Why is my Hundred Lifetimes Book different?

Zhenbei City.

Stepping out of his house, Ren Qingshan scanned the area with his divine sense and found his cousin and younger brother at home. Lost in thought, he went to knock on the door.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Time truly flies.

"Qingshan, you've emerged from seclusion?"

"elder brother!"

Ren Jiangtao and Ren Bingce were overjoyed, but also somewhat at a loss, vaguely sensing an unspeakable majesty emanating from Ren Qingshan.

"How's things at home? Do you know?"

Ren Qingshan didn't waste any words and went straight to the question.

Three years have passed. Liu Yunsong should have resigned by now. The Hua family has come to take over as the guardian immortal master, and... the earth mechanism revival that I mentioned before.

Before he went into seclusion, he said that he would not be disturbed unless it was a matter of life and death.

It seems that nothing has happened.

Upon hearing this, Ren Jiangtao lowered his head and remained silent: "I...don't know."

His voice carried a hint of shame, but also a certainty.

Ren Qingshan was slightly taken aback and glared at him, but then he suddenly realized: "Cousin, you are truly mature and steady in your actions. You are a remarkable person. It's right not to contact him. It's for the sake of continuing the family line. If we still maintain ties, we might be wiped out in one fell swoop."

Amidst the myriad mortal realms, one can subtly observe the human heart, especially after achieving a minor level of spiritual mastery, where such perception and capture become increasingly acute.

Without him saying it, Ren Qingshan understood his motives.

Ren Jiangtao looked up in disbelief, not expecting that his "heartless and cowardly act" would be recognized and praised, and he felt relieved.

My eyes felt slightly hot.

For the past three years, he has been working tirelessly, worrying about his family far away while carefully trying to make a living in Zhenbei City. He often tosses and turns all night without sleep, but he has never told anyone about it.

"I'm off today. I've found a job at a pharmacy in the city, doing rough washing and air drying."

"Yong Lei went to a talisman workshop last year to make talisman paper."

"Bingce is still young, studying and practicing martial arts at home. He's a sensible child, and he cooks better than both of us."

"The maid on my sister-in-law's side is the younger sister of one of my colleagues. She is a kind and reliable person."

Without mentioning the hardships and pressures of the past three years, Ren Jiangtao only gave a detailed account of his recent situation.

Ren Qingshan nodded.

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll go home first to find out what's going on. There are a hundred spirit stones here for you to use for now. If you're worried about them being too conspicuous, you can exchange them for gold and silver gradually."

Ren Qingshan took out one hundred spirit stones and handed them to him.

During these three years, when I was meditating, the Limitless Spiritual Root operated day and night. As my cultivation improved, its output roughly doubled, producing about twenty spirit stones per day.

Over time, after three years, they had accumulated more than 20,000 pieces.

They haven't cultivated yet; a hundred coins are enough for a long time.

"I know."

Ren Jiangtao accepted the gift without hesitation. After a moment's thought, he solemnly said, "This year, I heard that the earth outside is experiencing a revival, a once-in-a-lifetime event. The Liang family of Zhenbei City is currently selecting promising talents and offering twenty Qi Refining Talismans for public auction, with a starting price of 100,000 taels of silver and 10,000 taels of gold... You must consider this matter carefully and make a long-term decision based on your means."

Without a doubt, Ren Qingshan is the absolute backbone of the family, and he must make the decision regarding such a huge sum of money.

It would certainly be a good thing if the Ren family could have another Qi Refiner.

However, if this affects Ren Qingshan's cultivation efficiency, it would be a case of losing more than one gains.

"It's risen to 100,000 taels of silver already?"

Ren Qingshan was slightly taken aback, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

In just over a decade, the price of the Qi-refining talisman has increased tenfold, and it now has to be auctioned off.

Given Zhenbei City's high status and abundant supply of Qi-refining talismans, it's normal for them to put them up for auction.

Actually, there was a question that Ren Qingshan had always been curious about—what use did cultivators have for gold and silver?

However, all indications suggest that although gold and silver are inferior currencies to spirit stones, they seem to have other uses and their status is exceptionally strong.

"When does the auction start?"

"It's already started. One piece is auctioned off every ten days. Two pieces have been auctioned off so far, and the next one will be in eight days. I... can't get into the auction house, and I haven't gotten any definite information from the news. Some people say that hundreds of thousands of taels of gold were auctioned off, some say that it's over a million..."

Ren Jiangtao explained with shame that he was not qualified to enter such a high-end place as an auction house, as he was just a drug-washing worker.

With a silent sigh, Ren Qingshan said nothing, only nodding in farewell: "I'm leaving. I'll definitely be back in three to five days, or at most a month or so."

……

Ren Qingshan left Zhenbei City and fled rapidly towards Shanyang County.

The matter of the remaining seal is not urgent; let's observe and wait a bit longer...

This struggle involves powerful families and clans, and it is bound to be an exceptionally cruel power struggle with huge pitfalls. If one can die once and survive unscathed, one is considered to have won.

At home, I wonder how my father will deal with the Hua family?

And... Now that three years have passed, I wonder if the position of Ten Directions Attendant has become vacant in Tiandu City?

Having a position in a celestial sect provides a greater sense of security, whether it's protecting one's family or engaging in contests of spiritual insight.

……

Flying.

Ren Qingshan noticed something else.

After the remaining seal condensed, the divine sense increased rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it was already approaching 200,000 divine senses.

I'm afraid that within a few days, all the remaining thoughts in the picture will be swept away?

Ok?

wrong.

If I devour them all, the other six people, if they cannot cultivate enough thoughts, will not be able to begin condensing the remaining seals and will not be able to trigger the Foundation Establishment Blood Curse.

With a thought, Ren Qingshan tried to manipulate the remaining seal.

A few breaths later, the remaining imprint moved at will, reducing the speed at which it attracted the thoughts in the picture by 90%.

"Tsk, how insidious."

"However, it's always better to be safe than sorry."

"When it comes to enlightenment and spiritual practice, one should strive diligently and vigorously. However, when it involves human affairs, one should proceed with caution and make things more efficient."

……

Less than an hour later.

Ren Qingshan had already arrived in Shanyang County.

Along the way, we did see ground cypress trees in various places, which had grown much more lush, but were still in the budding stage.

As for his escape speed, since the intensity of his supernatural power is highly correlated with the amount of divine sense, it also increased slightly by about 20%, barely reaching ten times the speed of a sword.

It was launched ahead of schedule.

Ren Qingshan used his vast mortal energy to conceal his aura, then changed his appearance to that of a beggar before calmly entering the city.

I don't know what's going on at home right now...

Ren Qingshan was very anxious.

If it really means the family is destroyed and everyone is killed...

that……

After entering the city, Ren Qingshan did not release his divine sense to avoid attracting attention, and went to the Ren family residence first.

Today, Shanyang City is much more prosperous.

A Hua family alchemy workshop and a Hua family weapon workshop even appeared on the street, both of which contained hidden spiritual secrets.

The market was overflowing with elixirs and ironware, attracting a large number of buyers.

"The Qi and Blood Pill produced by Hua Family Pill Workshop was originally for immortals, but now its potency has been reduced by 99% for mortals. It's priced at only eighty coins per pill! It's a cure for bedridden paralysis, and it works wonders!"

"Hua Family Knives Workshop: sickles, kitchen knives, scissors, all for ten coins! Made by a sage, passed down through three generations, the knife remains even after the person is gone!"

The shopkeeper at the door was shouting loudly.

It sounds like a good deal.

The pharmacies and blacksmith shops that used to be in the city must be in dire straits.

However, for ordinary people, this may not be a bad thing.

……

"Oh, Your Honor!"

"Please, do me justice!"

"My wife committed adultery, which harmed my elderly father!"

Passing by the county government office, across the street was the Immortal Master's Mansion. The mansion was heavily guarded and its gates were tightly closed, but a large crowd had gathered at the entrance of the county government office. A man was beating a drum loudly and crying pitifully.

Ren Qingshan paused and took a few more glances.

After a while.

When Ren Qingshan saw the county magistrate walking out of the yamen, he was completely stunned, frozen in place.

my dad?

County magistrate?

I never imagined that my father would become a county magistrate!

Although he's aged a few years and his belly has grown bigger, but... but how could he be my father?

What kind of cyclical fortune is this?

"Three years east of the river, three years west of the river?"

……

……