SWNOVELXO Chapter 343: 338
Several days later.
Underground secret chamber.
A short table in front of Chen Mu was set with a scroll of blank jade tablets.
In the upper-right corner, there was a porcelain dish filled with thick, gold-colored ink.
This ink could etch into the jade, penetrating three parts deep.
Characters written with this ink would remain intact and clear even after a hundred years.
"Let's get to work!"
Chen Mu took a deep breath and spread out the Netherworld Grand Summary.
Mana surged into the jade tablet, and as mental powers churned in his mind, a net-shaped spherical talisman coalesced into existence.
Chen Mu dared not be negligent as he strove to maintain the talisman while continuously enlarging and rotating it, examining it closely both inside and out.
A quarter of an hour later, the talisman suddenly trembled and dispersed back into a cloud of smoke.
Chen Mu quickly picked up the brush, soaked it in the golden ink, and with swift, dragon-and-snake-like strokes, he inscribed a string of bizarre symbols connected by dots and lines onto the blank jade tablet.
Accompanied by a faint hissing sound, the golden script quickly permeated the jade tablet.
Chen Mu scrutinized it carefully for a moment, and his heart lightened.
"Success!"
Recording the Netherworld Grand Summary in this script seemed to be the right and effective approach.
After another verification of accuracy, Chen Mu set down the brush and took out the exquisite jade plate to recover his mana.
Copying the script, recovering mana, then copying again. Chen Mu repeated this process for the entire day.
By late night, he had only memorized nine jade tablets.
Most of the time was spent recovering mana.
"And this is just copying the secret method. Who knows how much mana will be needed for the actual cultivation?" Chen Mu's scalp tingled.
Were all Condense Aperture Secret Methods like this? Or had the Sun Family, unconcerned about expenses, specifically chosen this mana-guzzling technique?
...
In the days that followed, Chen Mu focused on recording the Netherworld Grand Summary.
Seven days later, in the underground secret chamber.
Looking at the jade tablets on the low table, full of golden script, Chen Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"With this backup, there's no fear of the Netherworld Grand Summary becoming ineffective."
He held the tablet, scanning it from beginning to end.
After one round of copying, Chen Mu realized that the Netherworld Divine Orifice wasn't composed of sixty-three talismans, but nine.
There were a total of sixty-three jade tablets for recording the talisman. Seven tablets made up a set, and only when put together did they form a complete talisman.
Grumble, grumble, grumble...
A thunderous noise from his stomach interrupted Chen Mu's thoughts.
Coming back to his senses, he didn't dwell on it.
"After a month of fear and trepidation, it's time to reward myself properly."
Immediately, he sprang up to the bamboo building, grabbed the Flame-Separation Shell pot, and began stir-frying with a clanging bustle.
...
Evening two days later.
Chen Mu lay comfortably in a rocking chair watching the sunset when he saw Bai Xiuwen approaching with a beaming face.
"Why did you come over today?" Normally, Bai Xiuwen should have come tomorrow.
"I got some fresh mushrooms and thought my senior brother would like to try them," Bai Xiuwen said cheerfully, holding up a bamboo basket.
Chen Mu glanced at the colorful mushrooms in the basket and his eyelids involuntarily twitched.
Are you trying to poison me to death?
"With all the toxic smoke and miasma around Mist Smoke Mountain, can these mushrooms even be eaten?" he glared at Bai Xiuwen.
"What the senior brother doesn't know," Bai Xiuwen began with enthusiasm, "is that these are a specialty of Mist Smoke Mountain, exceptionally delicious, and after eating them, one feels like they're floating on cloud nine."
He then added with a mysterious air, "I've heard that some have even achieved the Unity of Heaven and Man state by consuming these and have seen those legendary immortal Taoist saints."
"Those are the Great Revered Ones who are immortal and share their lifespan with heaven!"
"If you can witness it a few more times, you might even comprehend some great secret method."
Floating on cloud nine?
Taoist immortal saints?
Aren't these just hallucinations from mushroom poisoning?
"Senior brother, want to try some?" Bai Xiuwen winked and nudged.
"You better enjoy it yourself!" I want to live a bit longer.
"Don't be afraid, senior brother. Not only are these mushrooms not poisonous, but they also help cleanse the body of impurities," Bai Xiuwen promoted vigorously, "After eating them, you'll detox and rejuvenate, feeling refreshed in both body and spirit."
"Get lost!"
Cleansing impurities, my foot.
Isn't that just a fancy way of saying they'll give you diarrhea?!
It's a good thing the people and creatures of Mist Smoke Mountain are freakishly strong; otherwise, who knows how many would have been buried in the ground by now.
...
The night darkened, and the long corridor outside the bamboo house.
Mists of insect repellent incense spiraled above the eaves, while below, glowing algae lamps illuminated the square table.
A feast of four meat and four vegetarian dishes filled the table, accompanied by a basket of exotic beast meat pies from the old Qi Family recipe.
Chen Mu gulped down a pie, chewing it just a few times before swallowing.
After consuming half a basket of pies, Chen Mu finally slowed down his pace of eating.
Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire
Although he was still a novice in the Condense Aperture Secret Method, changes were happening, just like his appetite, which was growing larger and larger.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Chen Mu spoke to Bai Xiuwen across from him, who seemed excited yet hesitant to speak.
"Hehe, Senior Brother, please look." Bai Xiuwen couldn't contain himself any longer, flipping his hand he passed a black and white marbled elixir pill to Chen Mu.
"A Fasting Pill?" Chen Mu suddenly realized, and immediately joked with a smile, "Congratulations, congratulations, from now on, I should call you Pill Master Bai, haha..."
"It's still early, still early." Bai Xiuwen, the mature and steady man in his forties, smiled until his eyes nearly disappeared.
It took a while before he regained his composure, his face filled with emotion.
"I have studied under several alchemists, but it was only you who gave me guidance without reservation."
"It's just a fair exchange," Chen Mu said nonchalantly with a wave of his hand.
"You're here to bid farewell?" Chen Mu suddenly understood.
Bai Xiuwen had succeeded in making a Fasting Pill, and he needed to return to Jade Spring Mountain to have his status as a Pill Master updated.
"Senior Brother, rest assured, I've already placed your orders for you. After I leave, there will be disciples from the Lower Courtyard delivering meat and vegetables to you regularly," Bai Xiuwen said.
Chen Mu immediately nodded in satisfaction, "You're thoughtful."
"There's one more thing, Senior Brother, that you should be aware of," Bai Xiuwen suddenly said.
"Do you remember the small dao discussion meeting hosted by Deputy Warden Sun?"
A jolt went through Chen Mu's heart, but he remained composed, "What about it?"
"Recently, the Inspection Courtyard has been questioning participants."
"It is said to be related to the disappearance of Deputy Warden Sun."
"If they do find you, don't have any omissions."
Not have any omissions?
If I don't omit anything, then it's really game over!
Chen Mu's heart tightened, Sun Wuhuan's matter had not yet concluded!
Bai Xiuwen hesitated for a moment, but then suddenly said, "Senior Brother needs to make some early preparations."
What does he mean?
Could it be that Bai Xiuwen has spotted something?!
Chen Mu's eyes narrowed immediately.
"Prepare White Jade Coins," Bai Xiwen shook his head with a wry smile.
"Condensing Aperture experts couldn't find any clues, what good can the Inspection Courtyard do?"
"This investigation is nothing but an excuse to extort money."
Is it really extortion?
It must be the Sun Family's unwillingness to let go!
"Hey! Seems like I can only spend money to avoid disaster then," Chen Mu said with a feigned look of helplessness on his face, while his heart began to feel anxious.
He had to speed up the practice of the Condense Aperture Secret Method.
Every increase in strength meant another way to respond to situations.
...
The next day, Chen Mu began his retreat to focus on Condensing Aperture.
Five days later, early in the morning.
Chen Mu sat cross-legged on the soft couch of the secret chamber.
He cradled the Netherworld Grand Summary jade slip in his arms.
At a certain moment, he felt a slight throbbing at his brow, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"I've finally made a start."
Within the Jade Seed, next to the pitch-dark spherical Primordial Talisman, was a newly added silver-white spherical Talisman.
It was as if a black and a white sesame seed had grown together.
Chen Mu accessed the grey wall and indeed found a new entry.
Netherworld Grand Summary: 5/10000/First Rank;
He looked down at the jade slip in his hand. The jade tablet that recorded the first Talisman now had its silver-threaded star points completely disappear.
"Good thing I have it recorded in cuneiform script," Chen Mu took out the cuneiform-script version of the Netherworld Grand Summary, his face full of relief.
Without this backup, he would have nothing to practice later.
Just as he was about to bury himself in further practice, the Five Ghosts Yin Spirit set as a guard around the bamboo house transmitted an image of a stranger approaching.
...
On the long corridor outside the bamboo house, Chen Mu curiously looked at the young man coming down the steps.
"My name is Sun Chengye, may I ask if I am speaking to Pill Master Chen?" Sun Chengye bowed with clasped hands, a smile on his face.
Sun?!
Chen Mu's heart tensed, and his eyes narrowed instantly.