Chapter 23: Lian Ge Pavilion

  Looking at Meng Kong and Luo Chong's faces with a look of astonishment, Chen Tai couldn't help but feel a little strange. What was wrong with the cultivation method of observing and thinking?

  "Brother, I've heard from Meng Kong that the method of divine soul observation is extremely rare. In the entire Songyan City, there are no more than three forces that possess this observational technique."

  "The method of visualization is so precious because its transmission cannot be done through jade slips, books, or written words. It requires a secret method to be personally transmitted by the original master, and can only be passed on to one person, not widely disseminated, which is also the reason for its rarity."

  Younger brother Chen Hao noticed Chen Tai's confusion and explained in a low voice, "However, I've also heard that among those ancient sects with deep foundations, there are different kinds of mysterious treasures created by the great gods through their own thoughts. Through these mysterious treasures, one can also gain insight into the method of thought, like the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's Inscription Stone, which is a kind of mysterious and unfathomable treasure."

  Chen Xiao suddenly realized and thought of the image of Fuxi in his mind, only then did he deeply feel its preciousness.

  "I'll learn the technique of visualization, but if I still can't grasp the divine rhythm of these patterns, I'll come find you again." Qin Hongtu clenched his small fist, and a fierce determination flashed in his clear eyes. He waved goodbye to Chen Tai and turned to leave.

  "Meng Kong, this time I'll let you off, but next time I'm definitely going to have a match with you!" Luo Chong saw the situation and didn't even bother to ask Chen Yu about his thoughts on the matter, instead giving Meng Kong a fierce glare before reluctantly following him.

  "This madman has finally left."

  Watching the two leave, Meng Kong smiled and turned his head to look at Chen Xiao, his eyes gleaming with a strange light: "No wonder you advanced so quickly, it turns out that you have cultivated the art of visualization."

  "It should be." Chen Xiao replied casually, unwilling to say more.

  "The method of visualization is mysterious and unpredictable, extremely rare and precious. From now on, don't mention this matter to anyone else, or you might put your life in danger."

  Meng Kong smiled and said: "But you can rest assured that although Luo Chong is crazy, he will never reveal your affairs."

  Chen Ting nodded, but in her heart she thought: "There is no wall that doesn't leak wind. From now on, I will never mention this matter to anyone again. This time, I almost buried a calamity for myself..."

  ……

  The next day, Meng Kong took Chen Huan on the road to Longyuan City in southern Xinjiang.

  Chen Yu was already feeling sad and reluctant because of his brother's departure, and when he saw Bai Yuqing also taking Xixi with her, following Meng Kong away, his mood became even more depressed.

  "Brother, don't worry, I will work hard and take good care of myself. You should also take good care of yourself and don't worry about me..."

  "Chen Tai, from the day he took Chen Huan to see Meng Kong, I had already promised him to leave Songyan City and return to Longyuan City in South Jiang. You must take good care of yourself, if you go to Longyuan City, be sure to come visit Aunt Bai."

  "Chen Xiao Gege, Xixi has left. This is Xixi's favorite green orange candy. Let's each have half and after eating it, we'll be Xixi's best friends. Goodbye."

  The sound of his brother, Bai Yi, and Xi Xi's voices still lingered in Chen Tai's ears. He sat in the room for a long time before slowly opening a silk book in his hand.

  "Chen Xiao, cultivating a path with killing intent lurking everywhere. To go further, you must possess strong martial power that matches your cultivation level. But after talking to you last night, I found out that you haven't practiced martial arts for many years, and your martial arts skills are superficial and unbearable. This is a great taboo for cultivators."

  "Remember, martial arts cultivation is the foundation of battle. Swordsmanship, palm techniques, knife techniques... no matter what kind of martial skill, you must find a path of combat that belongs to yourself, only then can you be considered a true strong person!"

  "Take care of yourself, we will meet again someday - Meng Kong."

  Sigh...

  Chen Xuan finished reading the brocade book and let out a long sigh of turbid air.

  Last night, Chen Xiao had a long conversation with Meng Kong, the number one sword cultivator of Songyuan Academy. He gained a lot from it and realized that although his cultivation has been rising rapidly, the actual power he can exert is still somewhat disappointing. Upon reflection, he found that the reason lies in his neglect of martial arts training, as he has been focusing solely on talisman crafting and cooking skills.

  Now seeing the brocade book that Meng Gong had specially left for himself, Chen Tai felt a surge of heroic spirit rising in his heart amidst his gratitude.

  In the past, due to the need to make a living and help his younger brother pay tuition fees, he spent all his time making seals and studying culinary arts, with no spare time to practice martial skills. Now, with his younger brother's departure, he only needs to supplement the tuition fees for Songyuan Academy, and he can take out time to cultivate his martial skills properly.

  "Unfortunately, my Chen family was destroyed, and thousands of martial arts books were destroyed. My grandfather only left behind a book on breathing exercises called 'Zi Xuan Gong', but he was soon killed by our enemies. If I want to practice martial arts, I'm afraid I'll have to join another school."

  Chen Xiao thought for a long time in silence, then got up and walked out of the room.

  ……

  Zhang's Grocery Store.

  Due to the new runes being sold out, the crazy and hot scene of frantic buying gradually subsided.

  However, compared to the past, Zhang's grocery store had already become a household name throughout Songyancheng, and the number of customers every day was several times more than before. In this situation, the owner of the store, Zhang Dayong, did not worry about not making money.

  "Uncle Zhang." Chen Tai pushed open the door and entered.

  When Chen Xiao appeared, Zhang Da Yong, who was dozing off behind the counter, suddenly opened his eyes and smiled with joy. The dozen or so apprentices making talismans nearby also stopped what they were doing, their faces filled with admiration and reverence.

  With the emergence of new talismans, these talisman apprentices also basked in Chen Yao's glory, and their salaries increased greatly. How could they still mock Chen Yao as before?

  What's wrong with the broom star?

  As long as it can bring benefits to everyone, even if it's a moldy god reincarnated, it's still worth welcoming with a smile!

  Chen Xiao had been staying in the small black room of Qingxi Wine House all along, and did not know that his new type of symbol was popular on the market, nor did he know that he had already been crowned with the honor of "Mysterious Symbol Master".

  So he swept a somewhat strange glance over the crowd, his mood was much calmer than the people present.

  "Good kid! You've been gone for a whole half month, and you still have the nerve to see me?" Zhang Dayong said with a fake anger after leading Chen Yu into an elegant room.

  Chen Xiao's face was a bit sweaty: "Uncle, I've had some other things going on these past few days and can't get away for the time being, so..."

  "Alright, you've grown up now, you have your own things to attend to, uncle can understand."

  Zhang Dayong waved his hand and said with a smile: "How many talismans did you make this time?"

  Chen Xiao shook his head and said cautiously: "Uncle Zhang, I'm afraid I won't be able to make talismans anymore. I need to focus on cultivating my martial skills and increase my own strength."

  Zhang Dayong was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. He sighed and said, "I knew this day would come, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."

  As Chen walked out of Zhang's grocery store, he felt a bit complicated.

  All these years, if not for Zhang Da Yong's care, he and his grandfather and brother would have long become street beggars. Now, in order to cultivate martial arts, he had to quit this job, and couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

  "Uncle Zhang, Chen Suo will never forget this kindness!"

  Standing in front of the signboard of Zhang's grocery store for a long time, Chen Cui's eyes flashed with determination, and he turned around and left resolutely.

  ……

  Linglong Pavilion

  Linglong Pavilion is a place that specializes in selling cultivation methods, from low-level to high-level, everything is available, which greatly satisfies the needs of many scattered cultivators. Even some powerful families and academies have come here to dig for treasures, and it has a good reputation within Songyancheng.

  "In terms of cultivating my Qi, I practice the family-transmitted 'Zi Xuan Gong', and in terms of cultivating my body, I practice the 'Zhoutian Xinglie Body Tempering Technique' passed down by Senior Ji Yu. What kind of martial skill can bring out my true strength?"

  Chen Xuan was standing in front of the counter at this moment, looking at the various martial arts books with dazzling colors, and some were at a loss.

  "Senior, would you like me to help you select some techniques?" A beautiful female attendant beside him suggested.

  Chen Tang thought for a moment and asked: "What are some martial skills related to body refinement?"

  The waitress was taken aback, and a hint of disdain flashed in the depths of her eyes. In Songyan City, most body cultivators were lowly laborers with humble identities, without money or power, living in poverty and hardship.

  At this time, when Chen Yu wanted to buy a body-refining technique, the female servant naturally regarded him as a struggling poor man.

  "The exercises for refining the body are very few, only over a dozen. Please look this way." The female attendant's attitude turned cold, not even calling him "senior" anymore, pointing to the corner of the counter.

  "‘Tiger Claw Fist’, ‘Dragon Leg Technique’, ‘Demon Subduing Hand Seal’, ‘Golden Peng Body Method’……” Chen Xiao swept through each one, and couldn't help but exclaim: "The price of each one is over a hundred yuan stones, and these are all basic body-refining martial techniques. The prices seem to be a bit outrageous, don't they?"

  The waitress's expression grew increasingly disdainful, and she replied indifferently: "These are all treasures collected by my Zhen Lian Ge, even the basic martial skills are much better than the rubbish sold on the streets. If you think it's expensive, you can go somewhere else to take a look."

  As she spoke, the waitress turned and left, muttering to herself: "Can't afford it, can't afford it, still complaining about the price, humph, these poor people are really unreasonable."

  Chen Yao shook his head, too lazy to argue with the waitress, and spent over 100 yuan to buy a copy of "Da Boren Quan". Just as he walked out of the Linglong Pavilion gate, someone called him from behind.

  "Chen Tai!" The voice was low and powerful.

  Chen Yao turned her head, but saw Luo Chong, who was tall and powerful, walking over from the Linglong Pavilion.

  "These are thirteen Body Refining Jade Slips, Miss helped you buy them, keep them well." Luo Chong said, tossing a pouch of treasures to Chen Yu, then turned around and walked back into the Linglong Pavilion.

  What's going on?

  Chen Xiao was taken aback and his eyes scanned the direction of Zhen Lian Ge, where he saw Qin Hongcui in a white dress waving at him.

  Did she see everything just now?

  It must be so, otherwise why would Luo Chong give himself some Body Refining Jade Slips for no reason?

  However, Chen Xiao couldn't accept this gift. He didn't want to owe anyone a favor, so he walked back into Zhen Rong Ge again, but when he looked around, Qin Hongmian was nowhere to be seen.

  "Senior, I...I'm sorry."

  The waitress walked over, seemingly having received a heavy blow, and apologized in a low voice, with a hint of despair and deep reverence, no longer with the slightest bit of her previous cold mockery.