Chapter 88: True That Amazing

Ji Yuan looked around, finding no suitable spot. He simply accelerated forward a few steps, then leaped, soaring like a butterfly onto a dense tree. He then descended lightly, like a falling leaf, landing on the tree.

Sitting on one of the tree's thick branches, the perplexed Ji Yuan reached out again for the chess piece that had appeared because of Yin Zhaoxian, examining it closely.

Ji Yuan now possessed three chess pieces: one semi-transparent, semi-solid black piece, one entirely ethereal black piece, and finally, Yin Zhaoxian's colorless piece, which had suddenly solidified somewhat.

Especially with the peculiar sensation he'd just experienced, Ji Yuan felt as if he could perceive his friend's intent. Though there were no mysterious spiritual methods or unusual divine light, it possessed an inherent, restrained power.

For Yin Zhaoxian himself, this might simply be a clear state of mind. It manifested more directly within the Ning'an County City God's Underworld, and Ji Yuan perceived it even more keenly.

If one were to describe it precisely, it was the activation of the formidable 'Haoran Qi' nurtured within scholars.

Thus, the chess piece changing color might be somewhat related to Ji Yuan, but its solidification was certainly due to Yin Zhaoxian himself. The sensation Ji Yuan had just experienced further confirmed this.

Ji Yuan's understanding of his chess pieces became clearer. However, he didn't dwell on these matters for now; instead, he looked at the piece and smiled casually.

"To have such a friend, it is my fortune!"

After uttering this to himself, Ji Yuan belatedly realized his tone was once again rather literary and refined—truly, habit had become second nature.

At this moment, influenced by his friend Yin Zhaoxian, Ji Yuan, as the observer of the chess game, felt a clear state of mind. He simply decided not to move on, instead cultivating atop the two-zhang-tall tree trunk.

The cultivation methods and spiritual arts in this world were vastly different from those Ji Yuan had read about in popular novels in his previous life.

The primary distinction between so-called basic Qi cultivation techniques and profound grand spiritual arts lay only in the application of the Five Elements transforming into Yin and Yang, and their effectiveness in refining spiritual power. There were no detailed breakdowns like minor cultivation having several stages and major cultivation having several stages.

True advancement in immortal cultivation was a profound and enigmatic state, difficult to articulate. Some practitioners would experience sudden enlightenment and make rapid progress, while others would squander years yet remain stagnant.

Some cultivators believed in overcoming skill with brute force, while others considered the 'heart-gate' crucial. However, most commonly, people would diligently refine their spiritual power and activate their acupoints day after day, while simultaneously practicing various spells and divine abilities.

Sometimes breakthroughs in cultivation happened naturally, while at other times they seemed inexplicable. Various renowned immortal sects and mansions each had their own theories and principles regarding this.

For spirits and demonic races, such as plants and animals, cultivation was even more arduous. Accumulating spiritual attainment was far more difficult than for human cultivators, and transforming into human form was an extremely rigorous trial. They often had no established methods and endured the suffering of refining both spirit and flesh. Many endured by accumulating their spiritual attainment through sheer ferocity, and in some aspects, their methods resembled the martial arts practices of mortals, rather than the so-called orthodox immortal path.

Furthermore, it was difficult for demons and spirits to shed their habits from before gaining sentience. While many possessed pure intentions, they were also more prone to becoming incredibly ferocious and accumulating negative karma. This was because once a demon believed that harming other beings, especially sentient ones, could nourish itself and achieve its goals, it would descend deeper into this addictive cycle. At that point, killing or devouring ceased to be merely the natural instinct of a wolf eating meat or a sheep eating grass; it became a detriment to both humans and themselves, leading to aversion and fear from humans and even other spirits.

In contrast, the martial arts realms in the mortal world truly had a flavor reminiscent of Ji Yuan's previous life. Unblocking meridians and gathering internal energy followed strict procedures, with tangible breakthroughs and standards for breaking through bodily limitations.

As for Ji Yuan, he wouldn't overthink things unnecessarily. Why would someone who didn't even have a million think about making a hundred million? For him, as long as he felt comfortable, that was the best path to immortality.

However, not overthinking didn't mean Ji Yuan lacked ambition. On the contrary, by now, he clearly understood the profound significance of the "free and unfettered" state he yearned for.

At this moment, he held the piece and made an ethereal move. The three chess pieces seemed to be placed on an invisible chessboard before Ji Yuan, forming a triangular shape. With a shift of his thought, ethereal spiritual energy slowly began to gather.

Guiding the spiritual energy born from heaven and earth, he drew it into his body. Within his mind's eye, a spiritual furnace burned fiercely with true fire, and the inner world of his body was filled with dazzling stars. From time to time, streaks of light fell into the furnace, and his 'dantian' (energy core), as vast as an acre, churned with vital energy.

Unbeknownst to him, fog had already risen on the main road. Night fell, the sun set, morning came, and the moon descended...

***

Three carriages were slowly moving along the main road. The coachmen were not sitting on the carriages driving the horses; instead, they had dismounted and were leading the horses ahead, as the foggy weather was unsuitable for galloping.

In the leading carriage, a young man in white robes was sitting and reading. Since the carriage was moving very slowly, it wasn't particularly bumpy. Beside him, a bored servant leaned against the carriage wall, staring blankly.

"Why is this carriage so slow..."

Grumbling, the servant lifted the carriage curtain and called out to the coachman ahead.

"Coachman, can't you go faster? It's been so slow ever since we passed Qingyao County!"

The coachman turned to look at him, forcing a smile.

"Young master, what are you saying? Do you think I don't want to go fast? But look at this fog. It might not seem like much now, but it'll get thicker the further we go. We can only speed up once we're out of it!"

The servant poked his head out and looked around. Through the fog, he could see about ten zhang away, which wasn't too indistinct, so he was somewhat skeptical.

"Is that really how it is? You're not trying to earn extra daily wages, are you?"

These hired carriages were paid daily, as their young master might decide to stop and sightsee or detour at any time. Paying by distance would truly be a loss for the coachmen.

However, hearing the servant's complaint, the coachman was clearly displeased but dared not show it, so he patiently explained.

"Young master, you heard it back in Qingyao County, didn't you? South of Qingyao County, the sky has been overcast for days, and the fog hasn't lifted. It's fine now, but it gets even thicker at night. Travelers and merchants all drive carefully like this. If we rush, it's easy to get lost!"

"Alright, alright, just try to go as fast as you can!"

"Yes, yes... naturally!"

Despite the other person's obvious displeasure, the coachman could only continue to force a smile.

"That's enough, Wei Tong. Don't make it difficult for the coachman. The weather isn't something he controls. Be quiet."

"Oh... Understood, young master!"

As it grew quiet there, a maid from the middle carriage started chatting with the coachman ahead. Her tone and manner were much pleasanter than the servant's from the front carriage.

"Old man, is this kind of fog common around Qingyao County?"

The coachman, over fifty years old, turned and looked back. This young maid from a wealthy family was different from a farm girl; she was delicate and pretty, though not as sturdy as his own granddaughter. He then glanced behind the carriage curtain and noticed the young lady inside also seemed to be listening intently, facing outwards.

"Although I'm not from Qingyao County, I often travel this road. Fog isn't uncommon, but this is the first time I've seen it last continuously for over ten days, even through the daylight."

The coachman seemed to recall something and continued, "I heard that when the fog first didn't clear for days in Qingyao County, some old folks thought evil spirits had been summoned. However, all the merchants and travelers passed through without incident. Many even say that passing through the thickest part of the fog makes one feel refreshed, clear, and comfortable inside and out, so..."

The coachman paused for dramatic effect.

"So what?"

The maid's voice rose slightly. And since the three carriages were so close, people in the front and back carriages were also listening.

"Haha, so some other old folks say that a high-ranking immortal is cultivating here, and anyone who passes through the fog is blessed!"

"Old man, what nonsense are you spouting? Don't immortals cultivate in their divine caves high in the mountains? Why would they be in such a poor, remote place?"

Wei Tong, the servant from the front carriage, voiced his dissent again.

The old coachman was somewhat displeased but offered an explanation.

"It's often said that immortals sometimes roam the human world, guiding mortals. And I didn't say for certain there's an immortal..."

Interrupted by Wei Tong, the old coachman lost interest in further conversation, and the three carriages continued their slow progress.

About a quarter of an hour later, the fog indeed grew thicker. The middle-aged coachman in front looked back at the carriage curtain, saw the servant peering out, and opened his mouth but said nothing. At least now it proved he hadn't been lying earlier.

The coachmen of all three carriages and their passengers all took deep breaths, feeling their airways clear. Not only did the lingering displeasure from their recent bickering vanish without a trace, but a good deal of their travel fatigue also dissipated.

"It's really that magical..."

The young man in the leading carriage and the people in the carriages behind all murmured in surprise.