“`
The next day.
Logistics Army of Dingyou Camp.
Chen Mu didn’t leap out anymore, he honestly stayed in the camp, chopping vegetables and doling out rice.
“Why didn’t you go?” Hesitating for a long time, Zheng Yuan finally couldn’t resist coming over and asking quietly.
Chen Mu glanced at the stocky short man whose face had rounded out a bit more: “There’s no lack of meat for you to eat!”
Zheng Yuan nodded smilingly: “Right, right, you snagged a wild boar yesterday, definitely didn’t finish eating it!”
Then he worried: “Did you hide it well? Don’t let those meat-eaters in the mountains dig it out.”
Chen Mu couldn’t be bothered with this gluttonous fatso, chop chop chopping the vegetables.
In front of his eyes, the grey wall materialized, and Chen Mu thoughtfully looked at the item at the very bottom.
“As expected, it increases by one point every hour.”
He had previously noticed that while inside the camp, the proficiency of Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique would increase by one point every hour.
But upon entering Qingshan County, there would be fluctuations.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but look towards the direction of the city: “Ghosts can also affect the cultivation of the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique?”
“Do I have to crawl into a nest of ghosts in the future?” The thought alone made him shudder.
“There won’t be any hidden dangers with the Spirit Armor Technique, right?” Chen Mu subconsciously disrupted his breathing rhythm.
But after thinking it over, since the proficiency was recognized and he hadn’t experienced any adverse changes, it should be fine.
He stopped controlling his breath, and the Spirit Armor Technique operated smoothly.
Not long after, a burst of comfort suddenly came from his back. It felt like the tingling sensation that spread through the body when waking up from sleep.
Starting from the back, it rapidly spread and then slowly faded away.
“Strange.” Chen Mu didn’t understand why, as he had never felt this sensation before.
After waiting a long time without it happening again, he could only let it go.
“Before leaving, perhaps I can take a look in the city to probe what’s affecting the cultivation of the Spirit Armor Technique.” Chen Mu squinted his eyes.
…
Bang!
Jin Wuduan’s hefty body was smashed away by a punch from Tu Shan, just like a broken doll.
Splat!
Mid-air, Jin Wuduan couldn’t help but spit out fresh blood.
Zuo Sheng’s face drastically changed, as he leapt into the air, catching Jin Wuduan.
But, as if dragged by a massive force, they both crashed into the ground.
Dirt splattered, and a large pit with a diameter of three meters instantly formed on the ground.
Glancing at the situation on the field, Zuo Sheng narrowed his eyes, bit the tip of his tongue, and spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood. Then his eyes rolled back, and he “fell unconscious”.
In the center of the camp.
Cheng Yi, leading another eleven Heavenly Generals, surrounded Sikou Qing.
Clouds of black smoke appeared and disappeared intermittently, continuously rushing toward Sikou Qing.
Sikou Qing wore pitch-black armor that flickered with dark light, which could only ensure she wasn’t being attacked by ghosts for the time being.
Her face was pale, with a trace of blood on her lips, and her eyes stared at Cheng Yi: “It’s you!”
Her subordinates had just been dispatched into the city, unable to form a formation. Tu Shan took the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, damaging her magic artifact. That was how she fell into this passive state.
“It’s me.” Cheng Yi said calmly: “Hand over the Thousand Mechanism Token, and I’ll leave right away.”
“Just you!” Sikou Qing almost snapped her silver teeth. She was a highborn scion, unaccustomed to such a huge loss.
“This is what you owe me.” Cheng Yi said indifferently.
“You should understand that killing you is not difficult for us.” Cheng Yi shifted his gaze slightly and gestured towards Tu Shan with his chin.
Tu Shan immediately bared his teeth, his face menacing as he looked towards Sikou Qing.
“Scions think their Spiritual Light is harder than my fists.”
“Do you want to compare as well?” Tu Shan’s face twisted into a terrifying smile as if there were demons howling behind him in the void.
Sikou Qing suddenly felt a tightening in her heart. Those who dared to compare fists with Tu Shan had all been smashed into a pulp.
“Hand over the Thousand Mechanism Token, and you still have Cheng Ming.”
“If you don’t hand it over, even if you snatch Cheng Ming, you’ll only be making wedding clothes for others.” Cheng Yi spoke leisurely.
Sikou Qing’s face showed hesitation, but then it solidified.
Cheng Yi was right, she had Cheng Ming in her hand. Dying here would truly be worthless.
Sikou Qing briskly took out a jade gourd from her sleeve.
Just as she was about to throw it, she stopped and, with a sly turn of her eyes, taunted: “I’ll give it, but I only have one, who should I give it to?”
Tu Shan immediately narrowed his eyes at Cheng Yi. His ferocious aura was palpable.
Cheng Yi, however, was unfazed and raised his right hand, gesturing towards Sikou Qing.
Sikou Qing let out a soft laugh and tossed the jade gourd.
“Let’s go.” Cheng Yi immediately withdrew the formation and left succinctly.
“Aren’t we killing her?” Tu Shan grumbled with a nasal voice.
“We’re pressed for time, I need to go back and prepare.” Cheng Yi didn’t look back: “Killing her is up to you.”
Tu Shan raised an eyebrow and shrugged, then sauntered off following Cheng Yi.
Compared to killing, finding the Thousand Mechanism Token was more important.
…
In Qingshan County, West Market, behind the courtyard of Tianyi Studio.
Under the dilapidated thatch shed, Chen Mu nestled in a rocking chair, hiding in the shade.
“`
A long-haired woman, her body rotted, drifted into the straw hut. The air itself grew colder by several degrees.
Chen Mu was unmoved, his body shrouded in black smoke.
The ghost that took the form of the long-haired woman lingered under the gazebo for a long time before finally leaving invisibly.
Chen Mu looked around the dilapidated courtyard and couldn’t help but chuckle.
The scene of when he first dodged ghosts by shamelessly using the Jie Jia as an evil-warding artifact was vivid in his mind, as if it happened just yesterday.
“It’s definitely not the same anymore,” Chen Mu remarked with a smile.
In the past, the sight of ghosts would scare him stiff, tingling scalp and all.
His only course of action then was a desperate fight for life.
Now, with increased strength and clearer understanding, he was no longer afraid of ordinary ghosts.
“Jie Jia must have felt the same way.”
“No, that greedy-for-money guy probably felt even more indifferent.”
Strong abilities and wide knowledge naturally bring strong confidence.
Chen Mu had always admired Jie Jia’s attitude, how he remained indifferent in the face of anything.
Hmm… except when it came to silver.
He pulled out a medical book and slowly pondered the information inside.
Two more ghosts visited during this time, but Chen Mu fooled them away with the Five Ghosts Paper Man.
About an hour later, Chen Mu put away the medical book and summoned a grey wall.
Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique: 793/10000/Sixth Rank;
“Gained six points in proficiency,” Chen Mu looked towards Tianyi Pavilion.
“Truly a piece of feng shui treasure land,” Chen Mu shook his head with a wry smile.
That’s how he had fooled Jie Jia at first. To think he had stumbled upon the truth by accident.
“I always said he was a mysterious expert, what’s he doing hiding in Qingshan County for no reason?”
“And there’s Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui.”
“Thinking further, there’s also Qingfeng Observatory to consider.”
Chen Mu’s expression grew complex: “No wonder Qingshan County has become a nest for ghosts.”
It was different from the start.
But it’s that very difference that led to the current tragic state of Ghost City.
“Feng shui treasure land? Ha…” Chen Mu sighed and shook his head.
…
At night, the Logistics Army’s camp tent, everyone sat on the ground.
The informal evening gatherings grew increasingly lively.
There was alcohol, meat, peanuts, and green wild vegetables.
Even the main officers of Dingyou Camp didn’t eat as well as these cooks.
Chen Mu wore a wooden smile on his face, calmly watching everyone.
Despite eating and drinking like this every day, the men strangely grew thinner.
The oldest, Sun Enqi, even started showing a strand of white hair amongst the black.
As the Tangshan Army advanced, they encountered more ghosts, the intensity of the battles rose, and the demand for Netherworld Thread climbed.
The laborers almost all fell into a state of pale weakness.
If this continued, deaths were likely imminent.
“Uncle Seven, do you know anyone familiar with the road back to Nanyang Prefecture?” Chen Mu asked softly, watching the lively eating and drinking crowd.
He didn’t plan to stay in Qingshan County anymore.
“This…” Sun Enqi looked at Chen Mu in surprise.
The rest of the Logistics Army members couldn’t help but pause their eating.
“Dawang, you want to leave,” Sun Enqi asked with difficulty.
“I plan to follow the laborers up the mountain to chop wood, then fall off the cliff in full view of everyone. It won’t have any impact on you,” Chen Mu said calmly.
The Logistics Army members fell silent at once.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but sigh.
Even in harmonious company, personal safety would still evoke different thoughts in people.
He had to speak up to reassure them: “I’ll leave some money. Even if someone uses the opportunity to cause trouble, you can bluff your way through.”
“Whatever’s left, consider it my compensation to you all.”
The men looked at each other, still not speaking.
Chen Mu’s eyebrows knitted slightly. Did he have to resort to force?
At that moment, the squat Zheng Yuan came over and quietly asked, “Can you also make me fall off the cliff?”
What does he mean?
Chen Mu was momentarily puzzled.
The Logistics Army members stared eagerly at Chen Mu: “Us too!”
Chen Mu: “…”
Was there a queue to die?
“Ha!”
These shrewd Logistics Army guys also realized something was amiss.
I’m not the only one wanting to run away.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but chuckle: “Truly, one should never underestimate anyone.”