The Urban Cultivation Grandmaster

Chapter 29: The World After the Spiritual Energy Tide

Tianjiang Cultivator Academy, Mu Tian’s residence, on the Sanjang Pavilion Taking advantage of the twilight, two giant pythons silently slipped into the waters of the Three Lakes Region. Mu Tian let out a sigh and went straight upstairs. As soon as he entered the house, Mu Tian was stunned. Upstairs and downstairs, inside and outside the living room—everything was in utter disarray. Coffee tables, sofas, furniture, and beds were either shattered or in tatters. Mu Tian simply couldn’t find a single intact, undamaged item; the entire villa had clearly turned into a garbage dump. Mu Tian pressed his hand to his forehead; his head was spinning slightly. Ever since becoming a cultivator three years ago, his memories of headaches and fevers had long since faded, but at that moment, he was once again experiencing them all too vividly. Just as Mu Tian was seething with rage, a small, dark head poked out from among the ruins. Its bright, sparkling eyes darted about, and the moment it saw Mu Tian, the little creature’s eyes seemed to glow. The little Black Bear, of course, still remembered that it was Mu Tian who had saved it when it was in agonizing pain. Suddenly flinging aside the tattered sofa cover draped over it, the little Black Bear waddled over, wiggling its plump little body, and quickly made its way to Mu Tian. The little black bear stood on its hind legs, clutching Mu Tian’s thigh tightly with its paws, and let out a series of “hu hu” sounds, looking overjoyed—just like a child seeing their parents come home from work, full of affection and delight. Instantly, Mu Tian—who had been seething with anger just moments before—softened. Seeing this adorable little creature, he simply couldn’t bring himself to scold it; after all, it was just a child and would need to be properly disciplined in the future. Mu Tian picked up the little Black Bear. Nestled in his arms, the cub rubbed its little belly and stared at Mu Tian with a look of hurt and grievance. Mu Tian chuckled to himself—so that’s why it was acting up at home; it must have been hungry. Holding the little Black Bear, he walked to the Sanjang Pavilion. Mu Tian called out, and instantly, two giant pythons—one green and one white—burst out of the water with a splash, their heads towering in midair, looking quite terrifying. Mu Tian, of course, remained completely calm. He let the splashing water hit him and simply waved his hand to brush it away. Mu Tian wasn’t afraid, and the little Black Bear was even less so. Not only was it unafraid, but a look of curiosity appeared in its eyes—as if it were wondering why it wasn’t that big itself. The little Black Bear wasn’t afraid of the two giant pythons, but the pythons were utterly startled by the sight of the little Black Bear. They both showed signs of fear; if Mu Tian hadn’t been there, they would likely have made a run for it. In the eyes of the two giant pythons, the little Black Bear wasn’t small at all. On the contrary, they saw in him a colossal figure, like a deity—his head reaching toward the heavens, radiant with light, and every movement exuding a terrifying aura of authority. “Go catch a few small fish for the little Black Bear—he’s hungry.” With a whoosh, the two giant pythons, upon hearing the command, plunged back into the lake with a splash. Just as Mu Tian was running himself ragged trying to restore order at home, the outside world was already in an uproar. Since spiritual energy first surged into the world three years ago, Huaxia had experienced five spiritual energy tides of varying magnitudes; this one sweeping across the land of Huaxia was the sixth. After each spiritual energy tide, the areas bathed by it undergo a qualitative transformation. Living beings in those regions reap immense benefits—at the very least, their bodies become stronger and chronic ailments vanish; most people gain even longer-lasting advantages, such as a significant boost in their cultivation aptitude. Consequently, after every spiritual energy tide, a large number of cultivators would spring up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Not only that, but after every spiritual energy tide, a vast number of spiritual treasures emerge, transforming the entire land into a treasure trove brimming with rare and precious resources that drive countless cultivators wild. Huaxia has already experienced six such divine opportunities, which undoubtedly arouses immense envy among people worldwide. U. S. netizen: “Oh my God, Huaxia just produced a world-renowned Master Daowen not long ago, and now it’s been blessed with another spiritual energy tide. Huaxia is truly on the rise—no one can stop it.” British netizen: “Napoleon once said that Huaxia was a sleeping lion—and when it awoke, the whole world would tremble! As it turns out, not only has it awakened, but it is about to lead the world. That’s truly a terrifying prospect!” Netizen from the Cosmic Nation: “The spiritual energy tide has also graced our country; most of the peninsula has enjoyed Heaven’s blessings—it’s simply marvelous.” Netizen from the Land of the Rising Sun: “Our friends from the Great Cosmic Nation are really full of themselves. You’ve only been grazed on the periphery—you’re still a long way from the true core of the spiritual energy tide. Anyone who doesn’t know better would actually think you’re the biggest beneficiaries.” Netizen from the Cosmic Kingdom: “The spiritual energy tide took a detour and simply didn’t pass through certain countries—hahahaha, what a joke.” The whole world was abuzz with discussion, and the Huaxia Nation was naturally even more lively. First, many heads of prestigious sects exchanged congratulations with one another. Word spread that masters from various sects and schools had seized the opportunity presented by the spiritual energy tide to advance their cultivation, so they posted on Weibo to celebrate. Friends flooded them with congratulations, and even bystanders happily joined in the congratulatory frenzy. For a time, the top trending topics on Weibo kept changing like a rotating banner; the official Weibo accounts of major sects and top martial arts schools all high-profile announced that their own masters had broken through, posting celebratory messages. It seemed to have become a trend—it would be embarrassing for any official account not to post a congratulatory message. More importantly, after every spiritual energy tide, a few promising young cultivators with exceptional talent would emerge, which was the main reason these organizations had abandoned their usual low-key approach. To attract outstanding cultivation prospects, one must possess formidable strength—otherwise, how could one draw in true talent? The “idol effect”—the admiration of the strong—never goes out of style, no matter the era. After flaunting their cultivation levels, these sects then began to show off their harvests. In the past, people often sought to set themselves apart and appear superior by flaunting luxury cars, mansions, designer jewelry, and clothing. Even those with shallow tastes would smugly brandish so-called “high-end” i Phones. But now, all that has changed. Shaolin Temple’s official Weibo account: “Amitabha Buddha, a Bodhi tree within the monastery has borne a fruit of virtue.” In the photo, a towering Bodhi tree shone brilliantly, radiating a powerful spiritual energy. It was clearly a rare sacred tree, and given its special significance in Buddhism, it truly captured the attention of countless netizens. The official Weibo account of Longhu Mountain wasn’t to be outdone: “Our little Hu has also grown much stronger.” Below was a picture of a magnificent tiger—a towering, majestic beast that looked incredibly formidable at first glance, clearly possessing extraordinary combat prowess and not one to be messed with. With the major Buddhist and Taoist sects leading the way, the official Weibo accounts of all the major sects couldn’t sit idly by. They all dug deep into their reserves to show off their treasures, and even independent cultivators brought out spiritual herbs and the like to flaunt, earning the envy of countless ordinary people. The internet was in an uproar: Huaxia netizens gasped in amazement, while foreign netizens wailed in dismay. But just as this chaos was reaching its peak, a bombshell announcement was made during Huaxia’s 7:00 p. m. news broadcast. Huaxia had discovered a massive Spirit Stone Mine deep within the mountains of the Southwest. The state would mobilize the military to venture deep into the mountains to mine the spirit stones. As soon as the news broke, the entire world was in an uproar.