Chapter 224: Chapter 171: Greetings, Fellow Daoist

[Social Flower and Herb Secret Manual (Charm Demon Dao):

A niche secret manual in the Cultivation Realm that neither increases Magical Power nor enhances Divine Thought, doesn’t involve production, nor is it beneficial for Magical Combat.

Legend holds that this Cultivation Technique was created by a Great Power, originating from a place called Hell beyond the Three Realms, which was inhabited by a unique creature known as Enchanting Demon. After thoroughly understanding the Enchanting Demon tribe, the Great Power developed this Cultivation Technique.

After cultivating this technique, not only can it enhance the affinity between cultivators, reducing conflicts in the Cultivation Realm, it can also increase the physical body’s affinity with nature and the universe.

In the Cultivation Realm, the technique was originally lost, but some fragments were spread and promoted by various Cultivation Sects, among which Swallow Sect became one of the most influential.]

As the log changed, Lin Hao felt his Divine Thought momentarily leave his body, seemingly merging into the "River Debris World."

Time changes like the ocean.

Stars shift and move.

Opening his eyes again, Lin Hao was standing in a void, in front of him a vast land was floating in the air.

He reached out his hand, grasped the air, and without using any Magical Power, the floating land in the void twisted and transformed at a visible speed, finally becoming a massive ocean-covered planet.

With a swipe of the ring on his left-hand fingertip, three birds engulfed in fierce flames circled around him.

These three birds, Lin Hao felt a connection.

They are Golden Crows!

Moreover, they are Golden Crows at their peak of power!

One bird flying around a planet can satisfy all the sunlight needs within that planet.

"Go!"

For the first time, Lin Hao heard his own voice at this moment, majestic and deep, imbued with a kind of rule-like power.

The three Golden Crows cried out in mourning and flew towards the giant planet, as if leaving him was a grief-stricken event for the birds.

However, since their master commanded, no matter how unwilling, they had to leave.

As they flew, the three Golden Crows began to converse, from Lin Hao’s perspective it sounded like—

"Quacks! Since we followed the master, we haven’t worked for a long time. I must diligently complete the tasks entrusted by the master!"

"Quacks! Working is impossible. I want to start my own venture on this planet. I want to develop faith!"

"Quacks! I don’t care about working or faith. I just ask one question, how are we scheduling our shifts, one work and rest two?"

"..."

The sound gradually faded as the three Golden Crows transformed into great suns above the giant planet, Lin Hao gently stroked the ring and several bamboo scrolls filled with immense aura shot into the planet like meteors...

"Catastrophe is approaching, cause and effect are unpredictable. What kind of results will I reap in the future from what I sow today?"

Lin Hao heard "himself" murmuring, seemingly even as powerful as he was now, troubled by something.

Catastrophe?

What catastrophe?

As Lin Hao pondered, he heard himself exclaim softly, computed with his hand, and then laughed:

"Ah, so that’s the cause and effect."

At that moment, Lin Hao watched through his own eyes as he slowly bowed towards the void, saying:

"Greetings, fellow Taoist."

The voice sounded like a bell ringing loudly in Lin Hao’s ears.

The void in front of "himself" shattered layer by layer, seemingly unable to withstand "his" greeting.

Lin Hao: Damn, impressive.

The sight brought Lin Hao’s mind back to the present.

But instinctively, his body rose, imitating what his Divine Thought saw, he bowed forward.

"Greetings, fellow Taoist."

In the next moment, an unseen Jade Scroll entered Lin Hao’s forehead, merging into his Sea of Divine Thoughts.

This ancient Jade Scroll, Lin Hao recognized at once. Wasn’t it one that "himself" cast into the newly formed planet in his fantasy?

This...

What is happening?

This world and the Cultivation Realm seem to have an unknown connection.

As Lin Hao frowned and pondered, the log continued to update in front of him—

[Residual Pill Ancestor Lin Hao received a gift from a Nether Ancient Great Power]

[Residual Pill Ancestor Lin Hao received a ￥%...!@#朝简 (Magical Artifact)]

[￥%...!@#朝简 (Magical Artifact):

Effect: Unknown]

[Residual Pill Ancestor Lin Hao is fully compatible with the Social Flower and Herb Secret Manual (Charm Demon Dao)]

Looking at the Jade Scroll hovering quietly above the Divine Thought, Lin Hao touched it with his Divine Thought, and its power was completely absorbed. However, this absorption brought no discomfort to Lin Hao.

Divine Thought seemed to have a distant connection with the unknown Jade Scroll, although the Sea of Divine Thoughts did lose a wisp, it slowly began to replenish.

What is the use of this so-called Nether Ancient Great Power’s gift?

Lin Hao attempted to send another wisp into the unknown Jade Scroll, sensing it disappeared from the Sea of Divine Thoughts, yet Lin Hao felt it still existed, a strange feeling...

But the Jade Scroll seems harmless.

This is Lin Hao’s instinct as a cultivator, and a cultivator considered a "Nether Ancient Great Power" by the log. To greet him from countless space and time...

If he wanted to harm him, it would be a matter of moments.

Although temporarily unclear about the functions of this unknown Jade Scroll, he decided to "put in" a day’s recoverable Divine Thought to test the waters.

The unknown Jade Scroll accepted Lin Hao’s "put in" Divine Thought, and Lin Hao’s Divine Thought began to slowly recover.

At this time, Li Chuchu’s voice emerged behind Lin Hao...

"Lin Hao, who are you greeting? I didn’t see Mr. Hua around." Li Chuchu asked suspiciously, observing Lin Hao’s bowing gesture.

Lin Hao chuckled and released his Divine Thought, coincidentally spotting Mr. Hua already bending to sign something behind the guard post door.

Lin Hao: "Isn’t it just rehearsing the greeting action with Mr. Hua?"

Li Chuchu: "Is there something special about this? Should I design a greeting gesture?"

Lin Hao: "There’s nothing particularly special. We’ll take Mr. Hua to buy some new clothes later, just burn the old ones."

Li Chuchu nodded, indicating she took note.

Lin Hao looked around, hmm? Where did Qianqian go?

Releasing his Divine Thought again, Lin Hao saw Qianqian in a corner where the waiting area’s cameras couldn’t catch her, facing the wall, her cheeks puffed as she chewed on something.

Is she sneaking food?

But why avoid the cameras to eat?

Then, Lin Hao saw clearly what Qianqian was eating.

He saw Qianqian open the borrowed "Encyclopedia Volume 1" from the library, tear out a page, and stuff it into her mouth, seriously chewing...

Knowing Qianqian could eat, Lin Hao didn’t think Qianqian could eat paper, letting alone books.

But...

This is a library book! It has to be returned!

However, that’s not the main issue; if the borrowed book gets damaged, it’s just a matter of paying for it, but with Qianqian eating like this...

Won’t she get constipated?

Lin Hao quickly walked to the corner where Qianqian was, interrupting her meal.

Lin Hao: "Qianqian, what are you eating?"

Qianqian: "Gulp."

Qianqian seemed surprised that Lin Hao would call her. After a slight shiver, she immediately swallowed the not-yet-fully-chewed paper.

Lin Hao: "Hey hey hey! Don’t rush to swallow it."

At Lin Hao’s call, Qianqian turned around, like a child doing something wrong, stuck out her tongue, and hid the "missing" pages "Encyclopedia Volume 1" behind her back.

Qianqian: "Teacher Lin, I didn’t eat anything."

Lin Hao: "Take out the book behind you."

Qianqian gripped the book with her right hand and showed her empty left hand to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao: ...

Lin Hao: "Come on, stretch out your right hand."

Just as Qianqian wanted to hide her left hand behind her back and switch the book to another hand, Lin Hao squatted in front of Qianqian and grabbed the little girl’s left hand.

Qianqian’s face stiffened slightly.

Lin Hao: "Hurry, stretch out your right hand."

Qianqian pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and let out a whisper:

"Ha!"

Then, under Lin Hao’s Divine Thought sensing, a tear in space appeared behind Qianqian, and as her hand relaxed, the incomplete "Encyclopedia Volume 1" fell into that space...

This should be Qianqian’s ability.

Qianqian felt "Encyclopedia Volume 1" was already "hidden," her face immediately showed a smile, presenting her empty right hand to Lin Hao.

Qianqian: "Teacher Lin, see, there’s nothing!"

Lin Hao tapped Qianqian’s head, chuckling:

"You little girl, alright, we’ll talk when we get back, let’s get Mr. Hua first."

This place, though not crowded, had some outsiders, making it inconvenient for Lin Hao to discuss her powers with Qianqian.

But Lin Hao had a hunch...

The book Qianqian borrowed might not be returned to the library; he didn’t know why Qianqian ate books, but she must have her reasons...

As Qianqian’s temporary guardian and teacher, Lin Hao was prepared to pay for the damages.

The group of three walked out of the waiting area and headed outside the holding facility.

After a while, a slightly scruffy Mr. Hua came out of the holding facility.

He first saw Lin Hao, quickly stepped forward, and was about to give Lin Hao a big hug before realizing he had just been released, causing him to halt in place.

Coming out of a holding facility, no matter the reason for going in, felt quite ominous.

Lin Hao stepped forward and gave him a big hug.

What ominousness could affect a Cultivator.

Lin Hao: "How were things inside these past few days?"

Mr. Hua: "Not bad, quiet, felt like I gained more understanding of Cultivation Technique, improved my Inner Power!."

Lin Hao: "Wow, so you had a Dragon Field Enlightenment in there, huh?"

Mr. Hua: "Dragon Field Enlightenment? What’s that mean?"

Lin Hao: "Nothing, just an old saying from my hometown."

As they chatted, Mr. Hua greeted Li Chuchu and Qianqian as well. After some conversation, they decided on the next steps—

Buy clothes.

Eat.

Foot bath...

The foot bath was a suggestion Mr. Hua sent Lin Hao via phone—

"Let’s send Miss Li and Qianqian off for a bit, then have a foot bath; brother, I have some ideas about opening the stockings market in River Debris City, want to chat?"

Lin Hao responded with an acknowledging look and secretly nodded.

The foot bath wasn’t the main thing; the main thing was discussing the business plan and deployment for selling black stockings with Mr. Hua.

As for why they had to send Li Chuchu and Qianqian away for the foot bath, Mr. Hua probably...

didn’t want to share his business thoughts with them.

After all, strictly speaking, Mr. Hua wasn’t very familiar with Li Chuchu or Qianqian.