Chapter 21: News

Chen Ci weighed it slightly and knew the Five Elements Divine Sand in his hand weighed exactly thirteen jin and four liang.

It was not less; on the contrary, it seemed to be about five liang more.

Do not underestimate these five liang; it was a difference of nearly sixty taels of gold a month, which was not a small number over the course of a year.

"I hope True Person Chen will not blame this old man for being petty."

Huang Defa raised his hands in a salute, his face showing some embarrassment: "Deacon Lin's rules are set in stone, so the twelve jin, eight liang, five qian, and seven hao of divine sand that should be delivered to True Person Chen each month truly causes True Person Chen to suffer quite a loss."

After a pause, Huang Defa continued: "That is why the Huang Family is willing to make up the difference for True Person Chen. We should have rounded it up, but the Huang Family is weak and truly lacks the ability despite having the heart; I hope True Person Chen will forgive us."

"The Wenxiang Sect is not a small force; Daoist Huang should not need to do this, right?"

Chen Ci rubbed his chin and asked.

At least in his view, that Lin Banshan's cultivation and divine abilities were quite extraordinary; in any case, he had not been able to discern much.

"Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, hehe."

Huang Defa smiled very enthusiastically: "I hope that besides business, this old man and the Huang Family can interact more with True Person Chen."

"Haha, easy to say, easy to say."

Chen Ci laughed it off, then suddenly asked: "Was this transported from the Liuyun River?"

"Uh, this is not something this old man is clear about."

Huang Defa's expression did not change, but judging by his demeanor, it was likely eight or nine out of ten.

After sending Huang Defa away, Chen Ci toyed with the Abyssal Sinking Sand for a while. As for this Five Elements Divine Sand, not to mention the differences between the five elements, even within the water attribute, Jade Yin Sand, Azure Sea Sand, and Abyssal Sinking Sand were slightly different. At least for his Three Yin True Qi, Jade Yin Sand was the best, Abyssal Sinking Sand was second, and the purest water-natured Azure Sea Sand actually had the worst effect.

"Actually, one could earn a little by utilizing these differences, but a force with this kind of strength probably wouldn't look down upon such petty profits."

Chen Ci put away the Abyssal Sinking Sand, but did not rush to practice. Instead, he called his apprentice Long Xianzhi over: "What is the background of this Huang Family? Tell me about it."

"Reporting to Master, it is said that the Huang Family ancestors were barefoot doctors who gathered herbs. They found a martial arts manual in the mountains and built their fortune through martial arts. After three generations of development, they have monopolized most of the medicinal herb business in Changping County, and they also deal in furs, mountain goods, and jade. It seems they also have some influence in the prefecture city."

Long Xianzhi thought for a while and said everything he knew: "The Head of the Family of the Huang Family was also a famous martial arts expert near Changping County in the past. By the way, there is a rumor in the streets that the third son of the Huang Family Head, Huang Sheng, had an affinity for immortality when he was young, but the specifics are unknown."

"Hmm, you may go."

Chen Ci suddenly called out to his third apprentice: "The Huang Family Head has already reached Zhoutian Consummation and has entered the Dao through refining apertures. There are no shortcuts to innate martial arts sensing; only diligent practice works. You all still need to work hard."

Long Xianzhi paused before bowing to accept the order: "This apprentice understands."

The feeling of being a teacher was actually quite good, but without reaching Zhoutian Consummation and entering the Dao through refining apertures, there was no point in teaching. These three apprentices could only do odd jobs for now; if anyone could advance further, they would be worth cultivating.

"Over thirteen jin of Five Elements Divine Sand, this is truly the first time I've fought such a wealthy battle. I'll just act like a landlord for once and squander it all, damn it!"

Once there was no one around, Chen Ci grinned, revealing his teeth.

He couldn't afford to pop pills, so he could only rely on the Five Elements Divine Sand to maintain the appearance of cultivation.

That night, at the Hour of the Ox.

While Chen Ci was absorbing Qi and refining his method, bitterly cultivating his Three Yin True Qi, he was suddenly jolted awake by an inexplicable stinging sensation. Only after he managed to stabilize the True Qi throughout his body and return it to his apertures did he realize that his body's meridians had suffered slight damage.

"This is... grazed by the True Qi?"

Chen Ci hurriedly checked himself. Before reaching the Dao Foundation, even slight damage to the physical body could not be taken lightly. If he couldn't reach a state of no-leakage, his path to the Dao would be in danger.

"Fortunately, it's just a minor injury; it will be fine after resting for two days."

Chen Ci wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Damn it, why had no one taught him that excessive spiritual energy while cultivating True Qi was not only useless but harmful?

There is no such thing as brave advancement; there is only one step at a time.

Chen Ci sensed the thirteen jin of Abyssal Sinking Sand; the spiritual energy within it had decreased by about twenty percent.

"It seems that when practicing the Three Yin Qi-Eating Method, one can only supplement with three jin of divine sand per day for three sessions. Any more, and the excess True Qi will easily hurt oneself."

"But then again, the purpose of alchemy should be to supplement the insufficiency of divine sand; otherwise, everyone would just use Five Elements Divine Sand to assist in cultivation and wouldn't need to practice alchemy and eat Qi."

After calculating, if he had thirteen jin of Five Elements Divine Sand to assist his cultivation every month, he could open one aperture every three months, and in three years, he could push his cultivation to forty-two apertures.

"That's not bad. By then, I will only be thirty-four years old. A cultivation of forty-two apertures should count as a talent among the Outer Transmission of the side sects, right?"

As for what happens after three years when the legal contract with the Wenxiang Sect expires, he would worry about that then.

Still short of money.

If he could have ninety jin of Five Elements Divine Sand to assist his cultivation every month.

And have some Qi-supplementing pills as snacks every day.

Actually, it's not much; he would only need over ten thousand taels of gold a month.

"Hmm, better wash up and go to sleep; everything is in dreams."

Five days later, Chen Ci looked at the last bit of Abyssal Sinking Sand in his hand fading into an ordinary object, feeling an inexplicable melancholy like a love he couldn't grasp. No matter how tightly he squeezed, it was useless.

"There are still twenty-four days until next month's supplies arrive. It's hard, so hard."

Chen Ci walked back and forth in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, feeling inexplicably irritable.

"Settle your heart, calm your Qi. One cannot be impatient in immortal cultivation; one wrong step, and every step is wrong."

He tried hard to suppress the irritability in his heart.

"Bang, bang, bang."

"What is it?"

"Master, there is a letter for you."

A letter for me?

Chen Ci asked with a frown: "Where was it sent from?"

"Reporting to Master, it is from Xishan Prefecture. The person who delivered the letter is still waiting outside."

Chen Ci steadied his mind and went to the front hall. Sure enough, a young Daoist was waiting outside. Seeing Chen Ci, he bowed respectfully: "This humble one, Wang Zheng, greets Uncle-Master Chen."

Hearing it was a letter from Xishan Prefecture, he had some guesses, and upon hearing the title "Uncle-Master," he was eight or nine out of ten sure.

This letter was likely sent from the Fuhu Altar of the He Mountain Sect in Xishan Prefecture.

Chen Ci took the envelope, shook it open, and looked. Sure enough, it was signed by his good brother Ding Jiang: "To my brother, open this upon arrival; seeing these words is like seeing your younger brother."

Heh.

The letter began with a couple of pleasantries, inviting him to visit Fuhu Altar when he had time, so they could go have some fun at Fuyun Market together.

But the tone shifted afterward, stating that starting next year, the offerings from Sanyin Temple would no longer need to be transported to the main altar; instead, the monthly offerings of silver, money, and goods were to be converted into Essence Refining and sent to Fuhu Altar, requiring early preparation with no room for error, and so on.

Chen Ci squeezed his hand abruptly, shattering the envelope into powder; this fat bastard was pushing him too far!

The He Mountain Sect in the Liang Kingdom did not operate on a hierarchical system, but rather a central-branch system.

That is to say, the Red Dragon Temple at the main altar was the sole power, and the Apprentices in other prefectures, cities, and counties only differed in strength, not in rank; although his Sanyin Temple was small, it was only accountable to Red Dragon Temple, and this was clearly trying to fleece him!

"Is there a seal from the main altar?"

Chen Ci's expression turned cold as he berated the Apprentice from Fuhu Altar before him.

"No, no... Uncle-Master, spare me!"

This Wang Zheng had not yet entered the Dao, and although he was an Apprentice of Ding Jiang, he was of the servant class, and his legs went weak in an instant.

Chen Ci was about to strike this person away, but he suddenly stopped.

That fat man surnamed Ding was lecherous, but he was no fool; this letter bore neither the seal of the main altar nor was it sent by Fuhu Altar, but rather sent in his own personal name.

Next year? Essence Refining? Early preparation?

Chen Ci's furrowed brows relaxed as he pondered the meaning behind it, then asked, "This letter... how many places do you need to deliver it to?"

(End of chapter)