Chapter 125: Hidden Cultivation

He Zhixing returned to the provincial capital accompanied by Hu Li, Hou Juan, Yufang, Li Wuxin, and his apprentices, including Zheng Huizhen, whom he had mentored in the art of cake baking. Zheng Huizhen returned to his original bakery to resume work, now fully capable of standing on his own as a master pastry chef.

He Zhixing scouted various locations throughout the province and city, opening several new branches. Those who wished to remain by his side and work as pastry chefs were assigned to these branches as head masters, allowing them to put their training to practical use.

With these matters settled, He Zhixing embarked on a journey with Li Wuxin, Yufang, and Jiang Ni. They traveled with a mission: to seek design inspiration. Their month-long expedition took them from the provincial capital through Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Beijing, Yunnan, and Xichang, capturing countless photographs along the way.

Upon their return, the four synthesized their research and collected imagery to design a vast array of fashion pieces. Their creations included flowing lemon-yellow dresses accented with deep blue butterflies, casual wear featuring dark stone borders and white collars patterned with Yellow River wave motifs, and elegant skirts blending leopard print with lemon-green corners. They designed casual mid-sleeve outfits depicting a swordsman battling a stunning, black-silk-veiled beauty amidst fields of rapeseed flowers.

Other designs included apparel capturing the effect of black fabric fluttering in falling snow; casual wear featuring patterns of stone-rubbing calligraphy and classic beauties playing the zither by the river; and long, medium, and short skirts stylized with gray, orange, and white leopard-print effects reminiscent of aged maple trees. They also created casual sets featuring purple orchids on an S-curved grid on the left and embroidered poetic letter scripts on the right, outfits with Land Rover-inspired textures accented in red and yellow, and voluminous skirts adorned with patterns of colorful seashells—dozens of styles in total.

Once the designs were finalized, they launched the new collection and began production. He Zhixing’s Nuofeng Fashion gradually reached maturity and prominence, establishing a significant reputation both domestically and internationally.

Having accomplished these major milestones, the four returned to the valley near the ancient temple mountain in Y City, home to the golden spirit turtles. They built a modest dwelling and settled there permanently.

Each day, they practiced with focused minds, accompanied by the half-dozen golden spirit turtles. Occasionally, He Zhixing would venture out to the nearby village to procure supplies, make phone calls, and stay updated on his business ventures, coordinating with his associates.

Beyond teaching them the Five Elements Qi theory, the Five Elements fist techniques, and combat maneuvers, He Zhixing instructed them on how to use wooden sculptures of beauties to absorb the valley’s spiritual energy, cultivating powerful inner strength to enhance their practice.

As the small turtles grew, they became constant companions in their daily training. He Zhixing, fascinated by the turtles' ability to exhale protective golden bubble shields, spent his leisure time studying their nature. Alongside his martial arts training, he achieved modest success in Bagua, Feng Shui, and divination. His martial arts prowess advanced by leaps and bounds, and the supernatural abilities provided by the wooden sculptures leveled up; with a full infusion of spiritual energy, he could now sense spiritual objects within a hundred-meter radius. Furthermore, he gained the ability to turn invisible, with the wooden sculptures sustaining his concealment for over ten minutes.

These achievements were truly cause for celebration. He Zhixing’s Hanyang Eight Methods and Thirty-Six Styles had reached a level of divine mastery, where every gesture carried the force of wind and the rustle of grass.

With his foundation secured, He Zhixing felt ready to proceed with his plans for treasure hunting and seeking rare, miraculous earthly treasures—a goal he had long harbored. During his previous travels across the country, he had suppressed his urge to hunt for treasures, but now, he was finally free to pursue them without restraint.