115: Chapter 115 The Last Fragment

At 6:00 AM on Saturday, Chen Zhen opened his eyes.

Seventeen points of light were slowly rotating in his Dantian. After a night of Cultivating, his Cultivation had increased once more.

He stood up and walked over to the row of seedlings.

The seventeen seedlings had grown taller overnight, their leaves unfurled, emitting a faint Spiritual Qi.

He checked them one by one, and only after confirming there were no pests or diseases did he turn and leave.

Zhou Rui was already in the corner drawing talismans.

This kid had become increasingly diligent lately, drawing fifty talismans every single day without fail, rain or shine.

Chen Zhen walked over and stood behind him for a while, watching.

The brush moved like a Dragon and snake; his Spiritual Qi was stable, and the lines were smooth.

A Heart-Clearing Talisman was completed in one go, and a pale purple light lit up on the talisman paper.

[Heart-Clearing Talisman (Mortal Grade · Top Quality)]

Zhou Rui put down his brush, let out a long breath, and turned his head to see Chen Zhen, freezing for a moment.

"Master?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

"You've improved."

Zhou Rui smiled.

"I practice every day."

Chen Zhen took a Teaching Talisman from his Storage Space and handed it to him.

"Learn this today."

Zhou Rui took the talisman and examined it carefully.

"Is this the kind that's posted in the classroom?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

"Do you understand it?"

Zhou Rui stared at the talisman for three minutes, then shook his head.

"I don't understand. It's too complex."

Chen Zhen walked to the blackboard and began to draw.

Stroke by stroke, he explained as he drew.

The composition of the talisman runes, the flow of Spiritual Qi, the function of the nodes, and the meaning of every stroke.

After half an hour of explanation, Zhou Rui's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"So that's how it is..."

He picked up his brush and began to try.

The first one, failed.

The second one, failed.

The third one, still failed.

By the tenth one, a faint white light finally lit up on the talisman paper.

[Teaching Talisman (Practice Version)]

[Effect: Learning efficiency +5%, duration 2 hours]

[Quality: Inferior]

Zhou Rui stared at the talisman, silent for three seconds.

Then he smiled.

"Master, I understand."

Chen Zhen nodded.

"Continue."

At 9:00 AM, there was a knock at the door.

Shen Nian pushed the door open and entered, holding a notebook in his hands.

"Chen Zhen, the records for that batch of new seedlings."

Chen Zhen took the notebook and opened it.

Date, time, growth status, Spiritual Qi fluctuations, abnormal phenomena—it was recorded even more detailed than Zhou Rui's.

He nodded.

"Not bad."

Shen Nian smiled, walked over to the row of seedlings, and began to check them one by one.

Chen Zhen watched his back and suddenly thought of Shen Mo.

He wondered how he was doing over there.

He activated [Eye of the Heavenly Road].

His consciousness pierced through the barrier and reached the other side.

Shen Mo was standing in a patch of mist, with someone standing in front of him—Shen Zhiyuan.

The two were talking, though he didn't know what they were saying.

Shen Mo's expression was very serious, and Shen Zhiyuan's expression was very gentle.

Chen Zhen withdrew his gaze.

That was good.

At 12:00 PM, Chen Zhen went to the cafeteria.

After getting his food, he found a seat and sat down.

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

Zhou Rui, Zhang Meng, and Chen Hao.

Zhang Meng plopped down and began to eat heartily.

Chen Hao sat opposite Chen Zhen and looked at him.

"Chen Zhen, my sister used that talisman from yesterday."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"The effect?"

Chen Hao was silent for two seconds.

"She slept for eight hours last night, straight through until dawn. She said she hadn't slept that soundly in a long time."

Chen Zhen nodded.

Chen Hao waited for two seconds, then took a deep breath.

"Chen Zhen, I want to ask you something."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"Ask."

Chen Hao hesitated for a moment.

"Are you selling those talismans of yours?"

Chen Zhen didn't speak.

Chen Hao hurriedly added, "I'm not trying to do business. It's just that with my sister's condition, the doctor said it's anxiety, and medicine isn't very effective. Your talisman is more useful than medicine."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"How many do you want?"

Chen Hao was stunned for a moment.

"You... you're willing to give them?"

Chen Zhen took five Calming Talismans out of his pocket and placed them on the table.

"Take these for now. We'll talk when you've used them up."

Chen Hao looked at the five talismans and was silent for a long time.

Then he stood up and bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

Chen Zhen didn't speak and continued eating.

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

At 3:00 PM, Chen Zhen returned to the Secret Base.

Yun Xi was already waiting inside.

She was leaning against the wall, and when she saw him enter, she straightened up.

"Did those three people leave?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

Yun Xi was silent for two seconds.

"What did they say?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"They told me to make my choice."

Yun Xi was stunned for a moment.

"Just that?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

Yun Xi gave a wry smile.

"These people, really..."

She shook her head and didn't continue.

Chen Zhen walked to the center of the formation and sat down.

Yun Xi walked over and sat down opposite him.

"Chen Zhen, I want to ask you a question."

Chen Zhen looked at her.

"Ask."

Yun Xi stared into his eyes.

"When do you plan to go get that last fragment of yours?"

Chen Zhen didn't speak.

Yun Xi waited for a few seconds.

"You're not in a rush?"

Chen Zhen shook his head.

Yun Xi was silent for a long time.

Then she smiled.

"Do you know, everyone I know who holds a fragment wants to collect them all as soon as possible. Some want to open the Heavenly Road, some want to become stronger, some want eternal life. Only you, having collected seventeen, still say you're not in a rush."

Chen Zhen looked at her.

"What's the rush?"

Yun Xi was stunned for a moment.

"That's right, what is the rush?" she muttered to herself, "No one is rushing you."

She stood up and walked to the window.

The sunlight outside was very nice.

She turned around and looked at Chen Zhen.

"Then I'm not in a rush either. Anyway, I've already given you my piece."

Chen Zhen nodded.

Yun Xi smiled and pushed the door open to leave.

At 7:00 PM, Zhou Rui left.

Shen Nian also left.

Chen Zhen sat alone in the center of the formation, seventeen points of light slowly rotating.

He took out the four fragments and placed them in front of him.

They emitted a soft, dark blue light, echoing the points of light in his Dantian.

He stared at them for a long time.

Then he put them away.

No rush.

He stood up and walked over to the row of seedlings.

The seventeen seedlings were growing very well, their leaves unfurled, full of Spiritual Qi.

He injected a trace of Spiritual Qi into each one, helping them stabilize their root systems.

When he reached the last one, he suddenly stopped.

On the leaves of that seedling, there was a faint golden pattern.

It was different from the other sixteen.

He crouched down and examined it carefully.

In [Internal Vision], the Spiritual Qi flow of this seedling was twice as fast as the others, and the meridians were also thicker.

Mutated?

He thought for a moment, then took a fragment from his Storage Space and placed it next to it.

The fragment glowed slightly, and the seedling's leaves trembled gently.

There was a reaction.

He stared at it for a long time, then stood up.

Interesting.

He walked back to the center of the formation and sat down cross-legged.

Seventeen points of light slowly rotated.

Tomorrow, Sunday.

One more day.