Publish Time: 2026-07-10 02:32:00

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«Chapter 552: Thunder Favoring the Four Seasons

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“Lihua, close your eyes.”

“Why close my eyes?”

“Because only then can you see some things that are normally hidden.”

“Oh…”

Lihua obediently closed its eyes.

Chen Changsheng took its paw and said, “Think.”

“Think what?” Lihua asked.

“Think about what was on your mind today. Or think about this rain, and last night’s thunder.”

Lihua didn’t quite understand, but still tried to think as Chen Changsheng said.

Chen Changsheng gently guided Lihua’s thoughts towards the thunder and rain of the four seasons.

Suddenly.

The sound of rain by Lihua’s ears became much louder.

The rumble of thunder also grew clearer.

The splashing and booming sounds were now almost deafening, making Lihua’s whiskers tremble.

Lihua opened its eyes in a panic, but the sounds immediately faded away again.

“Huh?”

Lihua blinked in confusion. Seeing nothing change, it looked at Chen Changsheng in puzzlement.

“Did you feel it?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Lihua’s eyes held only confusion. It didn’t know what Chen Changsheng meant.

“I mean what you cannot see or touch with your eyes. Like just now.”

“While my eyes were closed… was the rain falling harder?”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“But I heard it so clearly!”

“That’s what I wanted you to feel.”

Lihua felt dizzy in its head, like something was swirling. It opened its mouth but couldn’t find words for a long time.

It was too mystical.

But then again, Daoist Arts and Divine Abilities are always tinged with the mystical. Some things are truly invisible to the naked eye. Like Spirituality Energy in Heaven and Earth – it’s everywhere, yet impossible to truly observe. That’s why Lihua just couldn’t grasp it at all now.

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, almost to himself, “Perhaps Lihua doesn’t need to force itself to understand these things.”

“Huh?”

Lihua blinked, still bewildered.

During the following time, Chen Changsheng continued to hold Lihua’s paw, helping it sense the thunderous energy of the four seasons within the falling rain.

Lihua could only grope blindly, step by tiny step, even though it truly had no idea what Chen Changsheng wanted it to find.

Over and over, it seemed to slowly grasp a faint understanding.

It was the rain, the thunder, the sound of the trees rustling in the courtyard breeze, the cycle of the four seasons, and nature itself…

At that exact moment, the Spirituality Energy within the rain seemed to suddenly cheer and surge. Those invisible, untouchable things felt a warm closeness towards the cat in the courtyard.

The Four Seasons Spiritual Qi transformed into thin streams, gently flowing towards the Tabby Cat.

“That tickles…”

Lihua murmured. But with its eyes shut tight, it saw nothing.

The nourishing Spiritual Energy began to cleanse the Evil Qi clinging to Lihua. Wisps of black Evil Qi drifted from its body, wrapping together, then transforming into flecks of ash that drifted away before fully dispersing among the Four Seasons Spiritual Qi.

“Mmm…”

Lihua asked quietly, “Can I open my eyes now?”

Chen Changsheng watched the Four Seasons Spiritual Qi gathering towards them and replied, “Not yet.”

“Oh…”

Lihua had no choice but to be patient and continue like this.

It had absolutely no idea of the extraordinary fortune it was encountering. Some things, even experienced Cultivators flying amongst the clouds wouldn’t find after lifetimes of searching.

Expel Evil, Transform Spirit, Attain Purification…

This was a fortune belonging solely to Lihua. Throughout the world, countless Evil Spirits exist. Unless Heaven and Earth itself became twisted and chaotic, most ultimately cannot escape destruction. Yet now, through this providence, Lihua shed its layer of Evil Qi. Meaning, from now on, it would no longer be shunned by the natural order, nor could anyone justifiably call it ‘evil’ again.

Lihua seemed to sense something approaching and asked, “Is Ruyi back?”

“Ruyi hasn’t returned.” Chen Changsheng answered. “If you felt something coming, think of it as a new friend. Remember this feeling quietly in your heart, because you’ll be meeting this friend often from now on.”

It was the Four Seasons Spiritual Qi.

“A friend? Shouldn’t Lihua open its eyes to see…?”

“If you open your eyes, you won’t see it.”

“……”

Lihua felt a little helpless and was about to speak again when it suddenly felt dizzy.

“Mmm…”

It let out a low groan, its face suddenly turning unwell.

“Good Human Chen…”

Its voice even trembled slightly.

“Lihua feels so dizzy.”

Chen Changsheng glanced down and lightly tapped the top of its hunched back.

“So sleepy…”

Lihua mumbled, yawned wide, and then its paw slipped from Chen Changsheng’s hand as it swayed sideways and slumped over.

The surrounding Four Seasons Spiritual Qi gradually dispersed. Outside, the booming thunder halted abruptly.

Everything seemed to happen at just the right time. Not a moment too soon, nor a moment too late.

Chen Changsheng picked Lihua up and carried it indoors. It would likely take quite some time to digest and absorb all that Four Seasons Spiritual Qi.

As Chen Changsheng was about to leave, he heard soft murmurs from the sleeping cat.

“Dried Fish, Sugar-Coated Hawthorns…”

“Mmm…”

“These all belong to Lihua.”

Lihua smacked its lips softly, rolled over, and continued sleeping.

Hearing its dream talk, Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.

What an unusual cat indeed.

Profound wisdom appearing simple. Profound wisdom appearing simple. Witnessing this, Chen Changsheng felt he had truly expanded his own understanding.

“From now on, I mustn’t call it foolish again.”

Chen Changsheng chuckled softly. He then settled himself on the long bench in the Main Hall.

He poured a cup of tea and busied himself with unimportant, idle tasks, using them to while away the long hours.

………

The Taoist Temple stood atop the mist-shrouded mountain peak like a celestial palace. Veiled in thin fog, it seemed mystical, a place where one might ascend to the heavens.

Sitting cross-legged before the main hall, Xuanchengzi suddenly looked up. He sensed the unusual surge in Four Seasons Spiritual Qi and froze in place for a moment, unable to react immediately.

“Become one with nature…”

Xuanchengzi murmured in a daze, “Who among our Daoist Friends could gain such revealing fortune?”

Within the temple, the practicing Daoist Wuwei also felt the Spirituality Energy shift. He walked out to the hall entrance, his gaze following where the Four Seasons Spiritual Qi was flocking.

Daoist Wuwei paused, looking at his Senior Brother.

Xuanchengzi deduced the direction the Spiritual Qi flowed towards and said softly, “Given that direction, without doubt, it’s likely that venerable gentleman.”

Daoist Wuwei opened his mouth, yet remained silent.

He just watched intently. By now, he had come to accept the truth.

It was all grief brought upon himself.

Yet, seeing this occurrence, he couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of complex emotions welling inside.

Perhaps both his Senior Brother and that man had been correct.

On the path of Cultivation, he was indeed missing some integral things.

His Senior Brother had grasped his Dao Heart, while he himself… he had merely stumbled upon the cultivation path through fortuitous chances. His accumulation felt somehow unsubstantial; he hadn’t truly earned it.

He still needed to rectify his mind.

Only with a righteous heart can one attain the righteous Dao. Perhaps only then could he hope to be worthy of something like the Four Seasons Spiritual Qi, worthy of such an unfolding opportunity being revealed before them.

Daoist Wuwei felt a deep, undeniable sense of conviction settling within him. Accepting this truth felt simultaneously humbling and decisive. However, the road ahead of him stretched long and arduous.

Seeing his disciple lost in thought, Xuanchengzi immediately urged him, “Disciple Brother! The Four Seasons Spiritual Qi stirs suddenly! This is a rare opportunity for us! We must meditate quietly and carefully grasp this revelation!”

Daoist Wuwei snapped back to awareness and hurriedly knelt on the floor to sit in meditation.

The two men closed their eyes, silently feeling, quietly contemplating and seeking understanding of the Dao underlying the shifting cycles of Heaven, Earth, and the four seasons.

«Chapter 552: Thunder Favoring the Four Seasons

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