Chapter 50: For Oneself

Chen Ci was a bit speechless.

Praising him was one thing, but what was the meaning of that follow-up sentence?

You, a mere Daoist from Nine Springs Temple and an Outer Sect Disciple of Longhu Mountain, are you even qualified to critique the He Mountain Sect?

What a passive-aggressive old man.

Besides, what is so bad about the He Mountain Sect?

Although they don't bestow great techniques, although they distribute menial chores, although they make empty promises.

Uh.

Aside from that, does the He Mountain Sect really not have a single merit?

Hmm.

Forget it, let's not talk about this; until I find a new employer, I, Chen Ci, am the most loyal Outer Sect Disciple of the He Mountain Sect, bar none.

Chen Ci sensed the old Daoist's cultivation level slightly; although his True Qi was pure and thick and his energy stable, it was about the same as Lin Banshan's.

Among cultivators, even if there is a large gap in cultivation, it is difficult to see another's progress at a glance, but by using one's own cultivation as a reference, one can roughly have an idea.

Just like Lin Banshan of the Wenxiang Sect and this old Daoist Ge Zhou of Nine Springs Temple; in terms of cultivation alone, they were certainly above Chen Ci, but it would by no means be an easy task for them to defeat Chen Ci.

In that case, Chen Ci could only be half-convinced.

"Daoist Ge is joking; the Great Dao is difficult, how can it allow for you or me to pick and choose?"

Chen Ci sighed, full of emotion: "Just like you, Daoist, at your age—cough, just like why you, Daoist, did not enter the Inner Gate of Longhu Mountain for quiet cultivation, but instead run about outside; is it because you don't like it?"

After speaking, Chen Ci returned the salute with a smile and sat down in the front-most seat on the left.

There were only about ten people sitting in the hall; excluding Chen Ci, even counting those who had barely entered the Dao like the Head of the Family of the Huang Family, there were only seven or eight people with cultivation, mostly miscellaneous practitioners who had only refined a few Acupoints. The Daoist surnamed Ma from the Yizhuang in Baihua Lin was already considered a notable expert.

Upon hearing this, Ge Laodao glanced at Chen Ci, his eyebrows twitching imperceptibly, but he didn't say anything else and spoke slowly: "Since Daoist Chen has arrived, I will keep it brief. The matter in Changping County is already known to the temple. That thing in Qingquan Village is likely a Blood Soul monster kept by some Spirit Sect cultivator. It is best at devouring the flesh and blood of living creatures. Those whose True Qi cultivation is insufficient will be eaten clean in an instant if they run into it, and mortals will be unable to escape it either. You all must be mentally prepared."

"Eat what you want to eat and do what you need to do these next few days. Three days from now, those with cultivation shall follow me into the mountains to subdue the demon. Those who desert in the face of battle will be executed by the Longhu Dharma Sword."

The cultivators present: "???" No, what the hell do you mean by telling us this?

Wasn't it said that when the Longhu Mountain Daoist arrived, the blue sky would return?

Chen Ci also sat up slightly; why did it sound like this was going to be a hard battle? This didn't seem right.

Ge Laodao waited for about ten breaths before tapping lightly on a jade chime he had produced from somewhere, emitting a pleasant, light ring that drowned out the whispering in the hall: "Quiet."

Chen Ci's eyelids twitched; this old Daoist was putting on too much of an act.

But this jade chime looked a bit high-class; should he get one to play with?

"Additionally, there is an evil spirit harming people in Changping County. Although I have not been assigned this task, I cannot ignore it."

Ge Zhou the old Daoist was calm and composed, saying faintly: "It is called an evil spirit, but in reality, most are man-made disasters. I happen to have a spirit dog that is best at tracking Blood Qi. I searched most of the county yesterday and will have results tomorrow. I presume this disaster will be resolved before entering the mountains."

Chen Ci nodded; that was fine too. This Longhu Mountain Daoist did have some ability. He wondered what the spirit dog looked like and if it was easy to raise. His own Sanyin Temple really did lack some defensive means.

"Daoist Chen, do you think this evil spirit could be one of the fellow Daoists present? Hehe."

Ge Laodao suddenly gave a cold laugh, squinting his eyes as he told a cold joke to Chen Ci, his face full of hidden meaning.

Chen Ci: "."

No, what the hell do you mean by looking at me!

I'll go back and prepare some poisoned chicken legs to scatter in the mountains.

"Why am I feeling guilty? I didn't do this evil spirit thing."

Inside Sanyin Temple, Chen Ci paced back and forth, humming a few times.

Moreover, he always felt that Ge Zhou, the Daoist from Longhu Mountain, was a bit off. Although he didn't say it clearly just now, his words vaguely implied that the trip to Qingquan Village would be a life-or-death danger.

But if it were really some monster or demonic disaster, this old Daoist wouldn't have taken so long to arrive in Changping County, and he wouldn't have started by giving everyone a show of force.

It wasn't Chen Ci boasting, but among the cultivators in the government office, except for one or two who had some combat power, the others probably couldn't even block half a move from him.

As one of the only two high-end combatants, there was no reason to cause unpleasantness before the matter was even resolved.

"Strange, a bit strange..."

Chen Ci touched his chin; this logic didn't make sense.

"Master, someone from the Liu family estate is here to see you."

A report came from outside the door. Chen Ci thought for a moment; it was probably because people in the county were panicked and had come to ask for protective talismans, so he waved his hand: "Tell him to wait in the front hall; I'll be right there."

In this day and age, it's not easy to earn some money.

Chen Ci went leisurely to the front hall. A young servant in green was standing respectfully to one side. Seeing him come out, he quickly bowed down two steps: "Little boy Liu Heming pays respects to the benefactor True Person."

"Get up. Is it your master who wants to ask for a talisman?"

Chen Ci smiled and waved for him to get up.

"Not so. It is my master who has a message he wishes to convey to the benefactor True Person."

Liu Heming stood up and bowed, but there was still a slight hesitation in his words.

His master?

Not the Liu family?

Chen Ci touched his chin, stared at the servant for a few moments, and gave a cold laugh: "Speak."

Although Liu Heming was young and precocious and had experienced hardships, being stared at by Chen Ci, a cultivator, caused beads of sweat to seep onto his forehead. Only then did he recover, take a gray-covered booklet from his bosom, and offer it with both hands: "This is an object for the little boy to prove his identity. I ask the benefactor True Person to take a look."

Chen Ci took it casually; it was a hand-copied "Qi-Nurturing Scripture" with many annotations on it, clearly a private, personal item.

This "Qi-Nurturing Scripture" was not a martial art, nor was it a cultivation method; it was a breathing technique that could make one's body light and healthy, and one's ears and eyes sharp.

Like some cultivation seeds, those like Chen Ci and Liu Heming who could cultivate directly all started by practicing breathing techniques as a foundation for entry. Once the breathing technique was successful, they could begin to cultivate True Qi.

Although this breathing technique was unsigned, Chen Ci recognized the handwriting on it; who else could it be but that old Daoist Ge Zhou?

"Ho, have you been accepted into the Longhu Mountain sect?"

Chen Ci clicked his tongue lightly. This boy surnamed Liu actually had some luck; he was first bought by his predecessor as a beggar, prepared to be sent to the He Mountain Main Sect, but ended up being saved by him and sent to the county to be adopted by others.

Unexpectedly, Ge Laodao has encountered this again; being able to enter Longhu Mountain, even if it is just the Quanzhou Bieyuan of the Liang Kingdom, his future path of the Dao might be even better than Chen Ci's.

If Chen Ci were even a little more narrow-minded, he would have developed some evil thoughts.

So sour.

"In reply to True Person, this little one was only taken in by the master as a personal attendant; the specifics will only be arranged after returning to Nine Springs Temple."

Liu Heming respectfully took the booklet and carefully tucked it into his robes; he knew that this breathing technique was the stepping stone into the immortal path, as precious as his own life.

After a brief pause, Liu Heming organized his words before carefully saying: "Reporting to Benefactor True Person, my master said that if there are thirty thousand taels of silver, Benefactor True Person need not enter the mountain, and he knows nothing of all the miscellaneous matters within Changping County; these words are valid for three years."

Huh?

Chen Ci's body tilted slightly, and he was stunned for a moment before he understood the meaning behind this.

Damn it, it turns out this is a corrupt official and a corrupt cultivator.

Come to think of it, is he being solicited for a bribe, or is he being blackmailed?

"In broad daylight and under the clear sky, I wonder if Longhu Mountain has a reporting mechanism to blackmail them back for a sum."

A strange thought flashed rapidly through Chen Ci's mind.

I originally wanted to write this dungeon to be more interesting, with twists upon twists, but my intelligence wasn't enough and I couldn't write it clearly, so I'll just honestly push through it.

Too pathetic.

(End of this chapter)