Chapter 82: Difficult to Know Matters While in the Mountains

Small Heavens Qi Absorption Pill Method: Not Initiated/1/4 (Medicine Absorption Method, Fire Control Method, Observation Qi Method, Condensing Pill Method; one already obtained)

Medicine Absorption Method Incantation: Initiated/18/100

Fire Control Method: Not Initiated/89/100

Observation Qi Method: Not Initiated/71/100

Condensing Pill Method: Not Initiated/12/100

Chen Ci glanced at the progress on his Gold Finger panel and wondered if he had been a bit too lax in his practice of pill methods. Aside from the Medicine Absorption Method Incantation, which had seen some slight improvement due to refining the essence of grains to knead into Bigu Pills and health-preserving pills, the other three methods had made touching progress because of the many trivial matters over these past few months, leaving him no time to boil soups, control fire, or observe Qi.

Especially the Condensing Pill Method; this little thing was actually quite difficult to practice.

"Fortunately, the Fire Control Method and Observation Qi Method are just one step away from being initiated. If I put in some effort, I should be able to initiate them within two months."

Chen Ci pondered for a moment: "It's just that the grade of the Nourishing Qi Green Ganoderma Pill is still a bit too high. Although it is a low-grade Spirit Pill, it is among the best of its kind. If I rashly start practicing with it, I will definitely suffer a huge loss."

Once the Small Heavens Qi Absorption Pill Method has some success, I must go to the market to hunt for a pill formula for ordinary Nourishing Qi Pills to take a look. The heritage of the He Mountain Sect is quite efficient at harming people, but when it comes to doing other things, it is quite far behind.

"I seem to have become less resistant to raising medicine with corpses."

"One who stays near vermilion gets stained red. In the end, I have been assimilated by this world. Every step on the path of cultivation has its own hardships. No wonder those cheap He Shan Sect fellow Daoists easily practice Evil Methods. Sigh."

"However, I must still hold fast to my original heart and absolutely never kill people to practice methods. The reputation of the He Mountain Sect as a famous immortal sect still has to be carried by me, Master Chen."

Chen Ci sighed leisurely, suddenly feeling that his figure had become even more glorious and magnificent.

The next day, at the County Magistrate's office.

The number of people discussing matters at the County Magistrate's office this time was small, unlike last time when the old Daoist Ge Zhou had made a big show of calling all the cultivators from the great clans of the entire county. From top to bottom, there were only four parties: Chen Ci, the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture, the prefecture office staff, and the Changping County Magistrate's office, totaling less than ten people.

The Changping County Magistrate and the person who came from the prefecture office seemed to be acquaintances. At the banquet, the few of them exchanged cups and were quite happy, yet they didn't mention a single word of business. It seemed as if they hadn't come to conclude the case of the old Daoist Ge Zhou, but simply to attend a banquet—the kind where you don't even need to bring a gift.

Chen Ci gripped his wine cup. Seeing this scene, he knew it was indeed just a formality, and the matter of the old Daoist Ge Laodao would just pass like this.

It was a pity that the County Magistrate's office was ultimately a solemn place; there was only wine and meat at the banquet, but no singing or dancing, which made Chen Ci, who had finally relaxed, feel a little regretful.

As a cultivator of bitter practice, if it weren't for this kind of banquet, he really wouldn't be able to hear any brothel ditties.

However, the people from the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture didn't say much either, only chatting about interesting topics. They even toasted Chen Ci, which made him a bit unsure of what these Wang Family people were actually intending.

Changping County is not close to Xishan Prefecture. If there was nothing going on, why would the person in charge of the Wang Family run all the way here?

And they even sent two cultivators at once.

One was a middle-aged scholar who looked to be in his early forties, with a fair face and a beard. His cultivation was around fifty apertures, but his aura was exceptionally upright and steady. He was the person in charge of the Wang Family this time.

The other was an old man wearing blue silk robes and a Hunyuan Crown. His cultivation was around fifty apertures, but his released True Qi felt a bit mottled. Although his cultivation was high, Chen Ci estimated that his Qi-refining method was not very brilliant; he should be from a branch of the Wang Family or a retainer.

As the banquet neared its end, the middle-aged scholar raised his cup slightly, and the others who were laughing and talking gradually stopped.

"Daoist Chen, my incompetent nephew originally wanted to contribute to the family business, but I didn't expect him to meet with an accident, which is regrettable."

This middle-aged scholar was called Wang You, seemingly a person in charge of the second branch of the Wang Family. He sighed to Chen Ci and said: "It would be one thing if he had an accident, but he also implicated Brother Daoist Ge to perish here. This is the greatest sin. Even my uncle on Quanshan Mountain learned of this matter, and while in seclusion, he sent a letter back, severely reprimanding the people in the family."

This... it seems there is more to his words?

Chen Ci nodded slightly to show he had heard, but he didn't quite understand the meaning behind it, so he could only squeeze out a sentence: "Daoist Wang, please accept my condolences."

"..."

Wang You didn't seem to expect Chen Ci to say that. He paused, sipped his wine, and then continued: "I heard that Daoist Chen once brought back some weapons and relics. I wonder if there is an ancient sword among them, called Baiyang?"

As if afraid Chen Ci would misunderstand, Wang You explained: "This Baiyang Ancient Sword is not considered precious, but the accompanying Baiyang Sword Art is a heritage obtained by our ancestors and has quite some history. Although it can still be passed down without this sword, the elders in the family feel it is a pity, so they asked me to inquire. If Daoist Chen has seen it, I am willing to buy it back at the market price."

Oh, so he wasn't looking for trouble.

No wonder he just said something about 'my uncle on Quanshan Mountain also learned of this matter,' as if he was afraid others wouldn't know he had an uncle who was attacking the Dao Foundation. It was meaningless.

Chen Ci had also inspected that Baiyang Sword; it was just a Spirit Iron Treasure Sword with decent craftsmanship. Although it had some age and the sword body was becoming more spiritual, it couldn't really be considered a treasure.

If it weren't from the hands of a famous master, this kind of Spirit Iron Treasure Sword would actually be equivalent in value to the same weight of Five Elements Divine Sand.

Since this Wang fellow had spoken to this extent, Chen Ci thought for a moment and said vaguely: "I seem to have seen it, but I have to go back and think about it to remember."

"Then many thanks, Daoist Chen."

Wang You bowed slightly to Chen Ci to express his gratitude, then changed the subject and said: "Also, although my nephew A Qiong was incompetent, he did meet with the accident while running errands for the family business, and not even his corpse was recovered. The elders in the family are very heartbroken. I came this time also wanting to bring this matter to a good conclusion."

"My Wang Family is willing to provide people and resources to incorporate that Qingquan Village under the jurisdiction of Changping County and rename it Qiongquan Zhen. It can be considered as setting up a cenotaph for my nephew. I hope the County Venerable can grant me an official document for land reclamation so I can take it back to present to the Prefecture Venerable for a final decision."

"In addition, for the income in the town, my Wang Family will only take sixty percent, and the remaining income will be handed over to the county as taxes. You gentlemen can decide."

Ho, so these Wang Family people were using the name of Longhu Shan Jiuzhuan Guan to follow along to Changping County, also aiming for the Spirit Spring Medicine Field in Qingquan Village.

The mountain people around Changping County are actually not people of the Liang Kingdom, or rather, they are in name, but they neither pay taxes nor perform corvée labor. They just live in the mountains. If there are cultivators protecting them, no one will bother them if nothing happens.

It is more like a small country within a country.

Now that a mature Spirit Spring Medicine Field has become vacant, naturally many people are interested. This is a foundation that can truly be passed down through generations.

However, Lin Banshan of the Wenxiang Sect was thinking of subduing the other mountain people to continue as a village and maintain the status quo of planting medicinal herbs.

But the Wang Family wanted to take the official route and simply incorporate this Qingquan Village into their own private property, becoming a place similar to a family fief, which could nominally receive protection from the government.

Chen Ci silently ate his melon. Now there was a show to watch. If that guy Lin Banshan knew that besides the Ma Family Village, the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture had also come to intervene, he wondered what kind of expression he would have.

As for him?

Forget it. Although fixed assets like a Spirit Spring Medicine Field are good, without manpower and resources to develop them, who knows when one will see any profit? He really thought that planting medicinal herbs was just scattering seeds and waiting for them to grow and harvest.

Anyway, as long as Chen Ci guards the Sanyin Temple in Changping County, he will always have a share. Although it is not the lion's share, he doesn't have to worry about it, which is quite good.

Seeing that the conversation was almost over and the Changping County Magistrate was also tempted, Chen Ci simply took his leave. After thinking about it, he felt he couldn't just be a spectator, so he called his cheap Apprentice to tell the Huang Family, letting Lin Banshan have some preparation, which could be considered as having done his best.

"Where can one find a good person like me? Tsk."

Chen Ci grinned and leisurely returned to Sanyin Temple, preparing to find the Baiyang Sword that he didn't know where he had put.

It could be worth more than ten catties of Five Elements Divine Sand.

Sure enough, in the afternoon, a servant from the Wang Family came to Sanyin Temple with Five Elements Divine Sand to request an audience, totaling twelve catties and seven taels, exactly the same weight as the Baiyang Sword.

"With this amount of Five Elements Divine Sand, I should be able to open another aperture by next month. How delightful, how delightful."

Being able to have nearly thirty catties of Five Elements Divine Sand for his cultivation this month almost gave him the illusion that 'I can't spend it all, I really can't spend it all.'

"Broaden your perspective. Once the pill method is successful, that is when you will truly have more money than you can spend."

Chen Ci stroked his chin and gave a dry laugh.

That night.

Chen Ci was practicing the Fire Control Method and the Observation Qi Method, his mind already calculating how to plan for the good days ahead once his alchemy path was successful.

He almost laughed out loud.

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the door, and before long, a light sound rang out: "Brother Chen?"

It was none other than Lin Banshan.

Clearly, he had intentionally revealed his presence this time, no longer playing the game of concealment.

It was just that his tone was slightly low.

Chen Ci woke up from his good days, hurriedly wiped his mouth, then got up to open the door, responding, "I'm here, I'm here."

The night was deep, and all was quiet.

Lin Banshan's expression was like water, clearly troubled by something, but when he opened the door and saw Chen Ci, he paused, not knowing why Chen Ci's expression was so strange, and subconsciously asked, "Daoist Chen, could it be that Nine Springs Temple has promised you a path of cultivation through the Wang Family?"

"Daoist Lin, what do you mean by that?"

Chen Ci was somewhat puzzled; a path of cultivation, what path of cultivation? I, an Apprentice of the He Mountain Sect, have my own path.

"If that is not the case, why would you, Daoist Chen, let the Wang Family obtain the official document so easily?"

Lin Banshan frowned slightly. When he heard about this, he was secretly angry. Since this man surnamed Chen did not oppose the Wang Family entering the game, yet let the Huang Family notify him, could it be that he intended to play both sides and sit securely on the fishing platform?

But after looking at Chen Ci twice, he felt it didn't seem like it.

Because of the nature of their cultivation methods, the high-level members of his Wenxiang Sect were prone to being easily angered or pleased, so every Apprentice who made a name for themselves had a knack for reading expressions. Lin Banshan also managed some of the sect's business and dealt with people often, so he had some insight into observing others.

This man surnamed Chen had eyes that were spirited and steady, and his Qi was joyful and unconstrained; clearly, this was not the expression of someone who had profited after doing something underhanded.

"Ah?"

Chen Ci was somewhat confused. He hadn't even agreed to hold the line, so even if the Wang Family asked the Changping County Magistrate for an official document, what did it have to do with him? Why would he want to stop them? There was no benefit in it.

Besides, he had a share of the silver the Wang Family was distributing.

Lin Banshan pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Brother Chen, have you never walked in the secular world?"

Chen Ci was a bit surprised. He thought for a moment and replied, "I have cultivated on the mountain, and since coming to Changping County to establish this temple, I have indeed not walked much in the secular world."

Lin Banshan associated this with Chen Ci's usual reputation for cultivation and probably understood something. He sighed, "Brother Chen, are you so focused on pure cultivation that you don't ponder the intentions of your superiors at all?"

That's not right; is it really this easy to be a Deacon Apprentice of the He Mountain Sect?

"Could there be something improper about it?"

Chen Ci also felt something was wrong, but after thinking about it, he still felt he hadn't missed anything in this matter.

"Why don't I act in the name of the Wenxiang Sect? Aside from this being a private matter, it is also because using the name of the sect is an act of planting a flag."

Lin Banshan explained, "Otherwise, there would be no need to act through the Huang Family; it's not very straightforward."

"Moreover, the altar your sect established in Xishan Prefecture is called the 'Fuhu Altar'. Even an outsider like me understands the meaning behind this. Brother Chen, could it be that you don't?"

Lin Banshan said seriously, "As long as you speak up, the Changping County Magistrate would never dare to issue this official document. Even if the Wang Family took it by force, once it reached Xishan Prefecture, the Fuhu Altar would naturally negotiate with the high-level members of the Wang Family. At most, you would be accused of failing to defend the territory, but it wouldn't be a big deal."

"But you were on the scene and showed no reaction, and the Wang Family even promised you some benefits... This sounds different when it reaches the ears of the higher-ups."

Lin Banshan's voice was not loud, but it sounded different to Chen Ci, who was somewhat suspicious: "Really? Brother Lin, don't try to bluff me just because of the Spirit Spring Medicine Field matter?"

"Perhaps I am overthinking it; pondering the intentions of superiors is always a matter of uncertainty."

Lin Banshan shrugged: "If the Wang Family came to fight for the Spirit Spring Medicine Field, I wouldn't be able to defeat them and would rather retreat. But for Changping County to become a place of cultivation for two families, the implications are naturally different. If the higher-ups are displeased, your time as Temple Master of Sanyin Temple will be at an end, Brother Chen."

Chen Ci's expression changed. Put that way, he really had overlooked it.

Actually, it wasn't exactly an oversight; it was just that some of his mindset hadn't completely shifted yet.

The main thing was that some matters couldn't be reasoned with.

It was like the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture coming to Changping County to request an official document, wanting to use official channels to occupy the Spirit Spring Medicine Field of Qingquan Village. Their attitude was sufficient, and there was some logic to it.

But as a Deacon of the He Mountain Sect in Changping County, regardless of whether the other party had a point or not, some things were forbidden, period.

Even if Qingquan Village was a place for mountain folk, already abandoned, and even the He Mountain Sect was too lazy to send people to manage it, it was simply not allowed for members of another sect to occupy it in the name of their own sect. This was an unspoken rule kept under the table; although not explicitly stated, the local He Mountain Sect Apprentices had to understand it.

Thinking of it this way, Chen Ci realized that today's matter had a seventy or eighty percent chance of truly displeasing his cheap senior brother, Hutou Daoren, or even causing him to be dissatisfied. If he received an evaluation of being "unfit for use"...

That would be truly troublesome.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his path of cultivation might be severed!

Regardless of whether this fellow Lin Banshan was trying to provoke him for the sake of the Spirit Spring Medicine Field, Chen Ci absolutely dared not gamble.

No wonder the Changping County Magistrate had looked at him a few times at noon; it turned out he was waiting for him to state his position. Chen Ci had thought he was asking how the future revenue and taxes would be divided.

"Damn it, I was careless."

Chen Ci's eyes were grave, as if considering how to remedy the disaster of this matter.

Lin Banshan narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Brother Chen, how about I hold the line for you on this trip?"

(End of chapter)