Just a Number

Cultivation was the process of transforming oneself to become more attuned to heaven, earth, and nature.

The more attuned one became to heaven and earth, and to the "Dao," the higher one's spiritual realm rose, and the more fully the dharma body bestowed by the upper realm awakened. When the time came to ascend, one would reach the supreme state of unity between humanity and heaven.

At that moment, as Cheng Qiyue looked at the calligraphy before her, her gaze unconsciously settled on one particular piece, as though naturally drawn to it.

In an instant, the piece shook her to her very core. She was like an artist who had never seen a dragon yet wished to paint one, suddenly coming face-to-face with a real dragon.

In a trance, she seemed to see an enormous moon rising over a boundless sea. Its cold, clear radiance enveloped heaven and earth, while the great lunar star that blotted out the sky slowly revolved like a bottomless vortex.

Like an abyss at the edge of the sky.

What was this?

At that moment, she felt as though she were seeing the "Dao" itself, witnessing principles of unfathomable profundity. Even her Dao heart began to slowly transform.

Waves of shock surged through Cheng Qiyue's heart, and she became utterly immersed in that indescribably profound state.

The seemingly ordinary, careless strokes of this calligraphy actually contained such astonishing Dao resonance. Nor was it the hidden, restrained, utterly incomprehensible resonance she had sensed from other accomplished cultivators. Instead, it showed her clearly and in minute detail what the Dao was, containing endless profound principles that she could genuinely perceive and understand.

If the Dao resonance of other accomplished masters was a mock college entrance exam, then the resonance within this piece was a textbook she could consult at will!

Immersed in the wondrous state of touching the "Dao," she grew increasingly entranced and moved.

She was certain.

As long as she continued contemplating it like this, she could quickly awaken her dharma body, the "Taiyin Divine Lord," to the next realm, even without disguising herself as a student to imitate the Taiyin Divine Lord's cultivation path. In the future, she would not need to spend so long cultivating in the mortal world or face so many dangers from invading external demons. She could make rapid progress!

And all of it would be thanks to this piece of calligraphy before her!

With his arms folded, Lin Zhishui watched the changes in Cheng Qiyue's expression out of the corner of his eye. His lips could not help curling slightly.

Looks like the sale's in the bag. Wonder how much I can get for it?

This high school customer was much like his previous customers. The moment she saw his calligraphy, her face took on an expression of "How terrifying!" Clearly, his skill had completely won her over.

After all, she was Old Master Cheng's junior. Having grown up around him, it was perfectly normal for her to love traditional culture and brush calligraphy.

His calligraphy was at the level of a true master. A layperson might merely find it a novelty, but someone knowledgeable could appreciate its subtleties. Their shock and amazement were understandable... right?

This girl's reaction was already relatively normal.

He still remembered the female customer from a few months ago who had worn a mask and a hat. Although only her eyes were visible, he could tell she was a stunning beauty. He had always suspected she was some big celebrity who had risen to fame through period dramas.

And after that customer saw his calligraphy and heard that he was willing to sell it to her, she had gotten wet on the spot... around the eyes.

She had been that moved.

What was more, the gossip columns said that the celebrity was also a fanatical lover of traditional culture who only acted in period dramas, which had deepened his suspicions.

Compared with her, the high school student before him seemed much more composed.

"Well?"

Feeling that his customer had admired it long enough, Lin Zhishui spoke with a smile.

Cheng Qiyue abruptly came to her senses and slowly turned to look at him. Lin Zhishui was watching her with a faint, knowing smile, as though he had seen right through her long ago.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

Could this senior have written these incredibly profound pieces himself?

If not, that meant they were treasures he had happened to acquire.

If he had written them himself, however, then his ability to explain the Dao of heaven and earth so clearly and precisely meant that the depth of his realm was beyond her comprehension...

"Senior... did you write these pieces yourself?" Cheng Qiyue could not help asking.

"They're just practice pieces I wrote to pass the time." Lin Zhishui smiled faintly.

Modesty had always been a traditional Chinese virtue.

"Practice pieces..."

Hearing that, Cheng Qiyue could not help drawing in a soft, sharp breath. Her shock only deepened.

Treasures that expounded the true meaning of heaven and earth were merely practice pieces?

At the same time, she grew even more excited. She realized that she had stumbled upon an extraordinary opportunity. She had probably encountered an important figure of exceptional origins!

"Practice pieces they may be, but they should still be enough to earn your family elders' approval and regard, shouldn't they?" Lin Zhishui asked with a smile.

For a family that loved traditional culture, perhaps even a scholarly family, presenting an elder with a master-level piece like this should make it easy to win their favor, right?

Cheng Qiyue nodded, trembling slightly.

As long as she could regularly visualize this piece, experience its artistic conception, and contemplate the principles within it, her Taiyin Divine Lord dharma body would continue to awaken. Her cultivation would surely advance by leaps and bounds, and her family elders would naturally think highly of her!

But...

Even her family possessed only a handful of treasures that could compare to such a peerless gem. Even if this senior was willing to give it to her, what price would she have to pay?

Cheng Qiyue took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down a little before cautiously asking, "Then... what price must I pay?"

"Price?"

Lin Zhishui was taken aback. Was such a grave choice of words really necessary?

He could not help looking the young girl over. Unfortunately, she was wearing nothing but an ordinary school uniform, so he could not tell how much money she could afford.

Seeing this senior scrutinize her that way, Cheng Qiyue's heart trembled.

She had heard that the dharma bodies inherited by certain lineages could be awakened using a female cultivator's virgin yin essence. Those masters would obtain it under the pretext of taking disciples.

The yin essence of a cultivator like her, who had inherited the Taiyin Divine Lord's dharma body, was particularly refined and pure, making her an even more suitable choice.

Could that... be what this senior intended?

Although she did not think her yin essence could compare to such a treasure, it was still the greatest price she could pay. Perhaps that was precisely what he had taken an interest in?

At that thought, Cheng Qiyue spoke with some difficulty. "Could it be that you... that you want me?"

"Want you?"

The corner of Lin Zhishui's mouth twitched. He glanced at Cheng Qiyue, feeling rather speechless.

Were high school students these days all this uninhibited?

It was just a piece of calligraphy, and she was already considering paying with her body?

Although the girl was very pretty, she looked a little androgynous, and she was only sixteen or seventeen... Huh, that part was actually a plus.

Overall, though, he still could not accept it. If it had been that previous customer who might have been a big celebrity, he could have given it a little consideration... perhaps he could even have thrown in a few dozen extra pieces?

"Ahem, you're overthinking it."

Lin Zhishui gathered his thoughts and gave a light cough. "I have no interest in a little girl like you. You can rest assured."

Only then did Cheng Qiyue relax. She asked again, "Then what do you require from me?"

"This is a calligraphy and painting shop, here in the mortal world. Naturally, I trade in what the secular world values most: money." Lin Zhishui tried to phrase it as tactfully and elegantly as possible. He could not appear too greedy or profit-driven.

"Money?"

Cheng Qiyue was a little bewildered.

Cultivators did indeed need money when cultivating in the mortal world, but to a master like him, any amount of wealth was merely fleeting smoke. He could become as rich as a nation with a single thought. What significance could money possibly hold?

Suddenly, a thought struck her.

Perhaps running a shop and earning money... was also a stage in this senior's cultivation in the mortal world?

She herself had only pretended to be a high school student and attended school to awaken her Taiyin Divine Lord dharma body, imitating the "academy student" stage of the Taiyin Divine Lord's early cultivation path.

Could this senior be doing it for the same reason?

Although she did not know which great being of the upper realm had passed down his dharma body to this senior, he had certainly traveled much farther along his path than she had. His cultivation was on a vastly higher level!

No wonder he would sell such precious treasures. If it was for the sake of cultivation, everything made sense!

At that thought, Cheng Qiyue nodded lightly in understanding and asked, "May I ask how much your calligraphy is worth, Senior?"

Lin Zhishui smiled faintly without answering. He simply took down one of the pieces and said, "This one should suit you best. How much you offer depends on how much you're willing to pay for it."

The piece bore two lines of poetry: "A bright moon rises over the sea; though worlds apart, we share this moment." Its strokes flowed together, rounded and graceful, with a sense of tranquility contained within them.

"This is indeed the piece I need most." Cheng Qiyue gazed at it with slightly entranced eyes.

The "Lunar Shade Divine Lord" dharma body she had inherited belonged to a lineage passed down from the legendary Lunar Abyss. The Dao resonance and principles contained in this piece were likewise centered on the lunar aspect, making it a perfect match for her.

This senior truly possessed profound attainment. She had not even manifested her dharma body, yet he had seen through her lineage at a glance!

He truly was a peerless master.

"It does suit you very well." Lin Zhishui nodded with a smile.

Ever since the girl had entered, she had stared endlessly at this piece, as though her eyes might burrow right into it. Even an idiot could tell it was her favorite.

"May I ask how much my grandfather paid for the calligraphy and paintings he obtained from you?" Cheng Qiyue asked somewhat nervously.

Lin Zhishui said gently, "I sold your elder two pieces of calligraphy and charged him exactly 129,600 yuan. The other two single-character pieces were gifts. Since you've come here, fate has brought us together. How much you wish to offer is up to your heart."

The subtext was: Your elder spent 129,600 yuan on two pieces of my calligraphy. Take that as your guide. If you spend at least 129,600 yuan, you might even get a single-character piece for free.

As for the price, it was merely a number he had deliberately chosen to appeal to these customers who loved traditional culture and classical aesthetics. It also symbolized completeness.

There were other good numbers too, such as nine million, or a hundred million with a little rounding, or the eight hundred million of a single Primordial Unity calamity...

He liked all of them. Unfortunately, he could not go too far.

"129,600?"

Cheng Qiyue softly repeated the number, seeming to grasp something.

The price was far too low-so low that she could scarcely believe it.

Even mortal master calligraphers could sell a single piece for millions or tens of millions. A piece written by such an unfathomable master was simply priceless.

But perhaps precisely because it was priceless, the amount of money he charged had no meaning.

She had originally intended to use her family's connections to gather as much money as possible. Raising a few tens of millions should not be difficult.

But thinking it over carefully now, what difference was there between one yuan and a hundred million to a senior who regarded money as dirt?

The significance of the number, on the other hand, mattered more.

129,600 was precisely the number of years in one cosmic cycle.

As the saying went, a new cycle began, and all things were renewed. This, too, was a form of completeness.

Cheng Qiyue finally understood.

This senior cared only about the completeness of the number. Thus, no matter how many pieces of calligraphy or painting one obtained from his shop, the total price would never exceed 129,600 yuan.

Presumably, even if she offered more money, he would certainly refuse it!

In reality, he was giving her this piece as a gift.

At that thought, Cheng Qiyue took a deep breath and bowed deeply to the senior before her, who wandered at leisure through the mortal world. She said earnestly, "Thank you for your gift. I dare not ask for too much. For this piece, I am willing to offer 129,600 yuan."

Lin Zhishui inwardly sighed that the girl was teachable. He nodded slightly in satisfaction and said, "Very good."

P.S. I'm heading out to mail the contract in a bit. The book's status will probably be updated next week, so hurry if you want to invest!