I am grinding experience in another world

Evening.

Luandu County, Dongfeng District was teeming with people. The voices of street vendors hawking their wares ebbed and flowed, lingering around Chen Mu’s ears.

"So lively," he remarked, his expression complex as he strolled amidst the crowd.

Unbeknownst to him, he had already spent nearly three years as the City God at Qiluo Mountain. Yet due to the existence of Lock Dragon Courtyard, he seldom visited Luandu County. Even when buying daily necessities, he did so in haste, without taking time to wander properly.

"This departure, I do not know when I will be able to visit the human world again," Chen Mu sighed.

He had decided to follow Yuan Xian’s plan, to infiltrate the Upper Court of Goose Sheep Path.

Goose Sheep Path was a typical Mysterious Gate Sect, with mountain gates often hidden in remote, spiritually rich highlands.

While Qi Cultivators’ markets were not uncommon in the mountains, the cultivators were different from ordinary people, lacking the liveliness of the mundane world.

Lost in thought, melodious singing reached his ears. Chen Mu looked up, realizing before he knew it, he had reached the entrance of Yicui Building.

At that moment, the lanterns were just being lit, casting a soft, dim light. Chen Mu peered through the wide-open doorway and saw a plump figure come into view.

Liang Dabao of the Flying Horse Camp’s Yi Second Banner?

Chen Mu’s mouth curled into a slight smile: "Liang Xiaopang has finally managed to listen to the music of Yicui Building and eat its food."

That had been the little fatty’s greatest wish. Back in the Flying Horse Camp, he had often heard him talk about it.

Through the dim light, as he watched the graceful figure on the stage in the hall, Chen Mu let out a soft sigh.

"Pity that I can only watch from a distance now."

Higher cultivation heightened the senses, making the thick makeup on the dancer’s face no longer able to deceive his perception.

Chen Mu gave Liang Dabao a calm look, turned around, and stepped away, slowly disappearing into the crowd.

At that moment, Liang Dabao, visiting Yicui Building for the first time, was blushing and looking around anxiously. His gaze swept past the doorway, catching a fleeting figure, and suddenly he froze.

"Dabao, there are ladies to watch, what are you looking at?" Hu Lao San teased with a laugh beside him.

"I... I think I saw my nightmare," Liang Dabao replied, his face filled with complex emotions.

"What nightmare?"

"The one where I can’t wake up or sleep, reciting scriptures night after night, for two consecutive months."

"Isn’t that the City God giving you a manifestation?"

"Heh, if so, this City God must be a bit stingy."

Chen Mu, who had not gone far, overheard: "…"

It seemed that little fatty still hadn’t memorized enough scriptures yet.

...

Several days later, in Divine Statue Cave Heaven.

Chen Mu placed a rocking chair in the center of the hall, specially fitted with a soft cushion. The bald youth, with a Heavenly Demon Body, stretched and leisurely lay down in it.

After adjusting his position slightly, the Heavenly Demon Body closed its eyes and his breathing became faint, quickly sinking into a deep slumber.

The next moment, the True Flesh Body leaning against the doorway opened its eyes.

"Once I leave Da Qian, I don’t know if my consciousness will be able to return to the Heavenly Demon Body from afar. Better make it as comfortable as possible." Chen Mu approached and adjusted the wide and soft clothing once more.

"From now on, it’s up to you to hold down the fort here."

He stood up, surveyed the Divine Statue Cave Heaven, and as a dark whirlpool appeared at Netherworld Ferry, Chen Mu’s true form abruptly left Divine Statue Cave Heaven.

...

Noon, at Qiluo Mountain City Divine Temple’s East Straddling Courtyard.

"According to Lock Dragon Well’s display, we might capture a Ghost tonight."

"Do not worry, Mr. Gongsun, I have Yan Yue in place of dream-inducing liquor; this Ghost can be given to you," Li Buxian said through gritted teeth, a look of grudging pain on his face.

"One?"

"I think at least three Ghosts might appear tonight." Chen Mu looked at Li Buxian with an almost smirking smile: "You were involved in that old codger Yuan Xian’s plan, weren’t you?"

"Deliberately reducing the supply of Ghosts to force me to head to the Great Li frontier?"

"Plan? What plan? What does Mr. Gongsun mean?" Li Buxian feigned ignorance.

Heh!

"I’ve already asked Xie An, the priest from Jiangyang County Temple; you’d better think carefully before you answer," Chen Mu spoke with a smile.

Damn that Xie An!

Why did you have to spill the beans!

All these scions from Noble Clans, they’re all a bunch of spineless wimps!

Li Buxian’s face twitched.

"I had no choice. Yuan Xian is the head of Lock Dragon Courtyard, a formidable force. If he tells me to act this way, even if I wanted to resist, I wouldn’t dare," he said with a bitter smile and shake of his head.

"So, you were completely coerced by Yuan Xian then?" Chen Mu’s ears perked up, his voice playful.

"Alas, to be the meat on the cutting board," Li Buxian sighed heavily, his face full of indignation.

"So, it was I who forced your hand. It seems I owe Li Temple Priest an apology." A cold voice suddenly resonated throughout the East Straddling Courtyard.

In the air, a figure slowly appeared. Gazing at that stern old face, and then at Chen Mu’s schadenfreude grin, Li Buxian realized—Gongsun Sheng must have known about Yuan Xian long ago; he’d been played again!

Li Buxian’s face instantly turned as black as coal.

Although I really did want to drive you out, this time I was honestly just following orders. And here you go, scheming against me again before you leave; why so petty?

Heh!

Old chap, that’s just how petty I am.

Chen Mu curled his lips upward, turned, and left East Straddling Courtyard with Yuan Xian.

Reaching Moon Gate, Chen Mu paused, glanced back at Li Buxian, and offered a piece of advice.

"You’ll want to practice less of that Yan Yue; the Power of Seven Emotions isn’t so easily manipulated."

"If any problems arise, don’t blame me."

After the Heavenly Demon Spiritual Seed entered his body, Chen Mu had roughly studied the latter parts of the "Yan Yue Scripture" and discovered a Seven Emotions Curse hidden within, which could trigger the Power of Seven Emotions for cultivation.

However, the Power of Seven Emotions was particularly adept at affecting one’s spirit. If one withstood it, all was well, but if not, there was a high risk of cultivating oneself into a state of consciousness disturbance.

He actually had no real grievances with Li Buxian. Initially, it was nothing more than Li Buxian, upon persuasion by Lock Dragon Courtyard’s Yuan Dong, intercepting Sun Ke and having a bout.

At that time, he took a few more hits, but that old fellow’s injuries were a little more severe than his own.

After that, every interaction was actually him looking for trouble with the old fellow.

Now, as he was about to leave, he didn’t mind offering some advice.

Having said that, he turned and left the East Straddling Courtyard.

"Mr. Gongsun is quite optimistic about this Li Buxian?" Yuan Xian walked beside Chen Mu, smiling and asking.

"Born in humble beginnings, yet able to cultivate the Underworld God Seven Transformations through his own efforts."

"With the Seven Emotions Curse and Huangliang Wine now, it’s very possible he’ll quickly cultivate the Underworld God Nine Transformations. He truly is a talent."

Chen Mu rolled his eyes.

"In my eyes, you are all the same, don’t think of using him to scheme against me."

"If there’s any difference, it’s that he was conned by me more than anyone else."

"Do you want to give it a try?" Chen Mu’s eyes shifted slightly, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips as he looked at Yuan Xian.

Yuan Xian’s expression froze.

For some reason, the bad premonition he had at the beginning was becoming more apparent.

This was indeed a big problem; he had to send him away from Da Qian quickly!

Half a month later, at the top-level window of a massive ship that was a hundred meters long.

Chen Mu sat with closed eyes in front of a long desk.

On the desk was a bronze incense burner from which a wisp of blue smoke rose, slowly diffusing. The fragrance of concentration and tranquility filled the entire room.

After a good while, Chen Mu opened his eyes and turned to look out the window, where the boundless river surface was the first thing to catch his eye. Raising his gaze, he saw the green and endless rolling hills in the distance.

He had now entered the territory of Southern Shu by boat. This country was rich in water and mountains, with lush vegetation. The hills he had seen along the way were almost entirely covered with green vegetation, which was quite pleasing to the eye.

While admiring the green mountains and blue sky, Chen Mu’s ears twitched, and he turned to look towards the center of the room. There, a figure was slowly emerging from nothingness.

"Sir, you truly are extraordinary. I can now freely enter and exit the Spirit Void Cave Heaven, and yet you detected me," Yuan Xian said with a smile, but his heart couldn’t help but feel cold.

Using the Seven Emotions Curse to suppress the backlash from the Celestial Capital Transformation, he was able to infiltrate the Spirit Void Cave Heaven more stealthily and quickly. Unexpectedly, the other party was still able to detect his trace. When they had fought in Qiluo Mountain, the other party didn’t have this ability.

Was it because of the Heavenly Demon Spiritual Seed, or had his own strength improved?

Chen Mu’s expression was indifferent, his eyes narrowed into slits, his pitch-black pupils unwaveringly staring at Yuan Xian.

"This secret infiltration is mainly to prevent others from learning of your existence, which would not be beneficial for infiltrating into Goose Sheep Mountain. I hope for your understanding for any presumptuousness," Yuan Xian said with a tense scalp, bowing sincerely, "The plan to infiltrate the Goose Sheep Path is now ready. May I know..."

Chen Mu’s expression remained unchanged as he stared at Yuan Xian for a good while before slightly lifting his chin, gesturing for him to sit opposite the desk.

The Underworld God Transformation was indeed not simple. It was fortunate that recently his Truthful Listening Technique had advanced, allowing him to detect the Ground Shrinking fluctuations, otherwise, he really wouldn’t have any way to deal with this old man.

Yuan Xian bowed again, carefully sitting opposite Chen Mu.

"Our destination this time is the Yun Chong Lower Courtyard of the Goose Sheep Path."

"In my early years, I arranged for a spy to infiltrate the Hundred Refinement Hall of the Yun Chong Lower Courtyard. This is the spy’s file." While speaking, he took out a scroll from his sleeve and placed it in front of Chen Mu.

"He is a Lock Dragon Knight who practices Ghost Channeling and controls the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern."

"This Ghost Pattern allows him to travel through water, and it is with this method, mimicking the Qi Cultivator’s Magic Artifact, the Water-Repelling Pearl, that he was able to join the artifact refining division of Goose Sheep Path."

"The Goose Sheep Path intends to borrow the Tongtian River to traverse the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. For this, a submersible ship is needed, and the Water-Repelling Pearl is indispensable. There is a high likelihood he will be recruited into the Upper Court."

"Once you replace this person, you can successfully join the Upper Court of the Goose Sheep Path."

A very high likelihood?

Chen Mu paused while flipping through the scroll’s file, giving Yuan Xian a half-smiling glance.

Previously, this old fellow had guaranteed his entry into the Goose Sheep Path’s Upper Court, but now it had become a high likelihood.

Hmph!

Yuan Xian’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly spoke up to divert Chen Mu’s attention, "This time, I brought a Lock Dragon Knight proficient in the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern aboard, and I’ve also obtained the Artifact Refining Method scroll for the Water-Repelling Pearl."

"I suggest you learn the Red-Eyed Ghost Pattern. That would save time."

Chen Mu withdrew his gaze, the gray wall materializing before him.

Ghost Channeling Spell: Extreme;

"Let’s try the Ghost Channeling Spell first."

As early as on Qiluo Mountain, he had mastered this Dharma Curse to its peak, allowing him to freely enter and exit the Nine Serenities Abyss, to choose Netherworld Ghost Patterns at ease to learn and control. It was not like at the beginning when he was chased by countless Ghost Patterns and squeezed out of the Nine Serenities Abyss.

"Let me take a look at the Water-Repelling Pearl refining method too," Chen Mu spoke again.

Yuan Xian immediately looked hesitant.

"Is there a problem?" Chen Mu asked flatly.

"No problem, it’s just that the Artifact Refining Method is said to be very complex."

"Before learning the method of refining the Water-Repelling Pearl, it is necessary to have secrets like the Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique and the Five Qi Primordial Technique as prerequisites."

"If you want to master them one by one, I’m afraid it will take a considerable amount of time, probably not enough to infiltrate Goose Sheep Mountain," Yuan Xian earnestly advised.

Chen Mu gave a strange look as he emerged from the gray wall, fixing his gaze on two columns.

Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique: 5398/10000/Fourth Rank;

Five Qi Primordial Technique: 9426/10000/Fourth Rank;

Artifact Refining and Alchemy actually have points in common?

What a coincidence!

"It’s all right; I’m just curious to take a look," Chen Mu said with a smile.

Lock Dragon Knights rely on the Ghost Channeling Spell because they have no other choice, but as a genuine Qi Cultivator, he should learn the proper Artifact Refining techniques.

Besides, if he really goes to Goose Sheep Mountain to build a big ship, he might maintain the disguise initially, but over time, it would likely be exposed. Qi Cultivators have a long inheritance and are not so easily fooled.