A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 169 Lackeys
Another month or so has passed.

On the open ground of the outer vein of Qingmu Peak, five unfamiliar figures stood in front of the newly opened square, their clothes fluttering in the mountain wind.

Under a pavilion, Li Weizhou leisurely brewed a pot of green tea, poured himself a drink, and admired the vast sea of ​​trees.

The pavilion is surrounded by water on three sides, and is connected to the square by only one stone arch bridge.

It's not that I'm trying to show off; it's just that my spiritual progress has been so fast that I'm in such a good mood.

The moon is a dead star that has been dead for far too long, and it no longer contains much of the yin energy.

However, it's enough to make the yin and yang fish on the Tai Chi diagram a little clearer.

Even if the Tai Chi diagram is only slightly clearer, it improves the efficiency of the balanced operation of the five elements by more than double.
Furthermore, the nine-foot-tall Jianmu tree had absorbed so much wood elemental energy that it dared not open its mouth wide enough to fully absorb it, fearing that it would deplete the wood elemental energy of the Wood Spirit Peak and affect the great formation.

Furthermore, the replenishment and upgrading of the fire-type divine power mark deepened his understanding of the "Five Elements Primordial Scripture".

In short, his spiritual practice progressed by leaps and bounds, advancing by a thousand miles a day.

My mood naturally improved.

People who work hard will feel fulfilled and at peace.

However, this behavior appears arrogant to outsiders.

Hou Haikun led five familiar old friends up the mountain. He had repeatedly told them that the new leader of the Five Elements Sect was respectful to the virtuous and talented, and would not select people based on their family background, but only on their personal abilities.

But I don't know why it's like this.

Hou Haikun was anxious, but dared not say anything. He could only brace himself and lead the five people forward, saying, "Sect Leader, these five are the great talents I have found. They are all willing to join the Five Elements Sect."

Li Weizhou nodded, scrutinizing the five rogue cultivators, but didn't speak for a moment, seemingly not very satisfied.

Hou Haikun could only introduce them one by one.

Among the five, the leader was a burly man with a bare upper body, his bronze skin covered with flame-shaped tattoos, and a rusty giant axe hanging from his waist. He was none other than Wang Kui, the famous rogue cultivator known as "Fiery Axe" in the Black Wind Lake area.

Looking at the young man's gaze, Wang Kui's Adam's apple bobbed on his bronze neck. He didn't say anything, but slammed the giant axe at his waist heavily on the ground.

With a muffled thud, the pebbles at the edge of the square jumped up.

His gaze, like tempered iron, shot straight at Li Weizhou in the pavilion. On his bare arm, the flame tattoo seemed to come alive, faintly glowing red.

His cultivation at the fifth level of the Spirit Origin Realm was the source of his arrogance.

For a rogue cultivator to reach this level, they must have experienced countless terrifying brushes with death.

If you're not even afraid of death, what's there to fear now?
The short, stout man on the left looked honest and simple. He squatted down like an old farmer, his rough hands gently stroking the bluestone slab.

He is Luo San, nicknamed "Earth Bear". It is said that his earth spirit skills have reached the pinnacle. He earned this nickname because he once fought head-on with a bear demon in the Spirit Origin Realm in the Demon Realm and did not lose.

At this moment, his fingertips rubbed against the stone surface, as if he were weighing whether the ground was solid enough. The earthy yellow spiritual energy seeping from between his fingers caused a crack to quietly appear in the stone slab beneath his feet, making him grin even more happily.

A woman in a blue Taoist robe stood at the edge of the square, barefoot, her skirt damp with moisture. She was "Leech" Lan Gu, who had a good reputation in Broken Snow Cliff.

The old man in blue robes, holding a sword, stood quietly. The scabbard was made of old bamboo, with half-withered vines entwined in the bamboo's texture. He was Liu Zhe, the "Withered Vine Swordsman".

The last man, wearing an iron mask, stood on the far side, with a broken scalpel at his waist, its blade covered in rust.

He is Shen Quan, the "Broken Blade Master." No one has ever seen his face; all that is known is that the caravans he protects rarely get into trouble, and that he can use his broken blade to cleave through mountain-blocking formations.

In the pavilion, Li Weizhou had just refilled his cup of tea.

The steam from the green tea drifted over his fingertips. He didn't even look up at the five people again, but just held the teacup and gazed at the surging green waves of the forest in the distance.

My master's wife said something very true: any rogue cultivator who is a good person will not go very far.

Therefore, trying to sway these stubborn people with words and treatment is wishful thinking.

Rather than playing along and then having to resort to coercion in the end, it's better to be clear from the start and make things more efficient.

Seeing that Li Weizhou remained unmoved after Hou Haikun finished his introduction, Wang Kui paused again with his giant axe. This time, he brought three parts fire element spiritual energy with him, and the air around the axe blade began to heat up, instantly evaporating the morning dew on the square.

He still didn't speak, but his imposing aura of "if there's no explanation today, this mountain gate will collapse today" made Hou Haikun dare not breathe.

Luo San gripped the stone slab tightly, and the bluestone cracked open with a spiderweb-like pattern. Earthy yellow spiritual energy spread along the cracks, and it looked like it was about to climb to the base of the pavilion's pillars.

With their experience in the underworld, they naturally understood what Li Weizhou meant; he simply wanted to test their strength, so they stopped hiding their intentions.

Suddenly, a stream of water appeared at Lan Gu's fingertip. With a flick of her finger, it shot out with a "whoosh," aiming straight for the teacup in Li Weizhou's hand.

The bamboo sword in Liu Zhe's hand emitted a faint, ethereal sword intent, chilling the air.

Shen Quan suddenly pulled out his broken sword. Where the rust had peeled off, a golden spiritual energy slid out along the blade, cutting a shallow mark on the ground, pointing directly at the foundation stone of the pavilion.

Five powerful auras, five kinds of spiritual energy, like five nets, silently enveloped the pavilion.

Hou Haikun closed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest: Oh no, oh no, how did things get so bad!
But the next second, he heard a soft "ding".

It was the sound of Li Weizhou putting down his teacup.

Immediately afterwards, the five elements pattern on the square suddenly lit up.

The heat wave from Wang Kui's axe suddenly stopped, as if blocked by an invisible ice wall. The flame tattoo on his arm dimmed instantly, and the red light on the axe blade went out.

The cracks beneath Luo San's feet suddenly stopped spreading, and the split stone slabs began to retract on their own. The earthy yellow spiritual energy collided with the rising earth patterns, like a fist hitting cotton, and dissipated silently.

The stream of water that Lan Gu shot out stopped three inches from the teacup, was caught by a ripple, and flew back into the stream, the splashes landing on her blue cloth shirt with a touch of icy mockery.

Liu Zhe's Wood Spirit Sword Intent dimmed, as if all its strength had been drained away.

Iron Face's broken sword was stuck in mid-air. The sword mark cut by the metal element spiritual energy was suddenly covered by the Dao gold pattern. The broken sword seemed to be attracted by a magnet and could not be swung down no matter what. The veins on the back of his hand holding the sword throbbed.

All five people froze at the same time.

Wang Kui's giant axe remained planted on the ground, but no longer made a sound; when Luo San's hand left the stone slab, the cracks in the ground had disappeared; Lan Gu took half a step back into the stream, her body feeling heavy on the pebbles, losing her former agility. Liu Zhe straightened up, barely able to hold the scabbard of his bamboo sword. Iron Face slowly turned around, his gaze behind the mask truly falling on Li Weizhou for the first time, filled with shock.

Wang Kui angrily said, "How can you expect people to be convinced by relying on the advantages of formations?"

In the pavilion, Li Weizhou picked up his teacup, took a sip, and finally looked up, his gaze sweeping over the five people. His voice was as faint as morning mist: "Fine, then I'll make you all submit."

After saying that, he flicked his finger, and a blue flame floated towards Wang Kui.

Wang Kui's expression changed drastically upon seeing it. Only those who were skilled in fire and had a profound understanding of its principles could sense how terrifying this tiny flame was.

It made the essence and energy within his body feel a sense of submission, so much so that it dared not even ignite.

This was something he had never encountered in over a hundred years.

How can it be? !
If he was like this, then weren't the other four the same?
Especially Liu Zhe, the "Withered Vine Swordsman," whose hands holding his sword were trembling, his eyes filled with disbelief. He preferred to believe that Li Weizhou was a proud disciple from a major sect in Zhongzhou, yet he defeated him with a single sword strike.

But no, when he faced Li Weizhou, he couldn't even muster the courage to draw his sword, as if he were facing the Emperor of the Wood!
That's what makes people feel desperate!

Lan Gu said in a trembling voice, "You...you just came up from the lower realm not long ago, right?"

Wang Kui was also shocked and said, "Aren't you... a space cultivator?"

"Is it a formation? Or is it a formation?!"

"I feel like I'm carrying a mountain on my back, making it impossible for me to move," said Shen Quan, the Broken Blade Swordsman, in a hoarse voice.

Li Weizhou stood up and walked closer step by step, causing the five people to involuntarily take a step back.

It is definitely a formation, but it is not entirely a formation.

Li Weizhou walked up to them, stretched out his palm, and five-colored spiritual energy rose up.

When he circulated the Five Elements Primordial Scripture, the faint halo surrounding his body, seemingly colorless, could conjure up metal weapons, green wood, raging fire, gentle water, and thick earth with a wave of his hand, concealing all colors in the formless.

The five colors of light—white (metal), blue (wood), red (fire), black (water), and yellow (earth)—interweave and blend together, ultimately settling into a profound and warm "amorphous color."

It is neither pure black nor absolute white, but more like a transparent glass that encompasses all colors. It seems empty, yet it can reflect all the elements and phenomena.

All five were seasoned veterans who had thoroughly researched the Five Elements Sect before deciding to come here. Naturally, they understood what Li Weizhou's demonstrated abilities meant.

Seeing the five shocked individuals, Li Weizhou said, "Hou Haikun said that you are among the more reputable rogue cultivators. At least, he hasn't heard of you actively harming anyone. You're also tired of all the fighting and killing over the years, so you want to find a place to settle down. That's all fine. Settling down in the Five Elements Sect means all past grudges will be forgiven. Even if you have Immortal Spirit Realm experts as enemies, as long as it's not a heinous crime, the sect can protect you. But the premise is that you can't treat this place like a cheap roadside inn, coming and going as you please. You're clearly under their protection, yet you act like lords, looking down on the sect. Even if the Five Elements Sect is in decline, it's not a place for you to act arrogantly."

Those who have thought it through and are willing to stand with the Five Elements Sect through thick and thin may come to join us in three days. Those who are unwilling will not be forced. However, if you stay but still have ulterior motives... the Five Elements Sect has suffered too many losses at the hands of such traitors. With the sect in my hands, such a thing will never happen again.

"You rebellious traitor, I will search the heavens and the underworld to slay you, until your soul is scattered and your spirit is destroyed, never to be reincarnated again."

……

It's on the second floor of Xiankeju, west of Qingshui City.

Empty wine jars were piled on the table by the window. Five people sat around it, and the moonlight from outside the window shone in, casting bright and dark shadows on their faces.

Having roamed the Northern Spirit Realm for many years, they have been friends for many years.

They weren't like that at first, but as people came and went, and most of them died, the five of them eventually became close friends.

Wang Kui grabbed a half-eaten spirit tiger bone, chewing the shredded meat on it with a crunching sound. After eating for a while, he suddenly stopped, finding it boring, and said angrily, "That kid's fire spirit is really weird. The essence fire in my body is like seeing its ancestor; it can't even muster the thought of resistance. I've never seen anything like this in so many years. With this kind of cultivation, he says he just came up from the lower realm? Nobody believes that!"

Luo San squatted on the chair, twirling an empty wine bowl in his hand, the rim of which he had rubbed until it gleamed. He slowly said, "Not only fire element, but my earth element technique is like mud in front of him. He's only been in the Upper Realm for less than a year, how did he cultivate? Even if he practiced with top-grade spirit crystals every day, day and night, he shouldn't be like this. Besides, does the Five Elements Sect really have such a foundation?"

Lan Gu, her fingertips glistening with wine, traced ripples on the table, and said softly, "Didn't you all notice the flow of spiritual energy in his palm? Metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal... each element is interconnected, without the slightest hesitation. Even those in the Spirit Origin Realm might not be able to achieve this level of Five Elements Harmony." She raised her head, the red mole at the corner of her eye gleaming in the lamplight, and said, "I've long heard that those who open the Hidden Divine Palace will surely become giants in the Spirit Realm. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, it's indeed true."

Liu Zhe placed the bamboo sword horizontally on the table. The withered vine on the scabbard had sprouted a half-inch of green shoots at some point. He said, "The Five Elements Sect's formation is based on the Five Mountains True Monarchs. It was no accident that they were able to withstand five Demon Lords back then. That person could operate the formation with ease, plus his Hunyuan Gong..." The old man paused, picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and continued, "I smelled the scent of 'power' on him—unlike those sects that cling to their ancestral property and live off their ancestors, the Five Elements Sect is about to come back to life."

Shen Quan, who had been silent until now, suddenly slammed his broken sword on the table, the rusty blade rattling the dishes. He removed his mask, revealing a face crisscrossed with scars, the scar on his left eyebrow almost covering his eye. His voice, sharp as clashing metal, rang out: "My enemy is the Lesser Dao Sect of the Southern Spirit Region. Their true disciple deceived my wife and killed my son, so I slaughtered his entire family. My master, fearing trouble, expelled me from the sect. That beast from the Lesser Dao Sect has been searching for me all these years. I'd like to see if the Five Elements Sect dares to keep me."

Wang Kui chuckled and threw the bone on the ground, saying, "That person isn't mentally ill, why would he cause you this trouble?"

Shen Quan put his mask back on, his voice coming through the iron mask, cold and muffled, saying, "If he wants me to risk my life, he has to be able to pay the price. If he dares, he can command this broken sword of mine. My master and sect all see me as a scourge. If he dares to take me, then the Five Elements Sect will become my sect from now on."

Luo San scratched his head and said, "I really don't think it's a good idea. It's not certain. He definitely wouldn't accept someone else, but this person... it's uncertain. The Five Elements Sect is in a dire situation right now and desperately needs manpower. If we wholeheartedly pledge our allegiance, he might make good use of us. Even that little brat Hou Haikun is being given important responsibilities now. We're definitely more useful than Hou Haikun, right?"

The water ripples at Lan Gu's fingertips suddenly froze, and she said, "Our cultivation hasn't improved much in many years, has it?"

Liu Zhe stroked the new buds on the bamboo sword and said with a wry smile, "The true teaching is contained in a single sentence. Without that sentence, even if we bury ourselves in practice for a hundred years, we will hardly make any progress. I don't know how that young sect leader comprehended the Dao. I don't even have the courage to draw my sword in front of him. I feel that no matter how I draw my sword, it will be in vain."

Wang Kui took a swig of wine, the liquid flowing down his chin and into the tattoo, like oil being applied to the flame tattoo. He cursed and said, "Damn it, I've lived for over a hundred years, and I've really run into something supernatural."

Lan Gu said softly, "With the guidance of this sect leader, perhaps..."

The other four remained silent.

Who wouldn't want that?

The path to enlightenment is arduous. If someone with such cultivation could offer even a few words of guidance, it would be far more beneficial than years of arduous practice for them.

but……

This person is so powerful that becoming his lackey would be no easy task.

Outside the tavern, the sound of the night watchman's gong echoed: "Dong! Dong!"

The sound of gongs echoed through the silent city. The five people remained silent and drank the spirit wine in their bowls in one gulp.

The moonlight outside the window was obscured by clouds at some point.

This night was destined to be a sleepless one.

……

Moon.

Four countries in the world have lunar orbiters: East Asia, America, Russia, and Pakistan.

The minibus was carried aboard Chang'e 6, but we don't know what it was going to do there.

But now, people from these four countries, including the University of Tokyo, are witnessing the wonders on the moon.

Hundreds of unmanned intelligent excavators, powered by a combination of batteries and solar panels, are carrying out earthwork operations.

Although it was just the simplest digging work, but...

Hundreds of them!!
And this number is still increasing!
America is going crazy, they can't understand how the University of Tokyo got into that program!

It's actually quite easy to make that connection, after all, the man's figure also appeared on the moon at the same time...

What frustrated them the most was that their spaceship had taken that man with it.

In other words, he can go anywhere he's been before?
God, why did you give birth to Jesus' brother in the East?
The Russians were unsure whether to be happy or bittersweet, but anything that could upset Xiaomei was something they applauded.

Just like Pekingese dogs, the minibuses were always jumping around happily.

Everyone knows what's on the moon. Humanity on Earth has only managed to obtain 500 kilograms of helium-3, and burning one gram is equivalent to burning 400 kilograms of oil.

The helium-3 hidden in the lunar regolith is measured in hundreds of millions of tons. It is "cosmic fuel" that the solar wind has been spreading for four billion years, enough to last all mankind for tens of thousands of years.

At this moment, in the images transmitted back by the lunar satellite, those silver-gray excavators are crawling across the lunar surface like worker ants. The moment the buckets plunge into the lunar soil, the dust they raise falls in a perfect parabola in the vacuum of the atmosphereless space, gleaming with a metallic cold light in the sunlight.

Their paths wove a net across the lunar surface, piling up lunar soil wherever they went, like miniature pyramids. Yet, as the man passed by, the pyramids vanished without a trace.

Without a doubt, it will appear at the University of Tokyo.

Inside the America Space Agency's command center, the sound of coffee cups shattering echoed repeatedly.

On the big screen, the number of excavators had jumped to 312, each with a boom span of over ten meters. Solar panels spread out on the lunar surface, like a moving silver forest.

"God, how did he even get these things up there?" someone exclaimed, covering their face. "Our heavy rockets can only carry two lunar rovers at a time. Is he playing a real-time strategy game?"

Meanwhile, in the Russian space center, vodka bottles clattered together.

"Let Xiaomei hurry up!"

The obese general took a swig of wine, pointed at the lunar surface on the screen, and said, "Look at those excavators. Their buckets are made of titanium alloy, which can withstand temperatures as low as -170 degrees Celsius. This technology looks very familiar."

The engineer next to him chuckled: "Back in 2019, we collaborated with Harbin Institute of Technology at Southeast University on a polar technology and equipment project, and set up a laboratory. Perhaps these are the polar excavator blueprints we sold to Southeast University back then, with some modifications?"

The general, probably drunk, raised an eyebrow and said, "Good for you! It would be best if we could dig up a ship full of Helium-3 by tomorrow, so that those American guys will come begging us to buy the technology."

The engineer stood to the side with a bitter smile. These people were still living in the beautiful dreams of the past...

The local TV station was broadcasting footage of the moon on a loop. The host, wearing a vest with the national flag printed on it, was so excited that his voice trembled: "Look! That was taken by our lunar orbiter! Right next to Chang'e 6! Every gram of helium-3 that these excavators dig out is thanks to our efforts!"

In the teahouses and alleys of Dongda Jingcheng, old men held their teacups and marveled at the silver machine on the screen, exclaiming, "This is what you call reaching for the moon in the heavens!"

Inside the aerospace command center at the University of Tokyo, the atmosphere was unusually calm.

On the screen, in addition to the excavator's operating data, a line of small text was also displayed: "Helium-3 concentration detection: average 3.7 grams/ton in the lunar maria region, in line with expectations."

Zhao Jiugu held his thermos cup, looking at the real-time message Li Weizhou was sending back from the moon: "The equipment is operating normally. The first batch of lunar soil samples has been packaged and will be sent back tonight."

He turned to the young man next to him and smiled, "Do you know why we had the minibus's satellite following us?" The young man shook his head.

“Because helium-3 is enough for all of humanity to use for ten thousand years.” Zhao Jiugu looked out at the starry sky and said, “Ten thousand years is too long. Someone has to learn to share first. Of course, they have to pay a price; they can’t just take it for free. Just like we can’t take Mr. Li’s for free.”

Who could have imagined that just a few years ago, war was a hair's breadth away? Now, however, there are already faint signs of them uniting and collectively marching into space. Mr. Li, you are remarkable, truly remarkable.

Inside the lunar craters, the last rays of sunlight swept across the excavator's solar panels, casting long shadows. Li Weizhou grabbed a handful of lunar soil, the particles slipping through his fingers like crushed stardust. He knew that these particles contained not only fuel, but also the possibility of humanity leaping out of Earth's cradle.

Meanwhile, in lunar orbit, satellites from the four countries continue to silently watch over this awakened land. However, those watching on their screens understand that from the moment hundreds of excavators started up on the lunar surface, the color of the universe has changed.

Li Weizhou stood atop a lunar crater, gazing into deep space. The universe lay before him, a minimalist composition of black and light, devoid of superfluous colors, yet more awe-inspiring than any bold stroke of paint.

However, he also seemed to see four shackles, firmly locking this world within the solar system.

The Kuiper Belt, the Solar System Firewall, the Oort Cloud Comet Belt, and the Local Bubble.

However, whether it's a shackle or a protective layer, who can say for sure?
Of course, he would go out and take a look no matter what...

……

(End of this chapter)