My experience of grinding in another world

Chapter 169, Chapter 168: Laborers
Chen Residence in Jingxingfang, Nanyang Prefecture.

When the sun was high in the sky, Chen Mu slowly opened his eyes.

A good night's sleep, feeling completely refreshed!

In the courtyard, under the newly renovated thatched shed, Chen Mu set out breakfast and lunch on the square table.

Rice noodle rolls, spring rolls, pan-fried dumplings, Lao Qi Jia meat pies, braised beef, pickled cowpeas, cold seasonal vegetables, and medicinal meat porridge—the table was piled high with food.

Chen Mu took a bite out of half the pie, the perfectly seasoned meat filling bursting in his mouth, the rich flavor making him squint his eyes. Then he took another bite, stuffing the whole pie into his mouth.

"good to eat!"

He has been back in Nanyang Prefecture for eight days.

He hasn't done anything these past few days. He spends his days either thinking about food or listening to music in brothels. He hasn't even practiced with Jie Jia, and his proficiency has declined significantly.

After several months traveling north and encountering so many things, he returned to Nanyang Prefecture with a feeling of being in another world.

"I'm still not quite used to that kind of exciting life."

After a hearty meal and drinks, amidst billowing black smoke, the Five Ghosts Bag brand home appliances were brought in. The cleanup was completed in no time.

Chen Mu comfortably lay down in the rocking chair under the pavilion.

There is also a soul-stabilizing stake standing next to it.

"Be careful, King Chao shouldn't come looking for us again."

Just like how the air conditioning keeps you going all summer long, no matter if it's raining or the temperature is dropping, Chen Mu couldn't bear to throw away the Soul-Stabilizing Stake.

It's too hot in the south of Daliang.

Although it is immune to heat and cold, it can only withstand the heat; it is still hot when it is hot.

"I'm not afraid of him even if he comes looking for me."

Chen Mu was no longer that timid and fearful young scholar.

Seven training techniques and the seventh-level Five Ghosts Moving Mountain gave him enough courage to face Chao Fang.

"I'll use it for now, and then figure out how to block it later," Chen Mu decided.

……

"The Thousand Machine Token." Chen Mu's gaze fell into the Five Ghosts Bag.

He rarely took out the jade gourd after acquiring it.

"There is likely a special method of sensing it."

Previously, in Lijiang Weicheng, I witnessed several battles between Jiapo masters, all for the Thousand Machine Token.

Chen Mu looked at the crystal jade gourd with complicated feelings; its origins made him anything but happy.

The Great Liang Dynasty has existed for over six hundred years, and there has been a rebellion every hundred years or so.

Every time there is a riot, a thousand orders are issued.

The connection here is chilling when you think about it!
"Is it only in the Great Liang Dynasty that the world is in such chaos, or is the world in general this chaotic?"

He suddenly didn't want to go overseas anymore.

With his current strength, although he is not at the top, he can easily live a carefree life in the Great Liang.

but……

After staying home for too long in comfort and ease, one can't help but want to go out and explore.

Even if he enjoys a comfortable life, he will eventually get tired of it.

It will probably be another hundred years or so before the next Thousand Machine Order appears.

"If there were no cheat codes for proficiency, that would be fine."

"In the end, I'm still unwilling to accept it, and sooner or later I'll have to step out of my comfort zone."

……

Three days later, in the evening.

Chen Mu prepared a huge table full of dishes.

Jiejia arrived at the courtyard right on time.

Upon seeing a table full of delicious-looking food, his eyelids, which had been squinting, immediately lifted slightly.

"Ask." Jie Jia remained as concise as ever.

Chen Mu shook his head and chuckled, "It's still the same familiar taste: Let's eat and chat."

“It seems different now.” Jie Jia looked Chen Mu up and down.

Different? They're completely different! Now I'm a fully-fledged Armored Soul!
If you dare to cheat me again, I'll challenge you to a duel!
Chen Mu was bursting with confidence.

"Spirit Armor Technique?" The armored man stared at the silver thread that flashed across Chen Mu's skin on the back of his hand, looking surprised. "You really do have a special bloodline?"

Does the armored armor know about the Spirit Armor Technique?
Does the Spirit Armor Technique require bloodline?
Chen Mu shook his head: "I'm just an ordinary person, I don't have any bloodline."

There is one cheat program.

Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu. "Four years, without Dao bones or bloodline, how could you possibly achieve perfect Jia Soul?"

"That's all because I studied hard and practiced diligently!" Chen Mu said earnestly.

Jie Jia: "..."

Tsk tsk... You're as shameless as ever.

……

“I went to the north, it was terrible.” Chen Mu sighed. “The Thousand Machine Token isn’t just a simple ticket, is it?” “That’s just a side effect.” Jie Jia swallowed his food and said slowly, “The Thousand Machine Token itself is the most important thing.”

Chen Mu thought of the altar in the underground chamber.

"Is it something similar to the 'Imperial Crimson' again?"

Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu: "You know quite a lot."

Chen Mu chuckled: "I went back to Tianyi Zhai again."

"Oh," Jie Jia said indifferently.

"Aren't you going to ask me what I found?" Chen Mu asked, peeking out.

Jie Jia completely ignored Chen Mu.

Chen Mu sighed. Jie Jia must know about the underground secret chamber.

Is the world overseas just as barbaric and cruel?

Ordinary people are like lowly weeds.

"Afraid of death? Then why don't you just stay here and not go to sea?" Jie Jia said calmly.

Chen Mu chuckled: "You guessed it?"

With a wave of his hand, a jade gourd appeared on the table.

Jie Jia glanced at it twice and then continued eating.

"You don't want it?" Chen Mu asked curiously, "You are a master of the Armored Soul, don't you want to go out to sea and explore the path beyond the Armored Soul realm?"

“I’m afraid of dying,” Jie Jia said calmly.

Shit!

Chen Mu didn't believe a single word.

"Can you tell me about things overseas?" Black smoke billowed out, and the jade gourd disappeared, replaced by a bulging gray cloth bag.

He finally decided to go to sea and see a wider world.

……

"What do you want to know?" The armored man flicked his sleeve across the bag, and the bag disappeared.

"When will that ship arrive?" Chen Mu asked.

"It should be November here, but the exact date is uncertain," Jie Jia said after thinking for a moment.

That means there are still about three or four months left.

"Is the ship safe?" This was Chen Mu's biggest concern.

The other party is very likely the builder of the Thousand Machine Order Altar.

Harvesting lives and accumulating the Thousand Machine Tokens, this force is hardly benevolent.

"There shouldn't be any problems."

"The main purpose of those people coming here is to collect the Thousand Machine Tokens."

“In the past, we would take away those born with natural talent along the way, especially children.”

"I don't know when it started, but they also began to recruit warriors with armor and spirit."

"But we have to work for them to pay for the ship, and the duration is uncertain."

Chen Mu frowned immediately: "Didn't I already pay for the boat ticket?"

Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu: "They don't need to ask; the aristocratic families will help them find the Thousand Machine Token."

"That's just a qualification to board the ship."

Chen Mu's face darkened. Why did this sound like he was being sold out?!

"Overseas, due to environmental and geographical limitations, there are many things that ordinary people cannot do."

"The bodies of Armored Warriors have been modified and are protected by their spirit, making them the best labor force."

“But if we recruit locals, we definitely have to pay them. As for you guys…” Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu sideways.

Chen Mu immediately understood.

Isn't this just another version of hiring foreign laborers in another world?
They recruit large numbers of workers from underdeveloped regions with low wages.

It's probably even worse here.

They do a lot of work but get little pay, or sometimes no pay at all!

"Are those high and mighty Armored Warriors really willing to be laborers for others?" Doesn't anyone resist?

"Of course I'm not willing to accept this," Jie Jia said calmly. "So, do you want to go?"

Chen Mu shook his head and smiled bitterly.

You really have to go!
No matter how much power and influence he wielded in Daliang, he eventually reached his peak.

Only by going out to sea can one see a wider world.

"The Armor Soul is not easy to cultivate, and there is also the possibility of breaking through the perception."

“So you’re quite valuable, those people won’t put you in any danger,” Jie Jia reassured him.

Chen Mu, however, did not want to accept this comfort.

(End of this chapter)