About five or six miles away from Shang Huan and Mo Wuzhou’s trading spot.
Inside a dense forest roughly the size of four soccer fields, the underbrush was cleared, leaving only towering trees over thirty feet tall.
Seen from Peng Yue Mountain, there were many similar forests all around, all the work of pioneer teams.
It was said that after being surveyed by the experts of the Lower Courtyard, it could hide wind and gather qi.
There were also rumors that it was for setting up the Mountain Protection Magical Barriers. Read exclusive content at empire
In the heart of the dense forest, about six or seven meters underground, there was a secret chamber as large as two living rooms with a five-meter-high ceiling.
Chen Mu sat cross-legged on a cushion, holding the Fire Cloud Gourd in his right hand.
Glowing algae lamps shaped like water droplets floated above his head, radiating a soft white and gentle light.
The mouth of the Black Gourd emitted a flash of pale blue fire, turning the originally damp secret chamber extremely dry.
A Soul-Calming Stake stood beside Chen Mu to cool down the area.
Repeatedly, he chanted the Fire Cloud Curse Words.
Suddenly, a glimmer of enlightenment flashed through his mind.
The Fire Cloud Curse Talisman suddenly grew three times more complex, and the lengthy curse words were abruptly streamlined by half.
Chen Mu called up the gray wall.
Fire Cloud Curse: 1/10000/Second Rank;
“I’ve finally progressed.”
The Fire Cloud Gourd had been in his possession for a while now. Unfortunately, due to various incidents, he hadn’t had much chance to cultivate it.
“The flame temperature is higher, the attack range is larger, and its lethality is stronger,” Chen Mu sighed while fiddling with the Black Gourd, “It doesn’t quite match my kind and upright nature.”
“Forget it, I’ll make do.”
“It’s also excellent for roasting meat.”
Packing away the Fire Cloud Gourd, he glanced at the perspective of the Five Ghosts.
Watching Mo Wuzhou carrying a square wooden box, sprinting towards Peng Yue Mountain.
Shang Huan, too, was sneaking away quickly along the moonlit shadows of the forest.
Controlling the Five Ghosts, he circled around the trading spot for a three-mile radius twice.
Only then did Chen Mu heave a sigh of relief.
He couldn’t help being cautious, after all, it was a transaction involving nearly five thousand White Jade.
“Five thousand White Jade Coins!” The mere thought made Chen Mu’s hands tremble with excitement.
“Get a grip!” Chen Mu slapped his right hand with his left.
“Wait a bit longer.”
“Let the White Jade Coins stay with Shang Huan for some more time.”
“Mitigate the risk.”
And this was only half the payment; there was still another half to come!
“Let’s go, go, go! Time to go home and continue grinding experience!”
Shortly after, a flying vehicle soared into the sky, stirring up the moist mist above the dense forest, and then suddenly vanished into the sky.
…
Two days later, at midnight.
Down below Peng Yue Mountain, in Chen Mu’s wooden house in Yiyou District.
In the underground secret chamber, Chen Mu pointed his right index finger at the center of a little wooden horse’s forehead.
Hiss, hiss, hiss…
It was as if the sound of a balloon evenly deflating reverberated in the secret chamber.
On the pitch-black wooden horse’s surface, hair-thin silver threads spread from the cylindrical head of the little horse steadily and uniformly towards its body.
Hum!
A buzzing like the flapping of a bee’s wings filled the chamber, and the silver threads enveloping the wooden horse suddenly flickered before vanishing into the body without a trace.
Chen Mu opened his eyes, looking at the little wooden horse with a white spot on its forehead, and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
“The sixth one!”
The gray wall appeared before his eyes.
Artifact Refining Technique (Wood Spirit Boy): Limit;
Having maxed out the Artifact Refining Technique, Chen Mu’s mind was flooded with a wealth of experience.
It was as if he had crafted countless Wood Spirit Boys before.
Picking up a piece of heartwood, he knew which parts were hard and which were soft, as well as the various flaws in the crafting method.
He also understood how to adjust the Talismans’ penetration to avoid the risk of failure.
“A hundred percent success rate?” Chen Mu realized.
Looking at the dozen or so little wooden horses beside him, Chen Mu silently estimated.
“At most, it will take five days to completely refine this batch of Wood Spirit Boys.”
Feeling a slight agitation stirring within his spirit, Chen Mu knew he had reached his limit.
So, he naturally stimulated the United Heart Curse.
As the curse words of the United Heart Curse burrowed into the Primordial Talisman black sphere, seven bright pearls suddenly appeared in the mist.
Chen Mu habitually connected to one of them.
A refreshing coolness surged into his mind.
“Comfortable!”
He glanced at the mana that was still far from filling up the Jade Seed and couldn’t help but shake his head.
It was hard to fill it up while simultaneously accumulating and expending mana.
Better to complete the order as soon as possible and then focus on accumulation.
…
Late at night, the third pioneer team in Bingchen District.
The camp was silent except for the occasional roar of beasts and the sporadic crackling sounds from the campfire.
The six Wu Mountain siblings sat around the campfire, silent.
Suddenly, Ai Ji, who had been slouching dejectedly, sat up straight.
“Here he comes! He’s coming again!” He had just shouted when his body went limp.
With a “plop,” he fell backward onto the ground, lying sprawled out and gazing at the sky with a lifeless expression.
“Why does Gongsun Sheng always pick on me?” Ai Ji’s face was the picture of despair.
“You can’t keep shearing the same sheep, can you?!”
“Pfft!”
Shi Xian, who was usually reserved, suddenly chuckled.
The corners of the others’ mouths couldn’t help but twitch into a smile.
“I guess Ai Ji must have encountered Gongsun Sheng before,” said Wu Ruo thoughtfully, “without his mask on.”
“I don’t remember offending anyone special?” Ai Ji frowned in deep thought.
“Stop thinking about it. Without his mask, Gongsun Sheng is probably just an ordinary, unremarkable Lower Courtyard disciple,” Yu Lin said with a smile.
“Maybe he even farmed the land for us once,” Shi Xian suddenly added.
The few exchanged looks, their faces betraying wry smiles.
“It’s possible…”
“We need to plan ahead,” Xu Rao’s eyes narrowed.
“It’s fine when we’re resting at night, but if this happens during a critical moment in battle…” Xu Rao stared at Ai Ji, who lay on the ground like a salted fish, and said ominously.
The others fell silent too.
“In the short term, there shouldn’t be much of a problem,” Lu Ku spoke up.
He sat quietly to the side, the flickering flames casting an uncertain light on his face.
“Our current situation has gone beyond what’s recorded in the Thousand Mountains Sutra.”
“Gongsun Sheng’s control over the United Heart Gu has reached a height that we, or rather most people, cannot comprehend.”
“There may be some secrets within, only known to the creator of United Heart Gu or a specific group with secret teachings.”
“But that’s irrelevant to us.”
“We only need to focus on Gongsun Sheng himself.”
The others turned their gazes to Lu Ku.
“Based on Ai Ji’s reactions, it seems like he can draw some sort of energy from us through the United Heart Gu.”
“The loss of this energy leaves Ai Ji mentally exhausted.”
“From this, we can surmise that Gongsun Sheng needs this energy to reinforce his spirit.”
“He is doing something that consumes a great deal of spirit.”
“Whether it’s practicing secret techniques, alchemy, or refining artifacts. And there’s a pattern to it.”
“According to the statistics of the past few days, during the daytime he should also be pioneering the land, only at night when it’s quiet does he have time for this unknown activity.”
“Hence, our actions in future should take place in the early morning and during the day. At night we must stick together to rest,” Lu Ku said, his eyes narrowing.
“But being at someone else’s mercy is ultimately risky.”
The others nodded in agreement at once.
Ai Ji also sat up. He was mentally fatigued, but he was not actually powerless.
“Two directions,” Lu Ku held up two fingers.
“First, leave Peng Yue Mountain, get away from the United Heart Rope.”
“Second…” Lu Ku glanced at everyone.
“Find Gongsun Sheng, brave the risk of being sensed by him, and attempt to use another’s hand to get back the United Heart Rope!”
By the campfire, the group fell silent once more.
Only the loud pops of damp branches burning in the fire remained.