My experience of grinding in another world

Chapter 582 Invitation

The next morning.

On the second floor of the wooden building on the hillside, in a quiet meditation room, Chen Mu sat cross-legged on a low couch against the wall, cultivating with his eyes closed.

An invisible wave emanated from him, rising and falling rhythmically like breathing, causing his loose clothes to bulge and contract.

A hissing sound emanated from within the jade, as magical power merged into the divine aperture and talisman, rapidly repairing and restoring the pitted and hollowed-out sphere.

After a long while, Chen Mu let out a long breath and opened his eyes.

This is his thirteenth time refining his divine aperture; nineteen days have passed since the last refinement.

"It's not just the divine apertures and talismans that need to be transformed, but also myself," Chen Mu realized.

He has no shortage of primordial energy, but he can't cleanse his divine apertures every day.

The Divine Aperture may appear to be just nine layers of magical runes, but it is actually closely related to the body. Each time the Divine Aperture is refined, the runes undergo a qualitative change, and the body changes simultaneously. However, the complete transformation of the body takes time, which is why the Divine Aperture cannot be refined continuously.

"Perhaps it is this connection between the divine aperture and the body that allows us to return to the origin and create the innate Qi."

……

After breakfast, Chen Mu took out a high-grade water-repelling bead that he had refined in advance, and prepared to go to the Hundred Refinement Hall to inquire about information related to the ferry.

But as soon as they stepped outside, they saw a chubby young man appear at the edge of the dense forest on the hillside. They thought he was just passing by, but to their surprise, he headed straight for the wooden building.

"Could it be Brother Li Moliang in person?" The chubby young man revealed a friendly smile.

"You are..." Chen Mu couldn't help but be surprised.

Since arriving at Goose Sheep Mountain, he has lived a secluded life. Even when he goes to the market to sell the Crimson-Eyed Demon-Patterned Beads, he can change his appearance and form.

I don't know anyone, and I've never told anyone my address, so how did this person find this place?

"Brother Li, this little building is truly exquisite, though a bit secluded. Luckily, I asked Steward Liu from the General Affairs Office, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to find the way in." Seemingly noticing Chen Mu's confusion, the chubby young man explained with a smile.

"My name is Lei Wen. I apologize for disturbing you. Please forgive me." He clasped his hands in apology, his face full of sincerity.

thunder?
"Boss Lei of Baiwu Pavilion?" Chen Mu narrowed his eyes.

Did that short, fat man discover the trickery behind the Crimson-Eyed Demon Bead? And sent someone to cause me trouble?!

He was startled.

“Boss Lei is my second uncle.” Lei Wen nodded with a smile: “My second uncle highly praises your craftsmanship in refining top-grade water-repelling beads.”

"My Lei family is in dire need of a skilled weapon refiner, so I had no choice but to come to your door now."

Fortunately, nothing went wrong with the Crimson-Eyed Demon Bead.

Chen Mu felt relieved.

He immediately became puzzled. Goose Sheep Mountain, as the location of the Upper Academy, was teeming with talented people. There were quite a few who could refine high-grade water-repelling pearls, so why had they singled him out?
"There are indeed quite a few people on Goose Sheep Mountain who can refine high-grade water-repelling beads, but most of them have been transferred away by Elder Lin of the General Affairs Council."

"The Lei family had no choice but to seek help from the disciples in the lower academy, so..." Lei Wen helplessly shrugged.

Are the Lin and Lei families powerful family factions within the Goose and Sheep Path?

Chen Mu seemed to be deep in thought.

He had been in Goose and Sheep Path for quite some time and had heard about the internal forces within Goose and Sheep Path; he had indeed heard of the names of these two families.

"As long as the price is fair, I can provide top-quality water-repelling beads." Chen Mu thought for a moment and then readily agreed.

"No, no, no, I came to see Brother Li not because I wanted a high-grade water-repelling pearl," Lei Wen said with a smile and a shake of his head.

He composed himself and spoke solemnly: "Brother Li comes from the Lower Academy of Yunchong, so he must already know about the changes that have occurred there."

What do you mean?
"Does it refer to the dissipation of the earth's spiritual energy?" Chen Mu asked tentatively.

"This is a change in the earth's veins, a calamity that will affect Yunzhou for a thousand years, and it is beyond human power to reverse." Lei Wen nodded with a heavy expression: "Yunzhou is no longer suitable for us Qi cultivators to live in."

"So..." Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended not to know and asked in surprise.

“So we have to leave Yunzhou.” Lei Wen said solemnly. “The Eyang Road is going to be relocated to Haizhou. The two cities are separated by the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and the only way to cross them is by using the Tongtian River waterway.”

"Several years ago, the Upper Academy began preparing to build the ferry. Now that the materials are ready, all that's missing is a skilled weapon refiner like Brother Li to assist us."

"I came here today to invite Brother Li to join us."

"Secret techniques, white jade, and Daoist cultivation—the Lei family will provide everything. More importantly, all participants will be able to travel with the Lei family."

“Our Lei family ancestor is a master cultivator of the Divine Aperture Realm. With him here, we can be assured of a safe departure from Yunzhou.” Lei Wen looked at Chen Mu with great enthusiasm.

Is there such a good thing?

Chen Mu was overjoyed.

Yesterday he was still thinking about how to hitch a ride, but who would have thought that someone would deliver a pillow when he was sleepy, and the Lei family would take the initiative to invite him!
"May I have time to think about it?" Chen Mu feigned hesitation.

"Of course, of course." Lei Wen didn't care at all. He flipped his wrist, and a flat wooden box appeared in his palm.

"This is the Mustard Seed Incantation, the foundation of the Mustard Seed Talisman, and also the key to the ferry."

"Brother Li, take a look. If you agree to lend a helping hand to the Lei family, then please accept it."

"If you have any other concerns, just go to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and return the wooden box to my second uncle." Lei Wen handed it to Chen Mu with both hands.

Offering compensation before even joining?
This treatment... it seems the Lei family is really short of people.

"Okay, don't worry. I will definitely give you an answer in three days." Chen Mu took the wooden box and said solemnly.

"Then I'll await good news." Lei Wen laughed heartily, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and left gracefully, showing no fear that Chen Mu would pocket the payment and not do the job.

……

After watching Lei Wen leave, Chen Mu returned to the wooden building.

But as soon as he entered the room, he immediately used his Listening Technique to investigate his surroundings.

Once he was sure there were no people watching him, he turned around and transformed into a gentle breeze, quickly catching up with Lei Wen.

He did nothing all day but follow the other person from a distance.

Watching the other person wander around the wooden cabin area at the foot of the mountain, inviting people everywhere.

Lei Wen didn't just invite weapon refiners; he also invited talisman makers and alchemists. Anyone whose skills were related to magic talismans and restrictions would be sincerely invited.

And just like with him, they would present him with a mustard seed talisman and a jade tablet upon meeting, being very generous.

During this process, he also saw other upper-level disciples recruiting Qi cultivators with special skills.

It wasn't until evening, after watching Lei Wen return to the Lei family settlement on the mountainside, that Chen Mu returned to the wooden building.

……

"This shouldn't be a trap." On the first-floor porch, Chen Mu felt the armrest of the rocking chair, lost in thought.

The plan to build a ferry and relocate boats along Goose Sheep Road has been in the works for a long time, and the large-scale acquisition of water-repelling beads was already a sign of this. Now it seems that the project is about to be officially launched.

"I just didn't expect it to be such a big deal."

He originally thought that Goose-Sheep Road would be built secretly in a secluded place, just like Chicken-Cage Road was built before. Once the boat was repaired, he would quietly move his people to Haizhou.

"That's good too. We don't need to risk our lives to smuggle ourselves across the border. We can participate openly and legitimately."

Chen Mu was already tempted.

Black smoke billowed in front of him, and the flat wooden box given to him by Lei Wen appeared in mid-air.

"This thing is probably not just a reward; it's also a test."

"If you don't know the Mustard Seed Spell, you probably won't be qualified to participate in the ferry construction. Your ticket to join us is probably not very secure."

"It seems I'll have to put more effort into this spell."

(End of this chapter)