Chapter 181: Minor Heterodox Arts Resemble Divine Powers

Chen Ci regulated his breath in the backyard for the time it takes to eat a meal, then swallowed a Longevity Pill before rising leisurely and flicking the heads of the five little ones and the one ghost on the ground.

They couldn't twist their mouths, weren't sons-in-law living off their wives, yet they dared to bite their master?

You have all rebelled!

But Chen Ci did not go out; the mere Ma Family Village, if people came, they came, it was nothing major, letting them wait a while was fine, it could not be more important than his own cultivation progress.

If he did not test this Spirit Ghost Ghostly Escape strange art, he would not be able to step out of this door today at all.

After a long while, the five little ones paralyzed on the ground recovered, looking left and right, not knowing what had just happened, their ghostly aura permeated with five strands of clear stupidity, only remembering a dream where the Five Ghosts Great Emperor beat up the Chen Ci beast, scratching their heads, then honestly merging into the void, jumping onto their master's back to hide.

"Spirit Ghost."

Chen Ci was thoughtful; if he hadn't truly trained the Five Ghosts to the realm of extreme agility and spirit without evil, they would have already been past the point of no return when they tasted the essence and blood of the five viscera.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ci slowly shouted in a low voice: "Spirit Ghost Ghostly Escape!"

As the wondrous art activated, Chen Ci only felt as if there were five clusters of cold air on his back, and with the strange art, it quickly spread throughout his body, his whole mind and body immersed in a chill.

"This is?"

Moreover, after the attempt just now, if his movements were too large or he made a sound, although he would not manifest, it would still make others feel that something was slightly off.

Although Qingfeng responded, a trace of doubt flashed across his face; he turned his head to look to both sides, but still did not discover anything wrong, thought about it with his little head, then pushed open the courtyard gate and entered the backyard.

Xiao Qingfeng sat on a small stool, holding an enlightenment book in his hand, biting his finger while recognizing characters.

Ma Laodao sipped his tea and asked.

After all, Qingfeng was only a mortal body, and with mortal eyes, it was normal not to see a cultivator casting spells.

What Ghostly Escape method, what Spirit Ghost Body, get lost!

However, Chen Ci was a bit unsure whether this so-called Spirit Ghost Body had anything to do with invisibility techniques and whether it had any effect on cultivators.

Due Palace, rear hall.

Chen Ci raised his hand, his expression somewhat strange; twisted, tadpole-like weird rune tattoos flickered under his skin, demonic and eerie, yet like some kind of talisman, very profound.

Sanyin Temple, backyard, not far outside the gate.

"Qingfeng!"

Chen Ci thought for a moment, and at a distance of about half a zhang from his Daoist boy, he ordered: "Qingfeng, come in."

Chen Ci waved his hand and gave a casual order; his boy responded and went out to carry out the command.

"Absurd, heaven and earth are my witness, how could a person as upright as me cultivate such... lewd strange arts!"

Qingfeng vaguely felt that something was wrong somewhere, not knowing how his master could be behind him, but he couldn't think of anything, so he hurriedly bowed respectfully.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Master/Spirit Ghost/Spirit Ghost Ghostly Escape Method (Spirit Ghost Body, Five Ghosts Shifting)

Afterwards, the detailed explanation of the Daoist method changed slightly, but what was strange was that the former was normal on the panel, while the latter presented a pale gray color, seemingly still lacking the conditions for activation.

Most importantly, after he just touched Qingfeng, he could clearly feel that the Ghostly Escape method he was performing was directly dispersed... he couldn't do anything at all.

The dignified He Mountain Light, having painstakingly cultivated the Five Ghosts Transportation Method, how did he end up cultivating an invisibility technique in the end?

Absurd, sigh, truly absurd, if he had known it would be like this, he would have been better off choosing the Heart Ghost path, Master Chen... he just doesn't like this (shouting with his neck stiff).

"Yes, Master."

Qingfeng shouted softly in the courtyard, but the backyard was empty, not even a ghost shadow, and he couldn't see where his master was.

"Master?"

Suddenly, his master's voice rang in his ear; Xiao Qingfeng jumped, hurriedly put down the book, stood at the door, and respectfully replied: "Master, I am here."

"Uncle Nine, I didn't expect that you have stayed outside the mountains for so many years and have actually established such a large foundation."

But he didn't know what he was melancholy about; he just felt it was meaningless.

Chen Ci was heartbroken, beating his chest and stamping his feet, crying uncontrollably.

Ma Laodao was talking to a middle-aged cultivator dressed as a mountain villager; the expressions and demeanor of the two were not intimate, but not estranged either.

Chen Ci tentatively moved his hands and feet, and there were no other changes; it was as if after activating this secret strange art, besides getting some tattoos and bringing his own air conditioning in the heat, it had no other use.

This middle-aged cultivator had a weathered face, wore a copper ring on his left ear, and was curiously looking around.

"Are you kidding me!"

"You are fine, go down; if Xian Zhi returns, have him come to see me immediately."

And then there was no then.

Chen Ci raised his eyebrows, lightened his steps, and circled around his Daoist boy, but Xiao Qingfeng seemed not to see his master, still facing the courtyard gate.

Sigh.

Chen Ci was inexplicably a bit melancholy.

"Heh, this is not my foundation; speaking of which, are you the one in charge of external affairs in the village now?"

"Master!"

Chen Ci was stunned and subconsciously clicked on his Gold Finger panel.

Hmm, meaningless.

Chen Ci touched his chin; he didn't know what effect this Spirit Ghost Body had, and it didn't seem to have anything to do with Five Ghosts Possession.

Suddenly, something tapped lightly on his shoulder; Qingfeng was startled and hurriedly turned his head, only to see his master standing behind him, staring at him with a strange expression.

This, this, this... how is this Ghostly Escape method like this?

He was still young and couldn't do much in the temple; every day, besides serving by his master's side, reporting news, and listening to orders, his free time was spent practicing martial arts, recognizing characters, and reading books; he heard from his master that if he could become talented in the future, there would be other positions arranged.

Although Ma Family Village was in the mountains and did not have much contact with outsiders, it was impossible to be truly isolated from the world; whether it was purchasing spiritual herbs, dealing with fellow practitioners in the mountains, or trading supplies and copper mines, it all required manpower, and the Ma Family Ancestor would not manage these things.

This middle-aged cultivator looked hesitant, thought for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Originally, Fifth Uncle was in charge, but the year before last, Fifth Uncle left the village to handle matters and competed with an outsider cultivator for the Qingquan Village Medicine Field; although the matter was settled, he went missing; the village sent people to search, but found nothing; the fellow practitioners in the mountains that day only said that after Fifth Uncle won the fight, he returned to the village; as for more, they don't know."

"Fifth Brother?"

Ma Laodao chuckled: "With his temper, he is used to acting like a tyrant in the village; it is normal for him to provoke an expert when he goes out and be killed casually. Let's not talk about other things; I am from Ma Family Village after all, and I am willing to contribute to the Ancestor; now, Temple Master Chen of Sanyin Temple in Changping County needs a large amount of Corpse Ganoderma to assist in cultivating alchemy; what does the village think? Tell me."

"That is fine; although Corpse Ganoderma is considered a spiritual herb, it lacks the essence of plants and trees and is useless to the Ancestor, but as for the price..."

The middle-aged cultivator lowered his voice: "Twenty Yellow Sprout Pills in exchange for one Corpse Ganoderma of sufficient age; Uncle Nine, do you think this price is acceptable?"

"Twenty?"

Ma Laodao rolled his eyes: "Have you all rotted your brains from Corpse Refining? This price is nearly double what ordinary cultivators pay for Corpse Ganoderma. Do you take this man surnamed Chen for one of those rootless Loose Practitioners or wild cultivators in the mountains?"

Ma Laodao set down his teacup, looking somewhat speechless: "The other party is an Apprentice of the He Mountain Sect; that is a genuine major heterodox sect. Given the foundation of Ma Family Village, it is not certain who would bully whom."

"It is expensive, but not too expensive."

The middle-aged cultivator explained in a low voice: "Our village has learned about the Dao of alchemy over these years, and the resources required are no small amount. Although Corpse Ganoderma is common, it is not cabbage. At the very least, within a radius of a thousand miles, our Ma Family Village is the only power that can produce hundreds of Corpse Ganoderma. He has no other choice."

"Heh, if that is how you want to put it, you had better go back. I fear that once you open your mouth, you won't be able to return."

Ma Laodao sighed gloomily: "If the Ancestor does not come out of the mountains, the three or five cultivators left in Ma Family Village tied together might not even be a match for that Temple Master Chen. If you die outside, you will have died in vain."

"Uncle Nine, you are also surnamed Ma; how can you help an outsider speak?"

The middle-aged cultivator groaned and said in a low voice: "This price is not unnegotiable. Listen to me: the Ancestor's physical body has been increasingly eroded by Five Metal Qi over these years, and the spirit herbs found in the mountains are no longer enough to cover the expenses. That is why the village forcibly occupied Qingquan Village. The Ancestor's intention is to trade twelve Yellow Sprout Pills for one Corpse Ganoderma, but since the Corpse Ganoderma has been cultivated by the village in the corpse-raising grounds for so many years and everyone has put in a lot of effort, the village discussed it and wants fifteen Yellow Sprout Pills for one Corpse Ganoderma, or it can be offset with other supplies."

"Then why did you quote twenty?"

Ma Laodao glanced at him: "Twelve might still be acceptable, but fifteen is already a bit high."

"That is why Uncle Nine is here."

The middle-aged cultivator coughed lightly: "Anyway, the village's meaning is that one Corpse Ganoderma trades for fifteen Yellow Sprout Pills. We don't want any more than that; you understand."

Ma Laodao's eyes widened, and he cast a strange look at the middle-aged cultivator beside him.

This kid has been crafty since he was small.

But it seems it might not be impossible.

Although he holds the position of Temple Keeper at Due Palace, that man surnamed Chen does not provide an unlimited supply of Soul Fixing Talismans and Spirit Pills. His monthly salary is equivalent to one hundred taels of gold, while one Soul Fixing Talisman is worth ten taels of gold, and one Health-Preserving Pill is worth five taels of gold.

Any more than that, and he would have to pay out of pocket.

He is getting on in years, yet he is disabled but determined, having to work two jobs—during the day at Due Palace, and at night back at the Yizhuang—earning only retirement money. Although these Soul Fixing Talismans and Health-Preserving Pills can consolidate his foundation and nourish his essence, his money does not last long.

After pondering for a long time, Ma Laodao thought of the pressure Chen Ci exerted on him. His face twitched, and he subconsciously shook his head in refusal: "No, this price is too high. However... with twelve Yellow Sprout Pills as the base price, we can split the excess fifty-fifty. I can try to negotiate."

"This..."

The middle-aged cultivator rubbed his earring, appearing hesitant. But thinking of his Ancestor's massive demand for spirit plant essences and plant spirits, he decided it was better to keep this business sustainable, so he gritted his teeth and agreed: "Fine."

"Good!"

Ma Laodao nodded, his expression relaxing.

"I also think it is quite good. Come, we have been talking for so long, you two should drink some tea to moisten your throats."

Chen Ci filled the teacups on the table for the two with a gentle expression, poured one for himself, took a sip, and asked curiously: "By the way, what are these Yellow Sprout Pills, Corpse Ganoderma, and fifty-fifty splits you two are talking about? Could it be that business of mine?"

!!!

Ma Laodao and the Ma Family cultivator both revealed an indescribable horror on their faces, even more so than a mortal encountering a ghost.

Damn it, where did this third person pop out from!

The Ma Family cultivator let out a strange cry, knocked over his chair, retreated several yards, and wiped his hand across his waist. An ancient bronze long knife appeared in his palm. He bent over and faced Chen Ci cautiously; judging by his movements, he clearly possessed impressive martial arts skills.

For some Miscellaneous Cultivators and Loose Practitioners, the power of some low-grade Dharma Artifacts is truly not as great as that of blades and weapons.

Ma Laodao's body also stiffened. His hands had already touched something in his sleeves, but for some reason, he was trembling. Especially after recognizing the person who had arrived, a sense of fear sprouted in his heart. After a long while, he used an aged voice to explain with difficulty: "Temple Master Chen, it is a misunderstanding!"

What kind of secret technique or evil art is this? How long has such a large living person been staying beside them?

Or is it that this man surnamed Chen is not a living person?

There are indeed many Leftist Cultivators who have refined themselves into strange entities; it is not as if there haven't been cultivators in Ma Family Village who refined themselves into Copper Corpses.

But if Chen Ci had just had the intent to kill, the two of them would have been dead before they could even react!

Chen Ci took another gentle sip of tea before slowly setting the cup down. He did not speak, only staring at the two for a few moments. But this gentle gaze made Ma Laodao's body tremble even more violently, and the Ma Family cultivator's expression turned pale and then green, sweat pouring down like rain.

This Ghostly Evasion technique and the body of a spirit ghost are indeed quite useful.

At the very least, Chen Ci confirmed that even if they are cultivators, those with low cultivation levels cannot discover this technique. However, these two only possess the inheritance of Miscellaneous Cultivators, and their cultivation is also very inferior. Bullying the weak really gives Master Chen no sense of achievement at all.

Chen Ci was still unsure what kind of inheritance, what kind of cultivation, or what kind of secret technique would be needed to see through this Ghostly Evasion technique.

This technique must still be used with caution; if it were seen through by an expert at a glance, he would become a clown.

Chen Ci shook his head, came back to his senses, and said indifferently: "Daoist Ma, you are also an old hand in the world, and you have received the inheritance of the Corpse Dao; you should not be so afraid of death. Collect yourself; do not lose the dignity of a cultivator."

"Temple Master Chen..."

Ma Laodao slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, forcing himself to calm down, but when he opened his mouth, he could only spit out two words: "Misunderstanding..."

"Mm, I know."

Chen Ci's expression remained unchanged, and he asked gently: "There won't be a next time, can we agree on that?"

Being petty is a personality trait.

Being magnanimous is an attitude toward doing things.

Even if those around him make mistakes, Master Chen feels that he should still give them one chance; otherwise, he has no one else to use, and he would have to stay here in Due Palace by himself again.

"Yes, yes!"

Ma Laodao finally steadied his mind and replied cautiously.

"Mm."

Chen Ci turned his head slightly, stared at the Ma Family cultivator beside him, pondered for a moment, and said: "This Temple Master respects the Ma Family Ancestor as a senior, so I will let you off today. Go back and tell Senior Ma: twelve Yellow Sprout Pills for one Corpse Ganoderma is acceptable, but the Yellow Dragon Grass and Earth Bright Stone must be provided by your Ma Family. Do you understand?"

The Ma Family cultivator originally wanted to refuse; this was even lower than the price set by the Ancestor, and he would not be able to report back.

But after meeting Chen Ci's gentle gaze, the words that reached his lips could only turn into a "Yes."

Can't afford to provoke him, can't afford to provoke him; I'll talk about it when I get back.

"Since you have agreed, I will consider this matter settled."

Chen Ci sighed gloomily: "The mountain roads are difficult to travel; do not make this Temple Master have to take the time to go into the mountains to collect debts. That is not good."

As his voice fell, Chen Ci simply stood up. He no longer looked at the changes in their expressions, pointed to the tabletop, and instructed: "Remember to finish the tea I poured. You two continue chatting; once you have chatted happily, go and do your work."

Waving his hand, Chen Ci stopped the two from seeing him off and departed with ease.

Leaving only the two surnamed Ma, numb from head to toe, looking at each other in silence.

"Just do as he says, I beg you, don't harm me anymore. My legs were already crippled when I left the Ma Family; I only want to retire in Changping County. Besides the Ancestor, I'm afraid no one can dodge this secret technique."

Ma Laodao sighed, his old face wrinkling into a ball: "Damn it... sigh... I was possessed by a ghost."

"I, this master, am still kind-hearted, yes, kind-hearted."

Chen Ci walked slowly along the county streets, watching the flow of people and the houses in all directions, using great perseverance and determination to forcefully suppress the urge to peek everywhere.

This Spirit Ghost Nether Escape Method and Spirit Ghost Body truly strike at the weaknesses of human nature. After all, cultivators are also human, and where there are humans, there is curiosity. It is only because Chen Ci's Dao Heart is quite firm; if it were someone else, who knows what they might do.

But then again, this method is truly a dimensional strike when bullying the weak. Whether it is peeking—cough—exploring secrets, hiding, assassinating, or strategic relocation, it is truly useful.

A picky person like Master Chen says it's good after using it.

"If the Spirit Ghost Body is already this useful, then Five Ghosts Shifting must be ready to take off!"

Thinking of this, Chen Ci's heart fluttered, and he quickly quickened his pace toward Sanyin Temple. He still hadn't fully grasped half of this Spirit Ghost Nether Escape Method.

Five days later.

Sanyin Temple, backyard.

Chen Ci swallowed a bowl of Essence-Nurturing and Body-Strengthening Soup and began to refine it. Under the effect of that mass of Essence Yuan in his lower abdomen, the essence and Qi throughout his body slowly gathered and then gradually dispersed, compensating for the previous depletion of his five internal organs.

He had discovered that the reason the 'Five Ghosts Shifting' item on his Gold Finger panel was gray was because his body was slightly depleted. With his recuperation, that detailed explanation of the Dao technique also began to solidify after activating the Spirit Ghost Body, and it looked like it was about to return to normal.

"It's almost ready."

Chen Ci slowly opened his eyes and extracted fifteen drops of Essence Refining from the Spirit Nourishing Bottle for the five little ones to swallow. Although the Five Ghosts Transportation Method could not be advanced further on the Gold Finger panel, the Essence Refining was still an excellent supplement for the five ghosts, and could even slightly nourish his own body in return.

As Chen Ci's thought stirred, the five little ones, having eaten and drunk their fill, jumped back onto his back. They very consciously activated the Spirit Ghost mysterious technique. As a cold, gloomy sensation enveloped his entire body, that strange tattoo appeared once again, and the Gold Finger panel followed suit.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Master/Spirit Ghost/Spirit Ghost Nether Escape Method (Spirit Ghost Body, Five Ghosts Shifting)

The previously pale gray 'Five Ghosts Shifting' had finally become solid. Although it seemed slightly faint, it looked no different from other Dao techniques.

Shall I try it?

"This method depends on the situation; I'm afraid it's a bit like Five Ghosts Possession, placing a relatively large burden on the body. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been pale gray for the past few days."

Chen Ci rubbed his chin: "But I have already mastered Five Ghosts Possession, and I have the body-refining method to build a foundation, so it shouldn't be much of a problem... Speaking of which, how is this strange technique activated again?"

As this thought arose, Chen Ci inexplicably felt that his Spirit Ghost Body was poised for action. These days, he had also discovered that in the state of the Spirit Ghost Body, not only could he not touch living things, but he also could not use True Qi, spells, Dharma Artifacts, or talismans. If there was the slightest interference, this method would be dispelled. The limitations were quite significant, and he didn't know if there would be any improvement after his cultivation level increased.

But at this moment, when performing 'Five Ghosts Shifting', there didn't seem to be this kind of interference. He looked at the courtyard and subconsciously let his gaze fall on an empty space, wondering if he could go there.

"Hee hee, hee hee hee."

Suddenly, a faint sound of giggling rang out in Chen Ci's mind. He only felt the colors of the normal world before his eyes inexplicably darken, turning into a gray-black texture. But the next instant, it felt as if several small hands landed on him and gave him a gentle push, and he dropped out of this strange state.

"Ugh! Ugh!!!"

Chen Ci suddenly fell to his knees, dizzy and vomiting heavily.

The five little ones also fell off his back, dazed and confused, lying on the ground in a stupor, retching heavily, not knowing what they were vomiting.

"What kind of ghost vomit is this!"

In his past life, Chen Ci had played with some spinning amusement rides, but even the most dizzying ones were not one-hundredth as severe as what he felt now. When he was done vomiting, he subconsciously looked back and realized he had moved about a zhang from his original spot, and was still quite a distance from the target location.

How he left, he didn't know.

When he left, he also didn't know.

"Five Ghosts Shifting..."

Chen Ci rubbed his temples with his fingers to relieve the splitting headache. He had a faint guess, but he couldn't be sure.

Mainly, he wasn't sure what exactly had happened, and he didn't have any recording Dharma Artifacts on hand to observe his state just now.

Speaking of which, when he is in the Spirit Ghost state, can others see this Five Ghosts Shifting method?

"Shifting... Divine Ability?!"

Chen Ci stood up with difficulty. Compared to the Spirit Ghost Body, the essence of this Nether Escape Method should lie in this Five Ghosts Shifting. But with only a distance of a zhang and such severe aftereffects, it would be a joke if told to others, and it was quite speechless.

"I can only say this method has a promising future, ugh..."

Chen Ci inexplicably retched a few more times. After doing more desensitization training in the future, vomiting and vomiting, he would probably get used to it.

Ugh!

(End of chapter)