They finished their breakfast. Grandpa Tu got up right away, washed his face, and ate the leftovers from the meal.
Only Grandma Si knew that Mu Chen had already learned everything. Grandpa Tu still acted like the same annoying old man as always.
"We already have more than enough firewood. Are you going to the fields, Grandpa?" Grandma Si asked.
"Hmm," Grandpa Tu replied with a dry cough, "I need to check on the fields. Winter is coming."
"I might also stop by the village to buy some new seeds."
Mu Chen and Grandma Si looked at each other, and both nodded at the same time. Mu Chen offered to help Grandpa Tu, making the old man turn his head in reflex.
"You're fully recovered?"
"I've completely recovered," Mu Chen answered.
"Good, then. You carry the basket. There's a lot I need to buy."
"Of course."
He possessed the physical abilities of a Perfect Nascent Soul cultivator, yet he still behaved like an ordinary old man.
Could the meaning of heavenly enlightenment through mortal life be to fully live as a mortal in order to comprehend the laws of nature?
Mu Chen had actually been planning to leave the old house once his body had fully recovered.
He could have gone out to explore, visit the city, and observe the lives of ordinary people up close.
However, he gave up on that idea after seeing the lives of Grandma Si and Grandpa Tu. In his view, he could learn a great deal of information by relying on them.
Their experience as Nascent Soul cultivators would definitely be of great help to Mu Chen.
After finishing breakfast, Grandpa Tu got dressed and prepared to leave. Grandma Si walked over to Mu Chen, carrying a straw hat.
Mu Chen was startled, clearly confused as to why Grandma Si was giving him a straw hat when the weather outside was not particularly sunny.
"This is the Swamp Mist Straw Hat. It can conceal the aura in your body and keep cultivators from discovering your identity."
"Really?" Mu Chen asked in surprise, and Grandma Si nodded.
"Yes. But you still need to be careful. This item can only protect you from cultivators below the Nascent Soul realm."
"If you encounter a Nascent Soul cultivator, you still need to hide."
"I understand, Grandma Si."
Mu Chen and Grandpa Tu stepped out of the wooden house. Grandma Si walked them to the front gate, waving her hand as they left.
Slowly but surely, their backs grew more distant until they disappeared from her sight. The woman let out a soft sigh and occasionally looked up at the sky.
He really looks so much like Tu Xiao.
"Have you started cultivating?" Grandpa Tu asked as he glanced back.
"Yes," Mu Chen answered while continuing to walk behind him.
"How is it? Did you make a breakthrough?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Don't rush it. The essence of cultivation is not a race for power, but patience and perseverance."
Now he was speaking like a true senior cultivator.
"I thought you hated cultivators," Mu Chen said.
Grandpa Tu raised his tobacco pipe, took a drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke. "Only the arrogant ones."
Mu Chen fell silent. He could not deny that Grandpa Tu might be right. There were far more arrogant cultivators out there than humble ones.
Could it be that they become intoxicated by power and start acting however they please? That seems like the most likely explanation.
"There's something I want to ask you, Grandpa."
"What is it, Mu Chen?"
Mu Chen stopped walking, causing Grandpa Tu to stop as well and immediately turn around. His wrinkled eyes narrowed sharply at Mu Chen, who was reaching into his pocket.
"What exactly is this?" Mu Chen asked as he took out the Primordial Origin Qi Seed.
Grandpa Tu squinted for a clearer look. His expression changed instantly to shock as he quickly stepped closer and snatched the item from Mu Chen's hand.
It looked similar to a spirit stone, except for its color and aura. The Primordial Origin Qi Seed was golden in color and emitted a pure qi aura.
"Isn't this... an Ancient Energy Stone?"
"Ancient Energy Stone?" Mu Chen asked.
"Yes," Grandpa Tu said, "I've seen one before. Its quality is a hundred times better than an ordinary spirit stone, it stores an abundant amount of pure qi energy."
"Its value is obviously far greater than an ordinary spirit stone."
Grandpa Tu turned a sharp gaze toward Mu Chen, "Where did you get this?"
"From the Ancient Ruins. I kept it because I thought it might be valuable to me later."
"The ancient ruins are indeed mysterious, filled with rare treasures that can shake heaven and earth."
"You should keep this stone. I'd suggest selling it later. You'll make a huge profit," Grandpa Tu said.
"I understand."
The two continued their journey, passing through the forest trail, descending the hill, jumping across river stones, and crossing a wooden bridge, until they finally arrived at a neatly paved stone road.
It was a simple sign that they had reached the nearest village. Mu Chen raised his head and saw the village gate ahead.
He had arrived at Yu Village.
This was Mu Chen's first time entering a village since arriving in the world of xianxia.
What surprised him even more was the villagers' reaction. They greeted Grandpa Tu respectfully as the village elder.
Not a single one of them knew that Grandpa Tu was actually a Perfect Nascent Soul monster.
Life in the village was still entirely traditional. From the clothing, the architecture of the houses, the goods being sold, even the way they drew water from the well, everything felt old-fashioned and unique.
Mu Chen kept following Grandpa Tu, carrying the wooden basket that was gradually becoming heavier and fuller with goods.
"I've bought everything. Do you want to sell that stone?" Grandpa Tu asked as he looked back.
"Yes," Mu Chen replied.
"Very well."
However, his footsteps suddenly came to a halt when a loud voice rang out from the eastern gate of the village.
Five cultivators dressed in black and red robes arrived, shouting as they announced a search of every house in the village to find Mu Chen.
Mu Chen narrowed his eyes and lowered his straw hat slightly, covering part of his face.
"The people from Tianyin Sect seem desperate. They've even asked for help from low-level sects like them," Grandpa Tu said.
He turned and casually asked in a lowered voice, "Just what did you do for them to hunt you down like this?"
"That's... complicated!"
The cultivators searched every house roughly. Belongings were thrown everywhere, and they barked orders at the villagers. Worst of all, one of them struck a young woman.
Mu Chen clenched his fists, wanting to stop the cultivator. But Grandpa Tu stopped him.
"Those who are intoxicated by power will always use violence as a tool of authority. That is what cultivators have become."
"Isn't there anyone who can stop them?"
Grandpa Tu fell silent for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh, "No."
Hearing those words only made Mu Chen angrier.
He had always been taught the principles of compassion, virtue, and karmic law. Every action should carry its own consequences. The laws of heaven should always be just.
"What kind of cultivators are they?"
"I was taught that if I have strength, I should use it to protect those in need. If I have wisdom, I should use it for the benefit of others!"
"The way they act... is completely out of harmony with the virtues I hold!"
Grandpa Tu was somewhat startled by those words, and for a moment, he seemed to reflect on the true meaning of cultivation and heavenly enlightenment.
Then, without warning, Grandpa Tu stepped toward the young woman who was still being whipped by one of the black-and-red-robed cultivators.
He stretched out his hand, grabbed the whip, and shattered it with qi energy.
The sudden scene shocked the other cultivators.
"You dare to fight us, old man?!" one of them shouted.
Without any unnecessary movement, Grandpa Tu merely stared at them coldly as a blue light flashed in his eyes.
With a slight nod of his head, Grandpa Tu unleashed the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator upon all five of them.
Mu Chen hurried to the young woman's side, helped her to her feet, and draped his robe over her body.
"The person you are looking for... is not here!" Grandpa Tu said firmly, stunning everyone present.
"You... you're a Nascent Soul cultivator?!"
"Get lost!" Grandpa Tu shouted.
The five cultivators trembled and coughed up blood.
The cultivation pressure from Grandpa Tu finally eased, and the five black-and-red-robed cultivators fled without another word.
Yu Village gradually returned to normal. The villagers cheered loudly, never having known that Grandpa Tu was also a cultivator.
Grandpa Tu immediately returned to his usual self, once again acting like the same annoying old man.
He turned to look at Mu Chen.
"Let's go to the store"
"Alright, Grandpa Tu."