Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 283 Extra 07
The moment he stepped out of the corridor, he ran into Jiang Sheng who was walking back. At that moment, all his anxiety seemed to have found an outlet for release, and Jiang Weiping's heart finally settled down. The sense of relief he had lost and regained made him speechless for a moment.

After returning home, Jiang Weiping deliberately avoided discussing Jiang Sheng's absence and instead devoted himself to preparing breakfast. He skillfully boiled eggs, warmed milk, and toasted bread, and every move revealed his love and responsibility for this family. At the breakfast table, Jiang Sheng suddenly mentioned the 30,000 yuan from last night: "Dad, can I use the 30,000 yuan from yesterday?"

Jiang Weiping first instinctively asked, "What are you doing...", but almost at the same time, he realized that he should not ask too much, but choose unconditional trust. So, he readily agreed: "Okay! Dad will pass it to you later." Jiang Sheng looked at Jiang Weiping, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He, who had never experienced fatherly love in another world, felt both strange and warm about Jiang Weiping's almost blind trust. In his memory, he was born in an official family in the Kyushu continent. As a bastard, he grew up with many brothers and sisters in indifference and competition. The early death of his mother made him completely break with that cold family. From then on, family affection was nothing more than an unattainable luxury for him.

Jiang Sheng ate two bites of bread silently, and suddenly changed the subject: "Dad, have you met anyone you like in the company?"

Jiang Weiping worked as a middle-level manager in a state-owned machinery factory. Although his income was not high, this job gave him enough freedom so that he could take better care of Jiang Sheng. When Jiang Weiping heard his son's question, a barely perceptible blush appeared on his face. He pretended to be angry and spat, "Why are you asking this, kid?"

Jiang Sheng replied seriously, "If there is a suitable one, you can consider being together. I have no objection. If not, tell me what kind of person you like and I will help you find an introduction."

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly finished his breakfast, picked up his backpack, and prepared to go to school. "I'm going to school." After a simple farewell, Jiang Sheng's back disappeared at the door.

Jiang Weiping laughed and cursed: "You kid, you dare to joke with your dad." But then, he realized that Jiang Sheng's injuries had not yet fully recovered, and hurriedly shouted: "Your injuries are not healed yet, don't go today, take one more day to rest!"

"It's okay, really." Jiang Sheng's voice came from outside the door, with a hint of stubbornness and persistence. Jiang Weiping stood there, looking at the closed door, feeling mixed emotions. He knew that although there were many difficulties in life, as long as there was love, home would always be the warmest harbor.

In the morning, when the sun shone obliquely into the classroom of Class 32 of the high school department, the students were immersed in the laughter and joy during the break. However, the appearance of Jiang Sheng was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the original noise. Everyone's eyes were cast on him, and the classroom became unusually quiet. The news that "Jiang Sheng from Class 32 lost control of his emotions after his failed confession and accidentally fell down the stairs and was hospitalized" has long been a hot topic on campus, and everyone was talking about it. They didn't expect that Jiang Sheng, who had experienced such a storm, could still insist on coming to class the next day. Is he a big-headed person, or has he ignored public opinion?

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Jiang Sheng remained extremely calm. He seemed to be out of the loop and walked straight to the familiar seat in the third row from the back of the classroom. After sitting down, he took out a textbook from his bag and began to read as if no one was around. He had a clear goal in mind. Since he had made up his mind to become the top scholar in the province, he had to go all out no matter what difficulties he faced.

For a cultivator, photographic memory and inference are just basic skills. Only by mastering these can one understand and apply the complex and profound knowledge of the Five Elements and Eight Diagrams, Qimen Dunjia, etc. on the vast road of cultivation. Although he is only in the Qi training stage now, he can learn efficiently. If he reaches the foundation building stage, he only needs a spiritual sense to scan and a large amount of information can be engraved in his mind. For him, the provincial champion on the earth is just a fruit that can be easily obtained.

Based on his memory of his weak points, Jiang Sheng decided to start with mathematics. His desk was filled with mathematics textbooks, mock test papers, various question types, and past class notes collected from junior high and high school. He began to read and analyze these materials at an astonishing speed, reading ten lines at a glance, remembering everything he saw, and quickly absorbing and understanding every formula and problem-solving technique. He immersed himself in the ocean of mathematics throughout the morning, not only memorizing various formulas and question types, but also re-deduce all types of mock test questions one by one to ensure that he could handle every question easily.

During the lunch break, Jiang Sheng did not stay in school for lunch, but went to the "Baozhitang" pharmacy in the city. Last night, out of a promise to "his" father Jiang Weiping, he used the medical skills he learned to feel his pulse and found that Jiang Weiping had a weak spleen and stomach, chronic enteritis, and frequent diarrhea. For this reason, he decided to buy some Chinese medicinal materials and personally take care of Jiang Weiping's body.

As a lowly cultivator at the bottom of the fairy world, Jiang Sheng knew that it was difficult for him to achieve much in his cultivation. Therefore, he actively studied various miscellaneous subjects in order to find more possibilities in ordinary life. Although he was not proficient in the Five Elements and Eight Diagrams, Qihuang's Art, Fu Dao, Alchemy, Qimen Dunjia, etc., he had some knowledge of them, and it was not difficult for him to treat some common diseases.

In addition to conditioning his father's body, Jiang Sheng also plans to refine a batch of "recovery pills". This kind of pill can help cultivators quickly restore their physical strength and spiritual energy. For people like him who need to balance study and cultivation, it is undoubtedly the best auxiliary means. By refining pills, he can not only improve his alchemy skills, but also provide himself with sufficient spiritual energy support when necessary, ensuring that he can maintain his cultivation progress in addition to intense study, and steadily move towards the goal of becoming the provincial champion.

In the Immortal Realm, the Qi-Restoring Pill is a must-have for every ordinary cultivator. It can significantly speed up the recovery of Qi. The refining process is simple and easy to understand, and the required medicinal materials are not very picky. Most pharmacies can easily buy them. When Jiang Sheng was in the Immortal Realm, he knew the formula of the Qi-Restoring Pill by heart. He only needed to take a glance to know which ones were common in pharmacies.

However, when he stepped into the "Baozhitang" pharmacy in the city, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. Those seemingly diverse and beautifully packaged medicinal materials were actually of mediocre quality, and some even lost their original medicinal properties during the processing, and were no different from roadside weeds. He patiently selected and finally only bought some medicinal materials that could dredge the meridians and regulate the qi. Although these were not enough to refine the Qi-recovering Pill, they might help improve Jiang Weiping's physical condition.

Jiang Sheng found nothing about the herbs that were really suitable for refining Qi-restoring pills. On the one hand, the herbs here were prepared in a crude way, which could not stimulate their inherent medicinal power; on the other hand, the main ingredients, such as the Ganoderma lucidum, were all artificially cultivated products that were quickly grown, and their medicinal age was insufficient, so their efficacy was greatly reduced. In the fairy world, wild Ganoderma lucidum needs to grow under the forest for at least one year to achieve its best effect.

So Jiang Sheng had a detailed discussion with the store manager of the pharmacy and asked him to help buy a batch of fresh, high-quality medicinal materials, especially the main medicines must be wild and of sufficient age. In modern society, although online shopping is convenient, the medicinal materials market is mixed, and it takes time and effort to distinguish the authenticity. In contrast, regular pharmacies have a stable supply chain and professional identification capabilities. As long as the price is reasonable, there is no need to worry about the quality of the medicinal materials. The store manager expressed his understanding of Jiang Sheng's needs and readily agreed to his request.

After paying the bill with the living expenses Jiang Weiping gave him, Jiang Sheng went to the supermarket and bought an induction cooker. In alchemy, although the induction cooker is not as mysterious as the Samadhi True Fire, it has a constant temperature control and is easy to operate. It is especially suitable for refining low-level elixirs and is a practical tool for modern practitioners.

In the afternoon, he simply filled his stomach, then returned to school and plunged into math review. At the other end of the classroom, Lu Fangnan, the girl that Jiang Sheng had confessed to, would occasionally glance at him secretly. She was wearing a simple gray T-shirt, with a ponytail casually hanging on her shoulders, and a hint of complex emotions occasionally flashed in her eyes. Lu Fangnan actually noticed Jiang Sheng as early as her second year of high school. As a girl who was often noticed by others, she was particularly sensitive to this implicit admiration. But she understood that there was an insurmountable gap between the two of them. Once they left the classroom, their worlds would no longer intersect, and too much emotional entanglement would only add to their troubles.

Lu Fangnan sighed silently in her heart. Although such an idea seemed too realistic and even a little cold, it was the norm in society. People might be angry, shout, show indifference or contempt, but in the end they had to accept reality. She shook her head gently and decided not to pay too much attention to Jiang Sheng. After all, everyone has their own life trajectory. Forcing them to intersect would only hurt each other.

When the school bell rang, Jiang Sheng did not go home directly as usual, but decided to deal with something that was very important to him first. He waved to stop a taxi, and his destination was "Dongyun Garden" on the east coast of the city. Jiang Sheng made this decision because he knew that as his cultivation deepened, it would be inconvenient to live under the same roof with Jiang Weiping for the daily necessary meditation and boiling medicinal soup and pills. He needed an independent space, an environment that could meet his daily life and be conducive to cultivation.

About twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped at the gate of the "Dongyun Garden" community. Jiang Sheng's goal was a one-bedroom, one-living-room apartment with a sea view. It was in a prime location, less than a kilometer away from the holiday villa complex in the northeast. The villa area was planted with windbreaks near the sea, which not only had beautiful scenery, but more importantly, was very suitable for his secret cultivation activities. Yingzhou City, an island city located in the northeast of Province Z, consists of more than a thousand islands and has a forest coverage rate of more than 40%. It is known as a natural oxygen bar and attracts countless tourists every year.

Considering his financial situation and the upcoming college life, Jiang Sheng chose to rent the house for a short period of time. The three-month rent totaled 4500 yuan, plus a deposit of 1500 yuan for one month, totaling 6000 yuan. Before it got dark, he also took time to go to a nearby mall to buy some necessary daily necessities in preparation for moving in.

As night fell, Jiang Sheng returned home and told Jiang Weiping frankly about the rental and the address of the new residence. Jiang Weiping found it difficult to accept at first, after all, in traditional concepts, children away from home always make parents worry. But Jiang Sheng patiently explained that this move was to adapt to the upcoming independent life in college in advance, and it was also an important step to exercise self-independence. Jiang Weiping savored his son's words and felt that they made sense. In addition, the house had been rented, so although he was reluctant, he reluctantly agreed. However, he repeatedly reminded Jiang Sheng to pay attention to personal safety and expressed his concern as a father.

On the other hand, Liang Xiaoqing also made a breakthrough in her conversation with her grandfather at home. After much persuasion, she finally learned from her grandfather about several martial arts masters with profound kung fu skills. One of them lived in Yingzhou City, named Li Wenjun. Li Wenjun's life was full of legends. He was sent to Shaolin Temple in Songshan by his father to learn martial arts since he was a child. After several years of hard training, he stood out in a local youth Sanda competition. It was during this competition that he had the opportunity to meet a Taoist priest who was passing by to watch the game. The Taoist priest had a keen eye for talent and saw the aura and potential in Li Wenjun. He accepted him as his last disciple and personally taught him internal kung fu.

Although Li Wenjun rarely displays his martial arts in public, people in the circle familiar with him know that he is a hidden master of internal martial arts. Not only that, he has also served as the honorary vice president of the Taoist Association, and his influence in Province Z cannot be underestimated. For Jiang Sheng, if he has the opportunity to contact Li Wenjun, he may be able to get more guidance on internal martial arts training, and even understand the secrets of this world more deeply.

Two days later, in the evening, the setting sun gently sprinkled on every corner of the city, covering the busy city with a layer of golden veil. At this time, a black Audi sports car slowly drove into a quiet street in the east of the city, and finally stopped steadily in front of an antique courtyard. This courtyard, with its blue bricks, black tiles, red doors and copper rings, seemed to be a pearl that walked out of the depths of time, quietly telling the story of the years.

The person who got down from the driver's seat was Liang Xiaoqing, dressed in casual and capable clothes, with a heroic look between her eyebrows. She knocked on the gate, and soon, there was a sound of brisk footsteps in the courtyard, followed by a hearty laugh: "I'm coming, I'm coming!" A middle-aged man in a Tang suit with a front opening appeared leisurely under the porch, holding a shower. The water droplets in the shower reflected a colorful halo in the sunset, adding a bit of liveliness and vitality to this quiet picture. This man was Li Wenjun, who was nearly sixty years old, but still had thick black hair, a ruddy complexion, and full of energy. His eyes flashed with wisdom and depth, as if he could see through everything in the world. Hearing Liang Xiaoqing's introduction, Li Wenjun's smile became brighter, as if he had met an old friend who had been reunited after a long absence. "Oh, it's Old Yan's granddaughter! Please come in, please come in! I remember you were a crybaby when you were a child, but now you have grown into a beautiful young lady. Girls really change a lot when they grow up!" He greeted her warmly, and the love of an elder for the younger generation was beyond words.

Crossing the threshold, the scene inside the courtyard is even more eye-catching. The whole room is rigorously laid out, simple yet elegant. The mahogany carved screen is like a barrier, cleverly separating the internal and external spaces, making the entire living room both open and private. The walls on both sides are covered with famous calligraphy and paintings, each of which reveals a strong cultural heritage, as if silently telling stories of the past. The air is filled with the elegant scent of sandalwood, which calms people's minds, as if the whole world has slowed down.

Passing through the living room, we came to the backyard, which is where Li Wenjun practices daily. Two young men in white training suits are standing on the plum blossom piles, with steady bodies and smooth movements, revealing their deep martial arts foundation. They are Li Wenjun's direct disciples, who receive strict training here every day and inherit the essence of their master's martial arts.

In a tea room with simple but elegant decoration, a young man of similar age respectfully served Liang Xiaoqing a glass of chrysanthemum tea with a fresh aroma. Liang Xiaoqing thanked him politely and went straight to the point without much greeting. She told Li Wenjun the strange scene she witnessed in the park that day. It was a seemingly ordinary but mysterious event. A leaf was shattered by an invisible force in an instant, leaving only broken leaves and doubts on the ground.

As Li Wenjun listened, the smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn look. When he heard the climax of the incident, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked in disbelief: "Are you telling the truth? How is this possible?" There was shock and excitement in his voice.

Liang Xiaoqing nodded firmly, then took out her phone from her pocket, flipped through the photo album, and handed it to Li Wenjun. The screen showed the photo of the leaf that was shattered by the mysterious force, and next to it was an expert's report proving that this was not an effect that could be achieved by any conventional means.

Li Wenjun took the phone and looked at the photo carefully, his brows gradually furrowed. As the last disciple of Shen Fengming, the 23rd generation head of the Jingming Sect, he had a pair of discerning eyes and could easily distinguish between real kung fu and fake performances. However, the evidence in front of him made him deeply confused. He knew that if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, such a thing would sound like a fairy tale, but Liang Xiaoqing's description and the evidence in his hand could not be ignored.

Li Wenjun pondered in his heart: Is there really a hidden secret and power in this seemingly peaceful world? And is all this related to the martial arts that he has practiced for many years? His thoughts were as turbulent as the tide, and his curiosity and desire to explore the unknown made him decide to delve into the matter and uncover the truth behind it.

Li Wenjun was deeply shocked when he heard this. He knew very well that the master level of releasing internal energy was already extremely rare in the martial arts world, not to mention the legendary innate level - the three flowers gathered at the top of the head and the five qi returning to the origin, which was almost a mythical existence in the martial arts world and only existed in ancient documents and the secret history of the sect. Such a young master was unheard of. His eyes fell on the photo again. Every broken leaf and every tiny trace silently told the incredible event.

"If this is true, then the appearance of this young man will undoubtedly rewrite the current landscape of the martial arts world." Li Wenjuan thought to himself, and an urgent desire to verify the authenticity of this matter arose spontaneously.

Seeing Li Wenjun's serious expression, Liang Xiaoqing became more resolute in her statement: "I know how incredible this sounds, but I promise that every detail is true. That young man seemed to have an indescribable power that still shocks me to this day."

Li Wenjun nodded and said in a deep voice: "In that case, can you tell me his specific address? I need to confirm everything in person." His words were full of determination that could not be refused, and at the same time revealed his desire and respect for advanced martial arts as a warrior.

Liang Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment, but finally provided the place where Jiang Sheng often practiced boxing - the holiday villa area in the east of the city. She also reminded Li Wenjun that approaching rashly might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. After all, if the other party was really a master, his vigilance and strength should not be underestimated.

On the other hand, Jiang Sheng's life is peaceful and fulfilling. During the day, he buries himself in books to absorb the nutrients of knowledge. After school, he travels through the streets and alleys of the city, not only to find possible spiritual veins and spiritual medicines, but more to experience the fireworks of the world and appreciate every bit of life. At night, he will choose a quiet place to continue his practice. Boxing and meditation are his bridges to a higher level of martial arts.

That day, when he returned to Xingfuyuan, he unexpectedly found that his family had prepared a banquet. The table full of dishes and the smiling faces of the family filled this usually quiet home with warmth and laughter. Jiang Weiping briefly introduced the guests tonight, and Jiang Sheng's thoughts could not help but drift far away, about the details of the family, the years he had not participated in, and his own responsibilities and missions.

The hard work and success of Zhou Jialing and his wife undoubtedly added glory to the family and made Jiang Sheng feel the support and expectations from the family. He realized that no matter how far he went or how strong his martial arts skills were, his family would always be his strongest support.

That night, the warmth and liveliness of the family gathering made Jiang Sheng relax. He understood that a true warrior is not only about pursuing the ultimate in martial arts, but also about how to balance the inner cultivation with the outside world, and how to maintain a peaceful and far-sighted heart in the turbulent world.

However, the relationship between the two families was not good. The reason was that Zhou Weishan’s wife Wu Yanni later asked Zhou Weiping for help and wanted to work in Yingzhou City Bank. Zhou Weiping did not agree. His sister-in-law Wu Yanni had not even graduated from high school and had been a cashier in a supermarket before. What could such a person do in a bank?
He didn't want the Su family to stab him in the back, saying that if one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit.

It was also because of this that after Zhou Weiping and his son returned to Yingzhou from Tianhai City, the couple seldom came to visit. Even when they met occasionally, their conversations were always sarcastic and very harsh.

Later, when Jiang Sheng was a few points away from being admitted to No. 1 Middle School, he asked his family for help. Zhou Weishan made many excuses and refused. In the end, he had to use his connections to find someone and pay a high sponsorship fee to get him in.

The journey of exploration that Li Wenjun is about to embark on may become the key to connecting two different worlds, triggering a series of unexpected changes and revelations. The changes in the martial arts world often begin from the smallest details, and a story about inheritance and transcendence is quietly beginning.

Jiang Shan's job at the Provincial Cultural Bureau seemed glamorous on the surface, but in fact it was arranged by Jiang Weiping with great effort and favors. Despite this, the relationship between the two families became delicate and distant because of some subsequent events. Jiang Shan's wife Wu Yanni, a woman with low education and a former supermarket cashier, later hoped to use Jiang Weiping's relationship to work in Yingzhou City Bank, but Jiang Weiping refused this request. He didn't want the Su family's relatives to blame him behind his back because of such things, saying that he abused his power after he came to power and let the whole family benefit from it. This incident became the fuse for the cooling of the relationship between the two families, and it also caused Jiang Weiping and his son to have less contact with Jiang Shan and his wife after returning to Yingzhou. Even if they met occasionally, the atmosphere was always full of embarrassment and unpleasantness.

Especially when Jiang Sheng was admitted to No. 1 Middle School, due to his low score, Jiang Shan's evasion and reluctance forced them to pay an additional high sponsorship fee to be admitted, which further deepened Jiang Sheng's dissatisfaction with this uncle. At this moment, when Jiang Weiping mentioned them, Jiang Sheng's tone was inevitably a little cold: "Why bother with such people?"

Jiang Weiping sighed and explained, "Tomorrow is your grandmother's 80th anniversary of her death, and they are back to worship their ancestors." Before he finished speaking, the doorbell rang at the right time, as if to confirm his words.

Jiang Sheng opened the door and saw Jiang Shan's family. Jiang Weiping and Jiang Shan began to have a polite conversation, while Jiang Sheng stood aside, observing everything with an almost indifferent attitude.

Jiang Shan and Jiang Weiping are in sharp contrast. The former is wearing a decent casual suit, gold-rimmed glasses, slightly fat, rosy cheeks, and exudes a bureaucratic aura. His wife Wu Yanni, although nearly 40 years old, is well-dressed, wearing a coffee-colored professional suit and light makeup, but it is difficult to hide her superior arrogance, as if silently declaring her superiority.

Their children followed closely behind. The son Zhou Junhao, 23 years old, looks ordinary but behaves frivolously. Although he holds the title of consultant for a cultural tourism company, he is actually a lazy person who relies entirely on his father's protection. In contrast, the daughter Zhou Tongtong seems to be more promising. She was admitted to Zhejiang Normal University last year, but unfortunately, she inherited her mother's contemptuous attitude and seems to be a little arrogant.

All this just proves the old saying: "If you are not from the same family, you will not enter the same door." The behavior of Jiang Shan's family reflects the unique atmosphere and values ​​of this family, which is in sharp contrast to the low-key and down-to-earth Jiang Weiping's family. Jiang Sheng secretly sighed in his heart that blood relationship cannot determine everything. The relationship between people ultimately depends on the harmony of heart and action.

(End of this chapter)