34: Chapter 34 is about to break through 70%.

When Chen Zhen left the Bookstore holding the local gazetteer, it was only 3:30 PM.

He didn't go home, going straight to the Secret Base instead.

Opening the door, the faint scent of the calming incense still lingered.

He sat down and opened the local gazetteer.

This volume recorded major and minor events in the Dongshan region over twenty years: administrative changes, population migration, meteorological data, geological disasters, major construction... like a collective memory of the region.

He focused on the records related to "Abnormal Events".

Besides the 1975 meteorite shower, there were:

November 1968, "Dongshan weather station equipment failure, magnetometer data abnormal, cause to be investigated".

This matched Engineer Gu's records, but officials classified it as equipment failure.

July 1980, "Small landslide on the north slope of Dongshan, no casualties. According to villagers, there was a rumbling sound from the ground before the landslide".

August 1986, "For three consecutive nights, a 'Night Sky Light' phenomenon appeared in the Dongshan area, witnessed by many villagers; meteorological departments explained it as atmospheric refraction".

1992...

Almost every few years, there were similar records.

Some were explained as natural phenomena, others classified as equipment failure, and some simply had no explanation.

But if one connected these event points into a line, and compared them with the "30-year cycle" inferred by Engineer Gu, a pattern emerged:

Between the major cycles (1953, 1983, predicted 2013), there were small-scale, irregular "fluctuations".

Like tides, there are high tides and low tides.

Chen Zhen summoned the clue association network.

The System automatically logged the new clues from the local gazetteer; the nodes increased by seven or eight, and the dashed connections became denser.

The gray [Phenomenon Essence] node in the center seemed to have faded in color a little bit.

Although it was still locked, it was clearly closer.

The System provided an updated inference:

[According to the Earth Pulse node theory, Spiritual Qi leakage may have a main cycle (approx. 30 years) and a secondary cycle (3-8 years). Main cycle leakage has high intensity, accompanied by significant optical phenomena; secondary cycle leakage has low intensity, possibly only manifesting as electromagnetic disturbances, minor geological activity, etc.]

[The current world Spiritual Qi environment is extremely thin; Earth Pulse nodes are a few of the sources that still retain activity. Node activity may be affected by multiple factors such as crustal movement and celestial mechanics.]

Spiritual Qi source.

Chen Zhen stared at these four words.

If an Earth Pulse node is truly a remnant Spiritual Qi source of this era, then its value is far more than just "observation".

For a cultivator, it is an accelerator for Cultivation, a key that might break through a Bottleneck.

Does the old man know?

If he knows, why doesn't he go?

Is it that he can't go, or... does he not want to go?

Engineer Gu said in his letter, "If you have the heart, you may go and observe; pay attention to safety".

He handed the choice to the successor.

Chen Zhen closed the local gazetteer and leaned back in his chair.

Two years later, the summer of 2013.

By then, he should have just finished the first semester of his freshman year and have summer vacation.

If he wants to go to Dongshan, it is feasible in terms of time.

But what about ability?

Is the Qi Refinement Stage enough?

Engineer Gu specifically reminded him to "pay attention to safety", which indicates there is risk.

What kind of risk?

Harsh natural environment?

Or... something else?

He doesn't know.

But being prepared is better than not knowing at all.

Having two years to prepare is better than acting on impulse.

He stood up, walked to the wall, and looked at the Hand-drawing terrain map of the Dongshan area he had made.

It was drawn by synthesizing Engineer Gu's map and the information he checked himself.

Mountain ranges, river distribution, major villages, road networks.

And that red dot, marked "Suspected Node Location".

He looked at that red dot for a long time.

Then he turned around and started his afternoon Cultivation.

Five minutes of "Embracing the Ball", his arms were still sore, but the sense of circulation was more obvious.

Next was the meditation of the Breathing Method.

Holding a Mint leaf, amidst the cool sensation, his breath sank exceptionally smoothly.

After Cultivation, he took out the calming incense given by the old man and lit a tiny pinch.

Not for study, but to calm his heart.

When the blue smoke swirled, he closed his eyes, thinking of nothing, just feeling his breathing.

Feeling the warmth of the shouzhong token, feeling the mass of Qi in his Dantian slightly expanding and contracting with his breath.

Like a tree, growing quietly.

...

Before returning home in the evening, Chen Zhen went to the vegetable market and bought a sea bass.

Mother loves to eat steamed sea bass.

When he arrived home, Mother was already busy in the kitchen.

Seeing the fish in his hand, she smiled: "I was just wondering whether to buy fish, and you bought it back".

"I'll steam it".

"You rest for a while".

"Do you know how to steam it?"

"I've watched you steam it a few times, it should be fine".

Mother stepped away from the stove and stood by to guide him:

"The fish needs to be marinated; add some cooking wine, ginger slices, and salt, rub it evenly, and marinate for ten minutes. Put it in the pot after the water boils, steam on high heat for eight minutes, turn off the heat and let it simmer for two minutes. The green onion shreds should be cut thinly, spread on the fish, and pour hot oil over it".

Chen Zhen did as she said.

Marinating the fish, cutting ginger and green onions, boiling water, steaming in the pot.

Eight minutes later, he lifted the lid.

The fish meat was just cooked through, tender and white; it came off the bone with a poke of the chopsticks.

He spread the green onion shreds, heated the oil, and poured it over with a "sizzle", the aroma was mouth-watering.

Mother tasted a piece and nodded: "Not bad, the heat is just right".

Father returned at 6:30, and as soon as he entered the door, he smelled the fish: "Yo, improving the meal today?"

"Xiao Zhen steamed it," Mother said.

Father looked at Chen Zhen, didn't say anything, but there was approval in his eyes.

They ate dinner slowly.

Steamed sea bass, stir-fried green vegetables, tomato egg soup.

Simple, but delicious.

Father talked about his insights from learning circuit diagrams today: "It looks complex, but when you take it apart and look at the parts one by one, it actually makes sense. It's just that my memory isn't as good as when I was young, I have to look at it repeatedly".

Mother talked about interesting things from the community registry: "There's an old grandpa who insisted I record his 'practicing Tai Chi for one hour every day' as an exercise item, saying it's more effective than walking".

Chen Zhen listened, occasionally interjecting.

After the meal, Father volunteered to wash the dishes.

Before Chen Zhen returned to his room, Mother stopped him: "Xiao Zhen".

"Hmm?"

"Next Saturday, your dad's factory is distributing benefits, a bucket of oil and a bag of rice for everyone. Mom was thinking, our family can't finish it, let's send half to your grandma's house. Will you accompany Mom?"

"Okay".

"Your grandma has been talking about you lately, asking why you don't come to play," Mother smiled, "Go, and keep her company".

"Hmm".

...

When summarizing at night, the data on the system panel grew steadily:

[Day 17 Summary]

[Cultivation Harvest: + 2.88 (Morning run 0.37 + Study 1.2 + Cultivation 0.6 + Exploration 0.41 + Other 0.3)]

[Current Cultivation Total: 69.23 / 100]

[Health Dimension: 135.2 / 200 (Approaching upgrade)]

[Learning Dimension: Lv.3 (87.7 / 500)]

[Social Dimension: 48 / 200]

[Skill Dimension: Cooking 58 / 100 (Steaming fish improvement), Organization 72 / 100, Hand-drawing Lv.2 (130 / 300), Structural Drafting Introduction]

[exploration dimension: Lv.1 (90 / 200)]

[Special Status: Breathing Technique Initial Glimpse (All dimensions + 3%, remaining 6 days); Wearing shouzhong token; Whole-body Force Initial Awakening]

[Special Note: Hundred-Day Foundation Building progress Breakthrough 70% imminent]

[Time until Hundred-Day Foundation Building completion, estimated remaining: 83 days]

The exploration dimension reached 90 / 200; with another 10 experience points, it should trigger new content.

Don't know if it will be a new clue or a new function.

Chen Zhen lay on the bed and closed his eyes.

The shouzhong token was warm, the cooling sensation of the Mint leaf still lingered, and the Qi mass in the Dantian was stable.

In his mind, the two networks spread out quietly.

Not long after.

He fell into a sound sleep.