I AM GRINDING EXPERIENCE IN ANOTHER WORLD

On the top deck of the hundred-meter ship, inside Chen Mu’s room.

“What’s the deal with Old Xu? Does he have a grudge against you?” Chen Mu asked Yuan Xian curiously.

“Indeed, there are some small disputes, but not a major vendetta,” Yuan Xian explained. “This person is a protector in the Lock Dragon Institute’s Hall of Spirit Honor, mastering countless Netherworld Ghost Patterns. He could teach you the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern more efficiently.”

“Moreover, although this person is greedy, he is extremely trustworthy, which is why I spent a great deal of money to invite him.”

“Then did Xu Zhou give you any trouble? That doesn’t make sense; after all, he took the money.” Yuan Xian frowned.

“Could it be that your identity as a Qi Cultivator has been exposed?” Yuan Xian’s expression changed.

Chen Mu couldn’t help but frown upon hearing this.

According to Yuan Xian, Xu Zhou was no ordinary Lock Dragon Knight, and he might indeed see through the disguise of the Breath Ending Divine Ability.

“If he really saw through my disguise, why would he still teach me the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern?” Chen Mu puzzled.

“Regardless of his considerations, this is ultimately a hidden danger.” Yuan Xian’s face flashed with severity. “Why not… just take him out!”

Chen Mu’s face twitched.

How had the conversation turned to murder?

“Better to kill wrongly than to miss an enemy!” Yuan Xian stated solemnly.

This is unnecessary, truly unnecessary…

At the moment, the ship wasn’t far from the borders of Southern Shu, effectively leaving Da Qian. Even if his disguise were seen through, there was no cause for concern. Besides, Xu Zhou had after all taught him the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern; how could they turn hostile just like that.

“You’re still too kind-hearted.” Yuan Xian sighed and shook his head.

“What can I do, being a good person.” Chen Mu sighed along.

Yuan Xian’s eyelids twitched, and he barely maintained his serious facial expression.

After calming down for a while, he spoke up again with a suggestion: “I think it’s best to nip troubles in the bud.”

“The Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed?” Chen Mu couldn’t help but feel tempted.

“Correct! It’s safer to turn him into one of our own,” Yuan Xian said with a grave face.

Chen Mu was about to nod in agreement when he suddenly paused.

He looked at Yuan Xian with a suspicious expression.

“First, you talk about silencing someone by murder, and then about the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed…”

“You’re not trying to use me to get rid of Xu Zhou, are you?”

Something is off; there’s something fishy about this old guy, Yuan Xian!

“You’ve misunderstood; my concerns are entirely for your safety,” Yuan Xian replied with an unchanged expression.

“I think you’re just eying that Hall of Spirit Honor,” Chen Mu scoffed, giving Yuan Xian a sidelong glance.

He clearly had grievances with Xu Zhou and knew of his greed, yet Yuan Xian had still invited him to teach Chen Mu the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern.

This was simply provoking Xu Zhou to mess with him, then using Chen Mu to deal with Xu Zhou, wasn’t it?

Besides, according to Yuan Xian’s plan, the spy Li Mo Liang would be allowed into Thousand Lanterns City and kept close at hand—even without Chen Mu knowing the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern, it wouldn’t affect infiltrating Yun Chong Lower Courtyard.

So…

Chen Mu’s eyes darted around as he stared coldly at Yuan Xian.

Old man, you’ve got quite the scheming mind!

…

Five days later, at a remote ferry crossing in Great Li.

Chen Mu stood on the bank, waving to Xu Zhou and Xu Chang on the deck.

They had reached the outskirts of Yunze Lake. The Earth Spirit Element was growing denser, and various Exotic Beasts started to emerge. Whether for the sake of safety or to maintain a covert infiltration, it would no longer be prudent to continue their journey on the hundred-meter tall ship.

Watching Xu Chang, who was jumping and waving goodbye from the stern, Chen Mu waved back, unable to suppress a smile.

As the ship sailed further away, Chen Mu turned around, only to see Yuan Xian’s face, full of confusion and suspicion.

“Who are you waving goodbye to?” he asked with a tense expression.

“To Xu Chang, Xu Zhou’s grandson.”

“Without him, Xu Zhou would not have taught me the intricacies of the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern so quickly,” Chen Mu said with a smile.

Yuan Xian’s complexion changed, “Xu Zhou is a loner, he has no grandson!”

“How can he not have one, isn’t that him standing there?” Chen Mu said, pointing to the large ship that was slowly moving away.

But Xu Chang, who had just been jumping and flailing at the stern of the ship, had now disappeared from view as if he had never been there.

He immediately activated the Truthful Listening Technique, scanning the interior and exterior of the distant building-like ship. However, he discovered that not only Xu Chang but also Xu Zhou had vanished!

Chen Mu suddenly stood frozen in place.

“When we were saying goodbye, that child was clearly standing next to Xu Zhou, can’t you see?” he couldn’t help but get goosebumps.

Yuan Xian slowly shook his head, his face solemn and silent.

Does Xu Zhou truly have no grandson?

Then who is Xu Chang, with whom I’ve been interacting for over a month?

Standing under the punishing sun, Chen Mu did not feel the scorching heat at all, experiencing instead a bone-chilling cold that made his hair stand on end.

…

Half a month later, at Chongmei Mountain by Yunze Lake.

Yunze Lake was boundlessly vast, stretching for thousands of miles, lying in the Southwest of Great Li, named for the fog that enveloped it year-round. The lake was also known as Qian Bo Lake because of the frequent appearance of fierce winds and huge waves.

Chongmei Mountain was located in the center of Yunze Lake, its shape peculiar, resembling a pillar standing upright.

The peak of the mountain towered into the clouds, piercing through the fog, covered with dense vegetation and countless white-walled and black-tiled palaces hidden within.

On the steep cliffs surrounding the mountain, numerous caves were carved out, and the disciples of the Lock Dragon Institute from Goose Sheep Path and Yun Chong Lower Institute lived in these honeycomb-like Cave Mansions.

On this day, inside a Cave Mansion above the clouds on the eastern side of Mount Yun Chong, Chen Mu who was sitting by the window, slowly opened his eyes.

Wisps of Earth Spirit Vitality kept drilling into Chen Mu’s body.

Inside the Jade Seed, the Divine Orifice Talisman, riddled with holes as if corroded by sulfuric acid, was slowly healing.

Chen Mu felt his entire body relax, as if he had shed heavy winter clothes and put on a light and thin garment. His mind was clear, and from the depths of his soul, a sense of vigorous vitality arose.

Throwing three to five Jade Dew Pearls into his mouth, Chen Mu revealed a smile, “Another refinement complete.”

Over the past two months, since he had come to Great Li by boat, he hadn’t forgotten about cultivating the Dark Cloud True Method.

The Mixed Primordial Qi inside the Five Ghosts Bag had all been stored inside the Dark Cloud Talisman. Today, he had just enough to complete a Divine Orifice Refinement.

Chen Mu turned his head and looked out through a Jade Window embedded in the thick mountain wall. It seemed as if cotton covered the earth, a sea of clouds caught in his gaze.

This was already his fifth day at Yun Chong Lower Institute.

With the covert help of Li Moliang, Chen Mu first used the Shape-shifting Technique to transform into the latter’s appearance, then he took him into Thousand Lanterns City. Using the other’s Identity Jade, he easily entered Yun Chong Lower Institute with his guidance.

He originally thought there might be some trouble, but it was surprisingly easy.

“After all, this is just a Lower Institute that cultivates Golden Pearl Clams, the Mountain Protection Magical Barrier isn’t so strictly sealed.”

Feeling the Earth Spirit Vitality floating around him, Chen Mu couldn’t help but smile broadly, “It’s indeed more comfortable on the Qi Cultivator’s turf.”

Netherworld had no Earth Spirit Vitality, and although the mundane world of Great Li had some, it was diluted and spread out by the City God Tao. As a Qi Cultivator, without Earth Spirit Vitality, it was like a fish stranded in shallow waters; though alive, it was barely comfortable.

Moreover, Great Li was now enveloped by the power of Netherworld, undergoing inexplicable changes. Under its peaceful and auspicious surface hid countless strange existences.

Just like Xu Chang, Chen Mu was still uncertain about whether or not he really existed.

“That little guy, he’s probably not human.”

“Lock Dragon Institute, Hall of Spirit Honor…” Chen Mu couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

The Lock Dragon Institute, which he had thought he had almost fully understood, was once again shrouded in mystery, becoming enigmatic and unpredictably complex.

Even though Yuan Xian had his own agenda, by finding a way to send him away from Great Li, he inadvertently did him a favor.

“Hmm… Later when I’m catching Strange Demons, I should try to catch a few less.” Chen Mu showed an amused smile.

He agreed to come to Goose Sheep Path so readily because he knew that Yuan Xian would drive Strange Demons to the Goose Sheep Path’s territory.

Those creatures carried countless Netherworld Worms with them, and capturing just one would allow him to use the Five Ghosts Bag to convert a multitude of Ghosts, greatly shortening the time needed to refine the Divine Orifice.

Whether it was to drive away Qi Cultivators or to facilitate setting up the City God Dojo in the future, the Lock Dragon Institute would definitely push Strange Demons to destroy the Earth Vein Spiritual Springs under the control of the Qi Cultivators.

Just like the current situation in Great Li, all the former Lower Institutes of Jilong Road had been destroyed, their Earth Veins devastated, leaving the lands barren.

Now that the Lock Dragon Institute of Great Li had started targeting Goose Sheep Path, they would certainly not overlook Yun Chong Lower Institute, serving as a Golden Pearl Clam farm.

It wouldn’t take long for it to drive Strange Demons here to devour the Earth Spirit Vitality and ruin the Earth Vein Spiritual Spring.

“Yuan Xian, you’d better work harder and drive a few more Strange Demons to Yun Chong Lower Institute.” Chen Mu’s face was full of hope.

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