Chapter 46: 043: Keeping calm in important matters_1 Chapter 46: 043: Keeping calm in important matters_1 “I’m already 163 years old.
Just half a month ago, I celebrated my first birthday in this world of cultivation.
I received a custom-made magic artifact, a precious sword, as a birthday gift from the Four Tigers Shop.
I may look youthful, but I’m actually advanced in age…”
In the wooden house, Chen Dengming contemplated his lifespan reflected on the panel, filled with a touch of sentimentality.
However, although his expended lifespan was 163 years, in truth, he had only lived 83 years after transmigration, not that old yet.
In the past month of cultivation, his Daoist progress had not been significant, largely due to the diversion of energy towards managing Gu refining.
Although he didn’t want to be too distracted, it was also impossible to sit back and enjoy the fruits without making any effort at all.
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Even so, due to his self-discipline, plus now having more resources at hand, no longer as financially strained as before, he could unreservedly invest in a large number of spirit stones.
His Three Elements Spirit Gathering Skill had already made one-third progress.
As long as there were sufficient spirit stones to set up a Soul Snatching Array, he would be able to break through to the fourth level of Qi cultivation in three months.
That would then make him a middle level cultivator in Qi Cultivation.
In the Gold Word Workshop, there were only four people who accomplished the fourth level of Qi cultivation, including Xu Ning.
Apart from this, his Instrument Control Skill and Wood Escape Skill had both advanced to a proficient stage.
However, having only recently started learning the Godspeed Skill, he had only managed to reach the beginner level.
The Master-level Gu Refining Skill had barely budged, no matter how many ordinary Gu he refined, it could hardly lead to a qualitative change.
Of all these Daoist techniques, solely the second-level Wood Escape Skill had extended his lifespan by five years.
Since the other skills overlapped, they did not add to his lifespan, hence Chen Dengming’s maximum lifespan had now reached 222 years.
“Let’s just hang on, keep cultivating quietly for another month.
Collect the second wave of revenue from the Gu Object shares.
As soon as the Dark Market opens and I find a treasure, I’ll be able to withdraw.
I can’t get caught up in the vortex between the Zhu Family and the Luo Family.”
Chen Dengming slightly closed his eyes, withdrew his mind, and his body quickly adopted the position of Two Finger Zen.
He continued his cultivation while maintaining this posture.
It was visible that he supported his entire body weight on just two fingers.
All the muscles in his body were as tight as metal wires, forming distinct lines under his skin.
His Essence, Qi, and Spirit were all focused, his body trembled slightly, Spiritual Energy continuously flowed into his body, and slight beads of sweat emerged from his pores.
…
Very quickly, another five days passed, and the weather gradually entered the bitter winter.
The temperature plummeted, becoming increasingly cold.
The relationship between the Luo Family and the Zhu Family cooled faster than the weather.
This has exceeded Chen Dengming’s expectations.
This implies that the marriage contract between the Luo Family and the Luo Family had utterly fallen through.
One could only imagine the rage of that cultivator from the Luo Family.
Chen Dengming had read novels of such plotlines before, but always considered them as a joke.
However now, that such an incident had actually occurred, he felt himself a subject of that joke.
Failing to establish the foundation in conjunction with a broken engagement, that male cultivator from the Luo Family must surely be in deep pain at present.
As the Luo Family goes through pain, the Luo Family will have to pay a certain price.
The Zhu Family will then have no further inhibitions, the finally the people that would suffer the most would be those little Loose Cultivators like them stuck between the major powerhouses.
Therefore, Chen Dengming truly did not wish to share in that male cultivator’s misery.
Recently, the Zhu family had become reckless, deciding to take back the resource points they had lost.
Direct conflicts had occurred between cultivators from both families at the secret copper mine area.
The copper mine had been occupied by the Luo Family for all these years, with cultivators guarding it every day.
However, the Zhu Family decided to launch a surprise attack this time, leading to the Luo Family suffering losses and nearly losing control of the secret copper mine area.
As soon as this news spread, the atmosphere became tense, and people were filled with trepidation.
Iron Forest Hall and The Huayu Sect, these two lackey factions fostered by the Zhu Family, became increasingly arrogant.
They took advantage of their backing to brazenly seize businesses and resources from other factions, including Gu businesses under the protection of the Gold Word Workshop.
This naturally enraged Xu Ning, but he didn’t act rashly for now, seemingly receiving some instructions from the Luo Family.
Chen Dengming chose to lay low, even stayed away from the Gu refining grounds.
No matter what he was addressed as, Chen Chief or Chen Heaven King, he declined.
Dozens of low-grade spirit stones in a month, the stakes were too high.
He peacefully stayed put in his own two-entrance courtyard to cultivate.
Surrounding the entire courtyard wall, flags were arranged by Jiang Qiang, everywhere bathed in Spiritual Light.
The environment was peaceful and tidy, flowers and plants exuding fragrance, a typical elegant and serene environment that no one could peep into.
…
One day.
There was a knock on the door.
After Chen Dengming confirmed the identity of the visitor, he formed a spell with his fingers and activated it.
Immediately, the flags stuck on the courtyard walls fluttered, and a burst of Spiritual Energy dispersed.
With a “squeak”, the courtyard door opened, and a faint Spiritual Light flashed and disappeared.
“Brother Chen.”
A tall and thin silhouette appeared behind the door.
He respectfully greeted Chen Dengming who had entered the house and then went straight into the house to check the Array Plate.
Following him, Chen Dengming casually asked, “Qiangzi, how’s it going?
How confident are you about breaking through to the third level of Qi Cultivation?”
The person who entered the courtyard was none other than Jiang Qiang, whom Chen Dengming had taken in over a month ago.
The Protective Alert Array of the whole courtyard was also Jiang Qiang’s work, the Three Talents Defending Array.
With the protection of this array, Chen Dengming could peacefully cultivate at night.
Otherwise, he would always worry about cultivators from those factions coming to forcefully take him away for Gu refining.
Therefore, he highly valued this subordinate.
Whenever he was away, he would invite Jiang Qiang over to guard the house and fix the array while he safely cultivated.
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After all, the Spiritual Energy in the houses of the city was much stronger than that in the wilderness or shantytowns.
Besides, Jiang Qiang has a fire-type spiritual root.
Every time after Chen Dengming finished cultivating in the courtyard using the Soul Snatching Array, there were plenty of water, fire, and earth spiritual energies left in the courtyard.
Jiang Qiang found it not only convenient to cultivate but also it doesn’t clash with him.
“Brother Chen, I feel like I’m almost there.
Probably within half a month to a month, I should be able to break through.”
While checking the Array Plate and Array Flags, Jiang Qiang humbly replied.
He was grateful for Chen Dengming’s trust and assistance, willingly working hard for him.
“That’s good then.
These days are quite unsettling.
Once you reach the third level of Qi Cultivation, we can better help each other.
Go on, we’ll get back in touch once you have made the breakthrough,” said Chen Dengming, throwing three low-grade Spirit Stones to Jiang Qiang.
This was his wages and also funds for cultivating Jiang Qiang.
The maintenance of any relationship is mutual.
If Jiang Qiang worked diligently to refine the Formation for him, Chen Dengming would naturally not be stingy.
“Thank you, Brother Chen!
You really don’t have to give me so many Spirit Stones.
I haven’t even finished using the ones you gave me last time…”
Jiang Qiang accepted the Spirit Stones reluctantly, then hesitated and said, “Brother Chen, there’s something that might be just my paranoia, but I feel I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” Chen Dengming was surprised, “What is it?”
Jiang Qiang frowned and said, “I heard some information from two bounty hunters.
It seems that the Gold Word Workshop is planning to form an alliance with the Business League, with the intent to expand into the Jingxiu Workshop’s market.
In no time, they’re going to transport a batch of goods over there and some bounty hunters are already salivating over this…”
Chen Dengming’s heart skipped a beat, “You heard this news from the bounty hunters?
What do they look like?”
Jiang Qiang forced a smile, “Brother Chen, whenever the bounty hunters gather to exchange information, everyone is very cautious.
We all have numerous enemies.
As a wanted man myself, I wouldn’t dare reveal my true face if it weren’t for your instructions to infiltrate this group.”
“Hmm…”
Chen Dengming slightly nodded, seeing that Jiang Qiang had already finished repairing the Array Plate, he said, “I understand, go on.
Stay at the safe point outside the gathering place.
If there’s anything, I’ll contact you.”
Jiang Qiang nodded, pulled down his cloak’s hood, and quickly left through the back door.
“The news of the Gold Word Workshop and the Business League’s alliance to expand into the Jingxiu Workshop’s market is only known to the high-ranking people of the two parties…
Influenced by the Zhu and Luo families recently, the plan hasn’t even been finalized yet.
How has it reached the ears of the bounty hunters…”
Chen Dengming paced back and forth within the courtyard, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
It wasn’t hard to discern from Jiang Qiang’s words that some bounty hunters are interested in the batch of goods jointly released by the two houses.
This was utterly brazen.
Even though bounty hunters are desperadoes, daring to target both the Gold Word Workshop and the Business League is not a simple matter for them.
It’s likely…
Furthermore, where did they get this news?
“A few days ago, Xu Ning asked me to accompany the caravan to the Jingxiu Workshop again, but I declined…
Aside from me, who else could go on this mission?”
Chen Dengming furrowed his brow; standing with his hands held behind his back, he looked up at the winter sky covered in a silver-gray canopy.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that a storm was coming; there was likely to be a major shift in the situation.
At present, he could either choose to continue to stay put and protect his assets or…
Be involved in trouble when the change comes.
Or he could immediately make the decisive decision to pull out, give up the earnings from the next round of Gu refining production, and retreat when things are going well.
…
He who maintains his calm when facing major issues.
“Stay calm in emergencies, be quiet in major events, adapt in difficult times, keep a low profile in smooth situations…”
Chen Dengming slowly calms his thoughts.
He has read many books on strategy and has over a hundred years of experience to back him up.
He knows that when choices come, one must not act rashly.
The more impatient you are, the more likely you are to make the wrong choice.
He changed his clothes and pruned the Reed Beetle Gu in the bamboo grove in the courtyard.
Then he went to the small garden, dug up the soil, and observed the Spirit-stone Gu that had been fully infiltrated by the poison.
He nodded slightly.
Then he stood in the courtyard and began practicing the Godspeed Skill.
While practicing, his mind became more clear.
The faster his movement technique, the calmer his mind.
…
Whoosh—
His figure quickly moved around the courtyard like the wind, stirring up the fallen leaves with the strong wind he caused.
His momentum was impressive.
About the time it takes to drink three cups of tea later, he finally slowed down.
At the beginner level, the Godspeed Skill could only double his speed.
Still, even so, the effect was already impressive.
He was already significantly faster, like a whirlwind, leaving no footprints in the snow.
Once he reached the third level of Qi Cultivation, he could cover more than twenty meters in one breath with the aid of Spiritual Energy.
After using the Godspeed Skill, he could now cover a distance of fifty meters in one breath.
His movement was akin to a startlingly beautiful swan, or a soaring dragon.
For ordinary Qi Cultivators at the third level, facing his speed in a battle would mean despair.
After practicing the Godspeed Skill a few times, Chen Dengming’s Spiritual Energy was about 20% depleted.
With a swift motion, he moved as if being carried by the wind, stepping in the air.
His sleeves billowed in the wind as he flew to the side of the icy pond in the courtyard.
His eyes locked onto a large, quaint-looking broadsword in the waters of the pond.
This was clearly the medium level magic artifact – the Ice Spirit Sword that he had custom-ordered from the Four Tigers Artifacts Shop!
…
…
To be continued!
There will be more updates in the morning!