Low Hill Courtyard.
Chen Mu’s face showed deep pain as he rubbed the Calming Pills.
It was said to be adulterated medicine, but in actuality, he had used the 1.0 version of the Calming Pills.
The difference lay in his use of the main component of Mesmerizing Divine Smoke to replace the Guanqie Night Grass, which saved him a considerable amount of money.
“In the end, I was still changed by this damned world.”
But to advance further, he needed more White Jade Coins.
“Besides, I just used the slightly weaker 1.0 version.”
“Shang Huan, that fatso, is even worse. He wants to use incense that smells the same but has absolutely no effect as a substitute.”
“At least I still have a conscience.”
“Hmm… so I can’t be considered a black-hearted merchant, at most a gray-hearted one.”
With that thought, Chen Mu felt instantly better.
“Using too much Guanqie Night Grass might even lead to drug resistance.”
“Using my 1.0 version to change things up might actually yield better overall results!”
Chen Mu’s mind brightened.
“Exactly, I’m doing this for the good of everyone!”
Chen Mu convinced himself successfully and continued to roll the pills with joy.
…
Behind Low Mountain, in a small mountain hollow.
Chen Mu sat cross-legged on a large rock.
With his right hand held out in front of him, a low chant resonating like the recitation of a thousand people spilled forth.
A ping-pong-ball-sized black pellet appeared in the palm of his right hand.
Whiz!
A low buzzing sound, like that of a baton cutting through the air, arose. The black pellet suddenly vanished.
Pop!
A soft noise.
Sixty steps away, on a millstone-sized rock, a quail egg-sized round hole appeared suddenly.
Chen Mu appeared beside the rock, looking down to examine it.
The rock, nearly a meter thick, had been effortlessly pierced by the Sand Containing Technique.
Behind the rock, on the ground, there was also a dark hole of unknown depth.
“Faster speed, stronger penetrative power!” Chen Mu couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.
Compared to the initial blast that wrecked everything around, this focused penetrative power was actually much stronger.
“I thought the power was decent before,” Chen Mu curled his lips, “but it was really just good for scaring people.”
Though it could shatter rocks, here in the Lower Courtyard of Jilong Road, every individual was a Shell Soul expert.
Rocks? Sorry, there isn’t a single person here softer than rock!
Chen Mu’s thoughts shifted, calling forth a gray wall.
Sand Containing Technique: 619/10000/Second Rank;
Incantation time cut in half. Enjoy more content from empire
Soul Strength sphere density doubled.
Power at least doubled.
“If I keep practicing, I might really be able to penetrate armor!” Chen Mu anticipated eagerly.
“Forget it, that’s for later. My main task right now is to cultivate the True Sun Scripture,” Chen Mu reminded himself.
The Sand Containing Technique, though strong, was ultimately a technique; Spirit and Soul Unification was the true path.
He had previously been unable to resist the temptation of the Sand Containing Technique and deliberately allocated time to advance it.
“Now that it’s reached Second Rank, I can’t indulge any further,” Chen Mu resolved.
…
Three days later.
Whoo, whoo, whoo!
Pop, pop, pop!
The rocks in the small hollow instantly turned into a hornet’s nest.
Chen Mu looked at the rock with annoyance on his face.
“I clearly told myself not to practice the Sand Containing Technique anymore; how did I fail to resist it!”
“Too undisciplined!”
“Let’s practice a bit more, then head back to cultivate the True Sun Scripture,” Chen Mu quietly reminded himself in his heart.
…
In the evening, with a dejected expression, Chen Mu returned to the Low Hill Courtyard.
He couldn’t resist and had spent the entire afternoon practicing the Sand Containing Technique in the hollow of the mountain.
“It’s not that I’m not making an effort, it’s just that this skill is too much fun.”
Chant the incantation, take aim, biu! A hit!
Once this cycle started, it was simply impossible to stop.
If it weren’t for the limit of his Soul Strength, which required him to take rests to recover after a while, he could have continued playing the whole night!
“Even with the change in worlds, I’m still that undisciplined common homebody,” Chen Mu sighed.
Just like in his previous life, although he planned to go to bed early and wake up early, the novels were too captivating and he couldn’t help but read until two or three in the morning.
He had no idea how those self-disciplined deities with incredible willpower managed to do it.
“Forget it, starting tomorrow, I’ll focus on cultivating the True Sun Scripture,” he decided.
“I’ll reward myself with a quarter of an hour… no, a half-hour to play with the Sand Containing Technique for every hour I spend on the True Sun Scripture.”
“Hmm, maybe I should reward myself with a bit more time? After all, the True Sun Scripture is so dry…”
“Damn! My brain is so cunning, always coming up with ways to trick me into practicing the Sand Containing Technique?!” Chen Mu was annoyed with himself.
“Let it go, let’s just play a couple more times and then go to sleep.”
“After all, starting from tomorrow, I’ll have to restrict the time I spend playing with the Sand Containing Technique.”
“Sigh…”
Chen Mu replaced the battery in the Jade Plate with the White Jade Spirit Money Plate to better automate his cultivation of the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique. Then, excitedly, he began to grind experience for the Sand Containing Technique.
…
North of the Lower Courtyard on Jilong Road.
At the top of a cliff several dozen meters high.
Lin Su, light as a swallow, touched the cliff face with the tip of his toe.
He darted up the wooden walkways of the cliffside Taoist temple as lightly and rapidly as a feather.
“Brother Liang, is Director Song around?” Lin Su asked, saluting a young man in his twenties at the entrance.
“The master has gone to the Upper Court and has not yet returned,” replied the young man with a simple and honest smile.
“Does Prefect Lin have urgent business?” Brother Liang asked curiously. “If it concerns the safety of the Lower Courtyard, I can use the Sound Transmission Magical Instrument left by the master to urge him to return as soon as possible.”
Lin Su shook his head helplessly: “No need, it’s just a small personal matter of mine, I can’t disturb the Oversight Courtyard’s cultivation for that.”
The young man nodded in understanding.
Suddenly, Lin Su approached and handed the young man a gray cloth bag: “Brother Liang, I have a favor to ask.”
Brother Liang took the cloth bag blankly, feeling the heavy White Jade Coins inside, and immediately fumbled to stuff it back.
But Lin Su held him back.
“Don’t panic, Brother Liang.”
“I just want to ask you to use the Round Light Mirror to help me track someone’s Daoist Seal.”
Brother Liang looked troubled.
“You don’t know, Brother Liang. This person is my blood relative from the secular world.”
“He studied and trained diligently since childhood and finally made it to the Lower Courtyard.”
“He has just become a Jade Seed and was about to be apprenticed to me, then mysteriously disappeared.”
“My heart is heavy with sorrow!” Saying this, Lin Su could not help tearing up.
Brother Liang’s face was full of compassion: “Although it goes against the rules of the Lower Courtyard, this is ultimately about your blood relative. I’ll help if I can.”
“But the Round Light Mirror has been taken by the master, it’s not in the Lower Courtyard.”
“I would like to help, but I’m afraid I can’t, Prefect Lin.” Brother Liang said, scratching his head awkwardly.
As he spoke, he pushed the gray cloth bag back towards Lin Su.
“Just for your kind intentions, I’m deeply grateful,” Lin Su said with a joyful expression, again pushing the cloth bag to Brother Liang.
“Take it. Consider it a meeting gift from me!” Lin Su pushed it back forcefully and then inquired with concern, “Do you know when the Director might return?”
Brother Liang thought for a moment and said, “In another two months, the Yellow Bud Rice should be harvested. At that time, the master will probably come back to take charge of the situation.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Brother Liang.” Lin Su expressed his gratitude with a bow and then took his leave.
By the edge of the cliff, Brother Liang watched with a simple and honest expression as Lin Su disappeared between the cliffs.
Grasping the gray cloth bag in his right hand, he felt the White Jade Coins inside.
“Prefect Lin is truly a good person,” he remarked to himself with admiration. Then, he took out a large copper mirror, the size of a human face, and carefully wiped it, “I didn’t expect this old mirror to help me make money.”
“Direct bloodline, huh.”
“Prefect Lin certainly won’t mind spending a little more money. Haha…”