Qingfeng Observatory’s back mountain.
A nest of black-skinned wild boars rolled in the mud.
Chen Mu emerged from the forest, startling the family of two adults and three younglings.
One of the larger black boars, with fanged teeth protruding and nostrils flaring, stared curiously at Chen Mu.
Puff!
A fist-sized clod of earth suddenly exploded on the big black boar’s forehead.
The big black boar was dazed.
Puff!
Another clod of earth exploded.
Puff puff puff…
Now, the family of five was thoroughly covered with dirt, all with dusty faces.
This two-legged sheep is too arrogant!
Does the Second Brother have no temper?
No way this could be tolerated!
The family of five charged with snorting and puffing.
Wild boars weighing three or four hundred pounds, tough-skinned and meaty, with sharp fanged teeth.
When they charged, even lions and tigers had to give way.
Five wild boars, like little tanks, rushed towards Chen Mu.
Just as the wild boars approached four meters in front of him.
Puff!
A handful of brilliant red smoke bizarrely appeared, precisely aimed in front of the black pig’s nostrils.
Plop!
The five black boars’ front legs weakened, and their heads plunged headfirst into the mud.
Due to inertia, they flipped over in mid-air, ears and tongues flying messily.
After landing, they struggled to stop, rolling right up to Chen Mu’s feet.
They lay in a heap, unconscious and snoring heavily.
Chen Mu couldn’t help clenching his fist.
“Success!”
Inside the Five Ghosts Bag, at the very bottom of the egg-shaped shelf, all storage compartments were sealed with waterproof oilcloth and tree resin, ensuring not even a hint of air could escape.
At this moment, it was filled with thick red smoke—upgraded Mesmerizing Divine Smoke!
The original Mesmerizing Divine Smoke was colorless and odorless, highlighting its stealth.
But the upgraded Mesmerizing Divine Smoke, not only festive in color, but also rich in scent.
However, its power was stronger, its onset swifter, and those affected dropped instantly!
Right in front of him, the Second Brother was proof.
Chen Mu grinned as he surveyed the family of five.
“Should it be braised, or grilled…”
…
“Head, we’ve found that scholar!” a government official whispered to Lu Jin.
“Finally found him!” Lu Jin said excitedly.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed with excitement.
It took a while before he regained his composure, tossed a few silver pieces to the official, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
As the official left with profuse thanks, Lu Jin briskly exited the yamen.
…
Towards evening, Lu Jin quietly approached a house.
The light inside was dim, and a figure sat in the shadows.
Lu Jin’s joy could no longer be contained.
This was his hope for cultivating Soul Strength!
Shape Cultivation for ten years, soul nourishment for a hundred.
Shape Cultivation was difficult enough, but nurturing the soul was even more challenging!
But now, a shortcut lay before him!
Once he cultivated Soul Strength, he could extend his lifespan, and be impervious to swords, truly able to dominate the world!
“Scholar, obediently become the nourishment for my advancement!”
Drawing his waist knife, Lu Jin summoned all his strength and with a thunderous sound, burst through the wooden door.
He lunged towards the figure sitting at the table.
…
South of Qingshan County, by the Bailang River.
At a river bend, the placid surface teemed with silver flashes of fish.
Chen Mu sat on a riverside stone.
A puff of black smoke appeared and disappeared beside him.
Every so often, the smoke plunged into the water.
And each time, a large swath of fish disappeared.
Inside the Five Ghosts Bag.
In the center of the egg-shaped shelf was a vertical shaft a meter in diameter, filled with unconscious live fish—a feeding chute left for the Five Ghosts Bag.
The shelves and tents merely prevented stealing; he still had to feed.
“It’s time to go,” Chen Mu noted as he glanced at the setting sun.
For over half a month, he’d practiced Shape Cultivation Technique in the morning and stayed by the Bailang River in the afternoon to train the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse.
Continuous control of the Five Ghosts Bag caused Chen Mu’s head to throb in pain.
“What does the Five Ghosts Bag consume? Is it Vital Energy, Divine Energy, or Soul Force?” Chen Mu wondered with a pale face and lingering fear.
At first, he had no idea and trained relentlessly. He nearly passed out from overexertion.
Ghostly paper dolls are like invisible hands that consume physical strength. Controlling the Five Ghosts Bag, on the other hand, depletes something more mysterious.
If used excessively, he would be left feeling languid and mentally disturbed.
So each time he practiced, Chen Mu always conserved as much as possible.
Summoning the black smoke, he didn’t wait for the paper dolls to materialize and immediately dispersed it.
That’s why the smoke always lingered around him.
Looking at his reflection in the water, with dark circles, pale face, and eyes excitedly bloodshot, he resembled his former self staying up all night playing games.
“Playing games never made practicing skills this exhilarating,” Chen Mu said, tired yet excited.
“`
Reciting a few curse phrases, black smoke whooshed through the air. That feedback, no game could compare!
After grinding for half a month, his proficiency skyrocketed.
While the Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Curse had yet to break through the Second Rank, he had successfully reduced its time to under ten seconds, making it quicker and more covert.
With a small bamboo basket high on his back and knees, he put in seven or eight fish to deceive onlookers.
Chen Mu followed the Bailang River towards the southeast direction of Little East Mountain.
…
Boom!
Lu Jin, the head constable, charged in like an enraged wild boar.
But he was sent flying out like a rag doll.
A expressionless burly man walked out of the wooden hut.
The man wore black trousers and a sweatshirt, his bare arms carved with muscle like they were sculpted by knives and axes.
Lu Jin stared intently at that familiar face, and with a flash of insight, he couldn’t help but think of the severe injury he suffered a year ago.
“It’s you! The prime villain in the Wang family massacre!”
“Weren’t you dead?!”
Lu Jin’s face was a mask of horror. Who was the beheaded person? How could the two look so similar?
“Lu Jin, you are certainly cautious enough.”
“I’ve followed you for half a year, finally catching you alone.”
Lu Jin’s complexion changed.
This person was related to the criminal and had been lying in wait with intent… danger was imminent!
“Attacking civilians in the dead of night.”
“Head Constable Lu, are you about to commit another murder for the sake of vile desires?” the muscular man mocked with a laugh.
“Qingshan County’s head constable is a homicidal maniac, huh!”
Lu Jin’s scalp instantly tightened, “He knows! How does he know?!”
“With Qingfeng Observatory on Little East Mountain, I dare not touch you, but here in Qingshan County Town, and you’re all by yourself, heh…” The burly man’s face held a cat-playing-with-a-mouse grin.
“This is trouble!” Lu Jin’s heart sank.
Caught by surprise earlier, he had already been injured from taking a direct hit.
If the fight continued, even attrition could kill me!
“I can’t stay in the town, I must find a way to look for Cheng Yi!” Lu Jin steeled his heart.
He took out a Five Qi Pill, stuffing it into his mouth with a pained expression.
His blood and qi surged instantly, his face flushing with engorged blood.
Lifting his waist knife high, he yelled out loud and turned to run!
…
Entering December, the weather in Qingshan County cooled down, but it was not as cold as the interior of Da Liang, where evergreens still thrived.
On the long stone bridge that spanned the river, Chen Mu stood leisurely.
Appreciating the greenery-laden hillsides along the banks of the Bailang River, his wilted spirit was somewhat soothed.
He would always stand on the bridge to rest for a moment before returning home each day, easing the tension in his mind.
“With such picturesque scenery, if not for the troubles caused by ghosts and human disasters, living in Qingshan County would actually be quite nice.”
He aspired to be the Sword Deity of the Ten Mile Slope, but alas…
Chen Mu turned his head to look toward the eastern side of the bridge.
The broad road that extended out led directly to Little East Mountain.
Little East Mountain was lush and green, but on the eastern slope, there was a conspicuous yellow patch.
That was where the altar stood, with the vegetation around it cleared away.
Chen Mu shook his head looking at the yellow spot, “It’s a pity that Qingshan County always hides dangers.”
“I should start preparing the supplies tomorrow,” Chen Mu thought, patting the bridge railing.
At that moment, a muscular man approached from afar.
The man was carrying another man on his back, whose hair was disheveled and sleeves stained with blood.
Apparently not expecting someone on the bridge, the muscular man paused, then resumed his walk as if nothing was amiss.
Chen Mu’s face showed a look of curiosity, but he did not speak up. In these unsafe times, kindness did not always lead to good outcomes.
Considering their direction, they were probably seeking medical help in the city. Were they laborers who worked on the altar?
In an ancient era with undeveloped productivity, constructing a large-scale altar was bound to result in heavy casualties and injuries.
Noticing the man’s gaze, Chen Mu, filled with pity, nodded in greeting.
The muscular man paused, then responded with a nod and a bitter smile.
“Fell off the mountain and nearly lost his life. I’m carrying him back to see his kid for the last time,” the muscular man explained with a wry smile.
Chen Mu’s heart clenched at the fragility of life, “Condolences.”
The muscular man sighed and walked past Chen Mu with his burden.
Chen Mu watched their retreating figures, shaking his head helplessly.
He wanted to help, but was powerless to do so.
If he couldn’t ensure his own safety, how could he help others?
Chen Mu turned to leave.
Sights like these were exactly what he dreaded witnessing in the human world.
But after a few steps, he could not help but stop.
Compared to those at the bottom, he had an “advantage”, didn’t lack for food or drink, had martial arts to practice, and had even acquired a mysterious magic artifact recently.
He was far too fortunate!
“If I hadn’t seen it, that would be one thing, but having encountered it… It might not be much, but I can still offer some help.”
“I’m not just helping others; I’m also easing my own heart.”
With this thought, Chen Mu reached into his sleeve, turned back, and threw something.
Woosh!
An Iron Lotus Seed broke through the air, carrying a spiral flow, and arrived instantly at the head of the bridge.
Clang!
Two small arm-length sabers crossed and slashed in midair.
The Iron Lotus Seed was shattered by a strike, sending sparks flying.
Ha!
Chen Mu retracted his hand and burst into loud laughter!
Heh!
The muscular man slowly lowered his sabers, revealing a fierce grin.
“`