Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 231 [The Venerable One's Dojo] (7300)

Chapter 225 [The Venerable One's Dojo] (7300)

Ordinary wine does not intoxicate monks.

Chen Yan and the crew member drank a jar of Moutai liquor, taking turns drinking it bowl after bowl, and in the middle of the night, most of it was gone.

Chen Yan is a cultivator at the Returning Origin Realm. His physical body has been nourished and cleansed by primordial energy, and further transformed by a treasure like the sap of the divine tree. As long as he doesn't encounter a body cultivator, he is much stronger than other cultivators of the same level.

Although this crew member was only a low-level cultivator at the Entry Realm, he was a member of the Gu family—the Gu family was a well-known family of body cultivators who practiced combat techniques and physical arts. The members of the family also practiced a set of body cultivation techniques that the Gu family specially trained for its servants and servants. Therefore, although this crew member was a first-level cultivator, his physical body was not weak.

The two of them each drank about four or five catties of wine from the large jar, and they drank until the middle of the night.

The crew member shared many interesting stories he knew about the City of No Return and the Southern Frontier, as well as a few strange tales he had heard, which allowed Chen Yan to enjoy a few sips of gossip while drinking.

Chen Yan pretended to be calm and honest, listening more and speaking less. When he did speak, he would flatter the crew member like a straight man, which made the crew member very talkative and talk a lot more.

By the end, the crew member's cultivation level was still low, and he was three parts drunk. His eyes were also a little glazed over. After staring at Chen Yan for a few moments, he suddenly said, "You are a sensible person."

"How so?" Chen Yan smiled slightly.

"He knows his place and knows how to keep his true colors hidden." The crew member laughed and pointed to his eyes: "These eyes of mine aren't blind. I've been sailing all over the country and seen countless people—I can tell whether they're truly clever or just pretending!"

As he spoke, he exhaled a breath of alcohol and lowered his voice: "Brother, listen to me—keep hiding yourself, don't reveal anything. When you're out in the world, only those who know how to conceal themselves can stay safe."

Just say, "I asked you to pay for the meal," and you grit your teeth and make that pained and conflicted look—that's the right expression! If you readily agree and hand over the money, people will think you have plenty of cash in your pocket! Then, all sorts of schemes and tricks will be used against you.

Take the other guy on our ship who's hitching a ride, for example. He's more skilled than you, but he's a fake smarty and a fool who likes to act all high and mighty.

I don't know whose connections he used to get on our ship. He's on board now, but he's acting like a big shot, throwing money around and even giving the manager a red envelope. He's impatient with the cargo hold and asked for a small room to stay in by himself—is he afraid that others won't know that he loves face, enjoys life, and has money in his pocket?
I watched you for three days before bringing up the food expenses. I knew that guy was a pushover from the very first day. When I mentioned the food expenses to him, he didn't even blink and readily paid up—and he even complained that the food was bad, saying he'd ask for more money to get him something better.

If you encounter this kind of person while traveling, who else would you rip off if not him?
You're a smart man, you're keeping your true colors hidden... That guy has been under surveillance since the second day he boarded the ship.

The ship's manager said that before disembarking at the City of No Return, they would squeeze a few hundred more jade coins out of him!

If he obediently hands over the money, that's fine; but if he refuses to give in in the end…

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan smiled, but his eyes turned cold. He deliberately spoke slowly, "So what if you don't listen? It's the Gu family's cargo ship, not a black ship. You can't just kill people and rob them, can you?"

"That's impossible!" The crew member laughed. "We're under the Gu family's name, after all, we wouldn't dare do something like murder or arson."

However, there are other ways to get him to spend money.

For example, this cargo ship of ours is carrying the Gu family's medicinal herbs. We can set a trap, frame him for damaging the goods and herbs, and make him 'compensate.' He wouldn't dare refuse to pay."

Chen Yan sighed inwardly.

As expected, even rats have their ways, and in a large forest, you'll find all kinds of birds. These powerful families and wealthy clans are also a mixed bag; such evil deeds and wicked people... can't be avoided no matter which world you go to.

"I'm telling you this after I've had a drink with you. I think you're quite smart, so I'm just giving you a few pointers." The crew member said with a hint of pride, "In a few days, if you hear any commotion on the deck while you're in your cabin, don't come out to watch. You'll only cause trouble for yourself."

Chen Yan's expression changed slightly, and he cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for the guidance."

After the drinking party ended, Chen Yan gave the remaining wine to the crew and got up to return to his cabin.

He was only dealing with such a petty person to reduce his own troubles and to gather some information.

If Chen Yan encountered such a scoundrel in the real world, he would most likely teach him a lesson with ruthless methods.

But in the realm of domains, he was merely a second-realm cultivator, so there was no need for him to invite trouble upon himself.

He's not the kind of person who's bursting with a sense of justice.

In the Water Margin, in the episode where Lu Zhishen punches Zhen Guanxi, he sees injustice and roars – but he is a military officer and his martial arts skills are top-notch.

Li Zhong, the tiger-slaying general who sat next to the table, hesitated to participate when he heard about the injustice, because he was just a commoner who made a living by performing martial arts and his skills were also very poor.

·
Chen Yan returned to the cargo hold to rest. He laid out a sleeping bag and lay down inside, but his mind was preoccupied with the situation in the domain.

This realm is actually quite complex.

Speaking of which, the realm can be considered to have a so-called "government office," which is Sendai.

In name, Sendai governs all four directions of the domain, and the entire domain submits to Sendai's rule.

But in reality, Sendai's authority is not as great as one might imagine.

The entire realm is actually filled with numerous large and small aristocratic families and powerful clans, as well as sects and clans of all sizes.

Each faction occupies a territory, acting like an independent entity.

They could even demarcate their own territories, establish autonomy and independence, and set up grand formations to prevent outsiders from passing through—how could such a situation possibly arise if there were truly a powerful central government?!

And powerful families and clans are not to be underestimated. First-class and top-tier aristocratic families all have formidable backgrounds and foundations.

There are Venerables in sects and families. These top big shots are themselves the ceiling of the domain and the great power in the clouds.

In essence, the Domain Realm is nothing more than a world jointly possessed by more than forty Venerable Emperors and Celestial Venerables.

The Venerable One may not care about power or influence, or he may be single-mindedly studying the Way of Heaven.

But even the most outstanding cultivators cannot do without cultivation resources, and they also have their own sects, families, influence, and ties of kinship...

Thus, the numerous powerful clans and families backed by various Venerable Ones became the ruling class of the realm.

The territories were divided, the powers were divided, and the interests and benefits of various industries and sectors were also a pie that many sects and families had divided up.

The so-called Sendai is more like the headquarters of an 'alliance', where representatives of various powerful clans gather to form an alliance and jointly rule the realm.

"This is not a good place. After settling my own affairs, I should go back."

Chen Yan sighed inwardly.

·
In the following two or three days, Chen Yan actually reduced the time he spent going out on the deck for fresh air each day.

Every night, he would just stroll around the deck a couple of times before heading back.

The crew member would occasionally come over and chat with Chen Yan. Chen Yan drank with him again, but pretended that he was short of money and couldn't even afford any good wine.

On the evening of the fourth day, Chen Yan walked out of the cargo hold and stretched and walked around the deck for a couple of times when he suddenly heard the voices of the crew behind him.

"Hey bro, come over and have a drink."

Chen Yan turned around and saw the crew member holding a food tray, smiling at him.

Chen Yan glanced at the food plate in the man's hand and was somewhat surprised—there were actually five or six dishes.

In fact, Chen Yan had been going out for fresh air on the deck every night for the past two days, and the crew member had made it clear that he was renege on his promise—he didn't even bother to pack the promised meals and simply didn't bring them to Chen Yan.

Anyway, Chen Yan just didn't want to cause trouble, so he just considered it as paying a toll.

I don't want to pursue anything with such a greedy and shameless person.

However, this guy was acting out of character today. He actually brought over some food, and there were even a few extra dishes. Chen Yan was stunned. His expression was blank, but he immediately became a little wary.

"Um... I paid for this, so I probably can't afford such a lavish meal, can I?" Chen Yan asked, feigning caution.

The crew member, in a good mood for some reason, waved his hand and said loudly, "I didn't give you any food the other day, so consider this a make-up. Come, come, I happen to be in a good mood today, and it's boring to drink alone. Sit down and have some food and drinks with me."

Chen Yan didn't want to deal with such lowly rats, but since the other party had brought it up, he couldn't simply refuse.

On a whim, he smiled, walked over, cupped his hands in greeting, and accompanied the crew to a place to sit on the deck.

"Brother, you seem to be in a good mood today." Chen Yan poured him a drink and asked in a low voice.

The crew member chuckled: "I did make a little money—I squeezed another sum out of that meathead I told you about before. That guy's all about saving face and likes to show off, but when it came time to pay, he looked like he was in pain. It was really laughable."

As he spoke, he picked up his bowl, took a sip of wine, and said disdainfully, "That guy always likes to act all high and mighty, it's really laughable. We're not stupid! If he were really a capable big shot, why would he bother to spend money to sneak onto our cargo ship?"

Chen Yan chuckled twice, took a sip of his drink, and then tasted a bite of food.

The crew members were in high spirits, probably because they were lowly people who had satisfied their desire to bully a pretentious big shot, and also gained a sense of psychological superiority in front of Chen Yan, a spectator who was willing to lower his stance.

After eating and drinking, he actually brought up something to Chen Yan: "You can wander around the deck tonight... Before dawn, we will pass by the ancestral temple of a venerable saint."

According to custom, when passing through the Venerable One's sacred site, the flying boat must descend and slow down to pass slowly, as a sign of respect for the Venerable One.

A Venerable One's sacred site! You've probably never seen one before, brother, have you? This is a rare opportunity; you should definitely take a good look and broaden your horizons.

Chen Yan thought to himself, "I've never seen the Venerable One's dojo before."

The living Venerable One did live with them for almost twenty years.

He was all too familiar with the feeling of being whipped around the yard by the Venerable One with a rattan cane!
However, judging from the crew's tone, it seems that the so-called "Venerable One's Dojo" really does have some special secrets.
·
For some strange reason, this crew member actually valued Chen Yan quite a bit—probably because it was rare for someone as lowly as him to encounter someone like Chen Yan who was willing to lower himself to flatter him.

In the middle of the night, Chen Yan had already returned to the cargo hold to rest when a crew member kicked open the hatch and shouted at him, "Brother! Come out quickly! We're about to pass by the Venerable One's Dojo!"

The other party was very hospitable, and Chen Yan didn't want to refuse. He was also quite curious about this Venerable's temple, so he got up and followed the crew out.

Upon reaching the deck, a considerable number of people had already gathered on the right side.

The ship's steward, who rarely appeared, was also dressed in a blue robe, standing on the ship's side with a solemn expression, looking to the left in the northward direction.

Beside him and outstretched their hands were more than a dozen crew members from other ships, all dressed neatly, craning their necks and looking into the distance, waiting for something.

Chen Yan walked onto the deck. The steward clearly saw Chen Yan, but only glanced at him and looked away without saying anything.

The crew member next to Chen Yan whispered, "It's alright. When you come across a Venerable's temple, who wouldn't want to come out and see the wonders? It's only human nature. The people in charge won't kick you out."

The sky was beginning to lighten, and a sea of ​​clouds filled the sky, though the clouds were not thick; through the thin mist, the ground could still be vaguely seen…

As expected, the airship was slowly descending. As it descended, the airship sank into the sea of ​​clouds, with mist swirling around it.

A moment later, everything suddenly cleared up, and we had descended below the clouds. Looking down at the ground now, everything was much clearer.

Looking down from this height, the mountains and rivers on land stretched out as a vast expanse. Just as Chen Yan was looking around, he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart. Sensing something, he immediately raised his head and looked towards the right front of the flying boat!

Suddenly, golden rays of light spread out in the air, as if the flying boat had entered a certain area and triggered a reaction from some kind of formation.

Instantly, a burst of golden light appeared, as if we had entered some invisible barrier.

Inside the barrier, the scene to the left front of the flying boat suddenly changed!

As the airship moved forward, the surrounding clouds and mist swirled and shifted. After a few clouds dispersed, a mountain peak suddenly appeared in the sky on the right!

The mountain peak seemed to float in the sky, as if it had no roots.

The morning sunlight shone down on the mountain peaks, and as if by some kind of magic array, the peaks appeared to be radiating a seven-colored light, like a rainbow, as seen from the deck of the flying boat.

The mountain peaks are covered in lush greenery, with cascading waterfalls that rush down to the base of this suspended mountain, where they turn into rain and mist and fall to the ground...

At the summit of the mountain, there seemed to be pavilions and towers, appearing and disappearing amidst the lush greenery. One of the tall towers seemed to be emitting light from its top, looking radiant and colorful, exuding an ethereal atmosphere!
Chen Yan's eyes were involuntarily drawn to it after just one glance.

In the darkness, it seemed as if a certain part of his consciousness was touched by the precious light of the Venerable One's dojo, and his mind was instantly drawn to some kind of power.

The flashing light, each ray of it, seemed to influence Chen Yan's breathing rhythm.

Unconsciously, he seemed to be following an invisible rhythm of the universe, his thoughts fluctuating, his breathing gradually changing rhythm, and even the vital energy he felt in his body seemed to be flowing gently...

For a moment, Chen Yan actually lost control of his body!
Even his consciousness had fallen into a strange "blank". Unconsciously, the vital energy in his body flowed as if it were operating on its own, like transporting vital energy. However, the rhythm did not seem to be like practicing martial arts.

Just as Chen Yan himself was unaware that he had lost his focus, a cold voice suddenly echoed in the depths of his mind!

"Humph!!"

The voice seemed to carry anger and dissatisfaction.

This loud groan instantly dispelled the fog in Chen Yan's mind, making him instantly clear-headed! His gaze, breathing rhythm, and even the restless flow of vital energy around him suddenly vanished, and he returned to normal!

Chen Yan was startled and felt a deep sense of apprehension. When he looked at the Venerable's dojo in the distance, his eyes were filled with horror.

At the same time, his heart was in turmoil as he tried to recall the loud groan that had suddenly appeared in his mind!
This Venerable One's sanctuary seemed to possess some kind of bewitching, magical power; it almost put me into a strange state just now.

But that loud groan was just what woke him up.

Where did that sound come from?

Chen Yan remained expressionless, but lowered his eyelids, trying hard to recall the voice he had just heard.

The voice was unfamiliar to him; he probably had never heard it before.

But just now, with that groan, my consciousness clearly felt a familiar sensation...

That emotion, that flow of consciousness, and that familiar pulling sensation!
...A thumb ring!

Although the voice was unfamiliar, the familiar, displeased interest was clearly... a thumb ring!

Chen Yan was in a daze, while the steward on the deck took a deep breath, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply to the ground in front of the Venerable One's dojo in the distance!
"Venerable Shanxiang, I, a humble cultivator, pay my respects to the Holy One!!"

As the steward bowed deeply, the crew members around him and behind him all knelt on the ground, bowing towards the floating mountain in the distance.

The airship continued forward, but reduced its speed. Chen Yan estimated in his mind, using the floating mountain as a reference point, that the airship's speed had probably decreased to the normal speed of a regular car.

After bowing and kneeling, the people around remained kneeling for more than twenty minutes.

Chen Yan couldn't leave from where he was standing, so he could only bow his head and pay respects to the Venerable One's temple in the distance.

More than twenty minutes later, the floating mountain of the Venerable One's Dojo finally landed behind the flying boat.

Only after putting on his clothes did the steward straighten up, and he still looked back somewhat reluctantly in the direction of the Venerable One's dojo.

He seemed somewhat disappointed, but after glancing at the crew members still kneeling on the ground behind him, he snorted and said coldly, "Alright, you've finished kneeling before the saint. Go back to your work and don't slack off!"

The crew members dared not disobey and all got up and dispersed.

Chen Yan was about to leave when the manager's gaze fell on him.

"This fellow Taoist!"

Ok?
Chen Yan was surprised that the other party would call him. He stopped and looked at the steward politely: "What advice do you have for me, Steward?"

The steward stared at Chen Yan for a moment, then said indifferently, "Is this your first time paying homage to the Venerable One's Daoist temple from afar, fellow Daoist?"

“But this is the first time.” Chen Yan’s face still had that honest and simple look: “I’m a rogue cultivator from the mountains and have never seen much of the world. To be able to see the Venerable’s dojo in person is something I never even imagined before.”

The steward nodded and said calmly, "The Venerable One's Dao Site will retain the Daoist essence left behind when the Venerable One attained enlightenment. If one's cultivation and comprehension are exceptional, one may have the opportunity to sense the Daoist essence left behind by the Venerable One when paying homage to the site. If one is lucky enough to gain some insight, one can break through the barriers in cultivation, and it may even greatly benefit the cultivation of one's primordial spirit in the future..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan remained expressionless, but in his mind, he recalled the light he had just witnessed at the temple, and how he had suddenly been pulled into that wondrous state...

So... what did I realize?
But... the consciousness within the ring seemed unwilling to comprehend it on its own, so it interrupted itself?

He thought this to himself, but looked at the steward with a calm expression.

A glint appeared in the steward's eyes as he continued, "...I noticed that you seemed to have sensed something when you visited the Venerable One's temple just now? Did you receive some kind of opportunity or gain some insight?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan immediately shook his head in denial, feigning a bitter smile: "To be honest, my cultivation and comprehension are insufficient. That's why I was able to witness the radiant light of the Venerable's Daoist temple with my own eyes. I was shocked for a moment... Actually, actually... sigh! Actually, I was just so engrossed in watching that I was completely mesmerized."

As he spoke, he seemed somewhat embarrassed and said in a low voice, "I am a reclusive cultivator from the mountains, and I have never seen the world. Please forgive my ignorance, sir."

After staring at Chen Yan for a couple of seconds, the eagerness in his eyes slowly cooled, and he sighed, "Alright, I see..."

However, fellow cultivator, there is no need to underestimate yourself. For ordinary cultivators, being able to see a sage's dojo once is already an immense opportunity.

Legend has it that witnessing the radiant light of a sage's sacred site can lead to enlightenment, but such legends are always ethereal and unreliable. Those who truly achieve enlightenment and sense the profound wisdom left by the sage are extremely rare, perhaps only one in ten thousand. Fellow Daoist, there is no need for regret.

Although he said that, Chen Yan could still sense that the doubt in the guy's eyes had not been completely dispelled.

Chen Yan stopped taking the initiative to say anything and just nodded obsequiously, perfectly embodying the demeanor of a "country bumpkin who has never seen the world and is a lowly rogue cultivator."

Seeing Chen Yan's demeanor, the steward's doubts gradually disappeared, and he casually asked, "Fellow Daoist has been on board for many days, and I haven't inquired about you yet. It is I, the steward, who have been negligent."

"Fellow Daoist boarded the ship from Xitai City, so you must be a cultivator from the Western Frontier?"

Chen Yan immediately pulled out his usual excuse, saying that he was a lowly mortal who lingered in Xueya Pass, and that he had become a cultivator after a fortuitous encounter, but he had never been anywhere else and had little experience. He had stayed in Xueya Pass for some time...

He couldn't just say anything carelessly, because he had said the same thing in Xitai City—what if the ship's manager knew about his resume? If he made up a new one now, it would only cause trouble if someone found out.

However, after he finished speaking, the steward, who was clearly hearing about his "background" for the first time, gave Chen Yan a serious look: "Fellow Daoist, you came from Snow Cliff Pass?"

"...That's right. I originally lived in a village near the pass, occasionally doing some labor for the military town of Xueya Pass. Many years ago, I had an opportunity to cultivate and enter the Dao."

"Did you serve in Xueya Pass?"

"Not serving in the military, just a rogue cultivator."

Upon hearing this, the steward's expression became even more serious. He took a deep breath, and his eyes showed a warm smile: "I see! I really did neglect you the other day, fellow Daoist. I hope you will forgive me."

He paused for a moment, then casually called over a crew member and instructed, "Go, clean out one of the guardhouses behind the cargo hold for this... um, guest."

As he spoke, he smiled at Chen Yan and said, "Although the guardhouse is not big, it is at least a private room with a bed and good ventilation, which is more comfortable than the cargo hold."

Does this mean you get a single room?

Chen Yan was puzzled, but he immediately thought of a possibility...

Sure enough, the steward continued to ask, "Since you've returned from Snow Cliff Pass, did you know anything about a 'Brotherhood' while you were there?"

Chen Yan's mind raced, and he quickly came up with a reply, saying slowly, "The Brotherhood, of course I know about it. The Brotherhood is very famous in Snow Cliff Pass, and many rogue cultivators gather there."

I've had dealings with several experts in the Brotherhood—however, although my cultivation has reached the second realm, I'm actually not skilled in any magic or supernatural abilities, and my methods are inadequate, so I have no chance of joining the Brotherhood.”

"Have you ever seen the leader of the Brotherhood?"

"Uh... I've met him twice and even shared a bowl of wine with him." Chen Yan chuckled softly. "However, that brotherhood leader is a big shot in Snow Cliff Pass. I only met him once by chance and offered him a bowl of wine. I'm afraid he won't even remember a nobody like me."

The steward nodded, the warmth in his eyes fading, but his tone remained gentle as he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, being able to cultivate to the second realm is quite a talent. As for supernatural abilities and spells, there may be opportunities in the future, so there's no need to belittle yourself."

After saying that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Chen Yan immediately understood what the other party meant, smiled, and took his leave.

After Chen Yan left, the manager's face darkened. He called over a crew member beside him and said coldly, "This man came back from Xueya Pass. Why didn't anyone warn me before?!"

The crew member trembled with fear as he watched his supervisor become enraged, but inwardly he couldn't help but curse.

You're the one who takes money to secretly transport passengers – this money-making scheme is monopolized by you, the manager. You never tell the crew who boards the ship or how much money you're paid. How are we crew members supposed to know?!

You damn bastard!
The manager would only vent his anger casually and wouldn't actually hold his subordinates accountable.

He considered the matter in his mind...

This guest came from Xueya Pass and said he had met the young master... although he had never had any dealings with the young master. From this point of view, I don't need to treat him too well.

But... that's not how things are calculated.

Since he came back from Xueya Pass, he might have to go back to Xueya Pass in the future.

What if he later gets to know the young master while hanging around Xueya Pass?

Humans can't see both the future and the future; we have to think long-term.

It's just a matter of giving him a private room; it won't cost me anything.

If this person returns to Xueya Pass and attends an event, and gets to know the young master, then my actions today will be considered a good deed, making it easier to build a relationship later.

(End of this chapter)