Chongyan Mountain, Bai Ziyue stopped cultivating and slowly opened his eyes.
In the distance, the sun was just rising. The early winter morning sun was not blinding.
After the last lesson, Bai Ziyue naturally didn't dare to visualize the Purple Qi Reception Diagram for too long. Each time, he stopped cultivating just before the sun fully rose and the purple aura dispersed.
"It's a pity that the morning sun's purple aura lasts too short a time."
Feeling his current cultivation state, Bai Ziyue sighed with some regret.
Aside from cultivation time, the weather had the greatest impact on him.
Nearly twenty days had passed since he killed the ghost, and in this Chongyan Mountain, he had cultivated only five times in total. During a period of over ten days with rainy weather, he couldn't see the sun at all, which greatly affected his cultivation progress.
During these twenty days, perhaps due to the government's involvement, the ghost-nurturing evil cultivator he was wary of never appeared, which relieved him greatly.
Although he had started on the path of immortal cultivation, his understanding of fellow cultivators was limited, especially those mysterious magic techniques, which he both envied and feared.
The Purple Qi Divine Observation Technique was purely a cultivation technique without any magic.
As for the "Hundred Talisman Atlas," the cultivation threshold was so high that he couldn't even dream of it.
Talisman pen, talisman paper, talisman ink—just these three items were enough to halt his progress.
"Fortunately, I have made some headway in the External Forging Technique."
During these twenty days, Bai Ziyue was naturally not idle. The tavern was indeed an excellent spot for gathering information.
Without deliberately asking, he had already gathered some information about external forging techniques.
Even though those external forging techniques were not as advanced as the Vajra Lock Jade Technique, Iron Cloth Shirt, or Six and Seven Cross, which could be cultivated directly to the peak of external forging.
Not lingering long on Chongyan Mountain, Bai Ziyue slowly walked down the mountain steps.
On the way, he encountered an old scholar in long robes. Bai Ziyue nodded slightly and walked past him.
This old scholar was akin to the temple priest of the Earth God Temple on Chongyan Mountain, and Bai Ziyue had encountered him for the first time during his third ascent. The two had never conversed, and later Bai Ziyue learned from his aunt that this was an elderly scholar without a trace of strength, who took up the temple priest job to make a living.
He usually lived at the foot of the mountain and only occasionally came up to the mountain to tidy up the Earth God Temple.
Descending the mountain, Bai Ziyue skillfully turned into Southeast Street.
Early in the morning, many shops on Southeast Street were already open. Simple food like wonton soup and steamed dumplings were cheap but could support a family.
Thinking of the monthly allowance just received from the tavern, Bai Ziyue went forward to a bun shop and bought two large meat buns.
Just as he swallowed them, he saw his aunt standing at the path to her house, looking out. Seeing Bai Ziyue, she hurried forward and said, "The weather cleared up today, so I knew you'd go up the mountain, and here you are."
"Aunt, what's the matter?"
Bai Ziyue felt a twinge of anxiety and asked.
Bai Erniu seemed a bit nervous, pulling Bai Ziyue into the narrow path and quickly into their courtyard, then whispered, "Didn't you once ask me to notice if anyone inquires about ghost incidents? After the government's inquiry, no one asked for a while, but just yesterday, two people came asking detailed questions about the ghost incidents."
After the last incident, Bai Erniu no longer treated Bai Ziyue as a child and paid close attention to his words.
The next day, she bought a big rooster and over twenty chicks, male and female, now freely roaming in the courtyard. Naturally, she remembered his other instructions as well.
Bai Ziyue stepped into the courtyard, a chick running past his feet, but he paid no attention and sternly asked, "What else did they ask?"
"It's not unusual to ask about the ghost encounter, as people occasionally inquire.
But they mainly asked if I had hired someone to catch the ghost..."
Seeing the tension on Bai Ziyue's face, Bai Erniu quickly added, "I knew not to say too much, so I didn't mention you at all.
Then, when I questioned them, they claimed they too encountered a ghost and needed someone to catch it… I don't buy it. Two rotten scoundrels think I don't recognize them because they're from farther away. If they really encountered a ghost, serves them right!"
Bai Ziyue touched his nose and sternly warned again, "Don't disclose anything about me, no matter who asks."
"Don't worry, I understand," Bai Erniu nodded seriously.
Though not well-educated, she knew that the last ghost wasn't simple.
And encountering a ghost isn't a joke; she certainly wouldn't let her nephew take such risks again.
...
After bidding farewell to his aunt, Bai Ziyue's relieved expression from discovering the external forging techniques disappeared.
"It seems the evil cultivator started to act once the government's pressure eased."
Bai Ziyue felt a greater sense of urgency. Despite his aunt covering for him, who knew when the enemy would trace back to him?
"I must quickly increase my strength."
Bai Ziyue promptly decided.
In terms of Purple Qi Divine Observation Technique, weather conditions had slowed his progress, and he hadn't even reached entry level.
Moreover, even if he reached entry level, the Purple Qi Divine Observation Technique was a cultivation technique with no magic, which couldn't effectively enhance his strength.
So, he ruled that out first.
Regarding the External Forging Technique, though he had some leads, obtaining it still required time.
Thus, he set his sights on Uncle Sunx Neng.
During the Li Family incident, Uncle Sunx had said that once he achieved small success in Zen Meditation Posture, he would teach him a set of sword techniques.
Bai Ziyue hadn't revealed then that he had already achieved small success in Zen Meditation Posture to avoid standing out.
Now, over forty days after, it was time to 'reveal' his small success in Zen Meditation Posture.
"In the Sunburst Gang Branch of Qinghe Town, reportedly, the fastest to reach entry level in Zen Meditation Posture was Zhao Gangyi, who took three days. He reached small success in fifty days.
My forty days to small success is notable but not too outrageous."
Considering this, Bai Ziyue thought that occasionally showing some 'talent' wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
In Qinghe Town, achieving small success in Zen Meditation Posture in forty days might be remarkable, but on a larger scale in Wujiang County or even the bigger County City, this speed wasn't much to speak of.