Chapter 8: Loyal and Devoted

"Reporting to Master, the leader of the Black Wind Stronghold on Jinpen Mountain claims his ancestors were also disciples of He Mountain. Hearing that Master had established a temple, he even came to visit to build a connection and try to continue the incense-burning relationship, but Master did not see him."

His master was a busy man who easily forgot things, so GanYang carefully reminded him: "However, the Black Wind Stronghold sends five hundred taels of silver as a tribute every year, and calculating the time, it is almost the day for this year's payment."

"Is that so?"

In his memory, there seemed to be such a matter, but it was too long ago, and he truly did not remember it clearly.

The He Mountain Sect is filled with many factions, each with different masters. Even among Inner Sect Disciples, there are those he does not know, let alone an Outer Transmission like Chen Ci. Trying to get close by relying on the reputation of being a descendant of He Mountain disciples is not even as useful as the status of a former classmate from his past life.

Besides, it is only five hundred taels of silver, sent only once a year; it is meaningless. Not only can one not get rich, but it is also easy to become someone else's scapegoat.

Five thousand taels would be about right.

"Refuse the Black Wind Stronghold's silver starting this year. From now on, do not accept any such money."

Chen Ci gave the order, then suddenly called GanYang back and asked: "By the way, what is the reputation of that Black Wind Stronghold?"

GanYang turned around, just about to answer. Although his master clearly had no expression on his face, he inexplicably felt a biting chill. His legs went soft subconsciously, so he simply knelt down: "Reporting to Master, this Black Wind Stronghold opened fields and established a stronghold on Jinpen Mountain, with a population of over eight hundred. The leader is surnamed Song, named Fei. Usually, they farm and hunt, but sometimes they organize men to go to Qingshui County on the other side of Jinpen Mountain to do some business without capital. Their reputation within the borders of Changping County... is considered passable."

"Go down."

Chen Ci did not know why his apprentice had to bow just to answer a question, but he did not take it to heart and waved for him to leave.

Mounting a horse to be a bandit, dismounting to be a farmer—this is indeed the norm in this world.

"It is not the kind of thief den with only ten or twenty people, and they know the principle of not eating the grass around their own nest; it is not easy to do anything about them."

Chen Ci pondered for a moment, but still extinguished the thought that had just risen in his heart. A lone wolf can graze on others' land to get fat, but since he has established a foundation, he ultimately needs a stable income. Otherwise, if he lacks money today and goes to extort, and lacks money tomorrow and goes to suppress a bandit stronghold, when would he have time to consume Qi, practice techniques, and seek the Dao of Longevity?

If his luck is bad and he runs into a tough nut to crack, it would be troublesome.

Just like how Chen Ci can live comfortably in Changping County, while Miscellaneous Cultivators like Shi Sanniang can only live with mountain folk in the mountains—is it because they do not want to?

Not necessarily.

That night, Sanyin Temple, side courtyard.

GanYang boiled a dou of brown sugar bought from the market into syrup, while Long Xianzhi fiddled with a large funnel.

Beside them lay a basket of high-quality bamboo charcoal.

Chen Ci tapped the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag at his waist, and a streak of Five Yin Black Evil flew out, shredding the bamboo charcoal into powder in just one breath.

A flash of envy crossed GanYang's eyes; this method of his master's is what one would call an Immortal!

"Five layers of charcoal powder, one layer of river sand, press it tight with cotton cloth for Master."

As the two poured the brown sugar water through the funnel, there was nothing left to do on the scene. GanYang and Long Xianzhi looked at each other, exchanging glances.

GanYang: What is Master doing?

Long Xianzhi: I do not know either.

"Watch carefully, learn well. If you ruin Master's important business, you two will have a hard time."

Chen Ci dropped a cold remark, and the two quickly focused their energy, staring intently at the funnel even though there was nothing to do.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the sound of dripping water was finally heard under the funnel. When half a bowl of slightly pale yellow sugar water was filled, Chen Ci gestured for GanYang to boil this bowl of sugar water dry.

"Master, is this... Frost Sugar?"

GanYang was greatly shocked. Although the Frost Sugar in the bowl could not reach the whiteness of the frost on the market, it was already eighty or ninety percent there.

More importantly, a jin of Frost Sugar on the market sells for more than ten taels of silver, and fifteen jin of brown sugar only cost less than five taels of silver.

This profit... is far more than when he used to block roads and rob.

"How much have you two learned?"

His master's light words fell into his ears, pulling him back from his fantasies. GanYang and Long Xianzhi looked at each other and both knelt down: "We have learned it."

"Master needs someone to manage this business, right here in our own manor. It is fine if the volume is small, but if the craft of boiling and making sugar is leaked, you two should know Master's methods, right?"

"This servant understands!"

Cold sweat ran down both their backs, but they also knew this was working for their master, and their hearts were burning with excitement.

After a long while, the two looked at each other, and GanYang gathered his courage: "This servant is willing to share Master's burdens."

"Fine, draw five hundred taels of silver from the account, do the job well, and Master will reward you heavily."

"By the way, name this sugar He Mountain Frost Sugar, remember that."

It is the same old saying: Chen Ci also loves He Mountain. Although he is not at the He Mountain Sect headquarters now, he must keep it in mind day and night, hard-clinging and hard-fawning. He does not believe he cannot advance further when he meets his sect elders in the future.

After the courtyard was cleaned up, Chen Ci paced by the moonlight. With this method, worldly silver should no longer be a problem.

As for whether there will be any blind people who get jealous, hehe, do they really think his Chen Master's Five Yin Evil Qi Bag is just for show?

"I owe it to a certain reader master who reminded me back then; I researched it and only then realized that the popular yellow mud water sugar-washing method is a big pit—it is just a deceptive gimmick."

Chen Ci felt a bit of emotion. If you readers ever transmigrate one day, do not learn any yellow mud water sugar-washing method. Activated carbon filtration is the true path. Although his technique is not exactly foolproof, at least he will not lose everything.

"It is time to practice the Three Yin True Qi again. Although worldly gold and silver can be exchanged for Five Elements Divine Sand, the price is terrifying. We minor cultivators should still rely on our own efforts."

"Busy, busy is good; it is all a blessing."

There are no shortcuts on the road to Longevity. Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles. Chen Ci walked slowly toward the meditation room with his hands behind his back.

Three hours later.

Chen Ci stood in the backyard, examining the five Corpse Ganoderma he was raising.

These Corpse Ganoderma look quite similar to ordinary lingzhi, but they are slightly larger than a palm, and their whole bodies emit a dark green color, a bit like green poisonous mushrooms.

There were originally six, but Chen Ci used one to pay this year's tribute, so only this many were left.

"It even has a strange fragrance when smelled, but..."

Chen Ci walked forward two steps. When he reached a distance of one zhang, the strange fragrance turned into a foul stench peculiar to corpses, making one want to vomit.

"Can this thing really be eaten?"

Chen Ci expressed some doubt, but the Three Yin Qi Consumption Method states that using Corpse Ganoderma as the main ingredient, various Qi-nourishing medicines as supplements, and human bones, corpse water, and placenta as medicinal catalysts, one can refine Nourishing Qi Green Ganoderma Pill. It is the most nourishing for Yin-cold True Qi; one pill is worth three months of effort.

It probably takes three pills to assist in opening one aperture.

These five Corpse Ganoderma are also approaching the harvest season. If they can be refined into pills, he can get at most thirty-six Nourishing Qi Green Ganoderma Pills, which can push his cultivation to the realm of opening forty apertures in one go, saving ten years of effort.

The prerequisite is that someone knows how to refine this pill.

And then, Chen Ci must still be able to stomach it.

"The Corpse Ganoderma is one thing; after all, fruits and vegetables are also grown from manure, so if it's washed clean, it's not entirely unacceptable."

"But damn it, using human bones, corpse water, and placenta as pill ingredients—what kind of genius figured out this pill formula?"

Chen Ci's complexion turned faintly green.

He had already begun to feel out of place among the heterodox paths because he was not perverted enough.

"Phew, cultivating the Corpse Ganoderma is only the first step; I haven't even entered the door of pill refining techniques yet."

Chen Ci exhaled a breath of turbid air: "When in doubt, ask your original heart. Whether this Nourishing Qi Green Ganoderma Pill can be refined is still uncertain; if it truly can be refined, only when the pill is placed before me will I know my original heart."

In just this short while, Chen Ci had already made a decision; agonizing back and forth was of no benefit to the matter.

It is better to first study the pill refining technique.

Then ask the original heart.

(End of this chapter)