Chapter 391: A Brand-New World - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 391: A Brand-New World Breaking through level ninety and experiencing such an exponential increase in strength was something Lin Zhengran had never imagined possible. This sudden leap meant that all the tests he had conducted prior to reaching level ninety were virtually obsolete since the spiritual energy he could now perceive was on an entirely different level compared to before. It was as if the colors of the world became more vibrant. Coupled with the continuous upgrade of existing skills and the acquisition of new ones, he spent several days experimenting with these newfound abilities. And this was just at level ninety—what would it be like to reach level one hundred? He felt that with his current strength, he could easily dominate even in a world filled with cultivators. Today was Saturday. It was the seventh day since Lin Zhengran broke through to level ninety. During this time, he carved out two to three hours each day to stroll around the world alone, taking in the sights and experimenting with his new abilities. Previously, the presence of surveillance cameras on streets made it necessary for Lin Zhengran to constantly find ways to avoid detection, which was quite inconvenient despite his speed. But now, that was no longer necessary. He could use his spiritual energy to remain invisible while using stealth. Void walking allowed Lin Zhengran to traverse the skies, teleporting to any visible point with only a slight consumption of spiritual energy. Paired with his detection skills, his range of vision expanded nearly a hundredfold, allowing him to easily perceive objects over a thousand meters away without obstruction. Even if there were obstacles, it didn't matter. His x-ray vision skill further broadened his view. Thus, he could now effortlessly travel through cities in a flash, unnoticed by anyone. Above the clouds over Zifeng City, a passenger plane flew by, and some passengers gazed at the sprawling sky in awe while others were accustomed to the vastness. Yet no one saw Lin Zhengran sitting cross-legged on a cloud, watching the plane disappear into the distance as the wind blew around him: "Breaking through to level ninety is truly astonishing; although several days have passed, there’s still much novelty with these new skills." Suddenly, his phone rang with a repetitive ding. Lin Zhengran retrieved his phone from his pocket. It was a call from He Qing. Upon answering, her gentle voice came through: "Lin Zhengran? Aren’t you coming back? Lunch is almost ready; we’ll start in ten minutes." Glancing at the time, he was surprised to find how long he’d been out. He replied, "I know, I’ll be back right away." He Qing had difficulty hearing him over the loud wind noise from his phone, as if he were on a rooftop with the wind howling, making it hard to listen clearly. He Qing inquired puzzledly, "What did you say? Lin Zhengran, where are you? Why is it so windy? I can barely hear you." Lin Zhengran laughed: "A wind picked up just now. I said I’ll be back within ten minutes. You all can set the table; I’m coming." He Qing acknowledged with a smile: "Alright, we’ll wait for you." Right after, Jiang Xueli's voice jumped in: "Hurry back! We’re having barbecue! Sister Jiang is grilling it herself!" "Got it." After hanging up, Lin Zhengran descended, narrowly avoiding a sudden incoming eagle. He raised a hand, diminishing his protective spiritual energy, allowing the bird to safely pass before him unharmed. Without this precaution, although the protective energy surrounding him wouldn’t harm him if the bird collided, the eagle might have been severely injured or killed. Unseen but sensing something inexplicably present in the air, the eagle screeched, seemingly in gratitude for the life saved. Lin Zhengran chuckled and continued his descent. In the airspace above the city, as he teleported and used stealth, he coincidentally witnessed a distracted driver about to hit a mother and daughter crossing the street at an intersection. Realizing the driver had noticed the pedestrians and was braking, it was clear he wouldn’t stop in time. Lin Zhengran altered his falling trajectory slightly and whispered: “Stop.” Instantly, the world centered around him turned a pale white. Everything became frozen: the soaring eagle halted mid-flight, and the car, about to hit the mother and daughter, stood still like a painting. The driver’s panic-stricken expression was etched onto his face like a sculpture. Thirty seconds was more than enough for Lin Zhengran. He lightly landed on the road, nudged the driver’s car, ensuring once time resumed, it would veer into a guardrail. Based on the distance, the driver would end up in the hospital for a few months, enough to teach him a lesson but not life-threatening. Passing by the mother and daughter, he softly tapped the little girl’s shoulder: "Be careful." Then he made his way home towards the villa, as time resumed after thirty seconds. The frightened mother and daughter screamed, the little girl’s heart pounding in fear; nevertheless, the car deviated off-course, hitting the road guardrail with a crash, leaving the scene a mess, though miraculously it wasn’t as severe as it could have been. People called the police and ambulances, but fortunately, no major harm had occurred. Checking the scene from afar, Lin Zhengran looked back, satisfied. Though capable of preventing the incident entirely, he chose not to perfect the situation. He would only intervene as he wished, letting the world function as it was meant to. After all, He Qing, Wenwen, Lili, Jingshi, and Qianqian lived well now, and Lin Zhengran himself was content; disrupting the current life wasn’t necessary; he had grown fond of this world after his rebirth. Upon returning to the villa, the aroma was already wafting from the yard. Jiang Qian, who had been living with them for a week, had blended well into the group. The five women gathered around a table beside a barbecue grill, surrounded by a variety of dishes. Each wore comfy casual attire. Han Wenwen, even while tempted by her own juicy appetizers, asked, "Has Zhengran returned?" He Qing glanced at the time: "Soon, he promised in ten minutes, which hasn’t passed yet." Jiang Qian glanced towards the entrance, anxious: "I'll check the entrance." Jiang Xueli trailed behind: "I'll come too." With Lili’s suggestion, everyone suddenly wanted to accompany her. Just then, Lin Zhengran interjected with a smile: "No need to check, I’m back!" Seeing him return, the women greeted him warmly. Jiang Qian’s gentle but somewhat concerned voice broke the air: "Where did you go? You’re late again." Han Wenwen smiled, linking her arm with his: "Where have you been, Zhengran, out again?" Jiang Xueli stood with arms crossed, pouting: "Finally back! We've been waiting!" He Qing laughed: "Wash up for dinner." Lin Zhengran affectionately ruffled her hair, bringing a flush to Jiang Qian's cheeks as he revealed a bag: "Just wandered a bit, picked up things for you all. The aroma greeted me as soon as I arrived, shall we? I hear Jingshi cooked today?" Jiang Jingshi nodded with a warm smile: "New marinating technique I learned, Zhengran, give it a try." With a content nod, Lin Zhengran declared: "Let’s eat." Seated at the table, the harmonious gathering included the five women, a familial warmth enveloping them all. —— Elsewhere, in an underground gambling den: A middle-aged man kneeled pleadingly: "Brother Yang! Please, I gave everything I had, really no more to give, and paid off my previous debts, didn’t I?" Zhang Yang, the boss, lounged on a couch, gazing at the kneeling man: "After embezzling wages from your factory workers, you really only have a few hundred thousand left?" “It was just a small factory.” An aide handed Zhang Yang a cigarette, which he lit as he spoke: "I'm not here today for money, but to address the breach of contract with the Jiang Group when abandoning your factory. You realize our boss despises causing trouble for the Jiang Group or Zhengshi Company, yes? Luckily, I found out before our boss; otherwise, this wouldn’t end well today." "The… boss? Brother Yang, you have a boss? Who is…" Zhang Yang, puffing smoke, suddenly turned irate: "Who my boss is, isn't for you to know," he snapped at the kneeling man, instructing his aides, "Teach him a lesson—make sure he remembers." (End of Chapter)