"So that's how it is, so that's how it is! This 'Qi' is exactly like those miners using the brain's blockchain to mine and mint NeuroCoin!"
Zhu Zhengwei realized it!
On the internet, each mining machine mines on the blockchain with specific algorithms to earn Bitcoin.
Isn't it similar to what's happening before me?
The human brain establishes a dream network blockchain, using thought to mine, which also generates Soul Energy, NeuroCoin.
Moreover, humans aren't mechanical machines; they can break down from mining.
The human brain is like a muscle that, after training and wear, becomes stronger, becoming more agile the more it's used.
Ultimately, they become more powerful brain dream mining machines... no, more powerful brains, with the average person's thinking becoming more agile.
Whoosh.
"This aggregated Dream World seems to let me glimpse a hint of extraordinary power!" Sitting in the courtyard, he meditates as these threads of power flow with his breath throughout his body.
Zhu Zhengwei continued exploring, thought for a moment, and decided to name this method:
Qi Eating Skill.
The term Qi Eating originates from ancient language, indicating the scents enjoyed by deities, similar to what is happening now.
This Qi Eating is frequently recorded in the Daoist School, being a fundamental method of traditional Daoist cultivation, with meanings such as "ingesting the air or the Qi of orchids," "breathing wind and drinking dew," aptly fitting the intent.
Time flies; fifteen years have passed in the dream world, and five days in reality.
The eldest brother, hearty yet afflicted with serious illness, unable to farm,
The third brother, in contrast, is lively, curious, and intelligent, pestering Zhu Zhengwei with questions at just twelve.
"Are there really immortals?" he asked.
"Perhaps they existed in ancient times."
"Where did you come from?" he asked.
"From Outer Heaven."
"I've read that the Earth is round, is Outer Heaven space?" he asked.
"Yes, Earth is round, Outer Heaven is space."
"So why can't people cultivate now?" he asked.
"The era is at an end, the Qi is too thin."
"What's the world like outside the mountains? I heard there's a big brother phone in the county, but our village has only one phone, a radio, and not many households have electricity..."
...
At first, the parents were terrified of the third brother's actions, afraid he might show disrespect towards the reincarnated immortal, constantly asking science, hinting around, fearful he doubted the immortal's existence?
But over time, they instead harbored high hopes for him.
"The third one isn't sick; he's been smart since childhood. He's our real hope."
"Perhaps following the reincarnated immortal, gaining immortal fate, he can achieve enlightenment, our Zhang Family will have a great fortune."
The parents secretly had these thoughts.
The third brother was indeed clever, able to draw inferences from one instance, even more intelligent than most geniuses Zhu Zhengwei had encountered.
Sixth night, eighteen years old.
Zhu Zhengwei had come of age.
With a handsome and refined appearance, accompanied by rumors of "an immortal descending to the mortal world," possessing extraordinary demeanor, he was well-known throughout Bamboo Scenic Village and surrounding villages.
Numerous matchmakers knocked on his door.
Among them, many university "female classmate" NPCs came to propose, many of whom were beautiful.
However, Bamboo Scenic Village was effectively an independent realm, merely a mountain village area.
In reality, they couldn't go outside, never having studied abroad, untouched by modern society, full of village girl demeanor, illiterate, not faring better in dreams than in reality.
"I'm not yet inclined to marry." Zhu Zhengwei declined.
He indeed didn't want to wet the bed.
Especially not alongside the female classmates next door also wetting the bed, which would be even more awkward.
The eldest brother with severe hemophilia did wish to marry.
But his severe condition, like a porcelain doll's body, prevented him from farming, and no one was willing to propose.
"Why don't I teach the eldest brother a cultivation method? It's not a method for becoming an immortal or asking the Dao, no abilities like moving mountains, just a simple fundamental nurturing method, letting you sense the Heaven and Earth Qi to strengthen your body." Zhu Zhengwei suggested.
Unfortunately, in the dream world, no matter what, the elder brother couldn't sense the presence of Qi.
Zhu Zhengwei also shared his researched Qi Eating Skill with his younger brother, even his parents, but none of them could learn it.
Others being unable to learn might be normal.
But if the exceptionally bright third brother couldn't learn, there was a major issue.
"Could it be that there are too few servers, that the Soul Qi in this world is too thin, only allowing me, the master of the dream, to perceive it?"
"Or, as the predestined child of the dream, born knowing Qi Eating, does an ordinary person need a specific Qi Eating Cultivation method to absorb it?"
Zhu Zhengwei awoke during the day, deep in thought.
"Perhaps I'm mining too few 'NeuroCoins,' the Spiritual Qi is thin, so I should first expand the number of mining machines and see."
He tried expanding cloud servers, searching for fellow villagers around Bamboo Scenic Village, and adding them to his assassination list,
Zhu Zhengwei grew bolder, practically fearless, planning to continue adding classmates to the dream intranet.
Based on his research, in one week, the brains of those servers indeed grew significantly smarter and more agile, beneficial to them.
Thus, he felt no burden of conscience.
During the day, he roamed the school aimlessly, looking for targets to select for high-quality human servers.
Secretly infiltrating, he successfully targeted renowned school prodigies, even starting to target professors and instructors in the faculty building, quietly drawing them into the dream to join his mining team.
"Got nothing to do in the dream? Since you're idle, why not exercise your brain a bit."
He directly added fifty machines until he felt he couldn't manage more before stopping.
Thunderous!!
The servers increased.
The world map surrounding Bamboo Scenic Village dramatically expanded.
Indeed, it strengthened that current of Qi, accelerating his cultivation speed as well.
"It's a pity they still can't sense it?" Zhu Zhengwei couldn't help but feel a bit regretful.
"Perhaps it's not about the quantity of Qi, but needing a special perception method."
"I naturally know it; it's almost instinctive for me, and by using the Qi Eating Skill to expand my soul, becoming more flexible and powerful, I can add more cloud servers and continue expanding the map, creating a positive cycle."
In the blink of an eye, a week's day and night passed.
Zhu Zhengwei had reached twenty-one years old.
His Qi Eating Skill had been operating for nearly ten years, vaguely feeling a stream of Qi circulating in his body's meridians.
He even tested it on animals, breaking through some of their blood stasis and meridians, having some minor uses after ten years of Qi Cultivation.
Zhu Zhengwei pondered for a while, coming to Zhang Gouzi's house, "Perhaps I can cure his illness."
"What?"
His parents were very surprised, looking at this mysterious youth with a tear mole.
Zhang Gouzi's limp leg was caused by blockages in his meridians and blood stasis.
If taken to a hospital in time, it wouldn't be a big issue, but rural areas lack such medical conditions, leading to many disabilities.
After several attempts, Zhu Zhengwei unblocked his meridians.
"An immortal, indeed."
"He truly is an immortal."
Zhang Xia's family was extremely grateful, and Zhu Zhengwei's reputation rapidly spread once again, surpassing the many witches and Daoists pretending to be gods around ten miles or so.