Translator: CinderTL
This is the right way to make money...
Xu Sanyan walked down the street, his head bowed in thought. Through his conversation with Old Ghost, a clear message had emerged:
Force won't work.
With the authorities watching, he couldn't forcibly drag someone to take the blame. He wouldn't commit any illegal acts.
As everyone knew, Xu Sanyan was a law-abiding citizen who never crossed the legal red line.
But he could use the Purple Mountain Heart-Planting Art, combined with some persuasive words...
The gloomy sky was shrouded in thick fog, obscuring the sun. Only faint rays of light managed to pierce through the haze, barely illuminating the earth.
Suddenly feeling hungry, he bought another steamed bun. As he ate, he scanned his surroundings, searching for his next victim...
A destined soul.
Meanwhile, in Endless Central City,
Fang Qingge glanced at Junior Sister Yu, who was clinging to his left arm, then turned to Lu Wanzhe, who was clutching his right arm. Finally, he looked ahead and gave an awkward smile.
"Qingwei, you're awake?"
Luo Qingwei shook her dizzy head, her words slurred. "How long was I unconscious?"
"Two and a half days."
Luo Changtian, relieved to see his sister awake, let out a sigh of relief. He had woken up the previous day and had been watching over her ever since.
"What about Xu Sanyan?" Luo Qingwei asked.
Fang Qingge shook his head. "He's gone. I couldn't stop him."
Though she had anticipated this, Luo Qingwei still found it hard to believe. She knew Fang Qingge's strength firsthand, and with the combined might of Jingyi (whose power rivaled Fang Qingge's), Mo Xianxian, and herself, they had still failed to restrain Xu Sanyan. It was astonishing that such a formidable figure existed among the younger generation.
"Who is this person? Why haven't we heard of him before?" Luo Changtian asked.
"I don't know. I hadn't heard of him either until recently. All I know is that he won the Demonic Sect Holy Son Ceremony not long ago."
As Fang Qingge spoke, he cautiously tried to withdraw his arm. Junior Sister Yu sniffed and tightened her grip.
Behind them, Junior Sister Zhao sighed, realizing there was no chance for her to make a move.
Luo Qingwei shook her head, uninterested in joining Junior Sister Yu and Lu Wanzhe in their petty rivalry. Her gaze paused as she scanned the surroundings, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Why... are there so few people left?"
Before she lost consciousness, the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect had brought thirty to forty members, and combined with the Source Worship Sect's contingent, there had been eighty to ninety people. Now, fewer than fifty remained.
Luo Changtian sighed, gesturing toward the courtyard standing squarely in the middle of the street. "They all went in there."
Luo Qingwei blinked, only now noticing the courtyard. "How did this courtyard get here? And..." She held up her thumb and forefinger, measuring a small distance. "Why is it so small?"
In truth, the courtyard was of normal size, but compared to the towering pavilions on either side, it appeared diminutive.
Fang Qingge watched the space between her fingers, his mind drifting to some unknown association. He unconsciously tightened his abdomen.
"I don't know. It suddenly appeared. No one who went in has come out. Now that you're awake, let's explore it together later."
"Mm, after I recover my Spiritual Power."
Luo Qingwei's gaze shifted, sweeping over the second girl beside Fang Qingge before silently turning away.
Fang Qingge felt even more awkward. He sighed inwardly, Little Brother, Little Brother, I've suffered so much for your sake...
Xu Sanyan walked down the street, clutching a spirit stone in each hand and absorbing their energy. Before long, the stones crumbled into dust and scattered across the ground.
"That should be enough..."
With a mental command, a panel appeared in his vision:
[Xu Sanyan]
[Age: 21/462]
[Realm: Dao Seeking Realm (Mid Stage)]
[Cultivation Method: Dao-Seizing Vitality Origin Sutra (Peak Stage)]
[Mystical Arts: Subduing the Heart-Ape Method (Mid Stage) +, Soaring Void Wind-Riding Technique (Peak Stage), Soul Condensation Technique (Peak Stage), Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force (Peak Stage), Purple Mountain Heart-Planting Art (Peak Stage)...]
[Techniques: Perfect Circle Stance (Peak Stage), Three Tigers Subduing Dragon Saber (Peak Stage), Horse Appraisal Technique (Peak Stage)...]
[Vitality: 624]
A plus sign had appeared next to "Subduing the Heart-Ape Method," indicating it could be upgraded.
Xu Sanyan found a secluded spot and, with a mental command, ordered:
"Upgrade!"
His Vitality drained away like flowing water.
In an instant, a thunderous roar erupted from the depths of his consciousness, as if the Thunder God himself had unleashed ten thousand bolts of heavenly lightning.
Xu Sanyan's slightly widened eyes lost focus, his mind reeling. The chaotic thoughts in his mind were struck by heavenly lightning, shattering into dust.
Deep within his sea of consciousness, the thoughts that had flickered like stars in the sky vanished one by one. His constantly churning mind finally found a moment's respite.
He had never felt so at ease before. It was as if the ten-thousand-pound shackles that had bound his divine soul had shattered, leaving him with a profound sense of liberation and freedom.
This sensation was even more exhilarating than "that moment" itself.
Most importantly, he could now clearly perceive his innermost thoughts, free from the interference of chaotic thoughts and completely immune to the torment of inner demons.
"The tide rises on the Qiantang River, only today do I truly know myself..."
Xu Sanyan slowly opened his eyes, the sharp glint in them now subdued, no longer as aggressive as before.
His demeanor had shifted, the restless energy replaced by a newfound tranquility.
Silently reflecting, he gained fresh insights into the many passages on the jade slip that had previously eluded his understanding.
"No wonder it's a secret art of the Yaotian Holy Sect—truly extraordinary!"
Xu Sanyan felt a surge of excitement. Mastering this technique would save him at least several decades of cultivation time.
He immediately sensed his meridians swelling, his Qi Sea churning with Spiritual Power, and even a slight improvement in his cultivation level.
Not that he needed further advancement. In just a few more days, after accumulating enough Vitality, he could reach the Peak Stage of the Dao Seeking Realm. Then he could...
His gaze swept over his storage pouch, and he smiled faintly.
The girl inside the discipline ruler, confused, asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing..."
He glanced up at the sky, which had grown even darker. Nightfall was approaching. He needed to hurry to the prefectural office.
Tonight, he planned to work the night watch again, at least to understand what might happen after dark.
Besides, he genuinely needed the money.
The number of ghosts on the main street had noticeably dwindled, and vendors were packing up their stalls to return home. Only a few stray ghosts still roamed aimlessly.
Xu Sanyan strode toward the prefectural office, located in the northern part of the city. To save time, he activated the Clear Wind Technique beneath his feet, propelling himself forward at high speed. He finally arrived outside the prefectural office just before nightfall.
Two figures were waiting there. One was a ghost dressed in black, resembling a yamen runner, holding a copper gong and a mallet.
The other was a young man, his expression timid, also holding a copper gong and mallet. He stood silently to the side, not uttering a word.
Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes, finding the young man vaguely familiar. After a moment's thought, he recalled seeing him during the earlier competition for the jade slip.
Hearing the sound, the young man instinctively turned his head, his eyes widening in shock. "Xu Sanyan?" he blurted out.
Xu Sanyan ignored him and bowed to the yamen runner. "Master, please forgive my tardiness. I was delayed on the road."
The runner nodded stiffly and handed over the copper gong. "You two are responsible for the southern district. Strike the gong every two hours to announce the time, prevent fires, and guard against calamities and theft. Cease at Chen Shi."
Xu Sanyan nodded and accepted the gong. "Understood."
With that, the runner turned and entered the prefectural office, closing the vermilion gates without a second glance.
Only then did Xu Sanyan turn to the young man, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You recognize me?"
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c274. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.