Fenxi Crossing.
On the vacant land beside the wooden trestle bridge, a gigantic oil-paper umbrella stood erect to provide shade. Underneath it, there was a long brown-lacquered table.
A small frame the height of a forearm with four legs, shaped like a doorway, rested on the table surface. A round white jade ring with gold threads inlaid was hanging in the middle of the frame.
Below it dangled five teardrop-shaped jade pendants, each the size of a peanut, suspended by silver threads.
“Stretch out your hand,” commanded a thin, sullen old man over fifty in a cold voice.
Chen Mu extended his left hand shakily, very nervous.
The old man took off the huge iron bracelet, examined the inner wall of the bracelet, and then squinted at the jade pendants.
A breeze blew by, causing the pendants to sway, but they never once clinked together.
“You may go,” the old man said indifferently. “You’re too weak. Eat more.”
Chen Mu immediately nodded like he was pounding garlic, his face full of gratitude as he walked onto the wooden trestle bridge.
“Phew! Finally passed the test!” Chen Mu let out a sigh of relief.
Then his chest suddenly heaved beneath his clothes.
Smack!
It was as if someone had slapped him in the chest; a crisp sound came from under his robe.
“What was that noise?” Zheng Yuan, walking ahead, turned back with suspicion.
Chen Mu forcefully slapped his chest, rendering unconscious the river fish that was parasitized by a black thread and hidden under his clothes, and said cheerfully, “Just a little itch.”
“Why do I smell a fishy odor?” Zheng Yuan sniffed a couple of times, his face full of confusion.
“Must be the smell of the river water…” Chen Mu bluffed.
“No, it definitely smells fishy!” Zheng Yuan glared at Chen Mu with a meaningful look. “You’re not being honest.”
Chen Mu’s heart skipped a beat, and his eyes involuntarily narrowed.
Could this fatso have noticed something?
After all the trouble of hiding it, having escaped the Iron Ring trials twice, could this fatso really see through the ruse?
“Are you suggesting we should reach an understanding?” Zheng Yuan approached with a sly grin.
Extorting me?
Heh…
Chen Mu glanced emotionlessly at Zheng Yuan.
So, I’ve been found out…
“You’re digging your own grave…”
Inside his sleeve, dark smoke immediately began to churn.
Zheng Yuan, unpretentiously inching closer to Chen Mu, whispered firmly, “You dared to sneak a treat? I’ve smelled the roasted fish on you for a while now!”
Then, with his pair of intelligent, beady eyes, he stared at Chen Mu, his face resolute: “Next time, if you don’t call me to join you, I’ll tell your Uncle Qi!”
Chen Mu: “…”
Is that… is that all?
“Fine,” Chen Mu complexly regarded the short, smug figure.
He had already prepared the Mesmerizing Divine Smoke in his sleeve, just a little more!
Just a little more, and this shorty would have been performing a public act of accidentally falling into the water.
Zheng Yuan became even prouder, “You hid it well, I didn’t notice where you chose, but my nose sniffed it out. As soon as I thought about it, I knew you were cooking on the side.”
“I’m smart, right?” the little shorty chuckled.
Smart! You really are a great genius!
Chen Mu was speechless and then sighed with an ugly expression on his face.
What was I just doing? I actually thought about killing someone!
That’s too brutal! I’ve changed from who I was!
“It’s all the Tangshan Army’s fault!” thought Chen Mu bitterly.
“The black thread that sucks people dry, overseen by Shell Soul experts, layer upon layer of scrutiny, malicious intent everywhere.”
“Fortunately, I pulled back from the brink!” Chen Mu thought with relief.
“I’m still a good person after all.”
Looking at the rotund shorty, Chen Mu was filled with pity.
Be thankful that you met me.
Playing such a risky game, if you had met someone with faster hands, your little life would have been long gone!
…
In the year 642 of Da Liang, on the sixteenth day of the second month.
Along the Jinshui River, a vast fleet of ships, as far as the eye could see, sailed from southeast to northwest, heading upstream.
The ships in the fleet were mostly around fifty meters long, with countless long oars protruding from both sides.
Accompanied by the slow and rhythmic drumming from within the cabins, the oars moved through the water in unison, propelling the ships smoothly forward.
Chen Mu climbed the wooden ladder onto the deck.
Noticing that Zheng Yuan in front of him was drenched in sweat, he paused, and immediately made fine sweat appear on his own face too.
They had just completed their turn at the oars and were now on their way to cook for everyone on the ship.
“Lucky for us, we’re in the Logistics Army, only have to row once a day, or we’d be worked to death,” complained the little shorty, Zheng Yuan.
Chen Mu pretended to nod in agreement earnestly.
It might be tiring, but it wouldn’t kill them. Chen Mu had realized that the physical condition of everyone on the ship was surprisingly good.
Especially since the start of taking turns rowing, the people on the boat began to eat more and their bodies grew increasingly robust.
“It’s a parasitic black thread, it’s helping the host absorb nutrients, making it even stronger!”
Would the Tangshan Army be that benevolent?
Chen Mu would not forget the river fish drained of their vital energy by the black thread.
“Fatten up before the slaughter?” Chen Mu was suddenly alarmed.
“I have to master Shell Soul as soon as possible.” He stuffed a Bigu Pill 3.0 into his mouth with his hand.
Chen Mu’s breathing became alternately rapid and slow.
The breathing method for the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique had already been integrated into his daily life.
The Divine Intent Diagram in his mind became increasingly complicated and bright.
Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation: 4550/10000/Fifth Rank;
“Soon!”
…
After sailing north for seven days, everyone abandoned the ship to go ashore and continued on foot.
They blazed trails through mountains and built bridges over waters.
After more than ten days of stop-and-go travel, they plunged into the edge of a mountain range.
They set up camp at the foot of a mountain called Yunzhan Mountain.
…
Below Yunzhan Mountain lies a small lake, formed by the confluence of mountain streams, named Crescent Lake due to its moonlike shape.
The Tangshan Army encamped along the lake at the foothills.
Within the Laborer Camp of Dingyou.
Chen Mu held a kitchen knife and chopped vegetables nervously.
Since arriving by Crescent Lake, he had been dutifully playing the role of a common laborer in the Logistics Army.
The Tangshan Army was stationed here, and there was a high likelihood of Ghosts in the vicinity.
He dared not wander off.
“Dawang, why aren’t you sneaking out to cook up something special anymore?” Short and stocky Zheng Yuan asked with a look of resentment.
Sneak out to cook something special? You must be joking!
What if he encounters a Ghost?
Chen Mu looked at Zheng Yuan with a baffled expression: “Me? I haven’t been cooking anything special. Why should I do that?”
Before achieving Shell Soul, he had no plans to stir up trouble.
Zheng Yuan’s eyes bulged roundly: “Didn’t you say last time you’d take me to have barbecued fish together?! Are you planning to go back on your word?!” Experience more on M-V-L
You guessed it!
Chen Mu thought gleefully, then his face feigned surprise: “With such strict rules in the army, how dare I sneak off to cook something special?”
“I’ve never slipped away nor would I ever make anything special!” Chen Mu stated righteously.
Zheng Yuan: “…”
I’ll be damned if I believe you!
…
At night, snoring still filled the tent.
Chen Mu lay with his eyes open, staring at the tent ceiling.
A gray wall appeared before him, and Chen Mu carefully checked his skills.
Writing: 3230/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 5787/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 8141/10000/Fourth Rank;
Cooking: 2090/10000/Third Rank;
Pharmaceutical Technique: 4965/10000/Fourth Rank;
Sleeve Sword Technique: 3038/10000/Fourth Rank;
Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse: 9813/10000/Sixth Rank;
Shape-shifting Technique: 2057/10000/Third Rank;
Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit;
Blue-eyed Golden Ape Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit;
White Ape Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit;
Black Tiger Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit;
White Jade Toad Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit
Heavenly Serpent Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit;
Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique: 5135/10000/Fifth Rank;
While abroad and lying low in the army camp, many skills were inconvenient to practice, and their proficiency had almost come to a standstill.
Only the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique and the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse were still progressing.
Especially the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse.
“This is what it means to wear away a stone with water droplets!”
He had never been able to practice it, yet eventually brushed up to the verge of advancement.
“Anyway, I can’t sleep, so I might as well finish leveling it up tonight!”