There's something wrong with me

Chapter 204: Return

Two days later.

Arriving at the Imperial Capital.

Zhang Feng and the State Preceptor, together, completely ignored the prohibition against flying in the sky above the Imperial Capital.

"Greetings, Senior Qingshan... State Preceptor Sir..."

Including the several patrolling Gold Core cultivators who arrived in the air at this moment, when they saw Zhang Feng and the State Preceptor, perhaps they had received some secret order, and subsequently only bowed, not daring to show any intention of stopping them.

"Senior..."

And after one of them bowed, he subtly gestured towards the Imperial Palace.

Zhang Feng looked in the direction he pointed and saw that the Imperial Palace had perhaps been expanded.

It was far larger than the Imperial Palace in history.

It was fully twenty li long and seventeen li wide.

Including this Imperial Capital city, it was also a hundred li long and a hundred li wide.

Its city walls were a full ten meters thick and over fifty meters high, entirely built from massive stones, and embedded with spells and Ling Stones.

From time to time, Foundation Establishment cultivators patrolled various parts of the city walls, responsible for the maintenance and related matters of the walls.

Such a magnificent city gave Zhang Feng a feeling of inner shock.

Even though he was a Gold Core, he shouldn't have had such thoughts, but he truly hadn't seen anything like it, nor had he expected this world to develop defensive facilities in this way.

But thinking carefully, although this kind of defense couldn't withstand Gold Core cultivators, it could indeed prevent the siege of normal armies.

And if there really were a major war, and all the high-level cultivators were dead, and the city walls weren't damaged.

Then, with Foundation Establishment cultivators able to repair the city walls, and without being able to use vicious schemes like 'throwing corpses into the city' and 'creating plagues', it seemed few people could conquer such a city.

Because there were still large areas of farmland and livestock inside the city, it was completely a city-within-a-city structure with farming, ensuring self-sufficiency.

Such a magnificent city and large population even made Zhang Feng want to become the city lord and have a farming war similar to the game 'Age of Empires'.

The Emperor's arrangements were truly excellent.

Zhang Feng also wanted to claim it for himself too much.

...

A moment later, they arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Zhang Feng had lived in the Imperial Palace twice before, so he felt there was nothing much to see in the Imperial Palace.

Although this Imperial Palace was larger, there were quite a few perfected Gold Core masters hidden in secret.

But it really wasn't as good as the city outside.

It was also when Zhang Feng was thinking and arriving at the area of the Imperial Study with the State Preceptor.

"Celestial Master!"

An excited call came from afar.

Zhang Feng saw a middle-aged man wearing a dragon robe, walking quickly with large strides.

He was precisely the Emperor of the Shang Dynasty.

Just now, he had heard the sound transmission, knowing that 'Celestial Master Zhang' had arrived at the Imperial Palace, so he also hurried to greet him.

This Celestial Master is the abbreviation for 'Teacher of the World'.

At the same time.

Not only did the Emperor come, but in less than just three or four seconds.

Several elders wearing prince's robes followed behind him, as well as a middle-aged man wearing a crown prince's robe.

This middle-aged man's temples were also graying, and he looked older than the Emperor.

And this Tai Zi was actually the Emperor's grandson.

Zhang Feng had already heard the State Preceptor mention it briefly on the way.

'This old man is going to outlive all the princes and grandsons.'

Zhang Feng looked at the crowd who came to greet him, also finding it interesting, and felt that immortal emperors were like this.

It was very likely that once he sat on the dragon throne, it would be for several hundred years, more or less.

If his descendants didn't step into a very high realm, then they were destined to be 'outlived'.

But this could also indirectly filter out princes or imperial grandsons with high aptitude, to serve as the next successor.

Otherwise, in a world where martial arts are respected, if the Emperor were an ordinary person.

Cultivators wouldn't necessarily submit.

This was also a unique cultural product indirectly born within this world.

The Emperor could be less intelligent, or even a little foolish, but the prerequisite for everything was that he himself must be a cultivator.

As long as he was a cultivator, and with the assistance of various ministers, even if he wasn't intelligent, under the influence of a long lifespan, he wouldn't be too foolish at least.

This world also indirectly illustrated the importance and relevance of lifespan and learning.

Zhang Feng came to the court today, besides wanting to see the world's secret manuals, he also wanted to see the power structure of a world based on strength, and then summarize the experience to see if there were any discrepancies with the reality he had arranged.

If there are any, correct them; if not, continue to strive.

Looking at it today, the Shang Dynasty is very stable under this model, and his own reality's longevity and learning structure also seem to have no errors.

...

Imperial Study.

The Emperor and others invited Zhang Feng here.

Shortly after, the best spiritual tea from the national treasury was served.

The Emperor and others were all standing around with smiles on their faces.

Zhang Feng, however, sat in the main seat, becoming the host here.

This was also because the State Preceptor had secretly transmitted a message to the Emperor, saying that he 'might be about to step into the Nascent Soul realm'.

Zhang Feng heard these whispers.

Therefore, the normal conversation became this kind of strictly hierarchical 'senior and subordinate' interaction.

Looking at those several princes and the Tai Zi again, they were eagerly looking at him as if trying to please him.

Zhang Feng knew that if he dared to say a few words to them, making them 'feel' that they had connected with him.

Then the next scene would be a 'power struggle'.

He had now become the 'core' of everyone.

Cultivating in seclusion for over sixty years was for precisely this kind of initiative.

Moreover, Zhang Feng also knew that perhaps only a growth world could be like this.

Because of the hint in the text: 'Level 7 world, possesses extraordinary and catastrophic qualities'.

It always made Zhang Feng feel that the next world might not be so comfortable.

"Secret manuals and insights from various cultivator sects." Zhang Feng thought to himself, and without any delay, directly said to the Emperor and others: "Please trouble someone to fetch them."

Learn as much as possible.

What he had overcome now was the inner demon; the rest was the analysis and further deepening of the Gold Core.

...

In the following few years.

The Emperor and others were actually quite bewildered.

Because they had thought about everything Celestial Master Zhang might do after arriving, such as greatly promoting the path of cultivation, spreading techniques throughout the world, or perhaps indulging in pleasure and wine, or wielding power.

The Emperor had anticipated these things and felt it didn't matter, as long as Celestial Master Zhang was happy and didn't go berserk.

Or perhaps.

Even if the senior, in the mood for amusement, were to tease the princes and the Tai Zi, and start a palace free-for-all.

Or even use officials from various departments as chess pieces to draw a chessboard of his desire.

The Emperor also felt it didn't matter, as long as he could stabilize the Celestial Master and have him guard the Imperial Capital.

Of course, if he were to really tease the Tai Zi and others like this, the Emperor also felt that his imperial grandsons and children would probably have some thoughts.

There was nothing that could be done about this.

Since the monstrous Celestial Master Zhang had already appeared, this in itself was already unsolvable.

But in reality.

The Emperor and the Tai Zi and others were bewildered.

Because ever since they sent the secret manuals to Celestial Master Zhang a few years ago, Celestial Master Zhang had started cultivating in seclusion within the Imperial Study.

Truly, it was outrageous.

On the first day of coming to court, he didn't accept titles, didn't chat idly, and was completely someone who, after taking the secret manuals, wanted to isolate himself from the world.

They had truly never seen such a person, and even felt that such a person couldn't exist.

Because people are changeable, it's impossible for one personality to be unchanging, disappearing as soon as they enter seclusion.

Even when normal cultivators cultivate in seclusion, they occasionally relax and come out for a stroll.

But Celestial Master Zhang's stay truly passed by in over ten years.

...

It was also in the seventy-fifth year of arriving in this world.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Zhang Feng, whose appearance hadn't changed at all, had finally almost finished organizing the Gold Core knowledge of this world.

And at this moment.

His physique was [2.7K], and his Spiritual Sense was twenty-seven li.

Although in the rough judgment of realm, it should be early Nascent Soul.

His combat strength even possibly exceeded the 'perfected Nascent Soul?' that had never appeared in this world.

But his own realm was only half a step into Nascent Soul.

His soul and Gold Core were merging very slowly, only 15% merged now.

Zhang Feng felt that this was likely because his overall strength was too powerful, making his 'soul' too strong, and also making his 'Gold Core' too complex, hence the slow merging.

Perhaps in those mythological dramas, an invincible grand cultivator who takes thousands or tens of thousands of years to break through a half-step realm is in a situation similar to his own.

They themselves are too strong, too complex, so it is indirectly very slow.

But as long as they break through, it will also increase exponentially, far surpassing cultivators of the same level.

Zhang Feng felt it should be like this.

Because the 'Nascent Soul process' of the Gold Core merging with the soul, although it forms autonomously, the Gold Core and soul are ultimately his own things, so he needs to use his own computing power to perfect it.

It's not like his 'initial Gold Core', which was directly drawn by the 'rules of nature'.

The current Gold Core is more like something unique to him, something he has mastered.

It's also like a piece of A4 paper, bought blank, but after writing and drawing, after using it for a long time, it's full of his own marks.

The current Gold Core is more like his own thing.

Of course, A4 paper is bought in the end.

And the soul is the genuine true self.

Then, this process of merging into a Nascent Soul, in Zhang Feng's opinion, is the path he is exploring himself, and also a path he must take.

In other words, it is a breakthrough enhancement of the 'true self (soul)' merging with 'nature (Gold Core)'.

If the merging is successful, then the A4 paper (Gold Core) will become his own thing to a greater extent.

As for truly becoming it, it should be analyzing everything about the Gold Core, and even achieving 'mass production of Gold Core talismans (mass production of Gold Core masters)'.

At that time, in a sense, he would have mastered the rules of the Gold Core, mastered the rules of making A4 paper.

Then the Gold Core would definitely be his own.

However, the Gold Core masters created would definitely be far less powerful than him.

This isn't him deliberately suppressing them or feeling that they are getting something for nothing.

It's because their knowledge and foundation are too shallow.

Even if a Gold Core were planted within them, they could control it and wouldn't be torn apart by the four-dimensional energy.

Then, they could at most exert 1% of its function; the rest would still require time to become familiar with and master.

This learning process wouldn't take much less time than condensing a Gold Core.

The advantage is that they would directly possess a Gold Core, saving some comprehension processes, their lifespan would be extended, and their strength would be greater than usual.

Of course, if their mental fortitude wasn't sufficient, the true heart demon backlash belonging to cultivation would be enough to give them a taste of trouble.

This was Zhang Feng's current, deeper understanding of the Gold Core.

And he wanted to display 'four dimensions' within the virtual world.

If he could display it, the whole world would surely rush to catch up with him.

At the same time.

Zhang Feng looked at the Gold Core that was merging and also noted down this 'sense of progress' and 'Nascent Soul comprehension'.

If there was time in the next world for him to continue forming his core and begin merging his soul again, then with the help of comprehension, he could quickly progress to the current 15%.

And now there were still twenty-five years of adventure time.

He should be able to reach around 40%.

In reality, although his physique was only [570], with his current gains, he wouldn't need to wait until his physique in this world reached around 800; he could also try to condense a Gold Core when his physique was 570.

Including this early condensation, it wouldn't affect his future strength.

It wouldn't be the case that after condensing a Gold Core at 500 physique, a physique of 1500 would be the limit of Gold Core completion.

Because the upper limit of his strength would always depend on knowledge.

Knowledge also wouldn't change due to the level of physique.

Furthermore, knowledge was the only factor determining the level of his strength.

And on this day.

After Zhang Feng finished organizing all sorts of knowledge from this world.

Only two matters remained.

First, the Zhang Family; let them see him and complete the main quest.

Second, and more important, see if Little Carp had transformed.

He had thought about the promise of marriage several times over the past decade or so.

But honestly, his desire was no longer as strong as before.

Zhang Feng felt it was probably due to not having seen her for too long, as well as the fifteen years of knowledge immersion, which had made him focus more on cultivation.

This was completely 'rational'.

Yet, just thinking of her, and then thinking of her angry expression as the Cold Palace concubine.

Zhang Feng couldn't help but chuckle, and discovered that his Nascent Soul progress had suddenly increased by 3%.

It seemed that while learning was indeed primary, balancing tension and relaxation was also necessary.

Although there were no heart demons, love had become another kind of catalyst.

The 'true self' of the three souls and seven spirits needed to develop in a balanced manner.

Previously, emotions related to love were somewhat weaker compared to other emotional factors.

But if there hadn't been such a long period of learning pressure, even thinking of her probably wouldn't have caused his Nascent Soul progress to suddenly jump like that.

'She should have already formed her Gold Core by now, and is probably cultivating transformation spells...'

Zhang Feng felt quite sweet inside, then quickly composed himself.

He was about to go cause trouble for the Zhang Family; he couldn't go there feeling sweet.

Pondering, Zhang Feng's Spiritual Sense enveloped the entire vast Imperial Palace, and he transmitted a message to the State Preceptor who was patrolling a corridor five li away:

'State Preceptor, this poor Taoist has some grudges to settle, after which I will live in seclusion in the mountains, accompanied by my Dao Companion for the rest of my life.

I also thank His Majesty and the State Preceptor for your hospitality. This poor Taoist has left behind some insights on the Gold Core and Nascent Soul, hoping they will be of some use to my fellow Dao Friends.'

As soon as he finished speaking.

Zhang Feng had already left the secret chamber, silently flying over ten li and out of the Imperial Palace city within a mere five seconds.

'Dao Companion?' The State Preceptor was stunned, truly mentally stunned.

'Celestial Master Zhang actually has a Dao Companion?

What kind of woman could be worthy of Celestial Master Zhang?'

Although the State Preceptor was a monastic, he also knew the saying about matching doors and households (being of equal social standing).

Moreover, in his opinion, given Celestial Master Zhang's talent, the other party must also be a famous female cultivator.

Although there were many female cultivators in the world, he had truly never heard of anyone being Celestial Master Zhang's Dao Companion.

However, he then thought again, Celestial Master Zhang was already like an immortal descending to the mortal realm; everything in the world was like fleeting clouds to Celestial Master Zhang.

Then, if Celestial Master Zhang liked someone, he wouldn't need to care about worldly concepts of matching doors and households.

"This old monk was too attached to appearances..." The State Preceptor smiled and shook his head, then bowed towards the secret chamber where Zhang Feng had been, treating it as a blessing for this pair of immortal companions.

As for who Celestial Master Zhang was going to settle grudges with.

The State Preceptor stopped thinking about it; he could only say that the other party should 'seek their own blessings'.

He wouldn't offer blessings for that.

...

Five hundred li away.

Black Tiger City.

The Zhang Family was still there.

But the Zhang Family Head was already nearly four hundred years old this year; within the 500-year lifespan of a Gold Core cultivator, he was considered old.

Roughly equivalent to a normal person in their sixties.

Although the boost from the Gold Core allowed his bodily functions to remain relatively at their peak, there was no longer any hope for breakthrough.

Because now the Gold Core was completely undergoing 'subtle degradation' to maintain his lifespan and functions.

This was an unstoppable process of repair.

After all, the basic structure of the Gold Core was based on the extension of telomeres.

If telomeres were no longer extended and lifespan was no longer maintained, then theoretically, the Gold Core could not exist, as it would lack the most important basic principle framework.

Cultivators in this world did not understand this, nor did they know about telomeres in the microscopic realm.

But they also knew that Gold Core cultivators over four hundred years old were slowly 'aging', aging in terms of realm and spiritual energy.

Until they were over four hundred eighty years old, the Gold Core would also completely disappear.

In the last twenty years, the person would also slowly become skin and bones, until their spiritual energy was completely exhausted, their vitality could no longer be maintained, and they would die.

It was also under these circumstances.

Today's Zhang Family Head, or rather, the Zhang Family Head of the past few years.

His temper was very bad; for a while, he couldn't accept the predetermined fate of aging.

His son, on the other hand, had now achieved Great Completion of the Gold Core, and was at the peak of his abundant lifespan, being only a hundred years old.

However, compared to his former youthful appearance.

He now looked middle-aged.

And at this moment.

In the backyard.

The father and son faced each other in silence.

After a moment, the Zhang Family Head sighed and said, "Fifteen years ago, Qingshan Daoren, who was about to step into the Nascent Soul realm, suddenly appeared in the world.

Originally, I, your father, still felt there was hope for a breakthrough, and in the past few years, I repeatedly went to the Imperial Palace, wanting to meet Celestial Master Zhang and seek the method for Nascent Soul.

It's just a pity... Celestial Master Zhang has been in seclusion for fifteen years in a flash, and I don't know when he will come out."

"Alas!" Zhang Shao Ye also sighed, "Such an immortal figure is not someone we can meet just because we want to."

Zhang Shao Ye said, looking outside the courtyard, "Father, for Celestial Master Zhang, you and I are perhaps like the ants and commoners outside the courtyard are to you and me, who have entered the Gold Core realm."

"That is so." The Zhang Family Head, perhaps due to the degradation of his Gold Core, was now also like his son; his entire perspective was that everyone below the Gold Core realm was an ant.

And honestly, he even felt that his son's description was very vivid.

Because in the eyes of Celestial Master Zhang, they might also be ants.

But as he thought about it, he said again, "Have you recently found Zhang Feng's whereabouts? Think about it, the Celestial Master's name is Zhang Feng, and he has cultivated the Tao for over seventy years.

If the Zhang Feng you abandoned decades ago were alive today, he would also be seventy-five.

Is this? Is it a coincidence?"

"It's definitely a coincidence." Zhang Shao Ye smiled, "Father, you also know how careful I am in my actions.

When I discarded him, I also checked that Zhang Feng had no spiritual roots whatsoever.

How could such a commoner compare to the peerless genius Celestial Master Zhang?"

Zhang Shao Ye said this, and then laughed heartily, "But that commoner also has immense fortune, to actually share the same name as Celestial Master Zhang?

If he didn't share the same name as Celestial Master Zhang, I might have truly forgotten what that abandoned infant was called."

"Indeed." The Zhang Family Head nodded; in fact, he had also forgotten.

And just as they were about to say something else.

Whoosh—

A gentle breeze swept past, and under their astonished gaze, they silently appeared in mid-air, with the scene of the surrounding streets below their feet.

At the same time, they were astonished at who possessed such a spell that could easily move them into the air.

Zhang Feng appeared a hundred meters in front of them and said to them:

"Your discussion about ants, this poor Taoist already knows everything."

"You... Celestial Master Zhang?!"

The moment the two saw Zhang Feng, they immediately recognized him, because many cultivators had portraits of Zhang Feng.

But next, before the two could get excited, and before they could wonder what Celestial Master Zhang's words meant.

Zhang Feng's single sentence scared them senseless.

"You two, I am precisely the abandoned infant you spoke of, Zhang Feng."

As soon as he finished speaking.

After seeing the task completed, Zhang Feng didn't want to say more and flew past the two of them.

Fire and wind elements intertwined, in an instant.

Their bodies also turned into dust and fell from the air.

A series of gasps sounded on the street.

The difference in realm was too great; indeed, just as they had said, compared to him, they were ants.

Then, there was nothing more to say to enemy ants.

They were not on the same dimension.

...

The next day.

Zhang Feng arrived above the lakeside, looking down at Little Carp below, who had already achieved Minor Completion of the Gold Core but was diligently cultivating transformation techniques.

It seemed very difficult; it was estimated that she wouldn't be able to transform without another seven or eight years.

Zhang Feng sat on a cloud; for the remaining twenty-five years, he wouldn't go anywhere else, but would quietly guard her and accompany her.

She had already waited for him for decades, so he might as well wait for her for a while.

Anyway, what he should get and what he should do, he had already done.