Chapter 165: The City God

The Xun Taizi is truly a good thing; since having this gadget, the Xu family has never again seen mosquitoes, flies, or such annoying flying insects.

This thing is also very clingy, obedient, likes to frolic in the water vat, imitating dragonflies skimming the water, and also likes to blow on the fire when cooking in the kitchen.

Of course, what it likes even more is to be at the wind vent, turning strong winds into rapids and swimming within them.

Its body is as light as a feather, yet it does have some flesh and blood structure; people always speculate that dragons might be atmospheric creatures and discuss which dragons have official appointments.

Now it is quite clear that this little gadget might perhaps count as a dragon with an official appointment.

It is just that it can only stir up a gust of wind and cannot grow or shrink, nor can it ascend or dive; at the very least, its wings are quite afraid of water.

"Young Master!"

Xiao Hong carried a tray of small gourds: "The Niu family has sent another batch of pills, wanting you to taste them again!"

Xu Jia's body drifted out lightly, as if he were a wandering ghost, employing the "Earth-Shrinking Method." This technique requires binding a Tudilingshen to be used; it can shrink the earth by three zhang per step, ethereal and nearly like teleportation, somewhat resembling the legendary "Shrinking the Earth into Inches."

But in reality, it is a quite practical method for traveling, which can be used in conjunction with things like the "Armor-Horse Talisman."

It is especially useful in places with complex terrain.

Xiao Hong was startled by Xu Jia's sudden appearance and subconsciously performed a set of Old Farmer Technique. This technique was the rice-planting and farming stance method Xu Jia had taught her last time. With the foundation of not lacking Small Five Elements Pills, her strength was actually no less than that of a man.

The farming move was about to strike like a swinging hoe, but Xu Jia lightly pinched her numbness point: "What? Do you want to compare hands and feet with me?"

"Oh ho~~ Numb! It's numb!" Xiao Hong loosened her hands, but fortunately, there were only three small gourds in total, which were caught directly by Xu Jia.

"Your Old Farmer Technique has entered the door a bit, but how can you move your hands against me? If it were an ordinary person, they would likely have fallen to the ground after being hoed like that. Since you have so much strength, you might as well go plant a few more mu of land."

While teasing her, Xu Jia poured out the pills and swallowed them, feeling them for a moment: "The cinnabar was not water-ground thirty-six times, so there is still some toxicity remaining; otherwise, there is nothing else."

Having said that, Xu Jia ate the pills from the three small gourds all at once, just like Sun Wukong eating sugar beans.

"Ah? Aren't they poisonous, Young Master?"

Xu Jia smiled: "This bit of toxicity cannot poison me. These pills are still not effective enough for me, or rather, I need treasures like lingzhi or old ginseng, or perhaps I should start learning to consume jade stones to assist cultivation like the Daoists of Shanju Guan."

"But these pills cost more than ten taels of silver per gourd!" Xiao Hong sighed: "If we keep eating like this, we will really run out of money!"

Xu Jia said: "That is why I am looking for a way."

"By the way!" After her numbness subsided, Xiao Hong said: "Yesterday, when you were in seclusion, a Daoist came looking for you, claiming to be from the City God Temple, seemingly talking about something like the Zushifen."

Xu Jia nodded: "I know. Why have these Daoists only come now? Aren't they supposed to honor me as their Ancestor? How strange."

Then, Xu Jia took out a wooden rod. Both ends of this rod were embedded with golden hoops, and on the rod, gold and silver were used to make the "scale stars" found on a steelyard, along with the Southern Dipper, Northern Dipper, and the San Guan Da Di.

This is Xu Jia's current weapon, between the Great Sage's "Wish-Fulfilling Staff" and the "Follow-Heart Rod"; it can be used to strike, to point and poke, and can even be used as a fishing rod.

Xu Jia used the "Worship the Dipper Method" to refine this weapon, just like when he first arrived in this world, worshipping the Dipper to return to soul and cultivating his Life Fire; Xu Jia worshipped the Southern Dipper, the Northern Dipper, and the "San Guan Da Di."

Now it is just right to practice with it. I don't know if this weapon counts as an exotic weapon, but it is indeed very opulent. Apart from the large and small golden hoops on both sides, which are sleeved on like two essence-locking rings, it looks very spirited. In the middle, Xu Jia also hollowed out the wooden core and poured mercury into it.

While operating it as he wishes, he can still feel the mercury flowing within the rod.

Although there is not much mercury, if it pokes someone, the force comes in layers.

Of course, Xu Jia generally does not poke people, only evil spirits—poking out a tooth, or poking out an eye, or poking into a certain organ, causing total ruin, or even piercing the throat; all of these are actually achievable.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

After taking the medicine, Xu Jia took the Wish-Fulfilling Follow-Heart Rod and began to move. The large sleeves of his patchwork robe were like a Cloud Sea, and this Follow-Heart Rod shuttled through the Cloud Sea like a Flood Dragon.

The sound of breaking wind was like an arrow shot from a bowstring. Coupled with Xu Jia's footwork—the Eight Trigrams Step, Yu Step, and Seven Stars Step—these steps combined looked very much like "fancy fists and embroidered legs," at least in terms of aesthetics, it was still pleasing to the eye.

"Jia'er, you seem to have grown taller again!" Xu Mu brought over a bowl of "white fungus and lotus seed soup."

"Actually, I haven't; I've just lost weight, so it looks like I've grown taller. Since my Hundred Days Foundation Establishment, my body will only remain in the state of the completed Foundation Establishment. Therefore, I don't really recommend completing the Foundation Establishment at too young an age; it's easy to stop growing."

Xu Jia poked with the Wish-Fulfilling Follow-Heart Rod, hitting one of the small bells hanging in front of the osmanthus tree, but because the bell was hollow, it did not ring incessantly.

Putting down the rod, Xu Jia took the white fungus and lotus seed soup, tasted a spoonful, and said in surprise: "Did you put bird's nest in it?" "Yes," Xu Mu said: "Congcong sent it over, a full two jin. Eating one bowl every day is enough for half a year."

"Bird's nest nourishes yin and moistens the lungs; it can be eaten often. It can replenish insufficient middle Qi without being overly nourishing or drying. It is a top-grade item." Xu Jia was curious: "Where did he get this bird's nest? Uncle Niu won't skin him alive, will he!"

"I don't know about that," Xu Mu said: "But he said it is a disciple showing filial piety to his master, which is only right and proper."

Xu Jia had accepted Xiaopangdun as a True Transmission Disciple last time and taught him the Sleep Technique. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but he really did sleep himself thin, and his mind became much clearer. Now he has started helping the family with business; at least he doesn't have to go out and perform spirit-dancing.

Xu Jia smiled: "He does have filial piety. Mother, eat some too; you don't have to leave it all for me."

"Bird's nest is the heart's blood of a swallow; I won't eat it," Xu Mu said: "I still eat vegetarian food. You don't need to persuade me. When I entered meditation recently, it already exceeded half an hour, and both my body and mind were incomparably relaxed."

Xu Jia sniffed: "Aha? Mother, you already have the Zhantantanqi on you. Eating vegetarian food has resulted in a Buddha-like perfect physical appearance. You must not let any monster with evil thoughts see you; eating you now would likely be more nourishing than a hundred years of bitter cultivation."

"Ah?" Xu Mu was surprised: "Recently, there has been a faint fragrance on my body. I thought it was the incense burning in the Buddha hall!"

"No, this is Merit Incense, Buddha-body fragrance. The Buddha has eighty perfect marks, and this is one of them—a manifestation of a relatively superficial cultivation achievement. According to classification, it should be an achievement of the Xiangjijie. This realm is governed by a Buddha, who is the Xiangji-rulai."

"It is nothing more than the desire of color, smell, taste, and touch," Xu Mu said: "Some fragrance cannot necessarily be considered an attainment. Burning incense or wearing a scented sachet can both lead to this situation."

"As cultivation deepens, the fragrance becomes stronger. Mother, you felt it at first, but later you got used to it and couldn't smell it yourself; only others can. Gradually, the incense Qi permeates the Dharma Realm, and it can spread across the Three Realms within the Dharma Realm. Some evil gods will treat you as human incense, lighting you up to offer to themselves, and some monsters will want to kidnap you to refine into pills or eat you directly."

"But it doesn't matter; monsters still can't enter our house. I have already laid out a Daochang."

Xu Mu said: "What about when I go out? What should I do?"

"Generally speaking, the Yushan-jieyu is already governed by me, so Mother is still safe, but I still suggest learning a method to subdue demons and monsters."

"What method?"

"The Great Hand Seal!" He passed the "Fearless Seal" to Xu Mu.

"Just by pinching this hand seal?"

"To be precise, it can also be used to hit people."

Just as Xu Jia was speaking, suddenly the incense path of the clouds and sky stretched out. Observing the Dharma Realm with his Dharma Eye, on that line of incense clouds, there were canopies, prayer flags, and musical troupes; it was a carved carriage and precious horses clearing the way.

Just as he was wondering which group of God Immortals it was, he saw them heading toward the City God Temple.

Xu Jia was suspicious: "Could it be that the City God's assessment has arrived? Is he going to be promoted? He still hasn't given the Underground Lord position he promised to the Luejue Shen!"

Waiting until the sky turned dark, Xu Jia sat cross-legged to practice. Now that he has achieved Soul-Hiding, he has long been dreamless and can basically use meditation to replace sleep. Occasionally, when he does sleep, it is the Sleep Technique of hibernation, strengthening the liver's detoxification. After all, he has been taking medicine too fiercely lately; taking medicine is fun for a moment, and taking it all the time is always fun.

No wonder so many emperors died from taking medicine; this medicine really does make one feel spirited.

"Boom!"

"The City God is patrolling the territory; let no living person approach, let no chicken or dog be startled!"

"Duang!"

Xu Jia was woken up by the noisy sounds within the Dharma Realm; with all the thumping and duang-duang sounds, he didn't know what they were doing. It seemed the City God was also performing "work documentation," patrolling with such great fanfare—how could he catch any evil spirits or wicked ghosts this way? The sound of gongs and drums could be heard from dozens of miles away.

Just as he was thinking about changing his posture to cultivate, Gui Linggao sent a thought: "Great Immortal! The City God has been standing outside your door for half an hour, but he cannot get in no matter what, so he is beating gongs and drums to shake you awake!"

Hearing this, Xu Jia retorted directly: "I hate it most when people enter my door to send dreams without knocking, so I set up this restriction. He is a City God, after all; can he not even break such a simple restriction?"

"Perhaps he does not wish to offend you, Great Immortal?"

Xu Jia thought this made sense, so he put on his clothes and went out the door.

Sure enough, he saw the City God's troops, but they were also escorting another set of ceremonial guards; judging by the patterns, they seemed to be from the Wuyue Mansion.

Xu Jia understood in an instant; it turned out his official appointment had arrived.

He immediately put on a smile: "I wonder which messenger of the High God has graced me with their presence?"

(End of this chapter)