Chapter 243
Chapter 243
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Little Temple Ginseng Fruits Bear, Rejuvenation and Longevity Refinement
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chen Shi returned to Qianyang Mountain two days later.
That same night after he arrived back in Huangpo Village, a big-headed little imp emerged from Qianyang Mountain and headed toward the village. A lantern ghost accompanied it, its neck sprouting a lantern for a head to provide light.
The little imp arrived outside Huangpo Village and paid respects to Godmother Sang Yu with incense. It asked,
" Sister Sang Yu, has Scholar Chen returned? "
Sang Yu accepted the incense and said,
" The young master said he's not here. You should go back. "
The little imp acknowledged this and led the lantern ghost back to report.
Chen Residence.
Chen Shi was using the Judge's Dragon Whisker Brush to trace the Luotian Grand Offering canopy overhead when he overheard the conversation between Sang Yu and the little imp. He said to Blackie Pot,
" Lord Wuwang has waited fourteen hundred years. What's two more days? The moment I return, he sends a little imp to hurry me. "
His trip to Great South Lake had aimed to find the tip of the Judge's Dragon Whisker Brush and fuse it with the Wuwang Spear into one, restoring the Judge's Brush to extend Lord Wuwang's life.
The journey to Great South Lake had yielded great rewards. Not only had he retrieved the Judge's Brush, but he'd also obtained the Nether Spring Roaming Dragon Sword and eradicated one of the Young Master's major forces: the Moving Mountains Sect, which survived by grave-robbing.
Moreover, another of the Young Master's major forces, the Auxiliary Uprightness Pavilion, had suffered a heavy blow.
On top of that, Lady Shi'e was even closer to restoring her true form!—
Now, if Lady Shi'e removed her head, the remaining body was about the height of a normal woman—no longer the size of an ant.
He had also enshrined the Holy King of Opening the River, regathered the divine aspect, and gained some understanding of prehistoric remnants.
But most importantly, Chen Shi had finally met Yin Shu A'zhuo!
A'zhuo treated him like a close nephew, and those few days spent with him had been the most relaxed of his life.
Fresh from the road and not yet rested, Lord Wuwang had sent for him—likely for the Judge's Dragon Whisker Brush—which irritated Chen Shi a bit, so he'd had Sang Yu send the little imp away.
The Judge's Dragon Whisker Brush was simply too useful.
Chen Shi finished tracing the entire canopy and said to Blackie Pot, sprawled on the ground,
The Luotian Grand Offering on the canopy had used up too much black dog blood. Blackie Pot, drained of blood by him, was listless. It gnawed two bites of exotic beast meat before dozing off drowsily.
Worried, Chen Shi went over to check and saw it was just asleep, which eased his mind a little.
He mounted the canopy on the wooden cart. Now, when traveling, it would provide shade, and with its immense power, he could pull it out anytime to use as a talisman soldier.
Though a talisman soldier, this treasure's might was no less than an ordinary magic treasure. When activated, it covered an area of an acre or so!
Atop it towered twelve hundred gods for suppression. Wind, rain, thunder, lightning—all under control. It could be called the strongest Nascent Soul force field!
If paired with the refined Nether Spring Roaming Dragon Sword, the sword shuttling beneath the canopy between yin and yang realms—Chen Shi could truly claim invincibility at his level!
Even a Soul Transformation Realm powerhouse entering the treasure umbrella's coverage would face extreme peril, risking death with the slightest carelessness!
" The wooden cart needs new talismans redrawn too. Best to add Six Ding Six Jia guardians, plus wind, rain, thunder, lightning, and talismans to ward off wind, water, and fire. "
Chen Shi glanced at Blackie Pot and thought,
But not today.
The next day, Blackie Pot still lacked energy, so no blood could be drawn.
After paying respects to Grandpa, Godmother, and Scholar Zhu, Chen Shi immediately drove the cart straight toward Xuan Mountain.
" Little Ten's back! "
Passing Granny Zhuang's little hut, Granny Zhuang said, " Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry? "
Chen Shi offered her incense and laughed, " I'm going to see the ginseng herbs. "
Granny Zhuang said, " Some cultivators have come lately. They've spotted the little fruits' tracks and plan to dig them up to refine into longevity elixirs. "
" They've hidden away. "
Ginseng hunters often roamed the mountains, gathering spiritual herbs and roots—especially those that had developed spirits. They'd sell them in the cities to the lords for life extension.
Qianyang Mountain had plenty of such hunters too.
Chen Shi asked, puzzled,
" Where are they hiding? "
Suddenly, a dozen heads poked out from under Granny Zhuang's skirt—the tiger-headed ginseng fruits from the woods.
They scrambled out from under her skirt and climbed up Chen Shi's legs. Some sat on his shoulders, some clung to the back of his head, others dangled from his body.
One ginseng herb stood on Chen Shi's chest, cradling his face and staring sternly at him. It babbled on, asking if he'd been eating properly lately.
When Chen Shi had formed his holy embryo body, he'd fainted from hunger multiple times. These ginseng dolls had saved him with their fruits, so they remembered it well.
" I've been eating on time! "
Chen Shi plucked it down and said to Granny Zhuang, " Granny, keeping them here with you isn't a long-term solution. My brain-back little temple has sunlight, and there's a plot of land in front. Why not let the ginseng herbs live in my little temple for now? "
Granny Zhuang beamed, " Perfect. "
" They've been giving me headaches these days. If you're willing to take them, it saves me the trouble! "
With a thought from Chen Shi, divine light shone from his brain-back little temple, drawing the ginseng dolls inside.
One per hole, like radishes—the big-headed dolls were planted outside the temple, only their heads poking out.
Sunlight streamed from the little temple, bathing them. The big-headed dolls transformed into ginseng herbs, each over a person's height, with starry leaves bearing a few red fruits.
Chen Shi intended to cultivate the ginseng with the Three Lights Righteous Qi of sun, moon, and stars. He activated the Eight Gates Golden Pavilion, and the three lights turned into dense essence flowing toward the ginseng.
Lady Shi'e's cultivation had advanced greatly. When operating the Eight Gates Golden Pavilion, the Three Lights Righteous Qi conversion was faster—fifty or sixty percent quicker than before!
Chen Shi stirred and glanced at Granny Zhuang.
" Granny, forgive me. "
Before Granny Zhuang could react, the world spun. When she came to, she found herself bound atop a divine shrine in the little temple by some force. Three Lights Righteous Qi from another time-space poured in endlessly.
In this temple sat another god: a woman whose head was several times larger than her body, regulating the Three Lights Righteous Qi.
Granny Zhuang's magic power was vast and boundless, but she knew she fell far short of this woman.
Realizing this was Chen Shi's brain-back little temple, she relaxed and, like Lady Shi'e, helped Chen Shi regulate the righteous qi.
This heavenly righteous qi came from the ancestral land, Huaxia Divine Continent—pure and untainted by any evil. As Granny Zhuang helped refine it, the evil qi she'd absorbed was gradually purged. She felt both shocked and delighted.
" This child Little Ten is truly something. "
With Granny Zhuang and Lady Shi'e regulating the qi, it was like having two powerhouses of their caliber aiding his cultivation as Nascent Souls. Besides the ginseng dolls growing swiftly, Chen Shi's own cultivation surged wildly!
" Does an innate dao embryo have this cultivation speed? " Chen Shi wondered.
Suddenly, his little temple rumbled as divine light surged and circulated. The internal space was actually expanding!
This change had happened once before—when the temple had grown and gained an extra divine shrine!
Though Chen Shi was used to it by now, the prospect of another shrine still thrilled him.
Another shrine meant another divine embryo.
With three divine embryos—even if each was inferior to an innate dao embryo—their combined power could match or surpass one!
When the rumbling stopped, the temple space had grown much larger. Sure enough, a new divine shrine appeared on the right side.
Three shrines now: Lady Shi'e in the center, Granny Zhuang on the left, the right one empty.
With a thought from Chen Shi, one ginseng doll flew up and settled on the right shrine.
But its low cultivation offered limited boost.
Seeing this, the other dolls yanked themselves from the soil outside the temple door, rushed in, and crammed onto the same shrine.
Chen Shi exclaimed in surprise. Packed together, their effect skyrocketed, greatly accelerating his cultivation!
By evening, Blackie Pot had rested and recovered somewhat. Lying on a lounge chair reading, it saw Chen Shi return from outside with heaps of exotic and spiritual beast meat to nourish it. Its heart warmed.
But thinking of being bled again once recovered soured its mood.
Chen Shi said excitedly,
" ...Blackie Pot, can you cultivate in my little temple? "
" You have a spirit, right? There's a new god in my temple now. Give it a try? "
Blackie Pot wanted to slip away but hesitated, set down the book, and nodded.
Chen Shi activated the little temple. Blackie Pot blinked and found itself atop the third shrine.
The shrine was crammed with ginseng dolls everywhere.
In the shrine, Blackie Pot involuntarily crossed its legs in lotus position, soles up, five centers toward heaven. Vast righteous qi surged in—much faster than its own cultivation!
" Woof woof! "
Blackie Pot barked in amazement.
" What's the dog barking for? "
Lady Shi'e sounded displeased.
Granny Zhuang was kinder. To Blackie Pot, she said, " Doggy, even together we couldn't beat her. Just swallow your pride. "
Chen Shi looked at the lounge chair. Only a ghost book remained—Blackie Pot had vanished, body and all!
" Strange, doesn't the little temple only take spirits, not flesh bodies? "
He puzzled over it.
This temple evolution had changed many things.
As Chen Shi studied the little temple, a little imp's voice came from outside the village: " Sister Sang Yu— "
" Has Scholar Chen returned? "
" The young master said he hasn't come home yet, " Sang Yu replied.
The little imp and lantern ghost hurried away.
The night passed. Chen Shi washed up in the morning.
Somehow, Blackie Pot had slipped out of the little temple and was cooking. Granny Zhuang had slipped out too, helping Blackie Pot tend the pots.
By the time Chen Shi returned from paying respects to Grandpa, Godmother, and Scholar Zhu, the meal was ready.
Blackie Pot and Granny Zhuang returned to his little temple to cultivate.
After eating, Chen Shi found Blackie Pot had left him a bowl of black dog blood. Cultivating in the little temple had doubled the efficiency, so Blackie Pot offered blood willingly—saving Chen Shi the effort and time.
Why didn't Granny Zhuang mention going home?
Chen Shi wondered, but her staying helped his cultivation.
When she couldn't stand it and wanted home, he'd bring Xuan Mountain into the temple.
He hesitated. Xuan Mountain was as profound as a god from beyond the heavens. Would he get angry if brought into the temple?
After the meal, Chen Shi continued tracing talismans on the wooden cart and canopy.
By noon, Blackie Pot and Granny Zhuang slipped out to make lunch for Chen Shi.
Lady Shi'e saw their diligence and sneered, " Bootlickers. Think these tricks will raise your status with the upper envoy? "
" Hmph, is the upper envoy so vulgar? "
Even so, she felt uneasy.
She occupied the best position among the three shrines. Though her cultivation was highest, she had stains—past arrogance, even threatening to kill Chen Shi too.
Blackie Pot and Granny Zhuang's behavior made her feel her position precarious.
In the afternoon, Blackie Pot and Granny Zhuang slipped out for dinner prep. Lady Shi'e twisted out awkwardly and mumbled, " Do you two need any help from this palace? "
Blackie Pot glanced and pointed at the bowls and dishes.
Lady Shi'e went to the well and washed them.
When all three returned to Chen Shi's little temple, Lady Shi'e sat in the center shrine, her confidence restored.
After dinner, the village-mouth little imp and lantern ghost came again.
" ...The young master said he's not home. "
" Please go back, " Sang Yu said.
This went on for three or five days. Every evening, imps and lantern ghosts from Wuwang City came asking, always getting the same reply.
Lord Wuwang hadn't slept soundly these days. That night, he dreamed: Chen Shi offering incense to the Judge's Dragon Whisker Brush daily, chanting and nourishing it with his vital blood.
When he came to claim it, the brush had gained spirit—a delicate girl of marriageable age, lovely-faced. She said to him, " Lord, don't come find me every day. I'm afraid Little Ten will misunderstand. "
Lord Wuwang jolted awake from the nightmare, sitting up gasping.
" Can't delay anymore. Tomorrow, I'll go claim it myself. "
That day, Chen Shi was offering incense to the Judge's Dragon Whisker Brush and Nether Spring Roaming Dragon Sword when a refreshing fragrance wafted from behind his head. He hurried into the little temple and out the front door. Ginseng doll heads now bore clusters of bright red ginseng fruits.
These days, with Lady Shi'e, Granny Zhuang, and Blackie Pot refining the heavenly righteous qi, the ginseng dolls had grown rapidly, strength soaring, fruits more abundant than before.
Chen Shi rushed excitedly to Gangzi Village to see Granny Sha, laughing, " Granny, are there spirit herbs in this world that extend life? "
Granny Sha said,
" There are some spirit herbs and medicines that can boost lifespan. "
" But only a year or two, and they're sky-high prices. Even selling me wouldn't cover it. "
Such herbs and formulas were held by great clans and holy sites like Great Temple of Reported Virtue. Ordinary folk had no access.
She took it in stride, laughing, " Even a Grand Vehicle expert like Bitter Bamboo, with all those herbs and formulas, only lived to one-thirty or forty. "
" Exhausting yourself for a dozen or twenty extra years? Not worth it. "
" Just live these decades well. "
Chen Shi took out a ginseng fruit. " Granny, try this! "
Granny Sha examined it. " Fruit from a ginseng doll's head, right? I've eaten them before. "
" Zhuang and the others are close to me. Worried I'd die, they fed me a few. "
" Not much use. "
Chen Shi laughed, " Try another! "
Granny Sha couldn't refuse his kindness, swallowed it, and chuckled, " I have twenty-four years left. A few more months... what of it? "
The medicinal power dissolved. But this fruit felt different.
Granny Sha stood stunned, puzzled. " Little Ten, what did you feed me? "
Though twenty-four years remained, she was a wrinkled crone—yet now visibly youthening.
Her skin gained luster, hair turned from silver to black, body straightened and grew taller!
Time reversed on her, shifting from shriveled hag toward her divine soul's imperial daughter form!
Her lifespan surged—from twenty-four years to thirty, fifty, eighty, a hundred, two hundred!
At five hundred years, it finally slowed!
" This isn't right, this isn't right! "
Granny Sha was shocked, delighted, panicked. She examined herself and murmured, " Old me... "
Chen Shi laughed, " Granny, you're so young now—no need to call yourself 'old me.' "
End of chapter.