Da Liang, the year 642, April 12.
Outside Qingshan County, at the base of the little eastern mountain, beside the Bailang River.
Chen Mu could hardly recognize the appearance of the little eastern mountain anymore.
Looking from afar, the western side of the mountain had collapsed, forming a cliff mid-way up the mountain. Chen Mu remembered, that was where the Qingfeng Observatory had built its sacrificial altar in the past.
“Could the earthquake really be related to the Qingfeng Observatory?”
“And what about the great fire?”
Two years prior, a major disaster struck on the day Chen Mu left.
According to the relocated refugees, an earthquake struck outside the city while a great fire raged within, leading to heavy casualties.
The reigning county magistrate and the city’s defending soldiers all perished, and malicious spirit incidents broke out from time to time.
At that time, everyone in the city was panic-stricken; no one dared to stay in Qingshan County any longer, and they fled in droves.
“But how did it then become a ghost city?”
“Could it have been man-made again?”
First, there was the Qingfeng Observatory, then there was Chao Tianwang; it was no surprise that Chen Mu’s thoughts ran wild with reports of various disasters constantly coming from the north of Da Liang.
“This detestable world forces one’s hand indeed.”
He sighed heavily and stopped thinking about it. He followed the others from the Logistics Army in preparing the meal.
…
At night, Chen Mu left the secret river bend in the reed marsh, with Netherworld Thread that had regrown to the length of his arm.
The Dingyou Camp site of the Logistics Army.
Chen Mu walked into the tent with a large roasted pig leg, casually tossing it to the chubby Zheng Yuan.
Then, the Logistics Army men, who had been sound asleep moments before, suddenly rolled over and scrambled to their feet.
Some brought out wooden chopping blocks for cutting meat, some laid out felt mats on the ground, some arranged wood bowls and chopsticks, and one even pulled out a bag of dry roasted peanuts from his coat.
The most astounding was his “Uncle Seven,” who took out a small flask of liquor.
As the Tangshan Army increased the frequency of Netherworld Thread collection, everyone else in camp was getting thinner, but this group from the Logistics Army wasn’t losing weight, and Zheng Yuan, rotund as ever, had even put on several pounds!
Chen Mu rolled his eyes and lay back down on his bedroll.
“Perhaps, should I take a look at Qingshan County?”
Chen Mu quickly dismissed the thought. There might be the Thousand Mechanism Token there, but there were also ghosts.
“No rush, let’s max out the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique first.”
As the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique improved, the seven types of Soul Strength increased simultaneously.
“This could be considered a kind of stacking, right?”
If he couldn’t become a muscle-bound brute, wearing a few more layers of body armor was still a good thing.
He made up his mind. He wouldn’t enter Qingshan County until he had layered his Shell Soul properly.
He threw out two little paper figures to act as scouts.
Chen Mu’s mind moved, and he conjured a grey wall.
Writing: 3400/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 5967/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 9461/10000/Fourth Rank;
Cooking: 3980/10000/Third Rank;
Pharmaceutical Technique: 5265/10000/Fourth Rank;
Sleeve Sword Technique: 4359/10000/Fourth Rank;
Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse: 1201/10000/Seventh Rank;
Shapeshifting Technique: 3957/10000/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: 7085/10000/Fifth Rank;
He scanned from top to bottom.
Especially those at the limit of their Shape Cultivation Techniques, he took extra pleasure in viewing them.
“Pity there’s not enough energy.”
The initial few skills were always dangling there, truly a bit of an eyesore.
“Iron Lotus Seeds are about to break through,” Chen Mu commented with lackluster enthusiasm.
The emergence of Soul Strength had significantly increased the defensive capabilities of high-level martial artists.
The Fifth Rank Sleeve Sword Technique could penetrate armor, with the Ebony Sword contributing at least half the effort.
Iron Lotus Seeds, however, had no armor-piercing effects.
“Let nature take its course,” Chen Mu decided, planning to cast the line a couple more times while fishing and raising leeks.
“Better to focus on cultivating the Cloud Mirage Shape Cultivation Technique first.”
“What if there are flaws in patching together the Shell Soul.”
…
In just three days, the Laborer Camp quickly set up their encampment.
As days passed, the Tangshan Army began to probe toward Qingshan County.
But this had nothing to do with Chen Mu and the other laborers.
All they had to do was to eat well, drink well, and be good “leeks” in the field.
Initially, Chen Mu had been worried that the Tangshan Army would raid their base and steal the Thousand Mechanism Token before fleeing.
If that happened, he would truly stand no chance, alone and unaided.
“They wish,” Cui Cui said with disdain.
“The Thousand Mechanism Token appears at random and moves locations. Who knows which ghost it’s hidden inside.”
“It could even be hiding inside your symbiotic ghost,” Cui Cui said, eyeing Chen Mu with a teasing look.
Chen Mu rolled his eyes and didn’t respond.
The Sleeve Sword Technique, swooshing in and out of sight, swiftly and neatly processed the dozen or so wild chickens Bai Miaojin had caught.
Bai Miaojin, though, seemed hesitant to speak as she watched Chen Mu.
She recognized the swordsmanship. It was quick, powerful, and extremely sharp.
If it hadn’t been for her concentration of soul strength into her fists that night, her arms would have been pierced into a mess.
Despite trying to hold back, she couldn’t help but question, “You use this… for cooking?” Wasn’t that a waste of good swordsmanship?
Of course not, I usually use the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain. It’s much more convenient than this,
Chen Mu thought to himself, but outwardly he just nodded nonchalantly.
“Your way of utilizing martial arts is really…innovative?” Bai Miaojin finally said with a strange look after thinking for a while.
“It’s truancy! Sideways! Haha…” Cui Cui laughed teasingly.
Chen Mu didn’t react, but casually probed, “Does Shangguan Ji plan to just push through bit by bit?”
“What else can he do?” said Cui Cui with a shrug.
“Isn’t there a secret technique that can quickly scout things out?” Chen Mu asked, continuing his subtle probing.
“Not a chance,” Cui Cui blurted carelessly.
“We still have to fight our way through.”
“Ha! This can also be considered a different type of cleansing of evil spirits,” Chen Mu couldn’t help shaking his head.
“Just trick others into piling up their lives,” Cui Cui said dismissively.
“White Jade Spirit Money isn’t easy to earn,” Cui Cui sighed.
“At this rate, don’t expect any results for three to five months,” Cui Cui said with impatience. “And if others come to trip us up, it’s even more troublesome.”
“Is that so,” Chen Mu said with a look of sympathy…
Well then, I’m relieved!
…
It was late at night by the Bailang River.
“Did you really used to hang out here?” Kui Tuo’s skepticism couldn’t be hidden even by his bushy beard.
“Don’t doubt it, I used to be the leader of the biggest gang in Qingshan County, the Bailang Gang.” Zhang Ye said proudly, “Don’t believe me? Ask Zhen Fan when you get back.”
“I’m more familiar with the nearby environment of Bailang River than anyone. Secret routes, I know them like the back of my hand.”
“For us, scouting the Tangshan Army’s encampment is as easy as reaching into a bag to take what we want!”
At that moment, the two of them, dressed in black, were followed by five or six men in similar attire.
The group barged through the reeds, seemingly lost, but kept heading towards Xiao Dong Mountain.
“Last time at Da Liu Village’s mission, you also said it would be as easy as reaching into a bag. How did that turn out… You almost became a bare pole commander!” Kui Tuo retorted, rolling his eyes.
“What are you saying! Am I still not your gang leader!” Zhang Ye’s bearded face turned dark with anger.
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Coming out with me this time is like collecting merit without effort.”
“Gathering intelligence comfortably without putting your life on the line. That’s much better than dealing with those unseen entities, isn’t it!”
Kui Tuo pursed his lips, about to argue back.
Zhang Ye suddenly covered his mouth excitedly.
“Look ahead!”
“Everyone around here is dead, and this guy’s out here fishing in the middle of the night, he must be with the Tangshan Army!”
“As long as we capture and bring him back, won’t we have our merit!” Zhang Ye said, trembling with excitement.
Times have been tough lately.
Without enough strength, he couldn’t keep his subordinates in line.
He was being targeted by superiors and assigned to dangerous tasks.
The powerless ones under his command died, and the capable ones ran away.
If he didn’t make some achievements to attract folllwers, he’d truly become a bare pole commander.
“Fortune comes after hardship! Isn’t this my change in luck?!”
Zhang Ye’s eyes gleamed as he, followed by an equally eager Kui Tuo, cauctiously approached the small river bay.
Zhang Ye? Kui Tuo? They wanted to capture him for merit?
As Chen Mu, who was washing scales to prepare for cooking fish, laughed at the situation,
this… must be a special kind of fate!