Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

Chapter 283 Departure

The next morning, at the Ding family mansion.

It was still dark outside, and the lights in the lobby were still on.

Ding Henian, the eldest son of the Ding family, sat in a grand chair, holding a covered teacup in his hand.

The tea lid scraped against the rim of the cup, making a soft, rustling sound.

Master Ding stood in the center of the hall, his back ramrod straight, but his hands hanging at his sides trembled slightly.

"You're saying that person is at the Qi Condensation Realm?"

"Yes."

He lowered his head. "Our ghost candle lanterns were almost extinguished on the spot by the opponent's evil aura."

"Without condensing evil spirits, this step cannot be achieved."

"Brother, should we investigate?"

"Although the person's face was covered and their accent didn't sound like a local, if we investigate, we should be able to find some clues..."

'

"It's best not to."

Ding Henian placed the teacup on the table with a soft sound.

"Third brother, I know what you're thinking."

"Having your ritual implements confiscated is a huge loss of face. Being publicly humiliated on your own turf is something anyone would want to get revenge for."

Ding Sanye puffed out his cheeks but didn't say a word.

"But remember this: we can't afford to mess with those old monsters in the Condensation Realm."

He slowly stood up from the armchair, put his hands behind his back, and walked to Master Ding.

The two brothers were only three years apart, but Ding Henian's temples were already gray, making him look more than ten years older than Ding Sanye.

"After the Red Moon, let alone the Qi Condensation Realm, there are hardly any scattered cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining Realm now."

"Those who can cultivate to the Condensing Evil Realm in this kind of world either have obtained some kind of opportunity, or are true disciples of a lineage backed by a Daoist tradition."

"No matter which one it is, it's not something the Ding family can touch."

Ding Sanye stood stiffly for a moment, then finally lowered his shoulders and said, "I understand."

"In the end, it's all because of your selfish motives."

Ding Henian picked up his teacup, took a sip, and comforted him, "If the things are gone, they're gone. It's not a big deal."

"As long as he comes back alive, that's enough."

He put down his teacup and changed the subject: "Those two half-human, half-corpse strangers, they also died at their hands?"

"He's dead."

Third Master Ding nodded, "I went back and checked later."

"Blood Axe and none of his men were left alive."

"Those two half-human, half-corpse bodies were burned to ashes, leaving only two pools of black ash."

After listening, Ding Henian's fingers remained on the table for a long time.

"Brother," Ding Sanye couldn't help but say when he saw his solemn expression, "Those two are stronger than the bald guy and his gang, but they're not exactly formidable characters."

"They're dead, so what? Why are you so concerned about them?"

Ding Henian raised his eyelids and glanced at him, his gaze carrying a heavy weight that only someone who had been through it all could bear.

"Third brother, in all your years in Jinshi, how many half-human, half-corpse figures have you seen?"

Master Ding paused for a moment, realizing he couldn't answer.

"Think about it carefully, do any independent cultivators possess such methods?"

A person who is neither fully alive nor fully dead is considered to be half-person and half-household.

Cultivators seal their own life force and use yin energy to prolong their lives, thus gaining a half-dead body.

This method requires not only specific techniques, but also special medicinal baths, a particular shady place, and even dedicated guardians to watch over one another.

Ordinary independent cultivators, let alone master it, can't even get past the basics.

"Big brother, you mean..." Third Master Ding lowered his voice, "The Spirit Realm?"

"The spirit world is no secret to us unorthodox families."

"Although the Ding family has never been to the spirit world, you have read quite a few of the notes left by their ancestors."

"Every few decades, the major sects in the spirit world send people to the human world to recruit promising talents and rare treasures."

Master Ding nodded.

The existence of the spirit world is certainly not a secret to them.

"My brother is worried—"

"If someone from the spirit world dies on our land, no matter who killed them, the Ding family will be implicated."

Ding Henian interrupted him, waving his hand, "Just keep this in mind. If any unfamiliar cultivators come during this time, remember to let me know."

Master Ding responded and turned to leave the main hall.

The footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor. Ding Henian sat alone in the armchair, his gaze fixed on the void, as if looking at something very far away.

After a long while, he slowly got up, walked to the shrine in the main hall, took out a talisman, bit his fingertip, wrote a few lines with his blood instead of ink, and stuffed it under the copper lamp base.

The flames changed from orange-yellow to dark blue, then slowly returned to normal.

After doing all this, he turned and walked towards the back room.

Tianjin Wharf.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, blew in from the Bohai Bay, mixing the coal dust and fishy odor from the docks together.

Before dawn, the docks were already bustling with activity.

The laborers, shirtless, chanted and cursed, while several small steamships were moored by the pier, their chimneys billowing black smoke.

As Chen Mo carried the rattan box to the entrance of the pier, before he could even look inside, a fat man wearing a silk short shirt squeezed out from the crowd.

This man was round and chubby, his short legs moved incredibly fast, and he had a smile on his face. He locked his gaze on Chen Mo at a glance.

"Is it Master Chen Mo?"

Chen Mo paused and glanced at him.

"Who are you?"

"This humble one is Li Shun, the steward of the Li family."

The fat man quickly cupped his hands, his smile carrying a hint of obsequiousness. "My master gave instructions yesterday, saying that a Mr. Chen wants to use our boat to go to Kowloon today, and that I should be at the dock before dawn to wait for him."

"I knew I hadn't mistaken you for someone else just by looking at your demeanor."

"When will the ship leave?"

"It'll be here soon."

As he spoke, he reached out to take the wicker trunk from Chen Mo's hand, "Master Chen, please come with me, this way."

"The cargo ship is moored at the innermost pier. My master has a batch of cotton yarn that he needs to transport to Kowloon, and it just happens to be on the way."

"I'll arrive in a day, without delaying your business."

"I can do it myself."

Chen Mo avoided his hand and carried the suitcase herself, following behind him.

Li Shun didn't mind, and led the way with a smile, passing through the laborers carrying loads and the piles of cargo boxes, introducing the area as he went.

"Our family's boat was converted from a small iron-hulled steamship. It was fast and the cabin was clean."

"The room we've reserved for you is a guest room in the rear cabin. The bedding has all been changed, and it's guaranteed to be even more comfortable than staying at an inn."

Chen Mo didn't say much, but followed him through the noisy dock and walked along the pier deeper into the area.

The Li family's cargo ship was moored at the innermost part. As the other party had said, it was indeed a cargo ship converted from a small iron-hulled steamer, with a very deep waterline and the deck already piled high with cargo containers.

Several sailors were squatting on the bow smoking when they saw Li Shun leading his men over. They quickly stood up and bowed.

"This is Master Chen, come aboard our ship."

Li Shun called out to the sailors and then personally led Chen Mo to the cabin in the rear.

The room was small, with a small round window in the wall offering a view of the sea.

The bedding was indeed new, and there was even a kerosene lamp and a pot of hot tea on the table.

After settling in, he did not leave immediately.

"Mr. Chen, there's something I need to tell you beforehand."

Chen Mo placed the rattan trunk beside the bed, glanced at him sideways, and said, "Speak."

"My master also has a shop in Kowloon. The shopkeeper there told me that things haven't been peaceful in Kowloon lately."

"It's not like Tianjin over there. There are all sorts of people there, from local gangs to sorcerers who came from Southeast Asia."

"Especially those evil spirits, they're much more ferocious than the filthy things around here, they cause a lot of trouble."

"Mr. Chen, you are a very capable man. My master has given me instructions on this. But Kowloon is a place where all sorts of people mingle. It's always good to be careful."

Chen Mo glanced at him and nodded: "Understood."

Seeing that he had taken it to heart, Li Shun resumed his cheerful demeanor: "Then you rest, I'll bring you breakfast when the ship sets sail."

"There are freshly steamed meat buns and hot soy milk in the kitchen. It's a traditional Tianjin dish, no worse than Goubuli."

After he finished speaking, he left and closed the hatch behind him.

Chen Mo walked to the round window and stood there, gazing at the hazy Bohai Bay outside.

The sea breeze at the end of October already carried a chill, and the morning mist had not yet dissipated, with cargo ships and sails appearing and disappearing in the distance.

His decision to go to Kowloon was made after careful consideration.

The materials for the Ten Thousand Souls Banner are almost all gathered, except for the most crucial one: the resentful soul threads.

This thing has become extremely rare in recent years, but fortunately, the Ghost Banner Taoist found him a clue.

Xuan Yin Zhai possesses a magical artifact called Thousand Resentments Guidance, which is made from threads of resentful souls.

His purpose in coming here was to obtain the Thousand Resentments Manual from Xuan Yin Zhai.

The fat man had inquired about the sect's strength for him; it had declined drastically in recent years, with only a few small creatures remaining.

For someone at the Condensation Realm, this shouldn't be a problem.

It would take a day and a night for the ship to reach Kowloon. Chen Mo closed his eyes to rest for a while, when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the cabin door.

The man walked to the cabin door and paused, seemingly hesitating whether to knock.

He opened his eyes: "Who?"

"Master Chen."

A young voice came from outside the door, tinged with timidity, "My name is Li Zongming."

77

"My father asked me to bring lunch to Master Chen."

"Come in."

The cabin door opened, and a boy of about seventeen or eighteen years old entered, wearing an indigo cotton long gown.

He was holding a food box in his hand, and his face had a scholarly air about him.

He placed the food box on the table and respectfully stepped back half a step: "Master Chen, today's lunch includes braised ribbonfish and a bowl of shrimp and seaweed soup."

"My father said that the conditions on the ship are simple, so please bear with us, Master Chen."

"Put it down." Chen Mo glanced at him. "Are you Li Shun's son?"

"Yes." Li Zongming smiled shyly. "I was originally studying in Tianjin, but I didn't pass the exam this year. My father said he wanted me to go on a trip on a ship so I could broaden my horizons."

"A scholar?" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow slightly. "Can you handle something like sailing?"

"I can handle it, I can handle it." Li Zongming nodded quickly. "Although I am a scholar, I am not ignorant of the five grains. I used to help my father with chores during holidays."

Chen Mo didn't say anything more.

Seeing this, he wisely bowed and quickly withdrew.

After lunch, the atmosphere on the ship suddenly changed.

The engine sound changed, from a steady sputtering sound to a somewhat strained roar.

Suddenly, shouts came from the deck, as if they were dealing with some emergency.

Chen Mo pushed open the cabin door and walked out.

Li Shunzheng stood on the deck, his round face tense, directing the sailors to do something.

Seeing him come out, she hurried over to greet him, her wry smile even thicker than usual.

"Mr. Chen, I'm sorry to have disturbed you." He lowered his voice, "The engine room has taken on water, so we need to stop the ship for repairs. It will take at most two hours."

"Did it get wet?"

Chen Mo looked at the sea. "The waves aren't big, so how could water be taking in?"

Li Shun hesitated for a moment, "Master Chen, I'm telling you this, please don't spread it around."

"The mechanic went down to check and said there was a crack in the steel plate at the bottom of the ship, like—like something hit it from the outside."

"Did you crash into it?"

"Yes." Li Shun swallowed. "An iron-hulled ship, the steel plates are at least three-tenths of an inch thick. What in the sea could have the strength to crack steel plates like that?"

Chen Mo didn't say anything, but walked to the side of the ship and looked out into the sea.

The sea was hazy and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But he vaguely sensed something deep beneath the ship's hull, and a faint yin energy was slowly seeping up from beneath the sea surface.

The feeling was subtle, like some kind of test.

"Manager Li."

Chen Mo turned around. "Has anything happened in this area before?"

Li Shun's expression changed slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, he said, "Master Chen, are you really this?"

He gave a thumbs up. "You could even sense that? There was a major incident in this sea thirty years ago. A passenger ship hit a reef and hundreds of people died."

"Later, evil spirits appeared in that area, and merchant ships would avoid it."

"But the route we took today is at least twenty nautical miles away from that area of ​​water. We shouldn't have run into it."

Chen Mo's gaze darkened slightly.

If the vengeful spirits of the shipwrecked thirty years ago have not been taken away, their resentment may accumulate over time and condense into threads of vengeful spirits.

However, that's not the most pressing issue right now.

The yin energy at the bottom of the ship was slowly increasing, as if something was rising from the deep sea.

"Get your men on deck, don't leave them in the cabin."

Li Shun was stunned for a moment, then his face turned pale. Without saying a word, he went to call the sailors.

Just then, the ship suddenly jolted.

It looked as if something had been pushed up from the seabed, causing the entire cargo ship to tilt to one side at an angle of more than ten degrees, with cargo containers on the deck sliding to one side with a clatter.

Several sailors lost their footing and fell flat on their backs.

Chen Mo steadied himself and kept his eyes fixed on the sea.

Beneath the hazy, gray seawater, a huge, dark shadow is rising.

The silhouette of the dark figure was blurry, but it could be vaguely seen that it was the wreckage of a ship, with half of the mast broken off and a large hole in the hull.

Seaweed and barnacles covered it, like a rotting corpse crawling up from the seabed.

"Haven't you behaved yourself after being dead for so long?"

He snorted coldly, raised his right hand, slightly bent his five fingers, and pressed it lightly towards the sea.

This seemingly casual press actually unleashed the full power of the Condensing Qi Realm cultivation.

The sea surface, which was dozens of feet in diameter, suddenly sank, and a huge whirlpool exploded in front of the cargo ship. The seawater was forcibly sucked away by some force, revealing the wreckage that was rising to the surface.

Immediately afterwards, countless seawater surged in from all directions, condensing into a giant hand in mid-air.

Its palm is ten feet square, with five distinct fingers, and its entire body is formed from compressed deep blue seawater, gleaming with a cold luster under the sunlight.

"Get out of here."

Chen Mo flipped his wrist, and the giant palm of seawater slammed down.

boom!

It's like a heavy hammer hitting a steel plate.

The wreckage was slammed into the sea and sank more than three zhang (approximately 10 meters) below the surface.

Rotten planks, broken gun barrels, and countless barnacles scattered everywhere under the immense impact.

A white wave burst open on the deck, splashing water several meters high, crowding the deck like a torrential downpour.

Li Shun was so frightened that he collapsed on the deck, and several sailors were trembling as they clung to the cargo boxes.

They had spent their entire lives sailing, weathering storms and encountering thieves, but they had never witnessed such miraculous skill.

"Master Chen..."

""

"It's okay, they ran away..."

""

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