With a long sigh, Chu Yuan lay down on his bunk.
He had been granted leave, so he should rest and ease his tension.
But as soon as he lay down, his mind started working again; he couldn't afford to relax.
With the "treasures" he now possessed, plus Old Man Xu's belongings, climbing the city walls shouldn't be a problem. However, Chu Yuan didn't want to rush into it.
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Firstly, with Uncle Xu just murdered, immediate action would likely leave too many openings.
Secondly, he'd heard that there was a cultivation technique called "Immortal Cultivation Qi Induction Scripture" on the bluestone of Changshi City, which was crucial to whether one could cultivate it. If one couldn't understand its mysteries, it meant they lacked the aptitude for cultivation.
According to those who witnessed the cultivation method, it cannot be spoken or written down, and is easily forgotten after reading, which is quite strange.
Moreover, the opportunity to attain immortality is hard to come by, and the laborers below the city only have one chance to comprehend the Dao and seek immortality; if they fail, they will never be able to ascend the city to seek the Dao again.
People say that cultivation
depends on talent and fate. Chu Yuan dared not claim to be exceptionally talented and able to comprehend everything instantly, nor did he know if he had
the opportunity to attain immortality. If he did, not only would he waste the immortal treasures, but he would also lose his only chance, which would be a complete loss.
Therefore, Chu Yuan decided to try his luck below the city first, after all, he had the blessing of the "Lucky Star
Shining Brightly" attribute, and perhaps he could find some spiritual treasures. After unlocking other attributes, he would be more confident and have a better chance of comprehending the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Guiding Scripture".
The next morning, Chu Yuan arrived at his workplace early, but came up empty-handed.
During this time, the weasel-faced, lewd-looking foreman squinted at Chu Yuan thoughtfully for a while, making Chu Yuan very uncomfortable.
Could the overseer really be a womanizer, as rumored?
Chu Yuan dared not think further.
The third day, nothing was gained.
The fourth day, nothing was gained.
The fifth day, not only was nothing gained, but he couldn't even snatch a pancake. Having gone hungry all day, Chu Yuan missed Uncle Xu again.
The sixth day, Chu Yuan worked exceptionally hard for several days in a row, which made the burly men in his tent think his behavior was very abnormal.
Logically, people who have lost their freedom and aren't paid shouldn't be so diligent.
Privately, everyone says Chu Yuan is still grieving over Old Xu's murder, unable to shake off the sadness.
But Chu Yuan doesn't think that way. He's focused solely on the path to immortality; his current unusual behavior is just a way to train his body.
After all, opportunity favors the prepared.
…
On the eighteenth day, it rained. The drizzling rain wouldn't allow for rest; it was truly pushing people to their limits. Many contracted wind-related illnesses and died. Even the heavens seemed to be against human life.
On the nineteenth day, finally, he found something—a hairpin. Unfortunately, it was just a fragment and couldn't be equipped.
On the twentieth day, nothing was found.
On the twenty-first day, the weather was overcast.
"Chu Yuan, Chu Yuan, 'perseverance can move mountains,' you mustn't be impatient. Don't you want to command the wind and rain, and travel a thousand miles a day?"
Chu Yuan, carrying a giant log on his back, panted heavily, silently encouraging himself.
After placing the giant log where the carpenter was, Chu Yuan continued moving stones from the pile.
Just as he was moving a boulder, a faint light caught his eye. Chu Yuan paused, then exclaimed in surprise,
"Judging by its appearance, it must be a treasure! Is the incantation working? Has my luck turned?"
At that moment, Chu Yuan glanced back into the shed and noticed the overseer still staring at him meaningfully.
"What does he want?"
Chu Yuan ruled out the possibility that he wanted to steal the treasure, because overseers were not allowed to rob laborers; if discovered by the higher-ups, their fate would be dire.
"Then what exactly does he want?"
A chill ran down Chu Yuan's spine, but this chill was quickly dispelled by the excitement of discovering a new treasure.
While bending down to move stones, Chu Yuan pretended to have dust in his eyes, squatted down to wipe his eyes with his clothes, and then secretly stuffed the object into his pocket.
He continued with his work as if nothing had happened, being careful enough that no one would notice.
—As
night fell and everyone inside the tent fell asleep, Chu Yuan's desire stirred.
He had only caught a fleeting glimpse of it before and hadn't seen clearly what it was, only that the treasure felt slightly warm to the touch and heavy in his hand.
Just as he was about to take out the treasure to examine it closely, he hesitated.
It was always better to be cautious. Sure enough
, one or two people were still awake, turning over and yawning.
Seeing this, Chu Yuan had a sudden inspiration. He pretended to go to the toilet, thinking he could find a safe place to check the treasure in his arms.
Finding a secluded spot, he carefully wiped it clean with his clothes by the moonlight and discovered it was a spirit stone emitting a bluish-gray light. It
was radiant and exuded a faint fragrance. Most importantly, it was a complete spirit stone, meaning it could be equipped in his equipment slot.
How could he not be happy?
Chu Yuan grasped the spirit stone, excitedly and expectantly waiting.
A moment later, pale gold text appeared:
[Equipable Item Detected: Low-Grade Spirit Stone]
[Note: Equipment Slot Full (1/1), Equipment Attribute Needs Replacement]
[Acquired Attribute: Good Fortune]
[Consolidation Progress: 21%]
After pondering for a few moments, Chu Yuan decided to first examine the function and consolidation conditions of the low-grade spirit stone.
"Replace."
Chu Yuan's thoughts stirred slightly, and in the blink of an eye, the spirit stone in his hand disappeared, replaced by a pale yellow talisman.
This was the one that had been removed; before it solidified, the inscription was also removed.
[Acquired Inscription: Smooth Spiritual Energy]
[Inscription Effect: Enhances the flow of spiritual energy within the body, strengthening the foundation and cultivating the essence, in order to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth]
[Fixed Inscription Condition: Reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage]
[Current Fixed Progress: 0%]
"Judging from the effect of this [Smooth Spiritual Energy] inscription, it should help me comprehend the 'Immortal Cultivation Qi Guiding Scripture.'"
Looking at the description of this new inscription, Chu Yuan speculated that it should be beneficial for him to obtain the immortal technique.
The night wind blew, the moonlight was like water, and Chu Yuan's heartbeat was clearly audible.
At this moment, Chu Yuan noticed the solidification condition of the inscription again, and wondered in surprise:
"Foundation Establishment Stage, is that the Foundation Establishment Immortal Realm that allows one to fly and escape into the earth?"
Back in his hometown, he often saw the figures of cultivators from Yan and Zhao clashing in the sky, fighting fiercely until the sky darkened.
According to his deceased father, that was the Foundation Establishment stage.
Chu Yuan dared not dream of reaching that legendary realm; it was too far removed from his current state of barely having enough to eat, even unattainable.
"I've only heard that cultivation requires seizing the right moment, and now it's time to ascend the city and seek immortality!"
In this world, those destined for immortality usually enter the immortal sect at the age of nine. Chu Yuan was already sixteen, having missed the optimal age for cultivation.
He couldn't delay any longer.
Chu Yuan touched the tattered treasures in his cloth bag, thinking they should be more than enough for ascending the city.
He then looked at the inscription and felt that it wasn't necessary for his current state; the original inscription was more suitable.
Immediately, Chu Yuan replaced "Smooth Spiritual Energy" with "Good Fortune," intending to replace it again when he reached the city and began to comprehend the Dao.
Carefully putting away the replaced spirit stones, Chu Yuan returned to his tent. The rough men inside were fast asleep, unaware of Chu Yuan's return.
Chu Yuan slept soundly, dreaming that he ascended Changshi City, met immortals, and became an immortal himself.
As dawn broke, the clouds on the horizon were tinged with a blood-red light. A gentle breeze swept across the laborers' camp below Changshi City, where the densely packed laborers resembled a withered, yellow grassland.
Chu Yuan arrived at the work site early in the morning, but this time he wasn't there to start work; instead, he went straight to the overseer, Zhang, at his thatched hut.
The weather was fine today, and Chu Yuan had decided to ascend the city walls today.
The overseer leisurely sipped his tea. Seeing Chu Yuan approach, his narrow eyes darted around, revealing a cold, suspicious glint.
The overseer's name was Zhang Xiangchong. As one of the overseers of Changshi City, he usually had a leisurely life
. But leisure meant he couldn't make a fortune.
Most of the overseers of Changshi City were ordinary people of a certain status and position. They had already arrived at the city walls long ago, having come down to the city walls to oversee the work because they lacked the affinity for immortality.
[Remember this site's domain name: Taiwan Novel Network is super powerful, ttk.tsok] They
wielded considerable power down below the city walls, the only restriction being that they couldn't take the "treasures" the laborers found.
This was a rule set by the cultivators, intended to ensure that laborers could more easily deliver the "treasures" they found to the city.
The laborers, coveting the immortal arts, diligently searched for treasures for the immortals, and the immortals were happy to accept the treasures; both sides were pleased, a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Soon, Chu Yuan approached Zhang Xiangchong, bowed respectfully, and expertly produced a broken jade hairpin, placing it in the foreman's hand.
Seeing Chu Yuan's understanding, Zhang Xiangchong nodded slightly, signaling him to speak.
Chu Yuan glanced at Zhang Xiangchong, took a deep breath, and blurted out,
"I have collected enough treasures and wish to go to Changshi City to observe the immortal arts. Please grant my request, sir."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiangchong's pupils dilated, and a barely perceptible slyness appeared on his face.
He had initially suspected Chu Yuan of taking Old Xu's inheritance, but Chu Yuan had remained silent for over half a month, which dispelled that suspicion.
"Yes," Zhang Xiangchong glanced at the handsome young man before him, his clothes tattered but his dark skin still unable to conceal his good looks, and suddenly understood.
He deduced that Chu Yuan had intentionally postponed his ascent to the city to avoid arousing suspicion. This cunning... no, cautious nature suited him quite well, and he immediately felt a bit more favorably disposed towards him.
Coming back to his senses, he saw Chu Yuan staring blankly at him, coughed twice, and said,
"Alright."
Chu Yuan bowed in thanks and was about to leave when Zhang Xiangchong suddenly realized something, understood that something was wrong, and quickly called out to Chu Yuan, who had already turned around.
Startled by the sudden stop, Chu Yuan looked puzzled, only to see Zhang Xiangchong calmly enter the thatched hut, seemingly searching for something.
A few moments later, Zhang Xiangchong slowly emerged, carrying a cloth bag.
He handed the bag to Chu Yuan, saying softly,
"Brother Chu, this is the treasure you gave me last time. You'll definitely need it when you climb the city walls, so don't refuse."
Chu Yuan took the bag, thinking to himself,
"This man is quite shrewd. He's afraid I'll cultivate immortal arts in the future and doesn't want to offend a future immortal, hence his refusal to accept my gift."
Chu Yuan had actually already figured out the trick, but fearing the other party was foolish, he thought of giving him a little "toll," but now it seemed that wasn't the case.
Chu Yuan smiled knowingly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Having received the overseer's permission, Chu Yuan returned to his tent alone, packed his belongings, and prepared to depart.
He took out the two cloth bags from his robes, poured the treasures onto the bed, and instantly, magical light flowed within the tent.
He placed the bluish-white spirit stone inside his robes, then divided the remaining treasures into two portions.
He buried the new cloth bundle in the soil beneath the shop to cover it, then put the old bundle away,
nodding in satisfaction.
Keeping one portion was a way to secure his future, in case he returned empty-handed without any luck in seeking immortality.
He separated the "low-grade spirit stone" from the old bundle containing the broken magic treasures, placing them in his robes.
After tugging at the bundle for a while, once everything was ready, he pulled back the curtain to set off.
There stood the robust cook—Tian Hu—standing outside.
The air was still. Chu Yuan stopped in surprise, thinking to himself, "Could it be that he discovered something?"
After a few moments of thought, Chu Yuan tentatively asked,
"What are you doing, brother? Why are you staring at me like that? It's making me itchy."
"I heard from Foreman Zhang that Brother Chu Yuan is also going to that immortal city today. It seems that Chu Yuan is quite lucky, having collected enough treasures so quickly."
Tian Hu chuckled and continued,
"Brother Chu, why are you acting like a young lady? You're so slow. I've been waiting for you here for a long time."
"Are you going too?" Chu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief after understanding the situation and asked.
"Indeed, indeed."
Tian Hu said, reaching forward to grab Chu Yuan's collar. Chu Yuan instinctively took a step back.
Tian Hu gave an awkward yet polite smile, maintaining his endearingly simple-minded appearance.
However, seeing that smile and recalling his previous treasure hunt encounter, Chu Yuan had a vague sense of foreboding.
Besides Tian Hu also wanting to go up the city, Supervisor Zhang had no other reason to leak the news of Chu Yuan's intention to go.
Therefore, Chu Yuan deduced that what Tian Hu said was probably true.
Moreover, the camp was only a little over a thousand paces from the foot of Changshi City, and there was no cover; he couldn't possibly do it in broad daylight.
So, Chu Yuan reluctantly agreed to set off together.
————
The two walked on the dirt road, gazing at the dark Changshi City in the distance. The smoke and mist flickered, sometimes visible, sometimes not, like a dream. They
didn't talk much along the way. Tian Hu occasionally spoke, and Chu Yuan answered fluently, revealing no flaws.
Before long, they arrived at the foot of the dark city.
Before the dark city walls, one could see the swirling maze laid out by immortals, adding an air of mystery to this colossal structure.
The two arrived at the entrance to the city; winding, pale blue stone steps were embedded in the walls, with two soldiers in silver armor standing on either side below.
Chu Yuan and Tian Hu nodded to each other, then each took out their treasures and handed them to one of the soldiers.
After checking their treasures, the soldier nodded without changing expression, returned them to the two, and pointed to a wooden box beside him, saying,
"You two change into clean wooden clogs and follow me."
He then half-turned and walked up the pale blue stone steps behind him.
The two hurried to the box and changed into the clean, dark wooden clogs inside.
Seeing the soldier's gesture, they nodded and followed.
As soon as they stepped onto the pale blue stone steps, they felt a comfortable warmth emanating from their feet, spreading from the clogs throughout their bodies, and they were immediately immersed in it.
Strangely, the higher they climbed the blue-white stone steps, the less wind there was, and white mist filled the surroundings, with only the winding stone steps emitting a faint light.
Through the mist, only the outline of the sun could be seen. Just then, a crane's cry pierced the white mist, exploding in the ears of the three.
Tian Hu was startled and almost fell down the stone steps. The soldier glanced at him expressionlessly and explained,
"It's just a spirit beast guarding Changshi City. No need to be alarmed."
He then looked at the still composed Chu Yuan and silently nodded.
After walking for another half hour, the mist began to dissipate, revealing the vast blue sky, and the golden sun shone brightly.
Looking at the scene before them, they all realized that they had arrived at the city.
The clouds and mist dispersed, and the sun blazed fiercely.
As the mist cleared, the scenery of Changshi City became clear, a place Chu Yuan had imagined and dreamed of countless times.
The long, narrow, colossal city of bluestone, like a sky corridor, seemed to be built upon a thin layer of mist, stretching to the horizon.
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Chu Yuan and his companion stared in a daze.
At that moment, a soldier leaped from the bluestone steps onto the corridor of Changshi City, the crisp sound startling Chu Yuan and his companion from their reverie
. Realizing what was happening, Chu Yuan and his companion followed suit, leaping onto the city's corridor. The neatly paved bluestone slabs beneath them made a dull thud, and a slight pain shot through their feet, reminding them that they were not dreaming.
Upon reaching the city wall, Chu Yuan gazed into the distance. Long corridors lined with various buildings.
Unlike the middle of the wall, a comfortable breeze blew across the upper levels, causing colorful ribbons to flutter in the wind. Signs advertising "rice" and "wine" lined both sides of the corridor.
Seeing such a bustling scene, Chu Yuan couldn't help but exclaim,
"A shop every five steps, a tavern every ten!"
The neatly laid bluestone slabs beneath his feet, his wooden clogs seemingly springy underfoot, made walking along the corridor feel light and easy.
Soldiers led the two through, their ears filled with various voices.
"Fine white jade spirit rice! Good quality and low price! Come in and take a look!"
"Fragrant precious wine! A sip while practicing martial arts is better than being a living god!"
For a moment, cries of vendors rose and fell, the corridors selling all sorts of goods, a scene both ethereal and bustling with life.
In the narrow corridor, large enough for six people to stand side by side, a few attractive individuals dressed in long robes occasionally glanced back at Chu Yuan and his companions with disdainful looks.
Chu Yuan, coming from a highly civilized world, found the scene before him rather strange; in fact, the prosperity of this immortal city was somewhat different from his expectations.
Chu Yuan remained relatively calm, but Tian Hu, dressed similarly in a grey linen short-sleeved shirt, had never seen anything like it before. He looked around anxiously, almost forgetting the purpose of his visit.
The soldier leading the way shook his head helplessly at this situation; he himself had been just as clownish when he first arrived—everyone has adolescence.
The soldier noticed that Chu Yuan behind him remained unsmiling and couldn't help but secretly admire Chu Yuan's composure.
Tian Hu wandered around aimlessly, noticing the fragrant green and yellow corn. His heart itched, and he reached out to buy one.
The soldier, unable to bear his foolish behavior, stopped him, saying,
"This spiritual item is not something a commoner like you can afford. Moreover, these spiritual items are beneficial to immortals, but harmful to mortals. Remember your purpose for coming here, don't ruin your life."
Hearing the soldier's warning, Tian Hu glanced at the green and yellow corn one last time, touched the treasure in his arms, and impatiently continued on his way.
————
The three of them walked along the long corridor, and gradually the shops on both sides began to thin out, and the number of people gradually decreased.
At this moment, the leading soldier suddenly stopped.
Chu Yuan paused, glanced at the soldier, and followed his gaze.
They saw an old man with gray hair and a thin frame, leaning against a dark blue stone wall, a shimmering jade basin in front of him.
"Is this a beggar among cultivators?"
Tian Hu remarked listlessly, noticing the old man as well.
At the same time, the old man seemed to hear Tian Hu's voice and looked up at Chu Yuan and his companions.
The old man's face was covered with fine lines and wrinkles, making him appear even more aged, but his eyes were as calm as still water.
His gaze didn't seem to be looking at people, but rather at animals.
Seeing this, the soldier immediately glared fiercely at Tian Hu, who instantly trembled with fear, covering his mouth and daring not to speak again.
Then, the soldier slowly stepped forward and spoke a few words to the old man, who then glanced at Chu Yuan and his companion.
After a few more words, the soldier returned and said,
"Take the treasure to that old man, and then you can practice the cultivation method on the stone wall behind you. I'll wait for you here."
The cultivation method on the stone wall? But there was clearly nothing on the stone wall. The two rubbed their eyes and looked at the stone wall behind the old man again; indeed, there was nothing there.
However, they dared not disobey the officer, so they could only grit their teeth, nod, and each take out a cloth bag, walking over with complicated expressions.
The two reached the stone wall and handed the cloth bag to the old man. The old man took it, weighed it in his hands, and with a flick of his wrists, the treasure jingled into the jade basin in front of him.
The cloth bag was returned to the two men. Chu Yuan took it and found that there were two or three extra items inside. He was secretly surprised and thought,
"How can this immortal be so honest?"
He glanced at Tian Hu, who was smiling broadly beside him, guessing that he also had some left over.
Just as Chu Yuan was pondering and Tian Hu was feeling lucky, the old man in front of him extended two fingers and, with lightning speed, touched the two men's foreheads.
The two men were puzzled by the old man's actions, but then they noticed something unusual about the dark blue stone wall behind him.
Dense golden characters began to appear on the stone wall, as dense as stars, a magnificent sight.
Chu Yuan, originally the son of a merchant, knew some characters and wasn't completely clueless.
Seeing the golden characters appear on the stone wall, the two men were excited.
After their excitement subsided, they began to read the information on the stone wall.
"Immortal Cultivation Qi Induction Scripture!"
Looking at this familiar line of pale gold text, Chu Yuan recalled what he had seen at the camp and knew that this technique was the key to determining whether one could cultivate immortality.
Chu Yuan quickly skimmed through the text. The gist of the technique was to absorb external spiritual energy and gather it in the Qi Sea acupoint to enter the Qi Chain stage.
After reviewing it more carefully, Chu Yuan sat cross-legged and tried to circulate the technique recorded in the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Guiding Scripture," but found no progress.
Chu Yuan glanced at Tian Hu, who was also sitting cross-legged beside him, and saw that he was covered in sweat, his neck was red, and he looked like he couldn't defecate. He knew that Tian Hu was also struggling to find the key.
At this critical moment, Chu Yuan finally remembered that he had a cheat code.
Chu Yuan glanced at the officer in the distance, then at the old man who was leisurely with his eyes closed, and at Tian Hu, whose eyes were also closed but whose face was red. He quietly reached into his robes.
Touching the "low-grade spirit stone" hidden in his robes, Chu Yuan silently chanted in his mind:
"Low-grade spirit stone, equip me well!"
At this moment, Chu Yuan felt the spirit stone in his robes disappear, replaced by a talisman that had no tactile sensation.
In an instant, Chu Yuan saw those exquisitely beautiful words in his mind.
[Acquired entry: Smooth Spiritual Energy Flow]
[Entry Effect: Enhances the flow of spiritual energy within the body, strengthening the foundation and facilitating the absorption of spiritual energy from heaven and earth]
[Fixed entry condition: Reaching the Foundation Establishment stage]
[Entry solidification progress: 0%]
This was truly amazing.
Chu Yuan took his hands out of his robes and silently recited the incantation of the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Guiding Scripture" again. This time, he could clearly feel a wondrous change occurring in his body.
"It's working!"
Chu Yuan formed hand seals, feeling as if he had entered a state of complete absorption.
As the sun dipped westward, the chaotic clouds resembled blood.
On the stone wall, magical light flowed, and lines of subtitles seemed to come alive, bursting into Chu Yuan's mind, making his hair stand on end and causing a white sheen to seep from his cheeks. " What a wondrous
feeling!"
Chu Yuan experienced the changes in his body, feeling wisps of spiritual energy from the outside world drawing closer to him, then gradually entering his body through his skin. Following the techniques recorded in the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Guiding Scripture," Chu Yuan mobilized the wisps of spiritual energy flowing into his body, causing them to bind together. He then circulated the techniques to guide this spiritual energy into his Qi Sea acupoint. The spiritual energy of Shengyang Mansion, descending from the twelfth floor, gathered at the Baihui point of his limbs, heading straight for his Qi Sea acupoint. With the added benefit of the "Smooth Spiritual Energy" attribute, the effect of regulating spiritual energy was excellent. A continuous stream of spiritual energy flowed into his body, slowly forming a small, round, gleaming, jade-like sphere within his Qi Sea acupoint , its luster reflecting light like a mirror. A bluish-white light emanated from the jade sphere, generating a warm current that flowed throughout his body, creating a warm aura. At this moment, Chu Yuan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air. Looking up, Chu Yuan noticed that his skin had become much whiter; although it still appeared somewhat dark, it was noticeably smoother. Observing the changes in his body, Chu Yuan wanted to check his lifespan. With a thought, pale blue subtitles slowly appeared: [Name: Chu Yuan] [Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Stage 1] [Lifespan: 16/120] Looking at the panel displaying his lifespan and cultivation level, Chu Yuan was overjoyed. A lifespan of one hundred and twenty was almost the limit for his kind in his previous life. "The fixed condition for the [Smooth Spiritual Energy] attribute is reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Now that I've reached the first level of Qi Refining, the fixed progress of the attribute should have changed, right?" Thinking about his Qi Refining cultivation, Chu Yuan summoned his equipment inventory again. [Equipment Item: Low-grade Spirit Stone] [Acquired Attribute: Smooth Spiritual Energy] [Attribute Fixed Progress: 10%] "The fixed progress of the first level of Qi Refining has increased by one-tenth. I wonder when I'll reach the Foundation Establishment stage..." At this moment, Chu Yuan glanced at the robust Tian Hu next to him and found that he still couldn't come up with anything for a long time.
"So it's done. You have good talent. Even after entering the Qi Refining stage, you must not slack off and should be even more diligent. There are a few basic spells recorded on the wall; you may take a look." The
old man's voice came from all directions. Chu Yuan turned around but saw that the old man had not spoken, yet his voice seemed to come from nowhere.
"Could this be the art of transmitting sound through magic?"
Chu Yuan wondered. The old man stopped transmitting his voice.
Chu Yuan didn't think too much about it and was about to look at the other spells on the stone wall when he noticed that his gray linen shorts were covered in sweat.
Turning his attention back to the stone wall, Chu Yuan found that in addition to the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Induction Scripture," there were also several minor spells.
For example, "Cleansing Clothes Spell," "Calming Mantra," "Bright Fire Spell," "Insect Repelling Spell," and so on. According to the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Induction Scripture," once one enters the Qi Refining stage, these minor spells will be easy to learn and will not be easily forgotten.
At that moment, Chu Yuan only needed to read the "Cleansing Clothes Technique" once to easily perform it, and the water droplets on his clothes disappeared completely.
Meanwhile, Tian Hu beside him was still relentlessly pushing his limits.
Chu Yuan memorized each of the minor techniques on the stone wall, learning them instantly and remembering them perfectly.
————
The soldier who had been standing idly in the rear for half a day, seeing that the time was almost up, went forward and spoke a few words to the old man, and the words on the stone wall all floated away and disappeared.
"Almost there, always almost there, why always almost there?"
Tian Hu muttered, slapping his knee heavily with his heavily textured hands, and stood up helplessly. Seeing Chu Yuan beside him silent, he subconsciously assumed that he had also failed.
Thinking he had figured things out, he was about to speak to Chu Yuan when he saw an officer standing in front of him, and he was immediately startled.
The officer waved to Chu Yuan and said,
"From now on, we are fellow Daoists, no need for formalities."
"What? How could he have succeeded?"
Tian Hu tried desperately to steady himself and avoid panic, but his body swayed, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
The bluestone slab made a crisp sound.
Hearing the sound, Chu Yuan subconsciously turned around and met Tian Hu's eyes.
Looking into Tian Hu's eyes, Chu Yuan couldn't suppress a certain indescribable emotion.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
Looking into those eyes, Chu Yuan fell into deep thought. What was in those eyes?
"Not envy, not jealousy, not resentment, not even admiration, but fear!"
But why was he afraid?
Chu Yuan was filled with doubt and felt utterly bewildered. Why was Tian Hu afraid of him? Did he think he would eat him?
But apart from the matter of Uncle Xu's inheritance, Chu Yuan had never interacted with Tian Hu.
If it was about Uncle Xu's inheritance, it wouldn't be like this. Tian Hu neither benefited from that matter nor offended him; he wouldn't show this expression. So why was he so afraid of him?
Chu Yuan couldn't understand.
While he was pondering, Tian Hu had already left with the officer, occasionally glancing back, his eyes filled with fear and guilt.
Watching the two gradually disappear into the distance, Chu Yuan decided to stop thinking about it, because something more important and urgent awaited him.
He was hungry. He
hadn't eaten for a day, and Chu Yuan was starting to feel hungry.
Even in the Qi Refining stage, one cannot achieve abstinence from grains; daily food and urination are still necessary. Chu Yuan used to think that ascending the city meant becoming an immortal, but now it seems this doesn't make
one a true immortal. His stomach rumbled, and Chu Yuan found hunger truly unbearable.
The moon was already high in the sky, the night was heavy with clouds, and the darkness was so thick that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.
Chu Yuan raised his hand and made a hand seal, casting a "Bright Fire Technique." A flame ignited from the tip of his finger, like a golden bean.
He turned his head, intending to say goodbye to the old man under the stone wall, but found that the old man and the jade box in front of him had vanished without a trace.
"So fast, even silently."
Chu Yuan felt a chill run down his spine, thinking to himself,
"It seems this old senior is truly a master, but... but why did he have to do such an ordinary task?"
Touching the remaining "treasures" in his pocket, Chu Yuan didn't know if it would be enough for a meal, but he mustered his courage and decided to go eat something.
Reaching a densely populated area of the corridor, where many luminous substances were present, he extinguished the "Bright Flame Technique" again.
After searching for a long time, he finally found a seemingly unpretentious, ordinary-looking tavern and went straight inside.
Looking at the food in the display case, he saw that everything was clearly priced, including both mortal and spiritual foods.
Chu Yuan ordered a bowl of jade spirit rice, a plate of crow meat, and a plate of peanuts, and began to eat with great relish.
Chu Yuan stared at the white jade spirit rice on the table in front of him. The air was thick with spiritual energy, and the aroma was intoxicating. The grains were so plump they seemed to drip with moisture. He picked up the jade chopsticks from the table, scooped up a handful, and put it in his mouth.
"Truly delicious."
The spirit rice had a slight chewiness, was warm and smooth without sticking to his teeth, and a faint sweetness lingered on his tongue. Swallowing it, he could faintly feel the small ball in his Qi Sea acupoint becoming stronger.
"It must be the nourishment from this white jade spirit rice. Spiritual food is truly wonderful; it's just a pity I can't afford other spiritual meat."
After taking a bite of the spirit rice
, he glanced at the other lackluster mortal food on the table. Chu Yuan used the jade chopsticks to pick up a piece of crow meat, put it in his mouth, and found it tasteless, even less delicious than what he had eaten in his previous life. "Looks like I need to find a job to earn some spirit stones for immortals so I can eat better." He
continued
eating, when suddenly his stomach ached, and a sharp pain shot upwards, causing intense discomfort.
Chu Yuan was bewildered. His hands gripped the table, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He thought to himself,
"Has the food gone bad?"
Chu Yuan suspected food poisoning, but he had no proof.
"Could someone have plotted against me?"
Completely perplexed, Chu Yuan's stomach churned, and he nearly vomited.
Just then, a waiter in a blue robe brought over a pot of wine. Seeing Chu Yuan's gritted teeth, he found it amusing.
How could spiritual food be eaten with mortal food?
Although he wanted to laugh, the waiter was professionally trained and wouldn't laugh at anything, no matter how funny it was; he simply suppressed it.
When Chu Yuan entered, the waiter could tell from his clothes that he came from the city. Now, seeing him clutching his stomach, he knew he had definitely mixed spiritual and mortal food.
The waiter placed the ordinary wine Chu Yuan had ordered on the table and said,
"Fellow Daoist, are you unaware that ordinary food and spiritual food cannot be consumed at the same time? A half-hour interval is required."
Chu Yuan immediately realized his mistake, regretting his earlier actions, but it was too late. He could only hurriedly bow to the waiter and ask,
"I must thank you for saving me!"
Seeing Chu Yuan's sincere attitude, the waiter was pleased and said,
"That's simple. Use the 'Heart-Cleansing Mantra' and the pain will subside. After a short while, the spiritual energy of the white jade spirit rice in your stomach will be absorbed, and you'll be fine."
Having learned the "Heart-Clearing Mantra" from the stone wall and understanding its origins, Chu Yuan made a hand seal, and a golden light shone between his brows.
His mind cleared, and the spiritual energy within his body gathered at his Qi Sea acupoint at a slower pace.
Sure enough, the abdominal pain subsided.
Chu Yuan quickly thanked the waiter, then exchanged a few polite words with him, asking about the precautions for food, clothing, and lodging. The waiter told him everything without any concealment.
After this misunderstanding, Chu Yuan glanced at the white jade spirit rice, and subconsciously felt it didn't smell so good anymore, but he still wanted to finish it, as it was indeed quite expensive.
Half an hour later, it was completely dark. Chu Yuan finished his ordinary food and drank his wine. By this time, almost everyone in the tavern had left.
The waiter came to collect the bill again. After exchanging the treasures from his cloth bag, Chu Yuan only had one or two broken spirit stones left. Chu Yuan timidly asked about the lodging fee.
The answer he received was astronomical for Chu Yuan.
He shook his head, not daring to think about it further, but the situation wasn't too bad. He was still a Qi Refining Stage 1 cultivator, and could probably manage a night outside.
The waiter, seeing Chu Yuan's appearance, knew he couldn't afford the rent, but didn't offer much sympathy. That's how the world is; mortals are like that, and immortals are too. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and no reward without effort.
Fortunately, the waiter took a liking to Chu Yuan and kindly pointed him in the right direction, saying,
"Go ten miles that way, and you'll see a huge building. There are many signs below, all advertising for workers."
Chu Yuan thanked him, cast a "Bright Fire Technique" hand seal, and headed out into the gray night.
Walking along the corridor, feeling sleepy after a hearty meal, Chu Yuan sat cross-legged in a crack in the wall and circulated the "Immortal Cultivation Qi Guiding Scripture" several times.
With the blessing of the "Smooth Spiritual Qi" attribute, the process went relatively smoothly.
As Chu Yuan was about to sleep, he replaced the "Smooth Spiritual Energy" attribute with "Good Fortune."
The "Good Fortune" attribute required the equipment to be active for 100 days, and equipping it while sleeping was the best option.
————
Morning.
The dazzling dawn leaped over the city walls, its golden light piercing his eyes. Chu Yuan opened his eyes and saw that there were more figures in the corridor.
Chu Yuan stretched, exhaled, and was about to get up when something blocked the light. Looking up, he saw a huge figure.
Before Chu Yuan could react, the figure slowly squatted down and tossed a brittle spirit stone onto the open ground in front of him, its surface gleaming golden in the morning light.
Chu Yuan was completely bewildered. What was this all about?
"What do you take me for? A beggar?"
Chu Yuan muttered weakly to himself. The person didn't hear him and swaggered away.
Chu Yuan looked at the gleaming spirit stone in front of him, then glanced around the corridor to make sure no one was watching him. He silently picked it up.
Who would turn down money? What kind of person would turn down money?
Picking up the spirit stone, Chu Yuan could faintly sense a spiritual energy emanating from it, which filled him with joy.
This wasn't Chu Yuan's fault; his experience of living in the city had made picking up things an occupational habit.
Chu Yuan put the spirit stone away and continued walking towards the building the shopkeeper had mentioned.
Before long, a towering, dark building appeared on one side of the corridor.
Upon closer inspection, the building was enveloped in swirling mist, blocking out the sun, its eaves jutting out and vying for attention.
"What an imposing sight!"
Chu Yuan remarked as he reached the ground floor, then began searching for job postings.
The walls were covered with dazzling yellow cloths made of a special material, their contents varied wildly.
"Quenching Room hiring, requires two cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining."
"Foot Bath Shop hiring, requires Qi Refining Level 1, note: female cultivators only."
...
Chu Yuan shook his head helplessly, finding nothing suitable. After searching for a long time, he finally spotted a decent position.
"Alchemy Room, no cultivation level, gender, or age restrictions."
Seeing this posting, Chu Yuan nodded:
"This one's good! I'll give it a try."
He then took the yellow cloth from the wall, activated his spiritual energy, and sensed the location of the Alchemy Room.
After walking for half an hour, they finally found the alchemy room. Looking from afar, they saw thick black smoke billowing from the chimney. Even approaching, they could feel the intense heat. Chu Yuan became doubtful, pondering,
"Will this really work?"
"Boom!"
Just as Chu Yuan was pondering, the alchemy room suddenly emitted a piercing roar.
Then, an old man with spiky hair, covered in black ash, emerged from within, exhaling wisps of black smoke.