“Divine Condensation Mustard Seed, treading upon Sumeru.”
“Thought arises and mountains topple, intention settles and dust clears…”
After reciting over a thousand characters steadily and calmly, Lin Ci finally said to Xia Xiaochan:
“This is the incantation for One Thought Tramples a Thousand Mountains. You should memorize it in your heart first. Whether you can comprehend it and to what extent you learn it depends entirely on your own aptitude.”
“But, senior brother…”
Xiao Chan hesitated, “Such a profound escape technique, can I really figure it out on my own?”
If you can’t, that’s perfectly fine.
Lin Ci thought to himself, then gave Xiao Chan a reassuring look to encourage her:
“Indeed, it might be a bit difficult for you, but don’t worry. It’s alright. Senior brother believes in you…”
“Senior brother, you…” Xiao Chan was so moved she didn’t know what to say, and a little confidence stirred within her.
“I believe you’re still young, so there’s no need to rush. Even if it takes you decades to understand, one day you’ll succeed!”
“So that’s what this belief means…”
Xia Xiaochan’s expression froze for a moment. Senior brother, please take back my feelings of being touched…
Lin Ci, on the other hand, looked utterly exhausted.
Decades, and she still wouldn’t understand it…
That’s right, One Thought Tramples a Thousand Mountains — the entire incantation was something he made up on the spot, recalling cultivation novels from his past life.
Reciting over a thousand characters in one breath… do you know how tiring that is?
Divine Condensation Mustard Seed, treading upon Sumeru…
Just think about it. Such obscure and hard-to-understand nonsense, even Lin Ci himself didn’t fully grasp the meaning, so how could Xiao Chan possibly comprehend any escape technique?
As for that hawthorn leaf, it was something he found on the ground before, probably blown there by the wind. Lin Ci kept it because it was relatively intact and had been used as a bookmark.
His plan was that after some time, when Xiao Chan realized she couldn’t learn the technique at all, her enthusiasm for escape techniques would naturally fade.
Then, maybe he could teach her the simpler Five Elements Escape Technique — but of course, only after he himself had mastered it.
“Well, I’m leaving.”
Lin Ci packed up his things and said calmly.
“Senior brother… come back soon.”
As they neared parting, countless words flooded their minds, but in the end, Xiao Chan only managed to say those four words, reluctantly holding onto Lin Ci’s robe.
“Alright, no need to see me off. Go focus on comprehending the escape technique. I’ll be back to check your progress.”
“Mm…”
Xiao Chan’s eyes reddened again. She waved to senior brother and watched him leave.
“Senior brother, take care of yourself, eat well, and watch out for those demonic cultivators!”
“Got it.”
Lin Ci waved back, leaving behind a figure that grew smaller and smaller.
Xiao Chan stared at her senior brother’s disappearing back, propping up her chin as she crouched down.
Suddenly, her heart felt empty.
Actually, she was just lonely. She wasn’t particularly worried, even though she knew senior brother might encounter demonic cultivators outside.
In her eyes, senior brother was invincible!
No matter how powerful the demonic cultivators, they couldn’t harm a single hair on his head!
So, only Lin Ci was afraid…
After leaving Wenxuan Peak, he quickly pulled a wide bamboo hat over his head, covering half of his face, but that wasn’t enough.
He also took out a dragon-pattern mask shaped like a mouth cover and covered the lower half of his face.
At the creek, he looked at his reflection and sighed in relief only after realizing he was completely unrecognizable.
This way, none of the demonic sect spies within the Sect would know it was him descending the mountain.
Next, Lin Ci, wearing this disguise, headed to the Hall of Merit within the Sect.
The Hall of Merit was the place with the most people from the Great Mystery Sect.
Any disciple from the Great Void Sect could come here to receive tasks.
Besides the monthly stipend, if disciples wanted more Spirit Stones, the only legitimate way was to complete tasks and receive rewards.
Lin Ci entered through the main door of the Hall of Merit, seeing rows of low walls ahead.
Many disciples moved between the walls, occasionally glancing sideways.
Yellow papers were posted on the walls, detailing the tasks.
Lin Ci blended into the crowd, casually browsing.
“Herbal gathering task: Location Dragon Vein Cliff, pick one Crimson Flame Twin Flower, reward 50 Spirit Stones, 300 merit points.”
“Demon extermination task: Location east of Rocksteady Town, capture a third-level demon beast Black Fire Wolf, take its life essence to complete the task. Reward 70 Spirit Stones, 500 merit points.”
“Master’s task, issued by Wang Longyang: Seeking a Foundation Establishment Realm male cultivator, to discuss the Essence Dragon Intercourse heart method intimately at midnight. Reward 200 Spirit Stones, 700 merit points, plus a bottle of Hemorrhoid Removing and Skin-Moistening Ointment.”
I’m a geographer. This is Nantong!
Lin Ci smirked.
Before long, he had searched the Outer Courtyard thoroughly but found no tasks heading to the Western Regions, and even westward tasks were scarce.
No wonder.
The Western Regions had many Buddhist temples, their incense offerings prosperous.
When mortals encountered trouble, they didn’t first turn to the Great Void Sect but to temples to burn incense and make offerings.
So news of disasters rarely reached here.
Why was Lin Ci looking for tasks?
Because the Hall of Merit was thoughtful — disciples who accepted tasks with distant destinations could borrow a Spirit Boat to travel to the task location.
Spirit Boats were incredibly fast, equivalent to a Golden Core Cultivator flying at full speed, yet they didn’t consume the user’s spirit energy, allowing disciples to rest and recover along the way.
If he could get a task heading west, he could greatly shorten his travel time by Spirit Boat.
That way, he could definitely return in time before the Sect’s Grand Competition.
But he hadn’t expected that in this vast Outer Courtyard, there wasn’t a single task going west.
He could only try his luck in the Inner Court…
Unlike the Outer Courtyard, tasks posted in the Inner Court were more dangerous, mostly requiring confronting enemies at Foundation Establishment Realm or above.
Only disciples confident in their strength would consider taking Inner Court tasks.
Arriving at the Hall of Merit’s Inner Court,
Lin Ci clearly noticed fewer disciples here and fewer tasks posted.
After searching for a while,
he finally stopped before a low wall and found what he was looking for.
“Pest elimination task: Location White Pine Town in the west. Exterminate the rogue cultivator Sun Guishou of the Dao Qie Huang Tang, who plagues the people. Sun Guishou is a Golden Core Cultivator; those below Golden Core cannot accept this task.”
“Reward — 500 Spirit Stones, 1300 merit points.”
This is perfect!
Lin Ci’s eyes lit up. White Pine Town was on the edge of the Central Province, adjacent to the Western Regions.
Reaching White Pine Town was practically arriving at the Western Regions.
Though there was still some distance to Golden Buddha Temple, being able to take the Spirit Boat to the Western border would save several days.
This was it!
Lin Ci was about to tear off the yellow paper to accept the task.
But at the very moment he grasped the edge of the paper, a fair, delicate hand pressed down on the opposite corner.
Lin Ci’s gaze darkened instantly.
The task he had worked so hard to find was about to be snatched?
Alright, alright, you’ve chosen the path to your death!
He slowly raised his head, peeking out from beneath the bamboo hat’s brim.
It was a female cultivator…
Pure white boots untouched by dust, an elegant floral pleated skirt, a dark plain sword tied at her slender waist, a full and firm chest curve, delicate fair collarbone skin, and radiant rosy lips…
Lin Ci stopped short and avoided looking at her eyes.
He lowered the brim of his hat further, clearing his throat and changing his tone:
“Sister sect member, I found this task first.”
“Oh my, then what shall we do? I saw this task first…”
The female cultivator’s voice was gentle, but she didn’t loosen her grip.
Just as they were at a stalemate,
another voice abruptly interrupted.
“Liuyue Sister! Have you found a task going west?”
“Although I found one, this fellow here also wants to accept it.”
“What did you say?”
The interrupter was a green-robed female cultivator. Upon seeing Lin Ci standing beside, her expression instantly turned sour.
“Hey hey hey, this fellow dressed like a sticky rice dumpling, how dare you compete with Sister Liuyue for a task?”
“If you don’t recognize her, take off your hat and have a proper look!”
“This is Bu Liuguyue, the Sect’s top disciple!”
“What Sect disciple are you? Hurry and hand over the task to us!”
Bu Liuguyue…
Lin Ci’s face changed.
He immediately released the yellow paper and took two steps back.
“Farewell!”