Chapter 179: The Use of Alchemy, Two Choices for the Five Ghosts

Outside Changping County, in the northern suburbs, at Baihua Lin.

Yizhuang.

"Corpse Ganoderma?"

Ma Daoren looked at Chen Ci, feeling quite speechless. What did this man surnamed Chen take his Yizhuang for? A wishing pool in a temple? Buying some corpses and Corpse spirits before was one thing, but now he was even asking directly about a Spirit Material like Corpse Ganoderma. Did he not understand that even among cultivators, there needed to be a sense of boundaries?

However, considering that this man surnamed Chen had knocked on the door when he entered, he would not get angry.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the profound True Qi cultivation he possessed.

Ma Daoren also did not understand how, after this man surnamed Chen had gone out for less than a year, the feeling he gave off was vaguely similar to when he had paid respects to the Ancestor in the village back then.

Of course, it was not to say their cultivation was the same; he estimated this man surnamed Chen had at most the cultivation of fifty-some apertures. It was likely he had mastered some Evil Method or secret technique that caused him to feel such fear.

Thinking of this, Ma Daoren pondered for a moment, looked at Chen Ci with some difficulty, and said in a low voice, "Temple Master Chen, although this Baihua Lin is considered a fine corpse ground, it is not a Yin cave. At most, one or two Corpse Ganoderma can be collected occasionally; there really are no more."

"Soul Fixing Talisman, can dispel evil Qi."

Miscellaneous cultivators or those of the heterodox paths might have some minor cultivation skills, and refining tools or making talismans was still manageable, but the means of alchemy, which relied most heavily on resources and heritage, were truly mastered by very few.

He knew that Chen Ci also raised a few Corpse Ganoderma and had bought a batch of Corpse spirits for fertilizer in previous years. If they were truly used for alchemy, that was indeed not enough.

Ma Daoren's expression changed slightly, looking somewhat unsightly, but he did not respond.

"However, I, the cripple, do know where there are large quantities of Corpse Ganoderma, which might satisfy Temple Master Chen's needs."

But conversely, if you practice some Evil Methods, damage your Essence Yuan, or get injured from being brave and fierce, it is normal to live a few years less. This cultivator surnamed Ma was in the business of collecting and raising corpses, so his lifespan was likely a cut shorter than others.

Chen Ci was not intentionally picking at someone else's sore spot. This man surnamed Ma had operated in Changping County for nearly thirty years; in terms of connections, he was likely stronger than him, and he had done plenty of dirty work in private. His predecessor had cultivated several Corpse Ganoderma in just three or five years; he truly did not believe this old Daoist was not doing something while guarding a prime corpse ground.

Ma Daoren stared at the medicinal pill in his hand for a while, seemingly having realized something, and asked, "No wonder, Temple Master Chen, you intend to study alchemy using Corpse Ganoderma?"

Chen Ci wore a gentle smile and flicked two items from his sleeve. The Cripple Old Daoist caught them subconsciously; they were a medicinal pill and a talisman.

"Health-Preserving Pill, can strengthen the body and nourish the Yuan."

In any case, in the vicinity of Changping County, there were dozens of miscellaneous cultivators, but apart from the great Master Chen, not a single one could refine the most basic Five Grains Inedia Pill, let alone pills for nourishing the Yuan, healing wounds, or other Spirit Pills.

Chen Ci nodded and replied casually.

The Cripple Old Daoist stuffed the Health-Preserving Pill in his hand into his mouth, feeling the medicinal power dissolve within his body, and sighed with emotion: "If I, the cripple, had been able to swallow such pills back then, I would not have ended up with such deep-seated injuries to the meridians in my legs, damaging my Dao Foundation."

"Hmm."

Without forming a Dao Foundation, although cultivators consume Qi and practice methods, they are still flesh and blood. They are stronger than mortals, but not by much.

Chen Ci said gently: "Long-term use will nourish the body; an old tree blooming is not out of the question. Daoist Ma, want to try?"

Although Qi Refining cultivators live to one hundred and twenty, if they have techniques for preserving health and have the surplus wealth to find longevity pills to swallow, it is not impossible to live a few more years.

"Corpse Qi entering the body, old age and physical decline, and the old injury on your leg has also damaged your Dao Foundation; I shouldn't need to say more about the rest."

Chen Ci gave a dark laugh, stared at this Cripple Old Daoist for a few moments, and only after his expression became somewhat unnatural did he ask calmly: "Daoist Ma, your lifespan should not be long now, right?"

No matter how hard Corpse Ganoderma was to sell, or how much it was looked down upon by orthodox cultivators, in the eyes of miscellaneous cultivators, it was a graded spirit medicine with many uses. This old Daoist was likely just reluctant to part with it.

"Then the Corpse Ganoderma here is not enough either; there are only eight that are usable. We miscellaneous cultivators of the heterodox path struggle to understand alchemy, so having too many of these things is of no great use."

Ma Daoren's tone shifted, seemingly implying something, his gaze landing in the direction of the mountains.

Hmm?

Chen Ci rubbed his chin, his heart stirred, and he asked casually: "Daoist Ma, do you have a grudge against Ma Family Village?"

He had forgotten that among the local miscellaneous cultivators, there was the Ma Family, whose heritage was based on the Corpse Dao. The Ma Family Village had a history of over three hundred years; although they had no Dao Foundation cultivators, that Ma Family Ancestor could be considered a half-step to Dao Foundation for ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. With this foundation and this corpse-raising ground, it was normal for them to raise some Corpse Ganoderma.

It was just that Chen Ci felt the cripple before him seemed to have more to say.

Ma Daoren felt a chill on the back of his neck after being glanced at by Chen Ci. Once he reacted, he quickly waved his hands to explain: "No, although I, the old Daoist, caused trouble and escaped from Ma Family Village, if I really had a grudge, I wouldn't be staying in Changping County. After so many years, thinking about it, it actually isn't a big deal."

He paused, and Ma Daoren explained with a bitter smile: "To be honest with Temple Master Chen, this thing called Corpse Ganoderma is not of much use to cultivators if it cannot be refined into pills, but Corpse refining does not fear its toxicity; it can be swallowed directly to assist in Corpse Dao rituals. Therefore, the corpse-raising grounds in the village are used to raise quite a lot of Corpse Ganoderma."

"And then?"

Chen Ci pondered the intention behind these words and asked.

"Although Corpse Ganoderma is of no great use to ordinary cultivators, one stalk sells for at least three to five thousand taels of silver."

Ma Daoren looked at Chen Ci cautiously and said: "However, the Ancestor has always wanted to find an orthodox alchemist, but there is truly no one among the wild cultivators in the mountains who knows this craft. If Temple Master Chen can refine pills using Corpse Ganoderma, I think you could have a talk with Ma Family Village."

The Ma Family Ancestor is looking for an alchemist?

Chen Ci pondered in his heart, having a vague guess.

Back when he killed and "acted on behalf of Heaven," he gained some understanding of the Ma Family Ancestor's background. The Ma Family Ancestor's Life Extension Method required the constant consumption of large amounts of spirit medicine, using the spiritual energy of plants to foster Longevity Qi to resist the corrosion of Five Metal Essence Qi. The Ma Family Village's forceful occupation of the Qingquan Village Medicine Field was for this reason.

But swallowing spirit medicine directly likely had poor results. Presumably, the Ma Family Ancestor wanted to find an alchemist to prepare the plant spiritual energy for him to forcefully extend his lifespan.

This matter could be done.

But Chen Ci felt inexplicably lacking in confidence, subconsciously glancing at the White Bone Heart-Locking Sword hidden under his Daoist robe.

No one should be able to recognize it, right?

Just to state beforehand, that man surnamed Ma died at the hands of Brother Lin, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Chen. As for the White Bone Heart-Locking Sword, the Six Yang Skull, and such, they were all things he picked up by the roadside in the mountains. Yes, that is exactly it.

If someone doesn't believe it, there is nothing to be done. In any case, Master Chen, the He Mountain Light, never lies. Really.

Chen Ci's fingers traced the hammer handle. After pondering for a moment, he made a decision and said calmly: "Daoist Ma, do you know of Due Palace?"

"This old Daoist knows."

Ma Daoren did not know why Chen Ci suddenly brought up this newly opened Dao palace. This matter was quite lively in Changping County; even though he stayed in the Yizhuang and mass graves all year round, he had heard a little bit about it.

"Good that you know. Due Palace is missing a Temple Keeper; you should go and manage it."

Chen Ci smiled gently, but it was not open to refusal: "Since you often perform rites for the dead, you must be a kind-hearted person. Being a Temple Keeper to gather incense for the Due Star Lord is also reasonable. The Star Lord will naturally bestow divine talismans and Spirit Pills as a reward. How about it?"

"..."

No, he is a dignified Corpse Dao cultivator; how is he a kind-hearted person?

Moreover, collecting corpses in the Yizhuang and being a Temple Keeper in a Dao palace are not related at all.

Ma Daoren's expression was slightly hesitant. He could not be sure of Chen Ci's intention, but the Spirit Pill and talisman just now were indeed quite beneficial to his lifespan. Even for a miscellaneous cultivator practicing the Corpse Dao, no one would not want to live a few more years.

"I need one of my own people to manage the Dao palace while also managing some alchemy materials."

Chen Ci smiled indifferently, his words carrying a peculiar implication: "Ma Daoyou, you should consider these divine talismans and spirit pills as bestowed by the Due Star Lord; those who are not one of us cannot obtain them."

One of us?

Ma Daoyou?

Hearing the pointed meaning in Chen Ci's words, Ma Daoren's face twitched slightly, but he understood: this man surnamed Chen likely wanted to trade for some Corpse Ganoderma with Ma Family Village, yet worried that he himself was loyal to Ma Family Village, so he was using the position of Temple Keeper, along with the Soul Fixing Talisman and health-nourishing pills, to get a grip on him.

His own foundation was severely damaged, and he originally needed to consume pills and use talismans year-round to have any chance of making up for it; all the expenses related to extending his life were no small sum. Ma Laodao had been wondering how to sell the few stalks of Corpse Ganoderma in his hands for a high price, but now it seemed... could he get them for free?

Hah, collecting corpses at the Yizhuang is the incense of the dead, while being a Temple Keeper at the Dao Palace is the incense of the living; is there a problem? Naturally, there is no problem.

As for the Ancestor not being familiar, he was not familiar at all.

"Agreed."

Ma Daoren was silent for a long time before slowly responding: "However, I have never served as a Temple Keeper, and I still need to return to the Yizhuang at night to cultivate, so I hope Temple Master Chen can excuse me."

"No matter."

Chen Ci looked at him deeply: "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are what people fear; you have always dealt with these things, Daoist, so as long as you put your heart into it, you will naturally be able to do it well."

"Additionally, I have three types: health-nourishing pills, Premium Bigu Pill, and Yellow Sprout Pill."

Chen Ci waved his hand: "Go and make contact with the Ma Family; just tell them the truth. I require Corpse Ganoderma by the hundreds. If you cannot suppress the price, Ma Daoyou, you shouldn't let this Temple Master down, right?"

"Yes!"

Ma Laodao felt inexplicably nervous under Chen Ci's gaze; he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and responded earnestly.

Truly hellish; it had only been a few years, so how had that He Mountain Outer Transmission, who only had a cultivation of twenty or thirty apertures back then, become so oppressive? The great sects of the heterodox paths were indeed extraordinary. It was fortunate that he had built up some incense-offering rapport when trading some corpses the year before last, otherwise, dealing with him would have been truly hard to say.

Chen Ci was also very satisfied; he had solved the matter of the Due Palace Temple Keeper, secured a source for the Corpse Ganoderma pill materials, and didn't have to deal with Ma Family Village himself. It was a triple win, and it was Master Chen winning three times!

He only needed to wait a few days before he began attempting to refine the Nourishing Qi Green Ganoderma Pill; progress in the Five Yin Demon Magic was within reach.

Who says Five Ghosts Possession is hard to practice? Hmph, how could a living person be stifled by a bit of urine?

Taking out twenty Spirit Pearls to buy the few stalks of Corpse Ganoderma in Ma Laodao's hands, Chen Ci waved his hand and left the Yizhuang with a flourish.

Alchemy, alchemy, and it's still damn alchemy.

Master Chen did not believe that with his sweat, effort, and talent, he couldn't handle a mere low-grade spirit pill of the heterodox path.

However, in addition to alchemy, cultivating the Five Ghosts Transportation Method to the Perfected state to see what changes it would bring was also an important matter.

Half a month later, late at night, the sky was cloudless for ten thousand miles.

Sanyin Temple, backyard.

Chen Ci sat cross-legged on the yin ground, eyes slightly closed, chanting the Five-Ghost Wonderful Technique. In the Spirit Nourishing Bottle beside him, nine drops of Essence Refining rose out of thin air, trembling and rolling, before disappearing into the void amidst bursts of giggling.

Suddenly, the entire backyard was shrouded in a thin layer of gray mist, appearing like a semi-transparent veil, yet filled with heavy ghost shadows; it seemed as if thousands of child shadows were chasing and playing inside, but there was neither sound nor substance, as if it were a phantom flickering back and forth.

Chen Ci did not feel it was noisy.

He only felt cold.

"Hoo~"

Chen Ci slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of cold air from his mouth. A gust of wind suddenly spread in all directions, and as if several 'Aiya' sounds rang out, the gray mist lingering throughout the backyard was completely blown away, and his figure appeared under the moonlight.

"Just now... it froze this master to death."

Chen Ci shook his body, his expression somewhat strange; the feeling just now was quite mysterious.

But he also knew that his own Five Ghosts Transportation Method must have broken through.

"I don't know what the situation is; after reaching the Perfected state, is it an infinite nesting doll, or are there some new changes?"

Chen Ci adjusted his state before looking at his Gold Finger panel.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Master (Heart Ghost or Spirit Ghost, choose one of two)

Yi, it seems this Five Ghosts technique has finally been practiced to the limit by him; it really wasn't easy.

But is that it?

Choose what, again?

Chen Ci gave a light 'Yi' and squinted his eyes, then discovered two semi-transparent, indistinct entry explanations behind his panel, which were very strange.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Master (Heart Ghost or Spirit Ghost, choose one of two)

Master/Heart Ghost: Five Ghosts Five Viscera Body

Master/Spirit Ghost: Spirit Ghost Nether Escape Method

What does this mean?

Chen Ci scratched his head. He had grinded this Five-Ghost Wonderful Technique to the max, but this "choose one of two" left him somewhat confused. Could it be that this Gold Finger was already so trashy that it couldn't let Master Chen have both?

(End of chapter)