Chapter 97: Choosing A Divine Aspect Again
The water ripples, tree shadows sway, startling the fish.
Chen Shun’an’s appearance seemed to startle the seven or eight goldfish swimming in the water.
The Golden Scaled Perch woke from its dream, and without even needing Chen Shun’an to call, it immediately changed back to its original form.
It surfaced, flapping its fins and spitting bubbles.
Quite flattering, even fawning like a dog.
Unfortunately, tonight Chen Shun’an had no mind to pay attention to it.
The Golden Scaled Perch was casting flirtatious looks at a blind man.
Chen Shun’an didn’t even glance at it, directly flipping over the wall and out, like a ghost, passing through streets and alleys, soon arriving at a remote, deserted two-story building that resembled a rice barn.
As Chen Shun’an’s strength improved, the cramped Chen family courtyard was no longer suitable for his martial arts practice and cultivation.
The movements were quite large.
And he had found a new practice ground.
A rice barn of Wanlong Pounding House that had been abandoned due to rumors of haunting.
First Wanlong Pounding House was razed, then Zheng Shicheng died, and some Pounding House Gang Members felt that perhaps their own feng shui had a problem.
The original pounding house location had been tainted with baleful energy?
The new landlord who now took over Wanlong Pounding House was particularly superstitious, invited many masters, and decided to relocate and rebuild Wanlong Pounding House, abandoning many rice barns.
This instead benefited the wandering beggars, turning it into their shelter.
And this rice barn was said to have some evil thing sighted, secretly sucking ordinary people’s essence at midnight, waking up shriveled, mouth dry and tongue parched, as if having walked through a pot of boiling lard.
Gradually, no one dared to come.
And needless to say, this was actually Chen Shun’an’s doing.
He slyly used Flying Immortal Strength to make people feel like huoshao, and upon waking, it was as if an evil thing had sucked them dry of essence, with hardly any moisture left in their bodies?
At this time,
With the Spirit Disrupting Great Medicine ‘Heavenly Immortal Blood Collapse Pill’ entering his belly, Chen Shun’an immediately felt his qi and blood surging, like a wild horse breaking free from its reins.
His will was even more wildly unrestrained, hard to control.
Heavenly Immortal, that is Heavenly Immortal Child, is a highly toxic substance; and Blood Collapse Pill can further make qi fail to contain blood, three treasures unstable.
A first-rate Spirit Disrupting Great Medicine, in others’ eyes, was a thoroughly fatal poison.
A second-rate warrior eating one pill would die.
At this moment, Chen Shun’an endured this wildly unrestrained intent, while visualizing the Six Sceneries Rotation True Cultivation Manual, while stepping and practicing fists in the pavilion, promoting the absorption of the Heavenly Immortal Blood Collapse Pill.
Gradually, Chen Shun’an fell into a state of utmost sincerity, finding a certain balance.
With each inhale and exhale, his breathing and exhalation synchronized naturally and harmoniously with his heart pulse beats and qi and blood circulation, long and enduring.
Muscles and bones stretched, force permeated the whole body, all the body’s acupoints seemed to come alive, faintly blooming with radiance.
Then came three hundred and sixty faint, deeply restrained thunderous rumbles from the depths of the bone marrow.
Shaking the bone seams, bursting forth new blood, replacing old blood, eliminating hidden injuries, nourishing the internal organs, bringing brand new and superior strength…
Flying Immortal Strength.
Up to today, from the time he had just broken through to first-rate realm, those wisps of weak Flying Immortal Strength had gathered in Chen Shun’an’s body into a babbling stream.
With a thought turning, it surged forth, controllable as an arm.
Flicking out, it could even pierce a four-foot-thick rammed wall.
Chen Shun’an’s shoulder blade moved, he crouched low and moved, his figure flashing back and forth among the rice barrels, stairs, desks, and lamps scattered messily in the rice barn.
“Roar roar…”
Like a tiger form, leopard body, with flowing water patterns at the glabella flickering on and off, giving Chen Shun’an a mysterious majesty of an ancient deity.
The human body’s treasure, endless to explore.
Among ancient immortals and gods, there were even tales of matching heaven and earth, plucking stars.
Naturally, third-rate gathers muscles and bones, second-rate merges Jade Tree, these two warrior realms far from fully developing the human body’s qi and blood, bone marrow, internal organs potential.
And realm’s upper limit is not the human limit.
First-rate warriors or even Martial Dao Grandmasters, even cultivators, each have endowments, cultivation methods, even special physiques, continuing to excavate the fleshly treasure trove.
Just like Chen Shun’an’s Tiger Tendon Leopard Vein, also a kind of special talent, physique.
And at this time, with Chen Shun’an’s thoughts disordered, mind surging.
In Chen Shun’an’s mind.
Endless flames burned fiercely.
A little figure similar to Chen Shun’an’s features wandered and leaped in the flames.
But extremely blurry and indistinct, like a moonlit reflection, fragmented in clarity and obscurity.
Body Thief already slain, the rest is to wipe the Spiritual Platform daily, and once it regathers, continue slaying the thief.
And the next moment, this 【Myriad Blazing True Cultivation Manual】 dissipated.
Replacing it was a pair of golden lights, streaking through the chaotic thoughts, shooting toward Chen Shun’an.
【Acupoint Golden Light True Cultivation Manual】
In the golden light, faintly a little figure sat cross-legged, face serious, three eyes on the forehead, staring straight at Chen Shun’an.
This little figure was likewise slow and indistinct.
Eye Thief, already slain!
It was really that Chen Shun’an was somewhat envious of Red Fifth Master’s one-glance sky-covering ability.
Plus the Eye Thief relatively easy to slay, beneficial to his Flying Knife Art of Hidden Weapons, so he prioritized the Eye Thief.
The next moment, as if qi sea flowing, heavenly light gathering, a vast Acquired Qi appeared before Chen Shun’an.
His consciousness was like being washed by a waterfall, though swaying on the verge of collapse, it became even more refined.
And Chen Shun’an’s breathing and exhalation, in this process, instinctively aligned with this Acquired Qi.
Immediately, blood water flowed freely, circulating a hundred times in an instant, breathing long and drawn out, like Turtle Breathing.
Precisely the 【Acquired One Qi True Cultivation Manual】!
And as the Heavenly Immortal Blood Collapse Pill’s medicinal effect fully dispersed, spirit disrupting intent, the Acquired Qi immediately trembled and rolled.
The Nose Thief always hidden within it leaped out like a fish slapped by big waves.
When Chen Shun’an’s gaze turned, the Nose Thief fled in terror, swimming upstream against the current.
Chen Shun’an’s thought moved, turning into a gleaming precious sword, with a snap, chopping off one arm of the Nose Thief.
The Nose Thief’s body writhed endlessly, flickering on and off, dispersing then regathering.
Becoming even more blurry.
Not much different from the already slain Body Thief and Eye Thief.
Just a matter of two or three more chops.
Chen Shun’an chopped out another strike.
A thigh fell off.
At this time, the Heavenly Immortal Blood Collapse Pill’s effect was exhausted, and Chen Shun’an simultaneously felt a mental fatigue, stabbing pain at the glabella.
“Sigh, mental potential only medium aptitude, first-rate cultivation still limited by Nourishing Spirit, Spirit Disrupting Great Medicine… slow, too slow.”
Chen Shun’an sighed, no longer forcing it, withdrawing his intent.
Leaping down from the second floor, casually finding a clean spot, he took the last drop of Five-wheel Water for Nourishing Spirit.
Coolness spread, fatigue eased, mental depletion compensated.
Chen Shun’an quietly nourished his spirit.
After half a stick of incense.
With waves of murmurs rising, another dozen or so wisps of wish entered the account.
Chen Shun’an sat cross-legged, consciousness sinking into the Precious Proclamation.
【Grass Talisman（50/100）】
【Wish: 492—>507】
【Second Divine Aspect: Selectable】
The second Divine Aspect had already met the requirements.
Today must choose!
……
With five hundred wisps of wish transformed into Divine Power.
Chen Shun’an’s mood somewhat excited, after slightly calming, he unhesitatingly chose Deity Descent.
Five points of Divine Power rapidly depleted.
The Grass Talisman blazed with light, from it projecting streams of vortices.
Shrimp Soldier Crab General
Golden Armored Silver Armored General
Sea Yaksha
Red Perch
Disk-Car Water Frog
Clam Maiden
Horse Bridle
…
With the Grass Talisman progress advancing, the Grass Head God’s authority gradually returning.
The Divine Aspects available for Chen Shun’an to choose had increased quite a bit.
“Sea Yaksha, round eyes saw teeth, fierce and fearless, wielding a steel fork for combat prowess.”
“Red Perch, dwells in Ying Water, shaped like a fish with human face, its cry disturbs the mind, its flesh cures scabies.”
“Disk-Car Water Frog, High God’s mount, large as a stone jar, occasionally grows spiritual medicine on its neck, chance of poison grass or spiritual grass.”
…
Chen Shun’an looked carefully, pausing slightly on the Disk-Car Water Frog.
Why is it probabilistic? If my fortune favors me, boundless blessings, wouldn’t I pick spiritual grass every day?
There’s this kind of Divine Aspect?
Chen Shun’an muttered a couple times.
And actually, Chen Shun’an already had a rough plan for the authority and abilities needed for the second Divine Aspect.
At this time, as his gaze swept, he soon found the Divine Aspect matching his needs.
He was first stunned, thinking he saw wrong, then looked carefully twice more, immediately showing wild joy.
Ran Yi Fish!
《Taiping Yulan》 says: From Yingdi Mountain, water flows out. There are many Ran Yi Fish, fish body snake head, six legs, eyes like horse ears. Scales entered water, eating them makes one not dazed, can ward off calamity.
At this time, the ability of the Ran Yi Fish Aspect also emerged in Chen Shun’an’s mind—
“Two-legged Ran Yi Fish: Opens the Niwan Acupoint, gradually Return to Innate, takes Divine Aspect scales to transform water, can bring peaceful sleep and good dreams, immune to nightmare demons.”
Opens the Niwan Acupoint!
Peaceful sleep and good dreams!
As the saying goes, ‘Mud Pill vermilion palace, centrally regulates five qi, mixes hundred gods, ten turns return spirit’.
Once the Niwan Acupoint opens, it can connect with the vermilion palace（ heart）, regulate five elements five qi, make spirit penetrating, more spiritual, even achieve Return to Innate, converting Acquired Qi to Xiantian Qi!
This was too suitable for Chen Shun’an now, who was slaying Six Thieves leading to mental depletion, slow progress!
And that peaceful sleep good dreams effect was exactly like sending a pillow just as one dozes off!
Whether for martial practitioners or those burning Heart Clearing Paste, it was no different from a miraculous pill!
The Grass Head God serving as 【Dew-Collecting Water-Distributing Soldier】, now the dew it receives, the water it distributes, is finally no longer ordinary water or turbid water.
But proper spiritual water!
Ran Yi Soothing Sleep Water!
Chen Shun’an thought very clearly.
A gentleman skillfully borrows momentum, since the great momentum presses inescapably, why not turn crisis to opportunity, ride the wind straight up!
And this Ran Yi Soothing Sleep Water would be his first sharp tool to harvest incense, demonstrate divine miracles!
To pry at the Sacred Dynasty’s foundation!
【Select Ran Yi Fish Aspect】
【Deity Descent requires: Fifty-year Precious Fish scales, two stalks Heavenly Water Ant Grass, one handful Sweet Water, incense ash】
Chen Shun’an glanced, Sweet Water and incense ash were easy.
But fifty-year Precious Fish scales and Heavenly Water Ant Grass were somewhat rare.
Heavenly Water Ant Grass mostly grows on waterside grassy slopes, needing long-term nourishment from various ant nests.
River Precious Fish also like to swallow them, often leaping out at rainy nights to compete for them.
Also considered a mysterious item of the martial world, not only a necessary Great Medicine for some martial arts, ordinary people taking it can also supplement muscles and bones, strengthen leg strength.
Rare, hard to get.
Fortunately, over these two months, Chen Shun’an hadn’t sat idle, secretly collecting possible Deity Descent materials.
Including this Heavenly Water Ant Grass!
Last time choosing Qing Ji Aspect, Chen Shun’an had noticed.
These Deity Descent materials all had intricate connections to the corresponding Divine Aspect’s living habits, appearance, powers.
Many overlapped, and if nothing unexpected, the quantity and rarity of materials for future chosen Divine Aspects would rise!
And Heavenly Water Ant Grass was one with high overlap for Deity Descent materials.
Chen Shun’an had long scouted clearly, in county north some private agencies and halls requiring acquaintance introduction and certain identity status to enter, they were sold.
Chen Shun’an had already prepared ahead, greased relations, obtained waist badge.
Preparing ahead for collecting Deity Descent materials later.
Chen Shun’an always believed in one reason.
Troubles solvable with money are no troubles!
“However, those fifty-year Precious Fish scales…”
Chen Shun’an pondered, brow furrowing.
The next moment, his eyes brightened, as if realizing something.
……
The next day.
Day deity in charge, all matters smooth.
Dare to advance knowing when to stop, avoid rash destruction.
One night of rushing, practicing martial arts choosing god.
Chen Shun’an, who had just slept less than half a shichen, was full of energy.
Wan Niang woke, deftly serving Chen Shun’an to dress and put on boots.
Then hurriedly went to prepare breakfast.
Chen Shun’an said: “Wan Niang, entering autumn, time to fatten up.
Today buy some lard, shrimp skins, wrap some leek dumplings, make some fried sauce noodles… wrap more, have Li girl come help too.”
At breakfast, Wan Niang prepared Chen Shun’an’s waist pouch, saddlebag, water pouch and ginger candy properly.
Then subconsciously went for the pipe, reaching into the cloth bag on the wall, but found it empty.
She immediately reacted, withdrew her hand and nodded,
“Got it.”
Wan Niang also knew about Nurturing Infant Hall, naturally soft-hearted, unconditionally fully supporting Chen Shun’an’s decision.
Putting down bowls and chopsticks, Chen Shun’an took waist pouch etc., went out the courtyard gate, stamped his shoe soles on the steps, then slowly left.
After Chen Shun’an left, Wan Niang only then frowned her fine brows, hand supporting on the table, face showing pained expression.
“Brother now too capable…”
……
In a flash, morning passed.
Noon eating at Second Meat Shop.
Chen Shun’an arrived a bit late, when he entered Second Meat Shop, the water carriers who had been eating and chatting in the hall immediately put down their tasks, full of smiles, greeting him one after another.
This manner just like that day toward Instructor Lin.
These water carriers were mostly familiar faces, but mixed with five or six new faces.
At the moment quietly sizing up Chen Shun’an with curious, probing gazes.
Grit Well personnel turnover not high, a year probably just a few position changes.
Five or six newcomers naturally meant five or six old ones ‘disappeared’.
Some died in the turmoil two months ago, some for various reasons returned home to retire, sought elsewhere, met mishaps, killed over private grudges.
Fu Sheng who once spoke loosely ‘teasing’ Wan Niang was also among the disappeared old ones.
This time really not Chen Shun’an’s doing.
Fu Sheng ran into usury, borrowed silver from ‘Guanghui Money House’, ended up unable to repay with compound interest.
By the rules, debt collectors came, after a lesson in fists and feet, Fu Sheng was grabbed to some mining area to dig coal.
Water Station couldn’t intervene for Fu Sheng.
After all, owe debt repay money, only right and proper.
Skill inferior to others, fists and feet not up to par, being grabbed away, nothing to be done.
Facing everyone’s flattery.
Chen Shun’an smiled and nodded, heading to the back private room.
“Master Chen.”
The shopkeeper stopped Chen Shun’an, nodding and bowing, handing over an oiled paper bag.
“This is…”
“Master Chen, Wan Niang helped in my shop for years, her leaving I can’t bear, thought no good gifts, so bought some pastries from Jialan Shop.”
Jialan Shop was a century-old famous pastry shop, branches all over the capital city, ingredients and oil used first-rate, everyone praises!
Even the saying, even if just one breath left, smelling Jialan Shop pastries scent would fake death, eat two bites before willing to die!
Spring river warms, duck knows first.
This time, whether Instructor Lin’s attitude shift toward Chen Shun’an, or Shopkeeper Li often chatting with Chen Shun’an even inviting home for meal.
All faintly releasing a signal.
Master Chen, to take over Instructor Lin’s position!
Then, which Second Meat Shop the water carriers go to eat, isn’t it Master Chen’s word?
This shopkeeper also smart, always watching his biggest clients—
This group of water carriers’ internal movements.
After noticing this, knowing now Wan Niang thoroughly became Chen Shun’an’s person, though not chicken dog ascend to heaven, still not like before.
Sending gold and silver too vulgar, jade bracelets too expensive.
Sending Jialan Shop pastries best, suitable for young and old, no taboos.
Continuing to forge good karma is good too!
