Chapter 5: There’s No Spirituality, It’s All Made Up
The pavilion beneath these three old elm trees remains cool and refreshing even in the hot season, making it an excellent place to escape the summer heat.
That is why Chen Han likes to take naps here. Although his residence also has an air conditioner to relieve the heat, given his physical condition, using the air conditioner too much is not good for him.
And feeling this way under big trees is perfectly normal.
First, they block direct sunlight.
Second, the transpiration of the trees can absorb heat.
Third, the presence of the trees affects air circulation.
Fourth, without direct sunlight, the ground radiation is weaker.
These three old elm trees are lush with branches and leaves. The area covered by their crowns and branches is very large, so no matter how hot the weather is, being within this area feels cool and pleasant.
Originally this feeling came from natural causes, but now, with the construction of the special spiritual aperture, he sensed a very mysterious change. That cool comfort had become even stronger, no longer just on the surface of his body, but seeping into his heart and spleen.
It was as if the air itself quickly became better, every breath making his pores relax and open as he greedily breathed it in.
Such a sensation was too wondrous, and it must have been caused by the special spiritual aperture.
“Mr. Zhao, these three old elm trees are now ancient trees over three hundred years old,” Xiao Yu’s voice sounded as she led Mr. Zhao and his group over.
However, from the expressions of the group, Chen Han did not see anything unusual. Clearly, they could not see the white light and the flowing runes inside the pavilion.
Xiao Yu continued her introduction as she walked: “These three old elm trees were planted here for a reason. At that time calamities were frequent and bandits rampant, and people from the surrounding ten miles and eight villages came to pray to the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation for blessings and to ask for protection.”
“The patriarch of that generation was moved, and under the guidance of the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation, together with representatives of the ten miles and eight villages, planted these three elm trees, because in the Daoist sect, elm trees carry the meaning of protection, guardianship, and suppression of evil spirits.”
“After the elm trees were planted, the patriarch of that generation followed the methods of the ancestors, organized the young and strong of the ten miles and eight villages for training, to strike the bandits outside and suppress evil spirits within. Even Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing dynasty, when he came here, personally watered the three elm trees and prayed to the Heavenly Lord of Demon Subjugation for blessings.”
“Having long been sustained by the Chen clan’s offerings, the three elm trees developed spirituality and emit spiritual energy. So when people are within the range of the three old elm trees, no matter how hot the weather, they feel very cool and comfortable.”
Xiao Yu felt a bit embarrassed while explaining this story.
They were just three old trees, yet the Chen clan had especially made up such a story with a miraculous tone.
As for how these three old elm trees were actually planted, who could know?
And the emperor personally watering them, and this spiritual energy business, were all made up by the Chen clan.
Anyway, nobody knew the truth. If anyone wanted to refute it, let them bring proof.
After all, their place was not the only one fabricating stories; scenic spots all over the country did the same.
For example, at a famous Daoist temple tourist site, did they not invent a story of an immortal making wishes for a hundred-year-old pine tree, and then do big business selling wish plaques?
During holidays, that tree would have more than eighty thousand prayer plaques hanging on it, bringing in several million in income. The branches were bent from the weight, and nobody cared whether the tree was exhausted.
So by comparison, they had only made up an emperor watering the trees; compared to stories about immortals, they were already being restrained.
The only truly exaggerated claim was that the three elm trees had spirituality and emitted spiritual energy.
Although Zhao Kang and his group already knew that the Chen clan was not simple and had an inheritance, they still felt it was nonsense to say three trees had spirituality and emitted spiritual energy. Feeling cool and comfortable under tree shade in hot weather was just common sense.
But when they entered the range of the three old elm trees, sudden astonishment appeared on their faces.
There really was a wave of refreshing coolness, but it did not feel like the usual relief of stepping into shade on a hot day.
At this moment, the sensation seemed to seep into their hearts and spleen. That cool comfort felt as if every pore of their bodies was opening up. It was definitely not something simple shade could provide.
Moreover, at the very instant they were shocked, this sensation rose to another level.
Zhao Kang and the others looked at each other in disbelief, each seeing surprise in the eyes of the others. With such a miraculous feeling, could it be that the old elm trees truly had spirituality and really emitted spiritual energy?
Stories could be fabricated, but sensations could not fool people.
For a moment, he could not help but feel a trace of awe in his heart as he looked at the three old elm trees.
At this time, Xiao Yu was also somewhat surprised. She had come here to look for her senior brother more than once and knew it was cool and comfortable here, but today the feeling seemed even stronger, the comfort throughout her body unlike anything before.
The most astonished, naturally, was Chen Han. In that instant, not only had the special spiritual aperture been successfully constructed, but he also received a series of game prompts:
【Congratulations, the Chen clan’s wondrous sight shakes people’s hearts, reputation +1!】
【Congratulations, the Chen clan’s wondrous sight shakes people’s hearts, reputation +1!】
【……】
“???” Chen Han looked in surprise at Mr. Zhao and his group, feeling he had found another method to increase reputation.
Yesterday it was divine manifestation before people; today it was a wondrous sight shaking hearts.
He checked the upgrade requirements for the sect residence: 100,000 money （25,400/100,000）. Reputation 500 （14/500）.
Reputation had indeed increased by another 12 points.
At this moment, Xiao Yu had already led the group into the pavilion.
“Big brother, make the apple change.” The little girl clearly remembered what happened yesterday. Holding an apple in her hand, she ran eagerly toward him as soon as she saw him. From her hurried manner, it was quite possible she had brought the apple specifically for him to perform the apple trick.
Looking at the little girl, Chen Han did not mind fulfilling her small wish. After taking the apple, he said, “Little sister, watch closely, the apple is about to disappear.”
As he spoke, he flipped and turned his palm, storing the apple in the warehouse.
“Wow!” The little girl clapped her hands excitedly and even grabbed Chen Han’s hands, searching for any trace of the apple.
Mr. Zhao and the others once again showed looks of surprise. After the young Chen family head took the apple, they had watched his hand intently, yet they could not see how the apple disappeared.
They refused to believe it. At such close range, they should be able to spot a flaw.
But unfortunately for them, Chen Han made the apple change several times in front of their eyes, taking it out of the warehouse and putting it back again. The apple disappeared and appeared in an instant, and their eyes grew wider and wider, without catching a single flaw.
It was simply unbelievable.
Chen Han, however, felt a bit disappointed. This manifestation before people did not earn any reputation prompts. It seemed that with the same group of people, divine manifestation before people could gain reputation only once.
If that was the case, who knew how long it would take to reach 500 reputation.
After all, in the Chen clan’s current situation, not many people came to visit. People had to come and play for him to gain reputation.
“Sigh, this ancient technique of the Chen family head is truly impressive,” Zhao Kang could not help but say with emotion.
“Just a small trick,” Chen Han said modestly.
“Family head Chen, you are being modest.” Zhao Kang and the others did not consider it a small trick. They were confident that even if that great magician Liu Qian were performing at such close range, wearing only short sleeves and jeans with them crowded around watching, they would still be able to catch a flaw.
But they could not see a single flaw in what the Chen family head did.
After that, Chen Han smiled and asked, “Mr. Zhao, how has your visit been today? Are you satisfied with the Chen clan’s ancient architectural complex?”
Zhao Kang immediately said, “More than satisfied. I truly did not expect that within our Linhe County there is such a place belonging to the Chen clan. Not only are the buildings simple and unadorned yet beautiful, making one reluctant to leave, but the feeling of entering the range of the three old elm trees is truly shocking. That cool and refreshing sensation, these are truly three ancient trees with spirituality.”
Chen Han smiled at the last part and said, “Mr. Zhao, you flatter us. There is no spirituality; it was all made up by those before us. When the weather is hot, it is naturally cool and refreshing under the trees.”
Sometimes denying something instead reveals one’s confidence.
In the past, the story of the three old elm trees having spirituality was fabricated, but with the special spiritual aperture and that special feeling, it had become reality.
So the more he denied it, the more Mr. Zhao and his party would be convinced the story was true.
Sure enough, the looks Zhao Kang and the others gave Chen Han turned a little resentful. Was this young Chen family head treating them like fools?
As if they had never gone into the shade to escape the heat.
If what they were feeling now was normal, they would take his surname.
However, they also understood the logic that the more someone lacks something, the more they flaunt it; the more they truly have something, the more indifferent they appear.
It was like a very beautiful female celebrity who claimed to have appearance anxiety and said her looks were ordinary.
The more this young Chen family head spoke this way, the more it showed that the old elm trees truly had spirituality. For a moment, when they looked at the three trees again, their expressions carried a hint of piety.
After humoring the little girl and returning the apple to her, Chen Han checked the information of the sect residence in his mind, and his gaze was drawn to the notes on the special spiritual aperture.
Special function: The sect residence’s effects can be retrieved and turned into a sect residence construction tablet. Special spiritual aperture （This is a special functional place of a cultivation sect, possessing special effects: coolness and comfort +2 in the vicinity of the spiritual aperture, fresh air +2 in the vicinity of the spiritual aperture, and once every day at the maoshi hour it can produce a spiritual energy rinse!）
Chen Han had already experienced the attributes of coolness and comfort +2 and fresh air +
That feeling was indeed marvelous.
But when he saw the effect of producing a spiritual energy rinse once daily at the maoshi hour, he could not help but widen his eyes, his face filled with intense surprise.
Spiritual energy was essential for cultivation in the Shu Shan world. Even without using it for cultivation, simply living in a place with spiritual energy nourished the body and could grant longevity and a lifespan of a hundred years.
He seemed to see his greatest hope of survival.
