31: Chapter 31 "The Later Ones"

The earliest one was labeled "1923 Rumored Location Estimation," and the latest one was "2005 Ley Line Trend Deduction."

On the 2005 map, Engineer Gu had marked a point with a red pen, with a note beside it:

"Synthesizing fifty years of data, this is the most likely location of the suspected ley line node (error radius of approximately 500 meters). If the cycle holds, the next active period should be July-August 2013. This place is rarely visited, but it is not a restricted area. If you are interested, you may go and observe. Stay safe."

Below it was another line of small text, the handwriting shaky, as if written in his later years:

"I have spent my life searching, yet I never saw the Origin with my own eyes. I hope a successor will be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the heavenly secrets. Gu Mingyuan, Winter 2008."

Chen Zhen stared at that red dot, his heart pounding.

He had the coordinates.

He had the time.

He only needed to wait two years.

He carefully placed the map back into the wooden box, along with the envelope, and took it to the counter.

Grandpa Wu was making tea; seeing what was in his hands, he paused.

"Grandpa Wu, this envelope is wax-sealed." Chen Zhen placed the envelope on the counter, "And these maps."

Grandpa Wu set down his teacup, picked up the envelope to look at it, and then set it back down.

"You open it," he said.

"Me?"

"He wrote 'To the Successor,' and you are the successor." Grandpa Wu picked up his teacup, "I am old and lack the spirit for it now. Just read it and tell me what it says inside."

Chen Zhen looked at the wax seal, then at Grandpa Wu. Finally, he carefully peeled off the wax seal. The wax was brittle and came off with a flick. He pulled two sheets of letter paper from inside.

The letter was written in fountain pen, the handwriting neat but the strokes somewhat faint, as if his hand had been unsteady:

"To the Successor:"

"If you are reading this letter, it means you have found my notes and maps and have become interested in this matter. I do not know if you are a fellow traveler, an enthusiast, or... another kind of existence?"

"I have been obsessed my whole life with exploring the 'other layer' behind the world. Starting from hearing about the 'strange light' in 1953, for over fifty years, I have collected data, conducted field surveys, and built models. I have gradually come to believe that the world we live in is not all there is."

"There is a periodically occurring 'leak' that may originate from some unknown energy source deep underground. I call it 'Spiritual Surge.' About every thirty years, the Spiritual Surge becomes active, releasing energy at a certain node in the Dongshan area, producing multiple optical, electromagnetic, and material effects."

"I tried to explain it with science, but I gradually felt it was beyond my capabilities. In my later years, I encountered the theories of Alchemy and Qigong and was shocked to realize that the ancients might have already perceived this phenomenon and described it using a different linguistic system."

"If you are a fellow researcher, I can provide all the data, but I advise caution. This matter exceeds conventional boundaries and easily invites criticism."

"If you are a practitioner..."

Writing this, the handwriting paused, and the ink bled slightly on the paper. The next paragraph was steadier, as if he had made up his mind:

"Then you might understand my final conjecture: the leakage from the Spiritual Surge may be 'Spiritual Qi.' This Qi can nourish life, alter matter, and be absorbed and utilized through specific methods. Perhaps the ancients' practice was precisely the search for and utilization of such nodes."

"I am not a practitioner, so I cannot verify this. But if you are, I hope you use this discovery wisely. In an age where Spiritual Qi is thin, every single node is like an oasis, incredibly precious."

"The location marked on the map is the most likely node I have deduced in my entire life. In the summer of 2013, there should be a Spiritual Surge. If you have the Opportunity, you may go and observe it."

"Additionally: do not easily show this to others. The world has much fear of the unknown, as well as greed. Be cautious, be cautious."

"Gu Mingyuan's Final Words"

The letter ended there.

Chen Zhen finished reading, and for a long time, he did not speak.

The contents of the letter verified many of his guesses and gave him clearer guidance.

Engineer Gu, as a pure "explorer," had built a bridge between science and Cultivation. And now, he was standing on that bridge.

"What did it say?" Grandpa Wu asked.

Chen Zhen handed him the letter.

Grandpa Wu read it for a few minutes, put down the letter, and sighed deeply: "Old Gu... sure enough, he didn't give up until the very end."

"Grandpa Wu, do you think... his guess is correct?"

Grandpa Wu did not answer directly but looked outside the shop. The afternoon sun slanted in, and dust floated slowly in the light beams.

"When I was young, I also loved reading books about mysterious and strange things," Grandpa Wu said slowly. "Later, I opened this Bookstore, met all sorts of people, and heard many stories. Some said they had seen fox spirits, some said they had encountered ghost walls, others said their hometown well glowed with golden light in the middle of the night... Most of the time, I just listened and let it go."

"But Old Gu was different. He didn't tell stories; he only recorded. Item by item, verifying, comparing, analyzing." Grandpa Wu turned his gaze back, "People like him spend their whole lives chasing one thing, chasing it until they die. You ask if his guess is right or wrong... I don't know. But I trust him as a person."

Chen Zhen understood.

What Grandpa Wu believed in was not those mysterious phenomena, but the man Engineer Gu himself. His rigor, his persistence, his attitude of seeking truth throughout his life.

"You keep this letter and the maps," Grandpa Wu pushed the letter paper back, "Old Gu left them for the successor, and you are worthy of them."

"Thank you, Grandpa Wu."

"Don't thank me." Grandpa Wu waved his hand, "If you want to thank someone, thank Old Gu. Also... if you really go in two years, be careful. I've heard that place isn't peaceful."

Chen Zhen nodded and put the letter and maps away.

[Obtained Key Item: Gu Mingyuan's Final Letter, Ley Line Node Map]

[exploration dimension Experience + 50]

[Unlocked New Clue: Specific Coordinates of Ley Line Node (Dongshan, July-August 2013 Active Period)]

[Special Tip: This clue involves a high-risk area; it is recommended to explore after your Cultivation reaches the Qi Refinement Stage]

Qi Refinement Stage.

Chen Zhen looked at the system panel: Cultivation 63.07/100, 36.93 points remaining to complete the Hundred-Day Foundation Building.

At the current speed, he should be able to successfully complete the Foundation Establishment and officially enter the Qi Refinement Stage in about twenty days.

But the Qi Refinement Stage is just the beginning.

To have the ability to explore the ley line node, he would likely need to be even stronger.

The road is still long.

For the rest of the afternoon, Chen Zhen finished sorting through the three boxes.

He classified and put away the tools, books, and copies of notes that needed to be kept, and packed up the waste paper and damaged items that needed to be disposed of. By the time he finished everything, it was past five o'clock.

Grandpa Wu made an exception today and gave him fifty yuan: "The work is heavy, so here's a bit more."

Chen Zhen took it: "Thank you, Grandpa Wu."

"Coming back tomorrow?"

"Yes."

When walking out of the Bookstore, Chen Zhen looked back.

Grandpa Wu was sitting behind the counter, holding Engineer Gu's copy of "Cantong Qi," slowly flipping through it. The setting sun shone in from outside the door, dyeing him and the entire store of books a warm golden color.

In that moment, Chen Zhen felt that Grandpa Wu did not look like a Bookstore owner, but rather a gatekeeper. Guarding these books, guarding these stories, guarding the traces left behind by people like Engineer Gu.

And he, from being a reader, was slowly becoming a part of the story.

At dinner, his father brought back good news: he had independently completed an emergency repair today and received praise from the team leader.

"The team leader said that I have a very good chance of getting an 'Excellent' in next month's skills assessment." When his father said this, there was a light in his eyes.

"Is there a bonus for 'Excellent'?" his mother asked.

"Yes, five hundred." His father picked up a piece of pork rib, "Although it's not much, it... is an affirmation."

"Then you will definitely get it." His mother picked up another piece for him, "Eat more, nourish your brain."

Chen Zhen ate quietly, but he was happy for his father in his heart. This kind of grounded sense of achievement, earned by his own hands, could make his father stand taller than any increase in Cultivation.

After the meal, his father volunteered to wash the dishes again. His mother was flipping through a magazine brought back from the Library on the sofa and suddenly said: "Oh right, Little Zhen, I've asked about that museum exhibition. It opens on the 15th of next month, and students get half price on the first weekend, only fifteen yuan."

"Then I'll go take a look."

"Should Mom go with you?"

"No need, you have to go to the Library on the weekend."

"That's true..." His mother thought for a moment, "Then you go by yourself, be careful, and tell Mom if you don't have enough money."

"Okay."

At night, Chen Zhen returned to his room.

He first lit the calming incense and then began to summarize.

[Day 16 Summary]

[Cultivation Gain: +3.28 (Morning Run 0.35 + Learning 1.5 + Skills 0.4 + exploration dimension 0.53 + Other 0.5)]

[Current Total Cultivation: 66.35/100]

[Health Dimension: 107.2/200]

[Learning Dimension: 232.7/200 (Upgraded to Lv.3)]

[Social Dimension: 43/200]

[Skills Dimension: Cooking 48/100, Organizing 72/100, Hand-drawing Lv.2 (110/300), Structural Drafting Beginner]

[exploration dimension: Lv.1 (65/200)]

[Special Status: Wearing 'shouzhong token'; Whole-body Force initial awakening; Learning Dimension Lv.3 new ability pending]

[Special Tip: Hundred-Day Foundation Building progress exceeded 65%]

[Assessment: Excellent]

Learning Dimension upgraded. Chen Zhen clicked to claim the new ability.

[Unlocked Ability: [Mind Mapping] Can build a knowledge network in consciousness, improving memory and association efficiency. Consumes Mental Energy, currently sustainable for 15 minutes/day.]

Mind Mapping.

Perfect for use with the clue association network of the exploration dimension.

He tried it out, building a "High School Math Knowledge Network" in his mind. Algebra was the trunk; geometry, functions, and probability were the branches; and specific knowledge points were the leaves. After building it, he found that when recalling formulas and theorems, he was not extracting them individually but naturally associating from one node in the network to related nodes.

The efficiency was indeed higher.

But the consumption was also significant. After ten minutes, he felt a slight swelling in his temples. It seemed he would have to use it sparingly.

Before lying down, Chen Zhen glanced at the Foundation Establishment countdown:

[Time remaining until Hundred-Day Foundation Building completion, estimated: 84 days]

84 days, more than two months.

Enough for him to complete the Foundation Establishment, enough for him to consolidate the Early Stage of the Qi Refinement Stage, and enough for him to make more preparations for 2013, two years later.

He closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his chest. The shouzhong token was resting steadily against him, warm.

In his mind, the knowledge network and the clue network intertwined, like two overlapping star maps.

And at the center of these two nets was himself. A high school student who was studying, a practitioner just starting out, a successor who had inherited Engineer Gu's path of exploration.

Three identities, one path.