Chapter 2: The Cultivation World Hidden in the Mundane World

When ordinary people remain ordinary for too long, they are often subconsciously hinted that they are born to be mediocre, thus living a life of mediocrity. However, some people are unwilling to be mediocre; thus, some become dispirited, some become worldly, some become utilitarian, some become opportunistic, some become degenerate, and some become restless.

The sage once said, "When rites are lost, seek them among the common people."

Even if one is not born equal, anyone in this world has the right to embrace the world and pursue their heart's deepest desire.

In Ye Feng's heart, cultivation and seeking the Dao were his greatest desires. He believed that many people shared the same passion, and he would not be alone.

Li Tianhe did not know how much his words had stirred Ye Feng's heart. He was just a bit regretful for his slip of the tongue, revealing something he shouldn't have to a young person, and he didn't want the young man in front of him to become obsessed with it.

However, some things never go as you wish, just like reality often plays a big joke on you when you are most relaxed.

At that moment, Ye Feng felt as if his heart had been struck hard. Perhaps while the heavens were playing a joke on others, they were also playing a joke on him, and it was a rather interesting one.

Do you know cultivation? It was a question, but it didn't stop it from revealing some important information.

A few simple words seemed to have endless magic, much like how online games have an indescribable allure for some people. "Do you know cultivation?" These words echoed in Ye Feng's heart for a long time, like the "ding-ding" sound of an old wall clock striking his soul.

"Ding—"

"Ding—"

The "ding-ding" sound resonated with the word "cultivation" that Ye Feng kept repeating in his mind, echoing endlessly.

With his mind completely occupied by the word "cultivation," Ye Feng was also filled with various thoughts, prompting him to constantly ponder the meaning of these words.

From the few words the old man said, Ye Feng could deduce countless possibilities. The old man might also have a passion for cultivation, perhaps for even longer than him. The old man might have seen real cultivators and understood cultivation well. The most likely and most hopeful possibility for Ye Feng was that the old man himself was a cultivator.

No matter how chaotic his thoughts were, they couldn't hide his immense excitement. The urge to get an answer immediately was overwhelming, making Ye Feng slightly lose his composure.

Or perhaps, he was in a daze.

There are many people in this world who are in a daze. Some are driven mad by love and do foolish things, some are driven mad by hatred and fall into an abyss of no return, and some are driven mad by games. Similarly, there are people in this world who are driven mad by their long-held beliefs, and at that moment, Ye Feng was driven mad by the word "cultivation."

He tightly held Li Tianhe's hand without letting go, his slight trembling showing his inner excitement. His eyes never left Li Tianhe's, as if afraid he would run away if he let go.

Li Tianhe, on the other side, seemed to have a sense of awareness, with a calm expression, perhaps mixed with a hint of unknown helplessness.

"Son, take it easy. I'm an old man and can't withstand your折腾 (trouble). You're almost breaking my bones," Li Tianhe said with a bitter smile, not expecting that he would find himself in trouble today. The young man in front of him seemed to know nothing about the true situation of cultivation.

"Old man, do you know about cultivation? Have you seen cultivators? Are you one? And, do you have any disciples? Do you still take on disciples?" The tightly held hands relaxed slightly, but Ye Feng was still excited, speaking incoherently and asking a series of questions in rapid succession.

Li Tianhe on the other side had a pained expression, frowning, and pondering whether he should tell the young man the truth.

Sometimes, the truth is more disappointing. However, looking at the young man's enthusiastic expression, he thought for a long time and finally sighed, "Yes, I know about the existence of cultivation, real cultivation."

Ye Feng's entire body relaxed, like a person who had been adrift in the sea for a long time suddenly finding land and feeling a moment of relief. This statement was enough; he didn't have the heart to consider anything else for the moment.

"Then?" Ye Feng sat back in his chair, his expression still tinged with excitement.

"Although I know about cultivation, I am not a cultivator," Li Tianhe clearly saw the fleeting disappointment in Ye Feng's eyes and continued, "If you want to know, I don't mind telling you. As far as I know, cultivators are a special group with their own circle. Back then, I only met a few by chance, and those few experts greatly helped me in medicine."

Li Tianhe didn't know why he was telling the young man in front of him these things. Perhaps he was moved by the young man's enthusiasm, who knows.

Ye Feng took a deep breath, hesitated, but still asked the question that all cultivation enthusiasts most wanted to ask. "Do the cultivators you've seen fly through the air, move mountains, and live for a very long time? Can they achieve immortality?"

"Fly through the air, move mountains?" Li Tianhe laughed heartily, as if he had expected Ye Feng to ask this, but there was no mocking intent in his laughter. "Son, I think you've read too many web novels. There's no one like that in this world, even the cultivators I've met don't claim to have such abilities."

The old man spoke casually, but to Ye Feng, it was like a bomb exploding in his mind.

Ye Feng was stunned, dazedly savoring the old man's words.

No such people?

How could that be?

Li Tianhe didn't know why the young man in front of him was so passionate about cultivation. He patted Ye Feng's shoulder and sighed, "Son, you need to face reality. I've lived for a long time and have never heard of anyone with such abilities."

Li Tianhe hesitated for a moment, "Actually, those cultivators are just ordinary people who practice. The more capable ones just have some health-preserving skills and live a few more years than us."

"Health-preserving? Can't they achieve immortality?"

Ye Feng hadn't recovered from the old man's words. Hearing the old man describe cultivators so poorly, he became a bit angry, his face turning sour.

In Ye Feng's heart, cultivators truly existed, each with incredible abilities, able to exorcise ghosts, have a third eye, have a photographic memory, and have exceptional physical abilities. They could break world records with a single jump, and the more powerful ones could ride swords and fly through the void. Most importantly, they had long lifespans.

These were almost what all those who refused to be ordinary yearned for.

While novels could provide some comfort, they were ultimately not real. When the novel ended, the comforting feeling would also disappear. Sometimes, Ye Feng really wished for a novel that would never end, to laugh and cry with the characters, to experience their sadness, emotion, passion, and excitement together.

However, over the years, Ye Feng had not seen a cultivation novel that could continue forever, which led him to want to write such a novel himself. But the reality was harsh; he didn't have the ability.

Although Ye Feng knew his thoughts were somewhat negative, he also knew he had the right to pursue his heart's desire.

He believed there were many people like him in the world, a special group of people who had a sharp intuition for these mysterious things, seemingly believing in their existence from the depths of their bones.

Whether they had received materialistic education for years, seen various mysterious phenomena explained on TV, or felt disappointed after decades of searching without finding any clues, their beliefs had never wavered.

They always firmly believed that the cultivators in their hearts existed.

They were blind yet lovable; they faced their souls honestly, removing the masks of self-deception.

Now, with the old man describing cultivators as ordinary people, Ye Feng felt an unusual pain in his heart, as if the belief in his soul was gradually collapsing. He didn't know whether to believe the old man's words or to stick to his long-held beliefs.

Every cultivation enthusiast hopes to be affirmed, to find a kindred spirit, and to have their persistence rewarded.

But now, their beliefs were harshly challenged by reality, and the impact on Ye Feng was undoubtedly significant.

Li Tianhe looked at the young man in front of him, feeling a bit reluctant, and said again, "Cultivators, that's an ancient term for those who practice the Dao. Cultivators, they cultivate the true self through the false. Cultivators can be said to be a group of people who truly understand the Dao. Many people practice the Dao, but very few achieve anything. These cultivators usually study Daoist techniques and cultivate internal alchemy according to Daoist classics to achieve health preservation, just like martial artists who strengthen their bodies."

"Health preservation, strengthening the body." Ye Feng sat in a daze, muttering to himself.

"There are such people in the current Longhu Sect, Zhengyi Sect, and Daoist Association, but they don't have the exaggerated abilities described in novels, and there's no such thing as immortality. Although some of them believe in those things, no one has ever achieved them... Son, don't waste your time on these illusory things. This real world is what you should focus on, think about the people around you."

Focus on reality? Should I focus on reality? Ye Feng kept questioning himself.

No, I won't.

I deeply know that my soul tells me every day that that is the truth. What I truly want to grasp is my heart; I don't want to live in illusions, enduring a life like a walking corpse.

Even if—after a hundred years, I will still believe—in my beliefs.

...

Just as Ye Feng finished the last word in his heart, a strong white light suddenly emitted from the depths of his soul. The white light shone brilliantly, shooting into the sky. In some unknown space, a rhombus-shaped crystal also glowed white, as if responding to the white light. The two beams of light connected, merged, and formed a thread, linking with Ye Feng's soul.

Of course, Li Tianhe and Ye Feng couldn't see this. Ye Feng only felt a slight tremor in his body and then returned to normal.

Li Tianhe saw the resolute light in Ye Feng's eyes, which made his heart tremble. He knew that further words were futile. He had seen such young people before; they were very persistent and couldn't be persuaded with a few words. Time would make them realize what was real.

Thinking this, Li Tianhe chuckled, "Alright, son, thinking too much is useless. Let's talk about your illness."

"Okay."

In just a blink, Ye Feng had thought it through.

Ye Feng still needed to solve his illness. He shook his head and asked, "Old man, what about my illness?"

The old man pondered for a moment and said something that surprised Ye Feng, "Your illness actually has nothing to do with your cultivation and qi practice. If I'm not mistaken, you must have practiced qi incorrectly, causing a qi deviation."

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