Chapter 23: Wang Pingyuan Finally Enters the Sect (Part 1)

Over here.

Tang Qirui spoke the final sentence to the person on the other end of the phone. “Cultivation would be the best method for resisting ancient bacteria. He wants to ask for instructions on whether... nationwide cultivation can be opened up?”

For a long time, there was no response from the other end.

It was not that they refused to agree. It was that they did not dare to agree.

They had only just made contact with Chen Yi, and now this side was already asking to apply for nationwide cultivation.

How was that possible?

This step was far too big, and the situation was nowhere near that urgent yet.

The nation was still in the assessment stage toward this cultivation civilization, and toward Chen Yi as well. Promoting it nationwide was absolutely impossible, at least for now.

Tang Qirui also felt that such a proposal was sheer fantasy, so he continued, “But the bacteria in Lishui Village were discovered in time. Sect Master Chen says he can solve it. It is just that the original carrier of the primitive bacteria may need to join the sect and cultivate before he can fully recover.”

“All right.”

This time, the other side agreed very quickly.

Chen Yi had indeed played a little trick. First, he raised a proposal that was absolutely impossible to approve, then put forward the request to recruit one unofficial member. The latter would definitely be easier to approve.

However, in urgent times, special measures had to be taken. If they truly followed procedure, Wang Ping’an’s younger brother might really get into trouble. This counted as a special case handled in a special way.

Besides, Chen Yi’s proposal this time was not purely for the sake of treating Wang Xiaosi.

That peach grove on North Mountain was definitely not the only place where ancient pathogens had broken out.

In every folded space, there might be bacteria that humans could not resist. Before humans developed resistance, their lethality was no weaker than that of aberrations.

So there was nothing wrong with giving an early warning and pushing nationwide cultivation.

Once Chen Yi raised it directly, the nation would inevitably consider it, make plans in advance, and begin inspections. Being prepared was always better than being unprepared.

The future apocalypse, full of dangers on every side, was not something one person could simply brave through. Even the protagonist of the original book had grown up under the nation’s cultivation and full support.

This was a battle concerning all of humanity, one that required everyone to work together and unite as one.

Tang Qirui hung up the phone, looked toward North Mountain, and waited for that familiar figure to appear.

…

“Dongshu, tell your dad it’s all right. Don’t get worked up or anxious. Just sleep it off and everything will be fine.”

The vermilion iron gate was half open. A dark-faced, skinny middle-aged man held the door and uneasily looked at the guards standing outside his house. His gaze swept back and forth over those unfamiliar uniforms.

His suspicious eyes flickered, carrying a hint of restlessness.

“Village Chief, just tell us. Did something happen in our village? Lately there are always strangers walking around the village, and now they’re blocking the door and won’t let us out. Did we break the law or commit some crime? Are they still letting people live or not?”

Chen Jiankang pressed down on Chen Dongshu’s shoulder and said gravely, “Do you still trust your uncle or not? Would I hurt anyone? Other people don’t understand and accuse me for no reason, but you people can’t do that. Three generations up, we all share the same ancestor. If the village starts making a fuss, it won’t benefit anyone, right?

“Leave your dad to you. Keep him steady for me. His heart has had problems for years, so don’t let him get too agitated.

“I promise I’ll solve this as quickly as possible. When the time comes, I’ll give every one of you an explanation.”

After calming the family of one of the village troublemakers, Comrade Chen Jiankang wiped the sweat from his forehead and headed toward the next troublemaker’s house.

After serving as the village chief of Lishui Village for so many years, he knew far too well how to soothe the villagers’ emotions.

He stayed busy for a long time, talking until his mouth went dry. As he walked, he thought back over whether there was anywhere else he had not handled properly, while also looking in the direction of North Mountain.

The look in his eyes gradually firmed. He opened the half-finished bottle of mineral water in his hand, gulped it down in one go, and continued walking forward.

…

“Cough, cough, cough!”

In just this short while, Wang Pingyuan felt even worse.

Actually, the other symptoms were still manageable. The main thing was fear.

He knew there were aberrant entities in this world.

He could also guess that Chen Yi, with all his mysterious mumbo jumbo, might have something to do with aberrant entities.

His third brother had suddenly returned and plunged straight into that mysterious orange grove. Wang Pingyuan had seen that clearly with his own eyes.

He was so scared.

He was afraid that whatever had happened to him meant he had encountered an aberrant entity.

How could the living fight aberrant entities?

Was he going to die?

Once fear arose, the room with only him inside became more and more impossible to stay in.

Everything he looked at seemed wrong. The temperature suddenly turned frighteningly cold. It felt as if a hanged aberrant entity with a long tongue was wrapped around his back.

So what exactly had he run into last night?

Wang Pingyuan was so frightened that his teeth chattered. Finally unable to bear it any longer, he stumbled downstairs.

Then he was stopped by Captain Ye, who was personally standing guard at the door.

Wang Pingyuan was the original carrier of the bacteria, the key target under watch.

Captain Ye had personally come over to keep an eye on him.

“What are you doing?” Captain Ye did not quite dare let Wang Pingyuan get close either, and called out to stop him from a distance.

Wang Pingyuan ignored him. He ran into the middle of the courtyard, panted rapidly a few times, and placed himself under the sun. Only then did he feel a little better.

“Cough, cough, cough.”

He started coughing again.

The white hairs on Captain Ye’s head nearly stood on end.

Damn it, these uncanny incidents could even happen in broad daylight now? Were they still letting people rest or not?

But seeing that Wang Pingyuan was coughing so badly, and looked so pale with fright, Captain Ye could not help trying to distract him. “You’re Wang Ping’an’s little brother, right? Why aren’t you working?”

Wang Pingyuan also wanted to find someone to talk to and distract himself. “Cough! There isn’t any suitable work.”

“What major did you study in college?”

“I didn’t get into college. I studied animal husbandry at a vocational school.”

“Animal husbandry? Veterinary medicine?”

“No, I studied... pet care and training.”

Captain Ye seemed to think of something. He suddenly straightened from his lazy posture against the gate and looked at Wang Pingyuan with anticipation. “Do you know how to raise dogs? What do you have to do to make someone else’s dog listen to you?”

Wang Pingyuan: “...”

…

The Light Art and Dust Removal Art took turns acting on the ancient bacteria, and in the end, Chen Yi reached a conclusion: the Dust Removal Art worked better.

When he used the Light Art to destroy the ancient bacteria on Third Brother Wang, Third Brother Wang felt very uncomfortable. The ball of light from the Light Art was like an old thirty-watt lightbulb. Touching it would not be fatal, but it was still hot enough to burn your hand.

But if Chen Yi wanted to use the Light Art to disperse all the ancient bacteria clinging tightly to Third Brother Wang’s body, he did not yet have the skill to avoid hurting the other person at all.

The Dust Removal Art was different.

In essence, the Dust Removal Art removed dust particles, grime, and stains into another-dimensional space. The higher the cultivation and the more practiced the user, the larger the objects they could remove into that other-dimensional space.

In theory, this Dust Removal Art might, in the hands of a great cultivator, perhaps become a type of spatial spell that could banish a person into another-dimensional space.

As for now, Chen Yi could at most banish something as fine and light as spider silk. Anything the size of a millet grain was beyond his ability to remove.

But was this not perfect timing?

What a coincidence!

Ancient bacteria were even smaller than dust. When Chen Yi swept the Dust Removal Art across them, an entire area was cleared out.

Swish, swish, swish. It was incredibly satisfying.

The Dust Removal Art swept over Third Brother Wang. Not only did Third Brother Wang instantly feel lighter, he also became the most handsome guy in the village. His hair was fresh, his skin was clean, and even the sweat from running all the way here had vanished without a trace.

Third Brother Wang sensed the changes on his body in surprise and humbly asked, “Sect Master, now that I’m at the third level of Qi Refining, what spell do you think I should learn first?”

Chen Yi mobilized spiritual energy to use the Dust Removal Art. As he walked along, swish, swish, swish, those bacteria vanished. At the same time, he said, “Follow the team’s arrangements.”

Third Brother Wang thought about it and agreed, though there was still some disappointment on his face.

Chen Yi reminded him, “The Light Art will most likely become standard equipment for combat personnel. The Dust Removal Art may end up in the hands of logistics personnel. In the future, there will be plenty of epidemic zones that need to be cleaned up, both domestically and overseas, among crowds and deep in the mountains. It depends on how you position your future.”

Third Brother Wang understood and nodded. “Thank you, Sect Master.”

“No need to be polite.”

Chen Yi waved his hand carelessly. He had already cleared his way to the front of the pit.

As expected, this place was the hardest-hit area.

But with a sweep of the Dust Removal Art, a large area was swept clean. For some reason, it was even a little stress-relieving.

Chen Yi swept around once. After more than half of his spiritual power was consumed, he decisively stopped.

Consuming everything without leaving himself any leeway was not his habit. Keeping half of his spiritual power would make it easier to respond if something happened.

What was more, after overusing his divine ability, his eyes hurt terribly. He needed rest.

He headed back. “Let’s go.”

Third Brother Wang, who had not been able to help with anything, felt a little awkward.

Chen Yi noticed it. “Let’s go back first and solve the village’s problem, especially Little Fourth.”

“This place has already been handled? What if someone comes over?”

“I’m afraid that will be your job. It would be best to seal off this area for the next few days. Don’t let anyone in, not even a bird. It will be very hard work. I’ll solve the village’s affairs as quickly as possible and come over a few more times. Then this place should be fine. As for other places...”

Chen Yi did not say the rest. In any case, things would not be easy.

Once someone entered Qi Refining, they could barely deal with aberrations. But the Dust Removal Art required the third level of Qi Refining before it could be learned. Otherwise, after using it twice, their spiritual energy would hit bottom. At the first level of Qi Refining, they would not even be able to use it.

Most importantly, apart from him, no one in this world could see ancient bacteria. Nor would there be a second Wang Pingyuan with such good luck, who happened to have Chen Yi at his side when something went wrong so that Chen Yi could help him solve it.

Chen Yi truly did not feel optimistic about the future situation.

Handing over Technique Transmission to increase the number and strength of high-end combatants as quickly as possible was one thing, but the most important matter was still promoting cultivation nationwide so they could get one step ahead.

He wondered how Tang Qirui’s discussion was going.

On the way back, both of them were very quiet.

The aberrations had not yet been resolved, and now bacteria had appeared too. Never mind Third Brother Wang, who knew nothing, even Chen Yi had a pounding headache.

He wanted to lie flat and live like a salted fish, but the bare minimum premise was that he could eat meat buns every day and fill his stomach. Only after eating his fill could he lie flat.

If he was beside the toilet, smelling stink every day and eating leftovers even dogs would not touch, was that lying flat?

No!

That was torture.

They returned to the village in silence. From far away, they could feel that something was unusual in the village.

There was no one on the road. Every household’s gate was tightly shut. Only members of the Special Action Team stood guard at the intersections. When they saw Chen Yi come over, they greeted him one after another.

Chen Yi swept his divine ability over the Special Action Team members he could see.

Most of them were completely clean. Only one or two had a little ancient bacteria on them, but because they cultivated, those bacteria could not enter their bodies. They were all in high spirits, and their spiritual power was normal.

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