My experience of grinding in another world

Chapter 298 Getting Started
The lobby on the first floor of the inn.

Chen Mu sat in the corner, leisurely drinking tea.

His ears were pulled high, and he silently used his listening technique to gather all sorts of rumors.

Sitting next to him were Old Hao, who was frowning and smoking, and Shang Huan, whose figure was getting fatter and fatter.

"Four white jade coins a month, and that's just for lodging. Add in food and cultivation, and it's at least nine white jade coins a month," Old Hao complained with a bitter face.

"The expenses are just too high!"

Chen Mu sighed and nodded with a bitter face, but he didn't really care.

Back when he was at the Tongtian River Lower Temple, the monthly cost of cultivating with the Linglong Jade Plate was as high as ninety pieces of white jade.

Now that the jade is full of magical power, as long as the consumption is not large, the exquisite jade plate will be basically unnecessary, thus reducing the cost.

The cost of accommodation and food is less than one-tenth of what it used to be.

"Although we made some money by clearing land on Pengyue Mountain, it's not enough to sustain such spending."

"I've heard that there are many boats in the Gengzi district that are hiring people to unload cargo and also to hunt and kill strange creatures in the water."

"Shall we go take a look together?" Old Hao asked Chen Mu, puffing on his cigarette.

Unloading fish?

Forget it then. I'd rather spend that time figuring out the secrets of alchemy.

"Come on."

Before Chen Mu could refuse, Shang Huan retorted.

"I only give you three or five white jade coins a month, what can that do?" Shang Huan cracked open a roasted pine nut and threw it into his mouth.

"At least we can salvage some of the situation and hold on for a while longer," Old Hao sighed.

"Several of my old friends plan to leave after their one-month lease at the inn expires."

Shang Huan was taken aback: "Where are you going? To become a wandering cultivator?"

"Not really," Old Hao shook his head.

"Go find a place outside where the cost of living is cheap and wait for a while. Come back and check every few days. If Supervisor Song leaves with his men, then go with them."

Shang Huan shook his head: "Leaving is easy, but coming back is difficult. If you leave and then come back, Supervisor Song may not recognize you. Besides, what if you miss the opportunity?"

"Isn't there no other way?" Old Hao shrugged.

"You're not planning to do that too, are you?" Chen Mu couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know how long I'll have to stay here, and the expenses..." Old Hao said with a troubled expression, then shook his head and fell silent before finishing his sentence.

Chen Mu then realized what was happening.

This kind of predicament is probably the normal state for disciples in the lower courtyards.

Of the nearly three hundred people who escaped this time, the majority were ordinary disciples of the lower academy.

Their ultimate way out will likely be just as Mr. Hao said.

Chen Mu couldn't help but think of the secret alchemy method that Song Wuji had arranged for him.

The other side seems confident that they can rebuild the lower house.

But Chen Mu couldn't guarantee how long he would have to wait.

After thinking for a moment, he finally offered a subtle reminder: "Although Supervisor Song only paid us one month's rent."

"But for those disciples who have reached the level of spiritual insight and enlightenment, food and lodging are provided."

“If the future is uncertain and the hope is slim, the supervisor will not spend this money.”

"It's better to spend your savings and wait a while longer."

“If it’s really not enough…” Chen Mu thought about his savings of more than 30,000 yuan and looked solemnly at Old Hao: “We can borrow some from Shang Huan to tide us over for a while.”

Shang Huan: "..."

Why did you borrow it from me?!

It's not like you're broke!

Shang Huan glared at Chen Mu.

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad. He's not rich either. At worst, I'll just sleep on the streets." Old Hao sighed dramatically with a bitter face.

Shang Huan immediately rolled her eyes at Old Hao: "Don't pretend, do you think I'd really let you sleep on the street?"

"I'll cover your food and lodging, is that alright?"

The bitterness on Old Hao's face vanished instantly, and he nodded with a smile: "Excellent! Excellent!"

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?!" Shang Huan glared at Old Hao.

He immediately said with a reluctant look, "I can provide food and lodging, but you have to help me find out some information."

"You want me to help?" Old Hao didn't rush to agree, looking at Shang Huan with suspicion: "I'm just a farmer, how could I be as well-informed as you? What could I possibly find out for you... Hmm? You want me to go find Xiao Mo?"

“That’s right!” Shang Huan chuckled.

Now it was Old Hao's turn to be suspicious: "You didn't do this on purpose, did you?"

"Don't be afraid, it's a good thing." Shang Huan's small eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

Chen Mu's lips curled slightly as he watched the old fox and the little fox spar.

This fat guy must have his eye on something from Mo Wuzhou.

"Unfortunately, I don't have any good business opportunities." He also wanted to make money from jade.

"I heard that Senior Brother Mo has a unique prescription that can lure fish. It even works on fish with the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon." Shang Huan said with a smile, "Could you ask him for me if he can give it to me to sell?"

Oh hoo!

The fat man actually had his eye on the drunken bait!
Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.

This stuff does seem to be able to make money.

"I've heard that the Heavenly River Water Palace only wants exotic beasts. The main purpose of that medicine is to lure and catch miscellaneous fish. Can it really be sold for money?" Old Hao didn't believe it.

"The people in the Heavenly River Water Palace naturally look down on small fry." "But what about those rogue cultivators?" Shang Huan said confidently.

"Back then, in the Tongtian River Lower Courtyard, there were quite a few people who made a living by hunting miscellaneous fish."

"If we tell those wild fishermen about the effects of this special bait, do you think they'll buy it?"

Definitely buying!
Chen Mu's lips curled up.

Just like the fisherman from his past life. He was willing to outwit and outmaneuver his wife to buy fishing gear and special bait.

but……

"Is it safe? Won't someone covet it?"

“There will definitely be people who covet it, so that’s why I approached Senior Brother Mo.” Shang Huan’s chubby face beamed with joy.

"Let's use the same trick we used last time when selling insect repellent incense. We'll use Brother Mo's name and give him a cut of the profits. Hehe..."

Chen Mu immediately turned his head to look.

Although the move is old, it is indeed useful.

"I also plan to secretly spread the word that this matter is backed by Supervisor Liang. Knowing that a master of the Qi Condensation Realm is in charge, who would bother us for such a small fish bait business?"

"Aren't you afraid that Supervisor Liang will cause you trouble?" This fat man is really bold.

"It's just another share of the profits anyway," Shang Huan said nonchalantly.

If there's no boat to bridge the gap, this matter might actually come to fruition.

Chen Mu looked at Shang Huan with a kind and loving gaze.

This guy really is a benevolent benefactor... and a fat man at that!

Well, it would be even better if it didn't involve any fakery or manipulation of people's minds.

……

Nighttime, Chen Mu's room on the third floor of the inn.

A lotus-shaped fluorescent algae lamp is placed in the center of a square table, emitting a warm white light in all directions.

Chen Mu sat at the table, holding a jade slip in his hands and looking at it.

There was also a three-legged, two-eared alchemy furnace made of what looked like black pottery, placed to the right of his feet.

"Alchemy is really difficult."

Chen Mu put down the jade slip.

It introduces the control talismans of the Hunyuan Five Qi Alchemy Furnace.

In addition to the Qi-absorbing method for extracting the essence and the Hunyuan method for condensing the pill, even the most basic Bigu pill requires learning five kinds of talismans.

"Disaster!"

but……

"They really made money."

He has been secretly investigating these past few days.

One hundred catties of yellow sprout rice can be refined into one portion of the essence of grains.

A serving of the essence of five grains is priced at two pieces of white jade, which is double the price of the raw material.

A portion of the essence of the five grains can be refined into forty to fifty fasting pills, which immediately raises the price to four to five white jade coins.

The price of the finished product is four to five times that of the raw materials.

"If I could turn all 30,000 yuan of my savings into fasting pills..." Chen Mu chuckled after a quick calculation.

"The money for the Condensing Aperture Secret Technique will be there."

"And you can also earn Taoist merits."

The contribution value of the Chicken Cage Way team representing Daogong.

Only after meeting the requirements are you eligible to exchange for the Condensation Technique.

"Ten years, though not a long time, is not short either," Chen Mu shook his head and sighed.

If it were a stable environment like the previous Tongtianhe Lower Temple.

He can wait for ten years, or even twenty or fifty years.

But now the world is visibly becoming more turbulent.

He desperately needs stronger forces to protect himself.

Ten years is a bit long.

"If one learns to refine the Bigu Pill, perhaps in five years, one can accumulate enough Dao cultivation without ten years," Chen Mu said, narrowing his eyes.

"No matter how difficult this alchemy technique is, I must practice it!" Chen Mu made up his mind.

He also provided proficiency to the gray wall.

What I fear least is the practice of secret techniques and talismans.

Back in Daliang, he mastered seven different physical training techniques in one go.

"There are only five secret techniques."

Chen Mu immediately put away the alchemy furnace, as it was not needed for the time being.

Taking out a palm-sized jade tablet, Chen Mu began to carefully examine the Five Elements Qi-Absorbing Talisman.

As magic power was channeled into the jade tablet, a brand-new, radiant magic symbol immediately appeared within the jade seed.

With a thought, a brand new entry appeared on the gray wall, as if by magic.

Five Elements Qi Absorption Method: 1/10000/First Order;
I was just sitting in the Water Mansion with nothing to do.

Liver it up!

(End of this chapter)