Chapter 64 Minor Concealment Technique

I have a panel that reduces proficiency.

Six months later.

The sweltering heat was so intense that it scorched iron and melted gold.

There was an old wooden table on the street corner, and next to it stood a wooden sign that read "Heavenly Secrets for Sale." The characters were neatly written, but the sign was crooked, as if it had been casually leaned against the wall and then left unattended.

On the table were a few copper coins, a teacup, and a few unknown grass leaves soaking in it. The water in the bowl was frighteningly hot.

Behind the table sat a female Taoist priest, one hand supporting her chin, the other hand idly fanning herself with a palm leaf fan, but the breeze she produced was not even as strong as a bee flapping its wings.

The sandalwood hairpin in her hair was crookedly stuck in her hair, and her two bare feet stretched out from under the hem of her Taoist robe, resting on the table leg with their feet crossed. The ink on her toenails gleamed faintly in the sunlight, and her insteps were as white as snow, without a speck of dust on them.

"When can we close up shop?"

Xuanzhu yawned, a tear welling up in the corner of her eye. She raised her hand to rub it, then rested her chin on the back of her hand.

He slumped limply on the table, like a half-melted candy.

[Yuanyun Technique Proficiency - 1]

【Yuanyun Technique (Proficient): 138/200】

Fang Shi sat cross-legged beside the wooden table. Upon hearing this, he opened one eye and said, "If you're bored, go cultivate."

"I won't practice."

Xuanzhu shifted her position, resting her face on her arm, and said, "I've told you before, the paths of heaven and earth are different, so practicing here is a waste of time. Besides, this is a blessed land where the master's obsession has been so deeply ingrained. The deeper you practice, the more likely you are to go astray. Seventy percent of the insights you've gained here are wrong, and you'll have to spend time correcting them when you leave. It's not worth it."

[Yuanyun Technique Proficiency - 1]

"It is indeed easy to produce deviations."

Fang swore.

"Then why are you still practicing?"

Xuanzhu lifted her face off her arm and tilted her head to look at him.

[Yuanyun Technique Proficiency +1]

【Yuanyun Technique (Proficient): 139/200】

Fang Shi manipulated his magic power to slowly circulate along the meridian pathways of the "Yuanyun Technique," feeling no stagnation or obstruction, like a stream flowing through stone, moving smoothly all the way.

[Yuanyun Technique Proficiency - 1]

With a thought, Fang Shi completely extinguished the Qi-circulating technique that had just surged into his mind, leaving no trace.

"It's okay, it's just for fun. Besides, this kind of training can only enhance our understanding of the technique. It would be great if it could actually increase our cultivation level."

[Yuanyun Technique Proficiency +1]

"Dream on."

Xuanzhu snorted and fanned himself twice with his palm-leaf fan, but the wind was too weak and didn't even lift the hem of his clothes.

"You think half a year has really passed? Time flies by in the blink of an eye here, while outside, not even an incense stick has burned out. All your cultivation progress is illusory, and your understanding of techniques is mostly wrong. Practicing it is a waste of time. You might as well come and help me pack up."

Fang Shi thought to himself: It's a pity it's a dream, I can't even use the "Return to Roots" technique. And most of the time is like skipping through a plot, it passes in the blink of an eye—for example, at night, I always fall asleep inexplicably, without even knowing how I moved from the wall to the straw mat.

The thought of sleeping reminded him of being kicked awake by Xuanzhu this morning.

He looked at the female Taoist priest who was leaning on the table and fanning herself, and said, "I have something to tell you. Behave yourself tonight and don't roll over here for no reason again."

Xuanzhu stopped holding the palm-leaf fan.

She suddenly raised her head and slammed the palm-leaf fan heavily on the table—with a "smack," the few copper coins on the table jumped, and a few drops of water spilled from the teacup.

"You—you dare spout nonsense! I, the Celestial Venerable, was only reluctantly sharing some of my celestial energy to protect your spirit platform because I feared you would be blinded by your obsession in the middle of the night and ruin the overall situation! Instead of being grateful, you're complaining! What do you mean by 'come over here'? I, the Celestial Venerable, have always acted with propriety. That was my celestial body seeking its own spiritual veins, a proper Taoist lying-down ritual. What do you know!"

"It's too hot!"

"What?!"

"I mean, it's too hot for you to come over here. My cultivation level isn't high enough to be immune to heat and cold. In the middle of summer, it's like hugging a charcoal stove when you come close to me. I can't even sleep well."

Xuanzhu was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing in anger.

She retrieved her bare foot from the table leg, stood up, and walked two steps to Fang Shi's side, glaring down at him. "You...you truly are an ignorant lowly cultivator! My celestial body is pure and cool to the touch; even in the sweltering heat of summer, I feel as if I've just been pulled from an icy spring. And you, you complain of the heat? Complain of the heat? Do you know that for others, even a touch of this is a blessing they wouldn't receive in eight lifetimes!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, reaching out to pinch Fang Shi on the back of the neck, saying, "Feel it, feel it! Is this hot? It's clearly cold! Colder than well water! With your meager cultivation, you can't even distinguish between hot and cold, yet you dare complain that I, the Heavenly Venerable, am hot? I haven't even complained about your body stinking with sweat!"

Fang Shi let her pinch and press on the back of his neck. The force was like a tickle to him. He said, "That's no excuse for you to come over in the middle of the night."

"I already said I wasn't going to roll over here! This Heavenly Venerable is—is..."

"That's a couple sleeping together!"

A resentful murmur came from the side.

Fang Shi turned his head and saw that Wanxia had been standing next to the stall at some point, carrying the old medicine basket on her back.

Six months have passed, and she has grown taller. Her once thin face has become more rounded, and she looks like a delicate sculpture. However, she doesn't smile at all and is staring at them with a stern face.

Fang Shi said without changing his expression, "Wanxia, your little concealment technique is really well done. I didn't even notice your movements."

Evening Glow snorted and said, "If I hadn't been so skilled, I wouldn't have discovered that my brother and senior were having a secret rendezvous here."

"Who's having a secret rendezvous with him!"

Xuanzhu immediately released Fang Shi's grip on the back of the neck, turned around, and said, "If this guy didn't drag me out to do fortune-telling all the time, I wouldn't want to be involved in this mess!"

Fang Shi said, "Back in Luofu Mountain, why were you so enthusiastic about fortune telling? The disciples and servants of Luofu Mountain flocked to you, and you couldn't stop them. Besides, now that you're here, predicting good and bad fortune and resolving people's confusion, you must be enjoying it, right? The other day, that old man who lost his ox came to your door, didn't you even give him an extra fortune reading?"

"I need him to accumulate immortal energy so I can perform divination. What do you mean, 'enjoy it'? Don't spout nonsense!"

Wanxia turned to Xuanzhu, bowed slightly, and said, "Senior, thank you for guiding me through these past six months. If it weren't for your divination, I wouldn't have been able to find those few Frost Grasses, let alone gather so many spiritual herbs. Wanxia will remember this kindness."

Xuanzhu said, "It's nothing, it's only natural. I like sunsets, after all. But don't misunderstand, Sunset, and don't be angry. There's really nothing between him and me."

The sunset looked up and said, "I'm not angry. It's my sister who's angry."

Xuanzhu asked, "What? What happened to Chaolu?"

Wanxia said, "My sister said that my brother and the senior have been inseparable for the past six months, setting up a fortune-telling stall together every day. They even squeeze into the same stall at night, just like a married couple. She frowns every time she mentions it."

Xuanzhu's expression shifted several times before she abruptly turned her head, glared at Fang Shi, and said, "It's all your fault!"

Fang swore, "What does this have to do with me?"

Xuanzhu said, "How should I know! Anyway, it's all your fault!"

Fang Shi said, "This is completely inexplicable."

"Sister, I'm back."

The sunset pushed open the wooden door.

Chaolu was sitting at the old wooden table, with several half-dried herbs spread out in front of her. In her right hand, she held a small copper knife and was picking off the withered stems from the herbs.

Hearing the voice, she looked up and said, "You're back just in time. Help me turn over these bunches of evening primroses."

Halfway through her sentence, she saw Fang Shi and Xuan Zhu entering behind Wanxia. She paused slightly, then stood up, wiped her hands on the side of her skirt, and said, "Brother and Senior are back too. Are you closing up shop so early today?"

"It's too hot, no one comes to have their fortune told."

As Xuanzhu spoke, she sat down by the straw mat, picked up the palm-leaf fan and fanned her face, saying, "Sister Wanxia insisted that we come back with her, saying that she has something good to show us."

Wanxia had already unloaded the medicine basket onto the table and couldn't wait to pull out a handful of dark brown rhizomes from it. The cross-section was light purple and emitted a spicy aroma.

"Purple Jade Ginger!"

The evening glow held the stem up to the morning dew and said, "I found it in a crevice on the north slope. It was hidden very deep. If it weren't for the divination given by the senior, I would have searched for three years without finding it. Sister, look at this cross-section, how translucent the purple is! A single plant of this quality of purple jade ginger can be exchanged for five low-grade spirit stones!"

She carefully took out a few egg-shaped, jet-black objects from the bottom of the basket. They emitted a very faint burnt aroma, like the scent of pine wood that had been burned.

"And there's also black jade Poria cocos! I dug it up from under the rotten wood north of the old banyan tree. There are three pieces in total, each about the size of a fist."

"A single piece of this quality, black jade-like Poria cocos, is worth eight spirit stones. If it comes across a knowledgeable alchemist, the price could be even higher."

Chao Lu took a piece of black jade Poria cocos, examined it for a while, turned it over and over, put it down, and said, "What you brought back this time is more than what we earned in the previous year."

"That's not all."

Wanxia took out a few more handfuls of herbs from the basket and arranged them on the table, saying, "These evening primroses I picked are all old plants that are over ten years old. They have strong medicinal properties, and the shops can get them for 30% more than usual. These handfuls of golden thread vine were picked along the way. Although they are not worth much money, the quantity is large, so they can be exchanged for a few spirit stones."

Looking at the table piled high with herbs, Chaolu picked up a sprig of purple ginger, sat down again, and said, "Even the best herbs won't fetch a good price if they're not processed properly. Purple ginger needs to be sliced while it's fresh; too thin or too thick won't do. Only by slicing it evenly can you preserve that purple sheen on the cut surface. Black jade poria is even more particular; it needs to be air-dried for seven days first, then slowly roasted over a low flame. If the heat is even slightly off, the medicinal properties will be greatly reduced. You've gathered quite a lot today; I'm afraid I can't finish processing it all by myself. Could you help me slice it?"

Evening Glow responded, moved a small stool and sat down next to Morning Dew, taking the other small copper knife that Morning Dew handed her.

The two sisters sat side by side at the table, one chopping ginger and the other picking leaves, their movements practiced and skillful.

As Wanxia chopped the ginger, she did the math, saying, "Five stalks of Purple Jade Ginger, five spirit stones each, that's twenty-five. Three pieces of Black Jade Poria, eight spirit stones each, that's twenty-four. Evening Primrose, at the shop's purchase price, this batch can sell for about two spirit stones. Golden Thread Vine, at most three spirit stones. Add it all up—sister, fifty-four spirit stones in total!"

"Fifty-four spirit stones — next month's rent is only eight spirit stones. After paying the rent, we'll have forty-six spirit stones left. If we're careful with our food, we can have forty spirit stones left."

"Sister, forty spirit stones, plus the five hundred spirit stones I've saved up over the past six months—five hundred low-grade spirit stones, sister!"

Upon hearing this, Chaolu stopped wielding the bronze knife in her hand, stood up, and bowed respectfully in the direction of Fang Shi and Xuanzhu.

"Brother, senior. In the past six months, if it weren't for your divination guiding Wanxia, she wouldn't have been able to enter those deep mountains and forests, let alone find these valuable medicinal herbs. If it weren't for you guarding us every day and dealing with those troublemakers who came to cause trouble for us, my sister and I wouldn't have survived until today. Chaolu will remember this kindness in her heart."

Evening Glow jumped up from the bench, mimicking Morning Dew's gesture of bowing again, and said, "Thank you, brother! Thank you, senior! Once this batch of medicine is sold, I'll buy you and senior each a bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pill—or rather, two bottles!"

Xuanzhu said, "Alright, alright, I don't need your Qi-Nourishing Pill. But you, next time you go into the mountains, don't go alone into the depths of the north slope. That place not only has demonic beasts, but also miasma. The divination did point to the direction, but if you don't keep your eyes open, gathering herbs won't be so smooth."

Chaolu turned to look at Wanxia, her gaze lingering for a moment on her small face, which was slightly red from the sun. She then said, "In the past six months, you have worked very hard on your 'Minor Concealing Breath Technique.' If it weren't for the fact that even the demon beasts couldn't detect your movements, I wouldn't have dared to let you go into the mountains alone."

Wanxia laughed and said, "That's all thanks to the book 'Minor Concealing Breath Technique' that my sister gave me. By the way, sister—where did you get that book 'Minor Concealing Breath Technique' from? I've asked you several times, but you won't tell me."

Chao Lu sat down at the table again, the blade of her bronze knife pressed against the root of a purple jade ginger plant, and said, "With these five hundred spirit stones, you can register for the disciple assessment of Mount Luofu. Once you pass the assessment and enter the outer sect, you will have orthodox cultivation methods to practice, guidance from masters, and a supply of elixirs—establishing your foundation is not something you can't even dream of."

"Foundation Establishment? Sister, you said Foundation Establishment? Yes, sister, we can achieve Foundation Establishment now!"

Seeing Wanxia's excited expression, almost jumping for joy, Fang Shi turned to Xuanzhu and whispered, "Is Foundation Establishment really that easy?"

Xuanzhu glanced at him, her tone matter-of-fact, and said, "You asked me, and I, the Heavenly Venerable, will certainly give you a simple answer. Besides, he is the master of this blessed land, and what happened in the past must already be a done deal."

Fang Shi said, "Yes, it happened in the past."

Xuanzhu asked, "What are you lamenting about?"

Fang Shi said, "It's nothing."

Six months later.

Mount Luofu.

[Yuanyun Technique Proficiency +1]

【Yuanyun Technique (Proficient): 180/200】

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