Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

Ten years is like the stream behind Hexi Town, flowing by slowly and steadily, day after day, carrying away fallen leaves and dust, leaving behind smooth pebbles.

The mountain is still the same mountain, the trees are still the same trees, only the shade is thicker and the moss around the well is thicker.

The people in the town continued with their lives as usual.

The young Zhang, the hunter's son, took over his father's bow and went into the mountains less often, but each time he returned, his catch seemed to be heavier.

Brother Chen's vegetable garden is thriving. Besides eating it himself, he can also pick some fresh vegetables to take to Yuelaiju in town to exchange for some salt.

Chen Jing'an, that boy, is ten years old. He's quiet and doesn't run around like other kids. Instead, he likes to sit on a small stool in front of his house, watching the sky, the clouds, and the aunties washing clothes by the well. He can watch for a long time, his eyes bright and clear. I wonder what he's thinking in his little head.

His father, Brother Chen, often said that the child was like his mother, with a calm mind.

The old man at the pharmacy was still drunk all day long, with his gourd always in his hand.

The general store run by the monk Ku Hui became increasingly well-stocked, even carrying rare spices from the south. He was still all smiles and chanted Buddhist prayers to everyone he met.

Wang Tiebi's hammering sound was still powerful and resonant, as if it could strike until the end of time.

The sound of reading aloud never ceased in Lin Fuzi's school, through spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Oh, by the way, a new regular has appeared at the school—Lin Feng, the Lin family's son.

Lin Feng is thirteen years old this year, and he has grown taller very quickly, almost reaching the shoulder of his father, Lin Tian.

His eyebrows and eyes have grown up, inheriting the best features of his parents. He is handsome and has a youthful vigor. His skin is tanned to a healthy wheat color. He runs all over the mountains and fields with his "little black uncle" all day long. It's hard not to be tanned.

When he was seven years old, his father, Lin Tian, ​​led him to the entrance of Master Lin's school, patted his head, and said, "Son, it's not enough to just catch ants and raid bird nests. You need to be literate and understand principles. From now on, come here to study with the teacher in the morning, and in the afternoon... it's up to you."

Thus, Lin Feng began his academic career.

At first, it couldn't sit still, fidgeting like it had lice, always thinking about which bird's nest on the back hill had new eggs, or which rock by the river had the most crabs.

I was often hit on the palms with Master Lin's ruler. It wasn't hard, but it was humiliating.

Later, somehow, he gradually became able to sit still. Although those classical Chinese phrases gave him a headache, Master Lin's lectures weren't all about those. Occasionally, he would talk about mountains and rivers, geography, stories from previous dynasties, and even rural legends, which Lin Feng loved to listen to.

I've learned quite a few characters, so at least I can read town notices and prescriptions without any problem.

The afternoon is his playtime. His usual playmate is his Uncle Xiao Hei—Ao Xiao Hei.

Ao Xiaohei has now settled down in Hexi Town. His identity is Lin Tianyuan's cousin. In the eyes of the townspeople, he is an overly handsome, somewhat eccentric young man with seemingly considerable strength. He has no proper job and spends his days hanging around with his cousin Lin Tian or running around with his nephew Lin Feng.

He rarely mentioned the past, and the townspeople were too lazy to ask about it; after all, who doesn't have a few poor relatives?

Only Raymond Lam knows just how "amazing" his "Little Black Uncle" really is.

When climbing trees to raid bird nests, Uncle Xiao Hei doesn't need to climb; he can just tiptoe up.

When fishing in the river, Uncle Xiao Hei has a sharp eye; he can catch fish with just one finger.

Once, when Raymond Lam was chasing a wild rabbit, he fell into a deep crevice and screamed in fright. Uncle Xiao Hei jumped down, grabbed him by the back of the collar, and hopped him up as easily as if he were a chick.

"Uncle Xiao Hei, do you know martial arts? Like the kind of chivalrous heroes who fly around like the storytellers in town?" Lin Feng asked curiously.

Ao Xiaohei, who was lounging on the grass by the river, basking in the sun with a blade of grass in his mouth, scoffed at the words. "Martial arts? Heroes? That's all child's play. Your Uncle Xiaohei... well, back in the day, I was... never mind, you wouldn't understand. Anyway, in this Hexi Town, your dad's the boss, I'm second, and you're third. The three of us are the boss, understand?"

Lin Feng seemed to understand, but thought Uncle Xiao Hei was bragging.

His dad? His dad, Lin Tian, ​​was just an ordinary dad in his eyes who was good-looking, had a good temper, was a bit lazy, was a decent cook (mainly steamed egg custard and braised pork), and liked to lie in a rocking chair and sunbathe all day.

Who in town doesn't know that his father, Lin, is a lazy bum who raises a child alone and doesn't have any real skills? And he's the oldest? Uncle Xiao Hei is probably teasing him again.

However, Uncle Xiao Hei is genuinely good to him. He always thinks of him when there's something delicious to eat, and he's never afraid that he'll cause trouble when he takes him out to play.

Anyway, Uncle Xiao Hei can handle it. Apart from occasionally being a bit eccentric and staring blankly at a cloud or a rock for half a day, he is a great playmate and... well, a rather unreliable elder.

As for Aunt Yao, Shi Yao, she was the gentlest person in Lin Feng's heart.

Aunt Yao was beautiful and spoke softly. She would make him clothes that fit him well and shoes that were both sturdy and comfortable. When he was sick, she would rarely stay up all night to watch over him. The food she cooked was so delicious that you could swallow your tongue.

Lin Feng felt that Aunt Yao was better than all the other aunts and concubines in the town combined.

He asked his father if Aunt Yao was his mother. His father's expression was a little strange at the time. He patted his head and said, "Just think of her as an extra mother you love. Don't ask any other questions."

Lin Feng stopped asking; anyway, he had Aunt Yao to take care of him, which was good.

Life went on like this, ordinary yet fulfilling, carrying the scent of earth and sunshine.

Lin Feng knew that occasionally some people in the town would go out to "do business" in faraway places. Sometimes they would make a fortune and come back to build a new house, and sometimes they would never come back.

He had heard from Zhang the hunter's son that the outside world was vast, with cities a hundred times larger than the town, ships that could fly in the sky, and all sorts of strange and wonderful people and things.

Lin Feng listened, feeling it was like a story, distant and unreal.

His world is Hexi Town, with mountains, water, ancient trees and wells, a school, a home, his father, Aunt Yao, Uncle Xiao Hei, and his quiet little brother Jing'an next door who is as mature as a little adult.

Cultivation? Immortal cultivation? What are those? Nobody in town talks about it.

At most, if a kid is strong, he'll be praised as "good material for work."

Master Lin taught the classics and the principles of being a good person; it had nothing to do with flying around.

Lin Feng thought this was a good idea.

Every morning, I would go to the school to listen to the teacher talk about things that were a bit difficult to understand but occasionally interesting. In the afternoon, I would go on an adventure with Uncle Xiao Hei. In the evening, I would go home and eat the hot meals cooked by Aunt Yao. I would listen to my father ask me casually about school or tell me embarrassing stories from my childhood. My father always talked about how he wet the bed and drew maps when he was a child! Then I would fall asleep to the sound of insects chirping outside the window.

This is his whole world: simple, happy, like a warm pastoral painting carefully rendered by time.

He had no idea how special the paper of this painting was, or what incredible power the person who held the brush possessed.

……

Lin Family Courtyard, evening.

The setting sun cast long shadows on the grape trellis, with small, unripe grapes hanging from the vines.

Shi Yao was washing clothes by the well, her movements gentle.

Ao Xiaohei reverted to its mini black dragon form, coiled up on the shelf and dozing off, its tail tip swaying idly.

Lin Tian remained sprawled in his personal rocking chair, holding a chipped, rough earthenware teacup filled with cheap tea leaves and murky broth, which he drank with relish.

He squinted, seemingly dozing off, but in reality, a pale blue system interface was quietly floating in his mind.

[Host: Lin Tian]

[Cultivation Level: Early Stage of Land Immortal (Perfectly Hidden by the System)]

[Cultivation Techniques: Heavenly Gang Technique (Divine Level, Minor Completion), Hundred Refinements Star Body (Heavenly Rank, Supreme Grade, Major Completion), Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique (Heavenly Rank, Middle Grade, Major Completion), Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms (Heavenly Rank, Supreme Grade, Major Completion)]

[Skills: Omitted]

[Lie flat point: 30007]

[Current available summon count: 1 (monthly free)]

[System Shop: Now Open]

Concise and clear.

Ten years of accumulation, 30,000 points may seem like a lot, but looking at the five or six-figure numbers after the prices listed in the mall, you know that there is still a long way to go.

In the category of cultivation techniques,

The price of "The Dharma of Other-Transformation" is 88888 points.

The Eight-Nine Arcane Arts is priced at 66666 points.

The "Burning Technique" (evolvable, initial version) costs an even higher 188888 points!

The amount of props and weapons is astronomical. Lin Tian had long since given up; he wasn't in a hurry, he would just lie back and collect them slowly.

On a whim, he clicked on the "Summon" icon.

Inside lay a faintly glowing [Advanced Summoning Scroll], which I had just redeemed with 1000 Lying Points a few days ago and hadn't used yet.

The monthly free summon is still available, but I haven't used it this month.

"System, use the monthly free summon." Lin Tian silently recited in his mind.

[Summoning begins... Summoning level is randomizing... Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a Gold-level item—"Basic Formation Diagram" (Complete).]

A thick, ancient-looking book flashed across the screen before falling into the system's storage space.

Lin Tian curled his lip.

Another knowledge-based item like this. It's alright, I'll give it to Yuan Tiangang or Yun Zhongjun later and see who needs it.

Gold grade, better than nothing.

He wasn't in a hurry to use the advanced summoning scrolls; he was saving them up, waiting for a day when he was in a good mood or needed them to do a ten-pull. Just thinking about it made him a little excited.

He closed the summoning interface and then opened the "Organization Management" sub-item. This was divided into two main sections:

Organization One: The Bad Guys

Leader: Yuan Tiangang (Loyalty 100%)

[Strength: Peak of Land Immortal (50% Unlocked)]

[Scope of influence: De facto controller of the Central Court, with significant influence in the Western Regions and Southern Desert, and infiltration into the Eastern Wilderness.]

[Recent Status: Stable operation, abundant resources, continuously collecting ancient secrets and information related to the "Sky Patrol Bureau".]

Organization Two: Soul Palace

[Palace Master: Yun Zhongjun (Loyalty 100%)]

[Strength: Mid-stage Land Immortal (80% of his strength is sealed due to suppression by the world's rules)]

[Scope of influence: A dominant force in the Northern Xuan Region, rivaling the Taoist forces, and secretly controlling three provinces.]

[Recent Status: Rapid development; based on the unique soul cultivation resources of Beixuan, a comprehensive system has been established, local talent has been recruited, and a covert cooperation and intelligence sharing relationship with the Bad People has been maintained.]

Looking at the state of these two behemoths, Lin Tian felt at ease.

For the past ten years, he hasn't had to worry much, leaving everything to Yuan Tiangang and Yun Zhongjun to handle.

Five years ago, a Cloud Lord appeared during a summoning, and he was overjoyed.

Lin Tian told him to go and develop his career in the Northern Xuan Region on his own.

One controls everything in the shadows of the central courtyard, while the other establishes a sect in the open in the Northern Profound Realm; they complement each other. The effect is outstanding.

As for himself?

With the help of system points and the cultivation techniques obtained through daily check-ins, his cultivation level naturally reached the early stage of a terrestrial immortal. In this suppressed Hexi Town, his strength would need to be further reduced, but it would be more than enough to protect himself.

My main focus is still on taking care of the kids, and... figuring out how to raise my son to be healthy and chubby.

"Dad!" The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Lin Feng rushed in like a gust of wind, his little face flushed and his forehead sweaty.

"I'm back! My teacher praised my handwriting today, saying it's improved!"

Lin Tian opened his eyes, looked at his son's energetic face, and smiled: "Oh? That's rare. Looks like the ruler didn't punish you for nothing."

"Dad!" Lin Feng muttered in dissatisfaction, then became excited again.

"Uncle Xiao Hei said the wild chestnuts on the back hill are almost ripe, he'll take me to pick some tomorrow! Aunt Yao, shall we roast chestnuts tomorrow?"

Shi Yao looked up and smiled gently: "Okay, make sure to send some to Jing'an's family too."

Xiao Hei transforms into human form.

A thought, audible only to Lin Tian, ​​emanated from the body: "Kid, you've got real energy... Back in my day, a single breath of dragon energy could roast a mountain of chestnuts..."

Lin Tian ignored him and beckoned to Lin Feng: "Come here, have some water. Finished your homework?"

"Just a little tracing, I finished it ages ago!" Lin Feng ran to the well, picked up the ladle, gulped down a few mouthfuls of cold water, and then wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"Dad, do you think there really are flying ships outside? Brother Zhang said so."

"Maybe," Lin Tian said casually. "What, want to go out and take a look?"

Lin Feng scratched his head: "I'm a little curious... but I've heard it's quite chaotic outside, our town is still the best."

He paused, then said, "Dad, Jing'an was sitting alone by the door again today, lost in thought. I called him to go out and play, but he wouldn't go. He just said he wanted to be alone. Is he sick?"

"Jing'an, that's just how she is. There's a good thing about her quietness."

Lin Tian said, but a slight thought stirred in his heart.

The aura that subtly resonated with the quietness of the small town emanating from Chen Jing'an seemed to become more pronounced as she grew older.

This child's future is unlikely to be ordinary.

But right now, he's just a somewhat introverted ten-year-old.

"Oh." Lin Feng seemed to understand, but not quite. He then ran over to Shi Yao to watch her do the laundry, chattering about the interesting things that happened at school.

As the sun gradually sank behind the mountain ridge, only a brilliant sunset remained on the horizon, dyeing the courtyard, the figures, and the grape trellis in a warm orange-red hue.

Lin Tian closed his eyes again and rocked the chair.

Ten years have passed, but the town remains the same.

The turmoil outside never ceased, but it was firmly kept outside the "Peach Blossom Spring" guarded by the dragon soul.

He didn't know, or perhaps he was too lazy to investigate, how long this peace could last.

For now, things are peaceful and quiet. My son is healthy and lively, my subordinates are capable and sensible, and my "lying down" points in the system are still slowly increasing...

Life is good.