A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 195 Calculation
The setting sun cast long shadows on the Five Elements Peak, the spiritual mist on Hidden Water Peak was dyed orange-red, and the bamboo groves on Green Wood Peak gradually calmed down, leaving only the evening breeze carrying the aroma of food from the kitchen of the Five Elements Pavilion to all corners of the world.

The six sect leaders on the city tower had already left. Before leaving, Lei Yuntian glanced back at Lei Hen on the arena, his lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.

Liu Xuanzhou had his disciples send ten catties of Xuan Shui essence to the Five Elements Sect, but he didn't explain why.

The other families also left some things, which Li Weizhou guessed were perhaps for food expenses...

Although the arena battle was supposed to last for three days, they left overnight after watching the first day.

I don't know if they found it too exciting to watch anymore, or if they went back to discuss countermeasures.

Most of the heads of small and medium-sized cultivation families and sects in the surrounding territory chose to settle in the villas in the tenant area. Even those who had not rented or had rented and then returned the villas have now checked in again.

When they discovered that the "television" inside the villa was replaying the day's matches, they were overjoyed and felt that the rental was well worth it.

Although they watched for a quarter of an hour and discovered that they needed to pay twenty low-grade spirit stones to continue watching the content... no one cared.

For a mere twenty low-grade spirit stones, you can watch the battle of Dao techniques between experts from all sides—it's absolutely worth it!

The scattered cultivators in the square gradually dispersed, repeatedly expressing their gratitude for the Five Elements Sect's generosity.

However, these matters are mostly handled by the outer sect stewards.

Li Weizhou and his group were not here...

In the kitchen of Wuxinglou, Li Weizhou was wearing a gray apron and tossing the wok, which was sizzling loudly. Xuan Meng stood to the side with a fried fish in her mouth.

She didn't show up today, not because Li Weizhou forbade it, but because she didn't want too much attention.

Li Weizhou gave her a fun gadget called a "game console," which she enjoyed playing. It was much more fun than hanging out with a bunch of unfamiliar jerks and hypocritical jerks.

A row of ingredients was laid out on the stove. The bamboo shoots from Qingmu Peak were bright green, the warm jade melons from Lihuo Peak were round and plump, the spirit fish from Cangshui Peak were still blowing bubbles in the water basin, and the spirit rice from Xuanjin Peak shone like pearls. They were all freshly picked from the five peaks and carried the spirit of the mountains.

Feng Biwu brought in the washed lingzhi mushrooms, her fair fingers entwined with a few strands of green vines.

She placed the lingzhi mushroom on the table, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Situ Qingyue leaning against the doorway, gazing at the setting sun with a faint smile.

Qi Erniang didn't say anything, but moved closer to the stove and helped control the fire...

Even she, who was usually aloof, couldn't help but smile.

After Zhou Yueniang asked Ximei to set the table, she looked at Li Weizhou and said, "Master's wife said we've made quite a splash today... By the way, Lei Yuntian said the Tingyang Clan of Zhongzhou is not to be trifled with. Are we really not worried?"

The others all looked over.

Li Weizhou turned around with a smile, twirling the spatula in his hand, and said, "What are you worried about? Our ancestor won half of their sword manual fair and square back then. If the Tingyang Clan dares to shamelessly deny it, then we won't admit it either. That half of the technique was created by Situ himself, so let him do whatever he wants. We don't go out casually, and with the Five Elements Formation in place, even if a Celestial Spirit True Monarch comes, it won't be of any use."

As they spoke, the dishes had already filled the wooden table in the main room.

The crispy pork belly of Jinling gleamed with oil, the stir-fried pork slices with bamboo shoots of Muling exuded a delicate fragrance, the fish soup of Shuiling was topped with emerald green scallions, the stewed jade melon of Huoling was tender and soft, and the rice cakes of Tuling were piled up like a small mountain.

The whole family sat down around the table, their chopsticks clattering together, creating a more lively atmosphere than the daytime fighting on the stage.

The moon climbed up outside the window, its silvery light shining through the wooden window frame onto the food on the table and onto everyone's smiling faces.

No one mentioned the thoughts of the six sect leaders anymore, no one thought about the threat from the Tingyang Clan of Zhongzhou, and no one remembered the victory or defeat during the day.

Because they know that with this man around, none of those things are problems.

At this moment, the Five Elements Sect has no heavy responsibility of inheritance, no extraordinary talents, only a pot of steaming fish soup, a plate of crisp bamboo shoots, and the warmth of a family sitting around the lamp.

The evening breeze swept through the bamboo forest of Qingmu Peak, carrying the scents of bamboo and food, and drifted toward the dark arena.

Looking at the lively scene before him, Li Weizhou suddenly recalled the days when he first transmigrated to this world. Back then, he and Ximei depended on each other for survival, and he could only afford a hot pancake if Ximei did laundry work for a wealthy family.

He looked at Ximei and saw that she and Xuanmeng were eating happily. He also lowered his head, took a sip of spirit rice wine, and smiled.

"Come on, cheers!"

He lifted the earthenware bowl, and the rims of the bowls collided, making a crisp sound.

"cheers!"

……

The next morning.

As dawn broke and the morning mist over Qingmu Peak had not yet dissipated, the scent of bamboo, carrying the dew, drifted into the study of the Five Elements Pavilion.

Tian Ru sat on a bamboo chair by the window, her fingertips holding a half-cold cup of spiritual tea. The bloodshot veins in her eyes were particularly clear in the morning light; she had clearly not slept all night and had been thinking a great deal...

After the event ended last night, she declined the invitation from Li Weizhou's family and returned to Lihuofeng with Tao Ling'er.

Presumably, the family will reunite and tell Tao Xixing about what they've seen and heard today...

When Li Weizhou brought in two bowls of freshly cooked spirit rice porridge, he saw his master's wife staring blankly at the bamboo shadows outside the window. Her usually gentle eyes were now shrouded in an unyielding solemnity.

"Master's wife, have some spiritual porridge and try your disciple's cooking."

He placed the bowl of porridge on the table, and his voice brought Tian Ru back to her senses.

Although he never said anything, he always felt grateful to Tian Ru and Tao Ling'er.

We must remember where our blessings come from. Without this mother and daughter, their family might still have achieved success, but their lives would never have been as carefree and comfortable as they are today.

Tian Ru looked up at Li Weizhou and saw that the boy's eyes showed no signs of fatigue, and he was as cheerful as ever. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, her tone puzzled, "Weizhou, tell your teacher's wife honestly, why were you so high-profile yesterday?"

Li Weizhou sat down opposite her, not in a hurry to drink the porridge, and smiled, "Is Master's wife worried about the Six Sects' apprehension, or is she afraid of the Tingyang Clan of Zhongzhou?"

"Everyone is afraid."

Tian Ru spoke bluntly, saying, "You defeated Liu Chengye in one move with the Five Elements Returning to Origin Hand, a peerless technique of our patriarch that resonates throughout the Northern Spiritual Domain. How could the Six Sects not be wary? No one wants to see the Five Elements Sect produce another Five Mountains True Monarch! And Situ's Thunder Seal, Yue Niang, Bi Wu, and Er Niang are all outstanding... This isn't an ordinary sparring match; it's laying bare the Five Elements Sect's resources. What kind of foundation do we have now? If your master were truly at the Immortal Spirit Realm, it would be fine... But right now, the sect doesn't even have a single Spirit God Realm cultivator, and we've only just recruited a few outer disciples. How dare we be so ostentatious?"

She said in a serious tone, "When Lei Yuntian mentioned the Tingyang Clan yesterday, what do you think he was thinking? Let me tell you, the Central Plains will soon receive the news. The Tingyang Clan's domineering reputation is well-known throughout the Central Plains, and the Six Sects are all waiting to see us suffer a setback!!"

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "Master's wife, if we humble ourselves and act like submissive wives, tolerating and indulging them, will they hope for our well-being, or will they seek an opportunity to completely destroy our Five Elements Sect?"

Tian Ru was taken aback by these words and didn't know what to say for a moment...

If she were from one of the other six sects, she probably would have...

However, she frowned and said, "I have to wait until you advance to the Spirit God Realm. Once you reach the Spirit God Realm, I will be able to breathe a sigh of relief. You can do whatever you want. I won't care about anything or ask anything."

Li Weizhou smiled, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, his face misty with white steam, and looked at Tian Ru, saying, "Why has the Five Elements Sect declined in recent years? Even rogue cultivators think we're doomed and will be finished sooner or later... If we don't show some real skills, who will take the Five Elements Sect seriously? This disciple has no ambition to compete for the position of overlord of the Northern Spirit Region, but the prerequisite for a peaceful and calm life is to let everyone know that we are not to be trifled with."

He put down his spoon, his eyes clear, and said, "Yesterday's arena battle, seemingly a show of force, was actually a message to the Northern Spirit Region: the Five Elements Sect hasn't collapsed; it's revived. It's not a pushover that anyone can easily bully. Why did those small and medium-sized families renew their leases overnight? Because they saw the benefits of following the Five Elements Sect. Why did the rogue cultivators cheer? Because they saw hope in relying on the Five Elements Sect. Why didn't City Lord Su Wan stay yesterday? Because she realized that Qing Shui City's good days are numbered. There are no true friends; it's mostly about self-interest."

Tian Ru pursed her lips and didn't speak, but the knot in her brows seemed to ease a little.

"As for the six sects' concerns..."

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "It's better to be wary than to underestimate them. The fact that they're considering us now means they don't dare to make a move against us easily. Just you wait and see, their office in Qingshui City will be closing down soon. Staying there would only bring them humiliation. Besides, if they don't train near home, Yue Niang and the others will have to go out to train. How can I be at ease?"

"What about the Tingyang clan?"

Tian Ru asked, "That's the Thunder Clan of Zhongzhou, with a history of ten thousand years. The Great Thunder Yang Scripture is one of the top cultivation techniques in the Spirit Realm. There are probably more Spirit God Realm cultivators in the clan than you can count on two hands, and quite a few Immortal Spirit Realm cultivators as well. Situ revealed the Thunder Scripture, which is like walking right under their noses. That's risky..."

"There are risks, but we are not without confidence."

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Our ancestor won half of the 'Thunder Sword Manual' from the young master of the Tingyang Clan fair and square. The larger the clan, the more they value their reputation; they won't deny it. Of course, they're also the most shameless; they're capable of coming to take it back. I believe they will come." "Then you..."

Tian Ru asked, puzzled.

Li Weizhou, with his bright eyes, said, "They want to take back that half of the 'Thunder Sword Manual,' but we still want the second half they have, right? If we go to them ourselves, there's absolutely no chance of getting the second half. But if they come to us, then it's hard to say!"

Seeing her disciple's expression, Tian Ru couldn't help but laugh and said, "You're still eyeing the second half of that story?"

Li Weizhou sighed, “Different cultivation methods are truly different. Our Five Elements Sect’s cultivation methods are not bad, especially the Five Elements Primordial Scripture left by our ancestor, which is a first-rate cultivation method. Otherwise, our ancestor would not have been able to single-handedly withstand the three major merchant alliances and provoke the Tingyang Clan, obtaining half of the Thunder Sword Manual. However, not everyone can cultivate the Five Elements Primordial Scripture. Without the five elements spiritual roots, you, my master’s wife, can only cultivate the sub-cultivations derived from this fundamental cultivation method, so the effects are naturally inferior.”

Tian Ru laughed and said, "It's all the same. The more powerful the technique, the more demanding the requirements for cultivation. Not to mention the Five Elements Primordial Scripture, even the Great Thunder Yang Scripture of the Tingyang Clan requires a direct disciple with innate thunder patterns to cultivate. In a generation, it's considered good if there's even one such disciple. Often, only one appears every thousand or a hundred years. However, as long as one appears, it can keep the clan from falling. Your chances of getting the remaining half of the Thunder Sword Manual are slim."

Li Weizhou shrugged indifferently and said, "These kinds of things are a matter of human effort and fate. As long as they've tried their best, whether they succeed or not... it all depends on whether God helps them."

Tian Ru chuckled, then paused, lowered her voice, and whispered, "Later, let your senior sister go up to the arena and fight a few rounds too. She's a bit sullen..."

Without even asking, Li Weizhou knew what was going on. He scratched his head and said, "Master's wife, Senior Sister's Taoist magic..."

Senior Sister Tao Ling'er is an optimist, courageous, and decisive, but she lacks the patience to cultivate.

As for talent, I'd only rate it as above average.

Tian Ru smiled and whispered, "When I got back last night, I found her and Xuan Meng putting on makeup, whispering about dressing up as rogue cultivators for the stage. Just don't expose them."

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "No problem."

……

The bluestone on the arena was damp with last night's dew, gleaming with a cold light.

Autumn has arrived in the Northern Spirit Realm.

But the area around the ring was already packed with people, even more than yesterday.

The news spread yesterday, causing a sensation throughout the Northern Spirit Region. The number of people will surely be even greater tomorrow.

After consulting with Li Weizhou, Hou Haikun suppressed his intention to raise prices.

However, the hot pot restaurant is doing incredibly well!

As soon as Situ Qingyue stepped onto the stage, a gray shadow swept across from her, and the shockwave it created when it landed made the spirit banners beside the stage flutter loudly.

The newcomer was an elderly man with white hair and beard. His faded coarse cloth Taoist robe was stained with specks of blood, clearly indicating that he was a rogue cultivator who had honed his skills in dangerous situations for many years.

When the old man clasped his hands, his knuckles were rough like old tree bark, but his eyes shone brightly. He said, "I am Lou Chen. I have heard that Madam Situ's Thunder Seal is exquisite. I am not talented, but I cultivate the 'Mixed Earth Thunder Technique'. I would like to learn a thing or two from her."

These words immediately caused a stir among the audience.

This person is quite famous among the rogue cultivators in the Northern Spirit Domain. His Mixed Earth Thunder Technique is a rare thunder technique among rogue cultivators. It is based on earth and uses thunder as its edge. It is powerful and heavy. It is said that someone once used this technique to fight against a Spirit God Realm cultivator.

Upon hearing this person's name, even Li Weizhou sat up slightly. Observing the old man's spiritual energy fluctuations, although he was in the late stage of the spiritual energy realm, it was three times more solid than that of ordinary late-stage spiritual energy realm cultivators. Clearly, he had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Situ Qingyue nodded slightly and said, "Please."

Lou Chen didn't hold back and slammed his palms down on the ground. In an instant, the bluestone on the arena rose up as if it were alive, transforming into a ten-foot-tall earthen-yellow lightning shield. The shield's surface was covered with purplish-black lightning patterns. With a "crack," three earthen lightning bolts shot out along the edge of the shield, heading straight for Situ Qingyue's face.

Instead of retreating, Situ Qingyue advanced, her magic sword "Xiaoyao" slashing diagonally, the golden thunder seal lighting up the two characters "Jingzhe".

The silver lightning coiled around the earth lightning like silk, but it was firmly blocked by the purple-black lightning patterns on the lightning shield, and it couldn't penetrate even a little bit.

She frowned slightly. The lightning patterns of this mixed earth lightning technique, with their earthy turbidity, were able to neutralize the sharpness of her lightning seal.

"Madam Situ's thunder seal is skillful, but my thunder seal was forged from the fifth level of the Demon Suppression Cave."

Lou Chen's voice was hoarse with laughter. Suddenly, the earthen shield advanced forward, revealing dozens of earth spikes hidden behind it. The spikes were coated with purple lightning and lashed out at Situ Qingyue like venomous snakes.

Situ Qingyue lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure rising like a willow catkin. Her thunder sword drew three arcs in the air, and the silver lightning transformed into three large nets, encircling the earth spikes. However, when the earth spikes collided with the lightning nets, they exploded with a "boom," sending clods of earth mixed with lightning fragments flying everywhere, blocking her retreat.

"Good heavens, this old man's fighting skills are ruthless!"

Liu Ziyi, a rogue cultivator below the stage, clenched his fist and sighed, "Although this female cultivator from the Five Elements Sect has profound cultivation, her combat techniques are still somewhat lacking!"

Situ Qingyue landed on the edge of the arena, her white dress torn in several places by the earth blast, and a bloody mark appeared on her arm.

She looked at Lou Chen, and a hint of fighting spirit finally ignited in the coldness in her eyes: "Senior's Mixed Earth Thunder Technique is indeed well-deserved of its reputation."

"Madam Situ's thunder seal is not bad either." Lou Chen's earth thunder shield rose up again. This time, the purple-black thunder patterns on the shield surface actually condensed into an earth thunder beast. When the beast opened its mouth, the thunder and fire it spewed out carried a dense demonic aura. Its voice was hoarse as it said, "Take this move of mine, 'Demonic Earth Thunder Roar,' which I comprehended from the corpses of the Sin Clan."

The lightning roared in like a black dragon, leaving scorched pits in the bluestone ground wherever it passed.

Situ Qingyue took a deep breath, suddenly raised her hand, and the Thunder Sword pointed straight at the sky.

The crimson spiritual smoke from Li Huo Peak and the silvery-white spiritual mist from Xuan Jin Peak surged in simultaneously, condensing into a thundercloud above her head. Through the gaps in the cloud, a clear, cold moon slowly rose...

That was the sword intent she comprehended in the lower realm. After ascending to the spirit realm, she incorporated the innate thunder divine power and the "Thunder Sword Manual" into it, creating a brand new ultimate sword intent technique.

"Qingyue... Slay!"

As her clear voice fell, the moon suddenly exploded, transforming into thousands of silver-white lightning sword shadows, each wrapped in a faint moonlight, cascading down like a waterfall.

Strangely, the raging demonic earth and lightning melted away like ice and snow meeting the sun when they encountered the moonlight lightning, and even Lou Chen's earth and lightning shield began to tremble.

Lou Chen's expression changed drastically. He formed hand seals to try and reinforce the lightning shield, but thousands of lightning sword shadows had already pierced through like thunderbolts.

With a crisp "crack," the earthen-yellow lightning shield split open from the inside, and the purplish-black lightning patterns receded like a tide, revealing Lou Chen's horrified face behind it.

"Excellent swordsmanship..."

Before he could finish speaking, Situ Qingyue's lightning sword was already at his throat. The moonlight and lightning at the tip of the sword were as gentle as gauze, yet they carried an irresistible pressure. The moon above her head had not yet dissipated, and the lightning in the sky reflected the moonlight, making it so beautiful that one could forget that this was a fighting arena for life and death.

"Concession."

When Situ Qingyue sheathed her sword, the moon and lightning vanished simultaneously, leaving only a faint trace of the moon on the arena.

Lou Chen looked at his calloused hands, then at the marks on Situ Qingyue's arm, and slowly nodded, saying in a deep voice, "Good! What a fine Qingyue Slash! I am willing to lose! Madam Situ's Thunder Sword Technique is the most exquisite I have ever seen in my life. The Xuanlei Sword Sect is no match for you."

He bowed deeply to Situ Qingyue, and as he turned to leave the stage, his steps were a little unsteady, but his back was straight.

After a moment of silence, the audience erupted in thunderous cheers.

On the city tower, Li Weizhou picked up his teacup, looked at the lingering moonlight on Situ Qingyue's fingertips, and a smile appeared on his lips.

If this battle continues, people from Zhongzhou will likely arrive soon...

Beside him, Xuanmeng, wearing sunglasses, lay on a rattan chair, glanced at him, and her whiskers twitched.

She sensed that this person was plotting something again; how cunning!

But she was still very good to him.

Mu Yuan Dan made her feel refreshed and invigorated.

I owe this guy a huge favor, how am I ever going to repay him? So worrying!
……

(End of this chapter)