Chapter 7

So-called cultivators are those from the scholar-gentry class who have yet to establish their foundation. Generally, as long as a cultivator has reached the third level of Qi Cultivation, they can play with some low-level talismans and spells.

Even low-level talismans and spells are enough to allow cultivators to easily kill so-called martial arts experts from the commoner class, similar to how firearms in modern society can easily shoot down various martial arts experts. The protective power formed by low-level talismans and spells can also act like the protective energy shields in sci-fi movies, making it difficult for ordinary people's swords and bows to damage them, thus naturally placing them in an invincible position.

This is also the strength that ensures the ruling position of the scholar-gentry class in the Great Jin Dynasty. The children of the scholar-gentry, who possess innate spirit veins, can generally enter the third level of Qi Cultivation and play with some low-level talismans and spells after a few years of practice, as long as they do not have inferior innate spirit veins like Zhu Lingwu.

Of course, as long as they do not establish their foundation, the physical bodies of cultivators are still mortal. If they fail to release any talismans or spells in time for protection, they can also be killed by ordinary people. However, such opportunities are not many, as the children of the scholar-gentry class are generally accompanied by martial arts experts from the commoner class, similar to how knights protect wizards in fantasy novels.

It is said that before establishing their foundation, cultivators will encounter four major hurdles. The first hurdle is breaking through the third level of Qi Cultivation, which allows them to have the power to drive low-level talismans and release simple spells. The second hurdle is the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, the third hurdle is said to be the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, and the last hurdle is the thirteenth level of Qi Cultivation.

In fact, the last hurdle is also connected to the major hurdle of establishing the foundation. At the thirteenth level of Qi Cultivation, cultivators are also referred to as half-step foundation establishment, making them half-cultivators. Generally, the innate spirit veins of the children of the scholar-gentry class, if of medium quality, are mostly stuck at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, while those of higher quality are mostly stuck at the thirteenth level of Qi Cultivation. The number of cultivators who can successfully establish their foundation is one in ten thousand.

The path of cultivation is not easy. Even in the Qi Cultivation stage, starting from the fifth level, further advancement becomes increasingly difficult. Unless you are in a transcendent immortal sect and have the support of the sect's elixirs, most can only reach the tenth level of Qi Cultivation.

Zhu Lingwu's current stepfather is a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, which is considered to have some moderate strength in the secular world. This is why he can serve as the magistrate of a small border county near the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge.

It is said that Zhu Lingwu's current stepfather possesses a high-quality innate wood spirit vein, but even at nearly sixty years old, he has only managed to cultivate to the seventh level of Qi Cultivation.

Although Zhu Lingwu is not sure about the standards for distinguishing the strength of cultivators, his soul can clearly sense the aura emitted by cultivators. Before cultivators establish their foundation, they will involuntarily emit the spirit energy they cultivate. For ordinary commoners, they cannot see this emitted spirit energy but can only sense a compelling aura, which makes them instinctively admire cultivators.

However, for cultivators, they can distinguish whether someone is a cultivator and what type of spirit energy they cultivate through this emitted spirit energy. Zhu Lingwu has met his stepfather several times in this life, so he can sense the wood-type spirit energy emitted by him.

It is said that cultivators can roughly determine each other's strength levels based on the aura emitted by their bodies. However, this Meng Yashi may have used some method to conceal his aura. Unfortunately, he encountered Zhu Lingwu, a freak of nature with a witch demon background, who still sensed the ghostly aura emitted by Meng Yashi.

This inevitably made Zhu Lingwu suspect that Meng Yashi was a ghost cultivator, a common evil cultivator in many novels. Therefore, he would be shunned by the orthodox cultivation world and could only hide his identity in a small border county like Tongshan County.

But does this world really have such so-called evil and heretical paths? Zhu Lingwu is not sure. The memories he currently possesses do not have information on this, and as an eight-year-old child, his knowledge is limited.

Even if such evil sects do exist, they might belong to the struggles between cultivation sects outside the secular world. However, regardless of who Meng Yashi is, as long as he does not expose his identity, he should not do anything to a scholar-gentry child like Zhu Lingwu.

Zhu Lingwu pondered in his heart that perhaps Meng Yashi just wanted to continue hiding under the guise of a Zhu family servant. If so, it would be best for everyone to be safe and sound. Zhu Lingwu decided to abandon his original intention of asking Meng Yashi about the adjustments of the Baghdad batteries. He just wanted to quickly distance himself from this suspicious old man to avoid being exposed.

Upon hearing this, Meng Yashi couldn't help but steal a glance at Zhu Lingwu. He slightly bowed, and with a slight raise of his eyes, he could see the white and plump eight-year-old child in front of him.

A hint of unusual expression flashed in Meng Yashi's cloudy eyes, but he quickly reined it in, bowing and lowering his head to thank him, "Thank you, young master, for your reward. As long as it does not delay your cultivation, it is a great honor for us to be able to personally create such a magical treasure for you. In the future, we can also boast about it! However, I have a question in my heart. What is the origin of this treasure, and does it have a name? Why can we ordinary people help you create it, so that we can have an explanation in the future!"

Meng Yashi appeared very curious, but in his heart, he knew very well that these Baghdad batteries were not considered magical treasures. According to the research of historians in Zhu Lingwu's original world, the purpose of these Baghdad batteries was only to electroplate gold onto metal statues, with a small amount of electricity, and they could not be used as weapons.

However, Meng Yashi, who had personally created these Baghdad batteries, knew that they could naturally produce electricity without any magical power, which truly made him somewhat surprised. He suspected that this thing was a simplified imitation of some magical treasure, and the person who thought of this method must have specifically created it for Zhu Lingwu to cultivate martial arts techniques.

"Ridiculous, how can you ask such a question! This is the secret of the master, and you are just a servant of the master. Why are you asking so many questions!"

Before Zhu Lingwu could speak, Liang Cai had already loudly reprimanded him, acting on behalf of the master.

A hint of anger flashed across Meng Yashi's face, and he thought to himself, "Damn brat, just wait and see how I deal with you in the future!"

"I dare not, I dare not! I was just curious, that's all! Just to have something to boast about to future generations!"

Meng Yashi only pretended to be frightened, and his body seemed to bow even lower...