Chapter 204: Preparations

Chapter 202

After sending Mrs. Yang back, Chen Jingzhai went into a short Seclusion Training for a few days.

The main reason was to avoid the overenthusiastic elders and other visitors.

It was not that he was trying to put on airs. He just did not have the time to entertain the guests.

The inheritance of a Spirit Plane cultivator and possession of a lord was enough to make a lot of people drool.

However, the people could not force Chen Jingzhai to share the rewards with them as he was still their Master Uncle.

A few elders were interested in the Spirit Plane cultivator’s treasures. Some even wanted the Ocean Taming Drum.

That was why Chen Jingzhai immediately started his Seclusion Training. It was to avoid all the fuss.

In Tianyahai Pavillion’s garden, Pearl was hugging a highest-grade spiritual stone while munching on it.

Her tiny legs that could not reach the ground from the stool she was on would swing back and forth.

“Is it good?” asked Chen Jingzhai.

“Yes!” Pearl nodded. “I used to eat a few in the past, but my new master doesn’t let me have these anymore.”

“Then, these are your snacks. Don’t eat them all in one go.” Chen Jingzhai took out more spiritual stones and spirit pearls.

“But, My Lord, what about you?” Pearl tilted her head.

“I still have more.” Chen Jingzhai smiled and took out a jade statue. “Keep this. If Qinghuang ever cries, give her this.”

“Why would Master cry? Isn’t this My Lord?”

It was a statue of Chen Jingzhai made out of Grade 3 warm jade.

In his arms was a lady who looked a lot like Su Qinghuang.

However, her head was dug into his arms, so it was not shown.

Chen Jingzhai had spent his time in Seclusion Training to make the statue.

He made a lifelike statue of himself, while Su Qinghuang’s statue was very vague.

“I have to leave again soon, and I might be gone for a very long time.” Chen Jingzhai patted Pearl’s head. “Qinghuang will cry if she misses me, right?”

Pearl nodded as if she had understood what her lord had said despite not having a clue what a relationship really meant. Nonetheless, she still kept the statue safe.

“Help me take care of her when I’m gone, okay?” said Chen Jingzhai. “Don’t interrupt her if she’s in Seclusion Training and spend time with her when she’s not. Make sure she’s happy.”

“Okay!” Pearl nodded, thinking that it was the same as what she had always been doing.

Chen Jingzhai waited for her to finish her snack before leaving Daoxuan Peak with her.

Pearl returned to Hongluan Peak, while Chen Jingzhai headed to Tianzhu Peak.

A few cultivators tried to approach him before he could even land. With a frown, he charged straight into the Puppet Hall. Mo Bei noticed his arrival and quickly guided him to the garden.

“What do you think? Aren’t my disciples a passionate bunch?” Mo Bei grinned.

“They are too passionate.” Chen Jingzhai sighed. “It’s uncomfortable. I can never get used to this.”

“You can’t blame them. We’ve gained 49 new disciples over the past two years since puppet masters are welcomed everywhere now. Our salaries have multiplied as well. This is all because of you.”

“Come on. I only gave a little guidance and assistance. The Puppet Hall earned this success themselves.” Chen Jingzhai quickly shook his head, refusing to take all the credit.

“Seriously…” Mo Bei sighed with a smile.

There was no need for them to publicize Chen Jingzhai’s contributionas the clan would always remember it.

Upon seeing how modest Chen Jingzhai was, Mo Bei could not say anything else about it.

“I came here for two reasons today,” said Chen Jingzhai. “I want to split my earnings into two. I want to give half to my senior sister in Daoxuan Peak, and the other for my senior sister in Hongluan Peak.”

“Equally? Looks like you have a lot of spiritual stones now, huh?”

“I do have enough of them.” Chen Jingzhai nodded. “I’m also about to start my journey to the Woods Ocean Ancient Path, so I want to make arrangements as soon as I can. I hope it’s doable.”

“All right. Consider it done.” Mo Bei agreed. “What’s the second thing?”

“This is a puppet technique I’ve obtained from Lord Ning’s inheritance. I’m not sure if it’s helpful for the Puppet Hall or not,” answered Chen Jingzhai. He handed Mo Bei a jade slip.

Mo Bei took the jade slip. After reading it with his divine mind, excitement quickly appeared on his face.

He was not expecting something valuable from the slip. However, he was proven wrong. It contained of a lot of things he did not know about.

The puppet loop and Unification of Man and Puppet were great examples.

Moreover, what shocked him the most was the compatibility between internal inlay and puppet loop.

If he could make any of the practical, the battle power of the puppets would multiply.

“This is great! I can see that there are some creation methods of foreign origin and interesting concepts that we’ve never heard of in the slip. This is worth looking into. Tell me, what else do you need? This jade slip worths a lot to us.” Mo Bei raised his head to look at his junior brother after reading the jade slip.

“There’s nothing I need actually. I just need you to help me take care of my two senior sisters. Make sure they get their shares every year,” replied Chen Jingzhai.

Mo Bei let out another sigh and smiled bitterly. “How are you such a worrywart? Su Qinghuang is the Peak Master of Hongluan Peak and Mrs. Yang is happily married. There’s nothing for you to worry about. They’ll be fine on their own.”

“Just think of this as a gift to you then.” Chen Jingzhai smiled. “I have no use for this slip anyway. I’ll be happy if it can help the Puppet Hall.”

“Looks like I owe you a favor for this. Fine.” Another sigh could be heard from Mo Bei.

“Then, I’ll take my leave first.” Chen Jingzhai bowed and left.

Mo Bei frowned as he watched his junior brother fly away.

Chen Jingzhai then headed to the Jade Pot Peak of the Wine Celestial lineage.

He used the wine talisman he had created to ask for an audience with a lord elder. Then, he used a Spirit Storage Calabash to ask the elder to help increase the wine talismans in his calabash to 36.

The wine calabash had been refined by him and was now an Intermediate Grade 3 item.

Now that the talismans in it had reached more than 30, he could upgrade it even further.

The calabash could even become a spiritual treasure after that.

Brewing wine was not the only function of a wine calabash. It could also activate spells.

Every talisman in it could activate a wine spell unique to the Wine Celestial lineage.

However, Chen Jingzhai had never used any of them as the five elements spell was sufficient for him.

The following month, Chen Jingzhai visited different peaks and Daoxuan Peak’s library.

Sage Hao Feng even requested him to help make three cauldrons worth of Foundation Establishment Elixirs and three cauldrons worth of Nerve Calming Elixir.

On his 50th day after returning to Luo Sheng Sword School, Headmaster Fuyun finally summoned him.

Chen Jingzhai arrived at Cloud Palace on his Silver Screen Spirit Cloud.

He entered the palace and headed to the back to meet the headmaster.

“Senior Brother,” the young man greeted with a bow.

“Oh! You’re here.” The headmaster sat on a meditation mat and smiled. “Come, have a seat.”

They were in a wooden octagonal pavilion with two mats in the middle.

Chen Jingzhai did not hesitate to sit down on the empty mat.

The moment he sat down, he could feel cool breezes coming from all directions. He was shocked to learn that the meditation mat was actually a treasure.

“Are you prepared to head to the Woods Ocean Ancient Path?” asked Headmaster Fuyun.

“Yes.” Chen Jingzhai nodded. “The reason I’m here is to learn more about the path and Pulao Territory from you. I also want to thank you for sending Master-Uncle Gu Hongzi to help me.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that. As for the Woods Ocean Ancient Path and Pulao Territory, I’m sure you are now aware of the Heaven Essence Realm? Pulao Kingdom is a corner of the realm, and the Woods Ocean Ancient Path is a way to enter the Pulao Territory.”

“I don’t get it…” Chen Jingzhai was confused.

“Pulao Kingdom wasn’t called Pulao Kingdom in the past. A long time ago, the place did not have cultivators nor celestial clans,” explained the headmaster. “It was a heaven for demonic monsters, a homeland for demonic beasts, and a sanctuary for spirit monsters. We, humans, arrived later to conquer that land.”

Chen Jingzhai’s eyes widened. He was shocked to learn about that.

“This world is very huge, my dear junior brother. The Heaven Essence Realm consists of nine different territories, and not a single one of them is peaceful. Pulao Kingdom is a safe haven the founder has secured for us.”