Chapter 187: Departure for Haijing

“I truly admire Master Zuo’s Martial Arts from the moves you’ve shown these past few days,” said Gao Guanglu after a moment’s thought. “But I have a wife and children at home, so I’m afraid I need to go back and make some arrangements…”

“I understand,” replied Zuo Zhicheng, clapping his hands to summon two disciples. He handed a jade pendant from his waist to them. “Take my pendant and get thirty thousand coins from the accountant. Later, distribute them to Master Feng, Master Gao, and Master Xing.”

Seeing the three masters about to speak, Zuo Zhicheng waved his hand. “Please don’t refuse. Over these past few days, as we’ve exchanged Martial Arts insights, you’ve all taught me your skills. Consider this payment for your lessons. Whether you decide to stay or not, please accept this money.”

Zuo Zhicheng’s words finally dispelled the last bit of hesitation in their hearts. All three of them, especially Xing Xuan, watched the departing disciples with excitement in their eyes.

Thirty thousand coins meant ten thousand for each, a sum that would have taken them over ten years of fighting to earn. Why did they venture into the Martial Arts world? For money, of course. Without money, no one would work for you.

You could say that Martial Arts was their spiritual pursuit, while money was their material one.

Now that Zuo Zhicheng had displayed top-tier Martial Arts and given each of them a generous amount of money, they were wholeheartedly willing to follow him.

Thus, Xing Xuan also made up his mind, cupping his fists and saying, “Master Zuo, I have a few disciples under me with some skills. I wonder if they could join the Haoran Martial Hall along with me?”

“Of course, I’d be delighted to have Master Xing’s esteemed disciples,” Zuo Zhicheng replied.

The two sides quickly reached an agreement, and Zuo Zhicheng had managed to recruit some capable Martial Artists to his side. His efforts in interacting with them over the past few days had not been in vain. After all, people weren’t animals; he couldn’t tame them like the Underworld King Snake and needed certain methods to win them over.

After a few more exchanges, Feng Lun couldn’t resist asking, “Master Zuo, since you’re a Human Phase Master, I’ve heard that once a Martial Artist reaches Spirit Refining, they gain abilities like striking from a distance and controlling water and fire. Could you give us a glimpse of that today?”

Seeing the three of them looking like children eagerly awaiting a toy, Zuo Zhicheng’s cold face couldn’t help but crack a smile. “You’re all seasoned Martial Artists. How can you believe such nonsense?”

With that, Zuo Zhicheng focused his gaze, and an icy blue sigil rose from behind his head.

As the Ice Soul Frost Demon Field activated, Feng Lun and the other two felt an intense cold invade their bodies, seeping into every pore. It felt as if their limbs were freezing and their blood was about to stop flowing.

But the cold came and went quickly, disappearing almost as soon as they started to react.

Zuo Zhicheng continued, “This is the Power of Mind and Spirit. There’s nothing miraculous about it. When a person’s physical strength is sufficient and their brain is well-nourished and developed, they can Transform Fist Practice into Brain Cultivation and use the Power of Mind and Spirit to distort others’ minds.

However, this power can kill any expert in the world but can’t even bend a needle. Claims of striking from a distance or controlling water and fire are just rumors spread by those who don’t understand after being affected.”

“So that’s how it is,” Feng Lun said with a thoughtful expression. “We only heard about it through hearsay, but now that a genuine Human Phase Master like you has explained it, you’ve cleared up our confusion.”

So, aside from Feng Lun, who stayed behind immediately, Gao Guanglu and Xing Xuan each returned to settle their family affairs before moving to Xinlu City.

As for Zuo Zhicheng, he joined a team with Qingyue Qiu and others from the Shadow Corps, heading in the direction of Haijing.

…

Over ten days later, a caravan was moving along the official road.

It was now the deep cold of winter, and the road was covered in snow. The horses’ breath steamed continuously in the air. Clearly, as Zuo Zhicheng’s caravan moved further north, the temperature was dropping steadily.

Though it was freezing cold outside, the inside of the carriage was lined with fine fur, warmed by a heater, and served with hot tea to keep the passengers comfortable.

Sitting in this carriage were Qingyue Qiu, Tang Xianghui, Lin Yuexi, Tang Saier, and a few other girls.

Qingyue Qiu wore a fox-fur robe and was reading an ancient text, while Tang Xianghui chatted with Lin Yuexi and Tang Saier. As they talked, Tang Saier’s gaze drifted toward the carriage window.

Noticing this, Tang Xianghui couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister Saier, are you thinking about Zuo Zhicheng? He’s such a blockhead. Even with our young lady’s beauty right in front of him, he hardly spares a glance.”

Qingyue Qiu ignored her, having been immersed in studying ancient Ruins lately, to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep.

Tang Saier smiled awkwardly. “No… not at all. I just find him a bit strange.”

Strange was an understatement. Although Zuo Zhicheng had saved her and Lin Yuexi, her feelings toward him were dominated more by fear and dread than gratitude.

Lately, she often dreamed at night of the giant snake devouring corpses, waking up terrified.

Lin Yuexi knew what she was thinking and patted her back to comfort her. “Don’t worry, little sister. We’ll be in Haijing soon.”

Outside the carriage, Zuo Zhicheng sat shirtless on the roof. The wind and snow beat against his body, leaving traces of cold energy inside him.

Even while traveling, he seized every moment to train.

As he engaged in his habitual training, Zuo Zhicheng’s mind also pondered various matters.

‘A former Dharma King like the Crimson Sun Monk was already so powerful. Now, with the three Dharma Kings dispatched by the Dìyù Gate… I still need to strengthen myself. But now that my Martial Arts have reached the Human Aspect and I’ve mastered the Extreme Freezing Ice move of the Cold Light Rippling Sword, progress in Martial Arts can only be honed slowly over time. The quickest way to improve is through Dao Arts.’

‘But for the Life Diagram, it depends on how many Life Groves I can find in Haijing.’

Thinking of the Life Diagram, Zuo Zhicheng naturally recalled the four options available to him: Ghost Eye Netherworld Heaven, Pure Flame Radiance City, Nightfall Monarch, and White Emperor Aurora Sword.

Lately, he had spent some time analyzing the contents of these Life Diagrams. After all, it was like having an airplane blueprint; even with the design and all the parts, you still needed to learn a lot to build it.

Moreover, seeing these Life Diagrams reminded him of Shen Zong.

‘He transplanted my Night Sea, the old man’s Fiery Cavern, and his own Life Grove, which, based on the Daoist Canon, is likely Thunder Cloud. So, the Life Diagrams he could choose from would be Pure Flame Radiance City or Nightfall Monarch.

But I don’t know what Dao Arts he originally excelled in or if he had already cultivated a Life Diagram.’

As Zuo Zhicheng pondered these things, his ears twitched slightly, and three strong, powerful heartbeats reached his hearing.