Chapter 68: First Tier

Before Jie Jia left, Chen Mu chuckled and stopped him, handing over a fist-sized white porcelain bottle.

"There's good stuff inside that will be useful to you. It's my gift."

Jie Jia didn't understand. He took the bottle, opened it, and upon seeing what was inside, the knowledgeable Jie Jia's face immediately darkened.

Seeing Chen Mu smiling with his eyes narrowed made him even more irritated.

Jie Jia expressionlessly put the item away and glanced at Chen Mu with his yellowish-gold eyes.

"Are you really giving this to me?"

Chen Mu nodded immediately: "Take it!"

Jie Jia asked calmly, "Do you know what this is?"

Chen Mu chuckled and shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing at all.

"It's called the Golden Sun Pill," Jie Jia said with a faint smile in his eyes. "A secret medicine of the Red Boats. In the brothels and pleasure houses, it costs twenty taels per pill."

"And demand far exceeds supply."

With that, he looked at Chen Mu with a beaming smile.

Twenty taels a pill, so a bottle of six pills was worth a hundred and twenty taels!

And since demand exceeded supply, turning around and reselling it might fetch a hundred and fifty taels!

Giving away a hundred and fifty taels just like that? Chen Mu's heart twitched with regret as he looked pleadingly at Jie Jia.

"You gave it to me, you said so yourself." Jie Jia smiled, put his hands behind his back, and strolled away leisurely.

Chen Mu: "..."

...

Shanglin Ward, Chen Residence.

Chen Mu sat at a stone table inside the gazebo.

On the table lay a book: *Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique*. It was the form-training technique he had bought at a high price from Jie Jia.

Not long after he got it, troubles kept coming—first giving gifts to people, then moving houses—and he had never been able to calm his mind to practice it.

Now that the Soaring Mirage Gang had issued a bounty on him, Chen Mu didn't dare to go out much, leaving him with plenty of time to study the new form-training technique.

Stepping out of the gazebo, Chen Mu bent down, his left hand reaching up and gripping, his right hand probing downward and twisting his wrist, resembling a fisherman scooping up the moon.

His feet were positioned one in front of the other, heels slightly raised, toes gripping the ground, with his weight resting on the balls of his feet.

Maintaining the posture without moving, Chen Mu adjusted his breathing. The cyclical rhythm of one hundred and eighty breaths had long been memorized by heart. He immediately adjusted his breathing while sensing the shifts in his body's center of gravity.

The *Peregrine Falcon Form-Training Technique* required constant sprinting and leaping.

The *Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique*, however, consisted mostly of static postures.

The tendon-transforming stage comprised eighteen postures and one hundred and eighty breathing rhythms.

Chen Mu needed to complete the transitions of the eighteen postures within these one hundred and eighty rhythms and maintain stability. Moreover, each posture had its corresponding breathing rhythm.

Only when the preceding and succeeding breaths echoed each other and formed a complete cycle would an efficient cultivation session be achieved. The slightest carelessness would throw the rhythm into disorder.

After trying continuously for half an hour, a sudden flash of enlightenment arose in his mind.

As if finding a certain rhythm, the previously disjointed coordination suddenly smoothed out.

Chen Mu looked at the gray wall before his eyes. True to expectation, a new entry had appeared at the very bottom.

Writing: 1785/10000/Second Tier;

Drawing: 1652/10000/Second Tier;

Throwing: 413/10000/Fourth Tier;

Peregrine Falcon Form-Training Technique: Limit;

Culinary Arts: 4376/10000/Second Tier;

Pharmacy: 6576/10000/Third Tier;

Sword in the Sleeve: 4981/10000/Third Tier;

Five Ghosts Moving Mountain Incantation: 5752/10000/Third Tier;

Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique: 5/10000/First Tier;

"Keep up the good work and maintain the rhythm."

As a result, the inhalation time for the very last breath was slightly too short, and the cycle failed to complete. The proficiency increased by only one point.

"Another massive project," Chen Mu shrugged.

Who knew when his armor-soul would reach completion.

"No wonder so many jianghu martial artists flock to elixirs like the Dragon-Transforming Pill."

On one side was the endless, invisible task of nourishing the soul, and on the other was visible, tangible improvement.

Chen Mu guessed that even if jianghu practitioners knew the malice of the aristocratic families and the hidden dangers of the elixirs, they still wouldn't be able to resist taking them.

After all, as long as one's form-training reached completion, one could roam a region freely, enjoying endless wealth and beauties. If one were lucky enough to cultivate the wandering soul, one would become a regional overlord with countless power and wealth—who wouldn't envy that?

"Foresight usually belongs only to a minority; seeking quick success and instant gratification is the norm for worldly people."

"Fortunately, I have the proficiency gray wall."

If not for this cheat as his backing,

Chen Mu might have ended up taking the Dragon-Transforming Pill as well, forcing himself to crawl into the traps of the aristocratic families, scraping and scheming for everything just to cultivate through pills.

"Better just keep grinding."

...

Shanglin Ward, Chen Family Residence.

On the east side of the small courtyard originally stood a small garden planted with pretty flowers whose names Chen Mu didn't know.

Chen Mu found them pleasing to the eye, and in his joy, he pulled them all out.

Then he turned over and tilled the soil, planting various seasonal vegetables instead.

Unfortunately, the time was too short; they had just sprouted, and vegetables still needed to be bought from outside.

Heading further north along the west street of Shanglin Ward and passing through Chongle Ward would lead directly to the North Market of Nanyang Prefecture.

The South Market and North Market were the two major commercial wards of Nanyang Prefecture. All bulk trading took place within these two wards.

There were also farmers entering the city along the streets to sell vegetables, but none were as comprehensive as the North and South Markets.

Chen Mu strolled all the way there.

Although grinding proficiency was enjoyable, occasionally coming out to watch the bustling crowd and see different sights could also put one in a pleasant mood.

Just as he entered the North Market, the first thing that caught his eye was the Fan Tower of the North Market.

Both the North and South Markets had a Fan Tower, each being a notorious money-drainer in Nanyang Prefecture. It was said that the bosses behind them were the five major aristocratic families of Nanyang Prefecture.

Seven or eight five-story buildings, connected by covered corridors and skybridges, occupied a vast area and were extraordinarily lively, always drawing attention.

On the Chunfeng Tower, one of the Fan Towers, young women fluttered about, waving their red sleeves.

Chen Mu glanced at them twice and sternly criticized their overly revealing attire.

As if they weren't afraid of catching a cold!

Then he took another couple of looks before reluctantly going off to buy vegetables.

Passing by a teahouse named Xinyuan Teahouse, a thought stirred in Chen Mu, and he walked inside.

Since he never left the house all day, his information was too cut off. It was necessary to find a channel for gathering intelligence.

Back in Qingshan County, he used to visit the Bafang Tower regularly for tea. Seeing Xinyuan Teahouse, Chen Mu developed the same idea.

Buying vegetables wasn't urgent; he would first go in and listen to what news there was in Nanyang Prefecture.

...

This teahouse was not small, spanning three floors up and down, clearly not an ordinary establishment.

Upon entering the teahouse, the bustling atmosphere made Chen Mu feel exceptionally welcome.

Storytellers, tea drinkers, and business negotiators—the familiar air of mortal life put Chen Mu at ease.

He found a corner to sit down. A pot of tea, a plate of freshly stir-fried peanuts, and a portion of sesame-soft pastries cost him sixty-five copper coins in total—enough to buy two catties of meat.

"The cost of living in Nanyang Prefecture is truly high," Chen Mu muttered, shaking his head as he popped a piece of sesame pastry into his mouth.

The soft, sweet, and fragrant texture made Chen Mu's eyes light up, and he ate three pieces in a row before stopping. The small plate only had eight pieces total, and before he even had his fill, he had already eaten more than half.

Thinking of the over ten thousand taels of silver notes hidden in his Five Ghosts Bag, Chen Mu sighed. Even a landlord's family had no surplus grain.

"Waiter, help me pack two portions of sesame pastries to take away later!"

"Coming right up!"

...

"Speaking of this Soaring Mirage Gang, they are the number one gang in our Nanyang Prefecture. All shipping up and down the Jinshui River has to defer to them."

"Fortunately, the Soaring Mirage Gang has strict rules and does business for money. It is precisely because the Soaring Mirage Gang continuously cracks down on river bandits that smooth transportation on the Jinshui River is guaranteed."

"In the past, people only heard their name and didn't have much contact with them, because most of them make a living on the river."

"Nowadays, however, they have skyrocketed in fame."

An old man with a wispy goat-beard, sitting on a wooden platform in the center of the teahouse, was gesticulating wildly as he talked about the hot news of Nanyang Prefecture.

"Three days ago, Gang Leader Jin Wuduan of the Soaring Mirage Gang fought a duel with Pavilion Master Zhang of the Crimson Garment Pavilion and won a great victory! He leaped to become the second greatest martial artist in our Nanyang Prefecture, second only to Commander Shangguan of the prefecture garrison. His momentum was unmatched for a time!"

"As for this Crimson Garment Pavilion, everyone might not be familiar with it. It's an underground force in our Great Liang, and all they do are shady businesses."

"Not knowing whose bounty they accepted, they actually dared to make a move against Hall Master Lin Que of the Soaring Mirage Gang's White Tiger Hall. This completely angered Gang Leader Jin..."

The old man spoke endlessly, and the people below listened with rapt attention.

Chen Mu slowly drank his tea and cracked open peanuts, his ears perked up to catch the news.

Lin Que was killed, the Soaring Mirage Gang was making trouble for the Crimson Garment Pavilion, and Gang Leader Jin Wuduan had challenged Crimson Garment Pavilion Master Zhang Qinghe to a duel and won...

The more Chen Mu listened, the weirder his expression became, and he hypocritically sighed: "The Crimson Garment Pavilion really bore too much!"

"It's too hard."

"I hope Pavilion Master Zhang recovers soon," Chen Mu offered his entirely insincere blessing.

"Aside from that bounty being a bit troublesome, am I temporarily safe now?" Joyful in his heart, Chen Mu stuffed all the remaining sesame pastries into his mouth in one go.

In a word: sweet!

...

"On that day, the river surface was windless, but the sky was covered in pitch-black clouds. The two men each rode a small boat, and with a single leap, they spanned dozens of meters, like heavenly thunder descending, crashing with a loud roar onto the isolated island in the middle of the river!"

"Then winds rose and clouds surged, flying sand and moving stones. Wherever the two passed, mountains collapsed and the earth split apart, just like a earth-draconic upheaval. The entire island in the middle of the river was shattered by the shockwaves of their battle..."

The corners of Chen Mu's eyes twitched violently.

How did the story escalate from wuxia to xianxia halfway through?

Collapsing mountains and splitting earth, earth-draconic upheaval...

Everyone else in the teahouse listened with fascination, but Chen Mu found it entirely detached from reality.

A quiet conversation nearby caught Chen Mu's attention.

"I heard something happened to the Red Boats," a plump businessman whispered to his companion while cracking melon seeds.

"I heard it too; everyone who boarded the boat is gone." His equally wealthy companion lowered his voice and replied. "Young Master Lu is fond of wine and women, and he's been on almost all the Red Boats on the Jinshui River. This time he boarded who knows which boat, and he's gone."

"Hiss... Could someone be murdering for money?"

"No, someone saw them board the boat at the Changrui Dock outside the city. According to that person, the boat looked eerie. Chances are it was a ghost ship!"

"The Red Boats pick up passengers up and down the Luo River every day; what were they doing running outside the city?"

"Bringing ruin upon oneself."

"Indeed, ghost ships can't enter Nanyang Prefecture."

Chen Mu frowned as he listened from the side.

Having arrived in Nanyang Prefecture for nearly five months, he had never heard of any evil spirits making trouble. He had almost forgotten about nether spirits and monsters.

Hearing the news of the eerie Red Boat at this moment, he immediately recalled that bizarre long-haired woman: "You can't escape these nether spirit monsters no matter where you go."

Fortunately, Nanyang Prefecture was protected by magical artifacts.

Losing interest in continuing to listen, Chen Mu picked up his packaged sesame-soft pastries and left Xinyuan Teahouse directly.

...

Shanglin Ward, Chen Residence, West Gazebo.

Chen Mu set the gray wall before his eyes and concentrated on his cultivation.

With every execution, his proficiency increased anywhere from one to five points.

Wisps of comprehension regarding the *Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique* flooded into his mind.

With vacant eyes, Chen Mu practiced the movements tirelessly, over and over again.

He only stopped when a slight pain arose in his lungs.

For the next half month, he went out every five days to buy groceries, drink tea, and listen to news. The remaining time was entirely devoted to the *Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique*.

...

Toward evening, in the second-floor study, Chen Mu pushed open the window and sat at his desk.

Picking up a cup of warm milk tea paired with imitation sesame-soft pastries, Chen Mu sat contentedly in the reclining chair, soothing his mind as he watched the boats on the Luo River in the distance.

Habitually, he summoned the gray wall to tally his proficiency.

Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique: 4140/10000/First Tier;

Having set aside all other skills to go all-out on the Green-Eyed Golden Ape, he had managed to clear nearly half of it in just half a month.

"Just as I thought!" Chen Mu clenched his fist involuntarily.

Although the *Green-Eyed Golden Ape Form-Training Technique* had high difficulty, its proficiency was actually much faster to grind!

"The *Peregrine Falcon Form-Training Technique* has already undergone massive body modifications. The *Sword in the Sleeve* and *Iron Lotus Seeds* have similarly strengthened the body."

"A stronger body means greater tolerance, allowing for more practice sessions each day."

"The foundation of the enhanced physical body is thick, making it easy to reach new heights. The few previously unexercised parts only required a little bit of energy to carve and refine."

"With decreased cultivation difficulty and increased practice frequency, proficiency naturally builds up fast!"

Although his prospects were gradually clearing up, Chen Mu couldn't bring himself to be happy.

"Compared to children of aristocratic families, I'm still far behind," Chen Mu shook his head in slight dejection.

"Innate bloodlines are strong, allowing cultivation to progress a thousand miles a day."

"Family foundations are deep, and they have been constantly taking accelerated secret medicines since childhood."

"Moreover, they have complete form-training techniques passed down through generations."

The more Chen Mu thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt.

"These direct descendants of aristocratic families are simply the darlings of the heavens."

"They have bloodlines, secret medicines, and inheritances."

"What do I have?"

"I only have a tiny little proficiency."

Chen Mu let out a long sigh.

"Fairness has always been relative," Chen Mu had no choice but to comfort himself.

"But sweat never lies!" Chen Mu encouraged himself from another angle.

"Aristocratic scions have privileged backgrounds, but I will never give up."

With a swish, Chen Mu put away the gray wall before him and secretly warned himself.

"These external things will only disturb my mind."

Then he solemnly established his life creed.

"A person can only rely on themselves!"

"I will rely on a steadfast will, unremitting effort, and drop after drop of sweat to climb step by step, step by step to the very top!"