Eight Years! [Seeking Collection! Seeking Follow-up Reads!]

Yinlian Village is located south of Tianlin Cave.

Forty years ago.

Now, it should be fifty-two years ago.

Fifty-two years ago, an immortal master came to Tianlin Mountain to establish a cave dwelling. Accompanying him were dozens of quasi-cultivators in the True Essence Stage and hundreds in the True Qi Stage. In a short period, they took control of three hundred villages, including Yinlian Village, spreading their written language, cultivation techniques, and various rules, thereby civilizing the region.

Fifty-two years ago, Yinlian Village had a population of only over four hundred.

Forty years later, the population had increased by three to four times, reaching nearly two thousand.

And by this year, the total population of the village, old and young, is close to three thousand.

One generation every eighteen years!

It wasn't just Yinlian Village; the populations of all three hundred villages were booming.

Meng Nan understood the reason behind this—

"Cultivation is difficult!"

"To nurture cultivators, one needs a massive population base as support."

This was why the villages vigorously promoted population growth, even making it their top priority.

"Auntie Qian Yu, you know her, right?"

"Two days before we got married, she just advanced to the True Qi Stage. Back then, she was quite influential in the village. Two years ago, she became True Essence Stage, and even the village chief had to show her some respect. If it weren't for her, we might have kept having children."

Zhao Xiaoshuang spoke as if chatting about daily life, naturally recounting some of the village's happenings over the past decade to Meng Nan.

Qian Yu.

Auntie Yu.

Meng Nan had certainly heard of her.

She was also one of the women who married into Yinlian Village from another village, just like Zhao Xiaoshuang. However, Qian Yu had some talent in cultivation, already being in the Visualization Realm when she married. She didn't abandon her cultivation after marriage and soon advanced to the Inner Qi Stage. At the age of thirty, two days before Meng Nan's wedding, she advanced to the True Qi Stage again.

At that time, there were fewer than twenty True Qi Stage cultivators in the village, so naturally, she had a say.

True Essence Stage was even rarer.

Even in the current Yinlian Village, there were only three in total. She was one of them, and her opinions had to be considered by the village chief, who dared not ignore them.

"Advanced to True Essence Stage in just ten years!"

"From Fetal Breath to Inner Qi, then to True Qi, and then to True Essence, it only took twenty-two years."

"And she managed to have three children in between!"

Meng Nan hadn't thought much of it at the time, but looking back now, reviewing Qian Yu's life so far, she was an incredible person!

He became interested.

In the bamboo forest, while doing carpentry work, he asked Zhao Xiaoshuang, who was assisting him, about Qian Yu's situation: "Why did she cultivate so quickly? Did she have some fortuitous encounter?"

After a brief period of disorientation upon arrival, Meng Nan was rapidly adapting to this future timeline, just as he had adapted to this strange world when he first arrived.

Calming himself down.

Carefully organizing his thoughts.

This future timeline was not a place to stay long, so its benefits could be summarized in two points—

First, eight years of meticulous cultivation. While his cultivation level couldn't be brought back, the experience and lessons learned could. After returning in eight years, he would only be returning with his cultivation reset, and resuming cultivation should still be relatively easy.

Second, since he had arrived in the future timeline, looking back from the present, over twelve years, and looking forward from the present, over eight years.

In total, twenty years, he could roughly grasp all the major and minor events in Yinlian Village—

Which people in the village rose to prominence.

Where treasures once appeared.

Which years were bountiful harvests.

When disasters struck.

And so on. Knowing this now was useless, but when he returned to reality, it would be equivalent to possessing the 'future'. He could proactively forge connections, search for treasures, and avoid calamities. Wouldn't his cultivation then be assured?

For example, Qian Yu.

Befriending her in advance would be beneficial and harmless.

Of course, she had already advanced to the True Qi Stage twelve years ago, so many people must have been trying to curry favor with her. It wouldn't be easy for Meng Nan to get close to her.

But if her rapid cultivation was due to a fortuitous encounter, could he get his hands on it in advance?

Cultivation brooks no politeness.

If there was an opportunity to obtain treasures or seize opportunities, Meng Nan would not be squeamish.

As for whether Qian Yu had a fortuitous encounter—

"She actually did!"

Zhao Xiaoshuang said with a chuckle, recounting it as an amusing story: "Legend has it that early in her years, about seven or eight years ago, when Auntie Qian Yu was returning to her maiden home, she took a shortcut and encountered a tree called 'Suoluo Seed' in a place south of the village. The tree bore Spirit Fruits that could enhance cultivation. However, these fruits were not very useful for True Essence Stage cultivation. After she advanced, she transplanted the tree to the village and had it specially guarded."

Speaking.

Zhao Xiaoshuang glanced again at Meng Santan and his siblings, who were also helping out in the distance, and said with some anticipation, "When the practitioners reach the age for cultivation, if they perform well, they might get to eat one or two Spirit Fruits, which are beneficial for cultivation."

With such a Spirit Tree in the village, the Spirit Fruits it bore would naturally be prioritized for those with connections.

But Zhao Xiaoshuang had heard that the tree bore quite a few fruits, and there would always be some left over. This way, practitioners in the village who performed well might also be bestowed with some.

Having some was better than none.

Having hope was better than having no aspirations.

Zhao Xiaoshuang's movements were nimble and her explanations clear. She spoke to Meng Nan with a familiar tone. With her leading the way, Meng Nan quickly grew accustomed to her.

He hadn't even gotten used to his newlywed wife from twelve years ago, yet he was already experiencing the feeling of an old married couple.

To be honest--

"Not bad."

Meng Nan also smiled, gradually adapting.

That evening.

After chatting with Zhao Xiaoshuang for a while, Meng Nan sat cross-legged on the bamboo cushion he had woven. Feeling a coolness from beneath him, he adjusted his posture and began to cultivate.

The first stage of cultivation: Fetal Breath.

The first stage of Fetal Breath: Entering Stillness.

Entering Stillness, that is, calming the mind.

This was the introductory skill for cultivation.

Meng Nan had been struggling with this small hurdle for two years, yet he had been unable to reach the state where 'the mind obeys the will, the head and hands feel like nothingness, only sensing a faint breath moving in and out from the navel, unable to be moved,' and thus unable to step through the threshold of the 'Qi Sensing Realm.'

Helpless.

He could only endure, persevering with unwavering determination.

Meng Nan learned from Zhao Xiaoshuang that 'he' had advanced to the 'Qi Sensing Realm' in the second year after marriage, and to the 'Visualization Realm' in the eighth year.

And then he remained there.

Until he suffered Qi Deviation.

Cultivation was fraught with numerous difficulties and accompanied by various dangers.

'Qi Deviation' was the most common one, frequently seen in the cultivation world.

Even the small Yinlian Village occasionally saw such cases.

It was not uncommon.

"But I must cultivate carefully now, striving to achieve 'Visualization' within these eight years, or even step into the 'Inner Qi Stage'."

Meng Nan was not overly confident just because returning to reality was the consequence of dying here again.

Nor was he thinking that since dying was not a problem, there was no need to fear death and he could be reckless.

The truth was that this opportunity was too important.

He was not yet qualified to be reckless.

If he died recklessly, dying in the 'Entering Stillness Realm,' it would be a wasted trip. Who knew what requirements there would be or when he would have to wait to come to the future timeline again.

He had to be cautious.

"Whether it's watermelon or sesame, what I can grasp is what's real."

Meng Nan's current small goal was to cultivate 'Inner Qi.'

As for other things, he would take it as it comes.

In the following days, Meng Nan spent his time familiarizing himself with this time and space, the life twelve years later, and understanding the events of the past twelve years.

After a few more days.

He went to see the 'Suoluo Seed' tree that Qian Yu had transplanted into the village and was being guarded. At first glance, the tree looked like a patch of tea bushes, short and unremarkable.

Meng Nan visited it from time to time, memorizing its appearance at different stages and seasons.

He took the opportunity to find out where Qian Yu had originally discovered the 'Suoluo Seed' tree.

Many people knew the place, and even the village chief had visited and inquired about it. It was not difficult to find or reach. It was actually a secluded mountain hollow that people rarely visited, not too far from Yinlian Village. For Meng Nan, it took about an hour's walk. Arriving there, he could still vaguely see the pit left after the 'Suoluo Seed' tree was dug up.

Meng Nan noted the location and decided to visit it several times a year from now on.

He also had to continue observing the 'Suoluo Seed' tree in the village, watching it often, striving to memorize it thoroughly so that time would not erode his memory.

There was little other news in the small village. Looking back twelve years, there were very few noteworthy events.

Even fewer were useful to Meng Nan.

Qian Yu's advancement to the True Essence Stage was one of them.

The 'Suoluo Seed' tree counts as one.

After that, there was nothing else.

One year passed.

Two years passed.

In the middle of the second year since Meng Nan arrived here, far away in Tianlin Cave, a quasi-cultivator at the peak of the True Essence Stage, having undergone five Sense Imprints, located the Three Cavities, and then successfully advanced to become a Qi Refining Immortal Master. He was the first Immortal Master to advance in the fifty-four years since Tianlin Cave was established.

For a time, the whole world celebrated!

Three hundred villages were granted amnesty, some were given holidays, and others held feasts. It was extremely joyous.

Yinlian Village held a continuous seven-day banquet feast. Everyone in the village was fed and watered. The children were overjoyed, and the adults smiled all day long.

Someone else advancing to Qi Refining Immortal Master had nothing to do with them.

But holidays and banquet feasts were tangible benefits.

Meng Nan's family also ate to their heart's content for those seven days.

On the evening of the seventh day.

Meng Nan, unusually, did not cultivate. He and Zhao Xiaoshuang enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

It wasn't until the next morning that he got up to perform his morning cultivation.

A bamboo mat.

Meng Nan sat cross-legged, his upper body upright, hands in the Zi-Wu clasp, eyes half-closed, gazing at his nose, nose at his mouth, mouth at his heart.

His tongue touched the roof of his palate. His heart, spirit, and intent focused on his navel, his thoughts unwavering.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Suddenly, Meng Nan's heart stirred. In that instant, he felt as if he had no head or hands; he couldn't sense them at all. Everything was void.

The senses of his limbs were gone.

Other aspects became exceptionally clear.

For instance, at this moment.

Meng Nan felt that at the position of his navel, a trace of warmth and coolness seemed to be generating, tingling and peculiar.

But no matter how he willed it, this warm and cool aura remained still.

After a while longer.

Meng Nan felt a bit tired and naturally opened his eyes.

It was only at the moment he opened his eyes that he realized—

"A trace of True Breath!"

"Qi Sensation has been achieved!"

"Cultivated back to 'Qi Sensation'?"

"This is a good thing!"

That day, upon learning of Meng Nan's breakthrough, Zhao Xiaoshuang was quite surprised and delighted.

Having been married to Meng Nan for many years, she knew best his obsession with cultivation. The morning after their wedding, as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Meng Nan meditating and cultivating in the room.

For the next ten years and more, it was the same.

Never stopping.

During his Qi Deviation last year, Meng Nan had narrowly escaped death. At first, Zhao Xiaoshuang was immersed in the joy of his survival. Later, she began to worry that Meng Nan would become dejected and give up on himself after losing all his cultivation.

But he did not.

Meng Nan's cultivation remained as diligent as ever, showing a tendency to start all over again.

His life.

His work.

He hadn't neglected either.

He even became more affectionate towards her and their three children, as if he had returned to the time when they first got married, even more devoted than back then.

"Amnesia is quite good, sometimes."

Zhao Xiaoshuang would secretly think to herself.

The young women and married women in Yinlian Village, when they saw her, none did not envy her.

From time to time, she would receive small surprises from Meng Nan, and Zhao Xiaoshuang felt as if her happiness was about to overflow.

She only hoped that such days could continue forever.

Three years.

Four years.

When one is happy, time flies by.

Unknowingly.

Zhao Xiaoshuang and Meng Nan were both thirty-eight years old.

The eldest son, Meng Xingzhe, had just turned eighteen. His cultivation aptitude wasn't high, and he was still only in the 'Qi Sensing Realm'. In two months, he was to be married, just like Meng Nan was back then, establishing a family and a career.

Two months passed in a flash.

This evening was the eve of Meng Xingzhe's wedding.

"Time really flies."

Zhao Xiaoshuang tidied the room, sighing to Meng Nan.

Eight years had passed.

Neither she nor Meng Nan seemed to have changed much in appearance. Zhao Xiaoshuang's life was comfortable, and Meng Nan's physical condition was on par with reality. After eight years, he was only around twenty-six years old. Of course, he was still young; it would take at least another seven or eight years for significant changes to occur.

The couple chatted in the room.

Meng Nan, uncharacteristically, not cultivating, chimed in occasionally, but he seemed somewhat distracted.

Zhao Xiaoshuang noticed and turned her head, teasing him, "Your son is getting married, and you look like you've lost your soul?"

Zhao Xiaoshuang found it amusing.

"Time really flies!"

Meng Nan shook his head and smiled.

While Zhao Xiaoshuang marveled at how fast their children were growing up, Meng Nan was lamenting how eight years had passed in the blink of an eye.

In a flash, it was nearing the end.

During these eight years.

Besides his cultivation, Meng Nan had not neglected Zhao Xiaoshuang, Meng Xingzhe, Meng Jian, or Meng Santan, his family members.

He didn't dwell on the past, present, or future.

He didn't dwell on reality versus illusion.

Meng Nan had always believed in 'living in the moment,' doing what needed to be done in whatever time and environment he found himself.

Here, cultivation was important, but it couldn't be rushed.

His family was real and not illusory.

Each one was flesh and blood.

The eldest son, Meng Xingzhe, grew taller and bigger, looking more and more like him, as if carved from the same mold.

The second son, Meng Jian, was more delicate, resembling his mother, but his personality was more like Meng Nan's – gentle, meticulous, and organized, handling matters with composure at such a young age.

The third son, Meng Santan, was boisterous and lively, with eyes that strongly resembled Meng Nan's.

Zhao Xiaoshuang also had her strengths.

She was optimistic.

And resilient.

He had never seen her lose her temper.

She was sensitive, able to sense her family members' emotions immediately, either feigning ignorance or offering comfort with an excuse. The family lived in harmony, and they also got along well with the neighbors in Yinlian Village.

The more time he spent with her, the more of Zhao Xiaoshuang's shining qualities Meng Nan discovered.

Beauty would eventually fade.

A person's inner self and the compatibility between two people were the most crucial factors in determining whether they could spend a lifetime together.

Although Meng Nan had just gotten married and consummated his marriage, he and Zhao Xiaoshuang had already been together for twenty years, sharing joys and sorrows.

This feeling was quite wondrous.

"I wonder what you'll be like at eighteen."

Meng Nan stepped forward and gently hugged Zhao Xiaoshuang from behind.

"What's gotten into you today?"

Zhao Xiaoshuang stopped what she was doing, her hand on Meng Nan's, as if still speaking. Her tone was gentle, her voice pleasant, but Meng Nan couldn't hear her clearly.

Gradually.

Her voice, her touch, everything faded away.

Like a bubble bursting with a soft pop, Meng Nan opened his eyes again. The person in his arms was fast asleep, but the few lines at the corners of her eyes were gone. He looked around; the wedding quilt was bright red, and the candles were red.

It was clearly the bridal chamber.

"I'm back again!"

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