Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improved Spirit Rice

Chapter 89 The True Disciple of Tongming Mountain, A Potential Crisis

Chen Heng's cabin was in section B on the lower deck at the stern.

Following the markings on the wooden sign, Zhao Cheng'an made his way through several turns before finally finding the door to room number 37 at the end of a slightly dimly lit corridor.

He knocked on the door.

The door opened, and Chen Heng poked his head out. When he saw it was him and the food box in his hand, his eyes lit up slightly.

"You haven't forgotten me after all."

The room was fairly clean and tidy, with a bed, a table, and a futon—basic amenities were all provided.

Compared to the luxurious atmosphere of Zone A, with its enchanting scenery at every turn, it was indeed quite shabby. The windows were located low on the ship's side, resulting in poor lighting and the entire room was shrouded in a dim light.

Zhao Cheng'an placed the food box on the table and opened it. Inside were various spiritual fruits and pastries, as well as several exquisite foods to nourish the spiritual veins.

"Have something to eat first. This is the food from Zone A. If you want anything else to eat later, just let me know."

I saw the food inside the food box.

"These are Crimson Crystal Spirit Fruits and Red Silk Cakes. I remember they cost quite a few spirit stones to buy in Floating Scale Cave Heaven—are they free here?"

"You're eating so well!"

Chen Heng's eyes lit up at first, then he couldn't help but sigh.

"We all came from the Seven Kingdoms, but I didn't expect the difference to be so big." Chen Heng said somewhat dejectedly. Although she usually acted very carefree, being treated so blatantly differently still hurt her.

Having known her for so many years, this was the first time Zhao Cheng'an had seen her looking so dejected. He couldn't help but laugh: "Cultivation, in the end, is for yourself. If you care too much about other people's self-satisfaction and let it affect your own pace, or even make you doubt your own path, then it's not worth it. There's no need to care too much about the opinions of strangers."

"You make it sound so easy," Chen Heng snorted, but her back straightened unconsciously. "However—you're right."

She grabbed a piece of spiritual fruit, popped it into her mouth in a few bites, and the familiar sharpness rekindled in her eyes.

"Just you wait, one day I will make the world look at sword cultivators with new eyes!"

"That's right." Zhao Cheng'an smiled and stood up. "Enjoy your food. I'm going back now. Contact me if you need anything."

After leaving Chen Heng's room, Zhao Cheng'an walked back along the corridor.

The corridor in Zone B was dimly lit, with the lamps on both sides emitting a faint yellow light that cast shadows that were sometimes long and sometimes short.

A figure dressed in a gray servant's uniform walked towards him, head down, footsteps silent.

The moment the two brushed past each other.

A very strange feeling suddenly welled up in Zhao Cheng'an's heart.

It was a familiar scent, as if he had encountered it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it. The feeling was fleeting, so quick that he almost thought it was an illusion.

He instinctively stopped and turned around.

The corridor was deserted.

The servant had vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there at all.

Zhao Cheng'an stood there, his brows slightly furrowed, staring at the empty corridor for a moment.

strangeness.

However, he quickly shook his head, putting the strange feeling out of his mind.

During this period, I've been traveling, studying, and practicing calculations, which has severely depleted my mental energy. It's probably just that I'm too tired and have developed some kind of illusion.

He didn't think any further and turned back to his room.

Back at his residence in District A, Zhao Cheng'an closed the door and sat cross-legged on the prayer mat.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on the Niwan Palace (a point on the back of the head).

The interrupted formula, composed of four computational cores, floated quietly in the center of the sea of ​​consciousness, its structure stable and its spiritual light flowing.

Zhao Cheng'an didn't touch it, but instead focused his mind and began to sketch a more complex structure next to it.

The chaotic calculation formula has eight calculation cores.

Unlike magic, cultivators can inscribe multiple formulas within their Niwan Palace.

The ability to switch flexibly when facing enemies is also an advantage that fortune tellers have over ordinary cultivators.

The light trails extended slowly like strands of hair, one computing core, two computing cores—when he tried to integrate the sixth computing core with the previous structure, a sharp pain came from deep within his Niwan Palace, as if a steel needle had been plunged into his brain.

The meticulously constructed geometric structure collapsed with a roar.

"hiss."

Zhao Cheng'an opened his eyes and rubbed his throbbing temples.

It failed again.

However, there was little frustration on his face; instead, there was a hint of joy.

Previously, he couldn't even condense the fifth computing core, always collapsing at the fourth core. But now, he can barely sustain himself up to the sixth core.

The progress is real and tangible.

At this rate, it won't be long before he can condense the complete Chaotic God Calculation Formula.

At that time, he could once again immerse his divine sense into the Netherworld Soul Jade, re-enter the illusion from a thousand years ago, and attempt to seize the inheritance hidden deep within the Netherworld Sect.

Zhao Cheng'an took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.

In his sea of ​​consciousness, the incomplete arithmetic formula slowly lit up again.

At the agreed time, Zhao Chengan arrived once again at the sunroom at the end of Zone A.

Luo Qingyi and Ning Zixu had already arrived and each occupied a corner of the stone table. Several plates of exquisite tea and snacks were placed in front of Luo Qingyi, while several scrolls of classic texts were beside Ning Zixu.

Zhao Cheng'an sat down in the empty seat between the two, and the three of them naturally started chatting about their respective learning experiences during this period.

"A lot of the content in natural history doesn't need to be memorized," Luo Qingyi said first. "There are many patterns to follow in it."

"How so?" Zhao Chengan asked, intrigued.

"Take the symbiosis between spiritual plants and demonic beasts as an example."

Luo Qingyi put down the pastries and tapped her finger lightly on the stone table: "The changes in characteristics brought about by the symbiosis of different attribute monsters and spiritual plants are completely different. Water attribute monsters can enhance the vitality of spiritual plants and make their root systems more developed."

Fire-attribute demonic beasts can enhance or alter the medicinal properties of spiritual plants.

"Moreover, not all spirit beasts will choose to swallow spirit plants, because spirit plants themselves have the effect of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. A mature spirit plant planted there is equivalent to a natural small spirit gathering array."

"Many intelligent demon beasts will deliberately build their nests next to spiritual plants in order to enhance their cultivation."

"This is also a basis for the symbiotic relationship between spiritual plants and spiritual beasts."

After listening, Zhao Cheng'an's eyes lit up. "So, when considering whether there is a symbiotic relationship, we must first consider the innate intelligence of the spirit beast."

"Not bad!" Luo Qingyi's face showed an expression of someone who was teachable.

"I've learned a lot," Ning Zixu nodded in agreement.

"I can share some practical tips—things I've figured out through experience in battle," Ning Zixu said. "Even when using True Spirit Runes to cast spells, it's not actually possible to cast them instantly; it just greatly reduces the casting animation time."

"If the edges of the runes can be simplified, although the power will be reduced, the casting speed will be increased again. This will give us a great advantage in battles, especially in life-or-death situations."

Ning Zixu spoke calmly.

However, everyone could sense the danger in his words, because this man had not only been on the battlefield, but had also killed several demonic cultivators. These experiences were likely gleaned by Ning Zixu from his brush with death, and were of astonishing value.

Zhao Cheng'an looked thoughtful and silently made a mental note of it.

Several people turned their gazes toward Zhao Cheng'an.

"Since you've all shared, I'll share one too." Zhao Cheng'an thought for a moment and then said, "When I was cultivating spirit plants, I discovered that the superior traits of some spirit plants are not only determined by the runes, but are also affected by the external environment."

"The normal breeding method relies on crossbreeding generation after generation to select seeds with the target trait from the offspring. This process is extremely complicated, and if you are unlucky, it may not be stable even after dozens of generations."

Zhao Chengan said, "In this case, if we try to change its growing environment, we may be able to skip the long breeding process and get the result we want directly."

"Of course, this is just one approach, and we need to analyze each specific situation."

After their exchange, all three felt they had benefited greatly.

Zhao Cheng'an was also quite moved.

One person's inspiration is ultimately limited, and everyone has different strengths. In such cases, exchanging ideas with others, even from three seemingly unrelated fields, might lead to unexpected breakthroughs and breakthroughs.

Many hands make light work, and that's certainly true.

Just as the three were having a lively conversation, a tall figure suddenly strode over from the entrance of the sunroom.

"Junior Sister!"

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy.

"The red silk cakes I left over here seem untouched for a long time. If you're not going to eat them, I'll take them away!"

Luo Qingyi suddenly raised her head and quickly grabbed the pastries on the stone table, adopting a vigilant posture as if guarding against a thief.

"I remember there were several plates of them over there. How come you ate them all by yourself?"

Zhao Cheng'an also raised his head and looked at the person who had come.

It was a tall and robust young man.

He had a scruffy beard that looked like it hadn't been groomed in a long time, but he had an extremely hearty smile on his face that easily won people's hearts. He wore a tattered Taoist robe that revealed his hairy chest.

He gives off an unkempt impression.

Zhao Cheng'an was somewhat surprised, "Who is this—"

The tall young man's gaze fell on Zhao Cheng'an, he looked him up and down, and then laughed.

"You must be Zhao Cheng'an?"

"I've heard Junior Sister Luo mention you before. She said that an extraordinary talisman genius appeared in the Seven Kingdoms Examination this time, and she also invested a lot of money in the spiritual plants you developed."

"Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, it truly lives up to its reputation."

The tall young man patted his chest and introduced himself.

"My name is Qi Zhong. I am your senior brother, a true disciple of Tongming Mountain, and also the captain of the guards of this immortal ship."

At this point, he grinned and gave a thumbs up.

"Of course, I have an even more important role: the chief taste tester for the ship's mess hall!"

The sunlight shone on his perfectly white teeth, making them sparkle brightly.

Zhao Cheng'an was speechless.

He could barely understand the first two identities, but what the hell was this last one, "Chief Taste Tester"?

Luo Qing, holding a plate of pastries, patted Zhao Cheng'an on the shoulder, ruthlessly exposing his true colors, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, don't listen to his nonsense."

"I don't know the specifics of his abilities as the captain of the guard. But his title of 'Red Silk Cake Killer' is truly well-deserved on the Immortal Ship."

"From now on, when you go to the cafeteria in the morning, you must get up earlier. Otherwise, if you see him in the cafeteria, it means that he has eaten all of today's red silk cakes by himself."

Qi Zhong's face immediately showed a look of great shock.

"Junior sister, do you really think of me as a good-for-nothing who just loafs around and waits to die?"

"No."

Luo Qingyi shoved the plate into Zhao Cheng'an's arms, crossed her arms, and made a gesture of refusal. Shaking her head, she looked at him seriously and said in a serious tone, "A good-for-nothing like you won't disturb our precious cultivation time. Your actual performance is much worse than I described."

Zhao Cheng'an listened to Qi Zhong and Luo Qingyi bickering and smiled helplessly.

However, upon hearing the identity of "Captain of the Immortal Boat Guard," he had a slight thought and then steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"Senior Brother Qi, are we likely to encounter some danger along the way?"

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