I am grinding experience in another world-Chapter 665 - 653: Perfection

Nine days later, early morning, at the northernmost edge of Mist Forest.

In front of a valley filled with peach blossoms, an octagonal pavilion stood amidst the peach trees.

Inside the pavilion, two Taoists were leisurely playing chess and chatting.

Chen Mu ran hurriedly into the valley and stopped by the pavilion.

His clothes were scorched with blackened holes in several places, and two strands of hair on his forehead were damp with sweat, making him appear utterly disheveled.

"Stop! Which sect are you from?"

"Show me your sect's Jade Token," the middle-aged Taoist in the pavilion barked.

The elderly Taoist across from him flashed a smile. "No need to ask, he's from the Hundred Illusion Sect."

"Elder Mao, you know him?" The middle-aged Taoist was curious.

"Heh! How could I not? This one almost became your junior disciple."

The white-haired elder looked at Chen Mu with a playful expression. "Going in circles, you still ended up at Taoshan Temple."

Chen Mu laughed awkwardly and cupped his fists in salute.

A year ago, back when he was still at the Heavenly River Water Mansion, he had met this Mao-named elder while inquiring about Daoist Soldier matters at the Hundred Illusion Sect's outpost.

At that time, Elder Mao had tried hard to recruit him into Taoshan Temple.

But since Taoshan Temple focused on training War Soldiers, which was far less safe compared to Hundred Illusion Sect's Auxiliary Soldiers, Chen Mu naturally didn't choose them.

"Now do you still think Hundred Illusion Sect Daoist Soldiers are safer?" Elder Mao teased cheerfully. "The experience of Five Thunders Bombarding must not have been pleasant."

"It appears I was short-sighted," Chen Mu said with a bitter smile, cupping his fists and bowing deeply again.

"Fate has brought us together. Head through the peach forest to the south, and make your way to the Hundred Illusions camp yourself," Elder Mao said with a wave of his hand, still smiling.

"Many thanks!" Chen Mu cupped his fists again and quickly made his way into the peach forest.

...

After walking through the peach forest for a while, and once he could no longer see the pavilion behind him, Chen Mu slowed his pace and strolled leisurely among the peach trees.

"The Thousand Mechanisms Sect is truly despicable."

"Their Contracted Thunder Technique changes every day, becoming stronger and stronger!"

"It's caused me to sneeze nonstop—what a bunch of bastards!" Chen Mu complained indignantly.

Originally, he had planned to hide underground in Qingqiu Mountain, watching the chaos between demons unfold and waiting for the turmoil to settle before emerging.

Unfortunately, the Thousand Mechanisms Sect showed no honor, triggering the Contracted Thunder Technique daily and forcing him to flee to Taoshan Temple.

He had yet to finish refining all the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seeds, and the Nine-Life Tribulation Splitting Technique still had room for improvement. But Pure Yang Dao Ancestral's Five Thunders Skill was equally formidable.

"Tough it out? And exchange moves with Pure Yang Dao Ancestral from a distance?"

"Tch!"

"I'd have to be crazy to do that."

Chen Mu rubbed his still-itchy nose. "I have no desire to blow up like fireworks."

Besides, Taoshan Temple wasn't actually that dangerous.

The tall members of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect would definitely take the lead. He was just an Auxiliary Soldier butcher; how much danger could there really be?

"Consider it practice for life on the Heavenly Star battlefield," Chen Mu shrugged.

After carefully inspecting the lightning strike marks on his disguise, he ambled through the expanse of peach trees, lazily pondering how to slack off and avoid work as he entered the valley ahead.

...

The next day.

At the base of the southern mountain in the valley, in front of a square, earthy-yellow stone house.

"I heard last night that you were still alive, and I didn't believe it, but here you are, it's true!" Yang Fu's small eyes widened as he stared at Chen Mu with delight.

Another blade of grass for earning Daoist Cultivation points is still standing!

"Back then, we hid in the Washing Body Cave, using the internal Demon Qi to conceal ourselves, narrowly escaping disaster."

"Later, with help from Sect Elders, we left Qingqiu Mountain from deep underground. It was quite a tough journey," Yang Fu sighed with emotion.

"But I didn't expect you, all on your own, to arrive at Taoshan Temple unharmed."

"Junior Brother, you truly have remarkable abilities!" Yang Fu patted Chen Mu's arm, laughing as he praised him.

"Not at all," Chen Mu quickly waved his hand modestly.

"I survived entirely thanks to Elder Hu Buwei's protection."

"If he hadn't taken me underground to escape, we wouldn't be meeting here today."

"But the Outer Heaven Demon was too troublesome. Elder Hu…he… sigh!" He let out a heavy sigh, his face full of sorrow.

Yang Fu's expression soured at these words. "Junior Brother, can you guess which Elder led us out of Qingqiu Mountain?"

No… it couldn't be?

"That's right, it was none other than Elder Hu Buwei!" He narrowed his small eyes and stared at Chen Mu.

"Oh, then I remembered wrong. It was actually Elder Chuan Changzai who took me out of Qingqiu Mountain," Chen Mu lied without batting an eye.

What nonsense are you spouting?

If you're going to lie, could you at least make it believable?

"Fine, let's just say it was Elder Chuan," Yang Fu rolled his eyes.

It was clear that this guy was pulling the wool over his eyes; pressing further would be a waste of time.

"The Thousand Mechanisms Sect Elders are currently recruiting Daoist Soldiers to investigate Mist Forest."

"Just one trip in earns twenty Dao Cultivation points. Opportunities like this are rare."

"Since your Vital Energy is brimming and complete, you should act quickly and earn some Dao points."

"With enough Dao points, you can exchange with the Thousand Mechanisms Sect for ample Secret Techniques and resources, and achieve Condensing Aperture sooner," Yang Fu said earnestly, attempting to persuade him.

He wants me to explore Mist Forest and probe Lan Zhang's situation?

Is he insane, or am I?

Other people might not know the Master of Blood River's background, but I do!

That's someone who dared to practice the Blood God Scripture and devoured countless living beings to actually succeed in cultivating it—a true lunatic!

"Senior Brother, you're unaware," Chen Mu said solemnly, "Elder Chuan battled demons, and I was unfortunately caught in the aftershocks. Although I appear full of Vital Energy outwardly, I'm deeply drained within."

"So, you're also planning to hide in the camp and not go out, right?" Yang Fu craned his neck, his eyes bulging.

Also?

Chen Mu's eyes lit up instantly.

Someone's already set the precedent for me!

"Senior Brother, you truly understand me," Chen Mu grinned, nodding repeatedly.

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Understand my ass!

Yang Fu stormed off angrily.

When the higher-ups are crooked, the lower ranks go astray! This fear of death and avoidance of battle has practically become the Hundred Illusion Sect's tradition!

The camp housed hundreds of Hundred Illusion Sect disciples, but fewer than ten percent dared take on tasks. Not even a tenth!

No one's working, and I don't get to share any Daoist Soldier accomplishments.

It's all that damn Zheng Bailian's fault!

...

The Thousand Mechanisms Sect Elders stationed at Taoshan Temple continuously gathered Qi Cultivators.

At first, only Daoist Soldiers trained by various sects were accepted, but later, they began drawing in any Qi Cultivator, offering generous rewards and turning no one away.

The numbers steadily grew, yet each day, only a handful of missions to investigate Mist Forest were issued. Even when encountering demons, preserving lives and fleeing were the top priorities. Clearly, the Thousand Mechanisms Sect was amassing power for something big.

But none of this concerned Chen Mu, who had resolved to stay holed up in the camp and remain inactive.

Every few days, Yang Fu and Lu Han would come to persuade him. In response, Chen Mu treated them to a dose of Nightmare Victory Spell.

And so, his life in the camp settled into peace.

Each day, he focused on nourishing his Heavenly Demon Body and activating the Truthful Listening Technique to eavesdrop on gossip within Taoshan Temple's valley.

However, he refrained from going overboard, keeping his Truthful Listening Technique limited to the ordinary areas of the camp.

The Thousand Mechanisms Sect Elders stationed at Taoshan Temple were reputedly formidable, and he dared not risk his Truthful Listening Divine Power being detected.

One day, Chen Mu pulled out a rocking chair and placed it by the stone house's window.

He lazily watched Daoist Soldiers riding Flying Kites in and out of the valley while tossing Moon Beet Pearls into his mouth, utterly relaxed and at ease.

But suddenly, a hum resonated in his mind, and the Night Sky Star Map, previously hidden deep in his consciousness, abruptly surfaced.

Soon after, a walnut-sized jade-white bead appeared silently in his brow's Secret Acupoint.

The force occupying the center of the Acupoint was immediately pushed aside.

Surrounding the gentle bead were traceless flames, from which strands of chaotic, complex emotions emanated. Faces of men, women, old, young, either human or monstrous, flashed within the flames like rapidly edited film clips.

"Divine Embryo Completion, the Heavenly Demon Body has fully transformed?"

Chen Mu touched the cool silver vertical mark on his brow and broke into a content smile.