Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Young Master, Scholar
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Chen Shi didn't leave Phoenix Ridge right away. Instead, he stayed by Little Dingxiang and the others, waiting for dawn.
It was still nighttime now, and there was no guarantee that some evil spirit wouldn't sneak up the mountain. Chen Shi staying here ensured their safety.
There were twenty-seven children on the mountain. Chen Shi thought for a moment, then opened the box in his embrace and distributed to each child a one-hundred-tael silver note, along with two Soul-Returning Lotuses.
These children had frequently gone to the underworld to steal white lotuses, allowing yin energy to invade them and damage their souls. Eating the Soul-Returning Lotuses would merely restore their souls to their previous state.
Any significant improvement was impossible.
As for the yin energy in their bodies, Chen Shi summoned his golden core and tried using his own yang energy to help resolve it for them.
Doing so greatly damaged his cultivation, but cultivation was something refined through effort—once damaged, he could simply refine it back.
After finishing this, he went to the back mountain and summoned Rebirth Talismans to send the ghosts of the children who had died there on their way.
Chen Shi had just sent off these child ghosts and was about to stand when he suddenly felt dizzy, his vision blurring as his body staggered. He hurriedly steadied himself against a large tree.
His heart pounded wildly, as if trying to leap out of his chest. His temples throbbed in sync, his eyes swelled, he gasped for large breaths, and sweat poured out uncontrollably.
Chen Shi stood there for a moment before recovering somewhat. He knew he had overexerted himself and injured his body.
He had done too much that night: using a single breath of true qi to wipe out the entire Taiping Sect, then rushing without pause to resolve yin energy for twenty-seven children, followed by sending the wrongly dead children in the back mountain on their way—all without a moment's rest. His body simply couldn't hold up.
He sat down and circulated the Three Lights Righteous Qi Art to restore some qi and blood before finally getting up and returning to the front mountain.
By the time he reached the front mountain, daylight had fully broken.
Chen Shi led these children down the mountain to a nearby town, where he first booked the entire local restaurant to give them a proper meal, then had them wait there.
He took a wooden cart to Mist Ridge and sought out Jade Heaven City.
Seeing his pale complexion, Jade Heaven City was startled and hurriedly asked what had happened. Chen Shi recounted how he had wiped out the Taiping Sect.
"Could I trouble Hall Master Jade to contact the Red Mountain Hall brothers in Arch City to send these children back to their respective villages?"
"Scholar, if something like this comes up in the future, call on me!"
Jade Heaven City said regretfully.
He was about to go handle it when he remembered something.
"Scholar, did you do it cleanly?"
Chen Shi didn't understand.
Jade Heaven City explained, "I mean, did you kill them cleanly, loot them cleanly, and clean up cleanly? These are the Three Clean Precepts of our path—the unbreakable rule for those who walk the rivers and lakes."
Chen Shi regarded him with deep respect. His grandfather had taught him about such things, but never the specifics. Clearly, Jade Heaven City was a veteran of the path and knew the rules inside out.
Seeing his expression, Jade Heaven City knew he hadn't done it cleanly. He smiled.
"Rest easy and recover. I'll go clean it up for you."
Such sects often had backing from aristocratic families. If not cleaned up thoroughly, it would be easy for someone to track them down and demand answers.
Chen Shi said, "Having friends come from afar—isn't that delightful? If they come knocking, just kill them and bury them. Problem solved?"
Jade Heaven City admired his erudition and laughed.
"The principle holds, but it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, hard to guard against arrows in the dark. Better to be cautious."
He hurried off.
Chen Shi had indeed suffered a major loss of vitality this time; his complexion remained poor. Even after two or three days of recuperation, he hadn't fully recovered to his peak.
While eating Soul-Returning Lotuses, Chen Shi missed the little coffin at Mirror Lake Manor. If he could lie in it for a day or half a day, he'd be healed by now.
Over these three days, whenever he had free time, he ate Soul-Returning Lotuses. The ones in his box were nearly all gone, with only two or three left.
Soul-Returning Lotuses were likely materials for refining spirit pills, possibly key to breaking from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Spirit Transformation Realm. If refined into spirit pills, they'd fetch terrifying prices—probably four or five times their original value.
But Chen Shi didn't know pill refining and had no formula, so he simply ate them directly, which still strengthened his soul.
With his qi and blood depleted and vitality greatly injured, he felt too lazy to move. Yet his mind lingered on that lotus field in the underworld swamp.
The thought of an endless expanse of lotus fields made his heart burn hot and eager.
It's been so long since I stole melons. Me hiding in the melon field, Old Lady Wuzhu with her steel fork in hand... No, me hiding in the lotus field, that massive ghost god with the fork!
He itched to set out immediately to steal white lotuses, but even getting up left him dizzy, his golden core listless. He had to give up.
Jade Heaven City returned, bringing a few children—Little Dingxiang prominently among them.
"These ones couldn't find their parents."
Chen Shi asked in confusion, "Where are their parents?"
"Gone."
Jade Heaven City winked at him and whispered, "They might have perished in the demonic transformation."
Chen Shi felt a pang of sorrow.
"How should we arrange for them?"
Jade Heaven City said, "Have them join our Red Mountain Hall's talisman master group. Would that work?"
Chen Shi hesitated, then shook his head.
"To be frank, Red Mountain Hall's arts are too outdated. Teaching them would only hold them back."
Jade Heaven City frowned.
"Then how do we arrange for them?"
Chen Shi thought for a moment.
"I have connections at the Loose Cultivator Gathering. Perhaps I can help find them good masters."
At the mention of "connections," Jade Heaven City frowned involuntarily, recalling the demonic "Chen Shi" in Arch City who had broken all precepts and planned to devour Tianyang Boy and the others.
His connections wouldn't be them, would they?
Sure enough, Chen Shi brought Little Dingxiang and the others to Tianyang Boy.
"Tianyang Brother, I have a favor to ask."
Tianyang Boy's heart skipped a beat; he nearly slid to his knees from his book chest. He couldn't help recalling how forceful Chen Shi had been back when "asking" for favors.
Chen Shi explained Little Dingxiang and the others' situation.
"Tianyang Brother, with your skills, if you die without passing them on, it'd be a regret."
If I don't agree, he'll beat me to death and let my arts die with me!
Tianyang Boy thought he understood the unspoken threat. His heart chilled as he put on a solemn face.
"This is helping others and finding joy in it. Now I have successors for my mantle—what's not to like?"
Chen Shi was delighted and had him select a disciple.
Tianyang Boy examined Little Dingxiang, Little Sky, and the others' aptitudes. Little Dingxiang quickly stood ramrod straight, gazing at him expectantly, hoping he'd choose her.
Though Tianyang Boy feared Chen Shi's "tyranny,"
he adhered to the principle of quality over quantity and selected Little Sky, the one with the best aptitude among them.
"I'll take him."
"What's your name?"
"I'm Little Sky."
Little Sky said, sniffling.
Tianyang Boy was overjoyed.
"I'm Tianyang, he's Little Sky—Little Sunlight! He's meant to be my disciple!"
Chen Shi then took Little Dingxiang and the others to see Blue-Clothed Musician and the rest, explaining the situation.
Though Blue-Clothed Musician and the others wanted to refuse, under "Chen Shi's" pressure, they gritted their teeth and each selected a disciple.
Little Dingxiang watched them expectantly, straightening her chest again and again, hoping they'd pick her—but she was passed over every time.
In the end, only she remained.
Chen Shi took her hand to find Madam Hua Li. Madam Hua Li examined Little Dingxiang's aptitude and said apologetically,
"Little Ten, this child's talent is too poor. Even studying under me, she wouldn't learn much."
"She might not even form a Divine Embryo."
Chen Shi said, "She's clever and kind..."
Madam Hua Li smiled.
"It's not about cleverness or kindness."
"Good people don't necessarily cultivate well."
Little Dingxiang dimmed and tugged Chen Shi's sleeve.
"Little Ten Brother, I can take care of myself alone. Don't find me a master."
Chen Shi held her hand, about to leave, when Ding Ding hurried over and called out to him.
"Young Master, Madam says her soul is very strong. You must have given her plenty of soul-nourishing spirit pills and medicines."
"The one with the highest soul cultivation is Granny Sha. Why not take her to see Granny Sha? Granny Sha might be happy to have an extra helper."
Chen Shi's eyes lit up, and he thanked her profusely.
Ding Ding pursed her lips and smiled.
"What 'thanks' between us?"
With that, she bumped his shoulder with hers, then bounced away excitedly.
Chen Shi watched her go, then took Little Dingxiang to find Granny Sha.
Granny Sha had been elusive these days, but with Blackie Pot's help, they quickly found her and explained.
Granny Sha sized up Little Dingxiang, felt her aptitude, and said,
"This child has been to the underworld many times and had her aptitude eroded by yin energy."
"Her original aptitude wasn't great, and the yin erosion made a bad situation worse."
Little Dingxiang's faint hope instantly turned to disappointment.
"But she's perfect for cultivating my lineage's arts."
Granny Sha praised.
"Heavy yin energy, strong soul—she's born material for soul refining arts! To others, you're a dung beetle's treasure, something they'd disdain even to glance at. But I'm the dung beetle."
"Come with me. Sooner or later, I'll make you outstanding and scare the hell out of those who looked down on you!"
Little Dingxiang was both shocked and delighted, hurriedly kowtowing to Granny Sha.
"This girl knows her place!"
Granny Sha beamed, pulling her up and looking her over.
"Still a little beauty in the making."
"Little Ten, want a child bride?"
Chen Shi's face flushed red.
"Granny, I'm still young!"
"Not young anymore."
"Besides, with how you carry on, you might not live to adulthood. Marry early, give your grandpa a great-grandkid. If you die, at least someone will care."
Chen Shi fled in embarrassment.
Granny Sha yelled after him,
"I'm just speaking the truth! Don't take her now, and when she's grown, you might not even be able to marry!"
She looked Little Dingxiang over again, liking her more by the minute.
"Other soul-refining old mages would see a kid like you and grin ear to ear, then extract your soul to refine into a treasure."
Little Dingxiang jumped in fright.
Granny Sha laughed.
"But you're my disciple. Anyone who extracts your soul, I'll extract their whole family's! Rest easy—no one will touch you."
And so Little Dingxiang followed Granny Sha in cultivation. It had to be said, Madam Hua Li's eye was sharp indeed. She progressed rapidly with Granny Sha's methods, twice the result for half the effort, but struggled with other systems.
Little Dingxiang also discovered that Granny Sha often hung around a blue goat and a mustached man who didn't seem trustworthy.
The three would huddle secretively, discussing things.
Later, Little Dingxiang learned they were surveilling Chen Shi!
When they gathered, they exchanged info: what Chen Shi did today, how many times he courted death, how he danced back and forth at death's door, and so on.
"Girls, from now on, if we're tied up, surveillance of Little Ten falls to you."
Granny Sha said solemnly.
Little Dingxiang asked, "Why surveil Little Ten Brother?"
"Afraid he'll die and destroy the world."
At the Loose Cultivator Gathering, Chen Shi languished sickly until the end, recovering only about sixty to seventy percent.
Jade Heaven City had handled the Taiping Sect properly: all corpses cleared, Chen Shi's ironware purchases from nearby towns covered up—he used Forgetfulness Talismans to make the blacksmith bosses forget completely.
The children sent home, their unhappy Taiping Sect experiences also washed away with Forgetfulness Talismans.
Jade Heaven City had originally planned to summon the souls of the Taiping Sect members, erase their memories, but couldn't summon a single one.
"Did the Scholar handle them already?"
He wondered, but thought no more.
On the day the Loose Cultivator Gathering ended, several strangers arrived at Phoenix Ridge.
Travel-worn, they immediately summoned Soul-Summoning Talismans upon arrival—without success—then tried Person-Seeking and Corpse-Seeking Talismans.
One came to the sect gate, burning incense to ask the guardian spirit beast, but Chen Shi had destroyed it too, so no response.
Helpless, they went down to nearby towns to inquire, but the locals had no recollection.
Unable to find any useful info, they frowned and gathered.
"Young Master sent us to hunt the perpetrator who destroyed Taiping Sect and find that box of Soul-Returning Lotuses. With nothing to show, how do we report back?"
"As long as someone acted, there should be traces."
Yet mountain and underworld alike bore no clues.
Now, they had no choice but to report failure.
Their plan set, they prepared to leave.
Then, a tall, burly man approached, dressed in a straight blue robe, red silk sash at his waist, blue cloth wrapped atop his head.
"Having friends come from afar—isn't that delightful? Since you've come, settle in."
The burly man smiled.
"Are you friends from Yudu? Why rush back?"
The four halted, hearts chilling.
The leading scholar-dressed man said warily, "Who might you be?"
Jade Heaven City smiled faintly.
"On behalf of the Scholar, greetings to your Young Master."
He summoned his nascent soul, body surging forward to strike into their midst!
These four were sent by the Young Master: first to investigate Taiping Sect's destroyer, and if caught, they were no ordinary foes. The sect's elimination meant the real culprits had exceptional strength, so the scholar sent was a Spirit Transformation Realm expert, the strongest.
The other three were Nascent Soul Realm experts, formidable in their own right!
The four joined hands, but in the first clash with Jade Heaven City, lightning-fast, three fell dead!
The survivor was the scholar, his nascent soul suppressed by Jade Heaven City.
"After just over ten days training with Elders Hanqian, my progress is this great! This scholar's strength rivals that Martial Dao Zheng fellow, yet I took him in a few moves!"
Jade Heaven City was thrilled and shocked, but no time to dwell. He demanded,
"Who is your Young Master? Speak! Or your life ends—bones ground to dust, ashes scattered!"
The scholar's face twisted ferociously; suddenly, his nascent soul burst into blazing flames.
Jade Heaven City recoiled in alarm, releasing him. The scholar's nascent soul burned to ash in an instant—self-immolation!
Jade Heaven City's face paled, heart pounding.
"He'd rather his nascent soul burn and soul scatter than reveal the Young Master's name. Can't trace it now!"
Jade Heaven City steadied himself. Digging deeper risked his own life!
He found Chen Shi and recounted it all.
Chen Shi puzzled, "Taiping Sect—who's it belong to? What background does this Young Master have? Far in Yudu, yet owns property in Horizontal Duke Mountain producing Soul-Returning Lotuses for him, even commanding Spirit Transformation Realm experts to die silent."
"This Young Master... his origins are no small matter."
Jade Heaven City gravely said,
"No matter his origins, he's beyond what you or I can provoke."
"Scholar, this is huge. We can't investigate further! If we do, not just us—Red Mountain Hall might be razed flat!"
End of chapter.