The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]

Chapter 153: Lunch Meeting

The Tracing Origin Art Li Lang won in the auction was much longer than he expected. From his experience, cultivation manuals were rarely lengthy unless it was a comprehensive technique like his Gliding Coil Spear Art.

This was because the authors of this world liked to gloss over the details with broad terms. It was the reader’s duty to interpret it and understand it. The new Qi art he had was more detailed, like a modern textbook to a lesser degree. It even had a table of contents and properly documented the technique.

Hmm, I guess that Yun Ming guy pays attention to details. That’s a good trait to have. If he wasn’t already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I would’ve loved to have him join us.

With everything so clearly outlined, Li Lang didn’t even have to reread it. He could directly go to the section for clarification.

The Qi art had worked exactly as the auctioneer had described. One could tag something to have it tracked. The most crucial detail for Li Lang was what exactly it worked on. Was it only solids, or did it also work on liquids, gases, and more importantly, Qi?

He found his answer very soon. He was able to master the basics of the technique within an hour, and he began experimenting.

For a more accurate test, he exited Ruby’s artifact realm and picked up a nearby cup. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a few moments as he channeled his Qi into the cup. Uneventfully, he succeeded.

Hmm, I do feel a clear connection. The manual says the connection should have no range limit, but I doubt he had tested it. And what about the parameters of what is targetable? Could I target something much larger or smaller?

Li Lang spent the majority of the night doing tests to satisfy his curiosity.

He knew he had gone a little overboard when he was done because of the light shining into his room, so he placed a notice on his door and slept until late morning.

“Skipping breakfast to sleep, don’t tell me you’re pursuing the Dao of sloth?” Sima Xue immediately teased upon seeing Li Lang.

Li Lang shook his head and ignored her antics, but the teasing didn’t end there.

“Should’ve expected that from him honestly,” Long Yi said with a grin. “He just made a big purchase yesterday, so of course he’s going to lose himself with it. Maybe he can tell us the reason why he bought it now?”

“Well, tough luck. I won’t be doing that yet,” Li Lang retorted.

“Tschh, typical.”

“N-now, now. I believe that isn’t something we should be discussing in public,” Wei Ping added.

Li Lang nodded to himself before he dramatically cleared his throat.

“Anyway, it’s about time we head out. As I said last night, I have a meeting scheduled over lunch.”

“Last night? I don’t remember you telling us about any meetings last night?”

Sima Xue’s words made Li Lang question if he had gotten carried away with his purchase and the auctions that he had forgotten to inform them. Seeing Sima Xue’s face of wanting to lecture him, he chose to shove the issue aside and hurry them along instead.

“Let’s go.”

With those words, he stormed out of the inn, leaving his companions on the chase.

“Wait up, you bonehead! The Skyrunner is still in my space ring,” Sima cried out while on his tail.

“It’s fine. It’s nearby, anyway. It won’t be much faster with this crowd.”

Tilting his chin toward all the pedestrians, the group was met with the usual congested road filled with people. They weren’t on the main street, so carriages moved about the same speed as all the pedestrians.

Navigating through the crowd for a while, they soon arrive in front of a modest-looking entrance of an inn. Modest in comparison to their luxurious lodging, but to most independent cultivators, it was just right.

They entered inside and found a middle-aged lady with a plump figure sitting at the front. Upon spotting them, she unleashed a motherly smile. The way she spoke matched her smile, speaking to them as if they were her own children.

“Welcome to Vigil’s Rest. What are you darlings looking for today?”

“I’m here to find a friend. His name is Yun Ming,” Li Lang asked without hesitation.

“Hmm, let’s me see,” the woman answered as she flipped the pages of her notes. “Ah, here it is. Please wait a moment.”

She then rang the bell at her desk, and a young boy came running from somewhere. His mouth was stuffed full like a squirrel, so he couldn’t even speak. He tried to chew as fast as he could.

“Boy, slow down or you’ll choke. Just listen. Go to room three-fifteen and tell the nice mister he has…” she turned over to Li Lang again. “What was your name, dear?”

“It’s Li Lang.”

“Li Lang, tell the nice mister Li Lang is here to see him.”

The young boy nodded while trying to swallow at the same time. It caused him to let out a few coughs as he tried to keep the food in his mouth contained. He thumped his chest as he walked away.

“That boy, I don’t even know what to do with him. He takes after his father, always in a rush.”

Li Lang’s group only knew to smile and nod at the innkeeper sharing her woes. She didn’t mind the lack of response and continued talking.

“So you kids seem pretty well-dressed. Are you here for the auctions as a buyer, seller, or both?”

“We’re mainly just looking around,” Li Lang answered for the team.

He knew he had the most experience dealing with people among them. He’d lived a long life, after all.

“I see, well you be careful while you move about. Lots of people mean the unsavory bunch gets a chance to sneak in by blending in with the crowd, too. I saw the people from the righteous sects going around searching for some wanted people.”

“Really? Any idea who they were looking for?”

“No idea. They didn’t have any specifics to share. I doubt they even know themselves. The people in their role usually just follow their orders blindly.”

“I see…”

Li Lang’s companions silently whispered among each other in the back as they let him handle the innkeeper. They chatted for a few more minutes before the young man from the previous day arrived. It was only then that the chatty innkeeper retreated off to the side.

“Hi there,” the man nervously greeted. “You, umm, brought more people than I thought.”

“Oh, sorry. These are my traveling companions. I hope you won’t mind.”

“No, no.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Everyone,” Li Lang called over his friends. “This is Yun Ming, the creator of the Tracing Origin Art I bought yesterday.”

Wei Ping, Long Yi, and Sima Xue took turns introducing themselves. Li Lang noticed that their numbers were overwhelming poor Yun Ming and that he wouldn’t remember their names, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.

“Oh, you created your own technique that the auction accepted?” Sima Xue muttered as she carefully scrutinized him. “How old are you, if I may ask?”

“Umm, I’m twenty-three.”

“That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment you got there for such a young age.”

“Ahem,” Li Lang cleared his throat, putting a pause to the conversation. “Let’s save it for after we sit down. Come on, let’s go find a place.”

It was with this declaration that Li Lang attracted the attention of the innkeeper again.

“Oh, if it’s lunch you kids are looking for, we do lunch specials! And I hate to brag, but I’d say it’s pretty good too!” she winked at Yun Ming, who just sheepishly looked down.

Seeing how the venue wasn’t that important, the party accepted her offer, and they were soon led toward the dining area part of the inn.

“So lunch specials for everyone, right?” Everyone at the table nodded in response. “What can I get you for drinks?”

Being led along by the earnest innkeeper, the group of five soon placed their orders. It was only when the innkeeper went to address their order that they had the chance to speak among themselves again.

“So, Yun Ming, where are you from?”

“From Jade Lotus. I’m, umm, an independent cultivator there and I roam around, so I don’t really have a permanent place of residence.”

Li Lang immediately remembered Jade Lotus as the province northwest of Yellow Qilin. There wasn’t much else he knew about it except it was a territory of the orthodox cultivators.

“How about you guys?” Yun Ming asked.

“We’re from Yellow Qilin, but we’re currently staying in the Luminescent Domain.”

“What? You’re all demonic cultivators?!”

I can’t say his surprise wasn’t unexpected, but he should know the relationship between the orthodox and the demonic by now, right? We’re in Polarity City. Isn’t his reaction a bit exaggerated?

“Well, yes.”

Yun Ming instantly fell into deep thought. Worries showed on his face, so Li Lang swiftly moved on to another topic.

“Anyway, I went through your work last night. I must say, I really liked how detailed you outlined everything.”

“Huh? Right, yeah. My umm, mentor taught me a lot. I even got the idea for the technique from her.”

“Sounds like someone I would love to meet someday, but for now, I luckily have you. I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask you.”

Long Yi could be seen shaking his head on the other side of the table as Li Lang started to get inquisitive.

“Here we go again. Off to talk in his own language.”

His complaints went unaddressed as the young staff member from before came carrying several plates. It was obvious from his movements that this wasn’t his first day. When he set the food before Li Lang, it caused him to pause mid-sentence.

He glanced down at the food, astonished.

“This is…”