Chapter 125: Veiling Clouds

Anxi Street was bustling with people coming and going. Jin Zhu was squatting on the ground, looking directly at Chen Ji without any pretense. "Do you know what it means for this cultivation manual to be sent to Luo City today?"

"What does it mean?"

Jin Zhu stated firmly, "For this cultivation manual to be delivered to Luo City within a day, it had to leave the capital before sunset yesterday. It had to pass through six stations along the way: Baoding, Hengshui, Handan, Hebi, Xinxiang, and Zheng County, changing horses six times without stopping. Do you know that even ordinary military reports don't have this privilege? It requires an oral decree from the Inner Prime Minister to mobilize so many horses from so many stations."

Jin Zhu continued, "The person who brought this cultivation manual is also not ordinary, that is... well, I can't tell you. Little one, when you lived in the capital before, did you ever meet the Inner Prime Minister?"

Chen Ji was silent.

Chen Liqin came to Luo City in the autumn of Jianing's twenty-fifth year. It was now the winter of Jianing's thirty-first year. This meant that the entire Chen Liqin family had lived in the capital six years ago. Chen Ji wasn't sure if he had seen the Inner Prime Minister, so he couldn't answer casually.

Chen Ji changed the subject and asked, "Lord Jin Zhu, why did the Inner Prime Minister mobilize so much to send over a cultivation manual?"

Jin Zhu smiled with narrowed eyes, "Little one, you have caught the eye of the Inner Prime Minister."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Jin Zhu stood up and patted his shoulder. "A good thing, of course, a great thing. As long as you can perform a meritorious service for the Inner Prime Minister, he can make your wishes come true. Congratulations, from today onwards, you are truly part of the Secret Service."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "What cultivation manual did Lord Jin Zhu get for me?"

Jin Zhu looked around at the people and said in a low voice, "Follow me, this is not a place to talk."

The two walked through the crowd on Anxi Street, one in front and one behind, and boarded a carriage by the roadside.

West Wind stood by the carriage, pulling down the door and window curtains, sealing the carriage tightly and meticulously. He was extra cautious and solemn.

Jin Zhu sat inside the carriage and mysteriously took out a black stone tube from his sleeve. He handed it to Chen Ji. "What I got for you is the Mandala Secret Seal. It is the supreme method of the Ning Sect, a branch of the Southwestern Esoteric Sect. It can confine ferocious ghosts within one's body. Different ghosts grant different abilities. I once saw a high monk confine an Avici evil ghost within his body, allowing him to fly in the sky and escape on the ground, capable of anything."

Chen Ji doubted, "An esoteric sect method, why would it be in the Jie Fan Building?"

Jin Zhu chuckled, "This seal and ghost technique is the lifeline of the Ning Sect. If the Inner Prime Minister didn't have a huge hold over them, how would they willingly offer it up?"

Chen Ji lowered his head to look. There was a black wax seal on the black stone tube, and a 'Jie Fan' stamp was still on the wax seal.

Chen Ji raised his hand to open the wax seal, but Jin Zhu pressed his wrist. "Wait, the cultivation manual is a secret and important matter of our department's Ritual Supervision. The person who receives it must view it themselves according to the rules and burn it after reading. Do not open it in front of me; that is a taboo."

However, when Chen Ji looked up, he saw Jin Zhu's eyes eagerly staring at the stone tube in his hand, his gaze unwavering.

He thought for a moment, immediately pried open the wax seal, and poured a paper scroll out of the stone tube.

Jin Zhu was surprised, "What are you doing?"

Chen Ji said, "Since this is a cultivation manual that Lord Jin Zhu got for me, it's no harm for the lord to take a look."

Jin Zhu doubted, "Don't you know that cultivation manuals are confidential?"

"Lord Cloud Sheep once mentioned it."

"Then why are you still letting me look?"

Chen Ji smiled innocently, "The lord treats me with sincerity, so I will treat the lord with sincerity."

Jin Zhu pondered for a long time, "Before, I still suspected you somewhat, but now that I think about it, I am truly ashamed. Hurry and look."

Chen Ji slowly unfolded the paper scroll. He only glanced at it roughly but was surprised. "Lord, what is recorded on this paper scroll is not the Mandala Secret Seal."

Jin Zhu was shocked and leaned his head over to look at the paper scroll. He saw the first two large characters entering his eyes: Gai Yun.

The next moment, he quickly recoiled and said in surprise and uncertainty, "How did this cultivation manual get here?"

Chen Ji did not understand. "What's wrong, Lord?"

Jin Zhu lowered his head and his face changed several times. When he looked up again, he said seriously, "I have not seen this cultivation manual of yours. I don't know what's inside, and I don't know the content. If the Inner Prime Minister asks, you must, absolutely must, say this."

Chen Ji looked at the paper scroll in his hand. "What kind of cultivation manual would make the lord act like he's facing a great enemy? Or perhaps, I should not cultivate this one."

Jin Zhu's face struggled for a long time, and finally, he let out a sigh of relief. "No, you must cultivate it. This manual is not bad for you, it's just related to a lot of secrets."

"What secrets?"

Jin Zhu said faintly, "Twelve years ago, the Qi family produced a young official named Qi Yun Chang. When he was nine years old, he suddenly changed his name to Qi Gai Yun. He entered the Xiantian realm at twelve, the Seek Dao realm at sixteen, and touched the threshold of the God Dao realm at twenty-one. It seemed he was only one step away from the realm above the blue clouds. His formless sword qi was divine and demonic, leaving people defenseless."

"Formless sword qi?"

Chen Ji thought to himself, this cultivation manual seemed very suitable for him.

He then asked, "Is this Qi Gai Yun even more formidable than Tian Ma?"

Jin Zhu sighed, "If we talk about strength, they are not much different. If we talk about potential, he was probably a cut above Tian Ma. Qi Gai Yun entered the border army at sixteen. Within three years, he beheaded more than ten Jing Dynasty generals. In the winter of Jianing's seventeenth year, he led a cavalry of three hundred men deep into the Jing Dynasty for six hundred li and captured the Jing Dynasty's Chi Cheng Marquis alive. Afterwards, he was surrounded and pursued by the Jing Dynasty's iron cavalry. Everyone thought he wouldn't return, but he led those more than three hundred cavalry on a large detour in Liao North, finally killing his way to Lüshun, taking a ship back to the country. For such a meritorious service, His Majesty granted him the rank of Third-Rank Dragon Tiger General and the special permission to wear a sword in the court."

Jin Zhu continued, "When Qi Gai Yun returned, it was exactly the Shangyuan Festival in Jianing's eighteenth year. His Majesty held a banquet and invited all the officials. At the banquet, His Majesty asked him what his ambitions were. Qi Gai Yun, wearing his sword, stepped forward and said he wanted to become the first martial saint of the Jing and Ning Dynasties and unify the mountains and rivers for His Majesty."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Where is this Qi Gai Yun now?"

In the dimly lit carriage, Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji opposite him with a strange expression. "He's dead."

Chen Ji was startled. "He's dead?"

Jin Zhu continued, "Listen carefully to me speak slowly. This Qi Gai Yun's identity was not ordinary. When some people went to the Qi family as guests, they actually discovered that his father and mother treated him with divine respect. They didn't even call each other father and son. Later, his father once said when he was drunk that this Qi Gai Yun was not a mortal, but an immortal from the forty-nine heavens above, who came from East Kunlun."

Chen Ji's expression calmed down. Forty-nine heavens, again forty-nine heavens.

These forty-nine heavens were like the biggest secret in the mortal world, known only to a very few people.

But he originally thought that immortals who descended, like Xu Shu of the Qin Tian Jian, were hard to encounter in a hundred years, yet he didn't think there was more than one such immortal.

Counting this Qi Gai Yun, Xu Shu, and then Chen Ji himself, there were already three people from the forty-nine heavens.

What exactly was this forty-nine heavens, and why did he come to the Ning Dynasty from the forty-nine heavens?

Chen Ji thought until his head hurt. "Lord Jin Zhu, since Qi Gai Yun was an immortal, how could he die?"

"Once you come to the mortal world, you are a mortal. As long as you are a mortal, you will eventually die."

Jin Zhu replied, "In the spring of Jianing's twenty-first year, this Qi family official was ambushed and killed in Changping on his way back to the capital to report for duty from the border town."

Chen Ji doubted, "Just died like that? Who did it?"

Jin Zhu lowered his head and looked at the paper scroll in his hand. "What do you say?"

Chen Ji suddenly felt that this cultivation manual was a bit hot to handle.

Since Qi Gai Yun's cultivation manual was in the hands of the Si Li Jian, then this matter was naturally done by the Si Li Jian.

But why would the Si Li Jian want to ambush and kill an immortal from the forty-nine heavens who descended? And why would the Inner Prime Minister dare to teach this cultivation manual to himself?

Was he not afraid that he would leak this matter?

Chen Ji's mind was now full of question marks, completely unable to think clearly.

He seemed to see a middle-aged man wearing a black python robe, sitting upright behind a dimly lit desk, sending out a silent mockery to him, like a wily old hand playing a game of chess with unpredictable moves, causing his opponent to fall into endless contemplation.

Chen Ji thought for a moment and asked, "Perhaps this is not Qi Gai Yun's cultivation manual, just the same name? Lord, take a look and confirm if it's the Qi Gai Yun from that year."

Jin Zhu quickly closed his eyes. "Take it away, take it away, don't let me look, don't drag me down."

Chen Ji glanced at Jin Zhu and simply unfolded the paper scroll to read: "Before the Upper Clear Purple Mist Virtual Emperor, the Great Dao King Morning Lord of the Too Upper. Idly residing in the Rui Pearl makes seven words, Scattered changes into five forms transforming ten thousand gods."

Jin Zhu cried out, interrupting Chen Ji, opening his wide eyes. "Little one, do you want to harm me?"

Chen Ji smiled, "Lord Jin Zhu, we are now grasshoppers on the same rope, so why talk about harming or not harming? Besides, this is not necessarily Qi Gai Yun's cultivation manual. If he was ambushed and killed, how could he possibly tell his cultivation manual to his enemy?"

Jin Zhu glanced at him and said bitterly, "Did you forget Meng Ji? I tell you, it's best not to get involved in this matter. There must be a bigger secret within. It's strange, strange, I clearly asked for the Mandala Secret Seal for you, why would the Inner Prime Minister give you this thing?"

Chen Ji held up the paper scroll. "May I ask the lord, what grade is this cultivation manual, Grade A?"

Jin Zhu waved his hand. "Grade A, B, C, D, that's what we mortals say. An immortal from the forty-nine heavens who has descended and cultivated this manual, who is qualified to grade it? Little one, take care of it yourself."

After saying that, he had Chen Ji get out of the carriage, called West Wind, and sped away in a puff of smoke.

It was noon, and the cold wind of winter blew on Chen Ji's face, making him feel somewhat awake.

The Secret Service was like a deep abyss, and there seemed to be an invisible hand pulling him into the vortex of the cold pool at the bottom of the abyss.

Chen Ji tightened his collar and returned to the entrance of Taiping Medical Hall. He took a deep breath, rubbed his cheeks, and smiled, "I'm back."

Behind the counter, only Liu Qu Xing was sitting there, propping his chin up with his hand and dozing.

He heard Chen Ji's voice, his spirit suddenly lifted, he stood up, and said angrily, "What are you yelling about..."

Chen Ji looked around and asked curiously, "Where are Master and Senior Brother She?"

"Master and She Deng Ke went to the Prince's mansion to visit. I heard the Prince supervises the kiln factory every day and caught a cold."

Liu Qu Xing pointed to the backyard. "There's rice left for you on the stove. I hid four pieces of cured meat under your rice, otherwise that grandson She Deng Ke would have snatched it all."

Chen Ji chuckled, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

He went back to the kitchen, casually ate a few mouthfuls, and quietly returned to the apprentice's bedroom, closing the door. He then took out the paper scroll from his sleeve.

He quietly gazed at the scriptures on the paper scroll but didn't know how to cultivate.

Perhaps, like the little monk, he should just recite the scriptures non-stop?

"Before the Upper Clear Purple Mist Virtual Emperor, the Great Dao King Morning Lord of the Too Upper. Idly residing in the Rui Pearl makes seven words, Scattered changes into five forms transforming ten thousand gods. This is the Inner Chapter of the Yellow Court, the Qin Heart threefold dancing fetus immortal, Nine qi reflect brightness appearing between the skies, The divine covered child is born from purple smoke. It is said that the Jade Book can be refined and studied, Recite it ten thousand times to ascend to the three heavens."

"Wait!"

"Recite it ten thousand times to ascend to the three heavens? The answer to the riddle is in the riddle..."

Chen Ji sat cross-legged on the bed and recited it over and over again. The entire article had two hundred and thirty-nine sentences, a total of one thousand six hundred and seventy-three characters. It took half an incense stick to read the entire article.

He silently read it for a moment. The instant he finished reading it for the first time, he suddenly felt a surge of purple qi within his body, circulating back and forth in his blood.

Chen Ji murmured, "So magical?"

However, as soon as his words fell, the majestic sword qi within his body, which had been nourished by the sun, actually chased after that wisp of purple qi and shattered it with a single sword strike.

Chen Ji's pupils slightly contracted. From the moment he decided that Jin Zhu was betting on him, he couldn't hide his sword qi and no longer nourished his sword. Who knew that this sword qi would actually come out and cause trouble at the critical moment?

Perhaps there was mutual repulsion between cultivation manuals?

No, try again.

At this very moment, in a carriage heading east, Jin Zhu's entire body's bones suddenly crackled and popped, like someone stretching lazily upon waking up. His entire body felt smooth, and although his cultivation hadn't increased much, he could genuinely feel it.

Jin Zhu was startled at first, then overjoyed. "Chen Ji has started cultivating? He entered the gate so quickly..."

He had waited for this moment, waited for too long.

He had painstakingly confirmed Chen Ji's identity was correct and then flattered the Inner Prime Minister to get the cultivation manual for him, all so that after Chen Ji stepped into cultivation, his cultivation could be fed back to him, allowing him to ascend to the Seek Dao realm earlier.

But...

Jin Zhu suddenly let out a cry of pain, and a layer of fine sweat seeped out on his forehead.

A bone-piercing pain surged into his heart, as if someone was rawly pulling out his ribs.

He was too familiar with this pain; it was clearly a sign of his cultivation falling.

Jin Zhu gritted his teeth and muttered to himself, "What's wrong? Chen Ji just now clearly took one step into cultivation, how did he retreat again?"

Before the pain completely eased, his body crackled and popped again. Jin Zhu was just about to relax his breath, but his expression changed again. "Wait, Chen Ji, this little one, don't tell me... oh no..."