Chapter 65: The Dao Path

Even a Dao Foundation is considered hopeless for a lifetime; who are you looking down on?

Chen Ci felt somewhat indignant; it wasn't bragging, but given his aptitude, a mere Lower Grade Dao Foundation was not something he couldn't easily grasp.

"You don't believe it?"

Hutou Daoren gave a dry laugh: "True Qi cultivation takes thirty-six apertures as one foundation; to forge a Lower Grade Dao Foundation requires opening one hundred and eight apertures. Can your Three Yin True Qi manage that?"

Chen Ci: "." Wait, that's not right, is it?

"Isn't it a hundred apertures to build a foundation?"

Chen Ci couldn't help but ask.

"That's to fool you all. Practitioners mostly seek freedom and are prone to listening to orders but not summons. For Outer Sect Disciples with low cultivation and techniques requiring a few dozen apertures, it's fine; being a local Deacon is no problem. But once the cultivation is high, it's different."

Hutou Daoren glanced at Chen Ci a few times: "And the trick to condensing Dharma Power for a Lower Grade Dao Foundation isn't worth much; basically, once your cultivation reaches that point, it happens naturally. If you only want to certify a Dao Foundation to extend your life and live happily for two hundred years, it is actually these last few acupoints that are more important."

Chen Ci: "." My heart is with He Mountain, but He Mountain is playing mind games with me.

Just saying, the He Mountain Sect is always stingy, so how were they uncharacteristically generous with the technique? Good heavens, so they were holding something back here?

"If the Longevity you seek is this, go back and cultivate diligently. Once you reach the cultivation of ninety or one hundred apertures, even if you don't come looking, the main altar will have missions assigned to you."

Hutou Daoren spoke with implication, then said no more.

"Shixiong, the Longevity I seek is not of this kind. Please teach me more!"

Chen Ci made a bow, his tone resolute.

"Heh, Longevity. Longevity cannot be taught, nor can it be sought."

Hutou Daoren put away his lazy expression and stroked his needle-like beard with his palm: "Let me ask you, does the Dao of my He Mountain Sect lie in the artifact, or in the technique?"

Chen Ci subconsciously glanced at his own Five Yin Evil Qi Bag, remained silent for a moment, then replied: "In the technique."

"Release your Five Yin Black Evil."

Hutou Daoren seemed displeased, his tone turning cold.

Chen Ci tapped his Five Yin Evil Qi Bag, released all his Five Yin Black Evil, and after a few breaths, took them back in.

Hutou Daoren stared at one of the Five Yin Black Evil for a while before nodding: "Not bad. In the technique—you are indeed much stronger than those idiots. Although my He Mountain Sect combines artifact and technique, using the artifact to execute the technique, in reality, it still prioritizes the technique. Many idiots only think about refining Dharma Artifacts and upgrading the Prohibition, never thinking about the essence of cultivation or studying the spells. In the end, it all comes to nothing. The Five Yin Black Evil you refined seems to be smelting Five Metal Qi; although not yet complete, you have indeed realized it."

Pausing for a moment, Hutou Daoren added: "However, most True Inheritors in the sect who refine the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag are practicing capturing spells. I only mention this; I am not teaching you. You may use it as a reference."

Chen Ci: "."

"Go back and cultivate well. Your cultivation has no value. Even if a chance for Longevity fell from the sky onto your head, you wouldn't be able to catch it."

Hutou Daoren tossed a Tiger-shaped Small Seal to Chen Ci: "As your cultivation gradually increases, Longevity will come naturally. When I can use you, I will naturally teach you the method of Longevity. Go."

Look at this pie; it is big and round.

Look at this Longevity; it is far and difficult.

Chen Ci left Fuhu Altar sighing; he entered with a fortune and left penniless.

But he was not without gains.

Three Tiger Sha Breaking Aperture Pills and one Five Ghosts Transportation Method.

This Five Ghosts Transportation Method was only given to him by that cheap Lin Shixiong after Chen Ci spent an extra fifty thousand taels of silver.

This Five Ghosts Transportation Method is not a great method for killing enemies, but an auxiliary method. The five refined Yin ghosts can transport items, pass through walls and rooms, and do miscellaneous tasks, but they are not very good at killing enemies.

However, this method is the prerequisite for the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method. Only by mastering the Five Ghosts Transportation Method and refining the five ghosts to be in sync with one's heart can one practice the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: 50 merit points.

Five Ghosts Possession Great Method: 200 merit points.

Chen Ci also learned that there are only two Upper Grade Qi Refining Methods in the "He Mountain Scripture" that can certify a Golden Core.

Thousand Mountains Pulse Traveling Method.

Five Omens Yin Demon Method.

The former is a righteous method; let alone side-door sects, even in the Profound Sects, the True Qi cultivated is known for its stability and depth. However, this method can only be learned by Inner Gate True Inheritors and has nothing to do with Outer Sect Disciples.

Moreover, this method belongs to Earth, and is not of the same origin as the Three Yin Qi-Eating Method. Even if Chen Ci could enter the He Mountain Inner Gate, he would have no possibility of dispersing his Three Yin True Qi to re-cultivate; he is basically fated to miss it.

The latter... just looking at the name, one knows what kind of stuff it is. The only advantage is that it is of the same origin as the Three Yin Qi-Eating Method, so even as his cultivation gradually increases, he can switch to it without hindrance.

But this Qi Refining technique requires the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method to assist in cultivation; Hutou Daoren is the one who practices this method to charge toward a Upper Grade Dao Foundation.

Honestly, it's not that Chen Ci has no choice, but he really doesn't want to walk this path.

But apart from these two techniques, the He Mountain Sect has other methods that are fine for foundation building, but if one wants to charge toward a Golden Core, forget it.

"Why does it feel like I'm walking further and further away?"

Chen Ci frowned, somewhat unable to make up his mind.

"No, that Hutou Daoren is not easy to get along with either. If I want to learn his method, I'll probably have to risk my life."

Chen Ci spat out a breath of turbid air: "This path can only be kept as an option; I still have to find a way to find more paths, otherwise I can only walk this one path to the end. Sigh."

However, he still had to go and purchase a high-quality Ancient Bronze Lamp first; this is the artifact embryo for the Five Ghosts Transportation Method. If it is inferior, it will affect the subsequent practice of the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method.

"I still have about thirty thousand taels of silver on me. Once I go to the market and buy the Ancient Bronze Lamp, I will exchange it all for Spirit Pearls, and then go back to the temple to cultivate properly."

"That cheap Shixiong was right about one thing: my cultivation is too low; even if a chance for Longevity fell on my head, I wouldn't be able to catch it."

"What, this bronze lamp costs fifty Spirit Pearls?"

Chen Ci almost couldn't help but raise his voice, then reacted and his expression became calm: "Only fifty Spirit Pearls? Do you have anything better?"

"Sorry, lamp-type Dharma Artifacts are relatively rare. Currently, the shop only has this one artifact embryo."

In the Wanxiang Treasure Pavilion, a maid looked apologetic and explained: "If you are in urgent need, sir, it can be transported from other places, or we can ask a master in the pavilion to customize it. The price will depend on your requirements, sir."

"Hmm, I see. Then I'll take another look."

Chen Ci shook his head with some regret and strode out of the Wanxiang Treasure Pavilion. It was truly disappointing that they couldn't even meet this small requirement.

Clutching the twenty-eight Spirit Pearls he had just exchanged in his arms, Chen Ci slipped away to the Baibao Pavilion in Xishan Market. It was the familiar formula, the familiar taste.

"Shopkeeper, do you have any Ancient Bronze Lamps for sale? The material doesn't need to be too good, but it can't be too bad either; the attribute should lean toward Yin."

Chen Ci offered a greeting; the Five Ghosts Transportation Method requires the Ancient Bronze Lamp as a foundation to nourish the five yin ghosts, but it does not require the Ancient Bronze Lamp to be refined to a very high level.

It is just like raising a tiger; the cage must be comfortable enough for the tiger to live in, yet it must not allow the tiger to escape.

"Easy enough, easy enough. The Baibao Pavilion sells a hundred treasures; an Ancient Bronze Lamp, naturally, we have."

The shopkeeper, still wearing the hundred-flower mask, glanced at Chen Ci and said indifferently: "If the guest wants it, a deposit of five Spirit Pearls, and come to collect the goods tomorrow."

"The Baibao Pavilion doesn't even have stock on hand? Shopkeeper, you aren't trying to swindle me, are you?"

Chen Ci took out five Spirit Pearls, his expression somewhat suspicious.

"Hmm, I will arrange for hands to go dig it up for you tonight."

The shopkeeper nodded and said earnestly: "We treat the young and old fairly; I guarantee it is an Ancient Bronze Lamp. Besides, if you are worried, you can go along, and as for the price, I can give you a discount."

Chen Ci: "." What the hell is digging it up on the spot?

"A Daoist of the He Mountain Sect is an expert at dealing with yin spirits. If you go along, I can even give you an extra cut; how about it?"

The shopkeeper rubbed his fingers together and gave Chen Ci a 'you know what I mean' expression.

"No need, haha, no need."

Chen Ci waved his hand: "One day's time, I can still afford to wait."

"Tsk, alright then."

The shopkeeper looked a bit regretful, tapped the tabletop, and signaled for Chen Ci to pay the deposit.

Chen Ci leaned in instead, pulled out a stack of talismans, and asked cheerfully: "Although I won't be going, I have top-quality Soul Fixing Talismans here. Shopkeeper, do you want them? I'll sell them to you cheap."

The shopkeeper's body jolted; good heavens, who exactly is doing business with whom here?

If you don't sell me something, you aren't comfortable, are you?

(End of this chapter)