Chapter 125: Veiling Clouds

People came and went on An Xi Jie, but Jin Zhu still squatted on the ground, his head raised. Regardless of anything, he hooked his finger and looked directly at Chen Ji: "Do you know what it means for the cultivation manual to be sent to Luo City today?"

"What does it mean?"

Jin Zhu said with certainty: "This cultivation manual needed to arrive in Luo City within one day. This required leaving the capital before sunset yesterday and passing through six stations along the way: Baoding, Hengshui, Handan, Hebi, Xinxiang, and Zheng County. Six horses were changed, and there was not a moment's stop. Do you know that not even an ordinary military report receives such treatment? It must have been the verbal decree of the Inner Xiang that allowed so many stations' war horses to be dispatched."

Jin Zhu continued: "The person who sent this cultivation manual is also not ordinary, which is... well, I can't tell you this. Boy, when you lived in the capital before, did you ever meet the Inner Xiang?"

Chen Ji was silent.

Chen Liqin arrived in Luo City in the autumn of Jianing's 25th year. It was now the winter of Jianing's 31st year, meaning Chen Liqin's whole family had lived in the capital six years ago. Chen Ji was unsure if he had seen the Inner Xiang and couldn't answer casually.

Chen Ji changed the subject and asked: "Master Jin Zhu, why did the Inner Xiang go to such lengths to send a cultivation manual?"

Jin Zhu narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Boy, you've caught the Inner Xiang's eye."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Jin Zhu stood up and patted his shoulder: "A good thing, of course, it's a great thing. As long as you can achieve merit for the Inner Xiang, he can make your heart's desires come true. Congratulations, from today onwards, you can be considered to have truly entered the Mi Tie Si."

Chen Ji asked curiously: "What is the cultivation manual that Master Jin Zhu found for me?"

Jin Zhu looked around at the passersby on all sides and said in a low voice: "Follow me, this is not the place to talk."

The two people, one in front and one behind, walked through the crowd on An Xi Jie and got into a carriage by the roadside.

Xi Feng stood guard beside the carriage, pulling down the door curtain and window curtains, covering the inside of the carriage tightly and securely. He was especially cautious and solemn.

Jin Zhu sat inside the carriage and mysteriously took out a black stone tube from his sleeve, handing it to Chen Ji: "What I found for you is the Man Tuo Luo Mi Yin, which is the supreme technique of the Ning School of the Southwest Esoteric Sect. It can seal fierce ghosts and hide them within oneself. Different ghosts grant different abilities. I once saw a high monk seal an A Bi evil ghost within himself, allowing him to fly and escape the ground, capable of anything."

Chen Ji doubted: "An esoteric technique, why would it be in Jie You Lou?"

Jin Zhu chuckled: "This sealing ghost technique is the lifeblood of the Ning School. If the Inner Xiang didn't have a tremendous leverage over them, how could they willingly offer it up with both hands?"

Chen Ji lowered his head to look. There was a black wax seal on the black stone tube, and on top of the wax seal was a 'Jie You' stamp.

Chen Ji raised his hand to tear open the wax seal, but Jin Zhu pressed his wrist: "Slow, the cultivation manual is a secret of our Si Li Jian. The rule is that you can only look at it yourself after receiving it. You must burn it after reading it. Don't tear it open in front of me, you'll break the taboo."

However, when Chen Ji looked up, he saw that Jin Zhu's eyes were always eagerly staring at the stone tube in his hand, his gaze never shifting.

He thought for a moment and immediately pried open the wax seal, pouring out a paper scroll from the stone tube.

Jin Zhu was surprised: "What are you doing?"

Chen Ji said: "Since this is a cultivation manual that Master Jin Zhu found for me, there's no harm in you looking at it."

Jin Zhu doubted: "Don't you know that cultivation manuals are supposed to be kept secret?"

"Master Yun Yang mentioned it before."

"Then you still let me look?"

Chen Ji smiled harmlessly: "You treat me sincerely, so I will treat you sincerely."

Jin Zhu indulged for a long time, "Before, I still had multiple suspicions about you, but now I feel really ashamed. Hurry and look."

Chen Ji slowly unfolded the paper scroll, just glanced at it roughly, and was surprised: "Master, what is recorded on this paper scroll is not the Man Tuo Luo Mi Yin."

Jin Zhu was shocked and leaned his head over to look at the paper scroll, only to see the first two large characters that caught his eye: Gai Yun.

The next moment, he quickly shrank back his body and said in shock and doubt: "How could it be this cultivation manual?"

Chen Ji didn't understand: "What happened, Master?"

Jin Zhu lowered his head, his face changing several times. When he raised his head again, he said seriously: "I must not have seen this cultivation manual of yours. I don't know what's inside, and I certainly don't know what the content is. If the Inner Xiang asks, you must say this, absolutely."

Chen Ji looked at the paper scroll in his hand, "What cultivation manual is it that actually makes you look like you're facing a great enemy? Or, maybe I shouldn't cultivate this technique."

Jin Zhu struggled with his expression for a long time, finally letting out a sigh of relief: "No, you must cultivate it. This technique is not harmful to you, it's just related to a secret."

"What secret?"

Jin Zhu said faintly: "Twelve years ago, the Qi family produced a young official, whose original name was Qi Yun Chang. At the age of nine, he suddenly changed his name to Qi Gai Yun. He entered the Xian Tian Realm at the age of twelve, the Qiu Dao Realm at the age of sixteen, and at twenty-one, he touched the threshold of the Shen Dao Realm. It seemed that he was only one step away from the realm above the azure clouds. His invisible sword qi reached a divine level, making it impossible for people to defend against it."

"Invisible sword qi?"

Chen Ji was thoughtful. This cultivation manual seemed very suitable for him.

He then asked: "Is this Qi Gai Yun even fiercer than Tian Ma?"

Jin Zhu sighed: "If we talk about strength, they are indistinguishable. If we talk about potential, he may be a cut above Tian Ma. Qi Gai Yun entered the border army at the age of sixteen, and within three years, he killed more than ten generals of the Jing Dynasty in battles. In the winter of Jianing's 17th year, he led a cavalry of three hundred people deep into the Jing Dynasty by six hundred li, capturing the Marquis of Chi Cheng of the Jing Dynasty alive. Afterwards, he was surrounded, chased, and blocked by the iron cavalry of the Jing Dynasty. Everyone thought he wouldn't come back, but he led those three hundred plus cavalry in a large circle in Liao Bei, finally killing their way to Lü Shun and taking a ship back to the country. For such merit, His Majesty granted him the third-rank Dragon Tiger General and special permission to enter the palace with his sword."

Jin Zhu continued: "When Qi Gai Yun came back, it was exactly the Shangyuan Festival of Jianing's 18th year. His Majesty hosted a banquet and invited the ministers. At the banquet, His Majesty asked him what his ambition was. Qi Gai Yun stepped forward with his sword and said he wanted to become the first martial saint of the Jing and Ning Dynasties, to unify the mountains and rivers for His Majesty."

Chen Ji asked curiously: "Where is this Qi Gai Yun now?"

In the dim carriage, Jin Zhu looked strangely at Chen Ji opposite him: "He's dead."

Chen Ji was startled: "Dead?"

Jin Zhu continued: "Let me tell you slowly. This Qi Gai Yun's identity was not ordinary. When some people went to the Qi family as guests, they actually found that his father and mother respected him as a god. They didn't address each other as father and son. Later, when his father was drunk, he once said that this Qi Gai Yun was not a mortal, but an immortal from the forty-nine heavens above, who came from East Kunlun."

Chen Ji's expression calmed down. Forty-nine heavens, it was the forty-nine heavens again.

These forty-nine heavens were like the biggest secret of the mortal world, known only to a very few people.

But he had originally thought that a fallen immortal like Xu Shu of the Qin Tian Jian was a rare encounter in a hundred years. He didn't expect that there was more than one such immortal.

Counting this Qi Gai Yun, Xu Shu, and Chen Ji himself, there were already three people from the forty-nine heavens.

What exactly was this forty-nine heavens, and why did he himself come to the Ning Dynasty from the forty-nine heavens?

Chen Ji thought so hard his head hurt: "Master Jin Zhu, since Qi Gai Yun is an immortal, how could he die?"

"Once you come to the mortal world, you are a mortal. As long as you are a mortal, you will eventually die."

Jin Zhu answered: "In the spring of Jianing's 21st year, this official from the Qi family was ambushed and killed on his way back to the capital from the border town to report for duty. He died at Changping."

Chen Ji doubted: "He just died like that? Who did it?"

Jin Zhu lowered his head and looked at the paper scroll in his hand, "What do you think?"

Chen Ji suddenly felt that this cultivation manual was a bit hot to handle.

Since Qi Gai Yun's cultivation manual was in the hands of the Si Li Jian, then this matter was naturally done by the Si Li Jian.

But why did the Si Li Jian want to ambush and kill a fallen immortal from the forty-nine heavens? And why did the Inner Xiang dare to pass this cultivation manual to him?

Wasn't he afraid that he would leak this matter?

Chen Ji's head was full of question marks now, he couldn't figure it out at all.

He seemed to see a middle-aged man in a black python robe, sitting behind a dim desk, sending out a silent mocking look towards him, like a seasoned country hand, playing a game of chess that even gods and ghosts couldn't measure, making his opponent fall into endless dry sitting.

Chen Ji thought for a moment and asked: "Perhaps this is not Qi Gai Yun's cultivation manual, just a coincidence of names? Master, take a look and confirm if it's the one from that year's Qi Gai Yun."

Jin Zhu quickly closed his eyes: "Take it away, take it away, don't let me look, don't drag me down."

Chen Ji glanced at Jin Zhu, simply unfolded the paper scroll and read: "Before the Shang Qing Zi Xia Xu Huang, the Tai Shang Da Dao Wang Chen Lord, Dwelling at ease with the Rosary making seven words, Scattering and transforming five forms into ten thousand gods."

Jin Zhu cried out, interrupting Chen Ji, his eyes wide: "Boy, do you want to harm me?"

Chen Ji smiled: "Master Jin Zhu, you and I are now grasshoppers on the same rope, what are you talking about harming or not harming? Besides, this may not necessarily be Qi Gai Yun's cultivation manual. If he was ambushed and killed, how could he possibly tell his cultivation manual to his enemy?"

Jin Zhu glanced at him and said bitterly: "Have you forgotten Meng Ji? Let me tell you, it's best not to get involved in this matter. There must be a bigger secret in it. Strange, oh strange, I clearly sought the Man Tuo Luo Mi Yin for you, why did the Inner Xiang give you this thing?"

Chen Ji lifted the paper scroll, "May I ask, Master, what grade is this cultivation manual? Is it Grade A?"

Jin Zhu waved his hand, "A, B, C, D, that's how we mortals talk. Who is qualified to grade the cultivation manual of a fallen immortal from the forty-nine heavens? Boy, you should figure it out yourself."

After saying that, he had Chen Ji get out of the carriage, called on Xi Feng, and left in a flash.

It was noon, and the cold wind of winter hit Chen Ji's face, making him sober up a bit.

The Mi Tie Si was like a deep abyss. There seemed to be an invisible hand pulling him into the cold pool vortex at the bottom of the abyss.

Chen Ji tightened his collar, walked back to the front door of He Ping Yao Tang, and took a deep breath. He rubbed his cheeks and smiled: "I'm back."

Behind the counter, only Liu Qu Xing was sitting, propping his chin with his hand and dozing.

When he heard Chen Ji's voice, he suddenly woke up with a start, stood up, and said angrily: "What are you shouting..."

Chen Ji looked around and asked curiously: "Where are Master and Senior Brother She?"

"Master and She Deng Ke went to the Prince's Manor to visit. I heard the Prince has been supervising the kiln factory every day and caught a cold,"

Liu Qu Xing pointed to the backyard, "There's rice left for you on the stove. I hid four pieces of cured meat under your rice, otherwise that grandson She Deng Ke would have robbed them all."

Chen Ji chuckled: "Thank you, Senior Brother."

He went back to the kitchen, ate a few mouthfuls casually, and quietly returned to his apprentice room, closing the door tightly. He then took out the paper scroll from his sleeve again.

He quietly stared at the scriptures on the paper scroll but didn't know how to cultivate.

Could it be like the little monk, reciting scriptures non-stop?

"Before the Shang Qing Zi Xia Xu Huang, the Tai Shang Da Dao Wang Chen Lord, Dwelling at ease with the Rosary making seven words, Scattering and transforming five forms into ten thousand gods. This is for the Huang Ting Nei Jing, Qin Heart three fold dance fetus immortal, Nine qi reflects bright out of the sky, God Covers child born in purple smoke. It is said that the Jade Book can be refined and researched, Recite it ten thousand times to ascend to the third heaven."

"Wait!"

"Recite it ten thousand times to ascend to the third heaven? The answer is on the riddle..."

Chen Ji sat cross-legged on the bed and recited it again and again. The full text had two hundred and thirty-nine sentences, a total of one thousand six hundred and seventy-three characters. It took him half an incense stick's time to read through the entire text.

He read silently for a moment. The instant he finished reading it for the first time, he suddenly felt a trace of purple qi being born in his body, circulating back and forth in his blood.

Chen Ji murmured: "So magical?"

However, his words had just fallen when the magnificent sword qi in his body, which had been nurtured by the sun, actually chased after that wisp of purple qi and shattered it with a single sword strike.

Chen Ji's pupils constricted slightly. Ever since he decided to bet on Jin Zhu, he couldn't hide his sword qi and no longer nurtured it. Who knew that at this critical moment, this sword qi would actually come out to cause trouble?

Could it be that different cultivation manuals would repel each other?

No, try again.

At this moment, in a carriage that was heading east, Jin Zhu's bones suddenly rattled disorderly, like stretching after waking up. His whole body was smooth, and his cultivation increased, although not by much, he could feel it clearly.

Jin Zhu was startled at first, then overjoyed, "Chen Ji has started cultivating? He entered the threshold so quickly..."

He had waited for this moment for too long.

He had painstakingly confirmed Chen Ji's identity was correct and then extremely flattered the Inner Xiang to get the cultivation manual, all for the purpose of getting cultivation feedback after Chen Ji stepped into the cultivation path, so that he could return to the Qiu Dao Realm sooner.

But...

Jin Zhu suddenly let out a wail, and a layer of fine sweat seeped out on his forehead.

A stabbing pain surged into his heart, as if someone was tearing out his ribs.

He was too familiar with this pain, it was clearly a sign of cultivation falling.

Jin Zhu gritted his teeth and muttered to himself: "What's wrong? Chen Ji clearly just stepped into the cultivation threshold, why did he retreat again?"

Before the pain completely eased, his body transmitted another series of rattling sounds. Just as Jin Zhu was about to relax, his face changed again, "Wait, this boy Chen Ji, he wouldn't, oh no..."

...