117: Chapter 117 Waiting

At 4:00 AM on Monday, Chen Zhen opened his eyes from Cultivate.

Seventeen points of light were slowly rotating in his Dantian, possessing a hint more luster than yesterday.

His Qi Refining Level 7 Cultivation had completely stabilized, and with the support of the seventeen fragments, his total spiritual power had reached a figure he himself could not fathom.

He stood up and walked to the window.

It was still dark outside, with city lights flickering in the distance.

He activated [Fragment Perception], and the seventeen points of light were quietly distributed within his range of perception—Yun Xi was in the direction of Changbai Mountain, Han Lie was in the direction of Wuyi Mountain, and the other neutrals were scattered everywhere, all in deep sleep.

The last one was on the other side of the Heavenly Road.

He retracted his perception and turned to walk toward the Mutant Seedling.

Overnight, the seedling had grown a bit taller, and the golden patterns on its leaves had increased from five to seven.

In [Internal Vision], the flow of spiritual power within it had already formed a miniature circulatory System—the same as that pot of green dill from before, but ten times more complex.

[Mutant An Shen Grass (Unknown Variety)]

[Status: Juvenile Stage → Growth Stage]

[Growth Progress: 7 Days / Maturity 45 Days]

[Spiritual Affinity: 400%]

[Special Attribute: Locked]

Forty-five days.

He calculated the time; it was still early.

He reached out and gently touched the leaves.

That thought came again—stronger and clearer than yesterday.

It was not pure longing, but a kind of... waiting.

What was it waiting for?

He did not know. But he knew it would be soon.

He stood up, walked to the workbench, and took out the stack of blank talisman papers.

Today, he needed to draw a batch of new talismans—prepared specifically for this Mutant Seedling.

He drew twenty each of Growth-Inducing Talismans, Nourishing Talismans, and Recording Talismans.

The Growth-Inducing Talismans were stuck to the side of the pot to accelerate growth.

The Nourishing Talismans were stuck to the roots to protect the root System.

The Recording Talismans were stuck to the leaves to automatically record growth data.

As the three talismans were attached, the seedling's leaves trembled gently, as if responding.

[Mutant An Shen Grass Status Updated]

[Growth Speed +200%, Spiritual Affinity +100%]

[Data Recording...]

He nodded with satisfaction and turned to push open the door.

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

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

Chen Zhen threw the workbook over.

Zhang Meng caught it and buried his head in frantic copying.

Chen Zhen walked to his seat and sat down, and Su Xiaoya at the front desk turned around.

"Chen Zhen, my mom said the talismans you put up last week were extremely effective."

Chen Zhen looked at her.

"How does she know?"

Su Xiaoya lowered her voice: "She said she could feel it. She said the aura emitted by those talismans made her feel relaxed."

Chen Zhen didn't speak. Su Xiaoya waited for two seconds and smiled.

"Anyway, I don't understand it. But she told me to thank you."

She took a small item out of her pocket and handed it over—it was another Protective Talisman. "She went to pray for it again yesterday."

Chen Zhen took the Protective Talisman and put it into his pocket.

"Thank you."

Su Xiaoya turned back.

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

Chen Hao turned his head from the front row and looked at him.

"Chen Zhen, my sister used that talisman from last week for three days and said it was very effective. She wants a few more."

Chen Zhen took ten Calming Talismans out of his pocket and handed them to him.

Chen Hao took them and was stunned for a moment.

"So many?"

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"Use them slowly. Tell me when you're done."

Chen Hao took a deep breath and put the talismans away.

"Thank you."

At noon after school, Chen Zhen went to the cafeteria.

He got his food and found a seat.

He had only eaten a few bites when three people walked over with 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, my sister said she wants to see you."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"See me?"

Chen Hao nodded.

"She said she wants to thank you in person."

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"How about the weekend."

Chen Hao nodded.

"Okay. I'll arrange it."

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

She sat down next to Chen Zhen and started eating.

Zhang Meng looked up at her; he was already used to it and didn't ask again.

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

"Are you free this afternoon?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

Yun Xi stood up.

"The usual place."

She left.

At 3:00 PM, at the Secret Base.

Chen Zhen pushed open the door; Yun Xi was already inside.

She was standing in front of the map, pointing at a yellow dot on it.

"Do you remember this person?"

Chen Zhen walked over and took a look.

In the East China direction, it was that neutral—the elderly man in his seventies he had met at the tea house last time.

"I remember."

Yun Xi looked at him.

"He contacted me this morning and said he wants to see you."

Chen Zhen didn't speak. Yun Xi waited for two seconds.

"Will you see him?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"When?"

"He said anytime."

Chen Zhen nodded.

"Now."

At 4:00 PM, at the suburban tea house.

It was the same seat by the window, and the same two cups of tea.

The old man was sitting opposite—white-haired, but full of vigor.

When he saw Chen Zhen, he stood up.

"Little friend, we meet again."

Chen Zhen sat down.

The old man also sat down, was silent for a few seconds, and then spoke.

"Little friend, I came here this time because I want to ask you something."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"Ask."

The old man stared into his eyes.

"When do you plan to retrieve your last fragment?"

Chen Zhen didn't speak.

The old man waited for two seconds and sighed.

"I am not rushing you. I just want to tell you something."

"What is it?"

The old man took an old book out of his clothes and placed it on the table.

The cover was yellowed, the edges worn; it was clearly an old object.

Four words were written on the cover: Heavenly Road Notes》.

Chen Zhen picked up the book and opened it.

On the first page, the handwriting was neat.

"I began practicing talismans at seven, and it has been seventy-three years since. My insights and feelings are recorded in this volume, awaiting those who come after."

He continued to flip through it.

The second page, third page, fourth page... Every page recorded research and conjectures about the Heavenly Road.

Turning to the last page, there was a passage circled in red ink.

"When the Heavenly Road opens, the two realms connect. However, what connects is not the road, but the heart. If the heart is not connected, the road will not be connected either."

Chen Zhen looked at this passage and was silent for a long time.

The old man looked at him.

"This was left by my grandfather's grandfather. It has been passed down in our family for five generations, and no one has understood it."

He paused, "But you should be able to understand it."

Chen Zhen closed the book and returned it to him.

The old man was stunned for a moment.

"You don't want it?"

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"I have read it."

The old man was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Good. Good."

He put the book away, stood up, and said, "Then I will leave."

He turned and walked two steps, then stopped.

"Little friend, one last thing."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

The old man smiled.

"Don't be anxious. Take your time."

He left.

Yun Xi sat on the side, looking at Chen Zhen.

"What did he say?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"Don't be anxious."

Yun Xi was stunned for a moment.

"Just that?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

Yun Xi smiled bitterly.

"Fine, if you say so."

At 7:00 PM, at the Secret Base.

Chen Zhen sat cross-legged in the center of the formation, the seventeen points of light slowly rotating.

Zhou Rui was drawing talismans in the corner, and Shen Nian was studying the Mutant Seedling.

Yun Xi was leaning against the wall, eyes closed, resting.

Everything was as usual.

He took out the four fragments and looked at them for a long time.

"If the heart is not connected, the road will not be connected either."

He put the fragments away, stood up, and walked to the Mutant Seedling.

The seedling had grown a bit taller, and the golden patterns on its leaves had increased from seven to nine.

That thought came again—clearer than before.

It was not longing, but waiting.

It was also waiting.

He reached out and touched it gently.

The leaves trembled slightly, as if responding.

It would be soon.