Days passed by one after another.
Two more Lower Courtyards of the Goose Sheep Path had dissolved, bringing more and more Lower Institute Disciples to assemble at Goose Sheep Mountain.
More tents and wooden huts appeared at the foot of the mountain, and the hillside where Chen Mu’s wooden building stood was no longer at the edge of the foothill structures.
Fortunately, given the hill’s high terrain and remote location, many found the climb troublesome and avoided building their dwellings on the slope. This allowed the surroundings of his residence to retain a certain level of tranquility and peace.
On this dawn, as soon as the sun had barely risen, Chen Mu opened his eyes.
After getting dressed, the Five Ghosts Black Smoke diffused around him, devouring and drying up any specks of dust and filth.
Having eaten breakfast and adjusted his appearance in front of the mirror, Chen Mu, donning Li Moliang’s face, stepped out and hurried towards the Pingjiang Dojo on the eastern side of the Goose Sheep Mountain.
In the past few days, he had to go to the Pingjiang Dojo every day to help build ships, never being late nor leaving early, fulfilling a full five hours each day.
“Having transmigrated to cultivate immortality and yet still having to go to work like in my previous life, tsk… that’s really something,” Chen Mu shook his head slightly.
“Ah well, if work it must be, so be it, as long as I can leave Yunzhou. It’s not like I can’t slack off a bit.”
…
To the east of Goose Sheep Mountain, Pingjiang was a tributary of the Tongtian River, with abundant water flow, both deep and wide.
The Pingjiang Dojo was situated above the riverbed at the bottom of the water.
Like usual, Chen Mu arrived atop a gigantic turtle shell, his path cleared by a Water-Repelling Pearl, creating a bubble of air.
Nodding and greeting the familiar faces beside him, Chen Mu skillfully injected the Mustard Seed Spell into the turtle shell as he had done in days past.
At this moment, twenty-one silver bead-shaped Talismans constantly rose and fell within the Jade Seed.
Though he had not deliberately cultivated, his daily use had also massively accumulated experience for the Mustard Seed Spell.
“It won’t take long until the Mustard Talisman is fully condensed to perfection, an unexpected delight indeed.”
After busily working for an hour, he glanced around and noticed many Qi Cultivators starting to meditate and recuperate. Chen Mu immediately stopped and sat down cross-legged to slack off on the job.
The Gray Wall appeared in front of his eyes, and Chen Mu looked over one column.
Dark Cloud True Method: 9424/10000/Fourth Rank;
Over the past ten days, most of his spare time had been spent on the Dark Cloud True Method. His progress soared rapidly, and he was on the verge of the next breakthrough.
With a thought, a series of brand new Dark Cloud Talismans materialized within the Jade Seed. As they formed and collapsed in turn, the subtle mysteries of the True Method began to emerge in his mind.
…
Five days later.
On the turtle shell at the Pingjiang Dojo, Chen Mu was slacking off with his eyes closed as usual.
Jade Seed Inner Magical Power surged continually, and clusters of gray Dark Cloud Talismans connected into a massive cloud, enveloping the surroundings of the Divine Orifice.
At a certain moment, the whole cloud shuddered and expanded rapidly. Then it promptly contracted and, with a whoosh, entered through the gaps of the nine layers of the Divine Orifice Talisman, leaving only wisps of fog faintly lingering around the orifice.
“This is… success?”
Chen Mu was overjoyed and immediately pulled up the Gray Wall to check.
Dark Cloud True Method: Limit;
“I’ve reached the pinnacle already? I thought this True Method would have more levels.”
Chen Mu focused his thoughts, ready to absorb the insights provided by the Gray Wall.
Merely skimming through it, he couldn’t help but be successively surprised.
The secret of the Dark Cloud True Method lay in the Dark Cloud Talismans; the more profound the understanding, the more Talismans one could condense. Now that he had reached the limit, the quantity of Dark Cloud Talismans had spiked to three thousand.
The whole cluster of Talismans expanded several times in size, and the control over Mixed Primordial Qi was refined to the utmost.
He immediately began attempting Divine Orifice Refinement.
Barely audible hissing sounds rose in his mind, as faint threads of discomfort spread through him, signaling a new round of transformation deep within.
“Before, refining the Divine Orifice was either turned on or off—it was like flooding it with a deluge.”
“Now, I can control it with intent, meticulously guiding it to each part—it’s like targeted drip irrigation.”
“Primordial Energy is utilized fully, every refinement session I use half the amount of Primordial Energy I used to!”
“Not only that, a greater change lies in the total time needed for refinement,” Chen Mu carefully sensed, his smile growing more evident.
Previously, refining the Divine Orifice could only last for a maximum of an hour, but the subsequent body recovery and transformation would need as long as half a month.
Now, with precise control slowing down the refinement speed, one session could even continue for seven or eight days.
Afterward, only a day or two of rest would be required to start a new round of refinement, ultimately greatly reducing the time needed!
“This is truly a secret technique of the Li Yang Path, indeed profoundly mystical!” Chen Mu couldn’t help but smile.
…
In the following days, the Dark Cloud True Method operated autonomously, slowly and continuously refining the Divine Orifice.
Chen Mu only needed to devote a part of his Spirit to occasionally check if the inner Mixed Primordial Qi was sufficient for the Dark Cloud True Method, replenishing it when needed, without having to worry about anything else.
The cultivation of the Qi Refinement Fourth Level River Chariot had become an automated and simple process.
His mood lightened considerably, and a smile always adorned his face.
He worked with a newfound zeal, even reducing the time spent slacking off…
Well, that part could not be reduced at all.
At most, he was just a bit more serious and meticulous while instilling the Mustard Talismans.
…
Several days later.
Chen Mu injected the last Mustard Talisman into the large area beneath his feet.
Instead of rushing to find Lei Wen for a new task, he sat cross-legged as usual, feigning rest, while his spirit delved into the Jade Seed to check on the progress of his Divine Orifice Refinement.
“Two more days and this round of refinement will be complete.”
“One day of recuperation, and I can commence the sixteenth Divine Orifice Refinement.”
“At most a month is needed to achieve the Divine Orifice Second Transition.”
“If all goes well, in no more than two years, I will have completely refined the River Chariot and reached the Fourth Level of Qi Cultivation,” Chen Mu silently calculated.
After attaining perfection in the Dark Cloud True Method, he had shaved off nearly a year from the overall time it would take to refine the River Chariot compared to before.
“It’s a shame that the Dark Cloud True Method has reached its peak; if I could just improve the efficiency a bit more, that would be even better,” Chen Mu greedily thought.
He watched the Dark Cloud True Method working automatically for a while, preparing to ponder other Secret Techniques, when suddenly a voice rang in his ear.
“Fellow Daoists, thanks to everyone’s joint efforts, the external Forbidden Laws of the Water-Avoiding Shuttle have been completely finished.”
Chen Mu opened his eyes and looked up to see Lei Wen standing on the top of the turtle shell.
Noticing everyone’s gaze, Lei Wen calmly deployed a Secret Technique that allowed his voice to spread underwater.
“Shortly, everyone will follow me into the inner part of the turtle shell to begin the internal construction of the ferry.”
The crowd mostly let out sighs of relief; after toiling in the oppressive depths for so many days, they had finally passed the first phase.
…
After promising various rewards, Lei Wen led the people to the front end of the turtle shell.
The interior of the turtle shell, which corresponds to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, had long been hollowed out, and the gaps where its head and forelimbs had been were enveloped by an invisible Restriction force. It served as a thin membrane, keeping the water out.
Chen Mu followed the crowd and easily passed through the membrane as if walking through a screen of water vapor; besides a slight coolness, there was no other unusual sensation.
Then, a brightly lit, vast space appeared before him.
It was as high as more than ten floors overhead, and its length and width seemed as large as two football fields.
“Mustard Seed Spells are indeed used to expand the interior space of the turtle shell of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms,” Chen Mu observed his surroundings with interest.
Previously he had used the Truthful Listening Technique to discreetly investigate, knowing that the space inside the shell was far larger than it appeared from the outside. Yet, actually seeing it with his own eyes, he still couldn’t help but marvel.
“The Mustard Seed Spell must be related to the Thousand-Mile House Pocket Miniature Technique,” Chen Mu realized.
“Fellow Daoists, the construction of the ferry has entered a brand new phase, and I still need everyone’s concerted efforts,” Lei Wen said sincerely: “It is possible that all of you will have to ride this Water-Avoiding Shuttle to cross the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
“For the sake of my Lei Family, and for your own safety, I hope that everyone will work together to perfect this Water-Avoidance Ferry.”
…
The turtle shell of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms was already huge, and with the Mustard Seed Spells expanding the space, the interior was extremely spacious. Furthermore, with some special Forbidden Laws enhancing it, the air inside was quite fresh.
Over the next few days, Lei Wen brought new Qi Cultivators into the turtle shell each day to assist with the shipbuilding.
Some, like Chen Mu and others, were laying out Forbidden Laws, while another group began using lightweight, sturdy bones of Exotic Beasts to construct cabins and pavilions, segmenting the space within the shell.
Chen Mu and his group were arranged by Lei Wen to different positions, continuing to pour Mustard Talismans into the inner walls of the shell.
The outer surface of the turtle shell was a blue-grey color like rock, but the inner wall was a warm white, resembling White Jade. Fine, red lines ran through the inside, faintly visible.
During his rest, Chen Mu couldn’t help but examine it closely, and soon he felt a sense of familiarity.
“Is this the Water Avoidance Charm?”
“The Hundred Refinement Hall has been buying Water-Repelling Pearls at a high price; were they really used to feed the Twenty-Four Solar Terms turtle?” Chen Mu couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
He had been somewhat skeptical about this news, but now he had to believe it.
“The Twenty-Four Solar Terms turtle is quite magical. It is said that feeding it certain special materials can potentially give its shell the same abilities.”
“Who would have thought that after consuming Water-Repelling Pearls, it could indeed develop water-avoiding properties?”
He had originally sold quite a few Water-Repelling Pearls, which might have been fed to the turtle he now faced.
Thinking this, a peculiar sense of satisfaction rose in Chen Mu’s heart.
At that moment, a thin, spiral-shaped twisted line flashed an unusual crimson red.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but look at the delicate line, but as he watched, his whole body stiffened, and a sense of foreboding arose within him.
“Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern?!”
“No way…”
Indeed, he had sold quite a few Water-Repelling Pearls, but what he sold even more of… were Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern Pearls!
He drew closer to inspect it again carefully.
Moments after, the corner of Chen Mu’s mouth twitched, and his face broke into a wry smile as he stood up straight.
The good news was that the odd pattern was very small and nearly invisible.
The bad news was that the pattern indeed matched the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern.
“How many Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern Pearls did I sell back then?”
“This shouldn’t affect the turtle shell’s water-repellent function, right?”
Thinking that he was likely to board this ferry in the future, Chen Mu’s face turned dark.
He really had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet!
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