Chapter 72 - Enlightenment Explosive Update First

Lai Jianlin had an epiphanic thought in a flash: “As long as we have the heart to grow stronger, the thoughts to transcend our limits, and a heart inclined towards goodness…”

A radiant glow emanated from his body, a golden light, bursting with vigorous spiritual energy, causing the spiritual energy around his body to surge upwards, expanding meridian after meridian, flowing into his dantian through the acupuncture points; the barrier at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage was lifted…

The shopkeeper suddenly felt that if he didn’t grow stronger, if he didn’t diligently practice cultivation, it would be like letting himself down, and also failing the encouragement he had received from the young master.

With such thoughts, all of a sudden, he also sensed an enlightenment emanating from the young master.

This enlightenment made him involuntarily comprehend as well, so he immediately sat upright on a stool and began meditating and cultivating.

When Lai Jianlin woke from his enlightenment, he opened his eyes and found the shopkeeper guarding by his side.

Glancing outside, it had taken him half a day since eating lunch to get here, and now the night had already fallen.

However, he realized that his cultivation had successfully advanced from the initial stage of Foundation Establishment to the Middle Foundation Establishment stage without the use of any pills, a result that filled him with joy, as a satisfied smile spread across his face.

“Congratulations, young master, for successfully advancing,” the shopkeeper, with his lower cultivation, couldn’t discern the young master’s cultivation level.

However, he had felt the young master’s advancement.

While the young master was in enlightenment, he too had benefited, advancing from the sixth level of Qi Cultivation to the seventh level.

He had thought that he would remain at the sixth level for his entire life, having not advanced for ten years.

Having abandoned hope, he never expected that today, by the young master’s side, he could benefit from the spiritual energy of the young master’s advancement.

Without taking a single pill, he had advanced, thrilling him to the core…

It turned out he really could do it, and in a moment, his confidence in cultivation was renewed.

“Joy shared is joy doubled, the shopkeeper has advanced as well,” Lai Jianlin said.

Lai Jianlin noticed that the shopkeeper’s cultivation had improved by one level, a favorable beginning.

“All thanks to the young master, thank you,” the shopkeeper said.

“There is no need for thanks between us, just remember, there is no such thing as a permanent standstill, as long as you have tried hard, one day you will succeed,” he replied.

“It’s my foolishness.

I will listen to the young master and, after I finish this task, I will return to your side,” the shopkeeper said.

“Very good, I should also be returning.

Make your arrangements and come back soon!” Lai Jianlin urged.

Lai Jianlin stowed the items that the shopkeeper had given him into his storage ring.

“As the young master commands,” responded the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper saw the young master out of the room and watched as he left the shop.

“Close up for the night,” he instructed.

“Alright, shopkeeper,” the clerk replied, puzzled as to why the shopkeeper would want to close up so early.

After the young master’s visit, they must have completed a task.

Usually, they would still be open at this hour after having their meal, but closing early was not too bad, to avoid troublesome visitors during the night when they couldn’t spare the time to eat.

There were robberies in this street, some hoodlums looking to profit from it.

However, their shop was under the protection of the Immortal Sect of the West Gate, and they paid an annual protection fee.

The Immortal Sect of the West Gate would establish a protection patrol team on this street, consisting of sect disciples.

Whenever their shop encountered trouble, sounding the alarm bell would bring the patrol team to help chase away the troublemakers.

After closing the door, the shopkeeper called the clerks into the soundproof room.

Both clerks from the shop were present, standing in front of the shopkeeper, awaiting his instructions.

“From tomorrow onwards, the shop will cease operations.”

“Why are we stopping business, shopkeeper?

Our business is doing so well,” one clerk objected.

“Yes, shopkeeper…” the other started.

The shopkeeper listened to his clerks and replied with a smile, “Our young master has completed his task, and I must go to complete mine.

With just the two of you, you won’t be able to guard the shop.

We don’t lack that little income.

During these days of closure, you should cultivate in the room.

Whatever happens outside, don’t concern yourselves with it.”

“What if someone comes to rob the place?” they asked.

“Then pull the alarm bell and hide.

If there are bandits, let them rob the place; someone will ensure justice for us,” the shopkeeper said.

The clerks nodded in agreement.

The shopkeeper, having told them to get their meal, couldn’t care less about eating.

He took the jade slip given by the young master and returned to his room, entering a secret passage.

He disguised himself as a shabby beggar, dirtied his face, and made his body reek.

Leaving the secret tunnel, he took the roads leading out of town and secretly made his way back to his family.

High above the outskirts, there were people flying on swords and piloting magic artifacts, as this place was near the West Mountain Immortal Sect and some disciples were returning from outside tasks.

Noticing the presence of a stranger, they observed for a moment, saw a person of low cultivation, and upon smelling the stench, quickly distanced themselves from the area.

The shopkeeper also noticed the people in the sky and worried they might come to rob him.

Seeing them quickly depart, he realized he was overthinking – he reeked so badly that he wanted to vomit himself; he had sealed the qi in his sensory organs to avoid the smell.

After returning to the Immortal Sect, Lai Jianlin didn’t immediately go outside to practice spells; instead, he went back to his courtyard, entered his room, and activated a formation to prevent disturbances.

He then consolidated his cultivation, entering into seated meditation.

Mo Wen, who hadn’t finished his meal, packed it up and returned to the Immortal Sect, then cultivated into the night.

When someone brought him food, he didn’t eat; instead, he warmed up the leftover food from noon and had the wine he’d brought back.

He felt as blissful as an Immortal.

Mo Wen hummed a song, and with a slap on his storage bag, from now on, he wouldn’t have to undertake missions for a while.

He would concentrate on cultivation.

After the grand competition, he would need to visit his family clan if he had time.

Although the people in his family were mortals, that was still his home.

How many years had it been since he last visited home?

His parents must have aged quite a bit, hadn’t they?

Ever since they learned he was pursuing cultivation, his family and relatives were overjoyed, convinced that having an immortal arise from their lineage would bring prosperity to the clan.

When he had come to the Sect to partake in the entrance examination, discovering that he could join the Sect for cultivation, his parents had held his hands, reluctant to part with him, repeatedly admonishing him to cultivate diligently and not to worry about home.

But could he really not worry?

Did becoming an ancestor mean one could no longer have the seven emotions and six sensory pleasures?

Besides, he was still half a mortal, not yet having attained the status of a Great Power Holder.

With every mission he completed, he always thought about saving some gold coins to take back to his ordinary parents so that they wouldn’t have to work so hard in the fields.

However…

even that little bit of money wasn’t enough for him to purchase cultivation resources.

The desire to return home was just a thought he harbored, which made him feel ashamed.

Having earned this sum of money today, along with pills for cultivation resources, he would finally be able to take a break from missions, cultivate with proper resources, and take some money back home.

While Mo Wen was happy, he then activated the message conveying tube and released a stream of spiritual energy into it.

“Junior Brother, Senior Brother would like to invite you to the eastern peak tomorrow to practice spells.”

There was no response from the tube, and Mo Wen guessed his Junior Brother must be engaged in cultivation.

Could that cultivation fanatic have skipped meals?

Feeling ashamed, Mo Wen emptied his cup of wine, finished his meat, and focused on meditating and cultivating.

Lai Jianlin meditated and cultivated throughout the night, and upon opening his eyes in the morning, he heard that the magical treasure given to him by his Senior Brother contained a message.

Glancing outside the window at the morning sky, it was already morning.

He hadn’t eaten dinner the previous night, as he had dedicated the night to cultivation.

After all, his body was still flesh and needed food, not just relying on Bigu Pills.

Lai Jianlin had someone bring breakfast and ate a bowl of Spirit Rice Meat Porridge.

Leaving the courtyard, he used footwork to reach the northern peak where Senior Brother had arranged to meet.

When he arrived at the top of the northern peak, he saw Mo Wen already standing there.

The fresh morning air was full of spiritual energy, and a light breeze wafted his Senior Brother’s robes.

“Junior Brother, you’ve arrived?

Where did you go yesterday?

You didn’t respond to my message last night.”

“Senior Brother, I was a bit occupied yesterday, and when I returned to the courtyard last night, I focused on advancing my cultivation.”

“Junior Brother…

your cultivation level has improved!

When did this happen?”

Envy and jealousy crept into Mo Wen’s feelings.

Just overnight, the young Lai Jianlin had already made him feel embarrassed with the same cultivation level they shared.

Now, seeing him advance in such a short span, how could he not feel envious?

“Mhm, I had an epiphany yesterday, then I advanced a level.”

Lai Jianlin, seeing that look in his Senior Brother’s eyes, carried a smile in his starry gaze, which pleased him.

Praise from others is a joy, after all, for he too is human, complete with seven emotions and six desires.

“An epiphany…?

How come I’ve never had one?

Junior Brother, can you share how you came to an epiphany?”

“Senior Brother, I can’t really explain it.

It was just something I thought about, and then…

the epiphany came.”

“Ah, why don’t I think more?

I mean, I’ve also given it lots of thought…”

Following his bout of envy, Mo Wen realized this Junior Brother was talented, and he had many questions to ask him.

Hence, many questions that had been pressing on his mind were asked, one after another, waiting for Lai Jianlin’s answers.

Lai Jianlin…

wasn’t he supposed to be here for mutual cultivation?

Why did it seem like he was brought here to give a lecture?

Lai Jianlin felt awkward not to answer Mo Wen’s questions, as to him, those queries were actually quite simple.

Having heard the previous day that his Senior Brother’s family members were ordinary people, he understood that Mo Wen’s level of cultivation was already his fortune.

Moreover, this Senior Brother offered him a significant favor yesterday, so it was only right to help him out of the friendship.

In the midst of Lai Jianlin’s various explanations, Mo Wen understood some questions that had previously baffled him.

He marveled to himself, truly, a Clan Descendant from a noble family was impressive at such a young age.

Had he known him earlier, would he have saved time by avoiding so many detours?

Yet, meeting Lai Jianlin before the grand competition was also his fate.

If he could win and become a Direct Disciple, the opportunity for better resources would arise.

Having a master was vastly different from not having one, and in the future, he would have someone to turn to with questions.

Lai Jianlin spent the morning answering Mo Wen’s questions until noon approached, making him feel both thirsty and hungry.

“Senior Brother, it’s already noon.

Should we go back for lunch before continuing?”

“There’s no need, Junior Brother.

Don’t we have Bigu Pills?

Let’s take one and first practice our spells, maybe even spar.

How does that sound?”

Mo Wen, after receiving answers from his Junior Brother and seeing that the latter had ascended a rank, realized he couldn’t afford to waste time.

With his Junior Brother around to answer questions and having read a secret manual about Soaring Trees last night he hadn’t yet grasped, he was eager to continue.

(Today is my own birthday, but with my family members not around, I can only spend it here at school, sigh)