I Am A Corpse Collector In The World Of Cultivating Immortals

Chapter 88: Finally Entering the Purple Garden

PS: Update first, revise later.

In the evening, Old Mo came back again.

"I went to see Zhang Qiang for the last time. He said that he was ordered by Song Yuchen and Cheng San..." he said.

After Zhang Qiang learned complete fortune-telling skills, he came up with this shortcut and used the name of a coffin shop to take on private jobs.

After being discovered by Song Yuchen and Xu Wenjing a few times, the three of them found him and used it as a threat, intending to frame Chen Shen.

"Fortunately, you were cautious and didn't fall for it," Old Mo said, causing Chen Shen to have lingering fear.

"Old Mo, you said these three people were just going through the motions. They must have already secured the position of Luck Master's apprentice. Why would they still target me?" Chen Shen asked, puzzled.

"These three people have some connection to a Luck Master due to their family background. But if too many talented people are recruited during the grand ceremony, it won't be beneficial for them either.

In other words, these people are just idle sons from influential families who haven't achieved anything in their cultivation. They set their sights on becoming Luck Masters because there is a lot of profit to be made. Although the Purple Garden is firmly controlled by these Luck Masters, it is still the property of Prince An. On the day of the grand ceremony, people from Prince An's mansion will come. If you perform well, without needing the approval of the Luck Masters, you can directly enter the Purple Garden with just a word from Prince An's mansion," Old Mo explained confidently, but this made Chen Shen hesitate.

After the incidents where the three people tried to harm him, he didn't want to appear too outstanding.

But if he wasn't outstanding enough, he wouldn't have a guarantee of entering the Purple Garden.

"There is still plenty of time. Let me fully comprehend the fortune-telling skills first, and then I can engrave the White Oriole Formation with one hand," Chen Shen thought to himself.

On the third day after Zhang Qiang's incident, Xu Wenjing and the other two returned to the coffin shop. They sat on the old man's chair as usual, chatting. They looked more like the boss than the boss himself.

They were just missing the melon seeds.

The content of their conversation seemed meaningless to Chen Shen, mainly gossip about the young masters of the families in the city.

Speaking of which, in the future, he would be a Luck Master in the Purple Garden, so they were giving him some inside information.

For example, how many people are buried in a day, what level of cultivation they have, whether their spiritual roots are strong, and how powerful their techniques are.

While the three of them were chatting, Xu Wenjing suddenly got up and approached Chen Shen.

"Chen Shen, you often sew and embalm corpses. Don't you feel nauseous?" she asked.

"Nauseous?" Chen Shen turned around, wiped his blood-stained hands, and put his index finger into his nostrils.

His whole hand was still covered in blood, and the hand that touched the corpse was in close contact with his lips.

Seeing this, Xu Wenjing's eyes widened, and her cheeks suddenly swelled up.

"No woman will like you if you're like this," she struggled to hold back the urge to vomit and said tremblingly.

Xu Wenjing took out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it over, saying, "Wipe it off."

Seeing this scene, Chen Shen instantly understood. It was a beauty trap.

This was an unsuccessful attempt to harm him, so they wanted to seduce him with a beauty trap.

Xu Wenjing is indeed very beautiful, much more attractive than Wang Lan.

However, he has a doting wife.

"Thank you, just what I needed."

Chen Shen did not refuse and took the girl's fragrant handkerchief. The girl's face turned visibly red, but then she took a few steps back, her eyes showing a hint of anger.

Chen Shen neatly folded the handkerchief and gently wiped the mottled bloodstains on the body.

"Chen Shen, you..." Xu Wenjing couldn't believe it, her trembling finger pointed at him.

"Miss Xu, didn't you ask me to wipe it? Is my work not good enough, not careful enough?"

Chen Shen wiped the areas on the body that still had a little bloodstain.

...

"Hmph!" She snorted coldly and left the funeral parlor.

"Where is Xu Wenjing going?" The two companions saw their friend angrily running out of the door and quickly followed.

"Arrogant." Chen Shen showed a disdainful expression.

"Did Xu Wenjing have a conflict with the other two? She seems really angry."

At this moment, Wang Lan, dressed in a Taoist robe, walked in, holding a divination flag in her hand, on which was written: "Be happy and know your fate, so you will have no worries."

This funeral parlor was also prepared for extraordinary people.

After learning fortune-telling, she became bold and took on private jobs, even encountering Zhang Qiang, the King of the Underworld.

On the surface, she was a serious and dedicated apprentice, but in reality, she only wanted to become the powerful Chen Shen who collected corpses in the Wangling Purple Garden.

Just going through the motions, the idle young masters and ladies, the afternoon tea trio.

And the person in front of her, who dared not violate the rules, was the master of fortune-telling and palmistry, Wang Lan.

Not to mention, she had some reputation on the nearby streets, although she didn't earn much spiritual stone, she was content.

In the evening, Mo Lao brought several pots of wine and drank with Chen Shen and Wang Lan in the backyard.

"Zhang Qiang followed me for ten years, and now he's dead. You all need to be cautious and not do anything that violates the rules of fortune-tellers," Mo Lao advised.

"You should stay away from those three, you are not on the same path, no need to get close."

Chen Shen nodded, but afterwards, Xu Wenjing often came to talk to him.

Spring came and autumn went, in the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

Everything was peaceful, Chen Shen diligently managed the funeral parlor, fortune-telling had been mastered, the basic Luck Formation, the Oriole Formation could also be engraved with one hand.

But he didn't reveal it, on the surface, he was just an inconspicuous assistant at the funeral parlor.

After two years, the afternoon tea trio occasionally came to the shop, probably preparing for the recruitment ceremony. As for Xu Wenjing, she still came to see him from time to time.

It seemed that she was not willing to admit defeat in her beauty plan and wanted him to fall in love with her.

As for the master of fate, Wang Lan, her name was well-known in the streets and business was booming, but she was rarely seen.

...

On this day, Xu Wenjing approached him again.

And she got very close, intentionally or unintentionally touching him.

"The seduction technique is too obvious." Chen Shen inwardly complained, feeling disturbed.

There were no business visits today, so Chen Shen changed and cleaned up.

Coincidentally, only this person from the trio came again, while the fortune-telling master went to calculate destiny.

It's really a situation of a man and a woman being alone together.

"Oh? What are you eating?"

Suddenly, Xu Wenjing noticed that the other person's cheeks were swollen, chewing on something, and asked in confusion.

Chen Shen opened his mouth wide, filled with greenish liquid and insects.

He used the same move he used against Mu Xiaojin back then.

But this time, they weren't real insects, they were illusions created by his magical powers.

Of course, Xu Wenjing didn't notice and vomited directly.

"Actually, I am..." She took out a book and placed it on the table, then ran away unable to bear it any longer.

"Explanation of Divination Techniques?" Chen Shen looked at the big words on the cover, somewhat surprised.

To make him reveal a flaw, she even used this?

"I would rather die than work in a funeral parlor." Chen Shen opened it and took a look, then closed it directly.

It's a good book, but he has already understood it, so it doesn't help him much.

In the blink of an eye, another year passed.

On this day, in the Purple Garden District, the sound of low bells could be heard.

"He has passed away. The most outstanding contemporary Luck Master of the Purple Crane level, Transcending Tribulation, has failed and passed away at the age of five hundred."

That year, he personally engraved the Luck Formation for General Ying Tian, and now the descendant of the general has become a genius, while this Luck Master has already ascended to immortality.

"Becoming an immortal is not easy. Five hundred years of Gold Core, but it is still fleeting."

"A thousand years of Nascent Soul, but I can no longer see hope, and I still cannot become a founder and ancestor."

Countless people lamented for this Luck Master who was famous in the An Wang Mansion.

His talent in cultivation was not as good, and he fell on the path of Nascent Soul.

Not everyone can shatter their Nascent Soul and achieve Soul Formation.

Some people envy the supreme status of Luck Masters, but many Luck Masters are devoted to the elders of small clans, shattering their Nascent Soul and extending their lifespan by five hundred years.

It can only be said that you can't have both fish and bear's paw. If you have hope in cultivation, you have no other way, and vice versa.

Not long after the funeral bells rang, another round of bells sounded.

"A few more Luck Masters have passed away, failing to achieve Nascent Soul. Five hundred years have passed, and their oil has run out."

"Although their status is high and they have inexhaustible spirit stones, they cannot watch the future of the mortal world like us."

...

The funeral bells rang frequently, lasting for two months.

"The Luck Masters who are nearing the end of their lifespan have almost all died. It's time to recruit apprentices." Chen Shen whispered, registering as a fortune-teller at the funeral parlor.

There weren't many people, although the benefits were great, but they had been studying Luck their whole lives and still couldn't break through.

For many people who value cultivation and lifespan, this is a kind of sorrow.

But compared to the number of spots available for recruitment, there were still ten times more applicants.

"I wonder how many people have connections. Can I stand out among them?" Chen Shen stood in the crowd, looking around, thinking to himself.

"Chen Shen!" Someone called him, and when he turned around, he saw Xu Wenjing waving at him happily.

This damn charm...!

No, it's a beauty trap, I can't fall for it.

Chen Shen nodded slightly and quickly turned his head.

Just a nod is enough, nothing more.

After registering, ignoring Xu Wenjing's request to wait, he went straight back to the funeral parlor and focused on his work.

"You didn't go?" Chen Shen noticed that the Grandmaster of Destiny, Wang Lan, did not go to register.

"I am content with my current life." It seems that after the incident with Zhang Qiang, she has come to terms with it.

Being a proper fortune-telling master is not bad, and the business in the shop is not busy.

This kind of life is quite fulfilling.

"Not bad, strive to win the apprentice spot and enter the Purple Garden."

Old Mo came for a visit, specifically to encourage Chen Shen.

Xu Wenjing also came, seemingly a little angry on her face because someone didn't wait for her.

"Good luck, see you in the Purple Garden." What surprised Chen Shen was that she also came to encourage him.

Could it be that she fell into her own beauty trap?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

He shook his head lightly, not thinking about these messy things, but focusing on preparing for the apprentice selection of the Purple Garden Luck Masters.

"For the spot, I will give it my all."

In the evening, Chen Shen made a decision after hesitating. He would not hide his abilities and give it his all to try and secure a spot.

One month later, the recruitment ceremony finally arrived.

There were only thirty apprentice spots, but four hundred participants.

Not bad, there's more chance than being a test-taker.

And there was no interview process, ten esteemed Luck Masters served as judges.

If they think someone is suitable, they directly find their name on the list and put a checkmark next to it.

On the eve of the competition, Wang Lan unusually brought wine and food, wanting to have a drink with Chen Shen.

"I don't know if you can enter the Purple Garden, but your talent is stronger than mine, so you should have a chance," she said.

"Whether there is a chance or not, I think Wang Tianshi should have tried to sign up," Chen Shen said modestly and regretfully.

However, the latter shook his head gently. "If there is no prearrangement, I would give it a try. Unfortunately, many people have already been prearranged. I am not as good as you and definitely don't have the ability to compete for the remaining few spots."

"Prearranged?" Chen Shen was puzzled, and the other person nodded lightly.

"Don't you know? If you want to go to the Purple Garden, you should find out. Many people have been prearranged, like the three of us from the coffin shop. The recruitment ceremony is just a formality."

"How did you find out about this?" Chen Shen was clearly stunned and after a long pause, he asked.

"A year ago, I was fortune-telling for a fairly good customer and was invited to have a meal at a teahouse, where I overheard the conversation of these three people," Wang Lan said.

They looked at each other in silence, and Chen Shen drank a glass of wine.

The next day, when he participated in the competition, he finally understood the meaning of prearrangement.

It was not just a formality. These people, who were usually lazy, like Xu Wenjing and the others, could actually engrave formations with one hand, showing that they had high talent.

Of course, Chen Shen was not inferior either. He also engraved it with one hand and was the first to succeed.

The target was a coffin, divided into two levels.

"This child is good!" When Chen Shen didn't hide his abilities, he naturally stood out.

This attracted the attention of the ten judges, who stroked their beards and nodded with smiles.

"But success or failure lies in the second level. I wonder if he can come out on top in the second level," one of the judges said, holding a list of participants in his hand.

Among them, more than twenty names had already been checked off. These were the prearranged ones!

"Purple Mountain and River Art, White Goose Chapter!"

When the second level arrived, a golden light appeared in front of him, and he took a look to understand.

The second level turned out to be comprehending the Purple Mountain and River Art!

This was the supreme Luck scripture of the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty. Although it was only the introductory White Goose Chapter, it was still very precious and could only be learned by Ling Luck Masters.

"Within the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, comprehend as much as you can and engrave it on the coffin you obtained," a Luck Master shouted.

"It's not too difficult. If it weren't for the upcoming competition, I would have prepared to create my own Luck formation," Chen Shen opened the book and nodded slightly.

...

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, the time for two incense sticks to burn had arrived.

Chen Shen obtained an impressive second place and one of the few spots available.

He sighed, realizing that the An Wang Mansion was full of hidden talents in formations, even stronger than him.

But that wasn't the case. If he had known the truth and had the same hot-bloodedness as Lu Changqing, he would probably have drawn his sword and killed these ten Luck Masters.

Because the talent of the first place was indeed high, coupled with the prearrangement, he had started comprehending the White Goose formation two months ago!

"In the future, when you enter the Purple Garden and become a companion of Luck, you will all be under my guidance and become Ling Luck Masters after reaching the White Goose level," a Green Sparrow Luck Master said to the ten apprentices in front of him.

The thirty people began their cultivation under the guidance of the three Luck Masters.

"So it's him!" Chen Shen looked at the Luck Master who was about to become his teacher and thought to himself.

The other person was the esteemed Luck Master who had tested him a few years ago.

"Chen Shen!" What surprised him even more was that Xu Wenjing and the others were also in the same group, and Xu Wenjing was calling out to him.

"Today, go back first, pack up everything, and come to the Purple Garden early tomorrow morning."

The Green Sparrow Luck Master Zhao Decai waved his hand and dismissed everyone.

...

"Congratulations, future esteemed Luck Master!"

After hearing the news, Wang Lan, from the coffin shop, sincerely congratulated him.

Chen Shen clasped his fists and nodded slightly.

Today would be his last night staying at the coffin shop.

"What about Wang Lan?" In the evening, Mo Lao brought several jugs of wine.

"She went to do fortune-telling," Chen Shen casually said.

Wang Lan often stayed out all night, and he had no idea what she was doing.

But occasionally, he would see her come back the next day with a radiant face, looking very nourished.

"Alright, tonight I will see you off," Mo Lao said.

"Thank you, Mo Lao, for taking care of me all these years."

Chen Shen's face was solemn as he performed a grand ceremony.

"Don't mention it. It's what you deserve. After becoming a Luck Master in the future, come back often to visit and also take care of the business here."

Mo Lao smiled and Chen Shen nodded, indicating that he would.

"Come, let's have a drink." The two clinked their glasses.

While they were chatting, suddenly, Chen Shen's face changed, and he felt weak all over, his limbs powerless.

"Mo Lao, I'm feeling a bit unwell and I'm afraid I can't drink with you anymore," he said, struggling to get up from the table.

Bang!

However, he couldn't support himself after taking a few steps and fell directly to the ground.

"Do you feel weak all over and unable to use your cultivation?"

At this moment, a voice sounded, and he turned his head to see Mo Lao playing with a wine glass, his face calm.

"Mo Lao, this is..." Chen Shen's face changed drastically, and his voice was weak.

"Soft Bone Sealing Essence Powder. Even Nascent Soul would collapse after taking it. It prevents the use of cultivation, weakens the limbs, and leaves one at the mercy of others."

Mr. Mo slowly stood up and approached Chen Shen, his expression cold and indifferent.

"Why are you treating me like this, Mr. Mo?" Chen Shen's face turned ugly. He tried to get up but kept falling down.

"Don't struggle anymore, this is what I've been waiting for."

The other party shook his head lightly.

"Why?" Chen Shen asked in a cold voice. He tried to activate his cultivation, but no matter what he did, he couldn't summon any spiritual power, which was very painful.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Mr. Mo said.

"When you pretended to be a pitiful person outside my shop all those days, I thought you were just another person trying to take advantage of my funeral parlor."

"So I played along and brought you in to see what you were up to."

"But you surprised me with your seriousness and hard work. I thought you were just an honest and diligent person."

"But when I saw you perform a complete divination technique, I realized your true purpose."

"You have extraordinary talent, and you were aiming for the Purple Garden."

"Even if I go to the Purple Garden, it won't benefit you in any way. Why did you poison me?" Chen Shen almost shouted, his face pale.

"Going to the Purple Garden won't harm me, it might even be beneficial. But remember, if you become an apprentice of the Purple Garden, is there any share for me in what you gain there?"

"I'll give it all to you, just let me go!" Chen Shen pleaded.

However, Mr. Mo shook his head gently. "I have a method that can devour souls and take over bodies. From now on, whatever you gain in the Purple Garden will be mine."

"So that was your plan, you beast!"

"Don't bother screaming, it's useless."

Mr. Mo shook his head and said, "Tell me, do you have any last words? There won't be another chance."

"Well..." Chen Shen hesitated.

"I want to ask, when you said that Zhang Qiang framed me, it wasn't actually the work of Xu Wenjing and the others, but your doing?"

Although Mr. Mo was puzzled why Chen Shen would ask this, he still smiled and nodded.

"If I didn't do that, how could I gain your favor and establish a relationship with you?"

"And you were foolish enough to believe me without suspecting anything when I said that. You didn't have any guard against me."

"On the day when Zhang Qiang's incident happened, I did it on a whim. It not only made you grateful, but also got rid of that idiot. It was killing two birds with one stone, why wouldn't I do it?"

"So you're saying..." Chen Shen rubbed his chin and muttered to himself.

"Xu Wenjing didn't plot against me with some seduction plan, she actually kind of liked me?"

"Huh?" Mr. Mo was taken aback. Why was he concerned about this now?

"Okay, I understand."

However, what happened next left Mr. Mo dumbfounded, almost petrified.

Chen Shen, who was originally lying down, suddenly stood up as if nothing had happened, and even moved his body.

He even gave Mr. Mo an apologetic look. "Sorry, I was lying down for too long, just stretching."

"What?" Mr. Mo exclaimed, still full of disbelief.

"Do you know that I was going to deal with you?" he asked.

"Yes," Chen Shen nodded.

It turned out that he had never doubted it. He only understood everything after learning about the prearranged situation from Wang Lan.

Since it was already prearranged, why bother planning against him? It was pointless.

"Even if you were on guard, it doesn't matter. You're still going to die!" A surge of Soul Formation cultivation burst out from Mr. Mo's body.

"You hid it well, but I knew it from the moment I entered your shop," Chen Shen said with a smile, not caring at all.

"Huh?" Mr. Mo was shocked.

"Do you know why I wanted to enter your funeral parlor?" Chen Shen asked.

"Why?"

"Because the cultivation of other shops was too low, I looked down on them!"

"Huh?"

"What's with the surprise? Soul search!" Chen Shen said.

"Just a measly Gold Core, and you dare to soul search me so confidently? Who gave you the courage?"

"Liáng Jìngrú!"

"???" Mr. Mo.

But then he was even more shocked. Chen Shen wasn't just at the mid-stage of Gold Core, he had already reached the peak of Nascent Soul!

And that soul power was more than ten times stronger than his Soul Formation!

This was clearly a cultivation genius!

An unparalleled talent.

But why would he target a Luck Master with no future?

Mr. Mo couldn't understand, and there was no one to answer him.

With regret, he was devoured by Chen Shen's soul, and he didn't leave peacefully.

"I'll bury you again later, but first, I'll take over your body. Unfortunately, I lost a tenth of my soul power, it hurts so much." Chen Shen said, feeling sorry.

I'll correct the mistakes after eating. I'm starving.

Thank you all for the monthly votes. I won't list them today, but tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)