Chapter 271: Calamity

Upon hearing this, Cui Cui Jingzhong frowned deeply and hurriedly waved his hands to refuse, but unable to decline further, he could only open it to take a look.

"Qi Lingzi, which great master is this..."

Seeing the several large characters on the cover, Cui Cui Jingzhong was initially somewhat baffled; after pondering for a moment, he still could not find this person's name in his mind.

But when he flipped to the chapter on alchemy and medicinal principles, not long after, the expression on his face became vivid, brilliant light surged in his eyes, and he fixed his gaze upon the pages, losing himself in a trance.

Seeing this, Chen Heng smiled slightly, did not urge him, and only watched as Cui Cui Jingzhong carefully scanned page by page.

And this trance did not last long.

Before long, Cui Cui Jingzhong raised his eyes and could not help but sigh with emotion:

"Such a figure, yet not a shred of reputation has been passed down; this is indeed a regrettable matter. It seems the affairs of this world are truly bizarre..."

"Qi Lingzi's Personally Transmitted Secret Instructions" combines pill refining, talisman making, array sacrifice, spirit feeding, and various other arts into a single book.

It covers an extremely wide range of topics, revealing the hidden and elucidating the subtle, almost leaving nothing out!

And within Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua's Fan Fan Dongtian, based solely on the clues from that underground palace, one could already guess the general situation.

Qi Lingzi existed as the right-hand man of Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, holding an extremely high status!

The reason he could receive such Artifact weight was likely because Qi Lingzi's talent in these external arts had reached a peak of perfection, a level where even Fuchan Fuchan Laozu had to attach great importance to him.

Moreover, categories like alchemy and medicinal principles occupied the largest proportion in "Qi Lingzi's Personally Transmitted Secret Instructions," accounting for fully fifty percent.

Apart from methods for extracting earth to make charcoal, the three taboos and six fears, advancing and retreating with extraction and addition, and expelling poison to nurture fire.

It also listed various rare pill formulas, numerous and diverse, totaling over a hundred.

For alchemists like Cui Cui Jingzhong, who devoted themselves solely to the path of pills, this was no different from a rare heavenly scripture, naturally exceedingly precious.

However, although Cui Cui Jingzhong received "Qi Lingzi's Personally Transmitted Secret Instructions," he did not feel comfortable accepting it so readily.

After both parties declined several times, finally Chen Heng stated that he had already made several copies of this book long ago, and this copy was not the only one.

Only then did Cui Cui Jingzhong reluctantly agree, accepting it with great joy.

After chatting a bit more and agreeing to visit Guangshi Sect at a later date.

Chen Heng did not stay long; with a slight bow, he activated his sword escape, instantly transforming into a streak of crimson rainbow that shot up from the ground, plunged into the clouds, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

"... When mercury is active, it becomes wooden mercury; wooden mercury is the Green Dragon. When dead, it becomes true lead; lead is the Bai Hu. The Green Dragon governs the sixth degree of Fang, and the Bai Hu governs the seventh degree of Mao."

After watching Chen Heng's figure disappear, Cui Cui Jingzhong carefully took "Qi Lingzi's Personally Transmitted Secret Instructions" out from his sleeve, flipping to the page he had not finished reading earlier.

Unable to stop himself, he muttered the words under his breath, using his hand as a brush, and began tracing lines in the empty air.

He did not know how much time passed before Cui Cui Jingzhong suddenly felt a gaze casting down from above, an impatient gaze falling upon him, while the surroundings were utterly silent.

He suddenly realized what was happening, cleared his throat a few times, reluctantly put away the Daoist book, and looked at Master Qiao Ting, whose face was as cold as frost, saying:

"Thanks to Junior Brother Chen's blessing, we have finally managed to make that True Person of the Xiantianmo Sect stop holding a grudge against us. So now... shall we turn back to Dongmi Province?"

"Let us go to Chen Yuquan Immortal Market first."

After a moment of silence, Master Qiao Ting spoke with a complex expression:

"I still need to purchase some items in that market..."

At the same time.

Not far from this desolate island.

On a broad reef that protruded high above the sea surface, black as lacquer and jagged.

An old yellow dog, with half the fur on its tail bald, was lying lazily on the reef, guarding a bonfire that was burning brightly.

A sea fish over a zhang in length was propped up on several wooden sticks over the fire pile, slowly rotating; its soft belly was roasted to a golden color, and grease occasionally dripped into the charcoal fire, making a sizzling sound and spreading waves of enticing aroma.

"It's good to have brothers and sisters; one can go everywhere to mooch off others without having to worry or feel afraid..."

"This mooching is far more comfortable than my days of raiding for fodder back then."

Zhou Ji looked at the bonfire before him, smacked his lips, and sighed with deep emotion, talking to himself:

"I wonder how many of those old brothers from the days of raiding for fodder are still alive? Someday, if I can get leave and have free time, I should go visit those bastards and mooch off them too!

Back when that old scoundrel Master Tongxuan subdued me, those disloyal creatures ran faster than one another, just like they were rushing home for a funeral; not a single one stayed to lend a hand, completely disregarding brotherly loyalty.

In vain did I treat them so generously; every single one of them is ungrateful!"

Just as Zhou Ji was cursing and grumbling.

The surging sound of waves around him suddenly fell silent for an instant, and then a voice of laughter and scolding slowly drifted over:

"Treated generously? Treating us generously means you eat big fish and meat at the table while we few divide your leftovers? You thief really are as shameless as ever!

It was only because Buddha's divine powers were insufficient back in the day that I tolerated you by a third; if it were today, Buddha would peel off your skin to make a padded jacket to wear!"

Hearing this, Zhou Ji was slightly surprised, but just as fierce light began to bloom in his eyes, he caught sight of the newcomer's appearance.

After being startled, his anger turned to joy, and he greeted warmly:

"You haven't died yet?"

By now it was past noon, with brilliant light.

Fiery clouds burned the sky red, making all things seem as if they were on a charcoal stove, their bodies tinged with the color of rosy clouds.

Not far away.

A tall monk with a wax-yellow face, wearing a five-colored lotus-root silk kasaya and holding a nine-ring tin staff, was pointing at Zhou Ji and laughing heartily.

He opened his lips, revealing a row of square, pillar-shaped teeth inside that were vastly different in color from his skin, shining and crystal clear.

His expression was amiable, his aura profound and unfathomable, as if existing somewhere between formlessness and form.

Not here, not there, yet omnipresent!

It is precisely said:

"At all times, everything is uncertain; when awareness and enlightenment are perfectly integrated, one is free and unobstructed!"

"Haha Monk, when did you emerge from the Trapped Dragon Cave?"

Zhou Ji scrambled up in astonishment, stood on his hind legs, took a few steps forward, and affectionately patted that smooth, shining bald head with his paw, asking in confusion:

"Did your Senior Brother Sheng Wulong Guan act out of great compassion, or did some calamity befall the Great Reincarnation Temple, where a whole flock of bald thieves perished, leaving you an opening to break out of the Trapped Dragon Cave?"

"The Immaculate Light Yong Yong Wangfu saw that my wisdom was profound and my Dharma Body perfect and sudden; he reckoned that achieving the fruit of a Bodhisattva, or even the station of a Buddha, would be no trouble for me in the future. Thus, moved by a heart that cherishes talent, he released me from the Trapped Dragon Cave."

Haha Monk swatted away the dog paw rummaging wildly on his forehead and gave a sniff.

Then, with a faint smile, he walked to the bonfire, took down the roasted fish, and began to devour it as if no one else were present, continuing through mouthfuls:

"The moment I left the Trapped Dragon Cave, I specifically came to seek you, the leader. How about it? Wasn't that quite considerate of me?"

"Profound wisdom, perfect and sudden Dharma Body... of these eight characters, which single one resembles you?"

Zhou Ji chuckled darkly and shook his head in disdain.

Just as he was about to continue questioning, he suddenly detected a faint scent of blood on Haha Monk.

That energy signature was extremely familiar, as if he had encountered it before...

After frowning and pondering for several moments, Zhou Ji finally understood; letting out a cold laugh, he suddenly shouted:

"Long time no see, Baldy; you still cannot kick the habit of putting on airs!

You claim to be here seeking your leader to reminisce about old bonds, but clearly you have stirred up trouble and want Laozi to mediate for you, don't you!"

Requesting two days off; no updates tomorrow or the day after.

Recently, my cervical spondylosis has flared up again; this is an old occupational hazard from working hunched over a desk. Last year, I underwent a minor needle-knife procedure at the hospital, which helped considerably, but perhaps due to being overly busy with work these past few months, symptoms of dizziness have begun to reappear. Since I happen to have some free time, I will also see a doctor; please grant me these two days off as well.

(End of Chapter)