Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 132 Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune
The group asked a few independent cultivators and learned that they had not encountered any fog on their way here last night.

We didn't encounter any evil spirits.

This greatly surprised everyone, who exclaimed that they had been incredibly unlucky.

On the way, Chen Li secretly wondered why the evil spirits would specifically target him.

"Could it be the legendary tribulation of Foundation Establishment?"

But this reason is utterly absurd.

After much thought, I can only conclude that it was because I was carrying too many exorcism talismans.

This kind of talisman can harm evil spirits to some extent, but conversely, it may also be hated by even more powerful evil spirits.

"In the future, it's best to follow the crowd when you're in a crowd!" Chen Li thought to himself.
"Including the one time during the migration, this is the second time something like this has happened."

He planned to put most of the exorcism talismans in his storage bag and take them out only when he encountered danger.

This encounter with evil spirits wasn't without its benefits. Through this real battle with the evil spirits, he has overcome most of his fear of them.

It was also because this evil spirit was too powerful.

If he were to encounter that evil spirit again on the migration route, Chen Li believed he would be able to handle it now.

……

After crossing the great river we had come from, it took another half a day to walk.

The scenery changed instantly.

This place is no longer a scene of scorched earth.

Countless farmers were using simple tools to cultivate wasteland and level the ground.

The farmers dug up the remaining tree stumps and roots after the burning, and dragged them together to burn them while chanting in unison.

The entire world was shrouded in smoke.

By next year, this place will likely have transformed into a landscape of crisscrossing farmland and villages.

The arrival of the rogue cultivator caused a commotion, but after the manager shouted and scolded him, order was quickly restored. Only pairs of eyes, filled with awe, curiosity, or envy, occasionally glanced in their direction.

Compared to the hardships of these farmers, the corvée labor performed by the hermits was not at all tragic.

Having reached this point, there was little danger left; the heart of human habitation lay not far ahead. The group hurried on, finally arriving at a small town before nightfall and spending the night resting at an inn.

It's rare for me to get out of the house.

Chen Li wasn't in a hurry to go back.

The next morning, Chen Li and Zhou Hong parted ways with Zhang Yan and the others, and leisurely returned home after enjoying the scenery and local customs along the way.

He had never been this relaxed since he came into this world.

Life is not just about cultivation, but also about living.

The journey, which took two days and two nights in total, took the two of them more than half a month. Whenever they felt like it, they would stop for a day or two. During this time, they even went to a remote village to do good deeds and eliminate an evil spirit.

Even the exorcism talisman was useless; a single palm strike of lightning instantly reduced them to ashes.

The beautiful scenery and delicious food along the way made Chen Li linger. If it weren't for the sudden heavy snow that sped up the journey, he probably would have stayed a few more days.

I've been away for over three months, and another thief has broken into my house.

The inside had been ransacked, but thankfully there wasn't anything valuable inside.

Upon inquiring, they learned that the cultivators of the True Realm Sect, including the Golden Core Ancestor, had already returned before the two of them. It was said that four Foundation Establishment cultivators died during this land reclamation, and such a loss was still a devastating blow to the True Realm Sect.

It's unknown whether the aloof female cultivator surnamed Bai is among these four.

……

With winter approaching, and considering the inconvenience of living there, Chen Li finally decided to move back to Luanluo City. When he asked Zhang Yan about his plans, Zhang Yan said he needed to think about it. His family's house had already been rented out, and even if he wanted to move back, he would have to find a new place.

When saying goodbye, Wang Qing was filled with reluctance:

"Oh, I really hate to part with you all!"

“I’ll miss you too, but luckily it’s not far away. We can see each other anytime we want.” Zhou Hong held Wang Qing’s hand.

"Waaaaah, I don't want Uncle to leave! I want Uncle!" The little boy pouted and burst into tears as he saw Chen Li's family about to leave. "Mommy, please let Uncle stay!"

"That brat! He's so wild, he doesn't know any manners at all!" Wang Qing said helplessly, covering her forehead and blushing. "Fellow Daoist Chen, please don't take offense."

Chen Li was both amused and exasperated by what he saw. Children naturally admire strength, and although they hadn't had much contact with him, he clearly respected and revered him.

Chen Li patted the child's head and smiled, "This child has a pure heart; he won't take offense."

……

They moved back to their house in Luanluo City.

This place has become somewhat unfamiliar. Many familiar neighbors are gone, and at the same time, many strangers have appeared. With the migration of the rogue cultivators from the True Sect, this place is even more lively than before.

A middle-aged couple has moved into the house left behind by Bai Jinwang after his death.

As for Sun Yu, it seems he still lives here.

Everything has changed, yet it seems as if nothing has changed.

While meditating and practicing Qi cultivation at night, Chen Li felt the long-lost rich spiritual energy and breathed a sigh of relief. This was the right place to cultivate. If it would take eight months to reach the Qi cultivation perfection at the foot of the mountain, it would only take half a year in Luanluo City.

After returning to Luanluo City, he finally had time to cultivate properly.

In less than half a month, after mastering the Body Protection Technique, Chen Li also mastered the Wind Control Technique to the maximum level. The only remaining techniques that needed to be leveled up were the Tier 1 Level 8 Invisibility Technique and two Tier 1 Level 9 techniques: the Magnetic Sliding Technique and the Golden Light Body Protection Technique.

In his spare time, Chen Li also studied the art of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, as well as the art of observing qi, from old books.

Both of these techniques are quite unique.

They are all first-order, fifth-level spells.

The art of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune: It is a technique of fortune telling that allows one to sense good and bad luck, avoid disasters and calamities, and seek good fortune while avoiding misfortune.

The art of observing spiritual energy: observing the flow of spiritual energy, breaking formations, and identifying spiritual veins; this is the art of geomancy.

For Chen Li, the first-order, fifth-level spells were not difficult at all, and he did not spend much time studying them. In just over ten days, he had already learned the art of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

There were no dazzling lights or colors; apart from a few fluctuations in magical power, the entire spellcasting process was almost silent.

"This is the state of magic?"

Chen Li closed his eyes and carefully sensed it.

He found his mind incredibly sharp, as if he were caught in a tangled mess, and he himself was one of the nodes. All sorts of strange information surged through his mind, but when he tried to grasp it, it vanished without a trace. He greeted Zhou Hong and then went out the door.

The streets were bustling with people, and there were all sorts of unfamiliar faces everywhere.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat for no reason, and he felt a flutter in his chest.

He subconsciously looked at a cultivator walking towards him.

He was dressed in a high-class robe, tall and slender, with a middle-aged beard, and a radiant complexion, exuding an extraordinary air.

"This is probably a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

The two quickly passed each other without causing a ripple.

He suddenly understood.

"The art of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune is indeed about seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune... Regardless of whether the other party is hostile or whether there is any karmic connection, the very existence of a powerful person is a threat to me!"

“In the face of the strong, one’s life is not under one’s own control; life and death are entirely at the mercy of the other party’s whim. Isn’t that dangerous?” Chen Li pondered.

"Such a keen sense of danger!"

He moved on.

Suddenly, he had a strange feeling. He followed his feeling and took a few more steps. His gaze fell on a corner where a clump of lush weeds grew.

"strangeness……"

He frowned, stepped forward, and gently crushed the weeds with his toes. The next moment, a faint glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.

"Hmm?" He bent down to pick it up and gently rubbed off the dirt covering it with his fingers, revealing the glistening color inside.

It was clearly a low-grade spirit stone.

Chen Li held the spirit stone in his hand, somewhat bewildered; this was the first time he had ever found money.

"Could there truly be such a thing as destiny?"

He felt a slight coolness on his face, and looked up at the leaden sky, where snowflakes were falling.

……

Time flies, and before we know it, winter has passed and spring has arrived.

Another year has passed.

Chen Li is forty-five years old.

He usually spends most of his time cultivating behind closed doors, occasionally drawing talismans, studying formations, or going out for a flight to relax. He had long since mastered the art of observing qi, and combined it with the knowledge in the formation book and the existing city-protecting formation, he could observe and verify it at any time.

He was no longer completely ignorant of formations.

Deciphering simple illusions and mazes is no longer a challenge for him.

Some time ago, Zhang Yan and his daughter, as well as Gu Mengqing, all moved back here.

Today, during the New Year's holiday, not only did these two families come, but Zhao Chang'er also managed to show up uninvited, making this otherwise quiet holiday a bit more lively.

"Tsk tsk, girls change so much as they grow up. She wasn't quite there yet when she was younger, but now she's blossoming into a beautiful young woman!" Zhou Hong affectionately pinched Zhang Shuniang's cheek and said, "I wonder who she'll end up with?"

Zhang Shuniang blushed and protested, "Aunt Zhou, please don't make fun of me."

The two women didn't participate in the men's conversation, but sat down to talk about the women's private matters.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, I see your spiritual energy is faintly overflowing. You must be about to establish your foundation!" Zhao Chang'er stared at Chen Li for a few moments and said with some surprise. Last autumn, it was not noticeable, but in just a few months, there are already signs of foundation establishment.

Zhang Yan was about to drink tea when he heard this, so he paused for a moment, but continued to drink his tea calmly.

He's used to it.

Even now, I hear that Chen Li has already established his foundation and become a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator.

He would calmly offer a congratulatory greeting, without any inner turmoil.

"It's still a long way off. As for Foundation Establishment, that depends on fate!" Chen Li said modestly with a smile. At his current cultivation speed, it would take another three or four months before he could truly achieve perfection.

Zhao Chang'er sighed: "Indeed, it is extremely difficult for us rogue cultivators to establish our foundation. Although it is only a step away, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky."

“Others may not be able to do it, but Big Brother definitely can!” Gu Mengqing said.

Zhao Chang'er chuckled, took a sip of tea, and pointed at the landscape, saying, "You don't understand. Many geniuses from various sects have a smooth journey through the Qi Refining stage, without any obstacles, and they reach the Qi Refining Perfection stage before the age of thirty. In the end, they all fall at the last hurdle, which shows how difficult it is. Not to mention us rootless, unaffiliated, and untrained wild cultivators."

Chen Li felt a tightness in his chest, feeling somewhat distressed by what he was being said.

At this time, there was a knock on the courtyard door.

Who else is coming?

He apologized and got up to open the door.

When they opened the door, they found that there was no one outside.

There was only one bag at the door. He bent down to pick it up, opened it, and found that it contained New Year's gifts such as spirit tea, spirit medicine, and desserts wrapped in red paper.

There was also an unsigned letter.

"Who sent it?"

He closed the door, tore open the envelope, took out the letter, and read it.

The writing is elegant and clearly the work of a woman.

The letter was written in a respectful tone, beginning with the respectful address used by elders.

The letter contained his greetings and gratitude for the help he had given him, as well as information about the Yu family's current situation, indicating that they had clearly settled down completely.

"...Fellow Daoist's kindness to the Yu family is something I, Fan Zhen, could never repay even a fraction of with my life. If you ever have any requests in the future, the Yu family will do everything in its power to offer them to you with both hands—Respectfully submitted by Yu Fan Zhen!"

A warm feeling rose in Chen Li's heart.

Gifts of roses, hand a fragrance.

The gift may not be expensive, but the sentiment behind it is heartwarming.

Chen Li put the letter and gifts into his storage bag and walked back. The news about the Yu family still needed to be kept secret; the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

"Who is it?" Zhou Hong asked as she walked over.

"I don't know, there was no one there when I opened the door. Maybe some kids were causing trouble," Chen Li said with a smile.

P.S.: I checked and finally got the 10,000-subscription badge!

(End of this chapter)