Chapter 10: Xishan Prefecture

The Liang Kingdom is not a large country; its territory is not vast, possessing only the land of two provinces and five prefectures. Changping County, where Chen Ci is located, is situated in Xishan Prefecture of Quanzhou, and the cultivation forces within the Liang Kingdom are generally headed by Longhu Mountain and the He Mountain Sect.

Longhu Mountain was once considered a major sect of the Profound Gate, and several True Persons of Longevity had emerged from within its gates. However, for an eon now, many changes have occurred for unknown reasons, and the True Persons of Longevity within the sect have not appeared for a long time. Not only is the outside world buzzing with discussion, but their influence has also contracted. Although their momentum is still much stronger than side-door sects like the He Mountain Sect, their strength on the surface is actually slightly inferior.

Rumors in the streets say that the fundamental Great Art of Longhu Mountain, the "Longhu Star Constellation Induction Spell," has developed some problems, but naturally, no one dares to go to their door to verify such things.

But this has nothing to do with Chen Ci. What he wants to express is that Changping County is a poor and remote place, lacking even a place to buy things. If one wants to purchase items related to cultivation, one must go to a more prosperous area.

The Xishan Prefecture city, eight hundred li away.

But Chen Ci has neither the ability to fly through the sky or escape into the earth, nor fine horses or luxury carriages. Although his predecessor had raised a few good horses, they were all used to refine the Yin Horse Pagoda Lock.

To suddenly have to go on such a long journey, to be honest, he is a bit panicked.

"For ordinary mortal horses, even if stimulated with True Qi, it will take two or three days of effort to cover eight hundred li. If I happen to run into a demonic sect enchantress who practices dual cultivation on the way... cough, that shouldn't happen."

Chen Ci feels a bit of anxiety.

Although his cultivation level makes him a top-tier expert in the Changping County area, this is not a game with a beginner map protection mechanism. The probability of running into an old demon who has accumulated years of practice while out is very low, but it is definitely not zero.

"Calm down, don't panic, don't scare yourself."

Chen Ci slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. With the luck he had in his past life of 'getting another bottle', he shouldn't end up with his Dao path collapsing just from going on a long journey: "The problem now is, I have no money."

Although gold and silver objects are somewhat useful to practitioners, they are not a rigid necessity. If one wants to exchange gold and silver for spiritual items, one must either rely on luck or trade in volume.

"Right now, there are only a few dozen taels of gold on the books, and the only things with a little value are a dozen or so Soul Fixing Talismans and a few Bigu Pills, which are better than nothing."

"And I can't delay any longer. In a few more days, the True Qi in the Soul Fixing Talismans will begin to dissipate. By then, this already impoverished household will be in even worse shape. It is truly too difficult for me."

Chen Ci's expression is solemn. He has to face the world outside Changping County sooner or later, and he does have a psychological expectation for it.

"Prepare a bit, and we'll leave in a while."

Actually, there isn't much to prepare.

Thirteen Soul Fixing Talismans; it's hard to estimate their value, it depends on the market.

Moreover, two of them already show faint signs of True Qi dissipation, and they will likely be scrapped by then. Heartache plus one.

Fifty taels of gold, take it all.

Seven Bigu Pills, supplies for the road, and they can save the trouble of excretion. Joy plus one.

Five Yin Evil Qi Bag, a necessity.

Yin Horse Pagoda Lock, a necessity.

Chen Ci's mind stirred, and the Yin Horse Pagoda Lock acting as his belt flashed with Spirit Light. A Yin Horse appeared in the courtyard, draped in the iron armor of the Yin Horse Pagoda transformed by a Prohibition, looking quite extraordinary.

"I can sit on it, but the consumption of True Qi is too great, and it's cold on the butt."

Chen Ci rubbed the spot that was frozen and dispersed the True Qi on the Pagoda Lock. It's fine for short-distance riding in an emergency, but for long distances, it's not as good as a mortal horse.

"Right, I also need to bring a sword."

Whether it can defend against enemies is another matter, but it is definitely handsome. Handsomeness plus two.

Just before departing, Chen Ci thought for a while and went to the backyard to pick a nearly mature Corpse Ganoderma, placing it in a box and sealing it carefully. The confidence in his heart felt a bit more solid.

"Money is a man's courage, even after stepping into cultivation, this remains true."

Chen Ci mounted the mortal horse from the temple, gave a few instructions to his own Apprentices, took several deep breaths, checked everything twice, and then rode off.

After walking two or three li, he inexplicably had the urge to turn back and check again.

He felt like something hadn't been prepared.

At first, one could still see crowds on the official road. Chen Ci rode on the horse and saw farmers picking up rice stalks in the fields.

After walking more than twenty li, the human presence suddenly became sparse. Except for some villages that could still be seen by the fields, it was already hard to see traces of living people.

The road also became much harder to travel. To be honest, riding a horse is also hard work, and it quickly extinguished much of Chen Ci's heroic spirit for roaming the Jianghu.

"When I make it big in the future, I must get a Dharma Artifact for transportation, the kind that can fly in the sky."

Chen Ci silently made a vow.

Cough, it's not because I can run faster if I encounter danger, it's mainly to look cool, really.

The third day, early morning.

Chen Ci looked at the Xishan Prefecture city not far away and sighed: "Finally arrived."

Sleeping in the open is really not as romantic as one thinks. Even for a practitioner, spending the night in the wild feels very uncomfortable. Not to mention refining Dharma Artifacts, even the efficiency of absorbing Qi and practicing methods is much worse. These past few nights, Chen Ci could not enter the state for long while practicing the Three Yin True Qi, and the gains were minimal.

However, he really didn't encounter any twists and turns along the way. Except for a few blind wild beasts that became snacks for the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag, he didn't encounter any scenes of road robbery.

It's not that the Liang Kingdom is peaceful, it's mainly that any Daoist traveling alone with a bit of discernment would not be provoked.

Chen Ci did not enter the city. The mundane world is only a place for cultivators to enjoy themselves, but when it comes to cultivation matters, most still seek out spiritual caves to build blessed lands and dwellings.

Fuhu Altar is the Outer Sect stronghold of the He Mountain Sect in Xishan Prefecture. The person in charge is an External Deacon of the He Mountain Sect named Hutou Daoren, who is said to have the Qi Refining cultivation to impact the Dao Foundation.

Chen Ci is unfamiliar with the place in Xishan Prefecture. If he wants to contact local practitioners, it is naturally more appropriate to pay respects to his own dock first.

"This poor Daoist is Chen Ci, an Outer Transmission of the He Mountain Sect, here to pay a visit. I hope you can report this."

Chen Ci looked at the grandeur of Fuhu Altar, his eyes full of envy.

Unlike his own Sanyin Temple with its few cats and kittens, Fuhu Altar not only covers a vast area, but the pavilions are extremely high with red roofs and gold tiles. When the sunlight shines on them, there are even strange colorful rays of light. Even the Daoist boy guarding the gate, who looks no more than twenty, has a cultivation not far from Zhoutian Consummation, much stronger than the three inferior Apprentices at home.

The three Apprentices: Master, you should at least teach us something.

The Daoist boy at the gate picked his ear and looked Chen Ci up and down, as if he hadn't heard. Chen Ci was stunned for a moment, then reacted, gave a dumb laugh, flicked his finger, and a Soul Fixing Talisman was stuffed into the boy's sleeve without any fanfare.

Hmm, the one whose True Qi was about to run out.

"This master, please wait a moment."

The Daoist boy was also someone who knew his stuff and recognized this Soul Fixing Talisman. He beamed with joy and led Chen Ci into the side hall. Before long, a white, plump Daoist dressed half-Daoist and half-layman came out. He looked to be in his early forties, and his cultivation was estimated to be less than ten apertures. His face was originally a bit arrogant, but after slightly sensing Chen Ci's True Qi cultivation, he immediately changed his expression and smiled: "I wonder how to address this fellow sect brother?"

"This poor Daoist is Chen Ci of the Sanyin Temple in Changping County. And you are, Junior Brother?"

"So it is Senior Brother Chen in person. I am Ding Jiang. I wonder why Senior Brother has come to Fuhu Altar today?"

This Daoist Ding Jiang's attitude was even better. He had thought it was some Outer Sect disciple of the He Mountain Sect coming to beg for favors, but hearing that this man surnamed Chen could establish a temple in a county, his ability was different.

Even if the He Mountain Sect has a large family and business, it is not just any Outer Transmission disciple who can build such a foundation.

Ding Jiang offered spirit tea, which was actually just ordinary old tea, merely stained with a hint of spiritual energy.

After the two sat down, Chen Ci did not get straight to the point; he held the spirit tea in one hand, while his other hand quietly passed over three Soul Fixing Talismans, two of decent quality and one with some True Qi leaked away.

Ding Jiang's fat face wore a smile, and while his mouth repeatedly declined, his hand snatched them up: "Senior Brother Chen, how can I accept this? If there is anything this junior brother can do, I certainly won't refuse."

Soul Fixing Talismans of this quality had a market among the Apprentices of the He Mountain Sect; three of them should be worth a few dozen taels of gold.

Chen Ci set down his teacup and leisurely remarked: "Junior Brother Ding, that young acolyte just now, looking at him, he doesn't seem like someone with a Dao Heart."

Ding Jiang was stunned for a moment and inwardly cursed; this Chen fellow looked generous, but he hadn't expected him to be so petty, yet he immediately smiled and chimed in: "Senior Brother is right, that guy really doesn't look like he has a Dao Heart."

It was just a little gatekeeper; giving him a hard time didn't amount to much, and he wasn't his own Apprentice anyway.

After locking eyes for a moment, the two laughed in unison.

You thought you could run after offending a Daoist master?

This Daoist master is petty and famously talented but lacking in virtue, hmph.

(End of this chapter)