Ye Tiancheng's calm and collected demeanor left Shi Tou feeling a bit unnerved. He had initially intended to be Ye Tiancheng's life mentor, but this guy was as powerful as a creator, knowing everything and seemingly able to predict the future.
Previously, he had eaten an unripe fruit and felt incredibly refreshed, a feeling of indescribable comfort that directly propelled him to the first level of Qi Refining.
However, Ye Tiancheng had learned from his mistake this time, knowing that ripe pears were far superior to unripe ones. Thus, he patiently waited until all the pears were ripe before starting to eat.
After consuming a ripe pear and with prior cultivation experience, Ye Tiancheng directly reached the third level, his physical strength becoming incredibly formidable.
"You brat, if you keep being this smart, I won't dare to talk to you anymore. I suspect you're some hidden big shot."
"Stop overthinking. Thinking too much doesn't suit you, a cold, inanimate stone. We haven't known each other for long; you'll get to know me after spending some time together."
Ye Tiancheng's surprisingly eloquent reply, coupled with its logic, left the stubborn stone with no recourse but to shut up and observe, waiting to see what tricks Ye Tiancheng would pull.
But Ye Tiancheng was playing it too safely. Nuwa Shi thought she should do something to stir things up. If Ye Tiancheng continued to be so stable, Nuwa Shi felt she wouldn't have any entertainment.
"Ye Tiancheng, you can try out your strength now. You'll feel a world of difference compared to before."
The stone spoke with a sense of mystery. Ye Tiancheng had indeed experienced such a sensation before, having reached extremely high levels in his dreams. He didn't pay much attention to such minor initial achievements.
"Whatever, I'll try it when I get a chance."
Seeing Ye Tiancheng's apparent lack of enthusiasm for his significant increase in abilities, even Nuwa Shi couldn't help herself.
"Sigh, you're really something. Learning is worse than not learning. You inexplicably came here seeking progress, and when you actually make progress, you don't seem happy. What kind of person are you?"
Ye Tiancheng wasn't angry at all, as Nuwa Shi had a point. Ye Tiancheng couldn't explain that he had already experienced it beforehand, only that many details differed from actual events, requiring Ye Tiancheng's special attention. Ye Tiancheng was too lazy to explain, letting the stubborn stone think whatever it wanted.
Ye Tiancheng's body was a bit overwhelmed by the recent advancements, so he went into the wooden cabin to sleep and digest.
However, as soon as he lay down, he heard rustling sounds outside. Ye Tiancheng's eyes snapped open because he remembered that someone would come looking for trouble at this time.
Previously, he had been a beat too slow and almost had his pears taken by that hooligan. This time, upon hearing the sound, Ye Tiancheng leaped from the wooden bed and went outside.
As predicted in his dream, Ye Tiancheng saw a face he had long forgotten but was now becoming familiar again.
This scoundrel, named Hou Ye, was planted there by Hou Mingzhu to monitor him. Despite being a grown man, he had to adhere to male virtues. If he did anything out of line, this lackey would immediately report it to Hou Mingzhu.
"Hou Ye, I advise you not to act recklessly. You are no longer my match. Please stop looking for trouble. We can coexist peacefully from now on, or your hand will soon be broken."
Before he could even make a move, Hou Ye was surprised that Ye Tiancheng appeared as if he could divine the future, intercepting all his plans.
"You bastard, you've gotten bold. Ye Tiancheng is fooling me like an idiot. I've seen you acting suspiciously lately, not doing anything good. Hurry up and tell Grandpa in detail what shameful things you've been doing?"
Perhaps Ye Tiancheng's way of speaking had changed, as Hou Ye's response was different from Ye Tiancheng's memory, but it didn't matter; it wasn't anything good.
"It's none of your business. I've already advised you, don't embarrass yourself."
Ye Tiancheng was as calm as an emperor, exuding an aura that kept people at a distance. This caused a slight surprise to someone accustomed to extorting him, and it only fueled his immense curiosity.
"You unfilial son, did getting struck by lightning last time make your head stupid? How dare you treat me like this? What's wrong? Have I been too busy lately and haven't asked you for money? Have you forgotten how you used to grovel before me!"
It was laughable that Ye Tiancheng couldn't even get angry at such a minor figure. He didn't even qualify to provoke him.
"Hurry up and leave, don't cause trouble here."
Ye Tiancheng, a farmer dumped here by his wife, was acting like a king warning him, which truly gave Hou Ye, the local bully, indigestion.
"Ye Tiancheng, I'm telling you, there's a limit to showing off. Don't act like an elder and lecture me. What are you, a piece of shit!"
Ye Tiancheng's calm attitude infuriated Hou Ye. This time, Ye Tiancheng didn't make the first move, nor was he eyeing Ye Tiancheng's pears. Instead, he threw a punch with immense force directly at Ye Tiancheng's face.
"I'll beat you to death today!"
Ye Tiancheng lightly raised his hand and blocked the attack. Then, without much effort, he squeezed. With the sound of bones cracking, Hou Ye cried out in pain, his eyes rolling back.
"Ah! Spare me, Ye Tiancheng, spare my life!"
This Hou Ye was a sensible person. Seeing that he couldn't gain any advantage from Ye Tiancheng, he immediately changed his tune and knelt down, begging for mercy.
"Ye Tiancheng, I was wrong. Please be magnanimous and overlook my faults. Spare me this once."
"You've been bullying me for a while. If you're not satisfied, you can go and complain to Hou Mingzhu."
In this era where strength ruled, Hou Ye knew he was no longer Ye Tiancheng's opponent and immediately lost his temper.
"I wouldn't dare. I won't complain from now on, I just beg you to let me go."
Ye Tiancheng immediately released Hou Ye's hand. "Remember your words. Besides, Hou Mingzhu only treats you as a tool. If you go to complain, you'll be met with a cold shoulder. It's best for you to behave yourself, or next time I might just crush your neck."
Ye Tiancheng's aura was truly astonishing. I could only assume that Ye Tiancheng had gone mad from cultivation, and the thought that a demonically possessed person shouldn't be bothered quickly convinced me.
"Alright, great deity, I understand. I'll leave now. I won't get in your way anymore, and please don't be angry."
In fact, Ye Tiancheng had his own considerations. Currently, Ye Tiancheng did not want to reveal his condition to anyone, especially not the cold-blooded and ruthless shrew Hou Mingzhu. That's why he warned Hou Ye not to be a messenger dog.
Seeing Hou Ye flee in utter disarray, Nuwa Shi finally appeared as if watching a show.
"Ye Tiancheng, you're too lenient with this ruffian. What's with all the lecturing? You're only twenty years old. Youth is meant for recklessness, but you act like an old cadre!"
There was no ripple in Ye Tiancheng's gaze, as if he were truly as desireless as an old cadre, as Nuwa Shi suggested. In reality, Ye Tiancheng knew very well that he had simply seen through everything beforehand.
"Alright, anger harms the body. I can't even bear to look at such trash. I'm afraid I'll contaminate my cultivation."
After speaking, Ye Tiancheng went back into the wooden shed and fell asleep as if the previous commotion hadn't happened. The most annoying thing Hou Ye did was disturb his sleep; Ye Tiancheng forgot about it immediately.
As before, Hou Ye went to report to Hou Mingzhu. However, she was busy going to a party and scolded him severely. It was then that Hou Ye realized his regret. It seemed Ye Tiancheng was right; the young lady only treated him like a dog.
Therefore, he stopped working for Hou Mingzhu. Instead, he felt that following Ye Tiancheng might be better than being someone's dog. From then on, Hou Ye began to consider finding a new path. He conceived the idea of finding Ye Tiancheng at an opportune moment to see if he could latch onto Ye Tiancheng's influence.
Meanwhile, Ye Tiancheng reached the seventh level of cultivation in just seven days. It was worth noting that in his dream, Ye Tiancheng had taken half a month to reach this level.
Moreover, this time, reaching the seventh level was without any detours and was much more substantial than in his dream.
After reaching the seventh level, Ye Tiancheng began to consider how to monetize the pears he had grown. After all, he couldn't keep Hou Qing'er waiting forever to get married. The surgery had to be done; otherwise, if her father had any accidents, Ye Tiancheng would be the one held most responsible.
After a simple tidy-up, Ye Tiancheng took a basket of pears to the market. Along the way, Nuwa Shi was still envisioning a beautiful future.
"You're a farmer who only earns a dozen yuan a day. If you suddenly make tens of millions, will you be so stimulated that you get a nosebleed and faint?"
Ye Tiancheng shook his head calmly. "It's not as easy as you think. Who eats pears at this season? Let's take it slow. If we find someone who appreciates them, the pears will sell."
"I don't know where you heard these strange theories. You're just scaring yourself. Don't worry, these pears will definitely sell well."
Soon, Nuwa Shi was proven wrong, and quite emphatically so. Ye Tiancheng had predicted everything correctly.
Ye Tiancheng sat quietly in a corner, selling pears, occasionally calling out. This time, he deliberately avoided that annoying fruit merchant.
In his dream, that fruit merchant had mocked Ye Tiancheng, saying unpleasant things just by looking at his ragged clothes. Ye Tiancheng felt annoyed seeing him, so this time he didn't choose to stand near him, nor was he foolish enough to gamble with a merchant. He directly found a quiet spot.
"Ye Tiancheng, it's normal for you not to sell anything. You're too bad at business. Who can see you in this little corner? And with your sneaky appearance, people might think you're selling poison. Who would dare buy it?"
Seeing that Ye Tiancheng's business acumen was too immature, Nuwa Shi became anxious and chattered a few words.
"That fruit merchant didn't bother me, but you're attacking my ears. Don't rush, you stubborn stone. Just wait and see, a beautiful woman will come to buy my pears next."
This was the moment for the supporting female character to appear. Ye Tiancheng unhurriedly scanned the market. This tool would soon arrive to buy pears with money.
"Are you crazy? You've even decided on a buyer. Let me see if a sucker like you described will really come to buy your pears."