Novel Full Chapter 771 - 759: Settling In
A few days later, the main peak of Nine Peaks Mountain, Star-picking Peak.
In the Star-picking Hall at the peak, Chen Mu offered incense and worshiped the Luofu Taoist Ancestor. He turned to look at the middle-aged Daoist beside him, dressed in an orange Daoist Robe, with a gentle smile on his face.
The person was Yuan Zhen of the Nine Peaks Mountain Capital Institute.
“Director Chen, Tangshan Institute is not close to this place.”
“Currently, there are demons causing chaos in the Yizhou Interior, yet you managed to come here safely. The journey must have been quite arduous,” Yuan Zhen remarked with amazement.
“We took the shortcut through the Tongtian River, but even so…” Chen Mu couldn’t help but sigh.
He then omitted matters related to himself, such as the Yin Mistaken Yang and Yama’s Feast, and roughly recounted the journey here, which left Yuan Zhen marveling.
“What plans do you have for the future, fellow Daoist?” Yuan Zhen asked.
“I only seek a stable Dojo for cultivation, nothing else,” Chen Mu said sincerely.
This was truly his heartfelt wish.
After years of cultivation, he always longed for a stable Dojo, but unfortunately, the changing world never allowed it.
Yuan Zhen carefully observed Chen Mu and saw the genuine expression. He smiled and nodded, “It seems you are also someone who wholeheartedly pursues the Dao.”
“In that case, feel free to stay in Nine Peaks Mountain.”
“Nine Peaks Mountain is located in the southwest of Yizhou, an isolated location with not much Vital Energy, but that means fewer disputes. There may not be much Daoist Cultivation to gain, but it is extremely suitable for cultivation.”
If true, then Nine Peaks Mountain is indeed a good place for peaceful cultivation.
Chen Mu was moved.
Yuan Zhen pointed a finger into the air, and moon-white phosphorescence floated. Like a sandbox model, the landscape of the Nine Peaks Mountain, spanning hundreds of miles, appeared in mid-air, with its towering peaks particularly prominent.
“This is our Nine Peaks Mountain.”
“Aside from the central peaks: Star-picking, Wangyue, and Chaoyang, you may choose any of the other six peaks for residence.”
“The disciples you brought from Tangshan Institute can also settle with you first.”
He then detailed the differences among the six peaks to Chen Mu.
Chen Mu listened attentively.
A moment later, he made his decision and chose the southernmost peak of the Nine Peaks Mountain range.
“Weizhi Peak? Are you sure, fellow Daoist?” Yuan Zhen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“This peak is quite remote and poor in Vital Energy. It has only recently been developed, growing some Yellow Bud Rice crops. The residences are somewhat lacking, so you should consider carefully.”
“This is the place,” Chen Mu nodded firmly.
“Fellow Daoist truly seeks the Dao with a single heart,” Yuan Zhen smiled, expressing his admiration.
He realized that this choice indicated Chen Mu did not want to get involved in the specifics of Nine Peaks Mountain.
“So be it.”
“Fellow Daoist, please settle at Weizhi Peak first.”
“If it’s unsuitable, you can find me anytime to change to another peak,” Yuan Zhen promised.
“Thank you, Director!” Chen Mu clasped his hands in gratitude.
He immediately felt a good impression of Yuan Zhen.
…
The next day.
One hundred and twenty miles south of Star-picking Peak, Weizhi Peak.
The mountain was lush and verdant, except near the summit in the south where a slope with sparse, broken rocks had few tall trees. Amidst the surrounding dense forests, it looked like a gray and white patch.
Behind the slope was a five or six meters high cliff, with several cracks on its surface, trickling mountain spring water that converged into a stream less than a meter wide under the rocks.
Chen Mu surveyed his surroundings and nodded in satisfaction.
Having met Yuan Zhen the day before, he had a basic understanding of Nine Peaks Mountain.
Once the Tangshan Institute disciples completed their registration, he led them to Weizhi Peak.
Many disciples settled at a pavilion halfway up the mountain, but Chen Mu, preferring solitude, planned to find a place to build his residence.
With a wave of his hand, a black mist of Five Ghosts Moving Mountain surged from beneath his feet, rolling like a tide in all directions.
Within ten meters of the cliff, the weeds, small trees, and venomous insects disappeared completely.
With another point to the ground, he activated the Point Ground into Steel technique, shaping the mountain rocks and soil into a solid and flat stone platform.
With a thought, the thatched wooden house that had accompanied him for years appeared again. The stone platform moved and climbed, slowly enveloping and securing the two-meter-high supporting pillars beneath the wooden house.
Chen Mu walked up the wooden staircase to the front porch, turning to gaze southwards. The endless forest and rolling mountain peaks immediately came into view.
“In the coming period, this will be home,” Chen Mu said, patting a support pillar on the porch, smiling.
…
In the afternoon.
Tang Zhimu found Chen Mu at the wooden house.
“Most disciples have settled down, but the Weizhi Peak is poor in Vital Energy; the Earth Spirit Vital Energy in the Dojo is far less than at Tangshan Institute.”
“Our original Tangshan Institute disciples are fine, but those who fled from the Mud River Institute have unsettled minds,” Tang Zhimu hesitated, glancing at Chen Mu.
“Do they want to go to other peaks? Let them go if they wish,” Chen Mu waved his hand, indifferent, “Even your Tang Family can choose to stay or leave.”
Taking the Tangshan Institute crowd along in their escape was partly due to his position as the Tangshan Institute Director. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving them to die in Tangshan.
Another reason was the Tang Sect’s promise to consume Tang Family Daoist Cultivation and allow him to use the Divine Bone Mirror for cultivation.
However, the Nine Peaks Mountain Lower Courtyard was just a small institute, not the Ba State Wanxiang Institute, with no authority to mobilize the Divine Bone Mirror.
And the Ba State Wanxiang Institute was too far away to reach anytime soon. The matter of using the Bone Mirror was basically abandoned.
Given these circumstances, there was no point in forcibly keeping those Tangshan Institute disciples. It was better to let them decide to leave or stay, each on their path.
“Just have them watch their words and not reveal my information,” Chen Mu said.
Tang Zhimu hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands and accepted the order.
The Tangshan Institute was already a thing of the past; forcing everyone together had no real meaning.
…
Two days later,
North of Weizhi Peak.
Chen Mu strolled through the woods, with a small bamboo basket floating in the air before him.
The Five Ghosts Paper Dolls danced and chased in the grass like diligent bees, occasionally carrying armfuls of palm-height wild greens to the basket.
This wild vegetable, called gray grass, was deliciously refreshing when blanched and served cold. It liked to grow in shady, hidden places, making it hard to find, but that posed no difficulty for Chen Mu.
With a thought, twelve scarlet Innate Primordial Qi descended from mid-air, flying into his sleeves like swallows returning to their nests. They were the Vermilion Feather Swords serving as his eyes and ears.
Previously, he had left three Vermilion Feather Swords in the Extreme North of Yizhou as anchor points for the Ghost Gate, but they were unnecessary.
Now in the southwest of Yizhou, the distance was too far, so he had to abandon those three swords.
With the Sword Box Gourd, as long as he had materials, he could forge Vermilion Feather Swords anytime, anywhere.
He dispersed the Mechanical Talisman Seeds within those swords and forged three new ones, restoring the number of Vermilion Feather Swords to twelve.
Over the past few days, the twelve swords had roamed below Weizhi Peak, surveying the entire area. Without them, he wouldn’t have found this secluded patch of gray grass.
Looking at the bamboo basket filled with wild greens, Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction.
He gestured for the Five Ghosts Paper Dolls to follow and leisurely returned to the meadow and wooden house, ready to prepare a housewarming feast for himself.
Although he had cultivated the Daoist Foundation and could sustain himself with Innate Primordial Qi without food, enjoying food could not be forsaken.
Besides, after honing his culinary skills for so many years, he wouldn’t let them go to waste.