I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

[Western Hunan, deep mountains, an unnamed solitary peak]

Let's rewind to a few hours earlier.

This is the hidden cave that Gu Qing once used as a "temporary base".

At this moment, this desolate mountain, which even birds and beasts would not dare to linger on ordinary days, has been completely surrounded by special forces in full protective suits.

A light rain was falling from the sky, and the mountains were shrouded in mist.

Today is the seventh day after his death.

It was the seventh day that the mysterious Taoist priest, whose official file designation was "Code Name: Night Watchman," "sacrificed" himself to block the aftermath of the space-based weapon.

Wearing a black raincoat, Li Guozhong, accompanied by Zhao Feng, walked along the muddy mountain path into the cave.

"Chief, this is it."

Zhao Feng's voice was somewhat low. He looked at the extremely simple stone cave, his eyes slightly red.

"After searching the entire mountain area, we found that the magnetic field response was the strongest here, and... it still had the same energy fluctuations as that night."

Li Guozhong looked around.

There was no fairy-tale cave dwelling as I had imagined, nor any magnificent or glittering decorations.

There was only a cold stone bed, a pile of ashes from a long-extinguished campfire, and a few rough earthenware bowls.

It was so simple it was heartbreaking.

"The truly wise live in seclusion in the city, concealing their identity and fame."

Professor Zhang Bowen, who was accompanying them, sighed, and the detector in his hand emitted a soft beeping sound. "Although the background radiation level here is high, it is very gentle, making people... very comfortable."

"Chief, look at this."

One of the search team members pointed to the center of the stone bed.

There, neatly placed, was an old sandalwood box.

The wooden box had no lock, only a yellowed talisman paper seal.

Li Guozhong took a deep breath, took off his gloves, and carefully walked forward.

He would never dare touch a box left by terrorists.

But if it's that senior...

He reached out his trembling hand, broke the seal, and opened the wooden box.

There were only two things in the box.

A blue, thread-bound book with four ancient seal characters on the cover: "The Secret of Body Strengthening".

There was also a talisman with strange patterns drawn on it.

The moment the wooden box was opened, the talisman spontaneously combusted without fire, turning into specks of starlight and dissipating into the air.

Immediately afterwards, an old, weary voice, yet one that exuded boundless freedom, echoed through the narrow cave.

"This humble Taoist is profound and subtle."

"I have spent my life cultivating the Tao, not seeking immortality, but only peace of mind."

"A great calamity is imminent, and the evil demons have resurfaced. I am powerless, and I offer my remaining body as a sacrifice to the heavens, which can only hold them off for a moment."

"That was a calamity from beyond the heavens, and also a calamity for humanity."

The voice paused, as if the old man was gazing at the world on his deathbed.

"This thin scroll is not some divine or magical method, but rather a military strategy for battle and warfare."

"May future generations of sons and daughters have strong bodies, forge iron-like forms, and safeguard our Chinese land."

Do not dwell on it. Do not seek it. When conditions arise, they cease; when conditions are established, they are already empty.

"Go take a break...go take a break..."

The sound gradually faded, eventually disappearing into the wind and rain outside the cave.

A deathly silence.

Everyone present, whether a high-ranking bureau chief or a scientist who believed in materialism, lowered their heads at that moment.

Zhao Feng had already knelt on one knee, tears streaming down his face.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

Even on his deathbed, that old man was still thinking about this land and about his fellow soldiers.

"I don't seek immortality, I only seek peace of mind..."

Li Guozhong muttered to himself, repeating the same sentence over and over.

He felt his face was wet, but he couldn't tell if it was rain or tears.

a long time.

Li Guozhong slowly closed the wooden box, his movements as gentle as if he were touching a fragile treasure.

"Professor Zhang."

"exist."

"This book is classified as Top Secret (SSS)." Li Guozhong's voice returned to its cold and hard tone, but with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. "Take it back to Beijing and immediately organize the top linguists and ergonomics experts to decipher it."

"Zhao Feng."

"Here!" Zhao Feng suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Once this 'Body Forging Technique' is successfully deciphered, it will be rolled out across the entire army." Li Guozhong looked into those burning eyes. "The first batch of instructors will be from your 'Special Operations Division One.' Can you do it?"

"Mission accomplished!!"

The roar was like thunder, scattering the cumulus clouds at the cave entrance.

Li Guozhong took one last look at the simple cave.

"Keep the change, please."

"There are no bodies left either."

He turned around and strode outside.

"The senior has already 'ascended to immortality.' Let's close this mountain."

"Erect a monument. Do not write names on it, only inscribe a sentence."

"The night watchmen of western Hunan, suppressing demons here."

……

[Jiangnan Province, Linjiang City, Old Town Park]

[Time: Now]

"Achoo!"

Gu Qing rubbed her nose, somewhat puzzled.

"Who's talking about me?"

He was sitting on a park bench, holding a five-cent popsicle, watching a group of elderly men and women practicing Tai Chi in the square.

The sun is setting, and a gentle evening breeze is blowing.

There's no smell of gunpowder in the air here, only the aroma of fried stinky tofu and roasted sweet potatoes.

"Young man, you're in good shape."

An elderly man in martial arts training clothes noticed Gu Qing's upright posture (a cultivator's instinct) and couldn't help but ask, "Are you here to train too?"

"Ah, yes." Gu Qing took a bite of his popsicle and replied with a smile, "Grandpa, your Tai Chi is quite good, you've got the energy in it."

"Haha, young man, you really know how to talk! I've been practicing for ten years!" The old man grinned from ear to ear. "How about learning a few moves from me?"

Gu Qing looked at the old man's weak and flawed movements, and a smile flashed in his eyes.

In the past, he might have thought this was just empty talk.

But now, with the perspective of "Primordial Qi," he can see that even this simplified Tai Chi actually embodies a trace of the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. It's just that ordinary people lack the "catalyst" to truly master it.

"No, sir, I'm lazy and like to overthink things."

Gu Qing politely declined the old man's offer.

He stood up and patted off non-existent dust from the hem of his clothes.

The Xiangxi region, thousands of miles away, is probably in complete chaos right now.

Those important figures are probably overjoyed with the "beginner's guide" he left behind, weeping with gratitude.

They regarded him as a hero and a martyr.

"Good."

Gu Qing accurately tossed the popsicle stick into the trash can ten meters away.

"Since the hero is already 'dead,' let him live on in legend forever."

"And me..."

Gu Qing put his hands in his pockets and blended into the bustling crowd of people leaving get off work.

From behind, he looks like an ordinary college graduate, perhaps worried about finding a job, or perhaps thinking about what games to play that night.

Who would have thought.

This young man, walking beside the market and haggling with the vendors over the price of scallions, is the "land god" who could cleave mountains and rivers with a single sword strike and make the state apparatus tremble.

Hello.

The story of western Hunan has come to an end.

But Gu Qing knew that this was just the beginning.

As the book "Body Tempering Technique" spread, the seed of "spiritual energy revival" sprouted within Zhao Feng and his companions.

This world will soon become very interesting.

"system."

Gu Qing called out softly in her mind.

"Now, let's take a look at this small town."

"Since I'll be staying home to take care of my parents for a while, I can't just sit idle."

"Could there be some myths or legends hidden in this old town that are suitable for 'development'?"

His gaze swept over the "Linjiang" river that meandered through the city in the distance.

Legend has it that a dragon is locked up at the bottom of that river.

Gu Qing's lips curled up slightly.