Chapter 7: A Place to Settle, A Body Transformed?
Lin Tianlu strolled leisurely through the town, glancing at the shops and houses on either side, nodding in approval.
The architecture and the people’s clothing resembled the Tang and Song dynasties he remembered from history books. Nothing seemed out of place.
Although Changling County wasn’t wealthy, the streets were orderly, the people seemed honest and kind, and the security seemed decent. It was a peaceful place to settle down.
However, walking with a beautiful woman by his side naturally attracted attention.
“That scholar looks so poor. Even his shoes are full of holes…”
“Maybe he was robbed by bandits?”
“How pitiful…”
Whispers and gossip followed them wherever they went.
Although Lin Tianlu didn’t mind, Hua Shuya frowned repeatedly. Finally, she let out a soft snort and led him to a local fabric shop.
Unfortunately, there weren’t many ready-made clothes in the shop, mostly just bolts of silk and cloth. If he wanted a high-quality outfit, it would take several days to tailor. Lin Tianlu settled for a scholar’s robe that fit him reasonably well, replacing his faded and worn-out clothes.
Seeing him emerge from the shop, Hua Shuya’s eyes lit up with admiration.
The man before her was handsome and refined, his simple white robe accentuating his elegant aura. His tall and straight figure exuded a charm that drew appreciative glances. If Lin Tianlu had seemed extraordinary before, he now looked like a young master from a wealthy family.
“This scholar’s robe suits you well, Senior.”
“Well, I am a scholar after all. This is the most comfortable attire for me.” Lin Tianlu adjusted his sleeves.
Hua Shuya hesitated for a moment, then said softly,
“Senior, you seemed to have something you wanted to tell me back at the restaurant?”
“You’re quite observant, Miss Hua.”
Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow, then chuckled softly. “It was just a small matter. I was just going to remind you that giving a silver ingot to a beggar, a child, could easily lead to trouble. If someone tried to rob him, how could a young boy protect such sudden wealth?”
Hua Shuya’s expression changed.
“But don’t worry. The boy was quite clever. He spent all the silver right away. At least he was able to exchange it for some food. Your kindness wasn’t wasted.”
“I… was indeed careless.” Hua Shuya looked guilty.
“You’re so kind at such a young age, that’s commendable. There’s no need for self-reproach.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly and bowed. “I should be the one thanking you. If it weren’t for your generous help, I would have been struggling to survive in Changling County, a stranger in a new place.”
Hua Shuya quickly waved her hands dismissively. “You’re too kind, Senior! You saved my life. This is the least I could do.”
Seeing her flustered reaction, Lin Tianlu chuckled and didn’t refuse further. “Alright, let’s go see the house you rented for me.”
“Please follow me, Senior.”
…
A short while later…
Lin Tianlu stopped in his tracks, staring at the building before him, his lips twitching slightly. “You said ‘a small token of gratitude’? This is…”
Looking at the spacious and elegant mansion, he almost thought he had come to the wrong place.
This was a bit more than a ‘small token,’ wasn’t it?
Hua Shuya just smiled and nodded. “Since you’re staying in Changling County for a while, Senior, I naturally had to find you a suitable residence.
I talked to the local brokers, and they said this mansion has the best feng shui and scenery in the entire county. The previous owner was a scholar, so the house is fully furnished, with many calligraphy scrolls and paintings left behind. You can move in tonight after a quick cleaning. So I just bought it.”
Bought… it?
Lin Tianlu was stunned.
This was a high-class mansion. Even renting it would be expensive for most people, let alone buying it outright.
He was about to decline, but seeing the hopeful look in the girl’s eyes, her sincere generosity, he couldn’t refuse.
“Please come in, Senior…”
Bang!
A small firework exploded in the distance.
Hua Shuya was startled, then quickly bowed to Lin Tianlu. “Senior, please excuse me. I have to leave for a moment. That firework is an emergency signal from the local authorities. They need my help.”
“An emergency?”
“Probably… capturing some escaped criminals.”
“Then go ahead, Miss Hua.” Lin Tianlu smiled and waved his hand. “I’ll take care of the house myself.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Senior.”
Hua Shuya bowed gracefully and quickly ran off.
…
The afternoon passed quickly, and dusk settled over the town.
“Hoo—”
After tidying up the mansion, Lin Tianlu wiped his hands, looking at the luxurious main hall with satisfaction.
It was indeed a grand and elegant residence, worthy of its price.
But with only him in this vast mansion, it felt a bit empty.
“Although there are no servants to help with the cleaning, it’s nice to have some peace and quiet.”
But as he returned to his room, his expression turned serious.
The items he had excavated from Mount Taiyi were now laid out on the table.
“Finally, I have some time to figure things out.”
First…
Himself.
Lin Tianlu sat cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes and trying to regulate his breathing.
Neither the poor scholar whose body he had taken over, nor his past self as an ordinary college student, had any experience with cultivation.
He could only try to imitate the “meditation” techniques he had read about in fantasy novels.
But as he focused his mind, he suddenly felt a clarity and awareness, sensing tiny points of light flickering within his body, like stars in the night sky.
Even without opening his eyes, he could see a clear reflection of his entire body in his mind.
“These… could they be spiritual energy?”
Lin Tianlu was overjoyed.
After a moment of consideration, he tried to probe deeper, parting the layers of darkness within him.
Boom!
A thunderous roar echoed through his mind, like an ancient bell, reverberating endlessly.
His meridians, previously dim and obscure, were now illuminated. Countless points of light flowed through them like a surging tide, seeping into every bone and muscle, transforming his entire body, a complete metamorphosis!
“This… this…”
Lin Tianlu was stunned.
He had no idea when this transformation had occurred!
The spiritual energy flowing within him was so warm and abundant, swirling and circulating, forming a perfect cycle, endless and vibrant.
Not only that, but he could also sense a vast amount of spiritual energy gathering around him, emanating from the earth beneath his feet, condensing into a mist that quickly enveloped the entire room, creating a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere.
With each breath, he inhaled a large amount of spiritual energy, its circulation invigorating his body.
“Where is this spiritual energy coming from?”
Lin Tianlu was deeply puzzled.
If he were some once-in-a-millennium cultivation genius, then it would be understandable.
To cultivate such potent spiritual energy in just a few weeks under the guidance of an immortal master would be plausible.
But he had no memory of any cultivation whatsoever. He hadn’t even known if he possessed spiritual energy before. Where did this extraordinary power come from?
“Could it be… that I accidentally swallowed something in that cave when I was unconscious?”
Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, then focused his mind again.
He peeled away the layers of spiritual energy within him, probing deeper.
As the mist parted…
A majestic mountain, towering thousands of feet high, appeared within his body!
Mist dragons danced, ethereal light shimmered, and countless wisps of immortal energy flowed and swirled. It was a divine and breathtaking sight.
The mountain looked so familiar that he recognized it instantly.
Lin Tianlu’s jaw dropped.
“…Mount Taiyi?!”
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