“`
One could not say whether it was due to the climate of Peng Yue Mountain or the cold aura of Cold Moon Pond, but once the heavy snow began, it never stopped.
Intermittently falling every day, the snow was not heavy, yet it persistently blanketed Peng Yue Mountain in white.
There was also the howling bone-piercing cold wind, so chilly that even splashed water would freeze instantly.
Chen Mu was wrapped in a gray animal skin cloak, with his head and face covered by a scarf.
He had a strong physique, capable of withstanding the biting cold. But enduring did not mean comfort, otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered with a water-heating stove.
It was for this reason that trails of smoke rose from the burning of firewood for warmth on Peng Yue Mountain.
With the concealed augmentation of Divine Steps Thousand Miles beneath his feet, Chen Mu stepped on the thick snow, deliberately leaving footprints two fingers deep as he climbed the stone steps towards the peak at a seemingly slow but actually swift pace.
In the guise of a common practitioner seeking Spirit and Soul Unification, he arrived at the Administrative Affairs Institute on the west side below Cold Moon Pond.
Acting on the information he had gathered from Old Hao and Shang Huan, he went straight toward a two-story wooden building.
…
The first floor of the wooden building had a counter that was half a person high, spanning to the walls on either side of the room.
A portly middle-aged man, apparently in his forties, sat leisurely behind the counter, holding a fist-sized bronze hand warmer.
Seeing Chen Mu lift the curtain and enter, the middle-aged man slowly stood up, smiling before speaking.
“Brother, are you here for the cultivation chambers?” the portly middle-aged man asked with a grin, “Do you have a familiar cave? Let me help you arrange it.”
As he spoke, he even gave Chen Mu a suggestive eyebrow raise, as if to imply he was privy to some insider knowledge.
Chen Mu: “…”
Why do I feel like something is off here?
It was as if he had walked into Red Sleeve Square.
“It’s my first time. Just find me a decent one,” Chen Mu said casually.
“You can’t be so casual about it!” The portly man’s smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
“Do you know the key to cultivating the Spiritual Light Spell?”
Chen Mu was somewhat bewildered: “Is there some particular technique to it?”
From his own experience with cultivating the skill, wasn’t it something that just happened as you practiced?
“Of course, there’s a technique!” The portly middle-aged man frowned at Chen Mu, his face conveying a mix of surprise and chagrin that Chen Mu was oblivious to this fact.
“The essence of the Spiritual Light Spell is to borrow from the Earth Spirit Vital Energy to transform the Jade Seed.”
“This process can be very lengthy. Even for those innately gifted with Daoist Bone, it takes at least half a year!”
“Brother Mo, a genius of the Lower Courtyard, also took ten months even with intermittent practice.”
“And your first encounter with high concentrations of Earth Spirit Vital Energy becomes extremely crucial!”
“If that experience is too harsh, it will affect your cultivation for your entire life!” the portly man said with a grave face.
“So, should I seek a place with denser Earth Spirit Vital Energy?” Chen Mu asked, half-believing and half-doubtful.
Is this guy trying to sell me an expensive cultivation chamber?
“No, no, no, no, no!” The portly man shook his head solemnly.
“If it’s too rich, although your progress might be quick, it can make you addicted, even lead to degeneration.”
“Once you leave that environment, you would feel uncomfortable all over, restless.”
“What’s more terrifying is that it could even lead to your cultivation regressing rather than progressing!”
Could overly concentrated Earth Spirit Vital Energy have such side effects?!
What about my cultivation with the Exquisite Jade Plate…
Chen Mu felt a sudden chill.
I haven’t fallen into this trap already, have I?!
The portly middle-aged man, seeing Chen Mu’s reaction, nodded in satisfaction.
He then continued to explain: “On the other hand, if it’s too dilute, slow progress will make you feel bored, resistant, and eventually, you’ll become negative about your practice.”
“With that attitude, how can your cultivation make any progress?”
Chen Mu could not help but nod in agreement.
If there was little Earth Spirit Vital Energy, the effects of cultivation would be poor, lacking positive feedback, and of course, one would resist practicing.
“Hence, there needs to be a balance.” The portly man spoke earnestly: “Just like gourmet food, overeating in one meal will only breed disgust.” Find adventures at empire
“If the meal is delicious, but you stop at seventy percent fullness, the mere anticipation for your next delightful meal can be very pleasurable in itself.”
Chen Mu, with Fifth Rank culinary skills, found this metaphor particularly relatable.
“A cultivation chamber with such an environment…” Chen Mu was quite tempted.
Although he had already completed his cultivation of Spiritual Light, such an environment could be worth experiencing.
If he could find a pattern, maybe he could replicate it with the Exquisite Jade Plate, to break the dependency on dense Earth Spirit Vital Energy.
“You might not know this, but the cultivation chambers of Cold Moon Pond were personally overseen and constructed by Sun Duyuan of our Administrative Affairs Institute.” The middle-aged man said, his words heavy with implication: “And my name, too, is Sun!”
“`
Well, look at that, an insider!
Chen Mu eagerly looked at the middle-aged man surnamed Sun.
“There aren’t many special training grounds. Most are circulated among our Sun Family’s close friends.”
“And I just happen to have the authority to allocate a spot.”
“Little brother, I like the look of you. Just one hundred and twenty-five White Jade Coins, and the spot is yours!” the portly middle-aged man said generously.
“How about it? Try for a month?”
Chen Mu: “…”
I’ll be damned if I believe that!
After all this fuss, you’re still trying to sell me a training ground.
Moreover, Chen Mu knew that the training grounds for disciples from the Lower Courtyard like him shouldn’t cost more than one hundred at most.
This fatty actually dared to hike up the price!
Chen Mu feigned consideration: “That’s a bit pricey, how about a discount?”
Then he hesitated with a pained expression before finally grinding his teeth and stomping his foot: “Just twenty-five White Jade Coins then. No less!”
The portly middle-aged man: “…”
Is this really how you’re supposed to haggle?
Straight to a fracture?!
…
To the west side of Cold Moon Pond was Twin Peaks Mountain.
Numerous caves dotted the sheer cliffs like a honeycomb.
Below, Cold Moon Pond was tranquil, with a faint mist hovering above.
Walking along a narrow circular mountain path, wide enough for only two people, Chen Mu arrived at the entrance of a cave.
“Wu character, number eleven, one month time,” said the portly middle-aged man, expressionless.
“You can’t wander around other training grounds, there will be spot checks. If caught, you’ll be expelled immediately, and there will be a fine.”
“This is your token of proof. Show it to them when you’re inspected.”
After explaining everything in an official manner, the portly middle-aged man casually tossed Chen Mu a palm-sized copper token and walked away, not giving him the time of day.
Chen Mu shrugged indifferently.
He was here to lay the groundwork for revealing his cultivation level.
So he spent only sixty-five White Jade coins to buy an entry ticket to the worst training ground.
And because he didn’t care about the concentration of Vital Energy, he didn’t tip the fatty at all.
For that man to give Chen Mu a good face would be a day in hell.
“The worst training ground is great,” Chen Mu was pleased rather than annoyed.
Those who came here to cultivate were all aiming to break through in Spiritual Light, scrambling over each other to get into the better training grounds.
These worst-grade training grounds were overlooked by everybody.
“Doesn’t that mean I can have it all to myself?!” Chen Mu laughed slyly.
This way, he could boldly grind various skill experiences without any restraint.
“It’s always more comfortable to be alone!” A two-life homebody, he stepped into the spacious and bright cave with light footsteps.
Then he looked up to meet six cold gazes.
The Wu Mountain siblings?
What were these cultivation freaks doing in this training ground?! Shouldn’t they be in the most expensive and best one?
With these people watching, how can I freely grind experience?!
“Find somewhere quiet to sit by yourself,” Ai Ji said arrogantly, “Disturb our cultivation and we’ll kill you!”
Chen Mu: “…”
Alright, alright…
You’re tough!
Chen Mu touched the United Heart Rope hidden under his hood, then with a smile and a polite bow, he said,
“Sorry for the interruption, we will share this place for cultivation over the next month.”
“If there’s any inconvenience, I hope you all will be accommodating.”
Then he added with a sincere face, “Please rest assured, I’m very easy to get along with, really!”
The Wu Mountain siblings: “…”
Why do I feel a tingling at the back of my head?