The 42nd Upgrade

  Thank you all!

  ……

  If a small wooden house were built on this empty land, and I could practice under the spiritual tree every day, that would be a wonderful thing!

  However, he promised Cheng Yaojin that half a month later he would go to his house and treat his mother. Now the time has arrived, Ao Wu cannot break his promise.

  Moreover, his friendship with Cheng Yaojin cannot allow Madam Cheng to remain in a state of suffering.

  Around the Ling tree, a gathering spirit array was laid out, and Ao Wu returned to Pu Zhao Temple.

  Master Zhi Kong is already waiting for Ao Wu to come back and have dinner.

  "Master, you can take it with you when you leave tomorrow. The tea leaves will be ready by then."

  "Thank you, Little Master." Ao Wu replied, but in his heart, he thought, why the spiritual tree he met before crossing over only had one leaf left, and it wasn't destroyed by human hands. Now this small spiritual tree was always being hit by Qian Neng's long pole to get its leaves.

  Every leaf of the Spirit Tree can release spiritual energy, and every leaf is like a workshop that produces spiritual energy. If one leaf falls off, it's like losing a workshop, so how much spiritual energy will be reduced?

  So that he won't come over here to practice next time, the leaves on the trees were all beaten off. Okay, being beaten off is an exaggeration, but Ao Wu now treasures every single leaf, so he wants to stop Si Tong from beating the tree leaves again.

  "I've heard a Buddhist scripture that says all things have spirits, and another one called equality of all living beings. Even a tree or a leaf has the right to exist. We can't deprive a tree or a leaf of its right to exist just for our own sake of drinking tea. So I don't want tea leaves anymore." Hmm, I'm such a great person. Tonight, I'll go steal those spiritual leaves that contain spirits and chew on them to nourish my body.

  Zhī Kōng Hé Shàng listened with a stunned expression, then his face showed a hint of shame. He joined his palms together and said: "Ah, Niè Fó (a term used to show respect), the donor is indeed a person with a humble heart, every word he says is filled with Buddhist principles. I am ashamed that I am not as good as him. From today on, I will no longer drink tea!"

  Yes, that's right. No buying and selling means no killing. Oh wait, no old monk wanting to drink tea means no little monk hitting the tree leaves.

  Zhì Kōng Hé Shàng looked at the rice and dishes on the table, a look of heartache and regret appeared on his face, his buttocks moved slightly, as if he didn't plan to eat.

  Goodness, could it be that Old Master has gone mad?

  "Master, there's no need to be like this. The tea is already made, and not drinking it would be a waste. Waste is a bad thing, and we can't do that. The meal is also ready, and not eating it would be a waste too." Ao Wu hurriedly pulled the old monk back from his trance-like state.

  The old monk was stunned for a moment, struggling in his heart, and finally came to a realization. He joined his palms together and bowed to Ao Wu: "What the wise man said is absolutely right, I will follow your teachings!"

  The title of "wise man" is also too grandiose.

  This old monk's evaluation of Ao Wu is also too high-level.

  Moreover, he humbled himself and called himself a young monk.

  This, this, this...

  "Master is too polite!" Ao Wu hastily joined his hands together and returned the courtesy.

  Next, eat. But it feels more awkward than before.

  The old monk's expression while eating is very awkward, as if eating a meal is like cutting his own flesh.

  In his understanding, eating is depriving others of their right to food for survival, and eating is a sin.

  Not eating it would be wasteful and sinful.

  In order not to waste and feel guilty, I can only harden my heart and swallow the guilt.

  Kao Wu regretted it and wondered if he had gone too far earlier.

  The meal finally ended in an awkward atmosphere.

  There's no tea to drink tonight, so the three of them returned to their quarters early.

  Kao Wu had been sitting in the room for a while, then jumped out and went to the kitchen, found the tea leaves, but now they have been crushed into powder by Si Tong Xiao Shang, so there is no way to separate the Ling tree leaves.

  Alright, I'll steal some of your tea again then.

  Can practitioners steal? No, so this is not stealing.

  He put the tea leaves that had been brought in the room and Awu jumped out of the temple, heading towards the Ling tree.

  Just outside the wall, I saw two green eyes slowly approaching.

  Big tail wolf, don't even know who is not easy to mess with, you have the nerve to come out and cause trouble at night.

  "Hmph!" Ao Wu glared at it with his eyes.

  The eyes of green light paused for a moment, then immediately turned around and ran outside.

  Along the road to the Ling tree, Ao Wu's figure quickly arrived at the empty land.

  The empty space allowed the moonlight to shine smoothly on the Ling tree, and the pale white leaves made the Ling tree look like a silver tree at this time, which was extremely beautiful.

  Kao Wu sat down under the tree, calming his excited mind and quickly began to cultivate.

  Under the Ling tree is the place where the spiritual energy is most concentrated, the leaves on top of the tree produce spiritual energy in an endless stream, and below, the spiritual energy is squeezed out, the air is so dense that it can't hold any more, only then does it slowly disperse outward. As soon as the Lianqi Jue started to rotate, all the squeezed spiritual energy seemed to have found an outlet, and frantically rushed into Ao Wu's body.

  If it's said that drinking tea leaves makes the spirit wildly enter the meridians from the chest, then that refreshing feeling is born from within.

  And now, it is the spirit that wildly enters from outside the body, this refreshing feeling, is born from outside.

  That feeling is completely different.

  Kao Wu felt as if he was being overwhelmed by a surge of spiritual energy at this moment.

  The happiest thing in the world is for a cultivator to be submerged in spiritual energy.

  If it weren't for treasuring every second of cultivation time, Ao Wu would have burst out laughing first, it was really too exhilarating!

  In the dark dawn, a ray of light pierced through the clouds and brought light to the earth.

  Kao Wu felt his body getting more and more swollen, as if it was about to explode. Suddenly, his body shook violently, his meridians could no longer hold the excessive spiritual energy, and finally burst open, expanding in size. The spiritual energy then rapidly repaired the torn meridians, and after they were fully restored, Kao Wu's meridians had doubled in size compared to before.

  The spiritual energy in the meridians flows like a surging river in a wide riverbed.

  The momentum of the spiritual energy pounding on the meridians was transmitted to Ao Wu's body, and a surge of energy spread throughout his body.

  If there were a second person standing here, they would definitely feel that Ao Wu's spirit was different in an instant.

  He seemed to have changed into a different person, but he was still the same person, only looking more spirited, more full-bodied and more energetic.

  That aura slowly disappeared, making Ao Wu look like he had returned to normal.

  Just now it was just an illusion, and it seemed like nothing had happened at all.

  His eyelashes trembled, Ao Wu opened his eyes, and his clear and calm gaze saw the surrounding scenery, with every blade of grass and every mark on the road visible, crystal clear.

  He said faintly: "Build a two-story foundation."

  Yes, after a night of washing, he has already reached the second layer of foundation building. With the spiritual tree present, cultivation is indeed extremely fast.

  With the Ling Tree present, cultivating myself to the pinnacle is no longer a dream, and my confidence in this has grown stronger.

  Kao Wu stood up, thinking that the Ling Tree could not be allowed to be destroyed by anyone. He wanted to set up a formation around it, so that no one could enter. If someone tried to force their way in, they would end up harming themselves.

  He searched his mind for formations, but after finding one, he negated it again.

  This divine tree did not exist here until it appeared. So, that is to say, the people of ancient times did not know about such a heavenly treasure as the divine tree.

  No one came to destroy this spiritual tree before, now that I've come myself, will someone come to destroy it immediately?

  Don't come less often, don't be like this.

  If you really set up a formation, it would be counterproductive.

  The formation method is so obvious, it's telling others that there are treasures here, and those who recognize goods come quickly.

  Kao Wu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  If I don't set up an array, then I'll leave a strand of divine sense here. If someone approaches this place, I will know immediately.

  Reached the second layer of foundation building, his divine sense also became stronger, and he could leave a divine sense mark here.

  After finishing, Ao Wu returned to Pu Zhao Temple.

  Kai Neng's four tubes have not yet risen to fetch water.

  Kao Wu entered the room, watching as the light outside grew brighter. The four tubes rose, and then went to fetch water. Before long, Master Zhi Kong got up to do his morning exercises.

  Following his habit, Ao Wu also got up and started practicing boxing.

  The little monk came back and started cooking.

  After breakfast with the two monks, Ao Wu packed up his things and left some dry rations uneaten. Ao Wu gave all the dry rations to the little monk.

  Then wrapped himself with the herbs he found.

  Alright, these herbs were just picked randomly.

  Zhī Kōng and Shàng thought that ào Wǔ was a wise man after last night's events, and he couldn't bear to part with ào Wǔ.

  Kao Wu promised him that he would come back into the mountains to visit him again.

  Under the reluctant gaze of Zhī Kōng and Shàng Yī Yǐ, áo Wǔ descended the mountain.

  Out of sight of the two monks, Ao Wu unfolded his body and rushed towards Mount Liangfu.

  If someone sees Ao Wu's figure, they will definitely shout: "Grass on the fly!"

  After passing by Liangfu Mountain, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. Only then did Ao Wu stop and walk normally.

  Entering Liangfu County, they arrived at the Zhong family home, where the butler was already waiting at the gate.

  "Uncle, you're back!" said the housekeeper with a smile.

  Kao Wu handed him a package and said, "Pack up the medicine inside."

  He went inside, greeted Doctor Zhong, and saw Zhong Qing. This woman had probably not been staying in the east wing for the past few days, but instead ran back to her original room to sleep.

  "What's so funny?" Zhong Qing asked.

  Kao Wu stretched out his hand and asked: "Do I have a smile?"

  His face didn't smile, but looking at Zhong Qing's expression made Zhong Qing feel embarrassed, this was actually mocking her!

  "Don't look at me." Zhong Qing hummed.

  "You continue sleeping in your original room, I'm going to Dong'a County for two days." After finishing speaking, he turned around and left.

  At this moment, Zhong Qing hated that she couldn't take out her sword and give Ao Wu three slashes and six holes, with the white blade going in and the red blade coming out, how vicious!

  He and Zhong Shenyi indicated that one person from Dong'a County would be enough. He took over the package of Guan's family, mounted his horse, and headed towards the city gate.

  At this time, it was just after dawn, and Liangfu County was at its busiest. A pale-faced man walked towards them, causing Ao Wu's horse to stop.

  ……