I am grinding experience in another world

At night, within the cave mansion on the cliff.

Chen Mu ate the Golden Yuan Valley Rice while staring at two secret techniques on the Gray Wall.

Giant Spirit Divine: 8196/10000/Eighth Rank;

Heavenly Demon Armor: 184/10000/Seventh Rank;

These two secret techniques were his main cultivation projects recently, and he has made good progress in both. Especially the Heavenly Demon Armor Secret Technique, which had entered a whole new stage yesterday.

"It seems to start spreading inward." Chen Mu thoughtfully sensed the changes in the secret technique.

The previous Heavenly Demon Armor was like wearing a layer of armor. After reaching the Seventh Rank, the Heavenly Demon Armor began to penetrate into the body. It seemed to be engraved into every inch of muscle and skin, becoming a type of inherent armor.

"Innate Protective Qi Mechanism Secret Technique?"

"Similar to the Five Dragon Dharma Body and the Five Thunders Spell?"

Chen Mu raised his eyebrows, a realization in his heart.

"But it seems more rustic, and somewhat overbearing."

The Five Dragons Scripture and the Five Thunders Treasure Scroll construct the Protective Qi Mechanism respectively with Yin Spirit Divine Power and Mana.

The Heavenly Demon Armor was similar in the early stages, but it changed after entering the Seventh Rank.

It began to reshape the body, as if to engrave the layer of armor directly into the body, making it an innate part of the body.

"By the end of training, won't it really be like an Outer Heaven Demon, naturally having a Protective Qi Mechanism?"

"This is somewhat similar to the Heavenly Demon Path."

Practicing the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation Technique cultivates the Heavenly Demon True Body, transforming into a Heavenly Demon Divine Demon, naturally possessing a Qi Mechanism.

This Heavenly Demon Armor seems to capture part of that utility, without transforming into the Heavenly Demon True Body, giving the cultivator some of the powers of the Heavenly Demon True Body.

"Interesting." Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.

"Pity, it might be a bit difficult to quickly grind experience for the Heavenly Demon Armor in the future."

The Heavenly Demon Armor, like the Giant Spirit Divine, has a fast initial cultivation speed, but requires more time and effort to gain experience later on.

Like fruits growing, it needs sufficient time to mature.

"Practice slowly."

For this kind of secret technique that is easy to learn but hard to master, he has much experience. Just need to include it in the daily must-practice secret techniques, and wait for the time to come for a natural reward.

"The Sixth Rank Heavenly Demon Armor could absorb and accommodate the Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles, gaining the ability to defend against the Superior Fetal Spirit."

"I don't know what kind of transformation this Seventh Rank secret technique will have, perhaps I could find some demon blood or something to try it with."

After thinking for a while, Chen Mu dispersed his distracting thoughts.

"The most urgent task is to think about what to do with this Daoist Soldier Contract."

Thinking about the unseen constraints of the contract, the originally tasty Golden Yuan Valley became somewhat hard to swallow.

"If I really sign the Daoist Soldier Contract, it's like tying a chain to myself. Although it's said it won't send Daoist Soldiers to die on purpose, but… what if?"

He had been staying in Wanjing Cave these days searching, but still hadn't found any clues.

"Hasn't anyone thought about exploiting a loophole in this contract?"

"It can't be…"

He couldn't believe that the Qi Cultivators from Hai Province would be so honest.

...

Days later, Prison Valley.

Chen Mu, as usual, dug up a hundred pounds of Demon Qi Stone early. Ignoring the strange looks from fellow workers, he picked up his basket and prepared to leave Prison Valley.

But before he got far, he was stopped by Lu Han, a man with a full beard.

"Tell me, why aren't you practicing the Demon Dispel Skill, and instead going to Wanjing Cave every day?" he asked sternly.

His expression was like that of a headteacher from Chen Mu's past life in school, which made Chen Mu's heart skip a beat.

He dared not hide anything and hurriedly explained: "You don't know how poor my previous cultivation environment was. To learn a secret technique, I had to dig up someone's grave."

"But now those unattainable secret techniques are everywhere in Wanjing Cave, I... I just want to learn more secret techniques to keep with me." He blurted out sincerely.

Lu Han, hearing this, voiced his sympathy: "Bullshit!"

"I've been in Wanjing Cave for half a month, and I haven't seen you buy a single secret technique to practice."

"It's because I'm being picky." Chen Mu responded with a grin.

"I think you pretending to learn secret techniques is fake, you're really trying to find a loophole in the Daoist Soldier Contract." Lu Han stated calmly.

Is it that obvious?

"Smart people aren't just you." Lu Han said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

What does that mean?

Chen Mu was stunned.

"With your fellow Qi Cultivators always courting me day after day, just to learn the Demon Dispel Skill?" Lu Han's face was playful.

"Brother Lu, you have a way!" Chen Mu's spirits immediately lifted.

Yes.

Every three years, the Hundred Illusion Sect must send a batch of Daoist Soldiers to the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, and if anyone knew the Daoist Soldier Contract best, it definitely would be someone from the Hundred Illusion Sect like Lu Han!

No wonder those guys hung around Lu Han all day, aiming for this exact purpose.

While he was earnestly searching for information, those cunning folks were thinking of taking a shortcut!

"Brother Lu, I was personally recruited by you!" Chen Mu grasped Lu Han's hand earnestly.

"Which one of you wasn't personally recruited by me." Lu Han rolled his eyes, attempting to pull his hand away.

But just as he was about to exert his force, he felt a weight in his palm. A small cloth bag appeared in his hand.

That jingling sound, just like the sensation of bright jade...

"Promising." Lu Han chuckled, and with a flip of his hand, he tucked the cloth bag into his sleeve.

"Go to Wanjing Cave, look for Old Man Hu Buwei."

"Remember, you have to say I referred you. Without mentioning that, you won't be able to exchange for the Secret Technique." Lu Han, handling business while taking money, seriously cautioned with a serious face.

Chen Mu was overjoyed.

After busying himself for more than half a month, he finally found a lead.

He immediately bowed to Lu Han to say goodbye and then sprinted out of Prison Valley.

...

Hu Buwei was a short, skinny old man with all-white hair and beard, who would lazily sit behind the counter at the entrance of Wanjing Cave every day.

Unremarkable in appearance, and even somewhat ugly, he was actually the guardian of Wanjing Cave. An elder of the Hundred Illusion Sect, holding a status equivalent to Scripture Doctorate Chuan Chang.

Chen Mu, who had visited Wanjing Cave for more than ten days, each time paying a White Jade as a fee to look through the books, was familiar with him.

At the entrance of Wanjing Cave, Chen Mu approached the counter and immediately bowed with folded hands.

"Elder Hu, I was referred by Brother Lu Lu Han, I heard you have genuine Secret Techniques here."

Upon hearing this, Hu Buwei's face showed an amused smile: "Took you more than half a month to find the way here, you're not very clever, are you?"

Chen Mu's face darkened instantly.

This old man must have known what he was looking for all along, yet he just watched for so many days without saying a word, hiding behind the counter enjoying his predicament.

Not a good person!

"Let's make it clear first, the Disaster Avoidance Technique I have can at most give you some wiggle room, not fearing being forcibly thrown into Suicide Camp."

"But if you think you can use it to desert and break the Contract, that's definitely impossible."

This is exactly the Secret Technique I want!

Chen Mu was delighted in his heart.

If it were the kind of Secret Technique that could completely bypass the constraints of the Contract, he wouldn't dare take it.

That would be pure deception.

Hu Buwei was straightforward, and immediately tossed Chen Mu a book with a black cover whose corners were already curling.

Chen Mu opened it.

Spirit Puppet Death Replacement Technique, Substitute Puppet Technique, Grassman Marrying Dress Skill... over a dozen Secret Techniques immediately caught his eye.

"All these are top-grade Secret Techniques of the Hundred Illusion Sect, just pay five thousand White Jade, and choose one to learn."

"Come on, tell me, which one do you want?" Hu Buwei grinned broadly, eagerly started speaking to Chen Mu.

Five thousand White Jade?

Isn't that a bit too expensive?

Chen Mu's scalp tightened.

He had at most just under forty thousand White Jade on him, and this would take nearly one-sixth of it, really making him heartache.

"Think it's expensive?" Hu Buwei looked at Chen Mu sideways, full of disdain in his eyes: "If it's expensive, you can bargain!"

Chen Mu: "..."

Your point makes so damn much sense.

"How about three thousand White Jade?" Chen Mu clenched his teeth and slashed the price deeply.

"Deal, deal, deal, deal, deal!" Hu Buwei immediately nodded with a laugh, very pleased.

Chen Mu was immediately stunned.

Did I... bid too high?

"Come on, pick which one you want, quick give me the White Jade, I'll give you the Jade Slip." Hu Buwei's skinny face immediately burst into folds from his wide smile.

He reached under the counter and pulled out a rustling cloth bag, opened it to see, inside, just like casually placed white radishes, it was full of forearm-length Jade Slips.

I damn sure bid too high!

Chen Mu's face twitched.

"Got dazzled, huh." Hu Buwei again spoke with a grin, "Or perhaps, should I help you choose?"

They offer shopping assistance too?

Chen Mu was suddenly tempted.

To say who was familiar with these Secret Techniques, of course, it had to be the unscrupulous old man in front of him. Since he sells such Secret Techniques all year round, he definitely knows the strengths and weaknesses of each.

"These dozen or so Secret Techniques all have similar basic effects, but the limits are different," Hu Buwei said, twirling his mustache and shaking his head.

"Those with higher aims are easier to learn but hard to master, yet they go the longer and further path."

"Those with lower aims, although they stagnate, are easier to handle, and their effects are immediate."

"You..."

"I'll choose the ones with higher aims," Chen Mu decisively nodded.

He has Gray Wall to aid him, of course, he would choose the one with the highest limit.

"That settles it then." Hu Buwei nodded, and then stretched his hand towards Chen Mu, continuously rubbing his fingers.

"A special offer, three hundred White Jade."

Chen Mu: "..."

You're fleecing me by catching one wool at a time.

Indeed, the price I shouted earlier was definitely too high!