Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 33 Hold The Fort

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”My name is Li Shiming. Iʼve come to the Central Capital to participate in the examination and am also preparing to attend next yearʼs Ascension Conference!” Li Shiming didnʼt dare make any sudden moves; he honestly declared his identity and purpose for coming to the Central Capital.

”Where did you get that level of cultivation from? And why are you lingering around the Imperial City?” Gu Jia, hearing that he was here to attend the Ascension Conference and also the examination, was somewhat incredulous and pressed on with his questions.

”I found a book in the back garden of the Nanling Prefecture office and cultivated according to the methods described in it. I only came to the Imperial City to experience it for myself!” Li Shiming replied, his story a mix of nine parts truth to one part lie.

”Nonsense, without an environment of Spiritual Energy you wouldnʼt even be able to begin, let alone reach the Qi Refining Second Level,” Gu Jiaʼs expression darkened, a pressure descended upon Li Shiming, and he said sternly.

Li Shiming felt his whole body become heavier, he involuntarily shrunk down, nearly prostrating himself in the carriage.

”Two months ago, two Immortals came to Nanling Prefecture to investigate a case and then left mysteriously. At that time, the two Immortals were accommodated in the prefectural office. After they left, I found some Spirit Stones in their room, and I used those to cultivate a Spiritual Energy Vortex,” Li Shiming quickly explained.

Since Gu Jia was stationed in Great Xia, he naturally knew about the assistance required by the cultivators in Nanling Prefecture.

By comparing the before and after, he could tell that Li Shimingʼs words were mostly true.

”How did you come to know of the term ʼSpirit Stoneʼ?” A glint flashed in Gu Jiaʼs eyes as he discovered a loophole in Li Shimingʼs words and asked.

”I met a cultivator named Fan Yiyang from the Sky Sea Sect. He told me a lot about the Cultivation World!” Li Shiming answered.

”You know Fan Yiyang!” Gu Jia exclaimed in surprise, then withdrew his pressure and said with a smile, ”I will look into your matter, but you neednʼt worry. As long as you havenʼt lied, this will be beneficial for you in attending the Ascension Conference!”

”Thank you for your mercy!” Li Shiming let out a sigh of relief, straightened up, and said with a clasped hand salute.

”Didnʼt Fan Yiyang tell you that cultivators canʼt casually approach the Imperial Palace?” Gu Jia waved his hand to stop Li Shimingʼs salute and asked.

Li Shiming couldnʼt help but smile wryly and shake his head; he hadnʼt told Fan Yiyang that he would be coming to the Imperial Palace, so how could Fan Yiyang have thought to mention it.

He also understood why he had been intercepted by Gu Jia, a powerful cultivator—it turned out he had delivered himself to the doorstep.

”Do you have a grudge against Prince Shun?” Gu Jia suddenly asked.

”That...” Li Shiming didnʼt know how to answer this question for a moment, he didnʼt dare deceive Gu Jia.

”Whatʼs so unspeakable about that? Heʼs just a prince of the secular world!” Gu Jia said with a hearty laugh.

From his words, Li Shiming sensed his disdain for the secular Imperial Family.

But what Li Shiming couldnʼt understand was, if Gu Jia looked down on the secular Imperial Family, why was he still stationed here?

”Last night, I was the target of an assassination by an assassin sent by the Prince Shun Mansion!” Now that Li Shiming knew Gu Jiaʼs attitude, he didnʼt hide anything and answered.

”Haha!” Gu Jia laughed heartily again as if he had heard something amusing.

Indeed, to Gu Jia, it sounded ridiculous—the secular Prince Shun sending an assassin after a cultivator, no matter that the cultivator was only at the Qi Refining Second Level, was an absurdity.

The ridiculous one, of course, was Prince Shun. In Gu Jiaʼs opinion, if Prince Shun knew his target was a cultivator, he probably wouldnʼt sleep easy.

”You cannot take action near the Imperial Palace. Besides, if you have other means, try not to use Spiritual Power. If you cause a disturbance, thatʼs outside my jurisdiction,” said Gu Jia indifferently, after he finished laughing.

Li Shiming was taken aback; he hadnʼt expected Gu Jia to offer help.

”Thank you, Senior!” He bowed deeply in gratitude.

”Donʼt call me Senior, we are both at the Qi Refinement Realm. Just call me ʼDao Brother,ʼ and when you join the Sky Sea Sect, youʼll have to call me ʼSenior Brotherʼ!” Gu Jia said with a wave of his hand.

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He was old and cunning, having discerned that most of what Li Shiming said was true, and it would be easy to investigate.

As long as Li Shimingʼs background was clean, and considering the talent he showed by attaining the Qi Refining Second Level after just over two months of solitary cultivation, joining the Sky Sea Sect would not be a problem.

On this matter, Gu Jia and Fan Yiyang shared the same opinion.

The cultivators assigned to the secular world either had extremely poor talents like Fan Yiyang, or were like Gu Jia who were semi-retired, with no prospect of further progress in this lifetime.

The task of stationing in the secular world was not dangerous, and it came with rewards, including patronage from the Imperial Family.

Such cultivators all shared one trait, they hoped to befriend talented novices, even going as far as making investments.

Cultivators were mindful of old favors, whether such mindfulness was for show or to stabilize their own Dao hearts, after making achievements in their cultivation, they would express gratitude towards those cultivators they had helped.

”Thank you for your guidance, Brother Dao!” Li Shiming changed his form of address and said.

”Young friend, return first, we will contact you in a few days!” As Gu Jia said this, he waved his hand toward the inkstone.

Afterward, his figure mysteriously disappeared, leaving nobody in front of the carriage.

Li Shiming was secretly astonished; his eyes had been watching the whole time, yet he had not noticed how Gu Jia had left.

If there had been a conflict, he estimated he wouldnʼt have even known how he died.

With a sense of helplessness, he immersed his consciousness into the space of the mechanicʼs room, where in a box lay five ʼwhite phosphorus grenadesʼ and five ʼthermite grenadesʼ that he had been unable to even touch before.

Even if he managed to take out the ʼwhite phosphorus grenadesʼ and ʼthermite grenadesʼ, he wouldnʼt have been able to throw them, only die together with his opponent.

With no assurance of even dying together, Gu Jiaʼs speed was too fast, so fast that he could not see clearly, which made the likelihood of hitting Gu Jia with a blast extremely low.

”Young Master, someoneʼs blocking the way!” Mo Yan woke up, still somewhat groggy, and mumbled.

”Eh, where did they go?” He quickly realized there was no one in front of them and exclaimed in surprise.

”Stop shouting and go back!” Without explaining, Li Shiming sternly instructed.

Mo Yan drove the carriage, looking back from time to time at the spot where they had just been, completely confused; it seemed as though something had happened, yet as if nothing had occurred at all.

Li Shiming sat in the carriage, contemplating the matter with Gu Jia.

Unlike Fan Yiyang, who was just a chance encounter on the road, meeting him again would not happen for a long time.

But Gu Jia was stationed in Central Capital, crucially linked to the Ascension Conference.

Just being connected to the Ascension Conference made it imperative for Li Shiming to maintain a good relationship with Gu Jia.

The things he could offer, apart from Spirit Rice, were Spiritual Tea.

He was reluctant to offer Spirit Rice because if Gu Jia investigated his past, he would find out that Li Shiming was incapable of growing Spirit Rice.

The hundred catties sold to Fan Yiyang might be explained as acquired by chance, but producing a large amount of Spirit Rice would be difficult to justify.

Although the Spiritual Tea was fake, it was after all the best thing he could offer with his identity.