Chapter 63: Chapter 59 The Murderer Ghost Face! The Fourth Boss of the Black Cavalry Gang! (Begging for First Subscription) 2
Following this, Su Changkong’s brow immediately furrowed. For starters, many of the medicinal ingredients required for the Qi-Blood Pill were ones Su Changkong had never even heard of, such as blood insect grass, which turns into a dormant insect in winter. Just by the name, one could tell it was extraordinarily precious, and it was likely not to be found in Ginseng Manor, let alone anywhere in Clearwater City.
Not only that, even if there were enough medicinal ingredients, an alchemist would be needed to refine them into pills, which demands no small skill in alchemy!
“I’ll think about it when I have money,” Su Changkong said helplessly, memorizing the formula for the Qi-Blood Pill. For now, he would focus on training and making money-there was still ample room for improvement in his strength!
His physique could hardly be further strengthened, but his mastery of inner strength and blade technique could still accumulate and progress steadily.
A week passed, and on his day off, Su Changkong got up early as usual, practiced the Five Animal Frolics, then left for Clearwater City. On the way, he used the Turtle Breath Shrinkage to disguise himself, transforming from a tall young man to the reserved-lookingyoung adult “Wen Tai.”
In Clearwater City, at the Prefecture Yamen, with the prior advice from Wang Yun, Su Changkong successfully entered and met with Wang Yun.
“Mr. Wang, how goes the intelligence gathering?” Su Changkong got straight to the point. Wang Yun was in a hurry to tackle the growth of the Black Lotus Sect in Clearwater City, and Su Changkong likewise wanted to earn money! “Hmm, Mr. Wen, please take a look at this.”
With that, Wang Yun took out a scroll from the desk drawer and handed it over to Su Changkong.
Black Moon Superior, real name unknown, a member of the Black Lotus Sect had cured the bedridden Family Head of the Liu Clan in Fengxi Town with a charm a fortnight ago, and was worshiped by the town’s villagers as a deity. He has amassed considerable wealth, spread his faith, and deceived the ignorant populace. He is accompanied by four disciples, all suspected to have no small martial arts cultivation.”
This scroll contained detailed information on a member of the Black Lotus Sect. “The Black Moon Superior, huh?” Su Changkong carefully read through the intelligence on the scroll and nodded slightly, “Then I shall make a trip to Fengxi Town.”
“I wish you a favorable journey, Mr. Wen!” Wang Yun bowed his hands in courtesy.
Su Changkong didn’t delay and set off for Fengxi Town.
Fengxi Town, located about a hundred miles north of Clearwater City, would take one to two days of walking for an average person.
For Su Changkong, with his speed and endurance, a hundred-mile distance was merely a leisurely walk. Maintaining a steady pace of more than ten meters per second, it took him only an hour to cover the hundred miles and reach Fengxi Town. 6
Fengxi Town, a small town within the territory of Clearwater City. Su Changkong noticed several fields outside the town where wheat, cabbage, and various other crops were grown. But it seemed somewhat arid, and the crops were malnourished and withered.
However, Fengxi Town was quite lively today.
Atop a temporarily erected stage, a black-robed Taoist was sitting cross- legged.
This black-robed Taoist had a small beard and was around forty or so. His eyes were tightly shut, muttering incantations, and in front of him on an altar, incense and candles were burning.
“Can it really work? It hasn’t rained much in two months, can this Black Moon Taoist really pray for rain and solve the drought?”
“This is the divine figure who cured Old Master Liu, surely he can perform a ritual to summon a downpour!”
The townspeople stood quietly below the stage, not daring to speak loudly, worry etched on every face.
The water sources near Fengxi Town were scarce, and the lack of rain for a long time had made the townsfolk, who mainly relied on farming, quite miserable. If the crops failed, they would have difficult times ahead!
“Your Fengxi Town has accumulated too little merit. As long as you are sincere, the Black Lotus World Venerable, who relieves suffering and difficulty, will reveal his divine powers! He will push apart the clouds and mist!”
A young Taoist snickered, his gaze swept over the full merit box beside him, a smile curling at his lips.
The Black Moon Superior’s rain prayer wasn’t free-local wealthy people and civilians of Fengxi Town all had to donate money to prove their sincerity.
Time passed, the sun hung high in the sky, and every townsman grew more anxious.
But the Black Moon Superior continued to sit quietly, his attendants, a few Taoists with dust whisks, stood immobile by his side.
“Hmm?”
“It’s raining!”
As the afternoon approached, the sky darkened, the sun was obscured by clouds, and suddenly someone cried out in delight, feeling the wetness on their face from raindrops.
The patter of a light shower!
The dark sky first released a light drizzle, then the downpour became torrential.
“It’s raining! It’s finally raining!”
“Such vast divine powers of the Black Moon Immortal Master!”
The townspeople cried tears of joy, some even worshipped the Black Moon
Superior religiously, bowing reverently in awe!
“Believe in the Master, believe in our Black Lotus World Venerable! Everyone
can achieve immortality and be reborn into pure bliss!”
The Taoists became even more arrogantly proud, seizing the moment to promote the doctrines of the Black Lotus Sect.
“These guys… are really shameless.” Su Changkong, dressed unassumingly and having altered his appearance through the Turtle Breath Technique, had witnessed the whole scene with contempt.
It was clear to him that the townsfolk believed it was the Black Moon Superior’s ritual that brought the rain. However, Su Changkong, who was educated and literate, understood it was not so. Extended droughts were followed by rain. By observing the sun, the moon, wind direction, and even animal and plant behaviors, one could predict weather changes. To put it simply, it was weather forecasting.
The Black Moon Superior knew this and predicted that it would rain in the next few days. So he performed the ritual precisely because it was going to rain, not because of any miraculous power from the ritual.
And if it didn’t rain today? They would just wait and perform another ritual tomorrow or the day after!