The Urban Cultivation Grandmaster

Chapter 8: Mu Tian’s Teacher

While the high-ranking officials in Tianjiang City were locked in endless debate over Mu Tian’s compensation, Mu Tian was living a leisurely life. Since Tianjiang College hadn’t started the semester yet, Mu Tian didn’t have a place to work. Having stayed at home for so many days, he spent time comforting his parents, who had been through quite a scare, and also began teaching them cultivation techniques. He taught his father, Mu Yuanming, the *Ancient Wild Ox Visualization Diagram*, and his mother the *Thousand Tides and Ten Thousand Waves Technique*. Both possessed a certain degree of cultivation aptitude; although they hadn’t yet sensed the “qi,” with regular practice, they would gradually improve. Even if they didn’t achieve anything remarkable, it would still strengthen their bodies and improve their health—far surpassing the martial arts techniques of ordinary people out there. Furthermore, even if his parents’ cultivation aptitude was mediocre, he had a way to force them to become cultivators—it was merely a matter of cost. It wasn’t just his parents; his neighbors, Uncle and Aunt Luo, had been dropping by frequently these past few days to thank Mu Tian for saving their daughter, Luo Yi. As for Luo Yi, she’s been coming to see Mu Tian quite often. Actually, Mu Tian had seen Luo Yi right after he returned, but since they hadn’t seen each other in years, there was an inexplicable awkwardness between them. Usually, as soon as they met, Luo Yi would shyly run away. However, after the incident with the pet cat going on a rampage, their relationship seemed to have returned to the way it used to be. Luo Yi was still the same Luo Yi—the one who used to follow right behind him, calling out, “Brother Tian.” Back then, Luo Yi had been an unremarkable little girl, but after a few years apart, she had blossomed—growing more and more beautiful with each passing day. She radiated boundless youthfulness, her face glowing with collagen, both beautiful and endearing. Mu Tian couldn’t help but marvel at her. That said, quite a few people had been reaching out to Mu Tian lately. First were his classmates. The incident involving the runaway pet cat at Xishi Residential Complex had caused quite a stir, and many classmates sent him messages expressing their concern and support. He was deeply moved and replied to each one personally to thank them. What Mu Tian didn’t expect was that Lu Yue—the busty girl he’d met on the high-speed train home—had also sent him a text checking in on him. [Mu Tian, are you okay? I heard you live in Xishi Residential Complex (frightened emoji)] [Hahaha, I’m fine. Thanks for your concern, Lu Yue, you beauty! (grinning emoji)] 【(Rolling eyes) That’s good to hear. By the way, I passed the entrance exam for Tianjiang Cultivator Academy (laughing emoji)】 【Congratulations! (Clapping emoji)】 Mu Tian was certainly happy for Lu Yue, but amidst his joy, he couldn’t help but feel a little awkward. After all, didn’t this mean that the next time he and Lu Yue met, it would be at Tianjiang Academy? That wouldn’t normally be a big deal, but when he recalled Lu Yue’s “bold declaration” on the high-speed train, the situation suddenly took a rather awkward turn. Mu Tian might have felt just a little awkward, but Lu Yue was probably... The two chatted casually until late into the night, when they reluctantly said goodnight to each other. Mu Tian was meditating to pass the time instead of sleeping when someone came looking for him—and this time, the visitor took him quite by surprise. Professor Cha from Tianhai Academy! In fact, although Tianhai Academy bore the name “academy,” the atmosphere there was vastly different from that of an academy during peacetime. There were never any teachers in the true sense of the word; the administration consisted of people who handled menial tasks, and there was virtually no actual teaching. The students addressed one another as “Daoist friends,” and most were there to exchange ideas and learn from one another—there was no concept of one person teaching another. After all, in the early stages of the Xuan Realm’s civilization, no one dared to claim they could be anyone else’s teacher—let alone at Tianhai Academy, where geniuses abounded and powerful figures emerged in droves. Yet this Professor Cha had indisputably become one of the very first mentors in the history of the Xuan Realm. Why? For no other reason than that he was a being who had transcended the Pulse Condensation Realm. [Xiao Tian, why did you go off to teach in your hometown without a word? If it weren’t for that pet cat rampage incident in your hometown, I wouldn’t have even noticed. Is the academy leadership putting pressure on you? Tell your teacher the truth—I’ll take the heat for you. Let’s see who dares to mess with you. When the time comes, I’ll have you transferred back to my research group. I’ve already submitted your file to the higher-ups; results will be out soon. Don’t worry. ] Mu Tian was greatly surprised and deeply moved. Teacher Cha had always held him in high regard and taken good care of him. The reason he was able to stand firm despite being reported by hundreds of classmates and fellow cultivators was largely due to Teacher Cha speaking up for him with the higher-ups; otherwise, he would have been expelled from Tianhai Academy long ago. Seeing Professor Cha show such concern for him and go to such lengths for his future, Mu Tian couldn’t help but be deeply moved. In his heart, Professor Cha was his mentor. However, there was a reason he couldn’t bring himself to speak up about this matter. It wasn’t just that Mu Tian needed to study and engage in Chuandao at the Star Sea to advance his cultivation—he could do the same in Magic Capital, where the conditions were even better and more convenient. That was only a minor reason; the real reason was one Mu Tian found difficult to voice. As Mu Tian thought of this, a stunningly beautiful figure involuntarily appeared in his mind. Gradually, an infant appeared in the beautiful woman’s arms, and then her face became increasingly clear—it was a lovely face radiating murderous intent, cold as frost, utterly overwhelming. “Liu Hansu’s strength is no weaker than Professor Cha’s—perhaps even surpasses it. Never mind. My life comes first, and I don’t want to put Professor Cha in a difficult position,” Mu Tian Nannan muttered to himself. “This is the karma I’ve brought upon myself. In the future, I’ll apologize where I need to and atone for my sins—as long as I don’t have to pay with my life. At the very least, I need to keep the initiative in my own hands.” With that in mind, Mu Tian replied to Professor Cha’s email. [Thank you for your concern, Professor. My decision to return to my hometown to teach as a volunteer is entirely voluntary; it is not something I’m doing out of pressure from the school’s leadership. In fact, the vice dean in charge of admissions and placement even tried very hard to persuade me to stay. However, teaching in my hometown has been my dream for many years. Through my years of study,I have witnessed the dawn of the Xuan Realm civilization, and I understand very clearly the importance of promoting it in the future. However, for most ordinary people, opportunities to seek the Dao are rare. Since I am well-versed in Daowen scriptures and have gained some insight into the path of cultivation, I believe I should do something meaningful—and that is to return to my hometown to teach. I am truly ashamed to be such a disappointing student despite your deep affection, Professor. ] No sooner had Mu Tian sent the message than Professor Cha replied instantly. [“It’s a shame, but I’m rooting for you. Do your best, Xiao Tian. Don’t bring shame to Tianhai Academy—if you don’t make a name for yourself, don’t tell anyone you’re my student.” ] Mu Tian chuckled helplessly. 【Hahahaha, someday your teacher will proudly say, “I’m Teacher Mu Tian.” 】 【You little rascal—I just said you’re fat, and you’re already out of breath. 】 The next day Mu Tian received an employment contract from Tianjiang Cultivator Academy. The terms offered were extremely generous: an annual salary of five million, along with benefits equivalent to a full department-level official. Mu Tian didn’t care much about worldly wealth; to him, money was merely yellow and white paper. Since becoming a cultivator, he’d never worried about money. Besides, what truly mattered in the future were cultivation resources. However, the prospect of full-hall-level benefits did catch his attention. He didn’t mind it himself, but his parents needed it. Although the incident with his pet cat going on a rampage was a low-probability, one-off event, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again. Being able to live in the compound would naturally be the best possible outcome. The details mentioned above were just minor matters. Finally, Mu Tian came across the allocation quota for “spiritual objects.” It was well known that following the great upheaval of heaven and earth, mutated spiritual objects would appear in various regions. These were genuine cultivation resources; production in each region was very limited, and a portion had to be remitted to the national treasury, leaving very little for local use. With so many seeking such scarce resources, securing an allocation quota was a truly rare opportunity. “Tianjiang really is generous. It seems I made the right decision coming back to my hometown to teach.” Mu Tian noticed a notice below inviting him to attend the opening ceremony at Tianjiang Academy the day after tomorrow; it even specifically mentioned that he was scheduled to deliver the first lecture of the semester. It just so happened that a few days earlier, Mu Tian had analyzed the Star Sea using the Analytic Doll Cat, completely depleting the radiance within the Star Sea. Seeing that he was scheduled to teach, he felt even more at ease. Good things come in pairs!