Chapter One, The Last Glance
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However, he has never lacked for living expenses; every month, someone would deposit several thousand yuan into his account. That amount was not enough for him to indulge, but it was sufficient for him to eat well and stay warm. He drifted through several years in a daze, until his grandfather passed away due to illness. A few more years went by, and then his uncle, who was the then Executive Vice Governor of a southern province, was also pushed into prison by political rivals. It was only then that the Guo family completely collapsed
Disappointment in him
Now he actually has the opportunity to make amends, to erase that unforgettable look of disappointment that led to his demise, to once again experience his mother's affection; he is truly moved
The voice on the other end of the phone grew increasingly gentle, yet Guo Zhengyang did not listen to the end; he put down the phone and tucked it into his pocket after hearing only half of it
He spent a full four years progressing from the initial stage of cultivation to the peak of the early Gathering Spirit stage
Fifty years ago, his dignified and serious father was still alive, and his loving and indulgent mother was equally well.
Ultimately, in his previous life, his fate underwent a dramatic change due to a car accident that occurred a few months later
In his previous life, even though he left the mundane world to enter the spiritual realm and embarked on the vast path of pursuing the Dao, this mobile phone was still carefully treasured by him at his side
But who would have thought
Even though many people later tried to persuade him, attempting to untangle the knots in his heart, he was unable to break free from them.
Laughter faded away along with the sound of footsteps departing, yet the figure crouched by the edge of the pool remained motionless in its previous posture. After several minutes had passed, with water cascading down the neck and soaking into the body, he finally withdrew his head from beneath the surface, reaching up to push back the damp, long hair that hung down to his nose, revealing a pair of reddened eyes.
Silently watching the phone in his hand, as the ringtone rang repeatedly, and several passersby occasionally stopped to watch outside the washroom, Guo Zhengyang finally took a deep breath and placed the phone to his ear
Holding his report card, he did not return home but instead spent his days wandering outside. It was only upon hearing that his father had been promoted to deputy mayor and that they would be moving that he felt compelled to go back and retrieve some of the things he had valued in the past.
Little Zheng
Not long ago, he was seething with anger over the injustice of this fate; shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly returned to fifty years ago
He seems to have not answered the phone at home for many days, and even at one point entertained thoughts of running away from home and abandoning his studies. If it were not for the girl in this campus whom he was very reluctant to part with, and who still haunts his dreams, he might have truly run away from home alone
This mobile phone is the eighteenth birthday gift that Guo Zhengyang's mother gave him before the Spring Festival
That was also the last glance he had of his parents
Tears continued to surge and fall from Guo Zhengyang's eyes, yet a trace of doubt flashed through his mind: Is he angry with his biological father?
In my memory, my father, who was the Secretary of the County Committee of Yanhe County, was to be promoted to Vice Mayor of Mingchuan City in a few months. That period coincided with the time when Guo Zhengyang failed his college entrance examination. My father's promotion brought a lot of joy to our family, but unfortunately, while he was taking my mother to the city, they encountered a heavy rainstorm. During the storm, a truck crossing the bridge, due to the driver's fatigue, was still speeding through the rain. When the tires suddenly skidded, the driver had no time to brake, and... it crashed into the car where my parents were, breaking through the guardrail and plunging into the river... but unfortunately, while he was taking my mother to the city, they encountered a heavy rainstorm. During the storm, a truck crossing the bridge, due to the driver's fatigue, was still speeding through the rain. When the tires suddenly skidded, the driver had no time to brake, and... it crashed into the car where my parents were, breaking through the guardrail and plunging into the river...
Indeed, in Guo Zhengyang's eyes, it can only be referred to as ancient; in reality, this mobile phone is currently the most popular and is the most sought-after phone globally. It was only launched domestically at the end of last year, and being able to use this phone on campus within such a short time is undoubtedly at the forefront of trends, not to mention that this is merely a small, relatively underdeveloped county high school in the inland regions of the country
Then I will take my leave
Lost in thought, a sudden ringtone erupted from Guo Zhengyang's phone. After casually wiping his hands on his sweater, he took out the phone from his pocket, and a hint of a peculiar emotion flashed in his eyes. This phone was still an old model of a smartphone.
Little Zheng
When they were about to leave, his parents were already loading their luggage into the car. His mother kindly invited Guo Zhengyang to get in and leave together, but he straightforwardly declined, saying that he wanted to stay at his classmate's house for a few more days and would go to the city a bit later
After years of fierce struggle and fighting, I have finally carved out a path through bloodshed, establishing myself as a minor expert within the community of independent cultivators
His son left his parents with disappointment and sorrow at his passing, and that glance was fundamentally the reason for his subsequent self-destructive behavior
Before the Spring Festival, in Class 5 of the third year of high school, where Guo Zhengyang is, there are a total of ninety-one students. Guo Zhengyang proudly ranked tenth from the bottom in his class. If placed among the six classes of the third year liberal arts students, his ranking would not even need to be sought after.
Unfortunately, the monk died too quickly. Although he left behind many items, Guo Zhengyang found himself at a loss. In order to understand the ancient characters in those secret texts, he spent several months researching. Subsequently, he spent a full five years deciphering a foundational cultivation manual before he finally grasped it thoroughly and understood how to practice. During those five years, he gave up countless times and attempted repeatedly, to the point where he nearly lost all confidence before he finally stumbled into the path. After that, he spent another five years deciphering a foundational cultivation manual before he finally grasped it thoroughly and understood how to practice. During those five years, he gave up countless times and attempted repeatedly, to the point where he nearly lost all confidence before he finally stumbled into the path.
However, after the fall of the Guo family, Guo Zhengyang unexpectedly encountered an injured and critically ill cultivator who had escaped from the Spirit Realm. He thus acquired a fortune, including cultivation techniques and spiritual artifacts, and learned from that cultivator about a vast and magnificent world of immortals and deities.
At that time, he did not pay much attention, but when his parents suddenly encountered a tragic accident on their way to the city and truly passed away, leaving this world so abruptly, he cried out in heart-wrenching sorrow, unable to free himself from the boundless guilt for a long time
On the other end of the phone, perhaps due to the prolonged silence, a hint of doubt crept into the voice, "Are you still angry with your dad? Oh, father and son shouldn't hold grudges overnight. Come on, don't be mad. Come down quickly, Mom has brought you some delicious food"
Even with his level of composure, he was in a daze for a full half-day before he could be certain that not only was he not dead, but he had also bizarrely returned to fifty years ago
It was only after seven or eight years that he finally learned where the Spirit Realm was, thanks to a fortuitous opportunity
When he received the news and went to the hospital to see his mother, he was harshly slapped several times by his father in front of several doctors and nurses standing outside the ward
The practice after the initiation is equally challenging
He is not a humble and apprehensive loose cultivator of the spiritual realm, but rather the distinguished young master of the Guo family
The master gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into their body, aiming to defy fate and change their destiny. The first step taken in this process is the gathering of spiritual energy, which is divided into four stages: initial stage, mid-stage, late stage, and great perfection
The results of the college entrance examination were released, and Guo Zhengyang fell short of the vocational college admission line by about 100 to 200 points. Aware of his poor performance, he did not return home with his report card. It was not until his parents decided to move to the city that he reluctantly made his way back. Outside the house, his parents, who were already in the car, called for him to join them, but Guo Zhengyang firmly declined, stating that he wanted to spend a few days at a classmate's house and would go to the city a few days later
In his previous life, although Guo Zhengyang stumbled upon an opportunity, the deceased cultivator was merely a novice at the mid-stage of Spirit Gathering, and the items left behind were not valuable. Furthermore, due to the lack of guidance, he had to explore on his own, taking five years to reach the entry level, four years to cultivate to the peak of the initial stage of Spirit Gathering, and he was stuck at a bottleneck for a year. It took him an additional seven to eight years to advance to the peak of the mid-stage of Spirit Gathering.
Alright, take your time washing. Remember to dry your hair after washing it
Tears mixed with tap water flowed quietly. Guo Zhengyang took a deep breath, then slowly lowered his head, resting on the edge of the pool, and whispered, "Thank you"
This expression of gratitude is a gentle tone that only he can hear, for only he knows that the recipient of his thanks may not even exist
Achieving the Great Perfection of Gathering Spirits allows one to establish a foothold in the spiritual realm, but it remains a tenuous position, especially for solitary cultivators, as this precariousness still harbors significant dangers
From that day on, Guo Zhengyang began to be raised by his grandfather, but he started to indulge in self-destructive behavior, living in despair, which ultimately led to his grandfather expelling him from the house
Fifty years ago, the time was vibrant with youth
Guo Zhengyang was trapped in the Great Perfection realm for several more years, frequently encountering various crises and dangers. It was not until several years later that he finally迎来了 his opportunity and broke through to become a true person
A gentle and caring voice came from the other end of the phone, just two simple words. Guo Zhengyang turned around directly, facing away from the washing area, tears streaming down like a fountain
After putting away his phone, Guo Zhengyang once again leaned his head under the faucet, allowing the rushing warm water to thoroughly wash his long hair
In the midst of his spirited confidence, Guo Zhengyang suddenly encountered a calamity. Before he could even unleash his fists and express his ambitions in the spiritual realm, he found himself caught in the chaos of a fierce battle between two powerful beings near his cave dwelling, and he tragically lost his life in the confusion.
As the father stood outside the car door to take one last look at him, his eyes were filled with disappointment. When the mother got into the car, although her gaze was mostly one of indulgence, Guo Zhengyang could still discern a hint of loss.
However, regardless of the circumstances, fully understanding that not only had he not died, but he had also returned to fifty years ago, when his parents encountered that tragic accident, and the drastic changes in the Guo family a few months prior, Guo Zhengyang was truly so excited and agitated that he wanted to cry out loud
If it were not for that car accident, my father would not have passed away in the prime of his life, nor would he have succumbed to despair. My grandfather would not have experienced the long-term sorrow of losing his beloved youngest son in his later years, which ultimately led to his declining health. If my grandfather were still alive, my uncle's political adversaries might not have dared to act so recklessly.
In his youth, he was reckless and rebellious, often in stark contrast to the values of the older generation. However, how could he remain ignorant forever? After his parents passed away, reflecting on the past, Guo Zhengyang could only feel deep regret.
He really wants to have a good cry
Because he is no longer the solitary cultivator who frequently teetered on the edge of death, living in constant fear and always on guard against various murderous crises.
As he rummaged through memories that were almost forgotten, Guo Zhengyang's tears flowed more fiercely. After putting down his phone and taking a deep breath to calm himself, he grasped the phone again and said, "I'm washing my hair, wait for me to finish."
He never imagined that at the moment when life comes to an end, everything could actually start anew
During this Spring Festival, he was scolded all the way through, but at that time, he was in a rebellious phase. The more fiercely his father scolded him, the more intense his rebellious feelings became. A few days before school started, he had a fierce argument with his father and ran out in the middle of the night, not returning home. This caused his mother to search for him for a long time in the heavy snow, and the next day, she caught a severe cold and was hospitalized
The memories that had long been forgotten deep in his mind were revisited several times by Guo Zhengyang, and he finally found the source.
Continuously gathering spiritual energy into the body, constantly cleansing the countless impurities of the mortal flesh, until it reaches a state of clarity and purity, which is considered perfection. After achieving the great perfection of spiritual energy gathering, any further breakthroughs signify transcendence from the mundane, allowing one to freely soar through the skies and traverse the earth, becoming a terrestrial immortal capable of controlling clouds and rain, referred to as the realm of the true person.
A full minute passed, and the figure remained silent and motionless, until a sudden slap on the right shoulder and a loud burst of laughter prompted the figure to gesture backward with a wave of the hand
In his previous life, following the departure of his parents, he fell into despair for many years. Regardless of whether his grandfather or uncle offered advice or scolded him, he was unable to regain his spirits. The primary reason for this was that his parents left with disappointment.
Is there someone in the unseen world who, seeing the profound sadness and desolation of his life, has granted him a turning point?
Guo Zhengyang is indeed full of vigor and charm, even though he was nearly seventy years old at that time. However, once he becomes a true immortal, his lifespan will double, and a true immortal in their sixties or seventies is still considered to be in their prime.
Because this is the last gift his mother gave him
The father initially refused and looked at him coldly, but the mother, on the other hand, persuaded him, suggesting that it would be good for him to take a break. She then came over and handed him a sum of money before calling the father to get in the car
That lifetime transformation began a few months later during the summer vacation, starting from the days following the release of the college entrance examination results
Is this, perhaps, the compensation that fate has bestowed upon him
Before his death, he was truly filled with resentment and anger
Looking back over his life, even though he had long since tempered his nerves to be incredibly resilient through various dangers and hardships, he still felt a deep sorrow that made him want to cry
Upon entering the spiritual realm, although the spiritual energy there is abundant, surpassing the cultivation efficiency of the outside world by more than ten times, he, as a solitary soul, was merely at the peak of the mid-stage of Spirit Gathering. He lacked substantial combat experience against formidable foes. In those early years, he spent most of his time hiding and seeking a place to settle down, exhausting all his efforts. By the time he finally adapted to that harsh world and continuously broke through in the rich environment of spiritual energy, reaching the Great Perfection of Spirit Gathering, he barely acquired the means to seek a cave dwelling for refuge.
It is still shortly after the Spring Festival, and the third year of high school has just begun a few days ago
Until his death, he never forgot the last glance his parents gave him. His father's eyes were filled with disappointment, even anger, while his mother's eyes showed much indulgence, yet also concealed a sense of loss.
The snow-covered campus is filled with groups of figures laughing as they pass through the stairwell. In the washroom between the first and second floors, a tall figure leans on the edge of the sink, with their head extended under the faucet, allowing the flowing warm water to repeatedly wash over their long hair, which reaches down to their ears, while droplets of water splatter chaotically onto their neck and sweater.
At that moment, Guo Zhengyang's confidence was stronger than ever before. Given his background and opportunities, reaching that point was truly sufficient for him to survive relatively easily in the spiritual realm
In the face of the heavens' wrath, he had toiled tirelessly throughout his life, finally carving out a bloody path in the spiritual realm. Just as he glimpsed the dawn of success, he was suddenly struck by calamity. The anger and resentment he felt were akin to raging waves, yet what was even more disheartening was that he had no opportunity to express that anger and resentment, for in that very instant, he had already turned to ashes.