Lijiang Guard City, Yongtong District.
Chen Mu had just finished practicing the White Ape Shape Cultivation Technique and rested in the rocking chair under the pavilion.
In his left hand, he held a wooden cup brimming with mixed milk tea, while his right index finger tapped the armrest of the rocking chair.
A black spot the size of a fat soybean appeared on the back of his right hand.
“Soul Strength is accumulating too slowly,” Chen Mu shook his head.
To enhance the speed of Soul cultivation, he ate a balanced diet of meat and vegetables daily, consuming a large amount of high-nutrition food specially prepared for easy absorption.
During this period, he also took various soups and medicines that supplemented Vital Energy in precise amounts.
Yet, after half a year had passed, the Soul Strength in the soles of his feet had increased by less than ten percent. Without close inspection, one could barely even notice a change!
“Something’s not right,” Chen Mu frowned.
“Why does Soul Strength suddenly surge in a large amount at the moment of successful Shape Cultivation Technique?”
“But the subsequent expansion requires nurturing it bit by bit.”
“The speed of their emergence is not the same!” Chen Mu’s eyes brightened.
If he could understand the principle behind it, perhaps he could find a method to quickly cultivate his Shell Soul!
He thought about it and then shook his head: “Better to keep practicing peacefully for now.”
The Shape Cultivation Technique has a history of an unknown number of years. If there truly were secret methods regarding this, one would have heard of them even if they were kept very hidden.
“It’s a pity that old man Jie isn’t here,” Chen Mu thought of the old man again.
Although he was always after money, he certainly knew a lot.
…
Lijiang Tower.
Zhuo Yinghai stood by the window on the third floor, looking out over the vast Lijiang River.
“Master Zhuo, long time no see!” A short, fat, dark-skinned, burly man in his forties walked into the private room laughing heartily.
“Master Li,” Zhuo Yinghai responded with a forced smile.
This man was Li Jun, the chieftain of the Startling Swan Gang’s Overturning Sea Hall and one of the external chieftains stationed by the gang.
“I heard that Feng’er had an accident?” Li Jun asked with concern.
“That’s why I’m here,” Zhuo Yinghai said gravely.
Li Jun frowned deeply, “The culprit is in Lijiang Guard City? Do you have any information on their identity?”
Zhuo Yinghai nodded, and an underling immediately took out a scroll and unfurled it.
After a brief glance, Li Jun took it and passed it to his follower: “Investigate this person.”
“Thank you very much!” Zhuo Yinghai thanked him with a fist and palm salute.
Li Jun waved his hand dismissively, “No need for such formalities. With our relationship, it’s the least I can do.”
“Rest assured. With the face I have in Lijiang City, both publicly and in the shadows, if this person comes to Lijiang Guard City, I will surely find them for you!”
“Come to my place to settle down first, and once we have news of this person, I’ll accompany you to meet them,” said Li Jun with a stern voice.
Zhuo Yinghai thanked him again with a fist and palm salute.
…
Chen Residence in Yongtong District.
Chen Mu took advantage of a break in his Shape Cultivation practice to begin taking an inventory of his family’s assets.
“Only five thousand three hundred and twenty-nine taels of silver and eleven Gold Cakes left. It goes so quickly.”
“Money not earned by oneself is indeed spent without much care,” Chen Mu tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Paying rent for the numerous properties was one thing, but the most significant expense was for medicinal herbs, Shape Cultivation Secret Medicine, and various supplements.
A hundred-year Bearded Grass cost more than a hundred taels per portion, and a two-hundred-year-old portion was three hundred taels.
To replenish Vital Energy and nourish his Soul, Chen Mu had to use two to three portions of two-hundred-year Bearded Grass each month.
“Cultivating Soul Strength really does cost a fortune,” Chen Mu sighed.
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It was hard to imagine just how many resources had been poured into those experts with high-level Shell Souls.
To describe it as a vast sea would not be an exaggeration at all.
“Can’t the hidden dangers of the Dragon Transformation Pill really be eliminated?” Chen Mu couldn’t help but waver.
“Forget it, I mustn’t be driven by the desire for quick success and cut short my future prospects,” Chen Mu shook his head.
He was still very interested in what lay beyond Shell Soul, in opening the Heavenly Gates.
Packing away the silver notes and copper coins, Chen Mu moved a long table under the pavilion and, after a long absence, picked up his brush to start painting.
In a short while, an abstract pattern, connected by dots and lines, was completed.
“Everyone says the Divine Intent Diagram is the core of Shape Cultivation Technique, but what in the world is this Divine Intent Diagram actually?”
He drew out the Divine Intent Diagram of the Blue-eyed Golden Ape Shape Cultivation Technique, and Chen Mu stared at the two seemingly meaningless abstract paintings, pondering.
After a long while, Chen Mu sighed, “Just as I thought, I can’t make anything out.”
“Might as well just eat and nourish my Soul Strength honestly.”
His eyes habitually glanced at his Proficiency.
He discovered his drawing ability had only increased by two points.
What does this mean? Chen Mu was utterly confused.
In the past, when he brushed up on his image Proficiency, even if he casually drew a big-headed cartoon, he would gain five or six points of Proficiency.
“Are you saying my drawing doesn’t resemble it?” Chen Mu looked at the Divine Intent Diagram as if deep in thought.
“This is kinda interesting huh…”
…
Inside a five-yard mansion by the riverside, Li Jun was having tea with Zhuo Yinghai in the parlour.
Zhuo Yinghai’s expression was listless, unable to muster any enthusiasm.
Five days had passed without a sliver of news; he was close to giving up hope.
Indeed, how could someone capable of withstanding the agony of flesh and bone transplantation leave such a conspicuous mistake.
They said he came to Lijiang City, but he probably left immediately after disembarking.
Li Jun also didn’t know what to say. His old friend had lost his son; all he could do was to intensify the search.
Yet, the results were disappointing.
Just then, a subordinate dashed in with urgency, kneeling on one knee and saluting, “Hall Master, we’ve found him!”
“Speak quickly!” Zhuo Yinghai jumped to his feet.
He had thought it was searching for a needle in a haystack but had not expected an actual discovery.
“The clerk from the County Government Office said that more than a month ago, a scholar named Chen Jia rented a house in Yongtong District.”
“His details were registered with the help of a clerk from the Xue Family trading office.”
“That person also hails from Liangpu County.”
Zhuo Yinghai’s face lit up with excitement.
It matched— the name, the place of origin, the timing; all matched!
He was about to head to Yongtong District right away.
But Li Jun hurriedly stopped him.
“Even if we go, we can’t go now. Your condition is really not suitable,” Li Jun said, looking at the bloodshot eyes of the other.
“If that person is still there after more than a month, then he’ll continue to stay.”
“What you need to do is get a good night’s sleep and build up your strength. It also conveniently gives me time to gather experts for a decisive ambush.”
Zhuo Yinghai took a deep breath and stopped in his tracks, “You’re right. We can’t alert the prey. We need to build up our strength and strike decisively!”
…
Yongtong District, Chen Residence.
Chen Mu stared intently at the Divine Intent Diagram laid out on the long table.
“Even the freehand drawing technique is not right,” Chen Mu puzzled.
He had thought that the Divine Intent Diagram, this kind of mysterious doodle, should emphasize spirit over form.
So he changed his drawing technique.
He himself felt he had done a good job, clearly expressing the vague, hazy, dynamic sensation.
But the Proficiency didn’t increase at all.
“This is getting more interesting,” said Chen Mu, his interest piqued.
The drawing ability originated from his earliest self-portraits. Proficiency improvement involves multiple aspects: drawing technique, paper, pigments.
But the most important aspect is resemblance. This is related to Chen Mu’s initial intention behind drawing portraits.
He wanted to create paintings that were as lifelike as three-dimensional photographs, the more realistic, the better. Hence, the drawing skill is linked to resemblance.
The more the drawing resembled, the more Proficiency increased.
“Could it be that my Divine Intent Diagram is a fake?!” Chen Mu felt his brain getting numb.
“What’s the deal with the Divine Intent Diagram in the manual?”
He immediately took out the Blue-eyed Golden Ape Shape Cultivation Technique and started to copy the chaotic pattern at the end of the manual.
“It only increased by one point?”
“Oh boy.”
“This is definitely a fake!”