A month later
In the Chen Residence of Jingxing Alley, Nanyang Prefecture City.
Chen Mu followed his usual practice by setting up a thatched shed on the east side of the courtyard, with green bricks laid on the ground.
Under the shed, there was a rocking chair in a row, and beside it on a low table, incense, milk tea, and an assortment of snacks and candied fruits were all available.
He squinted his eyes, nestled in the rocking chair.
His breathing alternated between rapid and slow, changing quickly yet unexpectedly maintaining a rhythm akin to flowing clouds and water.
In his mind, through a haze as if behind frosted glass, a three-dimensional pattern connected by dots and silk threads flickered and shifted along with Chen Mu’s breathing.
After a long while, Chen Mu’s body shuddered, and he opened his eyes.
“Three hundred and sixty changes in one breathing cycle, this is probably the limit,” he mused.
Sense of understanding brought about by proficiency slowly faded into the recesses of his mind.
“The Breathing Method is the index, the doorway, the starting thread.”
“The Divine Intent Diagram is the core,” Chen Mu pondered thoughtfully, “The Breathing Method tunes the body and soul, all to usher one into a certain special state!”
In his previous life, some theories held that different breathing frequencies could place one in varying states.
Some might bring calmness and focus, while others could make one’s thoughts lively and more creative.
The Breathing Method was probably of a similar nature but more mystical.
“If one day I could directly enter that state, then perhaps I could abandon the Breathing Method,” Chen Mu had an epiphany.
With a thought, the grey wall in front of him came into view.
Chen Mu looked toward the item at the very bottom.
Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique: 1955/10000/Fifth Rank;
“At the current pace, in a little over four months, I’ll likely master Shell Soul.”
“Over a month and not even one-fifth of the way there? Tch… the progress is really slow!” Chen Mu fought to suppress the curl of his lips and shook his head in lament.
With a thought, a stream of jet black substance burst forward from the back of his head like dark water.
It was as though a helmet that clung to the skin formed in an instant, covering Chen Mu’s head entirely, not sparing even a single hair.
It continued to spread downward along his neck.
Chen Mu opened his robes to check.
The Wandering Soul only managed to cover up to his shoulders before its advance faltered.
“If the other six strands of Wandering Souls were added…”
Whoosh!
The Jet Black Soul Strength surged downwards, stopping just below the ribs.
“It seems I might achieve Shell Soul in less than four months…”
“Ha!”
Chen Mu quickly covered his mouth. He couldn’t laugh, he absolutely couldn’t let himself laugh!
What am I bragging about? Those scions of noble families have bloodline enhancements, making their cultivation speed even faster!
And they also have Body Protection Aura!
I’m just an ordinary person, what do I have to be proud of!
I must stay humble, contain my impatience, and learn to control my emotions and desires!
“Hmm, let’s go to Chunfeng Tower tonight. I haven’t seen Yu Tao in a long time; I really miss her.”
…
Lost in his daydreams.
Gurgle…
A series of growls came from his stomach.
Chen Mu reached for the plate of candied fruit on the low table.
He picked up a version 2.0 Fasting Pill, popped it into his mouth, and started crunching away.
“Soul Strength is truly hard to nourish,” Chen Mu sighed, shaking his head.
Ever since he began practicing the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique, his appetite increased again. Eating five meals a day still left him hungry.
“Thank goodness for version 2.0 of the Fasting Pill.”
It had the taste of chocolate, higher calories, more nutrition, and was more satiating.
Ordinary people could be satisfied with two a day, but Chen Mu ate them like candy, consuming twenty to thirty pills daily.
“Still needs further improvement,” Chen Mu pondered.
What took others decades to nurture Soul Strength, he had compressed to five months. Along with Shell Soul cultivation, his future consumption might even be greater…
“I wonder what a real Fasting Pill is like,” Chen Mu mused leisurely.
“Da Liang probably doesn’t have it.”
“How did old man Jie Jia come to know about the Fasting Pill?” Chen Mu pondered.
“Could this old man not be a local?”
…
“Do you have a Fasting Pill?”
In the evening, at the Chen Residence in Jingxing Alley, Chen Mu set a table full of meat dishes.
Hand-grabbed mutton, honey-glazed barbecued meat, braised beef – all sorts of meat dishes dominated the square table.
“This…” Jie Jia frowned slightly, looking hesitantly at the meat-filled table.
“Doesn’t it taste good?” Chen Mu glared at Jie Jia.
“It doesn’t look good.”
Chen Mu pursed his lips, “Don’t have time to plate.”
His appetite was enormous at the moment, and his focus on cooking revolved around two points: tasty and plentiful.
Jie Jia shook his head. Forget it, just make do with whatever to eat.
“Elixirs aren’t cheap,” Jie Jia said lightly after swallowing the garlic pork in his mouth.
There really are some? Chen Mu was intrigued.
“Just one will do.”
Jie Jia’s eyes narrowed slightly, glancing at Chen Mu, “You can’t imitate it.”
Chen Mu chuckled, “I won’t imitate, won’t imitate.”
Just make a knock-off!
Jie Jia’s eyelids lifted a fraction, his amber eyes moving slightly as he slowly extended a finger.
Chen Mu curled his lip, “I knew this old guy would take the opportunity to rip me off.”
A fist-sized puff of black smoke appeared, and a grey cloth bag materialized in front of Jie Jia, containing a hundred taels of silver.
Jie Jia glanced down, poked the cloth bag twice with his finger, then looked up at Chen Mu, silent.
Chen Mu was confused, what does this mean?
“Not enough,” Jie Jia said calmly.
“One… one thousand taels?!”
“Deal!” Chen Mu gritted his teeth and agreed. After all, it was something from overseas, perhaps only Jie Jia had it for sale.
Jie Jia stared at Chen Mu’s expression, it seemed…
“Ahem… it’s ten thousand…”
“I don’t want it!” Chen Mu glared at Jie Jia.
“Then one thousand!” Jie Jia said bluntly.
Chen Mu looked at Jie Jia with mixed feelings.
Why was he not surprised at all?!
“No, you have to create a fake identity for me.”
Without getting something extra, he always felt like he was losing out.
“That’s possible,” Jie Jia put away the silver note, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Good marks are hard to find, after all.
Chen Mu was so frustrated he didn’t want to talk. This old guy always took the chance to scam him!
But who could replace what he had?
“You can’t eat it all at once,” Jie Jia reminded as he passed a white porcelain bottle to Chen Mu.
“What? Is it poisonous?” Chen Mu still wanted to taste it.
“It’ll bloat you to death,” Jie Jia stated plainly.
Chen Mu: “…”
…
After dinner, having sent Jie Jia away, Chen Mu sat at the desk in his room and lit the oil lamp.
He took out the porcelain bottle Jie Jia had given him and poured it out.
“This thing is a Fasting Pill.”
Chen Mu pinched an Elixir Pill the size of a longan, white as jade, incredulity filling his eyes.
“Old man Jie isn’t just palming off a jade bead to trick me, is he?”
The old guy had a history of selling fake medicines!
The Fasting Pill was round and smooth, white jade in color, heavy in his palm.
Chen Mu squeezed with both hands, but it didn’t budge.
His Seven Types of Shape Cultivation were complete, his strength unimaginable, and that squeeze could have crushed a stone bead.
“Interesting!”
Chen Mu set the little porcelain dish on the desk.
Soul Strength covered his right hand, the jet black fingernail of his index finger scraping slightly.
Screech screech screech…
A series of enamel-eroding scraping sounds filled the air.
Droplets of white jade powder fell, and a faint scent of grass and wood wafted through the air.
“It’s not a stone then.”
He tasted a bit of the powder. It was like cotton candy, melting instantly in his mouth.
A sweet, cool sensation rushed to his heart and then went down his throat to his belly.
A sense of fullness instantly came over him.
“Really filling!”
“If I could replicate it, I wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique,” Chen Mu’s eyes lit up. Explore stories on M V L
“No rush, take it slowly in the future.”
With a puff of black smoke, the Fasting Pill was put into the Five Ghosts Bag.
“Now there are more important things to do.”
Chen Mu straightened his clothes, changed his appearance, and looked left and right in the mirror.
Completely unrecognizable, very good!
Then he went out at ease, heading straight for Chunfeng Tower in the North Market.