Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 27 The Old House

The Concealing Breath Skill is less of a formal spell and more of a technique for regulating Spiritual Power.

By utilizing unique runes, a practitioner constructs a network within their body to mask the vibrations of their own Spiritual Power.

Execution of the Concealing Breath Skill does not require mental synchronization; once the runes are correctly drawn, the technique activates.

Li Shiming was unconcerned by the intricate nature of the runes. He had simply scanned the "Concealing Breath Skill" into his IBM z15 mainframe and reviewed it repeatedly within his consciousness.

The entirety of the Concealing Breath Skill's runic patterns was committed to his memory in just a few minutes.

He mobilized the Spiritual Power in his body, beginning the process of etching the Concealing Breath Skill runes just beneath the surface of his skin.

The complex design was rendered flawlessly, and he encountered no obstacles during the process.

A faint vibration stirred within his internal Spiritual Energy Vortex, as if a shroud had been draped over it.

Li Shiming knit his brows slightly upon the successful activation of the Concealing Breath Skill; the restricted sensation caused by the technique was somewhat uncomfortable.

Furthermore, the Concealing Breath Skill’s masking effect would be compromised if he cast a spell or channeled Spiritual Power beyond a certain threshold.

Its effectiveness is also quite negligible when facing a Cultivator whose strength vastly exceeds one's own.

Still, considering the Concealing Breath Skill was obtained without cost and worked well enough, he didn't demand perfection.

“Oh, fellow daoist, have you already mastered the Concealing Breath Skill?” Mr. Fan asked in shock as he stepped out of the cabin, rubbing his stomach at the sight of Li Shiming.

His astonishment was justified. Li Shiming had managed to learn and implement the Concealing Breath Skill in a remarkably short window of time.

While Cultivators possess enhanced capabilities and superior memories due to the nourishment of Spiritual Power, Magic Runes are notoriously difficult to master.

Even a basic technique like the Concealing Breath Skill is still considered a spell.

“How many days did it take me to learn the Concealing Breath Skill?” Mr. Fan mused to himself.

He couldn't recall the exact details from so long ago, but he knew his study period had lasted at least a month.

Watching Li Shiming by the railing, Mr. Fan felt a wave of complicated emotions; even the Spirit Rice he had just consumed seemed to lose its flavor.

“I must express my thanks to you, fellow daoist!” Li Shiming said, offering a grateful bow.

Mr. Fan’s warmth increased. It was vital to build a strong relationship with a fellow Sect member of such obvious talent before they achieved greatness.

He held some status within his Sect, but his own mediocre talent meant his background could only provide so much help.

His philosophy for surviving the Sect was simple: make as many friends as possible.

He had no grand delusions of power; his talent dictated his path. He aimed to gather resources to establish his family in the mortal world, and for that, he required the backing of influential allies.

Li Shiming spent twelve days aboard the official vessel, during which time he and Mr. Fan developed a friendship.

“Mr. Li, we have arrived at the Central Capital. Let us part ways here, and I look forward to our next meeting at the Sect!” Mr. Fan spoke and bowed to Li Shiming before the ship had even finished docking.

“Mr. Fan, I hope to see you again soon!” Li Shiming replied with a bow of his own.

Mr. Fan leaped toward the bank of the river as a talisman glowed, causing his form to vanish into thin air.

Despite being at the second level of Qi Refinement, Li Shiming lacked such techniques; furthermore, his retinue and heavy baggage prevented him from making such a graceful exit.

Whether Mr. Fan was showing off or not, the display certainly left Li Shiming feeling envious.

Once the official ship was moored at the dock, Li Shiming disembarked alongside his servants.

“Young Master, the carriage from the manor is here for you!” the servant Mo Yan shouted with excitement.

Li Shiming looked toward where he pointed and saw a weathered carriage. Had it not been for the emblem of the fourth-rank Li Mansion, he would never have guessed a carriage from the Central Capital would appear so aged.

He realized that in a place like the Central Capital, a fourth-rank official wasn't particularly high-ranking.

He kept these thoughts to himself, as he wasn't picky about his mode of transport.

“Greetings, Young Master. I am Steward Zhang from the Central Capital residence!” the driver called out.

It was only upon entering the vehicle that Li Shiming realized his initial impression was wrong.

The interior of the carriage was just as luxurious as his transport in Nanling Prefecture; the worn exterior was merely a front.

His numerous belongings were loaded into the rear of the carriage until it was full.

While Li Shiming took Si Qin inside with him, Mo Yan and the four guards traveled on foot beside the carriage.

Si Qin peered through the carriage window, gazing at the capital of Great Xia with wide-eyed wonder.

“Steward Zhang, how much longer until we arrive at the residence?” Li Shiming asked, uninterested in the city's grandeur. His only desire was to reach the old house immediately.

Over the last twelve days, he had utilized the processing power of the IBM z15 to run countless simulations on how to trigger the Gathering Spirit Plate.

By blending those results with the information he gathered from Mr. Fan, he felt certain he could activate the device.

He had waited nearly two weeks, refraining from using the “Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique” to progress his Cultivation. Instead, he had only used the spiritual energy within the machine room to restore his internal Spiritual Power Pattern after using the Spring Breeze and Rain Skill.

“Young Master, it is just past the next street!” Steward Zhang replied, snapping the whip to urge the horse faster after sensing Li Shiming’s impatience.

As the carriage picked up speed, Mo Yan and the four guards broke into a light run.

“Is this the old residence?” Li Shiming asked, standing before a set of vermilion gates.

The gates were decent in size, yet by Great Xia’s standards, they represented a modest household, hardly fitting for a fourth-rank official.

However, since his father, Li Wenyuan, usually stayed at his office in Nanling Prefecture, the gate’s humble appearance made sense.

The gates swung open, and Steward Zhang bowed as he gestured for him to enter.

Three servants were waiting inside—two men and one woman, all middle-aged. Including Zhang, they were the four people responsible for the property.

The residence consisted of a three-section compound. Past the draped flower gate of the main entrance lay the inner courtyard, flanked by east and west wings. The main house sat at the center, overlooking a courtyard filled with greenery.

“The Master’s letter gave instructions for you to reside in the main house!” Steward Zhang noted politely.

“Mo Yan, move the bags to the main house!” Li Shiming agreed. Since he was the master of the house in his father’s absence, staying in the main building was only natural.

More importantly, the main house was surrounded by wing rooms and a back room, creating a secure perimeter for the four guards to maintain watch.

Li Shiming also preferred the main house because it offered the most room for his Cultivation practice.

“Steward Zhang, no one enters the main house without my permission. If there is a need, speak to Si Qin!” Li Shiming commanded firmly before entering the building.

The interior was pristine. Although it lacked extravagant furniture, it was well-equipped with all the essentials.

As Mo Yan and the other servants brought in the luggage, Si Qin sent them away and began to organize his belongings.

These were tasks only Si Qin could handle, as the only other female servant at the residence was the cook.