"It's fine, Grandpa Shanqing, I'm a person who likes to be down-to-earth." Lin Li, whose teeth were almost crushed from gritting them, spoke to Daoist Shanqing with positive energy.
"Not bad, with this state of mind, you can achieve the Great Dao." Hearing this, Daoist Shanqing nodded in gratification, and then returned to the previous topic:
"This formation should have been controlled at will by the person who set it up, and the size of the expansion could be determined with a single thought. The fundamental reason why you, little friend, can only control it a little bit when touching the formation core is insufficient cultivation.
"Actually, normally speaking, Lin Li, with your cultivation level, you shouldn't be able to drive it at all. It should be your divine ability exerting force behind the scenes."
Lin Li nodded.
Since it wasn't the most basic formation, it was perfectly normal that he couldn't fully control it.
Not only was Lin Li not frustrated, he even felt a sense of pleasant surprise, having originally thought it was garbage but now discovering it was a treasure.
Thank the system for exerting force behind me.
But it would be even better if it could go to the front next time. Lin Li likes being in the back.
"This formation will gather the surrounding spiritual energy to the center, naturally the bigger the better. But in this dead land, it cannot be allowed to expand freely. Once it goes beyond the boundary of this mountain, there is a high probability it will be struck by the Wujiu Lightning. I can no longer fully control that thing."
Daoist Shanqing continued to explain.
Lin Li nodded. This meant he couldn't just let it be, but it wasn't a big problem. Just like before, he just needed to distract some attention to the formation.
"So I should expand this formation as much as possible within the top of the inverted mountain, right?
"By the way, Grandpa Shanqing, I want to ask, can the formation get close to those flowers on the edge of the mountaintop? They seem quite threatening."
Lin Li placed his hand on the formation core and asked while starting to expand the formation.
"Those flowers, try to stay away from them," Daoist Shanqing smiled, "Those are heavenly treasures mutated after being nourished for a hundred years by the sword intent my fellow Daoist dispersed during the great battle back then. He named them Qingxiao Flowers, which is incredibly tacky.
"They have the effects of tempering sword qi, tempering the lightning body, and calming the soul. Another day, when I wake him up, I'll have him pick a few to give to you. Only if he picks them can the miraculousness of this object be maximized. Although your cultivation is insufficient now, there will always be a chance to use them in the future."
"Then I'll thank Grandpa Shanqing in advance." Lin Li immediately bowed slightly to express his gratitude.
"There's nothing to thank me for. This is an ownerless land to begin with, and the three of us are already dead. Your divine ability brought you here, so this world is your destined opportunity."
Daoist Shanqing waved his hand.
Since he couldn't let it expand freely, he could only do as before—expand it as much as possible within a controllable range.
Currently, once the formation exceeded the controllable range, the components would break free from control and expand outward without looking back. At this time, he could only retract it into the [Warehouse] and reset it.
"Lin Li, how much do you know about formations?" Watching this scene, Daoist Shanqing asked curiously.
"I know absolutely nothing." Lin Li told the truth.
"I can tell," Daoist Shanqing nodded, then raised his 'brush' and waved his 'ink'. The gathered spiritual energy actively ran in front of him, and then gradually converged into pages full of text.
A stack of books appeared in front of Lin Li just like that.
"This old man knows a little about formations. These are basic knowledge about formations. If you can understand them thoroughly, it might be helpful to you."
Daoist Shanqing pointed to the book and explained, then added:
"However, this old man doesn't know if it can maintain this state after leaving this world. It will most likely dissipate. Therefore, it's best to read it here."
Lin Li's eyes lit up.
This was exactly what he needed!
"It's okay, Grandpa. My phone has a camera function. I can take pictures and study them slowly when I go back." Lin Li took out his phone, opened the camera, and said excitedly when he saw the book still existed in the frame and hadn't disappeared.
So Lin Li began to take pictures page by page, while turning on [Eidetic Memory].
Although [Eidetic Memory] allowed him to never forget what he saw, Lin Li's reading speed was ultimately not as fast as taking pictures. Turning it on now was just to get an initial impression to facilitate subsequent learning.
"This is not this old man! Is it an illusion?"
While Lin Li was taking pictures, a surprised and doubtful voice came from in front of him.
Looking up, Lin Li found Daoist Shanqing holding his phone, pointing it at himself, and currently patting his own cheeks.
So Lin Li went up to take a look, then smiled and said: "Grandpa, you just turned on the beauty mode. Just turn it off."
"Oh, oh."
"Heh—"
Not long after going back to continue taking pictures, Lin Li heard Daoist Shanqing's laughter again.
"What's wrong, Grandpa?"
"Lin Li, is the definition of beauty in your world so bizarre? Why is such an appearance called beautiful?"
Daoist Shanqing looked at the phone cheerfully but also finding it somewhat hard to look directly at.
Lin Li walked over again.
The face with the skin-smoothing effect turned to the max transformed into a peeled egg. The face-slimming effect narrowed the old man's jaw to be sharper than a flying sword. The eyes almost occupied half of the face in "big eye" mode, and there were even sparkling special effects inside.
Cherry blossoms were falling on both sides of the cheeks—some petals even got stuck in the cat ear special effects that suddenly appeared on him.
It turned this old man into a grandson.
Lin Li, who leaned in, lowered his head. Not good, this is a try-not-to-laugh challenge.
After explaining the definition of beauty, Daoist Shanqing finally understood and continued to study the phone.
The content of the books was a lot. Lin Li spent quite a bit of time to ensure he took clear pictures of everything.
"Grandpa Shanqing, can you help me look at something else?" After going through the photo album, Lin Li looked up and asked.
"Of course." Daoist Shanqing flashed in front of Lin Li, "Look at what?"
Lin Li noticed from the corner of his eye that the phone screen had already turned into Angry Birds.
The Daoist didn't watch the documentaries either, he started playing games first.
Fine, fine, fine, giving you things to learn and you don't learn.
Lin Li materialized the "Holy Dragon Essence Blood" and the "Lightning Nurturing Seed".
When the Holy Dragon Essence Blood appeared, the scorching sensation was still somewhat unbearable for the current Lin Li, until Daoist Shanqing, whose expression became much more serious, wrapped it in circles of spiritual power, then it improved.
The Lightning Nurturing Seed didn't get this treatment. Although the current Lin Li still felt a stinging pain, holding it for a short time was no longer a problem.
"This is dragon blood? And not ordinary dragon blood?" After suppressing the aura, Daoist Shanqing asked doubtfully.
"Yes, it seems to be Holy Dragon Essence Blood, but I have no concept of it."
"...Also given by the divine ability?"
"Mhm."
"Your divine ability..." Daoist Shanqing hesitated to speak, "is truly divine and capable. How can it get you anything."
However, he didn't think Lin Li was fooling him. He knew that Lin Li's divine ability was not a divine ability in the sense of the immortal cultivation world, but a title Lin Li gave to make it easier for him to understand.
Looking at it now, it was more like a secret realm, containing many things inside.
"This item, whether consumed, refined, or used as a material, is a top-grade treasure."
"Even this old man, if I saw this item when I was alive, I would desire it. However..." Daoist Shanqing suddenly found it funny:
"Lin Li, for you right now, this is completely and utterly useless. Not to mention consuming it, the fact that you didn't directly explode and die from such close contact just now means your divine ability is helping you again."
Lin Li: "?"
Can it be this dangerous?
"Put this back into the 'divine ability' first. Don't take it out to show people normally. If there are other mortals around you in the lower realm, I'm afraid it will cause a tragedy."
Daoist Shanqing returned the porcelain bottle containing the Holy Dragon Essence Blood to Lin Li:
"In the future, when your cultivation level is higher, this old man might be able to assist you in consuming this item, but it's too early now."
"Thank you, Grandpa, I understand." Lin Li immediately put it back into the [Warehouse].
Go gather dust!
"As for this item, the Lightning Nurturing Seed, it contains a small amount of lightning power and can be used for basic stage lightning method cultivation."
"How to use it, directly absorb the lightning power? But at this stage, I feel a stinging pain if I hold it for a long time. Is it also because my cultivation hasn't reached the threshold to use it?" Lin Li asked curiously.
"Oh, little friend, you also know lightning methods?" Daoist Shanqing asked back with a bit of interest.
Lin Li smiled slightly and tossed his head handsomely: "Grandpa, watch closely!"
A palm-sized lightning ball gathered in Lin Li's palm, and then smashed onto the ground.
"Snap!"
"Snap!"
Let's not talk about whether the lightning ball left any marks on the strange black stone on the top of this inverted mountain, just talk about whether this sound was loud or not.
Louder than a firecracker.
win!
"Grandpa, how do you evaluate my level." Lin Li put his hands on his hips and laughed wickedly.
Daoist Shanqing blinked, raised one hand horizontally, his arm slowly rising, lightning patterns flowing in his palm.
The Wujiu Lightning, which the Daoist said was dormant outside the inverted mountain, gathered towards the direction Daoist Shanqing pointed like flood dragons returning to their nest.
When the hand dropped fiercely again—
"Boom!!!"
The purple lightning condensed into a giant purplish-red blade that reached the sky and the earth, crashing down.
The void trembled, the mountains resonated, and in an instant, the entire forbidden land was as bright as day.
"..."
"Buzz—"
"..."
"Lin Li, how do you evaluate Grandpa's level."
Looking at Lin Li, who was rubbing his eyes and making 'ouch' sounds, Daoist Shanqing smiled, blinked, and asked.
"It seems... to be a little bit more powerful than me."
The ringing in his ears finally subsided. After opening his eyes, Lin Li stroked his chin and nodded slowly in all seriousness.
"Hahaha—" Daoist Shanqing laughed heartily.
"You kid, you're quite good at amusing people."
He could tell that Lin Li's exaggerated posture to show off the lightning method he had mastered just now was completely intentional.
The purpose was to 'show off his slight skill before an expert' in front of him.
"Heh," Lin Li smiled and touched his neck.
Naturally, he couldn't really think he was very good at lightning methods.
Looking at the sky outside the mountain, Lin Li had a guess: "So, Grandpa, this Wujiu Lightning outside the mountain is formed by the nourishment of the lightning power that dissipated from your great battle back then? Same nature as that flower?"
"You could say that. Among Dao methods, lightning methods are what I'm relatively good at." Daoist Shanqing nodded, then picked up the Lightning Nurturing Seed and briefly introduced it to Lin Li:
"Regarding this Lightning Nurturing Seed, direct absorption is a way, but not the best. Combined with the injection of spiritual energy, in this way, do you see this base shell? Like this, it can be better absorbed and tempered..."
Lin Li immediately studied seriously.
"By the way, Lin Li, what lightning method are you practicing? Did you learn a certain cultivation method? It can't be that you figured it out yourself without a teacher, or the divine ability directly bestowed it upon you?" Daoist Shanqing asked.
"I do have one, it's called 'Pure and Righteous Lightning Control Method'."
Lin Li directly materialized the original copy of the cultivation method and handed it to Daoist Shanqing.
Daoist Shanqing took it and began to flip through it. His flipping speed was very fast, almost only looking at each page for a few seconds.
And Lin Li didn't disturb Daoist Shanqing, but materialized spirit stones and began to use the Lightning Nurturing Seed according to the method the Daoist taught him.
The effect was remarkable. It's good to have a teacher.
"Hiss—" On the side, Daoist Shanqing, who had flipped halfway through, made a sound.
"Grandpa Shanqing, what's wrong? Is this cultivation method also very basic and low-level?" Lin Li asked, also prepared for the cultivation method to be belittled.
"It's very basic, extremely basic. There are too many advanced moves in lightning methods that this cultivation method doesn't even mention. But if you say it's low-level, absolutely not." Daoist Shanqing shook his head, "I just took a look. Not only did I not find any errors, but I also didn't find any points where its content could be improved. At least I can't do it.
"In other words, even this old man can only perfect and expand it, not improve it.
"Even... a few statements proposed in this cultivation method seem to be more accurate than the understanding of lightning methods that I have immersed myself in for many years and thought I had thoroughly researched.
"Is there really not a single place that can be corrected... To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that I no longer have a real physical body and cultivation is meaningless and ineffective, this old man really wants to try this 'Pure and Righteous Lightning Control Body'.
"Maybe it can allow me to go a step further in this path."
Hearing Daoist Shanqing's emotion, Lin Li raised an eyebrow.
He completely didn't expect that this cultivation method could get such a high evaluation from his mouth.
"I originally wanted to teach you my lightning method, little friend, but since you have already taken this path, you might as well continue walking it. There is no need to change paths. This should be the most suitable lightning method for you right now."
Daoist Shanqing shook this lightning method book and said with a smile:
"Lin Li, next time you come, bring me paper and pen that can be taken back to your world.
"Its content is ultimately too basic. It doesn't mention a single word about more variations of lightning methods.
"The upper limit is too low, and your achievements will be limited if you cultivate to the end. I will help you perfect the subsequent content of the cultivation method."
"Okay, okay, thank you, Grandpa." Lin Li immediately agreed upon hearing this.
This was something he couldn't ask for.
"Grandpa, can you help me look at these two cultivation methods again?" Lin Li wasn't polite either, directly taking out the "Eight-Section Body Tempering Art" and "Basic Sword Art" and handing them to Daoist Shanqing.
"Especially this 'Eight-Section Body Tempering Art', I always feel that my practice is not in place. Can you give me some pointers?"
Perhaps Daoist Shanqing's guidance could become the turning point to complete Task 1.
"Wait a moment, let me take a look first."
Daoist Shanqing nodded, took the two cultivation methods, and began to read.
...
"Like the 'Pure and Righteous Lightning Control Method', they are both very good basic cultivation methods. Although superficial, there are still no errors or areas for improvement in the content it writes, at least I can't do it.
"I really want to meet the existence who wrote these things. They must have truly mastered one item and completely returned to simplicity."
When Daoist Shanqing handed the two cultivation methods back to Lin Li, he sighed softly.
"Lin Li, I can also perfect these two books, but definitely not as comprehensively as the lightning method. When those two wake up, perhaps they can do better than me."
Lin Li nodded in thanks.
He suddenly felt that the system was quite good at doing human things—unlike its blind dates where it only looked for HR.
To actually give such good things for these cultivation methods that laid his foundation, Lin Li almost thought they were basic stuff that flooded the streets of the immortal cultivation world.
This meant that following the system's practice would definitely not go wrong.
"Thank you, Grandpa Shanqing."
Grandpa Shanqing waved his hand, then raised his chin:
"As for what you said about your practice not being in place, demonstrate the 'Eight-Section Body Tempering Art' you have mastered for me to see now. There is no problem with the cultivation method."
"Okay."
Lin Li nodded, stood in front of Daoist Shanqing, discarded all distracting thoughts, immersed his mind, and began to practice.
It takes a long time to completely finish the eight chapters of the "Eight-Section Body Tempering Art", six hours is not enough. But fortunately, after Lin Li practiced for half an hour, Daoist Shanqing called a stop.
"I can roughly see the problem." Daoist Shanqing spoke.
"Please teach me, Grandpa." Lin Li said respectfully.
"You lack common sense, to be precise, you lack the common sense of our world."
"Although this 'Eight-Section Body Tempering Art' is very excellent, it is crude... well, you can't say it's crude. The writer probably didn't expect that people from other worlds would get this cultivation method."
"Therefore, it doesn't clearly note the breathing rhythm and the path of spiritual power circulation, resulting in you having a lot of flaws in these aspects.
"But this is content outside the cultivation method, so I don't blame you.
"It can be seen that you have practiced very seriously, and even figured out a crude breathing method without a teacher. Your talent is amazing."
Daoist Shanqing slowly introduced.
Lin Li suddenly realized.
This was indeed unavoidable. These things that were easily accessible in the immortal cultivation world, Lin Li couldn't touch at all.
As for 'figuring it out without a teacher', it should be something he figured out by combining his experience over the past two months after his martial arts talent improved.
"Can Grandpa teach me?" But now that he had a teacher, he didn't need to work so hard. Lin Li looked at the old man expectantly and said.
Rich Grandpa, I don't want to work hard anymore.
"Of course." Daoist Shanqing nodded kindly, and immediately began to demonstrate:
"First, I'll teach you the breathing method suitable for this kind of body tempering art. Come, learn from me. The abdominal cavity guides the spiritual energy to pour in like a stream, rather than the chest cavity bulging, obstructing the meridians..."
...
"Grandpa Shanqing, the effect is remarkable!" Lin Li, who had opened the door to a new world, was full of joy.
He suddenly realized that his efficiency in utilizing the cultivation method was actually very low.
"Your comprehension is very good, you grasp things very quickly. Lin Li, remember everything just now. Practice with these in the future, and there will definitely be a good improvement."
Daoist Shanqing also nodded in satisfaction.
Every teacher likes students with talent and good grades.
—Except Xue Jian.
If he got first place in the class in this midterm exam and was still treated with the usual attitude, Lin Li would be very angry and hide under the covers alone to drop little pearls (cry).
"It's because Grandpa taught well," Lin Li flattered.
"Is there anything else you need me to look over?"
"Not for now." Other things were not urgent.
Lin Li materialized the "Spirit Gathering Heavenly Formation", and while controlling the formation, he spoke: "Grandpa, then I'll start learning the formation knowledge you gave me first?"
"Okay, sure. Anyway, if you have any questions, just ask me."
Daoist Shanqing nodded, and returned to the laptop himself, starting to use the mobile phone.
...
[0.05.00]
The remaining time flew by in cultivation.
About every hour, Daoist Shanqing would come and ask Lin Li about the mobile phone and computer problems he encountered in that hour.
He became proficient very quickly.
And Lin Li, while distracting himself to control the formation, studied the formation knowledge given to him by Daoist Shanqing. Similarly, if there was anything he didn't understand, he would ask the old man.
Helping each other.
In just a few hours, his control over the "Spirit Gathering Heavenly Formation" greatly increased, and the range could become even larger.
Task 1 made crucial progress, Task 3 had a steady increase, and the cultivation method that originally trapped Lin Li would be perfected in the future.
Everything was developing in a good direction, awesome.
Because there were only five minutes left, Lin Li collected and stored the accumulated spirit liquid, got up, and walked towards Daoist Shanqing.
"Sigh!"
Approaching Daoist Shanqing, he happened to hear his sigh.
"What's wrong, Grandpa Shanqing." Lin Li asked with concern.
"This mobile phone is indeed precise, it was hard to imagine before, but... it's still too insensitive. Why does it have no reaction to spiritual energy and must be touched by a physical body? It's unreasonable."
Daoist Shanqing pointed to the Angry Birds on the screen and said dissatisfiedly:
"I don't understand, why can't this little bird move up another five... pixels according to my will? This way, if I launch it, I can get a higher score."
"My body clearly accurately obeyed my command and moved a distance equivalent to five pixels on the phone, but why didn't it react?"
Lin Li: "..."
Daoist Shanqing, you are also a master of micro-management.
That realm of vigorous vitality and all things competing is still vivid in Lin Li's eyes.
"Grandpa Shanqing, haven't you already got three stars?" Lin Li squatted down and watched for a while, becoming even more puzzled.
"Three stars is not enough. Since there is a higher score to be obtained, how can I easily let it go? If cultivating the Dao is so easily satisfied, one can never climb to the peak!" Daoist Shanqing responded seriously.
Lin Li: "..."
That's very ambitious.
"How about, Grandpa, you let me try?" After watching Daoist Shanqing's gameplay for a while longer, Lin Li spoke.
"Come." Daoist Shanqing handed the phone to Lin Li, watching expectantly from the side.
He saw Lin Li operate fiercely like a tiger, and looking at the record, it was indeed a tiger.
"Eh, why does it feel like Lin Li, you just threw it casually, but the score is so much higher than mine." Daoist Shanqing looked puzzled.
"If the goal is not just three stars but a high score, then there is a lot to consider.
"Grandpa Shanqing, remember, the scoring mechanism of Angry Birds is that continuously breaking multiple targets within 3 seconds can trigger a combo, doubling the score. Although my operation just now was not detailed, first using the blue bird clone to smash the glass, achieving the basic condition for a chain reaction, and then detonating the black bird to completely destroy the building structure, this is the key to a high score."
Lin Li handed the phone back and explained.
Daoist Shanqing suddenly realized: "I was wondering, although this little blue bird can clone itself, its power is too weak. I can never get a high score every time, I was just despising it."
Lin Li reacted with a 'ding':
"Oh my, Daoist, why do you care so much about this scoring mechanism—"
Daoist Shanqing: "?"
Lin Li stopped halfway through, after all, Daoist Shanqing wouldn't get it even if he said it, so he smiled and said: "Daoist, you can't care about temporary gains and losses, you have to look at the whole picture. There's no need to pursue the highest score for every bird, but to look at the overall situation."
"I have already realized this," Daoist Shanqing nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, little friend."
"Hearing the Dao has a sequence, and professions have their specialties, that's all. Then Grandpa, I'm leaving."
Lin Li smiled and waved to Daoist Shanqing.
"Okay."
So Lin Li disappeared.
"..."
"..."
The old man continued Angry Birds.
Angry for a minute.
Daoist Shanqing looked around somewhat guiltily, confirmed that Lin Li had indeed left, coughed twice, and retreated to the phone's main interface.
"Bufan, wake up." The old man spoke.
"Woof woof, I'm here."
"Help me open and play the porn videos in the phone."
"Woof woof, sorry, the current operation does not comply with laws and regulations, I cannot assist you."
"No, Bufan, the laws of heaven here have already collapsed, what is there that doesn't comply?"
Daoist Shanqing was anxious. I've smashed the laws of this world, what laws and regulations are you still obeying?
"Woof woof, sorry, I cannot understand your meaning."
"Bufan, you useless thing!"
"Woof woof, sorry, but I will continue to work hard to improve."
"Then help me find the porn videos in the phone, the ones I saw in Lin Li's phone, the kind he skipped directly without letting me see last time!"
"Woof woof, sorry, the current operation does not comply with laws and regulations, I cannot assist you."
"Bufan, you useless thing!"
"Woof woof, sorry, but I will continue to work hard to improve."
Daoist Shanqing: (╬~皿~)
Forget it, since things have come to this, let's continue playing games.
...
"You stinky little bird, you are also a useless thing!"
(End of Chapter)