Chapter 837: The True Pioneers
Jiangnan covered his face. Where the heck was he supposed to go ask them?
Yang Jian said irritably, "For now, all we can confirm is that spiritual energy resurgence did happen in ancient times! And more than once!"
"It's not just in Chinese ancient history; there are scattered records in some foreign ruins and documents too!"
"The specific reasons for the resurgence and why it eventually disappeared—everything is lost in the river of history!"
"After all, those who lived through it have long since turned to dust. We can only learn a bit from historical documents and ruins left behind!"
Jiangnan grew even more bewildered.
The existence of Bose bodies, the Creation Beast in the dimensional gap, and multiple spiritual energy resurgences that came and went...
The more Jiangnan knew, the more he realized how much he didn't know...
Yang Jian continued, "Don't worry about this. It's not something you need to concern yourself with right now."
Jiangnan smiled calmly. It was better to focus on his own little patch of land.
"Oh, right! What's the deal with the Chen Clan? Their spirit techniques..."
Yang Jian took a deep breath. "China's history is long. Some large clans have thrived, passing down their legacies from ancient times to the present."
"Many have traditions of recording family history, passed down from generation to generation. Though much was lost due to wars and natural disasters, a great deal has survived."
"Before spiritual energy resurgence, no one really cared about the things recorded in family histories, since they sounded so fantastical, like fairy tales, completely unrealistic."
"But when spiritual energy resurfaced, everything changed."
Jiangnan perked up. So these things really had been passed down through generations?
After all, ancient people experienced spiritual energy resurgence. Over time, they must have developed quite a few things.
And when spiritual energy revived again, those things became useful.
It was definitely better than starting from scratch with no idea what to do.
Jiangnan looked enlightened. "These families must have helped a lot when the resurgence first began, right?"
Yang Jian sneered. "Helped? Hah..."
"At the very beginning, spiritual ruins appeared, and beast outbreaks happened all over the country."
"People started awakening abilities, but no one knew how to cultivate or fight spiritual beasts. Everything was a blank slate."
"Because of their family histories, those large clans took the lead and gained the power to fight the beast calamities."
"But they refused to share their knowledge, only protecting their own territories..."
Jiangnan was stunned. So that's how it was in the early days of the resurgence?
Yang Jian gritted his teeth. "You didn't live through that time! People were dying in droves!"
"One day the troops were fine; the next day their unit designation was gone."
"The whole of China was in deep trouble. We begged those families to share their methods."
"To give more people the power to fight the beast calamity and help the nation through the crisis. But no one shared."
Jiangnan fell silent. The nation—the country. Without a country, there is no home.
Did these people only care about their families?
It wasn't necessarily wrong for them not to share, but still, Jiangnan felt a tightness in his chest.
"How did you get through it in the end?"
Yang Jian sniffled. "Ye Zhenguo stepped up. He shared the complete family history of the Ye Clan, holding nothing back."
"Then people knew how to cultivate. But much of it was incomplete, full of gaps."
"Some elderly people who had awakened abilities but were already old began cultivating frantically, trying every method, using their own bodies to experiment, regardless of the consequences."
"Many died, all to pave the way for the younger generation. Those old pioneers in the Pioneer Academy nursing home—that's how they got through it back then."
Jiangnan's nose stung, and his eyes reddened.
Those old people must have made up their minds to die when they did that.
The young have more opportunities.
And since they themselves were old and wouldn't live long, they used trial and error to give their last bit of heat?
That's why it's been over twenty years since the spiritual energy resurgence.
Dean Xiao and Grandpa Zhu were already in their eighties or nineties.
Back then, in their sixties and seventies, they faced death head-on, pushing themselves to the limit through trial and error, just to pave the way for the children?
Jiangnan rubbed his eyes. "Brother Ye is awesome! Dean Xiao and Grandpa Zhu are legends!"
Roland and Yu Qiao beside him saw Jiangnan with tears in his eyes and didn't know what was wrong.
They quickly handed him tissues to wipe his eyes.
Yang Jian said, "Fortunately, everything is on track now. Don't be afraid of the Chen Clan. Don't hold back."
"After the beast calamity, those hidden ancient clans accumulated a lot of capital. The state doesn't interfere with how they develop."
"But because of what happened back then, the state has always forbidden people from those hidden ancient clans from holding military power."
"They saw you taking command of the troops and got jealous, so they wanted to test the state's stance."
Jiangnan smirked. "Then they're in for a loss. I learned that Spiritual Gauze technique the Chen Clan was so secretive about."
"It's actually pretty useful."
Yang Jian was stunned, then burst into laughter, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
"Wait, how did you learn it? Isn't spirit technique that simple? They guarded it so tightly, and you..."
Jiangnan: (๑՞ٹ՞) "I just convinced them with virtue and extracted a confession by force."
"I'm a genius, after all!"
Yang Jian chuckled. "You little rascal, you've got guts! Good on you! Learning it is your skill."
"Also, the Void Sea arrangements are done. You'll need to wait half a month. Go back to the academy first."
"The Void Sea is different from other spiritual ruins. Its space gate opens on a fixed schedule."
Jiangnan grinned. "Thanks, Brother Jian! Oh, by the way, does the state need the cultivation methods for Spiritual Gauze and the Eight Gates of Escape?"
"If so, I can provide a copy."
Yang Jian froze. "Are... are you for real? Have you thought it through? That's your own thing."
"Are you really going to let everyone learn it?"
Jiangnan laughed. "What do you mean, my own thing? The Eight Gates was taught to me by Grandpa Li Kai."
"I'm just basking in the legacy of the predecessors."
Yang Jian said solemnly, "On behalf of all spirit warriors in China, I thank you for your contribution."
"But let's hold off on the Spiritual Gauze for now. Otherwise, the Chen Clan might make more trouble."
"When they agree to share, we'll talk about it then."
Jiangnan chuckled. "Alright, let's leave it at that."
(˵ಡᴗಡ): "But I think the Chen Clan will agree to share. Leave it to me."
"How do I send you the Eight Gates? I could just teleport to your place; it won't take long."
Yang Jian's body stiffened. Looking at the washboard kneeling beneath his knees, he broke out in a cold sweat.
(•́ω•̀٥): "No... no need. It's not convenient for me right now. Just drop it off at the Dragon Abyss base when you have time."
Jiangnan swallowed. Oh? Not convenient? Was Brother Jian about to turn in his homework?
"Ahem, I've got some chives. If you ever need any, Brother Jian, just say the word. No need to be shy."
With that, he hung up.
[From Yang Jian's Resentment Value +888!]
Sister Yang: (∗❛ั◡❛ั) "Chives? Are those the chives that make you stronger?"
"Yes! I'll make you chive-filled pancakes!"
Yang Jian: (̿▀̿̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿̿)̄...
Jiangnan grinned as he read the message Yang Jian sent.
"Three catties? Tsk tsk! His mouth says no, but his body says yes!"
He pulled out a little notebook and started writing down the cultivation method for the Eight Gates of Escape.
If you didn't open the Gate of Death, it was pretty decent to use.
If the Spirit Martial Force learned it, it could greatly enhance their combat power.
......
Meanwhile, at the Jingdu Qingcheng Building, a battered Chen Lang sat across from an office desk, covered in yellow stains.
The office was packed with people, but they all kept their distance from Chen Lang.
Pinching their noses and crying, they looked terrified.
Wasn't he supposed to be testing the waters? Did Jiangnan throw him into a septic tank?
Such brutal methods!
Sitting across from Chen Lang was a middle-aged man with graying temples, hugging a trash can and vomiting violently.
Every time he tried to speak, he threw up again. In just a short while, he'd filled half the can.
Chen Sheng was wrestling with the question of whether he still wanted this son.
"You're telling me you taught Jiangnan the Spiritual Gauze cultivation method? Do you want to die?"
Chen Lang shrank his neck. "I... I thought he wouldn't be able to learn it. But who knew he'd learn it in the time it takes to fart?"
"His Spiritual Gauze is over a meter thick, and he can turn it into Patrick Star or Optimus Prime! He's a genius!"
Chen Sheng's eyes bulged. He slammed his hand on the desk, shattering it. "Bullshit! Impossible! I've practiced for twenty years and only got it thirty centimeters thick!"
"What the hell are Patrick Star and Optimus Prime? And next you'll say Teletubbies!"
Chen Lang was stunned. "How did you know he can turn into Teletubbies too?"
Chen Sheng exploded. He kicked Chen Lang over.
"Have you forgotten the clan rules? Who told you to teach Jiangnan? You can't even handle a simple reconnaissance mission?"
"Stop making excuses for your leak! Jiangnan can't possibly have learned the Spiritual Gauze! Ugh—"
As he spoke, he vomited again, a stream landing on Chen Lang's face.
Chen Lang also threw up. "Believe me! Dad, believe me! Jiangnan isn't human! His Spiritual Gauze is better than our ancestors'!"
The more Chen Sheng looked at Chen Lang, the angrier he got. He kicked him again.
"Ancestors, my ass! Whether Jiangnan learned it or not, you have to get the Spiritual Gauze cultivation method back!"
"It absolutely cannot fall into outsider hands! Call the people! I'm going to the Dandelion headquarters!"
[From Chen Sheng's Resentment Value +1000!]
[From...]
One by one, Alphards drove out of the parking lot, heading for the Dandelion headquarters.
Jiangnan was just thinking about picking up Xuexue and the others to go back to the hotel when he saw the resentment values constantly refreshing on the system. He grinned.
They're coming for me, huh.
So he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Hello? Brother Long? I need to deploy troops!"
---
Author's Note: