I AM GRINDING EXPERIENCE IN ANOTHER WORLD

Deep into the night.

Chen Mu hummed a tune as he left the Shuanghong Tower, strolling along the brightly lit streets.

Despite the late hour, the stream of people on the street showed no signs of decreasing. On the contrary, it had become even more lively. Bargaining, chatting, laughing, singing, and storytelling—various sounds rose and fell in succession.

“These cultivators of immortality sure can endure,” Chen Mu chuckled with delight.

Once a Qi Cultivator has passed the first hurdle, by merging their spirit, their Vital Energy gives rise to a Jade Seed, they can seal their spirit and Vital Energy to prevent any leakage.

Because of this, these people were busy with their cultivations and livelihoods during the day, yet still found time to stroll the streets and seek pleasure at night.

Thus, inside the Water Mansion, there were always people on the streets, no matter if it was day or night.

“Tsk tsk, if those hard-working laborers from my previous life knew about this, wouldn’t they be green with envy?”

Luckily, luckily I’m also a Qi Cultivator.

Hehe!

Chen Mu merrily continued his walk, his thoughts wandering idly as he ambled along.

In a certain moment, a powerful rhythmic fluctuation flashed past the edges of his Truthful Listening Divine Power.

He looked involuntarily towards the distant gate of the Water Mansion.

This aura fluctuation…

Why does it seem so familiar?

It didn’t quite seem like the aura of Head Jiao of the Water Mansion.

Chen Mu scratched his head.

No matter who it was, it was certainly someone like Head Jiao, a big shot of the Meridian Passage Realm.

Having spent more than half a year in the Dingyou Heavenly River Water Mansion, he had already gathered quite a bit of intelligence. Head Jiao of the Dingyou Water Mansion was a high cultivator who had practiced the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation Technique to the realm of Meridian Passage.

By cultivating a complete Heavenly Demon True Body, comparable to a Daoist Foundation Qi Cultivator, placed in Yunzhou, it would certainly be a lord of a Dao.

“To encounter two high cultivators akin to those with a Dao Foundation Perfection in such a remote Water Mansion…”

“The Qi Refinement cultivation forces in Hai Province are indeed stronger than those in Yunzhou.”

“Compared to that, my humble River Chariot cultivation is quite insignificant.”

“It’s also about time for me to consider my future cultivation,” Chen Mu pondered.

…

The next day, within the small courtyard.

Chen Mu lay in the rocking chair, contemplating various pieces of information.

Having spent half a year in the Dingyou Water Mansion, with the help of the Truth Listening Divine Power, he didn’t need to actively collect information to have already obtained plenty of news.

“In Hai Province, all ninety-nine sects have a copy of the Daoist Foundation Atlas. But to obtain this inheritance from their hands is probably not feasible,” Chen Mu mused.

According to the information obtained, the ninety-nine sects were different from traditional ones—it was more like private property for the various sect masters.

They established sects not for the sake of passing on teachings, but to earn Daoist Cultivation for the sect masters, allowing them to exchange various resources and Secret Techniques with the Thousand Mechanisms Sect.

Cultivating Daoist Soldiers for the Thousand Mechanisms Sect was their main method.

Therefore, naturally, the sects wouldn’t pass the Daoist Foundation Atlas to their disciples.

“The Thousand Mechanisms Sect probably wouldn’t allow them to disseminate Secret Techniques like that.”

“The people who need the Daoist Foundation Atlas are all Qi Cultivators who have cultivated a River Chariot.”

“Such people have mana and Secret Techniques, and with just a bit of training, they’ll become high-end combatant Daoist Soldiers—The Thousand Mechanisms Sect certainly wouldn’t let these individuals stay hidden in Hai Province,” Chen Mu speculated.

“It seems I must make a trip to the Thousand Mechanisms Sect after all.”

In Hai Province, the best way to get to the Thousand Mechanisms Sect is to become a Daoist Soldier.

“It’s time to inquire about the Hundred Illusion Sect.”

The Hundred Illusion Sect, located in the Mist Forest and closest to the Dingyou Water Mansion, is a top-grade sect capable of training Daoist Soldiers for the Thousand Mechanisms Sect.

…

At the end of Lion Street, there was an inconspicuous shop. The dark sign hanging over the door bore three ancient characters: Hundred Illusion Pavilion.

Chen Mu observed from a distance for a long time but saw no one enter.

According to the information he had gathered, this was the Hundred Illusion Sect’s residency in the Dingyou Water Mansion. To sign up for the Hundred Illusion Sect’s Daoist Soldier training, one could register here.

“Why does it look a bit… deserted?”

“I hope there’s nothing wrong,” Chen Mu couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

As he hesitated, an old Daoist, dressed in black with white beard and hair, approached him with a smile, “Young brother, are you looking to become a Daoist Soldier for the Thousand Mechanisms Sect?”

“Indeed, that’s my intention,” Chen Mu nodded, not bothering to conceal it.

“Please follow me, let’s discuss this inside the house,” the old Daoist said with a warm smile, leading Chen Mu toward the Hundred Illusion Pavilion… directly across the street.

This… Is this also the residency of the Hundred Illusion Sect?

What’s the meaning of opening a branch facing the door?

Chen Mu was filled with suspicion.

“Young brother, do you know that there are differences among Daoist Soldiers?” the white-haired old Daoist spoke with a genial chuckle.

“I would like to hear more,” Chen Mu said, not in a hurry to enter, curious to see what the old Daoist would reveal.

“If young brother wants to be a Daoist Soldier for the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, it must be to exchange Daoist Cultivation for resources and Secret Techniques,” the black-robed old Daoist said with certainty.

“But even the acquisition of Daoist Cultivation has its nuances,” he explained with a smile.

“If you become an auxiliary soldier in logistics, stripping skins and disassembling bones from the corpses of demons, not only is the working environment harsh, but you also have to face the backlash from the Demon Qi.”

“Even so, the Daoist Cultivation obtained is very few,” Chen Mu mused.

“But it’s different for combat soldiers,” the black-robed Daoist raised his eyebrows.

“As long as the Secret Technique you practice is powerful enough, killing demons and monsters is easy, allowing you to earn considerable Daoist Cultivation.”

“Whether it’s a complete Condensing Aperture Technique or various Elixir Pills for nurturing the source and strengthening the foundation, you can quickly exchange for them.”

“Young friend, you must understand that the path of cultivation is one where a single step taken quickly leads to quick progress every step of the way. If you don’t fight desperately for it, how can you strive for the extended life of the Primordial Spirit path?” He spoke earnestly.

So…

Chen Mu observed the black-robed Daoist narrowing his eyes.

“So, you should come and cultivate at our Taoshan Temple.”

I knew you weren’t from the Hundred Illusion Sect!

“The Master of Hundred Illusion Sect came from a butcher’s background; the Daoist Soldiers he cultivates are all auxiliary soldiers meant for butchers at that.”

“Not only is the Daoist Cultivation earned minimal, but the Bewitching Divine General provided by the Sect is also of Lower Grade.”

“Once you achieve Condensing Aperture Perfection and master the River Chariot, all your mana will be drained dry, and at most, you can only generate a single Primordial Qi in one go.”

“Our Fanlong Secret Record is different; we can generate three Primordial Qi at once!”

“Come to our Taoshan Temple. It’s only here that you’ll have a greater chance of embarking on the path of the Primordial Spirit!” the black-robed Daoist said with confidence.

Chen Mu: “…”

Generating three Primordial Qi at once, is that a lot?

He glanced at the nine streams of Primordial Qi floating within the Jade Seed, then back at the self-assured black-robed Daoist.

Hundred Illusion Sect doesn’t sound too good, but this Taoshan Temple doesn’t seem… doesn’t seem all that great either.

…

Several days later.

Inside the small courtyard in Chao Feng Alley.

Chen Mu sat in the pavilion under the wooden frame, looking at two items on the gray wall.

Giant Spirit Divine: 4546/10000/Eighth Rank;

Heavenly Demon Armor: 183/10000/Sixth Rank;

With the Five Thunders Treasure Scroll at Perfection and the Divine Orifice Refinement complete, Chen Mu had spent the majority of his time in the past few days on these two Secret Techniques, with his experience rapidly increasing.

The Giant Spirit Divine was nearly halfway through Eighth Rank, and the Heavenly Demon Armor had progressed to a new level.

Buzz!

With a thought, a layer of transparent armor instantaneously enveloped his body.

What was different, however, was that wrapped within the transparent armor were intricate, scroll-like transparent patterns, resembling watermarks.

These delicate and complex patterns, upon closer inspection, seemed like a kaleidoscope that constantly rotated and transformed, as if capable of capturing the soul.

“Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles Secret Technique?!”

Chen Mu couldn’t help but scratch his head.

Since the Heavenly Demon Armor advanced, he had been contemplating its changes for the past two days. He quickly noticed that the power pervading the transparent armor was very similar to that of Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles.

Having mastered the Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles Secret Technique for over a decade, he knew well that this infinitely useful Secret Technique was in fact a certain Innate Divine Power of the Cloud Mirage Heavenly Demon Body.

And now this Divine Power was actually being copied by the Heavenly Demon Armor…

Chen Mu focused on the gray wall, seeking the insights it reflected.

“Heavenly Demon Armor can accommodate and absorb Demon protective Divine Skills?!”

After a long while, Chen Mu snapped back to reality.

No wonder Yu Lin’s Heavenly Demon Armor was dark as ink and covered in spikes; that could very well be a function resulting from absorbing a certain Demon Divine Power.

“However, Yu Lin’s Heavenly Demon Armor Secret Technique is only at Third Rank; to alter the nature of the Heavenly Demon Armor, he must have taken some sort of shortcut, having only absorbed the protective Divine Power from an ordinary Exotic Beast.”

Chen Mu had a clear understanding.

“The Secret Techniques obtained by the Wu Mountain Seven Brothers sure have their ingenious uses; they might all come from the Thousand Mountains Sutra.”

“The tomb they dug up must have been extraordinary.”

“The remnants of Thousand Mountains Sutra in that tomb owner’s possession were probably quite a complete part of the Secret Scroll.”

“If the remnants are so mystical, how extraordinary and remarkable is the complete Thousand Mountains Sutra?” Chen Mu let out a sigh of regret as he tossed snow-white Exotic Beast fish slices into the Primordial Furnace to cook.

Shaking his head to clear it of further thoughts, he focused on the array of delicious dishes in front of him.

After the meal, he let the Five Ghosts Paper Dolls clean up the scattered cups and dishes.

Chen Mu himself lay back in the rocking chair for a leisurely rest.

It had been quite a few days since he visited the Hundred Illusion Pavilion for reconnaissance.

Although he was sidetracked by the white-haired Daoist from Taoshan Temple, combining what he heard from restaurants and teahouses, he had a comprehensive understanding of both Taoshan Temple and Hundred Illusion Sect.

Taoshan Temple’s Secret Techniques were profound and powerful. Although it was not a Top-Grade Sect, it could still send its Daoist Soldiers to the Thousand Mechanisms Sect through other Top-Grade Sects.

Hundred Illusion Sect could directly provide Daoist Soldiers to the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, but those it cultivated were all auxiliary soldiers from butcher backgrounds; not only were their tasks dirty and exhausting, but the Daoist Cultivation they earned was pitifully little.

So…

“So I still have to choose the Hundred Illusion Sect,” Chen Mu had long made up his mind.

One was a frontline fighter, the other, a rear echelon auxiliary soldier.

He did want the Daoist Foundation Atlas, but he had no intention of being cannon fodder.

“Killing and fighting are not suited to my nature—it seems that an auxiliary soldier role suits me a bit more.”

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