Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 164 Youdi Bird
"Fellow Daoist, this is indeed delicious!"

While Chen Ji was lost in thought, the Stone Mill Demon had already finished his rations in a few bites, and there was even a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"I wonder when I'll be able to do it again?"

"How does it taste to you, fellow Daoist?"

The stone mill demon opened its eyes, thought for a moment, and then shook its head.

"I forgot, I only remember that it was delicious. Why don't you make another serving for me to try? I'll definitely eat it slowly next time."

"..."

"We'll talk about it next time we have the materials. I've already given you all the incense; there's nothing extra this time."

"I have it."

The stone mill demon quickly took out a handful of incense sticks and handed them to Chen Ji.

"The ten incense sticks that you gave me before, and the ten incense sticks I'm giving you this time, are both here."

As the stone mill demon spoke, he seemed to remember something else.

"If you can prepare three such meals a month, then you don't need these ten incense sticks."

"You've even learned to bargain now."

Chen Ji smiled and looked at the stone mill demon, then shook his head.

"Very well, if you're willing, I'll agree since I can still save half of the incense offerings each month."

After saying that, he continued to ask what the difference was between the stone mill demon and incense.

"It tastes better than incense, and it seems to be more effective, with a stronger ability to enhance one's abilities."

The stone mill demon rotated its arm and felt it for a moment.

"After eating, I felt warm all over, just like I had rested in the Peach Fairy Ghost Body that a fellow Daoist gave me."

"Such an effect? ​​It's truly amazing."

Chen Ji sighed.

The stone mill demon stared wide-eyed.

"This was made by you, fellow Daoist. How could you not know it? Could it be that you're using me as a test subject for your medicine?"

Chen Ji silently looked at the Stone Mill Demon.

"I am human, so naturally I don't know what food made for ghosts tastes like or what its effects are."

"Cough cough."

The stone mill demon coughed twice to demonstrate his embarrassment and waved his hand.

"I understand now that you say so, fellow Daoist. Indeed, those who can discuss the Dao with the old abbot are no ordinary people. Even those who are not good at cooking can make food for gods and spirits. If they could communicate with the old abbot, wouldn't they be even more amazing?"

"Ok?"

Chen Ji was taken aback upon hearing this.

I forgot to talk to the old abbot.

The recipes recorded in the art of raising soldiers are indeed somewhat uncommon, but since the old abbot was a chef who entered the Daoist path, and there was also the Salt Master by his side, perhaps he could find them somewhere.

I can ask about it when I go back in a few days.

Having just some leftover ingredients on hand, Chen Ji summoned the Six Demons of the Master Blade.

The rings made a crisp sound when they struck each other.

All six ghosts appeared, looking nervously at Chen Ji.

"Immortal, spare us! We didn't kill the City God last time; he just suddenly died right before our eyes..."

"Exactly!"

"We dare not lie, the City God really did die there..."

The little devils immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy after they came out.

Chen Ji was taken aback for a moment, then he understood why they were reacting this way.

I feel a little bad about it.

After the City God died, the dream dissipated. In order to leave the Lesser Underworld first, he directly subdued the Six Ghosts of the Master Blade, without having time to explain.

This is the first time it has been released.

Based on what the six ghosts had seen and heard, it seemed reasonable for them to take the blame for killing the City God.

However, Chen Ji had no such intention and raised his hand to interrupt them.

“I had no such intention, nor did I summon you here because of this matter.”

"what?"

The six ghosts were dumbfounded, staring blankly at Chen Ji, not knowing what to say. After a long pause, they looked up at Chen Ji.

"If it's not for the City God, then what is the immortal's purpose?"

"Try this."

Chen Ji pointed to the remaining rations for the soldiers on the table.

The six ghosts looked around, hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer to sniff, their eyes flashing with surprise.

They exchanged a glance and excitedly asked Chen Ji.

"Did the immortal master give this to us on purpose?"

"nature."

"This...but...this is far too valuable, we can't possibly accept it!"

"Why?"

The little devil licked his lips, wanting to eat but holding back and turning his gaze away.

"Immortal, you may not know the use of this thing. It can be used to eliminate the aura of the rampant soldier. If you use it often, you can transform the rampant soldier into a guardian deity."

"But there's too little incense ash; you'll probably have to consume a lot for it to be effective."

"That's fine, you can eat these first, there'll be more later."

"From now on, you will just follow me. Once all the yin energy and evil energy on your bodies have disappeared, you will be able to appear normally again."

"This……"

The six ghosts stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were hearing.

They already knew Chen Ji's strength and identity, that he could serve as a wandering god of the underworld while still alive, and that he could kill the City God without any consequences.

I wonder how much stronger it is than the previous wolf-blood demon and Nuo master.

Being able to follow Chen Ji might give him a real chance to become a guardian deity in the future, so he quickly agreed and bowed down again.

This time, however, I am even more sincere.

Only then did they begin to enjoy the rations prepared by Chen Ji for the soldiers.

However, Chen Ji could see that the six ghosts' reactions to the rations were different from those of the stone mill demon.

After the stone mill demon consumed it, its ghostly aura condensed considerably, but it showed no other symptoms.

However, as the six ghosts consumed the provisions for nourishing the soldiers, the Yin energy on their bodies receded, but a sense of something else remained within them.

Chen Ji knew that this was the cause and effect.

Originally, the Six Ghosts of the Master's Blade were nothing more than rampant weapons among magical artifacts.

I was merely using magical artifacts to control them, but now that they've consumed the rations I prepared for them, we have a new connection.

Even Chen Ji had a vague feeling about it.

If the connection were to deepen further, one could break free from the master's sword and summon the Six Demons.

In the end, this sword will only be a place for them to hide.

Chen Ji's eyes flickered, and he gained a deeper understanding of this art of raising troops.

It's no wonder that one can only learn this technique after becoming the acting City God; ordinary Taoists certainly don't have the opportunity to use it.

He then went outside and happened to run into Master Xiyun and Monk Zhenru returning from outside.

"Are you two going to the town to investigate?"

"Exactly."

Taoist Xiyun nodded.

"The town's city god has died, and the people should feel something. We are new here and need to buy some daily necessities. Going out to find out news is just what we need."

"What can I ask?"

“There are some, but not many. Many hundred... um... the people of the town are still unaware that the City God has met with misfortune.”

"But a goose demon told us a lot."

"A goose demon?"

Chen Ji's eyes lit up as he thought of what he needed to do.

Upon arriving in town, he encountered the origami goose demon. At the time, he thought the demon was just well-informed, but the information revealed by the City God before his death surprised him even more.

If the wolf-blood demon is the most powerful demon in this town that sells blood food, then the goose demon is even more elusive.

Now that I'm acting as the City God, it's time to meet this goose demon.

So he looked at the millstone demon.

"I would also like to ask you, fellow Daoist, to invite this goose demon here for a meeting."

"What if it doesn't want to come?"

"He would be willing."

"Alright, fellow Daoist, please wait for me a moment, I will go find him now."

The stone mill demon immediately went out to find the goose demon.

Since becoming Chen Ji's ghost messenger, he had never gone out during the day, so this was a good opportunity to experience this ability.

"Fellow Daoist, you can rest assured."

"That's what the monk Zhenru said with emotion."

"That goose demon is quite powerful. If a fight breaks out, what if you, fellow Daoist, are no match for it?"

Chen Ji shook his head, quite confident.

“That goose demon wouldn’t do that.” As soon as he finished speaking, a loud goose call came from outside.

"Your Majesty, if you wish to see this little demon, you should simply send someone to inform me. Why send your personal ghost messenger to find me? I cannot bear such responsibility!"

The goose demon entered the house with a loud cry, and its eyes widened when it saw Chen Ji.

"Gah! Fellow Daoist... how is it you?"

"Don't you know?"

Chen Ji smiled faintly and looked at the goose demon.

"Even the former City God said you were the most well-informed person here, so surely you know I'm temporarily acting as City God?"

"Well... if you want me to tell the truth, that wouldn't be good!"

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow and smiled, but didn't ask any further questions.

A smart person would already know by now.

This goose demon does indeed have some means of knowing what's happening in this town.

Chen Ji wasn't concerned about that; he wanted to ask him something else.

Where is the Ghost King of the town?

"..."

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

They knew Chen Ji must have something to ask the goose demon, but they didn't expect him to be so straightforward.

Even the goose demon stammered for a moment.

"I...this...Lord City God...uh! I don't know how to say it..."

"Just tell the truth."

Chen Ji looked at the goose demon.

"Don't tell me you didn't know about this. You even knew that the pig demon was killed in the Blood Demon Shop, and you notified other cannibalistic Taoists to come over. I don't believe you didn't know about the Ghost King."

“This is different.”

"The goose demon said hastily."

"What's the difference?"

Chen Ji looked at the goose demon, wanting to hear what it had to say.

“This little demon makes a living from this. If she were to reveal information about the guests, wouldn’t that break the rules?”

“If the City God forces me to answer, I can tell him, but if I leave the City God’s temple and then tell the Ghost King the news, wouldn’t that be a waste of time?”

Chen Ji looked at the goose demon, his expression calm.

Suddenly, I understood why the City God of the cemetery had allowed this goose demon to do intelligence work in the town.

Indeed, he possesses abilities that others cannot control.

However, Chen Ji's eyes flickered, but he didn't say anything and casually tapped the table.

"Then I am not the City God, but a Taoist priest who came to buy information."

"Oh?"

The goose demon's eyes lit up instantly, and she lost her previous restraint, putting on a shrewd and mercenary expression.

"Asking for information is business, isn't it? What kind of information do you want to ask for, fellow Daoist?"

Where is the Ghost King of the town?

The same question, but this time the goose demon's answer was completely different.

"This information isn't cheap, fellow Daoist. How much are you willing to pay?"

"How much do you want?"

Chen Ji countered with a question.

The goose demon remained silent for a moment, then glanced at Chen Ji and moved its eyes.

"An opportunity!"

"what chance?"

"An opportunity to cultivate alongside fellow Daoists."

Chen Ji did not agree immediately. He looked at the goose demon carefully for a while before shaking his head.

"It's too expensive; this news isn't worth it."

"What if we add the number and positions of the troops he's built up over the years?"

Before Chen Ji could speak, the people behind him were completely stunned.

If this is true intelligence.

This goose demon seems to know far too much.

Even the Underworld doesn't know the Ghost King's location in the mortal realm, so how did this goose demon find out?

Chen Ji still shook his head.

"It's still not enough. You don't need to think about it anymore. I can trade you something for it. If you don't agree, I'll go and ask myself."

As he spoke, he took out a small piece of Peach Fairy Ghost Body and placed it on the table.

"This...ga...how do you have something like this?!"

The goose demon's eyes narrowed suddenly, and it lunged forward to examine the creature.

Chen Ji flipped his hand over to cover it and pulled it back in front of him.

"Your rules were agreed upon before: money for goods. Now, if you want that thing, you'll have to exchange it for information."

"I'll tell you how to change it!"

The goose demon stared intently at the peach fairy's ghost form, unable to look away, and hurriedly lowered her voice to explain where the ghost king was hiding.

"So that's where it is. No wonder I couldn't find it."

Chen Ji looked towards the chaotic graveyard outside the town and sighed that the Ghost King was indeed quite capable.

Since it is a ghost, its ghostly aura will be more obvious when it hides in the town.

But the mass grave is filled with countless vengeful ghosts, and the eerie atmosphere makes it impossible to find even a few ghost kings hiding there. Not to mention the rampant soldiers and the city god's underworld messengers. It's really a suitable place for just one ghost king.

Moreover, most people in the know assumed that the Ghost King would be in the town when he came here, but they never expected that the Ghost King would be in the mass grave.

Chen Jiyun used the method of knowledge of the land.

Originally, the chaotic graveyard was only shrouded in ghostly energy, so Chen Ji didn't pay it any mind at first glance.

Now that we know the whereabouts of the Ghost King, upon careful examination, we can indeed find something different in his aura, though it is not so obvious amidst the endless ghostly energy.

If it weren't for the clues provided by the goose spirit, it might have taken decades to find it.

Who knows how many rampant soldiers the Ghost King will have subdued by then?

"Hey... the goose demon is gone!"

While Daoist Xiyun and the others were discussing the Ghost King, they turned around and found that the goose demon, who had been in the room just moments before, had disappeared. They hurriedly notified Chen Ji.

"I understand."

Chen Ji nodded in thanks to Daoist Xiyun and Monk Zhenru, then raised an eyebrow at the spot where the goose demon had disappeared.

There was only a single snow-white goose feather lying on the ground, and nothing else.

"Is it a stealth technique?"

"Not like."

As Master Xiyun spoke with Chen Ji, Monk Zhenru shook his head.

"I have heard from wandering monks from foreign lands that they practice a kind of substitution technique, which allows them to use anything at hand to replace their body. Those with high levels of skill can even hide inside it to avoid spells and harm."

"Unfortunately, I have only seen them use this technique before, but I do not know how to use it."

"It is true," the monk said slowly.

"A substitution technique? A hiding place?"

Chen Ji looked at the goose feather, vaguely thinking of something.

Looking outside, they found similar goose feathers in many places in the town, and thus roughly understood the goose demon's abilities and its true identity.

After waiting a moment, he picked up the feathers and explained to everyone that the goose demon had another identity, and the goose body was just a disguise.

"What, this isn't a goose demon?"

Chen Ji and the others explained the situation.

Master Xiyun and the others stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what Chen Ji was saying.

"Not a goose?"

"If that goose demon isn't a goose, what could it be?"

“Please don’t joke, sir. A monk does not lie.”

The two humans and the fox were taken aback and then quietly looked at Chen Ji, wanting to ask what the goose demon's identity was.

“The Dark Bird”.

"Hmm? It's this..."

Master Xiyun and Miss Bai reacted quickly and already knew what it was, while Monk Zhenru was still completely confused.

Master Xiyun then explained to him.

"The 'Yo-di-que' is a bird that delivers messages in the underworld. It is difficult for it to survive outside the underworld environment, so it is rarely seen."

"This one... hmm?"

Master Xiyun froze on the spot, only halfway through his sentence.

They were able to learn the identity of the Ghost King and also escape life in the underworld.

The origin of this peacock is probably no longer a question.

It was probably brought by the Ghost King when he escaped from the underworld.

No wonder they would gather intelligence in town.

But there's still one thing they don't understand.

If this Youdi Sparrow was brought out by the Ghost King, why would it betray him at this time?
(End of this chapter)