Chapter 238: Grass Talisman Perfection, Authority Awakens
The Crouching Tiger Well, which had its primal qi injured, would gradually recover to its original state over the next period of time.
Chen Shun’an’s eyes lit up upon hearing this; he hadn’t expected these second generation ancestors to give him so much face.
It was probably because of the connection he had helped them make last time, allowing Zhang Xiangling to grace them with her presence.
Sure enough, after receiving their gifts, they still had to be grateful to him!
Chen Shun’an immediately cupped his fists and said, “Since that’s the case, many thanks to Brother Zhu!”
……
Chen Shun’an departed.
A long while later, the banquet ended.
In a quiet room at the bottom of the painted boat.
Zhu Tao, bare from the waist up, sat cross-legged in a medicine cauldron.
The medicine cauldron was filled with Five Wheels Eight Treasures Immortal Water.
Countless tiny bubbles rose from the bottom like living creatures, quietly bursting at the surface, emitting a complex aroma mixed with bitter ginseng, snow lotus, dried earth dragon, and several unidentified spiritual herbs, so thick it was almost tangible.
Zhu Tao circulated his martial arts to absorb the medicinal power; his body trembled, his face showed pain, as if the next moment he could no longer endure it and would break his cultivation and open his eyes.
Wu Wudi stood tall beside the medicine cauldron, his voice cold as he said,
“If you can’t even endure this level of pain, then kill yourself. Useless trash, you’re not worthy to be my Wu Wudi’s disciple!”
A resolute expression appeared on Zhu Tao’s face; the blood throughout his body seemed to boil, emitting low rumbles like muffled thunder drums echoing in this quiet space, clearly audible.
Seeing this, a hint of delight appeared on Wu Wudi’s face,
“River spews thunder, qi and blood blaze. If you can truly achieve Houtian Transformation to form a Three Refinements Martial Body, with my guidance, you’ll have about a one-and-a-half in ten chance of breaking through to the Martial Dao Grandmaster realm!”
Three Refinements Martial Body accounts for one in ten.
With Wu Wudi pouring in all resources and cultivating him fiercely, it could reach half again as much.
If he could comprehend Master Tie Yu’s martial dao will in the Grandmaster Record, it could add another two in ten!
Three-and-a-half in ten?
Already extremely high!
Worth Wu Wudi going to such great lengths, descending to the mortal world to have a showdown with Zhang Xuling, Pan Hu, and others!
“What about your side? How’s the progress?”
Wu Wudi looked toward Wang Zhicheng at his side.
Wang Zhicheng cupped his hands and said,
“With Chen Shun’an acting as the go-between, I’ve already connected with Zhang Xiangling. She agreed to attend the snow-viewing gathering, but the time and place are up to her to decide.”
“Good. Once the opportunity arises, don’t hesitate—immediately deploy the Nanshan Love Gu to make her fall deeply in love, and secretly assist Zhu Tao in the Grandmaster Record.”
Nanshan Love Gu is a unique gu worm sacrificial refined by immortals active in the hundred thousand great mountains of Miao Territory.
It requires finding a flower mountain spiritual site untouched by humans for centuries, gathering its decayed soil to nurture the gu seed as a incubator, then applying a descendant head secret curse. Once it breaks out of the cocoon, it becomes a formless, colorless gu worm.
The caster only needs to feed it with essence blood in advance to control it at will, making it bite a target.
Regardless of gender, once bitten by the Nanshan Love Gu, the target will completely fall for the caster, with deep-rooted affection.
In the past, it was specially developed by immortals in Miao Territory to capture their lovers’ hearts.
Wang Zhicheng nodded and said, “Rest assured, Immortal Wu. I will do my utmost.”
Wang Zhicheng had originally wanted to climb high, change his fate through Houtian Transformation, and marry into the Zhang Family.
But Zhang Xiangling didn’t know what was good for her and repeatedly ignored his goodwill.
In annoyed rage, Wu Wudi approached Wang Zhicheng.
Wu Wudi needed to use Wang Zhicheng’s scholarly status and also hoped that after entering the Grandmaster Record, he would protect Zhu Tao and eliminate competitors for him as much as possible.
And Wang Zhicheng needed the Nanshan Love Gu.
The two thus hit it off immediately.
Wu Wudi nodded slightly, giving Wang Zhicheng a deep look.
Wang Zhicheng was a juren scholar with a spiritual root for cultivating immortality.
But cultivators had a consensus.
Those with spiritual roots find it hard to become Martial Dao Grandmasters.
This was heaven’s limitation; no one could overstep it.
So he wasn’t worried about Wang Zhicheng turning against him or harboring heretical thoughts during the Grandmaster Record.
“By the way, that Water Carrier earlier will probably enter the Grandmaster Record too. You seem very familiar with him. Do you think he’ll pose a threat?”
Suddenly, Wu Wudi recalled Chen Shun’an from earlier and asked casually.
“Heh…”
Wang Zhicheng was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled wryly,
“Immortal Wu overthinks it. I can still use him now, and he’s sensible enough that I call him Brother Chen… but in the end, he’s just a mere Water Carrier, a basket-weaver and shoe-seller. Even if he luckily slays the mind thief, how can the light of a firefly compete with the brilliance of the moon?!”
“With me here, Commander Zhu need not worry. Immortal Wu can rest assured!”
……
Until they returned to Wuqing County and saw the Five Wheels Eight Treasures Immortal Water poured back into the well bottom cave, with the water-suppressing Stone Rhinoceros back in place.
Shopkeeper Li, Xun Ye, Zhang Jinghe, and the others still found it hard to believe.
How did things end up like this in a daze? We don’t have to hand over the Five Wheels Eight Treasures Immortal Water anymore?
Shopkeeper Chen’s face is actually this big?
Even Caobang’s commander Zhu Tao gave him this favor?!
Moreover, when they left the painted boat, Caobang gang members specially cleared the way, pulling ropes for the crowd all the way to the dock on the shore before stopping.
This treatment was far beyond what the other eight water stations could compare to!
Bubbles gurgled up from the well water, and a stream of pure water surged upward, washing away the surface impurities and residues.
Zhang Jinghe gripped the well edge with both hands, staring blankly, then his old face flushed with excitement, his voice rising several pitches as he suddenly turned and cupped his hands toward Chen Shun’an,
“Brother Chen, you are magnanimous and don’t hold grudges against petty people. If Zhang was loose-tongued before and you’re unhappy about it…”
With a ripping sound, Zhang Jinghe tore open the clothing on his back, baring it, and knelt virtually before Chen Shun’an, saying,
“Zhang is willing to wear thorns and plead guilty!”
Zhang Jinghe’s water carriers were nearly the most numerous among all the shopkeepers present.
Their daily feed for men and horses was enormous.
So every day the well was closed for business, Zhang Jinghe got a few more white hairs.
“No need to be so polite, Brother Zhang. We’re all in the same pot stirring the same ladle.”
Chen Shun’an helped him up and magnanimously waved his hand.
“This matter is turned over.”
“Really turned over?”
Zhang Jinghe vaguely remembered that Chen Shun’an was extremely petty; those who offended him seemed to meet bad ends.
“Turned over!”
Chen Shun’an said with certainty.
【Wish+6】
Afterward, Chen Shun’an went in turn to Shopkeeper Li, Xun Ye, and the others’ water stations, returning the Five Wheels Eight Treasures Immortal Water.
Then he harvested another batch of grateful wishes.
Over the next few days, the wells of Chen Shun’an, Shopkeeper Li, Zhang Jinghe, and others saw business not decrease but increase, with more and more clients buying water.
After all, better a friend die than oneself.
The other eight water station landlords’ wells had their water quality affected to varying degrees.
Clients naturally flocked over, willing to buy this fresh water even at a premium.
Especially the Five Wheels Eight Treasures Immortal Water—Zhu Tao had taken the share for a long time to come.
The few Grit Wells and Crouching Tiger Wells that still produced some naturally became hot commodities in the eyes of many pharmacies in Wuqing County.
Market prices soared several times over!
As for this, the other eight water stations were filled with jealousy and hatred but could do nothing about it.
Chen Shun’an had wielded the most upright and impeccable power of the Changbai Sacred Dynasty—
The way of face.
They really couldn’t say anything.
They could only wish they were in his place!
In this way, Chen Shun’an’s daily wish income naturally rose with the tide.
Especially recently with many refugees and snow disaster victims destitute, even this unscrupulous merchant selling Ran Yi Calming Water, Chen Shun’an, was moved to tears, deciding to dilute the gambling sweet dew a bit less each day.
Adding another 10 cups, now able to sell 30 cups of five-colored sweet dew water daily.
Chen Shun’an also discovered that lately, the attention of major powers in Wuqing County seemed focused on the Grandmaster Record half a month away, with no time for other matters.
This was the perfect time for him to make a fortune quietly.
He should seize the opportunity firmly!
Thus, Chen Shun’an’s average daily wish income reached a shocking near four hundred points!
Exactly double what it was before!
The weak only resent the environment’s harshness.
While the strong never resent it.
Because the environment is something they themselves ruin!
And though Chen Shun’an couldn’t yet be called an immortal shaking one side with renowned prestige, he did have considerable skill in turning danger to safety and grasping the momentum of the times.
This was the old man’s wisdom.
……
Four days later.
Three Forked Road deep water area.
In the water cave.
Chen Shun’an sat in the coiling snake position, five centers facing heaven.
Intent gathered outside the Niwan Acupoint at his glabella; faint, almost invisible threads like starry rainbows emanated from his brow, bringing a wondrous floating immortal sensation.
In the Mud Pill Acupoint, that nascent spirit also mimicked Chen Shun’an’s meditation posture, silently cultivating the Northern Star method.
Until a stinging pain came from Chen Shun’an’s temples, his intent wilted to less than one in ten, then he slowly opened his eyes, a trace of fatigue flashing in them.
And upon inner observation, the nascent spirit seated in the Mud Pill Acupoint had only grown by an extremely faint trace of density; if not for Chen Shun’an’s absolute grasp of it, he might not even notice.
As for qi and blood and Flying Immortal Strength, there was no growth at all, as if trapped at some human limit.
《Ròufēi Xiān》 reached True Intent Perfection realm, after which there was no further related description, let alone any insight on breaking through to the Martial Dao Grandmaster realm.
All relying on martial artists to grow wildly and improvise freely.
In fact, every former Martial Dao Grandmaster faced similar dilemmas at this step.
No more predecessors’ experience to draw from; they could only grope across the river by feeling the stones.
They themselves were the stones.
“So difficult—even with my aptitude, cultivating the Northern Star method is like a turtle’s pace, to reach the ‘All joints and myriad spirits, none not solemn’ realm Scholar Ma mentioned… at least ten years?!”
Chen Shun’an’s face suddenly darkened.
And this was just the first step Northern Star; there were still Draw and Add and Lu Chen steps after!
Though for others in the world, it was already unimaginably extreme speed.
At least it was targeted, with the goal in sight!
But for Chen Shun’an, too slow, too slow!
The White Flower Snake under Chen Shun’an sensed the High God seemed in a bad mood, so it controlled its body temperature to become cool and refreshing, soft as boneless.
Noticing the anomaly under his buttocks, Chen Shun’an’s expression improved somewhat.
But fortunately, my Chen Shun’an’s talents go beyond this!
With a thought, he summoned the Precious Proclamation in his mind.
【Grass Talisman（80/100）】
【Wish: 2017】
Four days of accumulated wishes, plus previous gains, were enough to reach Grass Talisman Perfection.
So…
“It’s time to fully welcome back the Grass Head God’s authority and further unlock my Water Origin Great Emperor talents!”
Chen Shun’an went all-in, converting all wishes into incense and investing it into the Precious Proclamation.
【Wish—2000】
【Grass Talisman（Perfection）】
【Authority·Water Division Revival】
【Water Division: Part waves and cleave billows, delineate water boundaries. As Grass Head God, you are no longer limited to dividing water for believers to accumulate wishes, but can sort water veins in a certain range】
【Those who receive your water division also owe karma, which can reclaim water they once drank】
Thus, the next instant.
The entire water domain looked completely different in Chen Shun’an’s eyes!
