Under One Person: Starting with the Dual Cultivation of Body and Soul.

Li Chang'an took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to meditate and regulate his breathing.

During the two years of training, he lived a life of hardship, sleeping outdoors and having no fixed abode. Even when meditating, he had to be mindful of protecting himself, so he never entered a state of being a living dead.

Back at the Lu family home, surrounded by safety and with his mind at peace, Li Chang'an's breathing gradually became weak, and his heartbeat slowed and became long. Before long, he successfully entered a "living dead" state.

This time, Li Chang'an entered a very deep meditative state, and it wasn't until the morning of the third day that he awoke from his meditation.

Without the dazed feeling of waking from a deep dream, his gaze was clear as water. He stretched, and a series of subtle cracking sounds came from his spine from top to bottom.

The minor damage from the previous high-voltage electric body tempering was completely restored during this deep meditation. He could even intuitively feel that his life cultivation had taken another step forward.

Li Chang'an stepped out of the room and immediately encountered a pink figure—Lu Linglong, who was taking a walk outside.

Two years have passed, and this girl has shed her childishness and grown into a graceful young woman, wearing a pink t-shirt and blue jeans.

She also saw Li Chang'an, and when their eyes met, Lu Linglong's eyes lit up instantly.

"Brother Chang'an!"

She let out an excited shout, rushed over and hugged Li Chang'an, chattering away:

"Brother Chang'an, you're finally out of seclusion! I just got back from my holiday the day before yesterday, and Grandpa said you were back, but in seclusion. I've been waiting for you for two whole days! I've missed you so much for two years!"

Li Chang'an smiled, gestured between her head and his chin with his hand, and said, "It's been two years since I last saw you. You've grown quite a bit taller. You're almost a young lady now."

Chapter 189 Reminiscing

Lu Linglong took two steps back, stood on tiptoe, and gestured with her hand above Li Chang'an's head with an exaggerated expression.

"If we're talking about growing taller, Chang'an, you've grown the most exaggeratedly, okay? What kind of fertilizer did you eat to grow up these past two years? It seems like you're even taller than your older cousin now."

As she spoke, Lu Linglong looked at Li Chang'an with suspicion: "You said before that you were eating and sleeping in the open all the way and hadn't eaten a proper meal. You weren't lying to me, were you? It wasn't actually eating and sleeping in the open all the way, but rather a journey full of spicy and delicious food?!"

"Hahaha!" Li Chang'an couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You haven't been eating well these past two years, but you ate well in the previous years. The reason you haven't grown tall is definitely because you often eat vegetables and radishes in Baiyun Temple. If you lived at home and ate medicinal cuisine every day, you would definitely grow taller."

"Humph!"

Lu Linglong wrinkled her nose and said, "I'm not a rabbit, how could I eat vegetables and radishes every day? I'm a lay disciple, not a formal disciple. As for those rules and regulations, I just need to follow them appropriately. It's okay to go out and indulge myself occasionally to satisfy my hunger, but it's definitely not as good as eating at home."

At this point, Lu Linglong suddenly stopped. She curiously circled around Li Chang'an several times, staring at him with her bright, lively eyes.

"Brother Chang'an, what's wrong with you? I feel like you've become much more cheerful since you came back this time."

"You used to be so aloof, always wearing that deadpan expression that said 'keep away.' Why are you joking around today?"

Li Chang'an smiled and said, "After two years of training abroad, some changes are bound to happen."

"Yes, you're right."

Lu Linglong nodded her little head like a chick pecking at rice: "Change is a good thing, it's wonderful."

Lu Linglong was very satisfied with Li Chang'an's change. Although she could tell before that Li Chang'an's coldness was an act, which was why she had a good relationship with him, now that he was no longer pretending, wasn't that even better?

"That's right, Brother Chang'an, it's not just me, my older cousin is back too."

As she spoke, Lu Linglong turned around and shouted towards the depths of the courtyard, "Brother! Big cousin! Come out quickly! Brother Chang'an has come out of seclusion."

A moment later, Lu Lin pushed open the door and came out.

Lu Lin was still the same as before. He had slightly wavy medium-length hair and wore a simple black outfit. He was a little taller than two years ago, and the boyishness on his face had faded considerably, making him appear more mature.

Strangely enough, the Sanyi Sect loved white, but Lu Lin preferred to wear black. When she saw Li Chang'an standing in the courtyard, a hint of surprise flashed in Lu Lin's eyes. She quickly walked forward and gave Li Chang'an a big hug.

Lu Lin is an introverted person, and Li Chang'an is not an extrovert either. Therefore, in the past two years, they have only spoken on the phone a handful of times. But this doesn't mean their relationship is bad.

That's how friendships between men are. Many childhood friends might not contact each other even once a year, but when they meet, they don't feel awkward at all. Lu Lin and Li Chang'an are a perfect example of this.

"Senior Brother Chang'an, your cultivation must have improved greatly after these two years of training!" Lu Lin said with a smile.

Li Chang'an laughed and said, "You saw right through that at a glance?"

"How could he have figured it out? It was clearly Grandpa who told my older cousin," Lu Linglong ruthlessly exposed from the side.

"What else did Grandpa say?" Li Chang'an asked with a smile.

"He said you've already broken through to the second level of Reverse Life, and that even though you just broke through not long ago, you've already come a long way on the path to the second level. Even he was surprised," Lu Linglong said.

"Why has Grandpa become such a big mouth, just like the old Celestial Master?" Li Chang'an laughed.

Lu Linglong's eyes darted around: "Maybe it's because you're near vermilion that you become red, and you're near ink that you become black. It's because you've been spending too much time with the old master."

Lu Lin explained from the side, "It's not like that. It's probably because Grandfather was worried that I would see you as a rival and do something unwise, so he gave me a heads-up. Actually, Grandfather is overthinking it. I'm pretty sure I know what's going on."

Lu Lin has always been a person with a very clear understanding of himself, and he has no intention of surpassing his senior brother.

For him, it was good that his senior brother was ahead of him; his great-grandfather had fewer expectations of him, and he felt much less burdened.

With a relaxed mind, his cultivation speed in the past few years has actually been a little faster than before.

“Cousin, you…” Lu Linglong hesitated, she had actually guessed it, but she didn’t say it outright, she felt that her cousin also had his pride.

"What's wrong with saying this? Isn't this an obvious fact?" Lu Lin waved her hand dismissively.

Li Chang'an looked at Lu Lin and asked with a smile, "How's your cultivation going after two years?"

Lu Lin said seriously, "Although I am far from being as good as my senior brother, I have already touched the threshold of the second level of Reverse Life. I originally planned to try to break through during the summer vacation, but now that my senior brother is back, I asked the school for leave in advance to go home. One reason is that I want to see my senior brother, and the other is that I want to go into seclusion to try to break through to the second level of Reverse Life."

"Great!" Li Chang'an patted Lu Lin on the shoulder and laughed, "Then Grandpa and I will protect you then."

"Alright, with Grandpa and Senior Brother's help, I'm sure I'll get through this smoothly," Lu Lin said with a smile.

In the past, when disciples of the Sanyi Sect broke through to the second level of the Reverse Life Realm, although it wasn't exactly a matter of life and death, it was still a life-or-death ordeal.

But now, due to a fundamental shift in her cultivation philosophy, coupled with weekly high-voltage electric body tempering, Lu Lin's foundation is very solid.

Although it cannot yet reach the level of success and natural achievement like Li Chang'an, the risks have been greatly reduced.

This is also why he chose to attempt the challenge at this time.

It wasn't that he felt he had to follow suit just because Li Chang'an had successfully broken through; rather, it was simply that the time was right.

Afterwards, the three of them stood in the courtyard and casually chatted about their experiences over the past two years.

Lu Linglong talked about her experiences in middle school, where she made many good friends.

A while ago, she went to watch a basketball game, but the school's basketball court was in disrepair and the stands collapsed. At the critical moment, she used one hand to support the entire stands, saving many classmates.

She gained many male fans as a result, and now she is the school's leader, with a fan club under her command.

She also received the title of "Excellent Student of Beijing" and a medal for "Little Model of Saving Lives".

As she spoke, Lu Linglong showed the medal to Li Chang'an. It was a shield-shaped metal badge with a white cross in the center and the words "Saving lives and healing the wounded" written on it. It really looked quite impressive.

Chapter 190 Going to the Trinity Gate

Li Chang'an played with it for a moment, then returned it to Lu Linglong. Lu Linglong carefully put it into the inner pocket of her wallet, showing that she cherished the badge very much.

"Oh dear, he also said he would customize a Devouring Sac for me, but it's been years and there's still no news. Unlike you guys, you've already got yours!" Lu Linglong pouted and pretended to be angry as she said, "You're so biased."

While Lu Linglong was speaking, Li Chang'an and Lu Lin just watched her with smiles.

Afterwards, Lu Lin also talked about his college life. Compared to Lu Linglong's exciting life, Lu Lin's was very ordinary. He did not show any special skills in college and was no different from an ordinary college student.

He spends his days studying, in the library, and occasionally goes out to parties. The biggest difference is that he doesn't like playing video games and rarely goes out with girls.

To be honest, quite a few girls want to go on dates with him, but he's a tight-lipped guy and never accepts their advances.

Li Chang'an then shared some of his experiences and observations during the Long March.

As they were having a pleasant conversation, Lu Jin walked slowly into the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

"They're all here." Lu Jin looked at the three little ones with a kind expression.

"Grandpa," the three greeted in unison.

Afterwards, the group arrived at a pavilion and sat around a stone table chatting.

As the conversation progressed, the topic turned to the reconstruction of the former site of the Sanyi Gate.

"Grandpa, how's the construction of the scenic area near Sanyi Gate going?" Li Chang'an asked.

"The main construction is almost complete, and we estimate that we can start trial operation next year. When we have time, Grandpa will take you to see it in person," Lu Jin said with a smile.

At this moment, Lu Linglong suddenly interjected, "Grandpa! Didn't my cousin plan to go into seclusion to try and break through to the second level of the Reverse Life Realm this time? Why don't we just switch to the Sanyi Sect and try it? That would be so meaningful! Perfect timing, I'll go with him too."

Hearing this, Lu Jin glanced at her sideways: "Little brat, you're talking such high-sounding words, but actually you just want to take this opportunity to play for a while longer, right?"

Lu Linglong, her thoughts exposed, chuckled and shook Lu Jin's arm, saying, "Grandpa! I've never been there before, I'm just curious, so please take me to see it."

In the past, Lu Linglong would never have said such things, after all, the Sanyi Sect was a thorn in the side of the old master.

But now, because of his cousin and Chang'an, the great-grandfather feels that the revival of the Sanyi Sect is promising, and the Sanyi Sect is no longer a taboo.

In recent years, with the development of the scenic area, Grandpa would personally go to the construction site of Sanyi Gate every few days to inspect and guide the construction, so as to preserve the original appearance and style of Sanyi Gate.

Lu Jin smiled and agreed: "Okay, let's go together then. The area around Sanyi Gate is beautifully planned now, and the main structure has been renovated. I can take you to see it."

"Long live the great-grandfather!" Lu Linglong jumped up with joy.

After catching up, the group left the Lu family compound and strolled around the streets of Suzhou.

In the past two years, Suzhou has undergone rapid development. The old railway station, which was previously somewhat dilapidated, has been completely renovated and transformed into a modern transportation hub. High-speed rail lines have also been opened, and the speed of bullet trains has greatly increased.

Many high-rise buildings have been built on both sides of the street, but the old town's simple and rustic features have been preserved, with white walls, black tiles, small bridges and flowing water.

The four of them strolled slowly along Pingjiang Road. The weeping willows by the river swayed gently in the autumn breeze, and their branches swept across the water, creating ripples.

Reaching a wharf, Lu Jin waved and hailed a rowboat, then cruised along the crisscrossing waterways.

The river was clear, and the banks were lined with old houses with white walls and black tiles. Li Chang'an leaned against the pillar of the boat awning, watching the scenery on both sides recede into the distance. In the two years he had been traveling, he had been to many places, but there were not many places as unique as Suzhou.

After the boat docked, Lu Jin paid the fare and then led them to a time-honored pastry shop.

Lu Jin has lived here for a hundred years and witnessed the city's changes over that time. He knows exactly which restaurants are good and which are time-honored brands.

Li Chang'an and Lu Lin don't like sweets, but Lu Linglong loves them, exclaiming that the taste of her hometown is a million times better than that of the capital.

After their visit, the group returned home.

For the next few days, Lu Linglong went out to play every day. Although most of her friends were in the capital, she still had a few childhood friends in Suzhou with whom she had kept in touch.

Lu Lin stayed indoors, meditating and regulating his breathing every day to conserve his energy and prepare for the upcoming breakthrough to the second level of Reverse Rebirth.

Li Chang'an continued his calm and unwavering daily practice.

Soon, Lu Lin's physical and mental state was adjusted to its best.

He told Lu Jin that he was ready to take the test.

Lu Jin made arrangements that very night.

The next morning, the four of them set off lightly, boarding a train to Fujian. Lu Jin was still using the fake 70-year-old ID card that the old master had helped him obtain.

Lu Jin remained calm during the security check. She had used this method many times before and had never been caught. This time was no different.

Lu Linglong, standing to the side, covered her mouth and chuckled.

After boarding the train, the journey was smooth and we arrived in Putian on time.

Upon exiting the station, a black minivan was already waiting by the roadside, arranged in advance by Lu Jin. The four of them got into the car, which drove through the city and headed towards the mountains.

Li Chang'an looked at the road outside the car window, somewhat surprised.

Last time I came, only half of the road into the mountains had been repaired; the rest was all dirt road, and cars couldn't get in, so we had to get out and walk.

Today, a wide asphalt road extends straight from the foot of the mountain into the mountains, reaching directly to the foot of the mountain.

The winding mountain road leading from the foot of the mountain to the top is almost finished. The roadbed has been laid, but the final asphalt has not yet been laid.

The flat land at the foot of the mountain has been transformed into a huge construction site, with tower cranes standing tall, machines roaring, and workers wearing safety helmets busy on the scaffolding, creating a bustling scene.

There's a row of shops along the roadside whose frames have already been erected, with banners advertising business opportunities hanging up.

"Grandpa, with such a big event, will there be enough tourists?" Lu Linglong asked in surprise.

“This…” Lu Jin was stunned for a moment. When building it, he was only focused on making it bigger and stronger, and he really hadn’t thought much about this aspect. He paused and said, “This definitely needs to be publicized. After it’s completed, I’ll gather some old guys together to create momentum and promote it properly.”

"Will this work?" Lu Linglong stroked her chin. "Grandpa, your friend must be very influential in the industry, but tourists are all outsiders, so it might not be very effective. We might have to invite a celebrity to promote it. Have you decided which celebrity to invite?"

"Celebrities?" Lu Jin waved his hand: "We don't do that. What kind of talk is it to open the temple gates and invite a bunch of actors to show up?"

Li Chang'an laughed and said, "There's no rush. A mountain is not valued for its height, but for the immortals dwelling there; water is not valued for its depth, but for the dragons residing within. We can promote it after it's completed."

If he remembers correctly, in a few years, short videos will be all the rage, and it will be easy to become famous.