Chapter 154: The Distinction of Desire, the Appearance of the Dragon Palace

Soul Fixing Talisman: Proficient/12/100

Chen Ci withdrew his gaze from the personal panel and rubbed his chin; what did this count as, being unable to see what is right under one's nose?

To put it nicely, Five Ghosts Possession is the He Mountain Great Method; to put it bluntly, isn't it just evil spirits entering the body?

Thinking about it this way, sigh, it really is a perfect professional match.

However, as one of the rare wonderful methods in the He Mountain Scripture that can be practiced without harming others, this talisman method does not have much presence in the He Mountain Sect. Aside from He Mountain cultivators needing to use this talisman from time to time to wash away their own resentment and filth to avoid attracting dirty things, it is actually used more often by He Mountain Registered Disciples walking the pugilistic world in their daily lives, which has undeservedly made the reputation of this talisman method even more unsightly.

Especially after leaving a backwater like Changping County, the market for this Soul Fixing Talisman shrank all at once, and even Chen himself hasn't used it to open for business in a long time; the days of earning several hundred taels from a single Soul Fixing Talisman are gone forever.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ci laid out the things he had prepared.

Jingxin Pill, Humai Pill, Gold Silver Jue Ming Soup—since he had already bought them, he couldn't just waste them, though Chen Ci felt that only the Jingxin Pill might have some effect.

The Light Sound Treasure Bell is said to be forged from northern cold iron, produced by a master craftsman, and underwent eighty-one processes; when activated with True Qi, the bell sound produced can cleanse the soul and relax the body and mind.

In reality, it is just a low-grade Dharma Artifact with no more than three layers of Prohibition. Chen Ci flicked it with a finger, and a crisp bell sound rang out; he did indeed feel a bit clear-headed and sharp-eyed.

Supreme True Loach Golden Scale Wonderful Method, activate!

Once the circulation of blood and Essence Yuan was complete, Chen Ci only felt that the small cluster of Essence Yuan beneath his abdomen had grown by a fraction, but there was still some distance to go before refining the first Force Path acupoint.

Freebies are good, but protection must also be in place.

Along with five freshly baked Soul Fixing Talismans.

As for the three sticks of mutton-fat sandalwood incense, a gift from Brother Lin, Chen Ci checked them very carefully several times to ensure they only contained certain refined medicinal substances and some sandalwood essence before he felt at ease.

But before he could even make a move, the five little ones saw this posture and actually trembled at first, then huddled together and simply lay down on the ground, striking a pose that said, "Master, come and play," leaving Chen Ci stunned.

Chen Ci glanced at the sandalwood incense that had already burned out to the side and grimaced.

What the hell.

Chen Ci's eyelids twitched a few times, and seeing that the five little ones weren't moving, he couldn't help but scold, "What are you doing, what are you doing? Get up and do your work; this talisman method isn't aimed at you!"

The five ghosts climbed up obediently, and after swallowing five drops of Essence Refining as usual, they rubbed their hands and fists and pounced on their master.

"Hmph!"

It's only just lit, save it and it can still be used.

Sigh.

There was no time to think too much; Chen Ci hurriedly added another stick of Spirit Incense, and while summoning the five ghosts, he took out five Soul Fixing Talismans.

Drinking a bowl of Nurturing Essence Life Soup in one gulp, a flush of blood quickly surged onto Chen Ci's face, and the Qi and blood throughout his body began to stir slightly. Suddenly hearing the sound of the treasure bell, he felt as if a cool breeze had blown through during the dog days of summer, and it actually did alleviate some of that restlessness.

The Spirit Incense that Lin Banshan brought out was probably not cheap stuff; this stick of Spirit Incense burned out in such a short time, and with his own financial resources, Chen reckoned he wouldn't have the chance to use it freely.

"Soul Fixing... Heh!"

Chen Ci had never felt so clearly the sensation of his brain being struck by a sledgehammer. In just an instant, the five Soul Fixing Talismans on his body turned to ash. Chen Ci, in the state of Five Ghosts Possession, seemed to be stunned for two breaths before he dispelled the Dharma spell and collapsed on the ground, not forgetting to flick his finger to extinguish that stick of Spirit Incense before the end.

"A little useful, but not much, and..."

The five little ones: "..." Hi, Master, you didn't say so earlier, you scared the ghosts.

Five Ghosts Possession Great Method!

Chen Ci gave a dry laugh and lit a stick of jade incense. As a wisp of smoke rose steadily, a faint fragrance reached his seven orifices, lingering and not dissipating, gradually calming the thoughts in his brain and causing distracting thoughts to recede.

Already prepared, Chen Ci took a long breath and slapped the five Soul Fixing Talismans onto his body instantly.

"Seems... a bit effective?"

Chen Ci's expression was a bit strange. The moment he stuck on the Soul Fixing Talismans, he seemed to be clear-headed for a brief moment, but before he could confirm it, the five talismans inexplicably lost their effect, and instead, his brain became even more chaotic afterward.

"Did I stick on too few?"

Chen Ci spat out a large mouthful of turbid air and soon shook his head: "Doesn't feel like it. A quantitative change in this talisman doesn't seem to trigger a qualitative change. Perhaps the level of the Soul Fixing Talisman Method is not high enough to fix the 'Yin Demon'."

Could it be that this talisman method is also one of the supporting methods of the Five Ghosts Method?

Chen Ci rubbed his temples and slowly recovered his spirit. The bad thing about side-door methods is just this: although they can be practiced, it is difficult to form a system, and the path is unclear.

It's just like the "He Mountain Scripture"; its Lianqi Technique, Dharma Artifacts, and talismans, presumably aside from the ancestor surnamed Feng, it would be difficult for others to know which ones came with the Dharma manual and which ones were collected and added on by him. Moreover, there was a period when the He Mountain Sect could be considered to have a bit of a flourishing momentum, and the disciples in the sect took pride in being able to leave their names in the "He Mountain Scripture," adding many more Dharma spells to it. Although it gained the reputation of "a thousand mountains and a thousand methods," Chen Ci couldn't say whether it was good or bad.

Furthermore, after this attempt, Chen Ci also faintly realized the different influences the Supreme True Loach Golden Scale Wonderful Method and the Five Ghosts Possession Method had on him.

Don't look at how much the old Daoist Xu said the other day—about "heart fire," "original intent," and "internal and external attacks." If Chen Ci were to say it, to put it bluntly, it might just be "true desire."

The Force Path method seems to be able to amplify and continuously accumulate a cultivator's true desires. This is the nature of living beings, and it has no distinction between good and evil. The saying "the root of life and death, desire is the first" is the reason for this. That is why it is said that these are not "distracting thoughts," but "original intent," because those thoughts are things you really want to do.

Longevity is also one of Chen Ci's desires, so this thing is really hard to deal with. The "Zen Quiet Treasure Pill" from the Sihai Treasure Tower seems to be able to clear desires to zero with one pill. To be honest, thinking about it now, it's still a bit sinister.

And the influence of the Five Ghosts Possession Method on Chen Ci, although it also amplifies "desire," seems to lean more towards "emotion."

Although "desire" and "emotion" are both poisons that affect a cultivator's spiritual platform and look similar, there is a slight difference. If they are lumped together, I'm afraid there will be suffering to eat in the future.

Chen Ci rested for a long while, turned over and sat up, and began to ponder his own path.

This Supreme True Loach Golden Scale Wonderful Method must be practiced, but the speed must be slowed down, and it should be enough to satisfy the requirements for the Five Ghosts Possession Method. However, in the end, he might still have to purchase a "Zen Quiet Treasure Pill" to sweep away the heart fire before he can advance the Five Ghosts Possession Method.

And the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method...

Chen Ci pondered for a moment, his gaze falling into the void.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Perfected/31/100

Soul Fixing Talisman: Proficient/12/100

Perhaps after these two methods become more profound, they will bring him some surprises.

"Phew~ finally sorted out my own cultivation. Although it hasn't been verified yet, I reckon it should be about right. It feels so good to have a path to follow."

Chen Ci's eyes narrowed slightly, he stretched his muscles and bones a little, and threw the slight frustration of these days to the back of his mind. What he feared most was that this Five Skandhas Yin Demon Method would have nothing left to practice. He had taken a huge risk to obtain the Superior Grade Qi Refining Method; if he couldn't practice it to perfection, it would truly be a waste of the effort he had spent. Now it seems that although it might be a few steps slower, it is a determination to accumulate strength and soar into the sky.

"Actually, I have practiced hard for so many years, it's not like I can't enjoy myself..."

Chen Ci pounded his hand and touched the money pouch by his side. The bulging Spirit Pearls inside gave little A-Ci great courage, and his eyes brightened slightly.

Isn't it just Pingkang Ward, isn't it just Bazhen Tower? If Master Chen gets in the mood, all the consumption tonight will be paid by...

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a loud noise from an unknown source interrupted Chen Ci's train of thought.

Immediately following, the houses and even the ground seemed to tremble slightly.

"An earthquake?!"

Chen Ci was startled, and just as he wanted to flee, he came to his senses; he was a cultivator now, he didn't need to fear such things.

As the tremors subsided, the sounds of commotion rose from outside the house. Chen Ci thought for a moment, tidied up his belongings, and opened the door to follow the crowd. He had the intention of grabbing a cultivator to ask what had happened, but seeing the same bewildered expressions on their faces, he figured they didn't know either. He only heard words like "pier" and "in the sea" vaguely drifting through the crowd.

In the slightly more distant residential wards, some high-level cultivators even took to the air; some transformed into rainbow light, some were Cloud Riding and Mist Driving, and others moved slowly, barely faster than an old lady.

Chen Ci watched with great envy; regardless of how well they flew, at least they could fly—they could fly!

He wondered when his own Cloud-Rising Foot Talisman would finally reach the introductory level.

But before long, squads of cultivators rushed out, dressed in Longhu Daoist Robes with rather grim expressions. The leading high-level cultivator maintained order while shouting:

"Order from Longhu Mountain: flight is prohibited within the Sea Market! Those who act recklessly will be killed without mercy, killed without mercy!"

Perhaps some spell was used, for although the surroundings were noisy, this person's words fell clearly into everyone's ears. Some mortals and martial artists without cultivation even trembled and subconsciously hid back inside their houses.

The reputation of Longhu Mountain was still formidable. Those few who flew fast were likely of high cultivation or had strong backgrounds and could pretend not to hear, but the few cultivators who had started slower all honestly lowered their clouds and headed toward the pier on foot. Fortunately, with fewer mortals out to gawk, the streets were much emptier.

Chen Ci thought about it and felt it didn't seem like a disaster, and coupled with his intense curiosity, he couldn't help but follow along.

Along the way, many people from the residential wards followed the flow of the crowd toward the pier.

Amidst the gasps of a group of cultivators, Chen Ci squinted and looked into the distance, finally knowing what had happened.

Outside the Sea Market, at an unknown distance, a piece of land had inexplicably appeared and was still slowly rising. The waves it stirred up were like a tsunami, causing the various ships at the pier to bob up and down; only a few Treasure Ships were able to steady themselves.

Was this some ancient secret realm that had appeared? An opportunity?

Chen Ci's expression was somewhat strange; no way, right? To have this kind of thing appear right when the Four Seas Treasure Gathering and the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet were happening.

But then, perhaps because he was far away, Chen Ci inexplicably felt that this rising landmass looked familiar; it looked just like the seashells one could see everywhere by the sea.

"Holy shit."

After a long while, once the landmass had surfaced halfway, Chen Ci finally confirmed that the thing, which was many times larger than a Treasure Ship and resembled a towering mountain, was actually a clam spirit—a clam ancestor!

Damn it, a clam spirit bigger than a mountain; who wouldn't be terrified seeing this!

This monster might even be a living creature, for after it had mostly surfaced, it slowly opened its shell, revealing a whole other world inside. Massive buildings stood within, appearing and disappearing under the shroud of thin water mist. Though he couldn't see them clearly, every inch of it exuded luxury; it was as if the words "I'm rich" were carved right onto the clam shell.

"A clam spirit Water Mansion?"

A cultivator said in a low, hesitant voice, as if not daring to be certain.

"The Flowing Cloud Longgong!"

Another cultivator seemed to have some knowledge and said quite definitively: "My clan has ancient records stating that when the Longgong appeared a thousand years ago, it was just like this scene. I never expected to have the fortune to witness such a grand occasion; marvelous, truly marvelous!"

"Oh, may I ask where your hometown is, brother?"

The people nearby changed expressions upon hearing this; someone who could have such heritage records was surely no ordinary person.

"A small island overseas, not worth mentioning."

The cultivator waved his hand leisurely and then added, with a hint of anticipation: "Pu clan of Jiezhu Island, have you brothers heard of it?"

"Long heard of it, long heard of it!"

"Ha, nice to meet you, nice to meet you!"

Chen Ci, however, was not paying attention to what was happening beside him; his mouth was slightly agape, staring at the giant clam spirit, which was as large as a deity, unable to close his mouth.

Such a demon race monster, he didn't know how many years it had lived, yet it was actually just the location of the Flowing Cloud Dragon Lord's Dragon Palace?

The might of the Dragon Lord was actually this fierce!

And what kind of scenery would that path of Primordial Spirit and Longevity be?

"Holy shit."

Chen Ci smacked his lips, taking a long time to come back to his senses.

People, even cultivators, find it hard to have a concrete sense of things they have never seen.

It's like terms such as "moving mountains and chasing seas," "capturing stars and seizing the moon," "immortality," or "sword entering the void"—these words seem to have some imagery in a cultivator's mind, but it is very hard to describe what they are specifically.

To put it more bluntly, many people have no concept of money; they talk about ten million or a hundred million easily, but in reality, if five million in cash were piled in front of you, your legs might go weak.

Even after stepping onto the immortal path, to be honest, Chen Ci's concept of "Longevity" was still somewhat vague; after all, having lived two lives, he had never come into contact with such a thing.

But today, this clam spirit Water Mansion completely shattered the shackles in Chen Ci's heart. Nothing could be more direct than such a giant object appearing before his eyes; this was power that transcended biological cognition.

Primordial Spirit, Longevity.

Freedom!

"To hell with 'enjoying life,' I want the Primordial Spirit, I want Longevity, I want great power gathered in one body, I want to be free in this world!"

Chen Ci rubbed his face, glanced around, and gave a cold laugh.

Heh, I have a meal ticket, you guys don't.

He then turned and walked away; his cultivation had only just begun, so he had no time to dawdle here. The wonder of the Longgong... when he made it big in the future, he, Master Chen, would also get one for himself.

Hehe~

(End of chapter)