108: Chapter 108 Growth

6:00 AM, Tuesday. Chen Zhen opened his eyes.

Seven points of light rotated slowly within his Dantian. After one night of Cultivate, his Cultivation had increased by another 320 points.

Qi Refining Level 6, 670 points.

If others knew about this speed, it would probably scare them to death.

He stood up and walked over to the pots of spiritual plants.

The growth of the six pots of spiritual plants could no longer be described as fast.

The four soul-calming grass plants had bloomed forty flowers overnight. The Mint leaves were so dense they filled the entire pot. The third crop of the wild soul-calming grass had already bloomed and set seeds, with seeds scattered all over the ground.

He plucked the flowers, harvested the leaves, and gathered the seeds in one fluid motion.

anshen flower powder stock: 1,200 grams.

Mint leaves: 3,000 pieces.

soul-calming grass seeds: Three large bags.

Enough. It was truly enough.

He walked to the workbench and looked at the stack of blank Talisman paper.

After Shen Mo left, he had drawn 300 new Talisman, replenishing what had been used.

Now, 3,500 Talisman were neatly stacked in his Storage Space—Attack, Defense, Support, and Special, all categorized so he could grab whatever he needed.

He picked up his brush and drew one more.

Origin Talisman.

After the seventh Origin Talisman was finished, golden light erupted from the Talisman paper. He put the Talisman away and stood up.

Today was Tuesday, time for normal classes.

At 7:20, Chen Zhen stepped into the classroom.

Zhang Meng was in the back row catching up on homework. Seeing him enter, he yelled as usual, "Help! Lend me your math homework to copy!"

Chen Zhen tossed his homework notebook over.

Zhang Meng caught it and buried his head, copying furiously.

Chen Zhen walked to his seat and sat down.

The student in the front row, Su Xiaoya, turned around, her eyes bright.

"Chen Zhen, did you manage to solve that physics problem from yesterday?"

"Which one?"

"The last one on the test paper," Su Xiaoya said. "Old Li said only two people in the whole grade solved it. You and that Zhou Rui from Class 3."

Chen Zhen nodded.

"I solved it."

Su Xiaoya stared at him for a few seconds.

"Do you know Zhou Rui? I see you two walking together often."

Chen Zhen didn't answer.

Su Xiaoya waited for two seconds, smiled, and turned back around.

In the last row, Zhou Rui looked up at him once, then lowered his head to read his book.

Chen Hao turned his head from the front row, glanced at Chen Zhen, and didn't speak.

In the back row, Zhang Meng finished copying the homework and looked up at Chen Zhen.

"Chen Zhen, want to eat lunch together?"

"Sure."

When school let out at noon, Chen Zhen went to the cafeteria.

He got his food and found a seat.

He had only taken a few bites when three people walked over carrying their trays.

Zhou Rui, Zhang Meng, and Chen Hao.

Zhang Meng plopped down and started eating heartily.

Chen Hao sat opposite Chen Zhen and looked at him.

"Chen Zhen, where exactly did you go this weekend?"

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"Mountain climbing."

Chen Hao paused, stunned.

"Mountain climbing?"

"Yeah."

Chen Hao stared at him for a few seconds, then gave a wry smile.

"Forget it, pretend I didn't ask."

He lowered his head and ate.

Zhou Rui watched from the side, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Zhang Meng had no idea what was going on and just buried his head in his food, eating wildly.

Halfway through the meal, someone walked over with a tray.

Yun Xi.

She was wearing a school uniform—no idea where she got it—and looked just like an ordinary high school student. But those pale golden eyes betrayed her.

She sat down next to Chen Zhen and started eating.

Zhang Meng looked up at her and paused, stunned.

"Who are you?"

"New student," Yun Xi said. "Class 3."

Zhang Meng scratched his head.

"Class 3? How come I haven't seen you before?"

"Just transferred yesterday."

Zhang Meng nodded and continued eating.

Chen Hao looked up at Yun Xi, then at Chen Zhen, looking thoughtful.

Zhou Rui kept his head down while eating, the smile on his lips deepening.

After finishing the meal, Yun Xi stood up and looked at Chen Zhen.

"After school, same place."

She left.

Zhang Meng looked completely confused.

"Who is she? How does she know about your 'same place'?"

Chen Zhen didn't answer.

The third period in the afternoon was Physics.

Old Li was teaching electromagnetic induction, and the blackboard was covered in coils.

Chen Zhen listened for a while, and began constructing new runes in his mind.

After the Fusion of the seven fragments, his understanding of the Dao of Talisman had deepened. He could now see through the structure of those complex runes he hadn't understood before at a single glance.

He took out paper and started drawing.

This time, he was drawing a Composite Rune Array—integrating the principles of electromagnetic induction.

The number of turns in the coil corresponded to the layers of the rune.

The magnitude of the current corresponded to the intensity of the spiritual power.

The direction of the magnetic field corresponded to the direction of the rune.

After drawing over a dozen versions, the third one was a success.

【Electromagnetic Talisman · Improved Version】

【Effect: Spiritual power field range +100%, duration +60%】

【Quality: Top-Grade】

He nodded in satisfaction and put it away.

The bell rang, and Chen Hao turned his head from the front row.

"What have you been drawing all class?"

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"Drafts."

Chen Hao was silent for two seconds.

"You drew for thirty minutes, went through seventeen sheets of paper, and filled every single one. You call that a draft?"

Chen Zhen didn't answer.

Chen Hao waited for two seconds, then sighed.

"Forget it, pretend I didn't ask."

He turned back around.

After school, Chen Zhen packed his bag, ready to leave.

Zhou Rui walked over from the back and stood beside him.

"Master, Yun Xi is here."

Chen Zhen nodded.

"I know."

The two walked out of the school gate and headed toward the Secret Base.

On the way, Zhou Rui suddenly asked, "Master, can Shen Mo come back?"

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"Miss him?"

Zhou Rui was silent for a few seconds.

"A little."

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"He can come back. But not now."

Zhou Rui nodded and didn't ask again.

6:00 PM, Secret Base.

Chen Zhen pushed open the door, and Yun Xi was already standing inside.

She was staring at the Seven-Path Heavenly Star Formation on the wall and turned around when she heard movement.

"You had a Breakthrough again."

A statement, not a question.

Chen Zhen walked over and sat down in the center of the formation.

"Why did you come to find me?"

Yun Xi walked over and sat opposite him.

"About the fragments."

She pulled a map from her robe and spread it on the floor.

The map was marked with eighteen red dots. Seven already had checkmarks—Dongshan, Beishan, Kunlun, Heavenly Pillar, and three other places whose names Chen Zhen didn't know.

"You have seven pieces in your hands," Yun Xi said. "I have one. There is one at Changbai Mountain. There is one at Wuyi Mountain."

She pointed at the remaining red dots.

"There are eight left out there. Four are in the hands of The Out-of-Controls, and four are missing."

Chen Zhen looked at her.

"You want me to go collect them?"

Yun Xi shook her head.

"It's not that I want you to go. It's that we must go."

She pointed to a dot in the northeast direction on the map.

"This one, The Out-of-Controls, Qi Refining Level 6. It's the closest to us."

She then pointed to a dot in the northwest direction.

"This one, also The Out-of-Controls, Qi Refining Level 7. The hardest to deal with."

She looked at Chen Zhen.

"Which one do you choose?"

Chen Zhen looked at the two dots.

The Qi Refining Level 6 one, it was close, easier to fight.

The Qi Refining Level 7 one, it was far, harder to fight.

He thought for a moment.

"Fight the close one first."

Yun Xi paused, stunned.

"Are you sure? The Qi Refining Level 7 one is the biggest threat."

Chen Zhen looked at her.

"He won't be able to run."

Yun Xi was silent for a few seconds.

Then she smiled.

"Alright. I'll listen to you."

She stood up.

"When are we leaving?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"Saturday."

8:00 PM, Yun Xi left.

Chen Zhen sat alone in the center of the formation, looking at the two red dots on the map.

Northeast direction, Qi Refining Level 6.

Northwest direction, Qi Refining Level 7.

He activated [Fragment Perception].

Seventeen points of light were clearly visible.

The one in the northeast was moving—heading south.

The one in the northwest was stationary.

The others, some were moving, some were not.

He withdrew his perception and closed his eyes.

Seven points of light rotated slowly within his Dantian.

Saturday.

6:00 AM, Wednesday, Chen Zhen opened his eyes on time.

After one night of Cultivate, his Cultivation had increased by another 350 points. Qi Refining Level 6, 1,020 points.

He stood up and walked over to the pots of spiritual plants.

The six pots of spiritual plants no longer looked like ordinary plants.

The edges of the leaves of the four soul-calming grass plants were rimmed with gold, the flowers were larger than fists, and they emitted a rich medicinal fragrance. The Mint leaves were as thick and fleshy as succulents, and the fourth crop of the wild soul-calming grass had already begun to sprout.

He plucked the flowers, harvested the leaves, and gathered the seeds.

anshen flower powder stock: 1,800 grams.

Mint leaves: 5,000 pieces.

soul-calming grass seeds: Five large bags.

He walked to the workbench and took out the stack of blank Talisman paper.

Today, he needed to draw a batch of new Talisman—specifically prepared for dealing with The Out-of-Controls.

Attack Talisman, Binding Talisman, Purification Talisman, and Suppression Talisman, one hundred of each.

One after another, golden light rose and fell within the base.

Halfway through, the door was knocked.

"Come in."

Zhou Rui pushed the door open and entered, holding a stack of Talisman in his hands.

"Master, I drew these last night."

Chen Zhen took them and looked at them one by one.

Twenty Heart-Clearing Talisman, each one better than the last. The one on top had stable spiritual power fluctuations and smooth lines; it had already reached Mortal-Grade · Top-Grade.

Chen Zhen nodded.

"You've improved very quickly."

Zhou Rui smiled.

"I practice every day."

He walked over to the pots of spiritual plants and looked at his own pot of soul-calming grass.

That pot of soul-calming grass had bloomed, its pale purple flowers trembling slightly in the glow of the Seven-Path Heavenly Star Formation.

"Master, it bloomed."

Chen Zhen walked over and took a look.

In the hands of an ordinary person, being able to raise a spiritual plant to this state was truly not easy.

"You've raised it well."

Zhou Rui carefully plucked the flower and placed it into a jade box.

"Master, what can this flower be used for?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"It can be used to make incense, brew tea, or be used as medicine. You decide."

Zhou Rui paused, stunned.

"Me?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

"You raised it, it belongs to you."

Zhou Rui was silent for a few seconds, then carefully put the jade box away.

"Thank you, Master."

Thursday night, Chen Zhen checked his equipment for the last time.

Seven fragments rotated slowly within his Dantian.

Talisman: 4,000.

Spiritual plants: 2,000 grams of anshen flower powder, 6,000 Mint leaves.

Medicinal Pill: None, he didn't know how to refine them.

Weapons: None, the Talisman were his weapons.

It was enough.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the night was deep, and the city lights were like scattered stars.

Tomorrow, Friday.

The day after, departure.

He turned around and walked back to the center of the formation.

He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Seven points of light rotated slowly within his Dantian.

Saturday.

Soon.