Hermit in the Mountains

With Yang Dashan overseeing the planting, Gu Changsheng didn't go to the back mountain to supervise, since the villagers were a bit too eager to work under the boss's watchful eye.

Gu Changsheng read Taoist scriptures in the wooden house and paid attention to whether any special events or mysterious incidents were happening online.

He knew in his heart that it was unrealistic to expect to see reports of mysterious events on the Internet. These kinds of sensitive real events would be kept secret, and what could be reported was basically fake.

Unless he can see it immediately after it's posted, the official debunking, removal, and eventual disappearance from public view will likely happen within minutes.

He unexpectedly embarked on the path of cultivation; among the millions of people on Earth, there must be one or two as lucky as him.

Although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth only exists in the mountains and fields, many Taoist temples and Buddhist temples are built in famous mountains and rivers, so they have the opportunity to sense the existence of spiritual energy.

The authenticity of cultivation methods recorded in ancient books, Taoist scriptures, Buddhist scriptures, and handwritten manuscripts cannot be verified, but Gu Changsheng found the answer in the book.

He doesn't need to care whether the cultivation methods or supernatural powers in the books are true or false; as long as they can inspire his cultivation, that's enough.

For example, the legendary "Summoning Wind and Rain Technique," which is said to be only usable by immortals, is simply an enhanced version of the "Taiyin Spirit Rain Technique."

With his current cultivation level, he is not able to influence or change the celestial phenomena, but he can simulate localized rainfall. As his cultivation level improves, one day the "Taiyin Spirit Rain Technique" will also be able to achieve the power to control the celestial phenomena with a single thought.

The teleportation techniques such as shrinking the earth to an inch and reaching the ends of the earth in a short distance can also be gradually deduced and perfected from footwork. It may take a very long time, and it may be impossible to comprehend them, but what does it matter? As long as the perfected footwork meets one's own needs, that is enough.

Gu Changsheng did not underestimate himself; he was quite confident in his comprehension, a confidence instilled by the "Seed of Life's Withering and Flourishing."

If he can create a cultivation method that he can practice on his own in this degenerate age, what's wrong with him creating several great supernatural powers in the future?

His scattered thoughts returned to their source. Gu Changsheng shook his head to suppress the grand ideas for supernatural powers in his mind. Supernatural powers were still too far away for him to rush. He should take each step carefully, one at a time.

The core objective remains the completion of the nine transformations of the "Dao Seed." After the nine transformations, will the "Dao Seed" enter a new realm as he predicted, and will the "Dao Seed" undergo new changes?

He has already completed six transformations, and is only three steps away from the ninth. His suspicions will soon be confirmed.

The secondary goal is to master the true method of alchemy of decay and prosperity, to try to deduce whether the cultivation method can enhance his cultivation, and at the same time to verify the limitations of the existence of the 'natal decay and prosperity seed'.

Cultivation methods include three major methods: body refinement, qi refinement, and spirit refinement.

Will trying body-refining techniques further strengthen the physical body?

Will trying the Qi Refining Method further enhance the efficiency of absorbing and refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and the essence of the sun and moon?

Will attempting the Refining Spirit Method further enhance one's spiritual power?

Gu Changsheng discovered that he wanted to do far too many things, and each one was not simple. He needed to start from scratch, and there were no successful experiences to refer to.

He used to spend six hours a day on core cultivation. As his cultivation level improved, he replaced sleep with meditation, and then he adjusted his core cultivation time to morning and evening.

During the day, nurturing spirit beasts, cultivating spirit herbs, deducing spells, refining elixirs, and transforming cultivation grounds are all tasks that cannot be completed in just one or two days.

He needs to set aside time each day to observe the changes in the bodies of his three pets and several medicinal herb samples, as this is related to his mastery of the methods of cultivating spirit beasts and spirit herbs, and will affect his future cultivation efficiency.

A clever and powerful spirit pet can protect the mountain, and in critical moments, it can protect the cultivator during seclusion, preventing outsiders from intruding while he is cultivating, or defending him from enemy attacks when he is weak.

Gu Changsheng had never met any other cultivators, but he needed to be prepared for that.

The path of spiritual practice is not a straight and smooth road; it is full of difficulties, obstacles, and directionlessness, and no one knows where it will ultimately lead.

Gu Changsheng sometimes studied scriptures, sometimes browsed topics related to cultivation online, and sometimes reflected on cultivation.

Time passed by unnoticed, and at noon, Gu Changsheng left the living room and went into the kitchen.

The food the villagers brought was basically cold by noon, so he cooked a pot of egg and seaweed soup for everyone, stir-fried a large plate of green pepper, cured meat, and potato shreds, and made a cold radish salad.

He ate less and less, and the vegetables he grew in the fields and the eggs laid by the hens were more than he could eat by himself, so he gave them to the villagers as extra meals.

To ensure that every villager can have a small bowl of hot soup and a few bites of hot food.

The villagers on the back mountain haven't rested yet; they're all busy planting trees.

Yang Dashan saw white smoke rising from the mountainside and thought that Gu Changsheng was cooking, and that there was probably still food for the villagers.

He had this guess because the last time they planted trees, Gu Changsheng cooked two extra dishes for them.

Gu Changsheng may seem aloof in his eyes, but he has a good heart. The only thing he can't do is try to find out Gu Changsheng's secrets.

They just need to do their work and not ask or be curious about anything else; they can accept whatever Gu Changsheng gives them.

He didn't take it for granted that Gu Changsheng had given him extra food last time; this time, they all brought their own lunch.

Gu Changsheng already paid them a thousand yuan a day, so it's normal that he didn't cook for them. Cooking them a hot dish is a sign of his care.

Yang Dashan had considered bringing his cooking utensils to the mountain to cook for everyone so that they could have hot meals, but he thought that cooking over a fire would take too long and it would be more convenient to bring boxed lunches. They were not here for sightseeing, but to work.

The planting task is heavy. Taking an hour to eat and rest at noon is enough. Completing Gu Changsheng's planting task is the top priority. They can have a good meal when they get home in the evening.

After Gu Changsheng finished preparing the meal, he walked out of the kitchen and called out to the back mountain, telling everyone to come down to eat and rest.

"Brother Yang, bring everyone down for a meal and a rest before we get back to work."

The distance from the mountainside to the summit of the back mountain is not far, and Gu Changsheng's shouts can be heard by everyone on the back mountain.

Upon hearing Gu Changsheng's call, Yang Dashan led everyone back to the mountainside.

After calling everyone down to eat, Gu Changsheng went back to the kitchen and moved three dishes to the doorway, letting the villagers serve themselves.

He himself brought out a bowl of cooked noodles from the kitchen, added soup and vegetables, and sat leisurely on the wooden stool by the door to eat.

When others are around, he still cooks and eats normally, giving outsiders the image of an ordinary person who is perfectly normal.

The big yellow dog at my feet is munching on its food from the dog bowl.

Hearing footsteps, Gu Changsheng looked up to his left and said, "Brother Yang, I've made some dishes for you. Please give some to each of you."

"Thank you, Brother Gu. You've gone to so much trouble. We bring our own lunch." Yang Dashan thanked them first, explaining that they would bring their own food.

Gu Changsheng raised his hand and pointed to the vegetable garden in front of him with his chopsticks. "Look at the vegetable garden, it's full of vegetables. I can't eat them all by myself."

"They're all grown by ourselves, so it didn't cost any money."

Ever since Gu Changsheng deduced the "Taiyin Spirit Rain Technique" and used it twice on the vegetable garden, the vegetables in the garden have grown faster, become fuller, and have a faster growth cycle.

There was so much food that he didn't dare to use the "Spirit Rain Technique" on the vegetables anymore.