag.]
[On Day 34, the Treasure Pavilion launched a new treasure called the 'Grain Avoidance Cake.' Rumored to be crafted by Immortals, a palm-sized biscuit could replace a day's dry food, tasted exquisite, was easy to carry, and remained fresh for 4 years, attracting many scholars heading to the capital for the imperial exams to watch and buy.]
[On Day 40, after selling 90% of the compressed biscuits stored in the safe house, Yang Shi made a fortune in Silver Taels and was in high spirits. He bought 20 baskets of pork buns for the beggars at the street corner. The beggars bowed and kowtowed. Only Hu Zi, a little beggar who had been close to him, recognized Yang Shi, whose appearance had changed significantly. A joyful expression appeared on Hu Zi's face, but his lips quivered for a long time, and the words 'Brother Shi' didn't come out. An older beggar pushed his head down, and finally, with due respect, he clearly said, "Thank you, Young Master Yang..."]
[On Day 45, Yang Shi settled in Qingshi County, established a tablet for his ancestors, offered incense, and received +10 Incense Fire Value.]
[On Day 46, Yang Shi purchased 'Qi and Blood Supplement Powder' in 10 portions from a pharmacy. After consuming it, his qi and blood boiled, and his progress was astonishingly fast.]
"Finally got the medicine for supplementing qi and blood. It's the perfect time to try out my [Blessing: Vitality]."
A golden energy flew out of the tablet and entered Yang Shi's body as he was practicing Martial Arts.
"This! The speed at which I absorb the medicinal effects... has increased! My body feels like it has endless strength!"
"The ancestor is using Immortal Power to assist my cultivation!"
"I will not let the ancestor's expectations down!"
Yang Shi was overjoyed, triggering his innate talent [Bittersweet], increasing his cultivation speed by 20%.
With the increased metabolic rate provided by [Blessing: Vitality], his body's qi and blood surged like a furnace, rapidly refining the medicinal power, his Cultivation leaping forward by leaps and bounds!
[On Day 206, swinging his Dog Beating Stick Technique in the yard, Yang Shi, with tiger-like vigor, successfully advanced to the fourth layer of the Body Refining Realm—Refining Internal Organs.]
[For the first time, a descendant of the Yang Family has broken through to the fourth layer of the Body Refining Realm, significantly improving the family's martial honor, +40 Incense Fire Value!]
"Hmm~ the granted Incense Fire just replenished the Incense used for him during this period."
Yang Genshuo watched Yang Shi's progress over the past half-year with great satisfaction, as if he was simulating a new life for himself.
The more progress Yang Shi made, the more excited he became. For the past half-year, he had been in a 'happy' state, significantly speeding up his Martial Arts practice.
"This Body Refining Fourth Layer requires five different types of supplements to Refine Internal Organs, and they are even more expensive, I need to earn more money..."
[Day 207, Yang Shi, carrying his bag, went to Treasure Pavilion, where the shopkeeper welcomed him into the VIP room.]
[Day 210, Treasure Pavilion premiered a pastry called 'Chocolate Canned Cake,' silky in texture, exceptionally tasty, rumored to be made by Immortals...]
[Day 220, Yang Shi, having received his payment, bought two bottles of 'Solid Essence Rejuvenation Pills' and, as usual, bought cheap but filling food to give to the beggars on the street corner.]
[Day 251, Yang Shi's Dog Beating Stick Technique grew much more powerful; his proficiency reached 'Refining Fire.']
[Day 360, Yang Family's ancestral hall had a Manifestation; the ancestral spirits designated this year's offerings.]
[Day 364, Yang Shi completed the purchase of the offerings required by the ancestral spirits and also bought some food to feed the beggars, a strange little beggar ran out and clung to his leg...]
"Master Yang, please take me in, I will serve as your servant, I can wash clothes and cook, I can write, I can do anything, please take me in!"
The grubby little beggar was small in stature, clinging to Yang Shi's leg without letting go, leaving black handprints on his trousers.
Yang Shi frowned, displeased in his heart.
Although he often gave alms to feed the beggars, what he disliked the most were those who didn't know their boundaries. If everyone clung to his leg like this little beggar, wanting to go to his home to freeload, how many people would he have to support?
Moreover, the ancestral hall of his Yang Family housed the plaques of Immortal ancestors, and during worship, Miracles would descend. This was something that absolutely could not be revealed to outsiders. Even his once best friend Hu Zi, he had to pretend not to recognize to avoid discontent.
Seeing this scene, the old beggars, without waiting for Yang Shi to speak, joined forces to pull the dirty little beggar back.
"Master Yang, we're sorry, this little beggar is new to Qingshi County and doesn't understand the rules. If you're angry, give him a couple of kicks. When we get back, we'll definitely discipline him well."
The old beggars glared at the little beggar with hostile eyes, their thoughts written plainly on their faces.
Do you want to be the reason we all starve in the future by annoying Yang, the great benefactor of Qingshi County?
You're in for a rough night tonight!
"Hmm..."
Yang Shi nodded without saying much, ready to head home.
Suddenly, his expression changed, he turned his head back and pointed at the little beggar.
"You, come with me."
The little beggar's face lit up with joy, and under the astonished gazes of many beggars, he followed Yang Shi closely.
The reason for Yang Shi's change of attitude was the golden text in the air that only he could see.
"Take her in!!!"
This was the first time he had seen his ancestral spirit's instructions with three exclamation points...
Yang Genshuo watched the scene of the little beggar following Yang Shi back to the Yang family residence and clenched his fists tightly.
"Good!"
"One year, after flipping through tens of thousands of Character Cards, I've finally caught you!"
"A Cultivator with a Spirit Root!"