Yun Bat, originally an exotic beast of the sea, could both dive into the water and soar the skies. Beneath its pair of bluish-grey flesh wings were countless air holes, which allowed it to control cloud energy and ride upon mist and rosy clouds.
After it was captured and killed, its abdomen was hollowed out and imbued with talismans, allowing it to carry both people and objects as it flew through the sky and dived into water.
The Yun Bat flying vessel that Chen Mu boarded had cost Jilong Road a great amount of money to purchase from the Thousand Mechanisms Sect.
The flying vessel had three layers.
The bottom layer held cargo.
The middle layer was divided into small compartments by screens, each equipped with two or three soft couches, enough for seven or eight people.
The top layer was refined and luxurious, reserved only for those who had broken through illusions and had cultivated mana.
Wuu…
Accompanied by a prolonged cry, white clouds of smoke suddenly burst forth from rows of black holes located beneath the wings of the Yun Bat.
After a slight vibration, the massive Yun Bat flying vessel slowly floated up into midair.
On the second layer, in a compartment by the window.
Chen Mu and Old Hao leaned against the round jade window, gazing at the smooth bluestone ground that was becoming increasingly distant below them.
This was already their fourth day away from Heavenly River District.
The Yun Bat flying vessel had reached the Upper Court of Jilong Road, reportedly to pick up passengers.
Before long, Shang Huan hurried into the compartment.
“I’ve found out, they’re picking up an elder with the surname Sun.”
“He’s also brought hundreds of Upper Court disciples aboard.”
“Now our Director Song can’t play the role of director anymore,” Shang Huan whispered close to them.
“Who becomes the director has nothing to do with small folks like us,” said Old Hao leisurely, puffing on a cigarette. “Whoever we farm for, it’s all the same.”
Chen Mu strongly agreed.
“It’s a shame Brother Mo has returned to the Upper Court,” Shang Huan sighed. “There goes my business.”
“But isn’t there still Liang Yi of the Minor Supervision Court?” asked Old Hao, puzzled.
“He was merely giving face to Brother Mo. A Condensing Aperture expert doesn’t care about a mere thousand or so White Jade Coins a month,” explained Shang Huan, shaking his head.
“But finding a new backer is hard,” Shang Huan sighed.
“Didn’t you say there were hundreds of Upper Court disciples arriving? Among them, there must be some skilled in Perceptive Illusion Breaking. If you look carefully, you’ll surely find a new backer,” Chen Mu casually suggested.
“I’m just afraid they’ll make exorbitant demands, swallowing us whole, skin and bones,” Shang Huan said anxiously.
“Why didn’t you ask Brother Mo to recommend someone?” Chen Mu inquired.
“I did,” Shang Huan replied, looking dejected. “He told me to find Mr. Gongsun.”
“But this Mr. Gongsun is like a mouse, always hiding and showing only bits of himself. How am I supposed to find him?”
Hiding and showing bits of himself?
A mouse?
Chen Mu looked blankly at Shang Huan.
Fatso, I’ll remember you!
…
“Oh right, Brother Chen, Brother Mo had a message for you before he left,” Shang Huan suddenly said, slapping his forehead. “He said if your matter is successful, you can go directly to Liang Yi of the Minor Supervision Court.”
He then looked at Chen Mu curiously: “What is it? Why would you need to see Liang Yi of the Minor Supervision Court?”
Chen Mu squinted and said, “Nothing much, just got a new job.”
Old Monk Hao and Shang Huan exchanged glances, both startled.
What kind of job could possibly involve the Minor Supervision Court?
They had spent a good amount of time together daily, yet they had heard no inkling of this before.
In their eyes, Chen Mu suddenly became shrouded in mystery.
Chen Mu just smiled and did not explain, instead turning to look out the window at the Upper Court of Jilong Road.
Though he had no intention of keeping secrets, given that alchemy was a high-profit job, he still chose not to broadcast it widely.
The Yun Bat surged with white mist, rising higher and higher.
A giant square, as large as four football fields, came into full view.
The square was paved with green stones. On the south side, there stood orderly stone buildings, seemingly a market district.
To the north, there were lofty mountains that reached into the clouds.
On the lush green mountains, blue-tiled rooftops with up-tilted eaves occasionally peeked out, while white jade staircases flickered in and out of sight.
“It’s a pity we can’t disembark,” Chen Mu lamented.
He wondered if he would ever have the chance to visit the Upper Court of Jilong Road again.
Wuu…
With another long cry.
The Yun Bat, surrounded by swirling mist, flew diagonally upwards with a tail of cloud smoke, breaking through the cloud layer.
His wings trembled slightly, stabilizing his form, and with rolling white streams of energy, he vanished into the horizon.
…
Half a month later.
In the extreme eastern part of Yunzhou, a continuous range of mountains stretched from south to north, known as East Ridge.
The peaks were steep, shrouded in mists and clouds all year round, with occasional flashes of light soaring through the sky. It was said amongst mortals that immortals dwelled there.
In the depths of East Ridge stood a mountain that soared high into the clouds, named Jade Spring Mountain.
At the foot of Jade Spring Mountain, five or six Low Mountains formed a ring, enclosing a vast basin plain.
Along the edge of the basin, at the base of Jade Spring Mountain, there were rows of hastily constructed wooden huts.
Inside the wooden hut.
Chen Mu held the Primordial Alchemy Furnace and slowly opened his eyes.
Wind Fire Pivot Charm: 5037/10000;
“Proficiency is more than half; I should be able to try alchemy.”
“But the success rate, I’m guessing, won’t be high.”
“Moreover, even if I can succeed, I can’t let Liang Yi see it; it’s too quick,” Chen Mu mused with narrowed eyes.
He had indirectly confirmed several times before that Mo Wuzhou spent half a year just to master the Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique.
If I can make Fasting Pills in less than half a year, what if someone becomes suspicious and starts investigating me?
Just as he was considering which day to visit Liang Yi, a clamorous noise came from outside the wooden hut.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but push open the window to look out.
An old man in his fifties with a goat beard was holding a book, knocking on the doors of each hut in turn to ask questions, while occasionally making some notes.
Many people stepped out of their huts, leaning against their doorframes with great interest to watch.
“It looks like there’s no need to wait; I have to go today.”
The old man was documenting the ranks of the Lower Courtyard’s disciples to facilitate coordinated deployment.
I have already mastered Perceptive Illusion Breaking, which isn’t suitable to be revealed in front of a large crowd.
It would be better to change my status through Liang Yi instead.
Apart from a few acquaintances, it wouldn’t cause too much of a stir.
…
Jade Spring Mountain towered into the clouds, with pavilions lining its summit continuously, as if reclining on the clouds.
The golden sun bathed the sea of clouds, making the mountain’s summit seem like a fairyland.
To the west side of the mountain top was a pine forest, hiding two wooden buildings, one large and one small, in its midst.
Inside the living room of the smaller wooden building, Chen Mu’s right hand was directed toward a grey cloth bag on the ground.
Five Elements Qi Absorption!
Humm!
The Yellow Bud Rice inside the bag trembled, as wisps of white powder rose like steam, gathering into a ball in the palm of Chen Mu’s hand.
A quarter of an hour later.
Chen Mu stopped the Qi Absorbing Technique and placed a fist-sized ball of Essence of the Five Grains into the brown wooden box on the side table next to him.
Then, with a face full of shame, he clasped his hands together in respect and said, “Minor Supervision Court, my skills are not refined. Out of a hundred pounds, I can only extract six or seven pounds. I am ashamed.”
“The master was not mistaken; you do have a talent for alchemy,” Liang Yi exclaimed and then shook his head, “What a pity…”
Chen Mu’s heart skipped a beat.
“I will arrange for you to join the Administrative Affairs Institute’s Pill Treasure Pavilion to work in alchemy.”
“But as for the Daoist Cultivation accumulation plan, you’ll have to comply with arrangements from other sectors. Even the master can’t make much change,” Liang Yi spoke calmly.
Chen Mu’s heart sank all at once.
An unexpected turn had occurred with the alchemy cultivation plan?!
“You must have seen it; Jade Spring Mountain is dense with Vital Energy, the Earth Vein Spiritual Spring here is just too good,” Liang Yi lamented. “This place is no longer the Lower Courtyard, it has become a branch of Jilong Road for Jade Spring Mountain.”
Chen Mu came to a realization.
To be called a branch meant that the environment here, even if not quite on par with the Upper Court, was not far behind.
Jade Spring Mountain was too big a pie for Song Wujie to eat alone; it required the collective effort of many.
With more people involved, the affairs of the branch would need to be deliberated collectively.
Chen Mu’s expression turned grim.
He had wanted to quietly cultivate alchemy and accumulate Daoist Cultivation without expecting such a sudden change.
“But as the Minor Supervision Court arranges,” Chen Mu said respectfully, clasping his hands together.
He understood that being placed into the Pill Treasure Pavilion was compensation for the previous Daoist Cultivation matter.
No matter whether he accepted it or not, the situation had become unchangeable.
