Nine Transformations of the True Spirit

Chen Yuan said:

"Chen is a loose cultivator from Qingzhou. He wants to go to Huanyuefang City, but he doesn't know the way. Please ask fellow Taoist Cao for guidance."

When Cao You heard this, he relaxed and said with a smile:

"This is easy. I happen to be going back to Fangshi and can lead the way for Brother Chen."

Chen Yuan smiled and said:

"Thank you very much. How is Fellow Daoist Cao injured? Does he need some rest?"

Cao You waved his hand and said:

"My injury doesn't matter, let's set off now... But brother Chen doesn't want the flesh and blood of the horned wolf?"

Chen Yuan was startled:

"What is the use of monster flesh and blood?"

Cao You explained:

"Brother Chen doesn't know that there are some strange spiritual grasses in Huanyuefang City that require the flesh and blood of monster beasts. This horned wolf is not weak. He can sell three spiritual stones with his flesh and blood."

Chen Yuan suddenly realized:

"Fellow Daoist Cao is indeed honest, but even if Chen takes it away, there is no way to sell it. This horned wolf flesh and blood will be given to Friend Cao."

Cao You looked happy:

"Brother Chen is generous, and Mr. Cao takes advantage of this."

As he spoke, he took out the flying sword, cut the horned wolf flesh into several pieces, and put them into a storage bag.

After finishing cleaning up, the two set off for Huanyue Shanfang City.

But within a quarter of an hour, Cao You's face changed, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his expression became distorted.

He stopped and said with a wry smile:

"I didn't expect that the horned wolf demonic power would be so difficult to deal with. It's like a gangrene attached to the bone. It needs a period of meditation before it can be eliminated. I'm afraid I have to break my promise. Brother Chen, wait a moment. I will draw a road map for Brother Chen. Show the way..."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and said:

"Chen came to Shuozhou this time with a caravan of mortals. Fellow Taoist Cao might as well follow me to the caravan for meditation. By the time we get to Qingyang Town, his injuries should be healed."

Cao You was overjoyed:

"This couldn't be better!"

Afterwards, Chen Yuan and Cao You returned to the river. The caravan camp was silent, except for a few trembling guards, there was no one else.

When the guard noticed two black figures approaching, his already tense nerves immediately collapsed. He raised his sword and shouted:

"Who is it? Don't come here!"

"The monster is coming!"

Chen Yuan said loudly:

"Don't panic, it's me, Chen Yuan."

When the guard heard his voice, he breathed a sigh of relief and put down his sword.

Shopkeeper Shen ran out of the tent and ordered people to light torches. After confirming that it was Chen Yuan, he ordered people to push the cart away and let Chen Yuan and Cao You in.

Shopkeeper Shen was in shock, looked at Cao You and said:

"Who is this……"

Chen Yuan cupped his hands and said:

"Mr. Cao accidentally encountered a vicious beast and was rescued by me. He needs a carriage to recover from his injuries. Can Shopkeeper Shen do it for me?"

As he spoke, he took out a one hundred tael silver note from his pocket and handed it to Shopkeeper Shen.

Shopkeeper Shen's expression changed when he heard this:

"There is no need for Mr. Chen to spend money. When you are away from home, helping others is helping yourself. I will leave my carriage to Mr. Cao."

Chen Yuan did not insist and put away the banknotes. Cao You handed over his hands and said:

"Cao thanked you."

Shopkeeper Shen was all smiles:

"It's a small man to be able to travel with these two young masters... It's my blessing. I'll have people clear out the camp for Young Master Cao to rest."

After saying that, he turned around to call for help, cleared out a tent, and invited Cao You to stay.

The guards were quick and quick, and they finished cleaning up in less than a quarter of an hour. Chen Yuan and Cao You returned to their tents, and the camp returned to calm.

Shopkeeper Shen walked into his tent and breathed a sigh of relief.

A muscular man walked in and said in a low voice:

"Shopkeeper, the origin of the man named Cao is unknown. He may be the bandit's spy. How can we let him enter the camp?"

Shopkeeper Shen’s expression changed and he roared:

"Don't be disrespectful to Mr. Cao!"

The big man blinked with confusion on his face, but he immediately changed his words and said:

"Then where did Mr. Cao come from, and why is the shopkeeper so careful?"

Shopkeeper Shen whispered:

"Master Cao and Master Chen should be two immortal masters!"

The big man's eyes widened:

"Immortal Master?"

A trace of reminiscence flashed in Shopkeeper Shen's eyes, and he said:

"If you are not an immortal master, how can you escape from the mouth of a monster? When I was doing business twenty-three years ago, I once encountered a leopard monster. Its roar was so breathtaking that it was exactly the same as the beast's roar tonight. Then The leopard demon ate dozens of people. Fortunately, an immortal master passed by and killed the leopard demon with a flying sword. Otherwise, I wouldn't have survived. The two gentlemen must be immortal masters if they can fight with monsters. , must not be offended.”

Hearing this, the big man panicked and said:

"Then if we let the two immortal masters live in ordinary tents, wouldn't we be neglecting the immortal masters?"

Shopkeeper Shen shook his head and said:

"I heard that some immortal masters like to play in the world of mortals. Since the two immortal masters have no intention of revealing their identities, let's not show courtesy for no reason. We should treat the two immortal masters as distinguished guests and don't disturb them casually. If the immortal masters have instructions, , must be satisfied.”

"Yes, I'm going to give the order now. Those rough guys must not be allowed to collide with the immortal master!"

…

Chen Yuan was sitting in the tent and heard the conversation between Shopkeeper Shen and the big man. He smiled, withdrew his consciousness, closed his eyes and started practicing.

Shuozhou is indeed a gathering place for monks, and even a businessman has such a thrilling experience.

However, Shopkeeper Shen was so knowledgeable that it saved him a lot of talking.

In the following time, Cao Youjing recuperated from his injuries, while Chen Yuan meditated and practiced all day long.

The caravan seemed to have forgotten the existence of the two people, and the guards personally delivered the meals on time.

In the past, Chen Yuan would eat some, but now he politely declined, and Cao You refused directly.

When Shopkeeper Shen learned about this, he was convinced that the two were immortal masters who could not eat the fireworks of the world, and his attitude became more respectful.

Half a month later, the caravan finally arrived at Qingyang Town, and Cao You's injuries had fully recovered.

Before leaving the caravan, Cao You gave Shopkeeper Shen a low-level healing elixir, which, when used on mortals, had the effect of the flesh and bones of the living dead as a reward.

Shopkeeper Shen thanked them profusely and watched Chen Yuan and Cao You drift away into the dangerous Qingyang Mountains.

…

"Across the Qingyang Mountains, you will reach Huanyuefang City. I wonder why Brother Chen is here. If I can be of any help, just ask. Cao will never refuse."

On the way, Cao You asked.

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and said:

"Chen has been practicing in the mountains and fields. I heard that there are a large number of casual cultivators gathered in Huanyuefang City, so I came here to buy some elixirs for practice."

"Then Brother Chen has come to the right place. Huanyuefang City is one of the six major cities in the Qi Kingdom. Thousands of casual cultivators have gathered here. The caves on the medium-sized spiritual veins are also rented out. There are all kinds of elixirs, magic weapons, and talismans. , Brother Chen can buy anything as long as he has spiritual stones.”

"Fellow Daoist Cao is joking. I am a casual cultivator in the mountains. I have only a few spiritual stones. I can only buy a few pills. As for other treasures, I don't dare to hope for them."

"That's okay. Brother Chen is very powerful. If he is willing to go into the mountains to hunt monsters, he will definitely not have to worry about spiritual stones."

Chen Yuan's eyes flashed and he said:

"Going into the mountains to hunt monsters? Is this a way to earn spiritual stones? Please ask fellow Taoist Cao Cao to clarify my doubts."

Cao You explained:

"Rogue cultivators in Huanyuefang City generally have three ways to earn spiritual stones. The first is to rent the spiritual fields of Guiyuan Sect, use spiritual power to ripen the spiritual grass, hand over 70% of it to Guiyuan Sect, and keep it for yourself. Thirty percent, buy elixirs to improve your cultivation. This method is safer and more reliable, but you will be exploited by the Guiyuan Sect and you can only earn some hard money. The remaining spiritual stones can only speed up your cultivation slightly. "

"The second option is to go into the Huanyue Mountains to hunt monsters and collect precious spiritual herbs. This path is quite risky, but if you hunt monsters, they will all be yours. As long as you are strong enough, you can quickly save a fortune in spiritual stones. , My cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds. To be honest with Brother Chen, I followed this path and gained quite a lot. It’s just that the wolf demon was too cunning, so I almost missed it. Thanks to Brother Chen’s rescue..."

"The third type is to have a skill. Alchemy, talisman making, weapon refining, formation formation, restraint, beast control... As long as you know one skill, you don't need to plant spiritual grass or go into the mountains to hunt monsters, you can safely accumulate spiritual stones and improve your skills. Cultivation. However, the inheritance of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation is mostly within the sect family, which requires a large amount of spiritual stone investment. Most casual cultivators embark on the path of immortality by accident. Few people know the Hundred Arts of Cultivation and have no capital to take this path. The least number of people.”

Chen Yuan frowned and said:

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Cao, for clarifying my doubts. However, the purpose of my practice is to gain immortality and be at ease in the world. Why would there be monks who rent spiritual fields and become farmers?"

What Cao You said are things that have not been recorded in Yunyou Travels.

Taoist Yunyou was born in a family of cultivators. He had a rather contemptuous attitude towards rogue cultivators and seldom recorded anything about rogue cultivators.

However, Taoist Yunyou mentioned this once in Guiyuan Sect.

Guiyuan Sect is one of the six major sects in Qi State and is very powerful. Huanyuefang City was established by it.

Cao You sighed and said:

"What Brother Chen said is reasonable, but we, the casual cultivators, are of low strength, so how can we have any room for bargaining? The entire Huanyuefang City belongs to the Guiyuan Sect. If you want to rent spiritual fields in exchange for spiritual stones, you must accept the Guiyuan Sect." There is no other way to exploit the clan."

Chen Yuan was silent.

In the "Zhang Family Alchemy Synopsis", it is recorded that the method of ripening the spiritual grass can greatly shorten the time for the spiritual grass to mature.

However, this method requires the consumption of spiritual stones, and the cost is extremely high. It is simply not worth the loss.

Unexpectedly, Guiyuan Sect developed a method for monks to personally instill spiritual power and ripen spiritual herbs, turning immortal cultivators into farmers again.

Before you can become an immortal, you have to farm.

After cultivating immortality, you still have to farm.

Then isn’t this immortal cultivating in vain?

He immediately asked:

"Guiyuan Sect is so domineering, why do we and other casual cultivators still stay in Huanyuefang City and let them exploit us?"