Big Data Cultivation

Feng Jun disliked such chaotic states; he preferred everything to have some rules, but with Yu Changqing advancing in rank, the frequency of using the Spirit Gathering Array would diminish in the short term. Others grasped the opportunity to ask for slots; he felt quite helpless.

Following Feng Jun’s instructions, the seven people made simple disguises and took their designated seats with their backs to the Spirit Gathering Array, waiting only for the Array to activate.

Among them, Chen Junsheng received marginally better treatment, with more space allotted to him, and no one envied him—everyone understood that he was a cultivator, albeit a novice, but his demand for spiritual energy exceeded everyone else’s.

After the group had settled down, Yu Changqing arrived slowly, took out the Gathering Spirit Array Plate, and activated it directly.

Nature’s spiritual energy once again rapidly gathered.

Feng Jun had witnessed this spectacle several times already, but upon seeing it again, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: The spiritual energy of this plane is indeed abundant; even the Mortal Realm unsuitable for cultivation has such rich spiritual energy.

Thinking of the poignant spiritual energy density in the Earth Realm, Feng Jun felt like crying.

As he was immersed in his thoughts, he suddenly turned his head toward the county town, sensing that something was about to happen.

Then, a clear voice came from afar, “Donghua Inspector has received a report. May I ask which fellow Daoist is cultivating here?”

Feng Jun’s body suddenly soared, hovering in the air, and with a cupped fist salute to the newcomer, he spoke in a deep voice, “The cultivator practicing here is a friend from Wutai. If you are willing, you may come closer for a talk.”

The distance between them was over four miles, but Feng Jun had already seen the newcomers, a young man and woman, both looking youthful, and an older man standing behind them.

Although the three of them were cultivators and Inspectors from Donghua Country, they showed no intention of barging in among mortals, which indicated that they were quite measured in their actions.

It was much later that Feng Jun learned that these measures were born from harsh experiences; after all, some cultivators had quite disagreeable tempers.

If the Inspectors found out that the cultivators here were ordinary people from the Mortal Realm, they would have no hesitation to show just how quickly they could turn hostile, more swiftly than turning a page in a book.

The three cultivators were stopped more than a mile away from the small courtyard by Feng Jun.

The young man and woman, handsome and beautiful respectively, fit everyone’s notion of Immortals.

Both were at the Qi Refining First Layer, while the slightly older man stationed a bit behind them was at the Third Level of Qi Refinement, and his appearance was likewise striking.

The young man stepped forward, took out an identification Talisman, and flashed it, “Inspector from Jia Yi Inspection House at your service, I have seen the fellow Daoist.”

“Let’s walk and talk,” said Feng Jun in a deep voice, “Inside are Wuyou Platform’s backup disciples cultivating.”

“Backup disciples?” The young man looked slightly startled, “Isn’t that just menial labor? How can they use the Spirit Gathering Array?”

“You may ask her,” Feng Jun replied indifferently; he had intended to get to know these three people better, as he was currently devoid of virtually everything and in need of various cultivation Techniques and resources.

But their first words about menial labor gave him a bad impression—weren’t you also a menial laborer before kicking open the door? Now at the Qi Refinement First Layer, do you think yourself noble?

Actually, he was projecting his emotions; in truth, among cultivators, one threshold represented a world of difference. It was described in online novels on Earth, and here it was the same: if one couldn’t enter the Qi Refinement stage by twenty-five, they were sent home to sweep the floors.

The mere status of having shed one’s mortality couldn’t be considered that of a cultivator. If Yu Changqing didn’t have the identity of “Wuyou Platform,” even if she had reached the ninth level of mortality shedding, daring to use the Spirit Gathering Array would still be considered mortal cultivation and deserving of clan punishment.

The young man’s tone wasn’t friendly, but the young woman’s attitude toward Feng Jun was quite good. She sized him up and asked, “May I inquire which sect does this brother belong to?”

Feng Jun smiled at her, “Feng Jun, in the season of falling flowers, we meet again.”

“In the season of falling flowers, we meet again?” The woman’s eyes darted around, looking toward the Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator, “Elder Brother Guo… what is this?”

Elder Brother Guo shook his head, glancing at Feng Jun, “Guo is dull-witted and has never heard of it. I hope that my friend can resolve my confusion.”

“If you haven’t heard of it, never mind,” Feng Jun said indifferently, “Just treat me as a Loose Cultivator.”

Once one entered the Qi Refinement stage, it was different. No matter where he went, he would be considered a cultivator. The rules forbidding mortals from cultivating couldn’t constrain him. He didn’t wish to declare his sect, and inspectors couldn’t force him.

That is to say, if a mortal secretly cultivated to the Qi Refinement Realm and didn’t want to reveal their origins, even if the inspectors suspected that person practiced mortal cultivation, they had no right to investigate.

Otherwise, why would all the great families hide contraband? They were hoping to have someone break through to the Qi Refinement stage, so they wouldn’t fear investigation.

If that junior member was promising enough to make a name in the Cultivation World, they could then support their entire clan.

For example, Feng Jun claiming to be a Loose Cultivator simply meant he was without a foundation.

Not having a foundation did not mean one truly lacked one, and Loose Cultivators couldn’t be investigated at will.

Take for example, Qi cultivators who attained enlightenment through martial prowess weren’t recruited by Immortal Sects straight away; they were all considered Loose Cultivators—could the inspectors prevent such people from cultivating?

However, Elder Brother Guo didn’t see it that way. He spoke gravely, “My friend must be joking. From your manner, you are not comparable to a Loose Cultivator.”

What a joke. Here there was a generator, lighting equipment, a surveillance formation, and even a vehicle that could move on its own. Could someone who owned such a multitude of rare items lack a legacy?

In the midst of their casual conversation, they entered the courtyard.

Feng Jun went out to greet the inspectors as a matter of courtesy and also because he didn’t want them to reach the courtyard directly. Should they disturb Yu Changqing’s cultivation, it could lead to undesirable consequences. It was better to buffer the situation in the middle, allowing the Spirit Gathering Array to be stopped, making things convenient for everyone.

When they entered the courtyard, those mooching off the spiritual energy were aware that the inspectors had arrived and naturally began to scatter and hide.

Since the phenomenon of mooching spiritual energy was extremely rare, the inspectors didn’t pay attention to these individuals and went directly to verify Yu Changqing’s identity.

Her identity wasn’t fake, and there were marks of Wuyou Platform on the Gathering Spirit Array Plate, making everything seem reasonable and legitimate.

Nevertheless, the young man in the First Layer of Qi Refinement still asked coldly, “You, merely at the eighth layer of mortality shedding, what merits or abilities do you have to carry the Gathering Spirit Array Plate and walk in the Mortal World?”

This was the arrogance of someone in the Qi Refinement stage toward those in the mortality shedding phase, and to be honest, he was very jealous—he didn’t have a Gathering Spirit Array Plate.

After entering the Immortal Sects, he took on the tasks of the Red Dust Inspector, which were grueling. The Mortal Realm had too little spiritual energy.

But Yu Changqing didn’t regard his arrogance as an issue; she found the question quite normal. So, she answered respectfully, “My sect is aware of the rich spiritual phenomena present at Senior Feng’s place and has sent me here to ensure my cultivation isn’t delayed.”

When did Wuyou Platform become so generous? The young Qi Refining First Layer man could hardly contain himself, “Aren’t you afraid of losing it?”

The remark had touched upon matters of the sect, and Yu Changqing couldn’t hold back any longer. She spoke sternly, “Should it be lost, Wuyou Platform has its own measures… With my cultivation here, and Senior Feng as protector, there’s no need to worry.”

Seeing her dare to talk back, the young Qi Refining First Layer man’s face darkened, “Bold of you to speak to me like this?”

“Ahem,” Feng Jun coughed coldly, “My friend, this young one has already mentioned she has a protector!”

The young man glanced at Feng Jun resentfully, wanting to say something but ultimately stayed silent.

He could bully Yu Changqing because she was in the mortality shedding phase and if Wuyou Platform asked later, he could escape by citing “disrespect,” without worrying too much about the consequences.

But with a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator as her protector, he was out of options. If he forcibly tried to teach her a lesson, he was likely to embarrass himself. Afterwards, the people backing him couldn’t do much to Feng Jun either.

It was Elder Brother Guo who broke the awkward silence, “There seem to be quite a few idlers around this yard… who are they?”

This touched on another rule. If a clan produced a cultivator, they couldn’t openly cultivate more within the family.

Otherwise, if someone secretly cultivated to the Qi Refinement stage, wouldn’t their entire clan begin to cultivate?

Only clans that were qualified to move into the Cultivation World could freely train cultivators from within their families.

As mentioned earlier, once a clan had a member reach the stage of Qi Refining cultivator, they could prevent others from investigating that person’s past. Once the cultivator made a name in the Cultivation World and helped relocate the entire clan, it would truly benefit the family members.

(Update to here, calling for monthly tickets.)