Chapter 132: Changsheng Fang, Five Ghosts Escaping

Liangjiang Sea Market, outer city, an Yizhuang.

In the dead of night, in the graveyard where corpse coffins were parked, Chen Ci slowly withdrew from his meditative state, felt the changes in the Nether Yin True Qi within his body, and could not help but sigh.

How should one put it? It's the participation that counts.

Five Yin Demon Art (Fragmented): 43/100 (Nether Yin True Qi, top-tier quality, can open three hundred and sixty apertures, five practice sessions per day, six hundred and twenty days to open one aperture)

After several attempts, practicing this art in places abundant with water-attribute spiritual energy, or in some Yin-heavy location, would be of slight benefit to the cultivation of True Qi, though it didn't make much of a difference; it was just slightly better than sitting in meditation in some random place.

"The five elements favor water, and the Yin-Yang balance leans toward Yin; as it stands, practicing on the Liuyun River at the Hour of the Rat is the most excellent."

Chen Ci shook his head. Even though his Dao Heart was quite firm, seeing that the arduous cultivation of the Five Yin Demon Art was difficult to achieve, he still felt a trace of exhaustion in his heart, more or less.

But soon, Chen Ci severed this trace of distracting thought; it wasn't as if he lacked a backup plan, so he wouldn't be this pessimistic.

He rose to leave. Yin winds blew in gusts, and combined with the gloomy expression on Chen Ci's face, it made a hunchbacked Daoist in the distance swallow his saliva and cautiously approach: "This Daoist, if you are only consuming Qi and practicing your art, that is fine, but if you have any other intentions, cough, I will have to report it to the market."

Chen Ci merely nodded in acknowledgment, raised his hand to toss him a small gold wafer, and then drifted away.

Returning to his residence in Qingyun Workshop, Chen Ci summoned the five little ones. He was so angry that he gave each ghost a flick to the forehead. It had been so long, and not one of them was willing to improve; it was all up to Master Chen to drag five scrubs along, carrying the burden as he moved forward.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Great Success/56/100

Five Ghosts Possession Method: Not yet initiated

After thinking it over, Chen Ci still didn't dare to immediately begin practicing the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method. Although Lin Qinhu had once said that one could practice the possession method once the transportation method reached Great Success, the realm of 'Great Success' was still somewhat vague. Coupled with the Si Ding warrior with disordered wits he had encountered the day before, he would rather stay steady than have something go wrong with his cultivation.

"In a month and a half, the Five Ghosts Transportation Method should be Perfected. On the path to Longevity, this bit of time is nothing."

Chen Ci took the tea that Hong Zhong had ingratiatingly offered and took a small sip: "There's only a month or so left until the end of the year, less than two months. That cheap Shixiong better not have forgotten me. No, no, I still have to go over and move about to maintain our relationship."

As for moving about, naturally, one cannot go empty-handed.

Chen Ci took stock of his assets, and a sense of poverty rushed toward him, making him grimace.

When he was on the Treasure Ship, he was still thinking about how to spend the massive fortune of over four hundred Spirit Pearls, but he had only been in the Sea Market for less than two months, and he had already spent it down to just over two hundred.

That was only about two hundred thousand taels of silver; it seemed like a lot, and in fact, it wasn't a small amount.

However, for Chen Ci, such money was enough for enjoyment, but for cultivation, it could barely push his Nether Yin True Qi to forty-five apertures—better than nothing.

Moreover, there were quite a few places where he needed money now.

Not to mention the cultivation aspect, because he didn't intend to use Spirit Pearls or Divine Sand to assist in practicing the Five Yin Demon Art; that was a bottomless pit that could never be filled.

First, a Force Path cultivation technique; although not strictly necessary, Chen Ci had to see what the situation was with the Five Ghosts Possession Method before coming to a conclusion, but he had to have the money prepared first.

According to what that old Daoist Zhuang said, finding a Force Path technique in the Liangjiang Sea Market wasn't actually too difficult, but if one wanted something reliable, it could only be at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. After all, within the Liang Kingdom, all superior Force Path techniques came from the Liuyun Longgong; where other chambers of commerce got their manuals, others couldn't say for sure.

As for the price, old Daoist Zhuang didn't know, only hearing that it was exorbitant, and having silver alone wasn't enough.

Secondly, if he could visit Jiao Zhenren with Lin Laohu during the New Year, he couldn't go empty-handed either. But a gift too light would lose face, and a gift too heavy would lose money. A Golden Core True Person's grace and might were like a mountain; he still had to consult Lin Laohu on exactly how heavy it should be.

Finally, to go to the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet to mooch a meal and gain some experience, he also had to prepare a gift. This one could be lower; he was just a small shrimp, so he figured showing the right attitude would suffice.

"Eating away at one's savings, sigh. Although the Peiyuan Yangshen Wine can yield about eight or nine Spirit Pearls a month, combined with cooking Spirit Rice, it's about ten Spirit Pearls, but it can't even cover the current monthly consumption for cultivation."

Since he was so poor, if he brought a lighter gift when visiting Lin Shixiong, he should be able to understand, right?

Chen Ci rubbed his chin, thinking about what to give so he could stay a while longer in the immortal cave dwelling of Changsheng Fang.

Changsheng Fang.

As the highest-end immortal cave dwelling in the Liangjiang Sea Market, it was situated atop a spiritual vein. The entire mountaintop had been leveled by human effort. Starting from the mountainside, large clusters of buildings were situated upon it. The higher one went, the more the clouds and mist drifted, with treasure light faintly visible, as if it were the dwelling of Immortals.

Chen Ci carried a large food box, stood outside Changsheng Fang, and pondered in silence.

By the way, where did Lin Laohu live again?

"Seeking a friend or visiting a guest?"

Outside the foot of the immortal workshop mountain, an old Daoist with graying hair glanced at Chen Ci and said indifferently: "Ten taels of gold."

Chen Ci handed over the ten taels of gold with a pained heart; for a family that wasn't wealthy to begin with, this was adding frost to snow.

"He Mountain Sect, Lin Qinhu, right."

The old Daoist flipped open a book an inch thick and looked at it for a few moments: "Zizhu Feng, Yunfei Lou. Do you have a cave dwelling Dharma Tablet?"

"No."

Chen Ci answered honestly, feeling sour inside. Everyone was bowing to the same He Mountain dock, but the gap was just a bit too big.

"Ten taels of gold."

The old Daoist closed the book and rubbed his fingers: "Don't look at me. What kind of place is Changsheng Fang? How can people just enter at will? I am using a Cloud Sound Talisman Sword to ask the master of the house if they will let you in. By the way, how should I address you?"

"Oh."

Chen Ci looked helpless. Not to mention living in Changsheng Fang, even just entering it cost quite a bit: "Just say that Apprentice Chen Ci requests an audience."

The old Daoist pulled out a wooden box and opened it; inside was a row of talismans, arranged very neatly. He picked one out, held a brush, and used cinnabar ink to write and draw on it. Finally, he activated it, and this talisman actually flew into the air, its speed not slow.

Chen Ci's small mouth opened slightly, and he couldn't help but ask: "May I ask, Daoist, what kind of talisman art is this Cloud Sound Talisman Sword, and what is the principle?"

Such an intelligent way to find someone was much more useful and cheaper than the Mother-Son Heart-Linked Gu of the He Mountain Sect.

"It's just a simple sound-transmission talisman, but it requires coordination with array nodes to have such a wonderful use. In the Sea Market, only Changsheng Fang can use this."

A trace of pride flashed across the old Daoist's face, but he didn't pay any more attention to Chen Ci and closed his eyes for a short nap.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a talisman flew back from mid-air. The old Daoist reached out to catch it, took a look, and his attitude improved slightly. He summoned a young attendant and instructed: "Take this Daoist to Zizhu Feng, Yunfei Lou."

"Yes, this master, please come this way."

"A detached house; I want to live in a cave dwelling like this too."

In the bamboo forest path before his eyes was a pavilion and terrace. On it was a door plaque with the two characters 'Yunfei' written on it. Although it didn't occupy a very large area, it was more than enough to accommodate him, Chen. Taking a step back, he could live outside too. Sigh, the relationship really had faded.

Chen Ci felt a bit emotional. Just as he approached, a gorgeous maidservant came out to greet him and performed a blessing: "Master Chen, the master is waiting for you in the backyard."

It was actually a charming enchantress. Looking at her form, he didn't know if she was a snake-spirit or a fish-spirit, but in any case, she was very soft and very supple.

Lin Laohu, oh Lin Laohu, I didn't expect that a thick-browed and big-eyed guy like you would also fall into depravity!

Chen Ci also raised his hand to return the courtesy politely, eyes fixed straight ahead, and followed her into the residence. Before long, they arrived at the back.

It was called a backyard, but it was actually just an open space, very spacious, yet there was not a soul in sight.

Where is Lin Laohu?

Chen Ci's eyes narrowed slightly; he could not quite grasp the meaning of this, but suddenly he felt a whistling sound faintly approaching from afar.

Looking up, a mass of constantly churning black smoke, within which a fierce tiger seemed to be roaring, slid rapidly down from the clouds in mid-air, landing in the backyard with a muffled thud.

This is the Five Ghosts Transportation Method?!

Chen Ci's eyes went slightly blank; living in an immortal mansion, raising a demon concubine, and now he can even fly, this, this, this... this old man is truly envious!

A gust of strong wind blew past, and a burly figure walked out from the rolling black smoke; Lin Qinhu brushed the dust off his crimson Daoist robe, glanced at Chen Ci, and asked indifferently, "You came over today, what for?"

(End of this chapter)