The next day, Chen Mu’s cave abode.
The alchemist cultivation room was situated near the cliff’s outer side, spanning forty to fifty square meters – nearly as large as three bedrooms in an ordinary family home from his previous life.
To the south, there were two windows with hard Qing jade embedded above, allowing the light to shine through and making the room exceptionally bright.
Chen Mu hadn’t yet furnished the room with cabinets or furniture. The only thing there, near the windows, was a long, cushioned couch.
Sitting cross-legged beside the couch, Chen Mu focused on his practice.
On a low table next to him, a fist-sized bronze incense burner stood in the center, its barely visible Calming Pill smoke slowly wafting through the air.
Chen Mu held the Five Qi Primordial Furnace in one hand and activated the Wind Fire Pivot Charm, sending a strand of mana into the pill furnace.
Clank!
A faint ring of light flashed over the seam where the round lid met the furnace.
The lid, which had appeared fused with the furnace, separated, and Chen Mu effortlessly lifted it by its round twist.
“Open and close to control the lid,” he muttered.
“Cold and heat for regulating temperature,” he continued.
“Qi Forbidden to control internal pressure,” he added.
“Ignoring its last ability, to emit thunderous sounds — isn’t this just an otherworldly magic artifact version of a pressure cooker?” Chen Mu wore an odd expression.
“Tsk tsk… this will make stewing meat much more convenient.”
He glanced at the gray wall, noting his experience.
Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique: 2493/10000/Third Rank;
Five Qi Primordial Technique: 1696/10000/Second Rank;
Wind Fire Pivot Charm: 6627/10000;
Golden Bead Talisman: Limit;
Five Grains Talisman: Limit;
Chen Mu felt an itch to try something new.
“Refine a furnace?” he pondered.
After some thought, Chen Mu shook his head.
“Better play it safe. In at most half a month, the Wind Fire Pivot Charm should reach Perfection.”
“By then, I’ll be more adept at the Five Qi Primordial Technique, and the success rate for trying will be a bit higher.”
“Can’t just bury myself in diligent practice either. I need to find out more about the exchange mechanism for Daoist cultivation,” Chen Mu mused to himself.
He had come to Jade Spring Mountain precisely to accrue Daoist cultivation points in exchange for Secret Techniques.
His meeting with Pavilion Master Zhu was just a brief introduction.
As for the operation rules of the Pill Treasure Pavilion, he was completely in the dark.
“It’s a shame Mo Wuzhou has returned to the Upper Court.”
Without this acquaintance, gathering information would be somewhat troublesome.
“Should I go to Pavilion Master Zhu?” Chen Mu shook his head.
Being granted an audience with him was probably only due to Liang Yi’s influence.
“Maybe I could seek out that old servant of Pavilion Master Zhu.”
That man, always by Zhu Yi’s side, had seen and heard much and surely knew a lot.
Moreover, with his low cultivation, there was no fear of him causing any trouble.
As he was wondering when to visit, his ears, bolstered by the Truthful Listening Technique, suddenly heard footsteps that were drawing closer.
Chen Mu looked down through the window.
On the five-meter-high stone staircase leading to the entrance of the cave, a two-meter-tall portly figure was laboriously climbing step by step.
The corners of Chen Mu’s mouth instantly curled up.
…
Shang Huan stood in front of a black arched double door.
Taking a deep breath and straightening his clothes, he bowed with fists clasped and respectfully said, “Is Brother Chen at home?”
“My name is Shang Huan, here on Mr. Gongsun’s orders to pay a visit.”
Creak.
The sound of the wooden door hinges rotating began, and the arched door slowly swung open.
As the wooden door parted and the sound of the wind whistling from beside the cliff filled his ears, Shang Huan’s scalp involuntarily tightened.
Thinking that this person might be friends with the possibly neurotic Gongsun Sheng, a sense of dread began to rise within him.
This Brother Chen with the surname Chen, he couldn’t possibly be another oddball, could he?!
Grinding his teeth fiercely, Shang Huan stepped in tentatively and trembling.
As he entered, before he could take in the layout of the room,
Bang!
The wooden door behind him suddenly closed.
Already nervous, Shang Huan was instantly shaken with fright.
All was silent, no one in sight. The other party remained quiet, and Shang Huan didn’t dare speak. For a moment, the silence within was so palpable you could hear a pin drop.
“What brings you here?” asked a calm voice after a long while, coming from a room on the right.
Tense all over, Shang Huan breathed a sigh of relief.
Swiftly circling the screen by the doorway, he came to the entrance of the right-side room and respectfully bowed towards the tightly shut door.
Then, taking a deep breath, his expression changed dramatically, filled with panic as he shouted, “Brother, save me!”
Chen Mu: “…”
“`
This sudden scare, damn near gave me a heart attack!
“Senior Brother, I’m just an honest small-time businessman, earning hard-earned money. I’ve also taken care of various matters.”
“Some people, however, are immensely greedy and exploit their Perceptive Spiritual Light Cultivation to make others cause trouble for us, trying to take everything for themselves!”
“We’re just a bunch of ordinary Lower Courtyard disciples, how could we withstand their schemes.”
“I had no choice but to come and bother Senior Brother.”
“Mr. Gongsun has praised you many times, saying that Senior Brother is eager to do good and often helps those in trouble, just like timely rain,” Shang Huan said earnestly and sincerely.
“Senior Brother, you’ve got to save my life!”
Chen Mu’s face twitched.
Eager to do good and timely rain?
Hei Songsan?
This fatso can really spin a tall tale!
“What’s in it for me,” Chen Mu said indifferently, pretending to be solely driven by profit.
Shang Huan’s expression brightened.
Wanting benefits? Then this matter could be settled!
Shang Huan stated candidly.
“Jade Spring Mountain is about to be reclaimed, and living in the wild is tough, with various poisonous insects causing trouble—it’s particularly bothersome.”
“I have a good friend who offers an Insect Repellent Prescription. Light it and smoke it for outstanding effects.”
“One batch lasts a month, and it’s one White Jade Coin per batch.”
“With Senior Brother’s support, no one else would dare to compete for this business. In this way, we could make a profit of about fifteen hundred White Jade Coins a month.”
“If Senior Brother is willing to lend a hand, I will surely present five hundred White Jade Coins each month!” Enjoy new tales from empire
That’s already more than thirty percent profit!
“Not enough,” Chen Mu’s voice remained flat.
Disaster!
Shang Huan’s heart suddenly clenched.
This guy seemed somewhat greedy!
He quickly calculated the increase in the number of Lower Courtyard disciples and the distribution of benefits:
If this person could guarantee the safety of the business, letting me expand with peace of mind, even giving him half wouldn’t matter!
After realizing this, Shang Huan gritted his teeth and said, “Senior Brother, fifty percent of the profits, at least eight hundred White Jade Coins a month, how about that?”
“Not enough,” Chen Mu’s voice was still flat.
This…
“Eighty percent?”
“Still not enough!”
Shang Huan’s pupils suddenly shrank!
This bastard wants it all?!
He couldn’t help but think of some unsavory rumors.
It was said that some Lower Courtyard enforcers, relying on their Perceptive Illusion Breaking Cultivation, would brazenly plunder the assets of the lowest-ranked disciples, greedy and ruthless.
The persecuted disciples lost not just their wealth, but their lives were also at risk!
I’ve walked right into the tiger’s den!
But what could he do? He had only just managed to cultivate the Jade Seed. Maybe this bastard could snuff out his life with just a breath.
Damn Gongsun Sheng!
“Whatever Senior Brother deems fit, I will follow,” Shang Huan said respectfully.
“Are you sincere?”
Damn right, I’m not!
Shang Huan cursed inwardly but had to maintain a serious and sincere expression.
“My heart is as clear as the sun and the moon, at Senior Brother’s disposal!”
“Hmm… then do the splits for me,” Chen Mu replied.
Shang Huan: “…”
What the hell kind of request is this?!
“What, you’re not willing?” Chen Mu feigned discontent.
Shang Huan instantly tensed up, “Willing willing willing!”
He immediately spread his legs and with a snap, did the splits right in the doorway.
A sharp pain immediately shot up from the inside of his thighs, causing Shang Huan’s large round face to turn beet red.
Although he had achieved Perfection with the Jade Seed and had even started cultivating the Spiritual Light, his body had been transformed into something monstrous through secret techniques.
But no matter how strong or fast he was, doing the splits still hurt!
This bastard is definitely a pervert!
“Senior Brother, how is my performance?”
Creak.
The tightly shut door slowly opened.
Shang Huan quickly managed his expression, showing a sycophantic smile on his face.
But that smile had only risen halfway when he saw a familiar figure on the soft couch inside the room, looking at him with a seemingly amused gaze.
Shang Huan immediately stiffened, his eyes bulging and his mouth wide open.
“Holy shit!”
“`