"Wait a moment!"
Pei Tiannan demanded, "Lord Chen, why did you conceal your physique? This looks like cheating!"
"Lord Pei, you're a dignified Martial Saint. Don't tell me you don't know that a Transformative Mysterious Body only reveals its traits gradually as one's realm improves?"
Fang Qingyun explained calmly, "When the examiners first came to fetch him, his displayed physique was indeed that of the Nine-Dragon Body. The key point is—cheating usually means falsely inflating one's constitution. Like mistaking a Sword Heart Body for a Connected Sword Body. If not examined carefully, they can be confused. Their cultivation strength in early stages isn't much different, and such a trick could be used to fake a higher grade.
"But who in their right mind would fake downward? To report a worse physique than one actually has—that's not cheating, that's self-sabotage!"
"You—!"
Pei Tiannan was left speechless.
"…"
Cao Fan's expression was complicated.
On one hand, it comforted him that he hadn't actually lost to someone with only a Nine-Dragon Body.
On the other hand, he truly had lost.
And to make matters worse—he'd basically dug his own grave.
They could have both become true disciples.
If only he had known earlier…
"Grand Commander," Pei Tiannan said with an awkward laugh, trying to smooth things over, "why don't you take two disciples this year after all?"
"Little Pei," Sun Xiangzong said evenly, "you can spout nonsense all you like—but with so many people watching, I can't follow your example."
"…"
Pei Tiannan's mouth twitched. "Grand Commander, you're absolutely right!"
At this point, he finally understood.
They had failed to see through Chen Sanshi's physique, unable to detect a Transformative Mysterious Body beneath his robes—but Sun Xiangzong must have known from the very start of the duel.
He had even given them chances in secret. They just hadn't taken them.
Now that everything was over, even if the Cao clan learned the truth later, they wouldn't be able to argue.
And the higher one's status, the stricter one had to appear about following the rules. Before all these officers and soldiers, keeping up appearances was essential to maintain authority.
"How devious," muttered Eunuch Hou.
He'd grown up in the inner palace—he understood manipulation better than anyone. But earlier, he'd been too intimidated by Sun Xiangzong's might to think clearly.
Now he saw it. They'd been completely outplayed.
Sun Xiangzong had deliberately maneuvered them into cornering themselves, counting on the fact that they'd never dare to concede.
Still, there was a small blessing in disguise.
At least Chen Sanshi was one of the Emperor's men. If he ever did gain access to an immortal method, he would most likely offer it to the court.
The man was loyal and righteous. He would remember the Emperor's kindness—the first to recognize him, to grant him title and reward.
'His Majesty truly knows how to recognize talent,' Eunuch Hou thought with admiration.
"Your Highness," Sun Xiangzong said as he walked over, gently patting Cao Fan on the shoulder, his tone kind and fatherly. "I've done my best. But in past years, there have been inner disciples promoted to true disciples as well. You must continue to work hard."
"Thank… you for your guidance, Grand Commander."
Cao Fan cupped his fists, his mind a tangle of emotions, though his face remained respectful and composed.
"All right. That's enough for today. Disperse," said Fang Qingyun, pushing his wheelchair forward. "Little Junior Brother, go rest and heal your injuries. Return in seven days for the formal initiation ceremony. I'm your Fourth Senior Brother from now on—just call me Fourth Senior Brother."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "Understood, Fourth Senior Brother."
"Also," Fang Qingyun added seriously, "now that you've taken first place, plenty of people will come looking for you. Some will mean well, others won't. You'll have to judge for yourself."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Leaving the military city, Chen Sanshi saw that various officials were already waiting outside.
"Lord Chen! Won't you honor my humble abode with a visit?"
"My lord, please—Immortal Crane Pavilion awaits!"
"General Chen! I have a granddaughter—she'd make a fine concubine for you!"
"…"
Winning first place in the Elite Selection and possessing a Martial Saint's physique—if this had been in the capital, it would have been the equivalent of becoming the martial champion.
It meant that, given time, even with poor comprehension, his strength would at least reach the Profound Manifestation Realm.
The commanders of the Eight Great Garrisons were all second-rank officials. Those with military achievements could even be granted first-rank titles. Naturally, many wanted to curry favor.
Chen Sanshi politely declined every invitation.
He wasn't short on money, and none of them could offer the kind of resources he truly needed. There was no reason to associate with them for now.
Now that he had claimed first place, Chen Sanshi began to plan the next steps of his path.
First, apprenticeship and learning. If there really was a method to break through beyond Martial Saint, he needed to study it. Everyone dreamed of seeing a wider world—even if that goal was still far away.
Second, he had to quickly advance his strength to Perfection in Tempering Organs, and then reach Transforming Strength.
In Liangzhou, merely Tempering Organs wasn't nearly enough.
He had offended many powerful people—sons of noble families and high-ranking officials. They might not dare act openly now, but once the selection's commotion faded, who could say if they'd restrain themselves?
The Eight Great Garrisons weren't exactly united, either.
Thinking back to the final duel, Chen Sanshi realized that Cao Fan seemed to understand some parts of the Unified Spear Technique. Someone must have demonstrated it to him beforehand.
That wasn't surprising. Even brothers turned against each other over inheritance—so rivalry among disciples was natural. True harmony among all was the rarest thing of all.
He would need to stay cautious from now on.
Third, investigate the Witch God Sect and the black miasma.
Why did the sect capture martial artists? What was the purpose of that blood ritual?
And why did that black energy appear within the bodies of cultivators? Could it be related to the poisonous beasts in the mountains?
Each question demanded careful, patient investigation.
And beyond all that—something even more important.
He was going to be a father.
With the selection finally over, he would at last have time to spend a few days with Lan jie'er. He could even stop by that Daoist temple they had talked about.
He wasn't interested in gods or Buddhas—but he was very interested in the gods and Buddhas worshiped by martial artists.
As he rode his horse home, he spotted a familiar face by the roadside.
Wen Qiushi's father—Wen Zhi.
The man stood there silently, bloodshot eyes fixed on Chen Sanshi. Even from more than ten zhang away, Chen could feel the killing intent radiating off him.
Aristocratic clans, sects, and great families—they were all the same.
Their sons could bully and even kill others without consequence. But if someone dared to fight back, dared to refuse to kneel—then they were branded as rebels, courting disaster.
'Martial Saint? So what.'
Chen Sanshi felt no fear.
The more openly Wen Zhi stood there, the more it proved he didn't dare make a move—just a hollow threat.
"Still… I need to train faster," Chen muttered to himself.
Just like back in Poyang, when only reaching the Tempering Organs Realm had allowed him to stand tall—here in Liangzhou, he would need at least Martial Saint strength to do the same.
The road was long and hard.
And before he left, Fourth Senior Brother Fang Qingyun's words echoed in his mind—someone would come looking for him.
Was that person Wen Zhi… or someone else entirely?
"You're back, my lord~"
Siqin greeted him cheerfully at the door.
Chen Sanshi dismounted, gave a slight nod, and headed straight for the apothecary.
He had set aside a small firewood room in the courtyard and converted it into a simple apothecary. Under his orders, Siqin and Mohua bought all the medicinal herbs listed in his written prescriptions. Chen Sanshi personally decocted tonics for Lan jie'er to nourish her body while using the process to improve his own medical proficiency.
[Skill: Medicine (Mortal) (Mastery)]
[Progress: 291/1000]
"This skill's just like Reading. Once you reach a certain level, the progress slows to a crawl. To improve further, I'll need to study higher-grade medicine."
After coming to Liangzhou, his understanding of both martial arts and medicine had deepened.
It was said that truly skilled physicians could use internal force or gang qi to refine medicines, reducing their toxicity and allowing martial artists to absorb more medicine safely within a shorter time.
That was the same process used to craft treasure medicines.
Both the age of the medicinal herbs and the physician's refining technique had extremely strict requirements.
But mastering the use of internal force to extract essence from herbs was its own specialized art. It took immense time to learn and yielded limited benefits. So, most physicians—like Medical Officer Jiang and the others—didn't bother with it. Only those who had reached a bottleneck in cultivation or had a strong passion for the craft ever tried.
Even so, within the Liangzhou army, there were only two precious physicians who had reached the Meridian-Connecting Realm.
"I'll try to consult with them after the apprenticeship ceremony," Chen Sanshi murmured to himself.
…
"Shi ge'er, do you want a son or a daughter?"
That night, lying in bed, Gu Xinlan wrapped her arms around his and whispered softly.
"I want both," Chen Sanshi replied. "At least one son and one daughter, right?"
"What if it's all sons, or all daughters?" she asked teasingly.
"Then we'll just have more."
"I'm not some kind of brood mother… mmph—Shi ge'er, where are you putting your hand? I'm pregnant, you can't—did you forget?"
"I know. I'm not doing anything."
A sudden sharp "Ah!" rang out from the front yard.
Siqin!
Chen Sanshi instantly grabbed the bow from the wall and the long spear from the corner, rushing out the door. "What happened?"
"Master, there's—someone here!"
Siqin's voice trembled as she pointed toward the eaves. "Someone was standing up there just now and threw something into the courtyard!"
"Bang!"
Dragon Elephant blood surged through his body in an instant. With [Moves as Light as a Swallow], Chen Sanshi leapt onto the rooftop in a single bound. In the distance, under the moonlight, a shadowy figure was sprinting away at full speed.
He checked the quiver at his waist—there were signal arrows inside. If he fired one, countless city guards would immediately converge on this area.
He gave chase, his speed no less than the other's. But the intruder had too much of a head start and clearly knew Liangzhou's terrain well. Within moments, the figure vanished around a corner—gone without a trace.
"What kind of person?!"
Chen Sanshi stood atop the roof, deep in thought.
It didn't feel like the Witch God Sect's doing. But who else could it be?
Cao Fan's people? Unlikely.
The intruder's movement technique wasn't weak. It seemed almost deliberate—revealing himself to Siqin on purpose. Since he hadn't harmed anyone even after being spotted, it suggested he bore no real malice. Still, trespassing into someone's home uninvited was already a grave offense.
"Over here!"
Just as Chen Sanshi prepared to head back—since Lan jie'er was still inside—another figure suddenly appeared in the moonlight.
It was the Master of Splitting Moon Manor, Wen Zhi, dragging along a man in black.
"You…"
Chen Sanshi glanced at the man in black, then at Wen Zhi, quickly realizing what was happening.
His old enemy, the Martial Saint himself—looked almost like a bodyguard right now.
"You can't die yet," Wen Zhi snarled, his bloodshot eyes glowing purple-red. His teeth ground audibly. "If you die now, that old bastard Sun will come for me instead!"
After bringing his son's corpse home, he had soon heard the news of Chen Sanshi's victory. The moment he learned that Chen had become a true disciple, despair filled his heart. That title meant killing him was now nearly impossible—especially at this critical moment.
In truth, anyone else might dare to kill Chen Sanshi—but not him, not now.
"…"
Chen Sanshi didn't even know how to respond.
Was Sun Xiangzong's influence really that terrifying?
Then again, maybe it was.
After all, Ning Changqun's execution had been witnessed by over 100,000 soldiers.
Those at the Tempering Blood Realm might not care—but Martial Saints definitely did. They were very, very afraid.
Both men leapt down from the roof to the ground.
Wen Zhi pointed to the man in black, his voice trembling with anger. "Why did he try to kill you?!"
"I don't know," Chen Sanshi said honestly.
"'Don't know'? Just how many people have you offended?!"
Wen Zhi slammed his palm onto the black-clad man's back. The man spat blood, letting out a pitiful scream.
That made Wen Zhi feel a little better. "This man's only at Perfection in Tempering Organs. I've already crippled him. What do you want to do with him? Kill him, or should I hand him over to you?"
Chen Sanshi thought briefly, then said, "Hand him over to me."
"Hmph!"
Wen Zhi threw the half-dead man toward him like tossing garbage.
Then he shouted at Chen Sanshi's retreating back, "Chen Sanshi, I'll kill you one day!"
"Master Wen," Chen Sanshi said suddenly, stopping mid-step. "Do you really think you're the victim here?"
Wen Zhi froze.
"Your son tried to kill me. Was I supposed to just lie down and die? Let me give you a piece of advice."
Chen Sanshi's expression didn't change. "A child untrained is the father's fault."
"You—you mean this is my fault?!"
Wen Zhi roared, "Then I'll kill you myself! I'll challenge you fairly to a duel—life or death! You're a Transformative Mysterious Body, aren't you? I'll wait until you reach the Martial Saint Realm!"
"Fine."
Chen Sanshi replied evenly, "If you mean it, I'll face you on the arena when the time comes."
"A child untrained is the father's fault…"
Wen Zhi stood under the night wind, repeating the words to himself.
Of course he knew his son had provoked trouble first.
But how could he let the blood feud go unavenged? Such resentment would never rest!
A fair duel—Chen Sanshi himself had agreed.
When the time came, even if he killed him in public, Sun Xiangzong would have no grounds to interfere.
'I—a man in Tempering Organs—have agreed to a life-and-death duel with a Martial Saint,' Chen Sanshi thought bitterly, carrying the unconscious assassin back home.
"Master…"
Siqin and Mohua were still waiting by the gate, pale with fright.
Chen Sanshi asked, "You said something was thrown into the courtyard earlier?"
"Mm-hmm," Siqin nodded quickly, handing over a folded letter tied to a small stone.
"All right. Don't alarm Madam. Tell her it's nothing, and get some rest early."
After giving his orders, Chen Sanshi went into the woodshed.
He tied up the unconscious person tightly with ropes, binding her arms and legs like a dumpling. Then he removed the black mask—and to his surprise, beneath it was a young, delicate face. She looked about the same age as Siqin and Mohua.
"A woman?"
Chen Sanshi blinked, staring at her flat chest in disbelief.
He picked up an arrow and used it like a dagger, swiftly cutting the tendons in her hands and feet to ensure she couldn't move. Then he applied medicine to stop the bleeding, keeping her alive, and sat quietly to wait for her to wake up.
He had taken her alive for a reason.
Because—
He had seen a faint wisp of Azure Profound Qi flowing through her body.
That's right.
The exact same kind of qi that flowed within Sun Xiangzong.
It was so faint, though, that anyone not looking carefully would have missed it entirely. The difference between them was like that of a full moon and a firefly.
That was why Chen Sanshi chose to keep her alive—for questioning.
Moreover, she had nearly been killed by Wen Zhi's strike, which meant that faint wisp of Azure Profound Qi wasn't nearly strong enough to protect her life. If she had a true defense technique, she would have already used it.
Still, to be safe, it was better to cripple her first.
"So there really are methods to absorb Azure Profound Qi, huh?"
Chen Sanshi didn't believe it was coincidence.
He wasn't sure whether, after the apprenticeship ceremony, he'd be allowed to learn more about this.
If he couldn't get answers from her, he could always bring her straight to the Grand Commander's Mansion.
He unfolded the letter tied to the stone. Inside were just a few short words:
"Please, General Chen, come to the Red Sleeve Pavilion in three days."
"Red Sleeve Pavilion?"
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly. The name sounded familiar—one of the most famous entertainment houses in Liangzhou.
Why would they want to meet him there?
They hadn't approached him before, yet now—right after he won first place in the selection—they reached out. That alone was suspicious.
…
Two or three hours later, the black-clad girl slowly regained consciousness.
And the first thing she did was cry.
"Shut up!" Chen Sanshi barked.
She sobbed even louder.
"I said shut up!"
"Clang!"
Chen Sanshi drew the Mountain-Suppressing Sword and pressed it to her throat.
Only then did the girl fall silent, though her body still trembled uncontrollably.
"Who are you?" Chen Sanshi's tone was sharp. "I don't repeat questions."
"Seek… Seeking Immortals Tower…" the girl whimpered, her voice shaking. "It hurts… it hurts…"
"Seeking Immortals Tower?"
Chen Sanshi recalled the record from The Compendium of the World's Sects.
A mysterious sect, said to have endured for a thousand years—its purpose, to search for traces of immortals.
"What business do you have with me?"
"My master sent me…"
The girl's eyes brimmed with tears. "I was only delivering a letter! Why did you do this to me?"
"Nonsense!"
"If you're delivering a letter, why sneak in through the roof instead of the front gate?"
"Because we're supposed to be mysterious," she replied matter-of-factly.
Chen Sanshi almost laughed. What kind of ridiculous excuse is that?
He pressed further. "Why ask me to go to Red Sleeve Pavilion?"
"I don't know! I really don't know! I was just sent to deliver the message. I swear I meant no harm…"
Her whole body shook as she spoke, voice trembling. "All I know is—it's something about the Immortal Method. Please let me go, please… I'm begging you…"
"Immortal Method?"
Chen Sanshi fell silent.
He couldn't take her words at face value—but neither could he dismiss them entirely.
Still, he could tell she wasn't lying about having no hostile intent.
But guilt? No, he felt none.
Who in their right mind delivered messages in the middle of the night, wearing black clothes, and sneaking across rooftops?
If she hadn't been lucky, Wen Zhi would've killed her instantly. Losing a few tendons was already merciful. Otherwise, his home would soon become a playground for spies and killers.
And if she really belonged to Seeking Immortals Tower, a sect that legendary, then healing such injuries would be no problem at all.
Killing her would've been unnecessary.
Seeking Immortals Tower was shrouded in mystery, its influence deep and unpredictable.
With his current level of strength, Chen Sanshi couldn't afford to make enemies of them. Whether he'd go to the meeting or not—he'd decide after the apprenticeship ceremony.
With that thought, he said, "You can leave."
"Uu… uu…"
The girl only kept crying.
Then Chen Sanshi realized—he had disabled her limbs. Without medicine, she'd be paralyzed for weeks.
After a moment's thought, he sighed and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
Grumbling, the girl said through clenched teeth, "Just send me to Red Sleeve Pavilion, okay?"
This was the unluckiest day of her life.
All she'd done was deliver a letter—and she had to run into a Martial Saint.
The man didn't even ask a single question before slicing her tendons like a maniac. What kind of hero is this? she thought bitterly. People call him the savior who ferried thousands across the river—but he's nothing but a violent brute!
Still, at least he hadn't killed her. The name of Seeking Immortals Tower clearly still held some weight.
"Wait, where are you taking me?"
"…"
A moment later, she realized something was wrong. "This isn't the way to Red Sleeve Pavilion!"
The man carrying her sprinted swiftly, the streets flying by in a blur.
After about half an hour, a large mansion appeared before them. On the black plaque above the gate were three bold characters—Grand Commander's Mansion.
Sun Xiangzong's private residence.
It was dawn; the eastern sky had just begun to brighten.
To her surprise, the mansion of the most powerful military man in the northern frontier had no guards on patrol. Not even a gatekeeper stood watch—just two enormous stone lions flanking the entrance.
"What… what are you doing?"
The girl struggled desperately. "Let me go! Let me go, you bastard!"
Chen Sanshi had initially planned to dump her in the street.
But on second thought, it was safer to bring her here.
Though he hadn't killed her, she'd still been injured by Wen Zhi, which might cause future trouble. And since Seeking Immortals Tower had appeared right after the selection ended, it was almost certain they had some connection to Sun Xiangzong.
That faint wisp of Azure Profound Qi only confirmed his suspicion.
Whatever was happening here—it was far beyond what a mere Tempering Organs cultivator like him could handle.
Besides, it wasn't something he could hide.
If only he knew, fine—but Wen Zhi had seen her too. The secret was already out.
Bang, bang, bang!
Chen Sanshi knocked firmly on the heavy doors.
After a while, a sleepy servant appeared, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Who's there? What do you want?"
"I am Chen Sanshi," he said calmly. "I wish to see the Grand Commander."
"Oh, it's Lord Chen. Please wait a moment."
The servant clearly recognized the name—the champion of this year's Elite Selection.
He hurried inside to report.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the servant returned, pushing a wheelchair.
"Little Junior Brother," Fang Qingyun said, glancing up with a faint smile, "Master is still resting. If you have anything to discuss, tell me instead."
Then his eyes fell on the bloodstained woman slung over Chen Sanshi's shoulder. "And what's this about?"
"Fourth Senior Brother," Chen Sanshi said as he tossed the bound girl onto the floor. He gave a brief summary of what had happened earlier. "I don't really know the full story myself. I'll leave her to you."
"Seeking Immortals Tower?"
Fang Qingyun's tone carried a hint of interest. "Haven't heard from them in years. Didn't expect them to appear so soon—and looking for you, no less."
He waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, Little Junior Brother. Leave her here. They won't come for you again. Master's been very busy lately and can't see you right now. Wait until after the apprenticeship ceremony."
"Understood, thank you, Fourth Senior Brother."
Chen Sanshi cupped his fists and turned to leave.
As he stepped outside, he glanced back one last time. That faint flicker of Azure Profound Qi glowed on the woman's body like a dying firefly.
So it wasn't just Sun Xiangzong who could absorb Azure Profound Qi. Seeking Immortals Tower must've uncovered a bit of the same secret—though in a clumsy, incomplete way. Whatever they'd learned was so crude it was practically useless. The girl's body showed no benefit at all.
His internal injuries still ached faintly. Not wanting to walk, he summoned Qianxun, his steed, who was still dozing in the stable, to carry him home.
As he rode through the quiet streets, he turned a corner at the end of the avenue—and saw someone sitting at a tea stall, still awake after an entire night.
It was Wen Zhi, the Master of Splitting Moon Manor.
'Has he been guarding the gate for me all night?' Chen Sanshi thought.
"Chen Sanshi!" Wen Zhi shouted, leaping up. "Who was that black-clad person? What sect? Why did they try to kill you? Speak!"
"No need to trouble yourself over it, Master Wen," Chen Sanshi said without even turning his head.
"You think I want to care?!"
Wen Zhi shot to his feet, furious.
At least for the next few days, until the selection's aftermath settled, if Chen Sanshi died, he'd be the first suspect. No amount of explanation would save him—not even washing himself in the Yellow River.
"I sent her to the Grand Commander's Mansion," Chen Sanshi said flatly. "If you want answers, go ask there."
He flicked his whip lightly against Qianxun's flank, and the horse sped away.
"Outrageous!"
Wen Zhi roared and smashed the tea table into splinters.
"Y-you—how dare you destroy my stall!" the tea-seller stammered in terror. "I'll report you to the Grand Commander's Mansion!"
"Shut up! I'll pay you in silver!"
The stall owner instantly fell silent.
…
Chen Sanshi spent two days recovering, using the healing treasure medicine given by his Ninth Senior Sister. Once his internal injuries healed completely, he resumed training, aiming to reach Perfection in Tempering Organs before the month ended.
Between Minor Achievement and Perfection, the difference was enormous.
If he'd been able to use Exploding Blood back during the duel, defeating Cao Fan wouldn't have been nearly so hard.
[Technique: Unified Spear Technique (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 829/2000]
The higher one climbed in martial cultivation, the slower progress became. Even those with Martial Saint physiques weren't exempt. Otherwise, countless cultivators wouldn't be trapped at the same realm for decades.
Given that, his progress speed was already remarkable—and half of that was thanks to the spiritual grain.
If anyone else knew, they'd be shocked by how quickly he'd advanced.
Yet Chen Sanshi still felt unsatisfied.
It wasn't greed—it was necessity.
Too many people were watching him: Cao Fan, Seeking Immortals Tower, Splitting Moon Manor. He couldn't rely forever on the protection of the Eight Great Garrisons and the Grand Commander. Even immortals couldn't be everywhere at once.
And those powerful figures were busy.
Their current presence in Liangzhou was only temporary—due to postwar reorganization and the Elite Selection.
Soon enough, they'd disperse across the three northwestern provinces.
When that happened, he'd be on his own again.
"The development of the immortal treasure is still way too primitive!"
His control over the strange fire was laughable—like a caveman just learning to use flame. Every time he tried to refine spiritual grain, most of its essence was burned into ash. Who knew how much energy he'd wasted already?
'If only I could find a container that can withstand the heat of the strange fire…'
He'd tried iron pots—those melted almost instantly.
Mystic weapon!
He suddenly remembered what Sun Buqi had once mentioned: Mystic weapons. The metals used to forge them could conduct internal force. Their quality was extraordinary—that much was obvious from his own Mountain-Suppressing Sword.
If he could craft a container from such metal, it might not fully withstand the strange fire's heat, but even partial resistance would work. He could treat it as a consumable if needed.
Some of the Meridian-Connecting Realm physicians in the Eight Garrisons probably used such Mystic weapon-forged containers already.
That was only speculation for now.
If that failed, then…
He'd just have to hunt.
After thinking it through, Chen Sanshi realized his best path to faster cultivation still lay in his old trade.
He wasn't lacking treasure medicine or spiritual grain—and the saber-tooth tiger meat was nearly gone.
Only by hunting more beasts could he continue improving at a quicker pace.
Besides, he still had to investigate whether the poisonous beasts in the mountains were connected to the black miasma found on Zhang Huaimin.
That might even relate to an Immortal Method—and from what he'd seen, it was frighteningly powerful.
From Meridian-Connecting straight to Profound Manifestation!
Chen Sanshi's thoughts drifted wildly. After practicing the Unified Spear Technique two more times, he set his weapon aside, changed into clean clothes, and went out with Gu Xinlan toward Ciyun Temple.
Since becoming pregnant, Gu Xinlan often mentioned wanting to pray there for their child's safety.
It was her first time becoming a mother—it was natural to be nervous. If visiting a temple eased her heart, then it was a good thing.
Xu Bin and Madam Tong were already waiting for them in the courtyard.
On the way, Xu Bin chatted cheerfully.
"General, since we arrived in Liangzhou, life's been quite peaceful. I've taken the chance to wander around a bit. I visited Ciyun Temple twice—it's really lively. Not only common folk go there; plenty of martial artists like to visit too."
"Brother Bin, I can understand why common folk pray to gods and Buddhas—it gives them comfort. But why do martial artists like visiting temples to burn incense?"
Chen Sanshi thought for a moment and said, "There's only one reason—it must have something to do with good medicine."
These kinds of matters, Madam Tong wouldn't know. Asking her before had been useless anyway.
"You guessed right, my lord," Xu Bin replied with a grin. "Those who come to offer incense—if they're willing to pay thirty taels of silver as incense money—can get a bowl of secret 'Spirit-Nourishing Soup.' They say drinking it calms the mind and helps greatly with martial cultivation. But it's very expensive."
"No wonder," Chen Sanshi said, his curiosity piqued.
Ciyun Temple stood in the Wangyun Mountains, about thirty li south of Liangzhou's southern gate. To reach the summit, one had to climb several dozen li more of winding mountain paths.
"Lan jie'er, are you tired? I'll carry you."
"What nonsense, since when does a husband carry his wife—ah!"
Before she could finish, her foot slipped, and she fell forward onto Chen Sanshi's broad, solid back. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself.
"I'm not carrying you," Chen Sanshi said with a smirk. "I'm carrying the child."
A hundred jin of weight meant nothing to him.
As they made their way up, they passed quite a few martial artists. Some even greeted him warmly along the path.
Gu Xinlan, somewhat surprised, whispered, "Shi ge'er, you're really famous now."
"Brother Bin, go on," Chen Sanshi said. "Tell me more about this Ciyun Temple—its history, and what kind of strength its Taoist priests have."
"It's said that Ciyun Temple was already here when the Great Sheng Dynasty was founded. The incense has always been flourishing, but there haven't been many high-level martial artists among them. For hundreds of years, only the current temple master has reached Perfection in Transforming Strength and is about to break through to the Meridian-Connecting Realm."
Xu Bin continued, "The rest are at most in Transforming Strength. That's why Ciyun Temple is considered a third-rate sect. Unless you're local, you probably haven't even heard of it."
In short—it had its tricks, but no masters.
Of course, to Chen Sanshi right now, even someone at Transforming Strength or Meridian-Connecting counted as a master.
When they arrived outside the temple gates, a middle-aged man in a white robe stepped forward to greet them. "Lord Chen! Congratulations on winning first place in the Selection. Soon you'll be apprenticed under the Grand Commander himself—your future is limitless!"
Chen Sanshi recognized the man. He had seen him standing beside Wen Zhi before. Bowing slightly, he said, "You must be Sect Master Shao of Tongxuan Sword Sect, yes? A pleasure to meet you."
Even a Martial Saint like him had come personally. That alone said much about the supposed benefits of this soup.
"You're too polite," Shao Yuqing said with a laugh. "I'm a mere wanderer, unworthy of such respect from an imperial officer."
Then, smiling knowingly, he added, "Lord Chen, you've come for the Spirit-Nourishing Soup as well, haven't you?"
"Indeed," Chen Sanshi admitted. "Since even Sect Master Shao came personally, its effects must be extraordinary."
"Haha, it truly is," Shao Yuqing said. "Each time you drink it, your heart becomes tranquil and your spirit steady. There's nothing like it in all of Liangzhou."
He gestured for them to follow. "Please, Lord Chen, come with me—you'll understand once you try it yourself."
Chen Sanshi looked toward the main hall. "Shouldn't we burn incense first?"
"That can wait until we leave," Shao Yuqing said with a chuckle. "The temple's abbot, True Person Qiu Mingzi, is in the apothecary right now, brewing the Spirit-Nourishing Soup. You've arrived at just the right time. If we miss it, we'll have to wait several more hours."
"In that case, thank you, Senior," Chen Sanshi said, motioning for Xu Bin and the others to follow.
They passed through the temple gates and headed eastward into a separate courtyard, where bundles of herbs were drying in the sun. By the furnace, True Person Qiu Mingzi sat cross-legged, brewing medicine.
In front of him stood a dark silver cauldron, its metal surface glowing faintly. Beneath it roared a fierce flame, nearly engulfing the entire cauldron.
Qiu Mingzi's hands glimmered faintly as invisible internal force radiated outward, holding the flames back while he rhythmically struck the sides of the cauldron. Each hit produced a deep, humming resonance.
"Using internal force to refine medicine?"
Chen Sanshi was surprised. He hadn't expected to witness it here first.
"You recognize it, Lord Chen?" Shao Yuqing asked. "This is a delicate skill. Even for me, it would take years to learn properly. And that cauldron—made of Xuan Iron, the same material used to forge mystic weapons—is worth at least three thousand taels of silver."
As they spoke, Qiu Mingzi suddenly let out a shout. His palms slammed against the cauldron, producing a deep, bell-like clang.
Immediately, a few young Taoist acolytes rushed forward, splashing prepared cool water onto the flames to extinguish them as fast as possible.
"Hisss—"
White steam billowed everywhere.
Qiu Mingzi carefully lifted the cauldron and brought it over to a nearby pavilion, setting it down gently. Then he returned and bowed to the visitors. "Blessings of the Heavenly Lord. This poor Taoist greets you both."
"Come now, True Person, we're old acquaintances. No need for formality," Shao Yuqing said, smiling, before introducing Chen Sanshi. After some polite exchanges, Qiu Mingzi ladled out steaming bowls of Spirit-Nourishing Soup and handed one to each of them.
[Spirit-Nourishing Soup: Calms the mind and steadies the spirit after consumption, aiding cultivation breakthroughs.]
It wasn't just the medicinal effect—Chen Sanshi had already analyzed the ingredients and the brewing method. Once he reached the Transforming Strength realm, he could easily make it himself.
After confirming there was no problem, he drank the soup and then ordered another bowl for Xu Bin.
Thirty taels of silver.
For Chen Sanshi, it was nothing. But for Xu Bin and the others, that was a fortune. No wonder they'd only come here to pray before, unwilling to spend that much on a single bowl.
However, this so-called miracle tonic didn't seem to do much for cultivation. Its main effect was calming the mind—it was even more tranquilizing than a sage's stillness!
In that kind of state, yes, it could help some people break through bottlenecks, but for him, it was practically useless.
"The True Person's technique of refining medicine with internal force is truly marvelous," Chen Sanshi praised. "I've really learned something today."
"You flatter me," Qiu Mingzi said humbly. "This secret art was passed down from my ancestors. My own mastery is still far from theirs."
"True Person," Chen Sanshi said, placing a hand on the cauldron's smooth surface, "to tell you the truth, I've studied medicine a bit myself. Once I reach Transforming Strength, I'd like to learn this method of tempering medicine with internal force. But I lack a proper cauldron. I wonder… could True Person perhaps grant me one?"
He added casually, "I'll make an offering of five thousand taels of incense money to your temple in return."
"Such sincerity cannot be refused," Qiu Mingzi replied at once. "We still have several spare cauldrons here. Before you leave the mountain, I'll have one delivered to you."
"Thank you, True Person."
Chen Sanshi ran his hand along the cauldron's cool metal, feeling its unusual weight and texture. He wondered if it could truly withstand the heat of his strange fire.
If not, so be it—five thousand taels was a small price to pay.
"Lord Chen seems a little disappointed," Shao Yuqing said, smiling faintly. "Do you think the Spirit-Nourishing Soup is underwhelming?"
Chen Sanshi gave a slight nod, and Shao Yuqing chuckled. "It's true, the soup is excellent, but its effect on cultivation is minimal. What we seek isn't power—it's peace. Only a calm mind leads to enlightenment."
He sighed, his gaze distant. "I've been stuck at the Martial Saint realm for over ten years. To this day, I still can't touch the next threshold. So I've turned toward insight of the heart instead. Ciyun Temple holds a lecture every month—many martial artists come to listen. Over the years, I've gained quite a lot from it. Perhaps, if I persist, one day I might truly comprehend the Dao."
He smiled earnestly. "If Lord Chen is interested, you're welcome to attend next time."
Chen Sanshi understood perfectly.
When the normal path was blocked, people always sought another way.
"I truly envy you, Lord Chen," Shao Yuqing said sincerely. "So young, and already the chosen disciple of the Grand Commander himself. That man is the lifelong idol of every Martial Saint. Someday, you'll surely see a far greater world than the rest of us."
"Please, Sect Master Shao," Chen Sanshi replied modestly. "I haven't even officially entered the sect yet. I'm still at the Tempering Organs stage—how could I dare dream so far ahead?"
After finishing their soup, they went together to the main hall to burn incense.
Crowds came and went without end, and the temple was packed with people. The scent of sandalwood filled the air so thickly it seemed to seep into the skin.
A place visited by Martial Saints naturally drew countless martial artists, and when nobles and generals came to pray, commoners followed eagerly, convinced it must be effective.
Inside the grand hall, the altar held a statue of the Heavenly Lord of Infinite Salvation, the deity all worshippers came to honor.
The name resembled the Daoist titles from Chen Sanshi's previous world—it wasn't truly a god, but the symbolism was similar.
Gu Xinlan had long prepared the offerings and bought the incense beforehand.
Lighting three sticks of sandalwood incense, she stepped before the statue and bowed solemnly. Following the proper ritual, she placed the incense in order—first the center, then left, then right—ensuring all three stood at the same height. Finally, she knelt and bowed deeply.
Just then—
A faint wisp of violet aura rose from the top of her head, drifting gracefully toward the altar's incense burner. The burner absorbed the light, flaring with a brilliant purple glow before dimming once more.
Chen Sanshi's pupils contracted sharply.
Looking around, he realized it wasn't just her.
Every sincere worshipper—whether martial artist or commoner—had a similar wisp of violet qi float from their heads, merging into the same incense burner.
'What is this?'
Incense energy?
Ever since learning about the immortal arts beyond the Martial Saint realm, Chen Sanshi had grown used to strange phenomena. So the sight itself didn't shock him too much.
But one thing was wrong—
Wasn't incense meant to be an offering to the god's statue?
Then why…
…was it being absorbed by the incense burner instead?