“`
Several days later.
Near the No. 9 Tongtian Tower in Geng District, on the third floor of an inn.
Chen Mu leaned against a pillow, half-reclining on a soft couch.
His fifth-rank Truthful Listening Technique’s passive eavesdropping ability was activated.
The noisy clamor from the lobby on the first floor kept reaching his ears.
“Zhongshan Path is as good as finished, it’s said that several Condensing Aperture experts have died.”
“Alas… they shouldn’t have been so heavy-handed. Just driving them out would have been enough. If the real person from White Tower seeks revenge, it’ll be another mess.”
“The people from the Oversight Courtyard dared to do this because they probably have news from the East Fence Path’s Sect Master. That’s their backing.”
“I’m only concerned about what we’re supposed to do now.”
“The territories we snatched back definitely need people to run them, and with more land than people, you can plant as much Yellow Bud Rice as you want.”
“It’s a pity it’s not Peng Yue Mountain, the monthly salary here is likely just two White Jade Coins.”
“Be content, look at those wild cultivators mingling in the Water Mansion, are they not worse off?”
“Wild Cultivators aren’t that bad, right? No one controls them.”
“Then you go be a Wild Cultivator…”
Wild Cultivators cannot exchange for Secret Techniques and secret techniques.
Having not heard any definite news about leaving the Water Mansion, Chen Mu shook his head and stopped listening to the meaningless discussions in the lobby.
“Don’t believe in rumors, don’t spread rumors.”
“I’d rather gain more experience than waste time on those gossipy pieces of information.”
He sat up straight and looked at the black Alchemy Furnace on the low table before him.
The Pill Furnace was about the size of a rice cooker from his previous life.
It had three sets of double ears and its entire body was in a matte black finish, with cloud and Exotic Beast patterns engraved on the surface.
He tapped it with his finger, producing a clear and melodious ‘ding-dong’ sound.
On top of the Pill Furnace was a lid with a spherical knob.
He had tried several times before to open it, but to no avail, until he flipped through the accompanying jade slip for the Pill Furnace and realized it required a special Dharma Curse.
The Wind Fire Pivot Charm, controlling opening and closing, heat and cold, thunder sound, and Qi Forbidden, four capabilities. It’s the key Dharma Curse for operating the Mixed Yuan Five Qi Furnace.
Each Elixir requires a different environment for pill formation.
Some need fire burning, some need to be chilled with ice, some need Qi Forbidden to be kneaded, some need the booming of thunder sound.
The Wind Fire Pivot Charm could control the Pill Furnace, creating the necessary conditions to complete Alchemy.
“The five Dharma Curses needed for the Fasting Pill, I’ve mastered four, just missing the Wind Fire Pivot Charm.”
For the following days, he holed up inside the inn.
Daily, he would occasionally use the Truthful Listening Technique to eavesdrop on information, spending more time contemplating the Pivot Charm.
…
Three days later.
Near Dragon Gate in Geng District.
More than two hundred people crowded together, preparing to board a Ling Boat to the Heavenly River District.
Chen Mu, carrying a grey cloth bundle, stood with Old Hao, Shang Huan, and others on the edge of the crowd.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Chen Mu withdrew his Truthful Listening Technique and asked.
“It’s probably one of the Lower Courtyards we took back,” guessed Old Hao.
Chen Mu silently nodded. Most of the people in the crowd held the same opinion.
“That’s not necessarily the case.” Shang Huan shook his head.
“Do you have any inside information?” Old Hao looked at him in surprise.
“No inside information.” Shang Huan laughed softly, “But Liang, the Minor Supervision Court, bought a large batch of Insect Repellent Incense from me.”
Insect Repellent Incense?
The taken back Lower Courtyards, with their complete infrastructure, wouldn’t need Insect Repellent Incense.
Could it be another trek into the mountains and forests?
Chen Mu’s heart skipped a beat.
“Are we about to start reclaiming land again?” Old Hao also caught on.
“The courtyards we snatched back aren’t courtyards of the Oversight Courtyard,” said Shang Huan, loaded with implication.
Chen Mu came to a realization.
Rather than co-managing a Lower Courtyard with others, it’s better to find a completely new Earth Vein Spiritual Spring.
As long as it’s developed, remote and beyond the reach of the emperor, the Oversight Courtyard would have the final say.
…
In the evening.
On the periphery of Heavenly River District.
Chen Mu and others waited listlessly by a spacious river beach.
Some had already started bonfires, cooking fish for a meal.
Chen Mu also held a fist-sized cloth bag, stuffing Fasting Pills into his mouth one by one.
“It’s really a pity that we couldn’t go for a stroll in the Heavenly River District,” Old Hao sighed while smoking.
“We’ve lived in the Heavenly River Water Mansion for half a year, what’s so special about the Heavenly River District, a mere gathering place for Wild Cultivators?” Chen Mu shook his head.
It might even be more chaotic due to fierce competition for resources.
“Exactly. Just a bunch of poor ghosts, there’s no money to be made.” Shang Huan also disapproved.
“You guys don’t understand.” Old Hao said mysteriously.
Chen Mu felt a spark of interest.
It was rumored that the members of Zhongshan Path who had troubled them a while ago lived in the Heavenly River District.
Could there be something more to this?
“`
“There is scarce Earth Spirit Vital Energy in the Heavenly River District, you could even say there is none,” Old Hao said composedly. “That’s why, aside from us cultivators, a large group of common people also live here.”
“To come to the banks of the Tongtian River, one inevitably has to traverse mountains and rivers, braving many dangers.”
“Therefore, most of the commoners who make it here are from imperial families and great noble clans. Among them are even members of the imperial family.”
“One of the princes from the Da Qian Imperial Court is stationed in the Heavenly River District year-round, ready to receive orders from Jilong Road at a moment’s notice.”
“Those disciples who leave our Lower Courtyard are all arranged by this prince into the Mortal Realm.”
Is there anything special about that?
Chen Mu didn’t understand.
“Could it be that those mortal royalties can gather rare treasures from the Mortal Realm?” Shang Huan’s eyes lit up.
Chen Mu also involuntarily looked towards Old Hao.
The Mortal Realm is vast, with few cultivators.
The royal families rule over vast lands and after scouring the world, it’s indeed possible that they might find some treasures.”
Even in a place like Da Liang, a remote borderland far from Yunzhou, there are quite a few precious items. Not to mention the prosperous Yunzhou.
“There certainly are treasures, but they won’t get to us. They have already been given to the Upper Court in exchange for resources,” Old Hao shook his head.
“So what can this group of commoners do then?” Shang Huan looked disappointed.
Old Hao chuckled, “They can bring you a wife!”
Chen Mu: “…”
Really, couldn’t an old man like you be a bit more serious!
All you think about all day are these ridiculous things!
“Are they beautiful?” Chen Mu couldn’t help but ask.
“Those are members from Noble Clans and the imperial family, who have controlled the Mortal Realm for hundreds of years.”
“Do you think the people they send are beautiful?” Old Hao said with a wink.
“Psh…” Shang Huan looked unconvinced, “I thought there was something to it.”
“You think getting a wife is easy?” Old Hao glared at Shang Huan with a sidelong glance.
“Is it… very difficult?” Shang Huan sounded uncertain.
“To find a wife, you either need to have looks or wealth, and also be good with words.”
“Not just that, we cultivators hardly meet anyone because we’re always training, so how would you know which families have eligible daughters for marriage?” Old Hao said with a touch of exasperation.
Chen Mu suddenly found this very reasonable.
It seems that finding a partner isn’t easy anywhere.
In his past life, countless homebodies were plagued by the Dharma Curse of being hectored to marry.
It’s too hard!
“Those Noble Clans are engaged in matchmaking activities.”
“Sending wives to male cultivators.”
“And husbands to female cultivators.”
“If you have special tastes, it’s not that they can’t send a young man to you.”
Chen Mu: “…”
What in the world is this mess!
…
Whoo…
As they were chatting,
a long, mournful cry suddenly came from somewhere.
The chaotic crowd on the riverbank quieted down and looked up at the sky together.
A black and white streak of light suddenly burst from within a cloud in the sky,
and with a loud crash, it landed on the riverbank. It turned out to be Director Song from the Minor Supervision Court.
Somehow, he employed a method to make his voice resonate loud and clear.
“Everyone pack up your belongings and prepare to board the Ling Boat.”
No sooner had his voice faded than another long cry echoed from the horizon.
The cloud from which Director Song had just emerged started to descend,
spreading outwards as it fell.
In no time, the clouds thinned and vanished from sight.
A huge shadow, resembling a greenish-brown bat, appeared before everyone.
Is this the Ling Boat?
Chen Mu’s scalp tingled involuntarily.
A massive object, comparable in size to a football field, slowly descended onto the surface of the Tongtian River, stirring up gusts of air that fluttered the clothes of all around.
If it were not for Liang Yi standing in the front, perhaps some might have already run away!
Even so, Chen Mu himself still felt his legs go weak.
Upon close observation, noticing many signs of modification, he was sure this was something like the Ling Boat,
a gigantic Flying Artifact crafted from the body of an Exotic Beast or monster.
Thankfully, it was dead.
Chen Mu felt a sense of relief.
If this creature were alive, it could probably finish him off with a single breath!
Amidst his shock, Chen Mu couldn’t help but feel thrilled.
He had strived in his cultivation, endured hardships, and made it step by step to this day,
wasn’t it to witness the wonders of this world?
Having seen such a peculiar aspect of the world today, he was convinced that there would be more to witness in the future.
With this thought, Chen Mu couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.