Uncle Nine: You were supposed to drive corpses, so you summoned the Monkey King!

Si Mu snatched the cloth bag and hugged it to his chest, covering it up.

"Oh dear, Miss Ren, you're too kind!"

"Slaying demons and monsters is our duty as cultivators; talking about money only hurts feelings!"

Master Simu gripped the cloth bag tightly in his hand.

Uncle Nine shook his head, thinking that his junior brother's greed for money was incurable.

Lin Chen took out a gold bar and fifty silver dollars from Master Si Mu's pocket.

"Master, I'll take this money to buy offerings; you can keep the rest."

Master Simu looked at the gold bar.

"Apprentice, why spend so much money on a pig and a few chickens?"

Lin Chen ignored the Taoist priest and stuffed the money into his pocket.

"The offerings to the gods cannot be discounted, otherwise they won't come next time."

Lin Chen turned to look at Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai.

"Qiusheng, Wencai, I have a task for you."

Lin Chen tossed fifty silver dollars to Qiu Sheng.

"Go to the best restaurant in town and buy everything on the list I just gave you."

"Consider the extra money as your errand fee."

Qiu Sheng was filled with enthusiasm when he heard that there was money to be made.

"Alright, Junior Brother Lin! We've got this covered!"

Qiu Sheng pulled Wen Cai along and pushed the bicycle as they ran out of the mortuary.

By evening.

Qiusheng and Wencai returned pushing a cart with a roast suckling pig sizzling with oil on it.

There were twenty mud-packed beggar's chickens piled up next to them, as well as three large jars of Daughter's Red wine.

The courtyard of the mortuary was filled with the aroma of meat and wine.

Wencai swallowed hard as he looked at the roast suckling pig.

"Junior Brother Lin, this roasted pork smells amazing! Could even a god finish it? Shall we try a piece first?"

Lin Chen glared at Wen Cai.

"If you want to be struck by lightning, then go and try it."

Wen Cai withdrew his hand.

Lin Chen set up an altar in the backyard.

A yellow cloth was spread on the octagonal table, and an incense burner was placed in the middle.

Lin Chen directed Qiu Shengwen to move the food and drinks to the table.

There was too much food, and the table couldn't hold it all, so they spread a cloth on the ground and piled the remaining beggar's chicken on it.

Everything is ready.

Lin Chen washed his hands and changed into a Taoist robe.

Standing before the altar, I lit three sticks of sandalwood incense and placed them in the incense burner.

"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits."

"Divine power is displayed outside the South Heavenly Gate."

"The offerings are ready; please enjoy them, Your Majesty!"

Lin Chen formed hand seals, stepped into the Seven Star Steps, and chanted the incantation to summon the gods.

The mantra is recited.

The sandalwood incense in the incense burner burned, emitting blue smoke.

The wisps of smoke rose straight into the sky, transforming into a path of incense smoke.

Outside the South Heavenly Gate.

The Heavenly Soldier and the Mighty General squatted on the clouds.

Hercules yawned.

"Hey bro, didn't you say that kid from the lower realm had roast suckling pig? It's been half a day, and we haven't even smelled a single pig hair."

Brother Tianbing patted his chest.

"Don't worry, I've met that kid. He's a man of principle and would never renege on his debts."

I just finished speaking.

A meaty aroma wafted up from the clouds, and Hercules sniffed it.

"It's here! It smells like barbecue!"

The heavenly soldier looked down along the incense-burning passage and saw food laid out at the other end.

"Holy crap, this kid's really generous, he actually bought a whole head!"

Hercules drooled and reached down into the incense burner.

The backyard of the mortuary.

A phantom hand reached out from mid-air, grabbed a roast suckling pig and lifted it into the air, then picked up several beggar's chickens and a jar of Daughter's Red wine, before shrinking back into the clouds.

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai were stunned, hiding behind the door.

"My goodness, it's like gods have descended to earth to take food!" Wen Cai said.

Outside the South Heavenly Gate.

Hercules will be holding a roast suckling pig with his mouth wide open.

He took a big bite and the sound of chewing echoed outside the South Heavenly Gate.

"It smells so good! It smells amazing!"

"Food from the mortal realm just tastes better than boiled vegetables from Heaven!"

Hercules chewed on a pork bone, grabbed a wine jar, and smashed open the mud seal.

"Gulp, gulp!"

He downed half a jar of Daughter's Red wine, while Brother Tianbing jumped up and down in frustration.

"Hey, hey, leave some for me! That beggar's chicken is mine!"

The two ate on the clouds.

Hercules let out a burp towards the incense offering passage.

"belch!"

"That kid from the lower realm, his name is Lin Chen, right?"

"I've made you my brother! If you ever run into any tough opponents, just call me anytime!"

"As long as there's enough meat, I'll smash even a great demon king to pieces!"

Lin Chen, who was in the backyard of the mortuary, heard the sound and a smile appeared on his lips.

This was a worthwhile deal; they used the Ren family's money to befriend a heavenly general.

In the future, when encountering evil spirits with hard shells, simply summon the divine general.

The offerings on the altar have changed.

The roast suckling pig was shriveled and blackened, the beggar's chicken was like rotten mud, and the wine had turned into water.

The essence and fragrance of the offerings were absorbed by the deities.

Lin Chen removed the altar.

A system notification sounded in my mind.

[Ding! Daily task: Cross-realm offering delivery completed.]

By keeping promises and being trustworthy, you gain the favor of the celestial generals.

[Attribute Point Reward: Spirit +1.]

Lin Chen stretched and went back to his room to rest comfortably.

Early the next morning.

The rustling sound of brooms sweeping the ground echoed in the courtyard of the mortuary.

Uncle Nine was dressed in coarse cloth shorts, with a bandage on his left arm soaked in yellow medicine. He slowly practiced Maoshan boxing with one hand, stretching his muscles and bones.

He was scratched on the arm by the armored zombie, but fortunately the poison was removed in time, and the zombie poison did not damage his heart.

Master Simu walked out of the guest room, yawning.

"Senior brother, you're up so early." Master Four Eyes rubbed his eyes.

Uncle Nine stopped his punch and glared at Master Four Eyes.

"Do you think everyone is like you, still lying in bed when the sun is high in the sky?"

Master Simu chuckled.

I walked to the door of the morgue, pushed it open, and went inside. The morgue was cold and damp.

Ten shop owners dressed in Qing Dynasty official robes stood neatly in the corner.

This is the biggest order Master Simu has received this time.

Ten business owners who died far from home are waiting to be sent back to their hometowns for burial.

Master Four Eyes walked up to the first zombie and touched the talisman for suppressing the corpse that was stuck to its forehead.

The cinnabar on the talisman paper has faded in color, and the edges have turned black.

"Oh no, this has taken too long."

These business owners have been staying at the mortuary for almost five days.

The incident involving Old Master Ren caused quite a commotion, making it impossible for them to travel for several nights in a row.

If a corpse is left for a long time, it will absorb the yang energy of the living and the yin energy of the earth, making it prone to reanimation.

If these ten bosses were to explode and die on the street, Master Four Eyes' reputation would be ruined.

Master Simu left the morgue and ran into the courtyard.

"Senior brother, I can't take it anymore, I have to leave tonight."

Uncle Jiu wiped the sweat from his face with a towel.

"So soon? Lin Chen just fought a battle with the armored zombie, shouldn't he be allowed to rest for a couple more days?"

Master Simu waved his hand.

"We can't wait any longer. The stench of death emanating from those ten bosses in the morgue is becoming unbearable."

"In our line of work, timing is everything."

"If I miss the auspicious time for the burial, the family will definitely tear down my cemetery."

Uncle Nine nodded, knowing that the rules of the corpse-driving profession could not be taken lightly.

"Fine, since you're leaving, I won't stop you."

Uncle Nine turned his head and looked at Lin Chen, who was carrying a bowl of white porridge out of the kitchen.

"Lin Chen, come here for a moment."

Uncle Jiu beckoned to Lin Chen and turned to walk into the study.

Lin Chen put down the bowl in his hand and followed Uncle Jiu into the house.

The study contained Taoist classics and materials for drawing talismans.

Uncle Nine walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out a wooden box about the size of a palm.

The wooden box has a rustic feel and exudes the scent of sandalwood.

Uncle Nine pushed the wooden box in front of Lin Chen.

"Uncle-Master, what is this?" Lin Chen asked.

"You're a talented kid with a strong physique; you can even take on a mutated armored zombie head-on."

"Maoshan is ultimately a place for cultivating Taoism; magic and talismans are its foundation."

"No matter how strong your physical body is, you will still suffer when you encounter those evil spirits that have no physical form and specialize in attacking the soul."

Uncle Nine opened the wooden box.

There are two things inside.

A calligraphy brush with a purplish sheen, and a small piece of dark red ore.

"This brush is made of century-old purple bamboo and purple wolf hair. It makes the flow of magic power smoother when drawing talismans."

"This ore is top-grade cinnabar, ten times more yang in nature than ordinary cinnabar."

Uncle Nine closed the box and pushed it towards Lin Chen.

"Your master is such a poor wretch, he wouldn't be willing to buy you such good materials."

"Take these two things and practice drawing talismans on the way."

Lin Chen picked up the wooden box.

These two items are priceless treasures on the market.

"Thank you for the treasure, Senior Uncle," Lin Chen said.

evening.

The sun set behind the mountains, and darkness fell.

Master Simu changed into an apricot-yellow Taoist robe, carrying the chipped bronze sword on his back.

Lin Chen packed his bags and hung the lightning-struck wooden sword at his waist.

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai stood at the entrance of the mortuary, looking at Lin Chen.

"Junior Brother Lin, come visit often when you have time!"

Lin Chen nodded with a smile.

"My two senior brothers, practice your skills more often, and don't always make your senior uncle worry."