Deep into the night, by the banks of Crescent Lake.
A gentle breeze blew, chasing away the dry heat.
Chen Mu, as usual, cast his drunken bait into the lake, sitting on a large rock, patiently waiting.
“At this rate, the Dragon King might really come looking for me,” Chen Mu thought mirthfully.
Ever since he concocted the drunken bait, countless fish had died by his hand, whether eaten, sold, or used to feed his Five Ghosts Bag.
“I’ve cultivated Shell Soul, if the Dragon King really comes… then I’ll just have to grab my bucket and run.”
“Hmm, dealing with a couple of shrimp soldiers and crab generals shouldn’t be a problem.”
With a thought, seven Divine Intent Diagrams emerged in his mind.
Chen Mu’s whole body was immediately enveloped in jet black Soul Strength.
A sense of security and comfort instantly filled his entire body.
In just a short while, it was as if he had enjoyed a good sleep.
“No wonder they say Shell Soul can prolong life.”
“Probably because it blocks the leakage of Vital Energy, indirectly extending one’s life.”
Ten years of Shape Cultivation, a hundred years nurturing the soul. As long as one develops Shell Soul before the age of a hundred, it’s not too late.
That means Shell Soul can allow a centenarian to live an extra two to three decades at least.
“Doesn’t that mean I could jump around lively for another hundred years?!” Chen Mu’s face was filled with joy.
That way, he would have much more time to increase his Proficiency and explore the unknown world!
With a flick of his wrist, a handful of Iron Lotus Seeds appeared in the palm of his hand.
Covered in Soul Strength, Chen Mu slowly clenched his fist.
Squeak squeak squeak…
The grating sound of metal friction made one’s teeth ache.
Chen Mu opened his hand, the dozens of Iron Lotus Seeds had been squeezed into one mass.
The twisted shape, glowing with a faint red light, made the humid air slightly twist with the heat.
“Turning iron into clay!”
He reached out and pinched his dark skin, which felt like pinching tough leather.
But should he wish, this thin black membrane could immediately become indestructible. At the very least, common weapons would not be able to destroy it.
In front of this layer of Soul Strength Armor, the attacks of ordinary martial artists were useless.
He pulled out a Sleeve Sword, gently stabbed it towards the center of his palm, slowly increasing his force to the maximum.
A slight pain emanated from his palm.
“If it were a little thicker, it probably wouldn’t be pierced,” Chen Mu thought of Bai Miaojin.
She had caught ninety-three strikes from his Sleeve Sword with her bare hands, unscathed, due to her robust Soul Strength.
Chen Mu looked at his Proficiency.
Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique: 6110/10000/Fifth Rank;
“Once my Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique is perfected and I simultaneously overlay the seven types of Soul Strength, my Soul Strength should also be quite decent,” Chen Mu mused happily.
…
The Tangshan Army would occasionally venture into the mountains, but this had nothing to do with the Laborer Camp.
Chen Mu conscientiously cooked every day, grinding out his Proficiency.
He was curious about how the Tangshan Army trained its troops.
But recalling the man in black he had led on a wild chase around the lake for eight laps that night, Chen Mu dismissed the thought.
Those people were not simple, and he didn’t want to stir up trouble.
He didn’t dare to release his Ghost paper figures carelessly either.
The fluctuation between illusion and reality could fool ordinary people, but not Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui.
Even though he had cultivated Shell Soul, and his Five Ghosts Bag had gained a Ghost form, the world remained dangerous.
“Can’t be reckless,” Chen Mu cautioned himself.
And then he continued to eat Bigu Pills and practice his Shape Cultivation Technique within the Dingyou Camp.
Thinking of the strength displayed by the Tangshan Army gave Chen Mu a headache.
“The Thousand Mechanism Token is not easy to snatch.”
…
Half a month later, the grand army set out.
After staying by Crescent Lake at Yunzhan Mountain for nearly a month, the Tangshan Army finally completed its preliminary training and headed north again.
On both sides of the wide official road were lush green mountains. The long convoy, out of sight, moved slowly forward.
The sounds of footsteps, wheels, talking, and animal calls all blended together.
In the Dingyou Camp’s Logistics Army convoy.
Chen Mu leaned against the right side of the carriage.
On the carriage behind him were piles of felt, wooden columns, ropes, iron nails, and other tent components.
“Where are we going?” Chen Mu asked softly.
“Qingshan County.” Cui Cui sat atop the cargo on the right side, hands placed on both sides of her body, legs swinging gleefully.
“Qingshan County?” The small county town where he first arrived? His predecessor’s hometown?
“Are there ghosts haunting that place?”
He hadn’t expected to become entangled with this place once again.
“It’s more than just ghosts.”
“It has become a Ghost City.”
Chen Mu’s pupils shrank.
He had heard that due to the wars in the north, many cities had been slaughtered, turning into realms of ghosts.
But he had not expected Qingshan County to become an empty city, a Ghost City.
He had no idea what had happened there after they left Qingshan County.
Jie Jia had said that the Thousand Mechanism Token only appeared where ghosts gathered.
There’s a Thousand Mechanism Token in Qingshan County? Chen Mu realized.
He glanced at Cui Cui without showing any emotion.
“Are this one person and one ghost also looking for the Thousand Mechanism Token?” Chen Mu’s eyes narrowed involuntarily.
Bai Miaojin is most likely a Shell Soul.
But I am also a Shell Soul.
Cui Cui is a powerful ghost.
But I have the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse.
I also have the Soul-Calming Stake.
If I suddenly make a move, catching them off guard…
Forget it, forget it, how can I have such dangerous thoughts. Chen Mu admonished himself repeatedly.
Such things with no absolute certainty should not be entertained.
“Are you thinking of something bad?” Cui Cui suddenly leaned down, her dainty face drawing close, gazing at Chen Mu with suspicion.
“I was thinking about what to add for tonight’s meal, whether to roast a mountain deer or a wild boar,” Chen Mu said evenly without changing his expression.
“Is that so…” Cui Cui frowned: “Then why do I feel a hint of malice?”
Chen Mu’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately collected his spirit.
“It’s probably people from the Shangguan Family plotting something,” Chen Mu stirred without betraying any emotion.
“Impossible.” Cui Cui was certain: “They still need to ask Little Bai to help find the Thousand Mechanism Token.”
“To honor a promise is because the cost of breaking it isn’t high enough.”
“What if they appear to collaborate on the surface but actually intend to monopolize the Thousand Mechanism Token…” Chen Mu implied, continuing to fan the flames.
“Monopolize it? We were finding it for them in the first place, why would they need to monopolize it?” Cui Cui was puzzled. As if thinking of something, her pretty face turned cold: “Do they intend to go back on their word!”
Go back on their word? Did I misunderstand something? Chen Mu was taken aback: “Miss Bai doesn’t want the Thousand Mechanism Token?”
That was a precious ticket to travel overseas.
All over the world, there were barely a hundred such tokens.
Cui Cui was pondering all the possible ways the Shangguan Family might go back on their word, and she glanced at Chen Mu irritably: “Little Bai has an Innate Taoist Bone, what would she need that thing for?”
Chen Mu: “…”
So she’s another child of Providence?
That towering general of a man?
Chen Mu felt stifled, as if there was a breath he couldn’t release.
He had altered his appearance, had been hiding cautiously, living in constant anxiety, and still had no clue about how to obtain the Thousand Mechanism Token.
Yet that general was born with a Daoist Bone?!
Wasn’t that like being born with a Thousand Mechanism Token in his mouth?!
Chen Mu’s face twitched with jealousy, almost revealing his true form!
“Do you also want the Thousand Mechanism Token?” Cui Cui suddenly came back to her senses, smiling slyly at Chen Mu.
“What do I need that thing for?” Chen Mu said indifferently, “How much silver would it fetch?”
“Ha! You really are not honest!” Cui Cui laughed heartily.
“Silver? Little Bai’s family has so much of it that it rusts,” Cui Cui smiled: “We want White Jade Money.”
“Shangguan Ji promised to give us ten pieces of White Jade Money.”
White Jade Money? What’s that? Chen Mu’s eyes revealed a trace of cluelessness.
“How about it? As long as you give us eleven pieces, we will help you find a Thousand Mechanism Token first,” Cui Cui said with a teasing look at Chen Mu.
Chen Mu frowned and pondered: “How about it… let’s stick with roast deer for tonight, the meat is tender.”
“Haha…”