Chapter 95: Purely A Transaction
Jiang Ce shook his head: “No, I won’t leave. I have a clear conscience, upright in conduct, and haven’t done anything wrong, it’s just.”
He paused, then looked at Zhang Ze Zhi: “Why is the Old Celestial Master foaming at the mouth?”
“Eh? That can’t be. My father has tasted a hundred herbs and generally has resistance to poisons. What exactly did you do?”
Seeing Jiang Ce always looking completely clear conscience, Zhang Ze Zhi didn’t think badly of him. Although the Old Celestial Master said he was poisoned, his breathing remained steady with no serious issues, so he was instead curious about what Jiang Ce had done.
“The Old Celestial Master just said spiritual medicine needs to be nurtured with Daoist Qi, so I curiously tried it, and somehow it turned out like this.”
Jiang Ce spread his hands like a little bear, full of innocence on his face.
But the facts were indeed so; he really didn’t know why such a result occurred, only knowing that his Daoist Qi definitely had issues.
“Your Daoist Qi is quite peculiar.” Zhang Ze Zhi pondered for a long time before giving this tactful evaluation.
Jiang Ce looked helpless: “I was originally a young man with a pure heart toward the Great Dao, but unfortunately plotted against by the Gluttonous Ghost, perhaps my foundation was tainted with evil spirits’ power, leading to all the skills I later cultivated having problems. I don’t know if continuing like this will pose a life-threatening danger.”
“But no matter.” Jiang Ce showed a relieved smile: “To hear the Great Dao in the morning is enough to die content in the evening. As long as I have a chance to see the view from the heights, I can die without regrets.”
Zhang Ze Zhi was immediately speechless. He had seen too much of people’s malicious hearts and had long forgotten what the purest initial seeking-Dao heart was like.
He felt sympathy and secretly decided he must strive for the Five Thunder Pill for Jiang Ce.
If at first he only valued Jiang Ce’s background, then later noticed Jiang Ce’s strength, now he was moved by Jiang Ce’s character.
“Cough cough. That’s enough. A sixth rank Jianghu sorcerer acting more hot-blooded than a Half-Immortal, is it really necessary?”
The Old Celestial Master coughed twice, wiped the white foam from his mouth, stood up, and solemnly stared at Jiang Ce:
“Your Daoist Qi has only been condensed for a short time, right?”
Jiang Ce thought for a moment and nodded: “Less than five days.”
“Sixth rank and just condensed Daoist Qi—what path did you follow before?” The Old Celestial Master pressed step by step.
Jiang Ce’s matters weren’t a secret among the Gatekeepers, so there was nothing to hide. He honestly said: “First cultivated Buddhism, then Confucianism, and finally Daoism.”
“Did you also cultivate martial arts?” The Old Celestial Master seemed somewhat interested in Jiang Ce.
“Probably will.” Jiang Ce didn’t deny it.
“I see.” The Old Celestial Master realized something and probed: “Four Gods Hall?”
Jiang Ce was stunned, then chuckled speechlessly: “Indeed, couldn’t hide it from the Old Celestial Master.”
“No wonder then.” The Old Celestial Master had understood everything: “Although theoretically possible, the Gatekeepers haven’t produced one in so many years. Four blessings—Wei Wen Zheng probably treasures you more than his own son, right?”
Jiang Ce smiled embarrassedly.
The Old Celestial Master was also straightforward, not interested in beating around the bush, so he said directly: “Tell me, what exactly happened with the Gluttonous Ghost’s plot, and what did Wei Wen Zheng send you here to do?”
Jiang Ce organized his words and was about to speak when he met the Old Celestial Master’s kind yet sharply gleaming eyes: “Stick to the facts, no irrelevant nonsense, or I’ll throw you out, got it?”
Jiang Ce felt a chill, smiled helplessly, gave up the flattery, and told the Old Celestial Master everything that happened in the Great Tomb exactly as it was, including killing the Ghost Disciple and the Righteous Qi dispersing—not a single word omitted, no concealment at all.
For no other reason than Wei Lao had said the Old Celestial Master could be trusted.
After Jiang Ce finished, the Old Celestial Master showed a thoughtful expression, while Zhang Ze Zhi said in surprise: “Didn’t expect you were hiding things from me. Killed a Ghost Disciple—tch, impressive. Now Bai Qing’s going to go mad, right?”
“Bai Qing?” Jiang Ce was puzzled.
“The Gluttonous Ghost helmsman in Luocheng.” Zhang Ze Zhi smiled coldly: “When young, he killed someone from my Celestial Master’s Mansion. My brother fought him to a draw but couldn’t do anything to him. He’s one of my Celestial Master’s Mansion’s top archenemies.”
The Old Celestial Master raised his hand to stop Zhang Ze Zhi from continuing and ended the topic.
He then had Jiang Ce demonstrate his Daoist Qi, saying it was to see what level Jiang Ce’s Daoist Qi cultivation had reached.
Jiang Ce hesitated a bit. Although he had shifted the blame to the Gluttonous Ghost, the Old Celestial Master was a true Daoist Sect expert, so he was still somewhat worried about exposing a flaw. But facing the Old Celestial Master’s gaze, he involuntarily followed his instructions.
Turbid Daoist Qi spread out. Zhang Ze Zhi, closest, noticed something wrong first and frowned as he stepped back two paces.
The Old Celestial Master didn’t even need to touch it; just gazing at the Daoist Qi allowed him to discern much.
His expression fluctuated uncertainly, making Jiang Ce tense.
But this tense atmosphere didn’t last long. The Old Celestial Master nodded: “Put it away.”
“Uh,” Jiang Ce carefully asked: “Old Celestial Master, this Daoist Qi I’ve cultivated is different from any I’ve seen. Can you tell what’s wrong with it?”
The Old Celestial Master pondered and said some ambiguous words: “This is Daoist Qi, yet not Daoist Qi.”
“What does that mean?” Jiang Ce secretly glanced at Zhang Ze Zhi, but the latter was also baffled.
The Old Celestial Master patted Jiang Ce’s head: “To put it this way, the core is indeed Daoist Qi, but it has things Daoist Qi doesn’t possess, so it can do what Daoist Qi can and what Daoist Qi cannot, hence forcibly reviving the spiritual medicine.
But while powerful, it also hides danger. Anyone below sixth rank consuming this spiritual medicine would die without doubt.
For now, I can only roughly judge that it’s not a bad thing for you. As for the reason, I can’t see it—perhaps due to the Gluttonous Ghost’s evil technique influence, or maybe the drawbacks of cultivating multiple Great Daos.
Besides Cao Zheng, no one has contacted all four Great Daos at once; perhaps he knows something. I’m not in a position to comment much.”
After a brief pause, he continued: “As for the Five Thunder Pill, no rush. Wei Wen Zheng sent you to find me, betting I’d refine it for you. But the materials for Five Thunder Pills are numerous and varied, some extremely precious, needing time to prepare.”
“Then thank you, Old Celestial Master.” Jiang Ce breathed a sigh of relief, also somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected to resolve this big trouble so easily. At first, hearing the Old Celestial Master had a quirky temper, he’d thought up some crooked ideas, but now it seemed he was overthinking like a villain.
“No need to thank yet.” The Old Celestial Master raised his hand to stop him, smiling meaningfully: “I also said Five Thunder Pills are hard to refine. Others might give face to the Gatekeeper, but not me. If I’m unwilling, even if Cao Zheng steps in, I won’t give him face.
So I’ll give you the Five Thunder Pill, but you must help me with something.”
“Old Celestial Master, please instruct me. This junior will certainly not shirk!” Jiang Ce was quick on the uptake and pledged on the spot.
Whether he could do it or not, agree first and plan later.
“Don’t agree so quickly.” The Old Celestial Master started walking toward outside the medicine field: “Come with me. I’ll first take you to understand what it is, then you can agree.”
Jiang Ce looked inquiringly at Zhang Ze Zhi, who reassured him: “Go on. My father is reasonable. Since he says so, he has confidence and thinks you can do it; he won’t deliberately make things difficult.”
Jiang Ce said no more, nodded, and followed the Old Celestial Master’s steps with Zhang Ze Zhi.
The three went one behind the other to outside the Celestial Master’s Hall.
In front of the Celestial Master’s Hall, Jiang Ce surprisingly saw Xuan Qing.
Seeing the Old Celestial Master, Xuan Qing respectfully saluted: “Old Celestial Master.”
“You came to protect Jiang Ce’s Dao, right?”
Xuan Qing nodded.
The Old Celestial Master beckoned to Jiang Ce behind him, then looked at Xuan Qing: “Then come in together.”
Thanks to Jing Lin Chen Ri’s 10,000 reward. Boss, may your body be healthy and all affairs go smoothly (ps: currently owe two chapters of extra updates)
