Chapter 162: The Primordial Spirit Sends Me on the Path Home

"Just so you know, Senior Brother, I found a remnant manual of the Force Path at the Sea Market, called something like the True Diagram of the Golden Scale Swallowing the Moon."

Chen Ci complained quite naturally, without the slightest concealment: "That fellow spoke nicely at the time, saying this method required few resources and offered fast progress, but as soon as I started, I ran into many problems. When I went to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, they pushed some 'Zen Quiet Treasure Pill' on me; the prices are so high, these profiteers truly deserve to be killed."

"The Sea Market Chamber of Commerce values profit, which is always different from the sect's heritage; you must learn to be more cautious."

Lin Qinhu smiled at the corner of his mouth: "The method of refining apertures and changing blood is, after all, only an auxiliary method for us. Do not be impatient; just slowly polish your flesh and blood Qi."

"Senior Brother is right."

Chen Ci looked somewhat dejected and sighed: "It's just that my cultivation hasn't made any progress for a long time, so I'm a bit anxious. Senior Brother, you will surely become a high-level expert of the Dan Realm in the future. If I, your Junior Brother, remain standing still, how can I continue to serve you?"

Likes to paint a big picture, does he? This bowl of "loyal and devoted" soup, I'll serve it right back to you.

Chen Ci, courtesy name Zhongxin, epithet He Mountain Light.

Lin Qinhu: "."

"Yes, Junior Brother has been taught."

"Hmm, but it can only be maintained for two breaths of time."

Lin Qinhu pondered: "When you perform the Five Ghosts Possession, your constitution will be extremely compatible with the practice of the Five Accumulations Yin Demon Art. If you consume Qi and practice the method at this time, a few breaths will equal a normal day's work. You will advance bravely and vigorously, far exceeding ordinary people."

Chen Ci suddenly spoke, his expression slightly sheepish.

"Earlier today, a fellow apprentice from the Red Dragon Temple with the surname Yan found me."

Although he didn't really need it.

Chen Ci answered truthfully, then curiously asked: "By the way, Senior Brother, where does the auxiliary function of the Five Ghosts Possession Method for the Five Accumulations Yin Demon Art lie? I have tried seven or eight times, but I still have no clue."

"Have you mastered the Five Ghosts Possession Method yet?"

"Heh."

"A few breaths equal a day's work?"

Bazhen Tower.

Chen Ci took the envelope, didn't look at it closely, put it in his bosom, and finally felt at ease.

"Yes."

Immediately, Chen Ci added sheepishly: "Of course, he gave a bit too much."

"I see."

After a pause, Lin Qinhu's expression was somewhat curious: "Why, is there something wrong?"

As the premier restaurant and tavern in Pingkang Ward, it occupied such a vast area that it was almost like a small palace. Lin Qinhu took Chen Ci up to a high floor, walked across a golden bridge, passed through a corridor hall, and finally stopped outside a private room.

Hmm... Old Master Chen has had another epiphany.

"Yes, so you cannot be impatient when practicing the Five Ghosts Method. When you can maintain the Five Ghosts Possession Method for about fifteen breaths, the Five Accumulations Yin Demon Art can be improved."

Hmph, how can a great man live long under others? This Liangjiang Sea Market, it's not worth staying in anyway.

After speaking, Lin Qinhu took an envelope from his bosom and handed it to Chen Ci: "That descendant of Senior Brother Geng is within the territory of Dongshan Prefecture. Take this letter to find him and bring him back to Xishan Prefecture together."

Chen Ci's breathing grew heavy, expectation seemed to appear in his eyes, and he bowed to Lin Qinhu: "I understand, thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

"Two breaths, it seems your foundation is good. Since you have already mastered the Five Ghosts Method, it is no harm to tell you about it."

Lin Qinhu paused, his footsteps slowed slightly, and he glanced at Chen Ci.

I can also exercise my body well and win by frequency.

Lin Qinhu seemed not to have expected Chen Ci to bring this up suddenly. He pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly: "It was my oversight. Cultivation cannot lack resources. Matters in Xishan Prefecture are already stable, but I may not be able to return in the short term. Master Jiao has already let Senior Brother Shen Gao temporarily act as the Altar Master of Fuhu Altar. If you have made a decision, go back to Xishan Prefecture and take a position as a Deacon under Senior Brother Shen first."

"Uh, that fellow surnamed Yan said he wanted to take the opportunity to hook up with a Dragon Lady of Longgong, saying that there are a few Earth Sha Yin Veins under the jurisdiction of Liuyun Palace that are not very good, and he wants to try to condense Sha and form a Dan in the future, to make some preparations."

Lin Qinhu thought for a while and said: "In the past, most fellow apprentices in the sect treated the Five Ghosts Method as a method for being brave and fierce. When the Five Ghosts possess the body, the True Qi and Ghost Qi merge, having the embryonic form of Dharma Power. Ordinary spells and filthy Qi are hard to touch the body. When at He Mountain, most fellow apprentices only practiced some Miaojiang evil arts, poisons, and Gu methods to enhance their flesh and blood Qi. Now that the sect is slowly walking out of He Mountain and Miaojiang, we have discovered that the method of refining apertures and changing blood also has benefits for the Five Ghosts Method. Even if the Five Ghosts Possession Method is difficult to practice to a profound level, if the blood and Essence Yuan are sufficient, it can be performed more times, which is another way of thinking about cultivation. But you should also have realized the drawbacks; the specific gains and losses still need to be grasped by yourself."

"Hmm, what is it?"

Chen Ci laughed honestly: "I thought we were all fellow apprentices, so I agreed."

Lin Qinhu gave a dry laugh, though the tone was neither good nor bad.

Chen Ci had some impression of this old Daoist Shen Gao. As a veteran Dao Foundation expert, his lifespan might not be long. Having just stepped down from the position of Temple Master of Red Dragon Temple, he went to Fuhu Altar to temporarily act as Altar Master, which could be considered a retirement position.

Lin Qinhu said indifferently: "Since it wasn't Senior Brother Guan who sought you out personally, just refuse him directly; don't take it to heart."

Chen Ci nodded in response, feeling a bit dazed. No wonder that cheap boss knew that few He Mountain apprentices could practice the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method to a profound level—maintaining it for twenty or thirty breaths was already rare—yet he was still willing to give a top-grade Force Path manual for him to try.

Chen Ci said helplessly.

"Hmm, a few days ago, Senior Brother Guan came to me, wanting me to help him take two apprentices to Longgong. He has newly succeeded to the position of Temple Master of Red Dragon Temple, and it wouldn't be good for me to directly refuse him, so I politely declined him and only said I would take you there."

Chen Ci sighed slightly: "There is also the matter of Senior Brother Geng's descendant, which I often keep in mind. I am preparing to set off to bring him to Xishan Prefecture for training. I wonder if that is acceptable."

Lin Qinhu stopped walking, his face expressionless.

"Senior Brother, I have one more small matter I need to tell you."

"Sigh, Senior Brother might not know... mainly because I spent all my money to find that Force Path remnant manual, and although the Sea Market is big, it is not easy to live in."

It's as if the time is too short.

"When are you planning to leave?"

Lin Qinhu asked suddenly.

"In these two days."

Chen Ci replied subconsciously: "Does Senior Brother have any other instructions?"

"Nothing."

Lin Qinhu glanced at Chen Ci and said leisurely: "Although Red Dragon Temple is a fellow sect, they are only fellow sect members. Since you have already agreed to others, you might as well ask for more; you shouldn't waste the deep affection between fellow apprentices."

Chen Ci was shocked at first, then looked approving and sighed: "Senior Brother's insight is brilliant."

"Brother Yan, drink, drink."

The number of people at this banquet was not very large; Red Dragon Temple only sent a mere seven or eight people. Lin Qinhu and the Dao Foundation cultivator surnamed Guan sat in the seats of honor, clinking cups, while the remaining apprentices sat on both sides. There were beautiful maidens performing songs and dances on the field, enlivening the atmosphere.

Chen Ci deliberately chose a position close to the one surnamed Yan. After a few cups of wine, Yan Shan, who had been keeping a cold face, relaxed his expression, somewhat unable to understand the purpose of Chen Ci's actions.

"Junior Brother Chen, you—"

Yan Shan's heart stirred slightly; he was just about to speak when Chen Ci interrupted him directly.

"Brother Yan, why didn't you say earlier that it was Uncle-Master Guan who specifically sent the greeting?"

Chen Ci gave a wry smile and said in a low voice, "The Longgong birthday banquet may be grand, and a Primordial Spirit True Monarch may be high and mighty, but they aren't as formidable as Uncle-Master Guan."

Yan Shan: "."

For a moment, he couldn't tell if this was a compliment or an insult.

"Then—"

A faint light appeared in Yan Shan's eyes. Just as he was about to ask more, Chen Ci interrupted him again, waving his hand and saying, "You and I are fellow apprentices; there's no need to say anything else. I will naturally support you firmly."

"Then this brother shall thank you in advance."

Yan Shan nodded slightly, his expression softening a little, as if he hadn't expected this matter to suddenly take such a turn.

"However, this junior brother is in a bit of trouble."

Chen Ci suddenly sighed: "Uncle-Master Guan is the newly appointed Temple Master of Red Dragon Temple. Brother Lin blames me for not being able to grasp such a small matter and is sending me back to Xishan Prefecture to beg for a job under Uncle-Master Shen. The journey is long, and after I return, I might have to grease some palms at Fuhu Altar. Brother Yan, do you think... this junior brother doesn't want much, one hundred Spirit Pearls, how about it?"

Yan Shan's eyes widened abruptly. You brat, you're basically robbing me in broad daylight!

Damn it!

"Junior Brother Chen, are you not joking? Do you know how much silver one hundred Spirit Pearls is worth?"

Yan Shan laughed out of extreme anger and replied in a low voice: "I hold the position of Commandant at Red Dragon Temple, and I only receive a salary of two Spirit Pearls per month. It's just an attendant spot to enter the Liuyun Longgong, not a proper Dharma Tablet spot. You really have the nerve to ask."

Yan Shan then sneered and said indifferently: "If it weren't for my status as a Red Dragon Temple Apprentice, making it inconvenient to follow others, I have plenty of ways to get in. Otherwise, why do you think I'm looking for you?"

If you're going to put it that way, then I'm going to have to raise the price.

Chen Ci grinned and persuaded in a low voice: "Brother Yan, you are even willing to bring out the Skull Demon Method and the Six Paths Black Cable. Could it be that our He Mountain Great Method isn't even worth one hundred Spirit Pearls?"

"Heh, the Great Method belongs to He Mountain, but the Spirit Pearls are my own. Can these be the same?"

Yan Shan wore an expression of looking at an idiot and was quite speechless: "You and I are both fellow apprentices of He Mountain. The He Mountain Great Method is meant to be taught without discrimination. With a little maneuvering, it's not that big of a deal."

Chen Ci: "." Holy crap, what you said actually makes so much sense.

Damn it, this guy was actually trying to get something for nothing.

Seeming to feel that his previous words were a bit too blunt, Yan Shan coughed lightly and added: "Although it is a transmission between fellow apprentices, I am also taking a huge risk. Ten Spirit Pearls, plus one Great Method, how about that?"

"Hehe."

Chen Ci wore an expression of 'keep talking, I'm listening,' scanned the room, and suddenly asked: "Brother Yan, of the seven apprentices your Red Dragon Temple brought this time, I wonder if the others would like to enter the Liuyun Longgong to broaden their horizons."

"Eighty Spirit Pearls, no lower."

This guy says he wants to hook up with a Dragon Lady, but why does he feel like such a pauper? A mere one hundred thousand taels of silver... that's all. To want to be a son-in-law of Longgong, how can he be so stingy?

"Sleeping with an unfavored Dragon Lady wouldn't even cost eighty Spirit Pearls!"

Yan Shan let out a turbid breath. He could see it now; this guy just wanted to fleece him. He calculated in his heart, gritted his teeth, and said: "Thirty Spirit Pearls. The third apprentice under Uncle-Master Shen is an in-law of my Yan family. I will give you a token, and you can visit him when you return to Xishan Prefecture to ask for some convenience. Don't even think about getting another cent; I'd rather find another way."

Thirty Spirit Pearls—Master Chen expressed that this gap was a bit large.

But after quietly observing the expression of this man surnamed Yan, Chen Ci faintly felt that it had almost hit the bottom, but he was afraid that the city-dwellers had deep schemes, so he wasn't quite sure.

Forget it, leave a path for others so you can meet again in the future. After all, there is the bond of fellow apprentices, and he isn't an outsider after all. I'll leave this free meal of the Dragon Lady to you.

"Forty Spirit Pearls, and as for the token, forget it."

Chen Ci said with some emotion: "You and I are like brothers; it's not good to let others intervene casually. It hurts the money."

Yan Shan took a heavy breath, exhaled slowly, and then spat out a single word from his lips: "Fine."

Master Chen still had a soft heart. After thinking about it, he simply raised his cup to toast and congratulated him: "Then I wish Brother Yan success in your heart's desire and a smooth path in immortality."

"Hmph!"

Although he achieved his wish, the money spent... it still pained him. Although Yan Shan had some ways to make money, what cultivator wasn't short of resources? After all, he was only a Commandant Deacon at a branch altar of a major heterodox sect.

Master Chen, on the other hand, calculated his own assets and had broken through the three-hundred Spirit Pearl mark again. Thinking of this, his spine straightened quite a bit.

No matter how fragrant the Dragon Lady is, she isn't as fragrant as money.

Thinking this way, Master Chen's mood improved quite a bit. He ultimately forgave the stinginess of this cheap fellow apprentice beside him and happily enjoyed the delicacies on the table.

Not to mention, the craftsmanship of this Bazhen Tower was truly excellent, far better than those ordinary eateries. Some Spirit Materials, besides retaining their own spiritual essence, also brought out the flavor of the ingredients themselves, making it even more delicious.

Of course, more importantly, a free feast is just much tastier.

This meal could be considered a meeting of host and guest. In any case, Master Chen ate very satisfactorily. This cheap Uncle-Master Guan, who could lead all the He Mountain sect members in the Liang Kingdom, was naturally high-spirited, but he was also very polite to Lin Qinhu. After all, in thirty years, little Tiger might become Ancestor Lin; this seniority was naturally different.

There is no order of seniority in the Dao; those who achieve it first are the masters.

"Junior Brother Lin, in two days, you and I will go to the Liuyun Longgong together for the banquet."

Outside Bazhen Tower, the cultivator surnamed Guan chuckled: "I'm afraid all the cultivators in the Liang Kingdom at the Dao Foundation realm and above will come to join the fun, and I expect many overseas fellow practitioners will come as well. The face of our He Mountain Sect will still need you to uphold, Junior Brother Lin."

"Senior Brother Guan is joking, I am merely..."

Lin Qinhu also smiled and was about to speak, but his expression changed inexplicably. He looked up at the sky abruptly, and his Dharma Power fluctuated faintly.

"Hmm? Junior Brother Lin, what is this—"

The cultivator surnamed Guan was startled at first, then puzzled. But after a long while, a look of shock and suspicion also appeared on his face, and he looked up at the sky.

At this time, the sky was already dark, and a half-moon hung high in the starry sky, distant and tranquil, no different from usual.

But those with profound cultivation in the Sea Market could all feel that above the Sea Market, in the vast galaxy, there seemed to be a change in spiritual energy.

Chen Ci also blinked, followed suit, and looked up, scanning the starry sky.

He gained nothing.

After only a moment, the entire Liangjiang Sea Market, with its tens of thousands of cultivators and hundreds of thousands of mortals, suddenly heard rolling thunder in the starry sky, followed by a rumbling, galloping sound. Everywhere Chen Ci looked, everyone in the Sea Market changed color.

And amidst the thunder, the bright moon hanging high disappeared, and the starry sky seemed to be covered by a thin mist, which was blown away by the galaxy in an instant. Then, a majestic Dharma Image composed of stars stepped out from the starry sky and headed toward the Sea Market, like a nebula descending upon the world; it was feared that it could be seen from thousands of miles away.

In the Sea Market, someone seemed to exclaim in surprise: "Primordial Spirit True Monarch?"

One must know that Primordial Spirit powerhouses rarely show themselves. Once this star Dharma Image appeared, everyone who saw it was deeply shocked by this scene.

On a seaside hilltop in the Sea Market, a high-level cultivator wearing a Longhu Daoist Robe saw this scene and was overcome with excitement; he prostrated himself fully on the ground and bowed respectfully, saying, "Welcome, Ancestor!"

"Primordial Spirit?"

Lin Qinhu was slightly dazed, and it was a long while before he came to his senses, sighing in a low voice, "Primordial Spirit!"

A Primordial Spirit True Monarch?

Chen Ci's small mouth was also slightly agape; was this even human?

At the very least, he had met a Golden Core True Person before; although he could not discern the level of cultivation, it was still within the category of "human." Even though the clam spirit's Water Mansion was as vast as a mountain, it still held the concept of a "living creature." This stellar manifestation, however, was actually a Primordial Spirit True Monarch. He, Chen, finally had a rough understanding of the meaning of "Primordial Spirit."

In any case, it was definitely not human.

Chen Ci used his hand to close his mouth and stayed stunned for a while. Unaccountably, even the slight regret of not being able to attend the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet dissipated; at the very least, he had gained the insight he should have.

"That's not right. No matter how you look at it, this True Monarch's actions carry a bit of temper. I don't believe that whenever a Primordial Spirit True Monarch travels, it's always such a grand spectacle; it's just too terrifying."

Chen Ci muttered inwardly, blankly watching the galaxy-filled sky for a while. That True Monarch must have retracted his divine ability, and there was no telling where he had descended.

It shouldn't be the Liuyun Longgong, right?

"Leave, leave tonight. When giants quarrel, the ants suffer."

Chen Ci composed himself and immediately made up his mind; he would go back to pack his things in a moment and set off overnight, leaving the Sea Market first.

"Waves rise one after another in the Sea Market, a Primordial Spirit sends me on my journey home; away I go, time to slip away."

The members of the He Mountain Sect were all stunned by this scene and naturally had no heart to care about anything else. Chen Ci only bid farewell to his convenient senior brother, and Lin Qinhu waved his hand subconsciously, letting him go.

Looking back to sweep a glance at the Sea Market, then looking at the bright moon hanging high and the stars filling the sky, Chen Ci exhaled a breath of turbid air. His eyes flickered slightly, and he turned and disappeared into the crowd of the Sea Market; his pace was just a tiny bit faster, that's all.

(End of this chapter)