CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28 THE VARIABLES BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH

When the Dark Blue Treasure Pearl came into Mr. Fan’s hands, he held it with two fingers just as Nezha did when he acquired it. Before long, his aged, withered hands began to tremble slightly.

"Sir, what exactly is this pearl?"

Had it not been for being in the Fengshen World and sensing the pearl’s extraordinary nature and its rich heaven and earth primordial energy, Nezha would never carry something that started glowing on its own.

His past life’s experiences told him that such things were more likely than not radioactive.

Mr. Fan took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself before asking, "In your fight with Li Gen, did you take him by surprise and kill him in one move?"

"More or less. The Qiankun Ring in my hand is a natural-born magic treasure, and as soon as I threw it, it smashed Li Gen’s brain and killed him."

Mr. Fan, hearing this, glanced once more at the golden bracelet on Nezha’s hand, and said in a deep voice, "If that’s the case, then it should be correct; this object is the golden core cultivated by the Yaksha Li Gen. Generally, when a Golden Core Realm cultivator dies in battle, they can destroy the golden core to prevent it from falling into the enemy’s hands, so a cultivator’s golden core is a rare treasure in the cultivation world."

"Golden core? Are you saying that Li Gen was actually a Golden Core Realm cultivator? But I didn’t see him using any special techniques, and his skills weren’t high. Is it truly because I acted too fast, or was he not adept at combat?"

In response to Nezha’s doubts, Mr. Fan shook his head and said, "Cultivators in this world are mostly at the God Absorption Realm, already able to manipulate heaven and earth primordial energy and perform many Daoist skills. In terms of combat power, there is not much difference between the Golden Core Realm and the God Absorption Realm, but they differ in a more essential aspect."

Mr. Fan coughed lightly and took a sip of tea before continuing, "Cultivation is inherently about defying the heavens. A mortal’s lifespan is only about a hundred years; even if they reach the God Absorption Realm, they live up to only one hundred twenty years. If they fall ill, their lifespan is even shorter. Only by forming a golden core, gaining a lifespan of five hundred years, can one truly see the boundless path of cultivation and step onto the road of longevity."

"I see."

Nezha nodded. If this object was merely Li Gen’s golden core, it would indeed be beneficial for his cultivation.

Moreover, with his current cultivation and mana, if he were to contest with the Dragon Palace, he would have to rely entirely on the Qiankun Ring and the Chaos Sky Silk in his hand. Activating magic treasures requires a significant amount of heaven and earth primordial energy, and he might need to fight for three days and nights in the future, so he naturally needs to accumulate more primordial energy.

Mr. Fan asked, "The Dragon Palace acts ruthlessly and unreasonably. You’ve killed Li Gen; they surely won’t let it go. What do you plan to do next?"

"What else can I do? The Dragon Palace won’t give me much time. I can only cultivate day and night, strengthen myself further, and when the time comes, I’ll meet soldiers with soldiers and cover water with earth. What do you think, sir?"

Hearing what Nezha said, Mr. Fan merely sneered and asked, "What do you think yourself?"

The question was turned back around, and Nezha sighed, smiling bitterly, "Sitting and waiting for death is no different from seeking a dead end."

Images from books he read in his previous life flashed through his mind, where Nezha battled fiercely with the Dragon Palace, the fight turning the world colorless. Though he held his own, when the Four Seas Dragon Palace’s water pressed Chentang Pass, Nezha feared implicating his parents and was forced to implore his master. Taiyi Zhenren gave advice to return flesh to his mother and bones to his father.

Return flesh, return bones.

Nezha took a deep breath, thinking that unless he won continuously until no one dared to be his enemy, the end would inevitably be this outcome.

But as mentioned earlier, the Dragon Palace wouldn’t give him this time.

"Is there a solution?"

"In response to you, sir, Nezha plans to visit Skull Mountain White Bone Cave to seek Lady Shi Ji, to see if there are any changes in this matter."

Even so, Nezha wasn’t panicked inside. He knew it was something he would inevitably face but was unaware that the greatest variable between heaven and earth was himself.

"In that case, why are you still sitting here?"

"Sir, you previously said you’d read ’Memoirs of Vassals’ today."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Fan’s ruler snapped down, landing right on Nezha’s forehead, not heavy, leaving only a red mark.

"Sir?"

"If not now, when?"

Nezha understood, looking at Mr. Fan with infinite gratitude, he bowed deeply and said, "Disciple will return shortly, please tell my mother not to worry."

After speaking, Nezha first went to the back courtyard warehouse to gather some gifts, then went to the yard, leaping high, his figure lifting a whole zhang, and with a push against the blue stone-paved courtyard wall, he scaled it like a nimble monkey.

As soon as he landed, Nezha used Earth Style to reach mid-air, heading straight for Skull Mountain White Bone Cave.

On the other side, in Bailing Town where Mr. Fan resided, in front of the Calligraphy and Painting Pavilion.

A young gentleman in green robes stood, handsome as jade, with a jade hairpin on his head, a jade belt around his waist, a Seven-star Treasure Sword hanging from it, wearing thick black boots, with an azure flame pattern on his brow.

Merely standing there, none of the girls on the streets could move, and those bold enough to approach him were met with a cold glance, making them either too scared or ashamed to flee with their faces covered.

The townsfolk also talked about him; some guessed he was a nobleman from Zhaoge, visiting Mr. Fan, who retired from Zhaoge to open a calligraphy shop in this border town. Others said he was actually Mr. Fan’s youngest son, speculating endlessly.

Finally, someone couldn’t hold back—it was Wang Lao Er, who sold rotten meat noodles across the street, sent by his spring-longing eldest daughter to ask, "Young man, where are you from and whom are you seeking?"

The young gentleman replied, "I come from the east, and have heard that a Mr. Fan from Zhaoge resides here. I came to visit, but arrived early to find the shop closed, without knowing why?"

"Oh, that’s right, listen young man, this Mr. Fan is indeed a scholarly gentleman from Zhaoge. He was invited by Lady Yin from the General’s Mansion to teach there. If you wait for him to return, it’ll be around dusk. Why don’t you come to my shop for a bowl of rotten meat noodles instead? My daughter can serve wine by the side as well. It’s only ten copper coins, plenty of meat and noodles, honest trade with no deception!"

The young gentleman in green robes merely murmured, standing and still gazing at the Calligraphy and Painting Pavilion.

Feeling slighted and scorned, Wang Lao Er, in response, flicked his sleeves, glared, and grumbled back to his shop, instructing his daughter to patiently wait for the butcher’s son next door and not to indulge in delusional fantasies.

The young gentleman in green robes waited until the sun rose high, the scorching midday heat stifling the town as if it were covered by a tarpaulin tent.

What’s peculiar is that while standing under the sun, though his footsteps were unsteady and his brow furrowed, the top of his head showed no sign of sweat.

Seeing people coming and going at the tavern beside the Calligraphy and Painting Pavilion, some pointing at him, the young gentleman finally had enough. He strode into the shade of the tavern’s awning and sat at an empty square table.

The sharp-eyed waiter immediately came over, flicked a white towel from his shoulder, wiped the table twice, and smiled as he bent down, "What can I get for you, young master? Our tavern’s yellow wine is famous, and our chili grilled sea fish, a specialty from Chentang Pass, is even approved by Mr. Fan next door. Or would you like something else? The menu is here; whatever you pick, just relax, it’ll be ready shortly."

This young gentleman in green robes seemed like a crane among chickens in this border town, admired by women, but invariably resented by men.

However, business-minded men excluded, because at a glance, the young gentleman was clearly a wealthy young noble.

Yet, as he heard the waiter’s words, he frowned inexplicably and finally tapped the tabletop with a finger, speaking in a somewhat impatient tone, "Bring me a jin of yellow wine and a few side dishes, remember, no fish."