Chapter 641: Encounter

Lu Yang had originally planned to sell genuine past exam papers for the Wen Dao Sect's entrance exam. However, the buyers already knew they were from the Wen Dao Sect, and selling fake papers would lead to trouble if the buyers came back later, damaging their reputation.

After the initial group of four left, black-robed figures consistently approached the duo to purchase Potent Blood. They likely felt awkward buying it in the side hall in front of everyone. Meng Jingzhou experienced the joy of earning money for the first time.

Just as Meng Jingzhou thought sales had ended and they could pack up and leave, another black-robed figure flew over. His steps were steady, and he held one hand vertically before his chest, politely asking, "Benefactors, do you still have Potent Blood?"

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

"Monk, you should at least try to disguise your identity. You say you violated the precept against lust. If the Buddha comes looking for trouble, will it be on your head or mine?"

The polite monk continued, "Furthermore, this humble monk has no spirit stones. May I offer my services for Buddhist rituals as payment? Monks do not speak falsely; this humble monk is proficient in various rituals, including those for celebrating birthdays, extending life, expelling evil, or offering salvation to the deceased."

Meng Jingzhou considered this carefully. Celebrating a birthday required having a son; prolonging life implied one's lifespan was nearing its end; expelling evil meant evil creatures dared to approach him; and offering salvation meant he was dead. It seemed none of these conditions were relevant to him.

There was no curfew in Great Xia, and even at night, the city remained lively and prosperous. The three put away their black robes, revealing their usual attire, which did not stand out in the crowd.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou simultaneously exclaimed in surprise, not expecting to encounter a fellow practitioner from Hanging Temple here. The three simultaneously removed their black robes, revealing their true faces.

Among the people he knew, none seemed to be selling Potent Blood. Although they had never met formally, they had seen portraits of each other. The three walked into the city while talking. Shi Chan had a handsome face, wore a neat kasaya, and had an indifferent expression, with a subtle smile that suggested he had seen through the mundane world. He clearly looked like an enlightened high monk.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Chan?"

"Are you Fellow Daoist Lu Yang and Fellow Daoist Meng Jingzhou?" Shi Chan was overjoyed upon seeing the two; his voice rose two octaves, and his indifferent expression softened slightly. "To think I'd meet you two Senior Brothers here, it truly is fate."

Lu Yang's heart stirred, and he suddenly asked, "May I ask for the High Monk's dharma name?" Shi Chan was quite surprised to hear their familiar tone. More than half a year ago, when he visited the Wen Dao Sect, his main purpose was to find these two and learn Lu's Arhat Fist and the Celibacy Curse Fist. However, he had bad luck and found them absent.

Shi Chan gently shook his head: "I was originally there, but three months ago, a place called 'One More Time BBQ Restaurant' acquired our slaughterhouse. When the people from the BBQ restaurant learned of my identity, they fired me."

Lu Yang casually asked, "Then how did you end up in the black market? Didn't you say you had no spirit stones?"

"But it doesn't matter. This humble monk was going to leave anyway. It was precisely at that time that this humble monk fully comprehended the meaning of 'Drop the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot,' successfully shattering my Golden Core and forming a Nascent Soul, thus entering the Nascent Soul stage."

"If I recall correctly, Senior Brother Shi Chan should still be at the slaughterhouse, right?" Lu Yang was also surprised. During the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, Shi Chan was the only outstanding disciple from the Five Great Immortal Sects who didn't come; he was at the slaughterhouse. Later, during the Golden Core finals, Master Jiesha was practicing silent meditation, so Shi Chan wasn't informed. After all, our Demonic Cult and your Immortal Sects are sworn enemies. Lu Yang thought to himself that it was probably out of fear that Shi Chan would discover the BBQ restaurant was backed by the Nine Nether Sect.

The polite monk answered every question: "This humble monk is Shi Chan."

"Could he really beg for alms in the black market?"

Shi Chan smiled slightly: "By reporting them, of course." At this point, Shi Chan's tone was somewhat regretful: "This humble monk originally thought it was a demonic black market dealing in souls, but unfortunately, after looking around, I found it was just a small black market for tax evasion."

"My master, when he could still speak, told me that these small black markets are tacitly approved by the authorities and should not be reported."

"Although I can't report the black market, encountering you two Senior Brothers here is already an extraordinary gain."

"It was foolish of this humble monk not to connect the Potent Blood with Senior Brother Meng. The Senior Brothers from the Wen Dao Sect had long told me that Senior Brother Meng is a rare cultivation genius, whose Dao Heart is as firm as iron, and who abstains from female company in his pursuit of strength."

"It stands to reason that Senior Brother Meng's blood, having cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, would possess such potent effects."

"Then why do you want Old Meng's blood? Do you perhaps have a sweetheart?"

"Senior Brother Lu is joking. This humble monk is a monastic; how could a monastic have a sweetheart?"

"This humble monk wishes to refine pure Yang blood to temper my state of mind to the realm of 'remaining unmoved even when a beauty sits in one's embrace'." Shi Chan stopped, extended his right hand, and pointed to a bustling brothel nearby, smiling faintly: "This is where this humble monk tempers his state of mind."

"With a beauty in one's embrace, one's mind remains in Zen meditation, viewing them as mere 'pink skeletons'—only then can one's state of mind reach great perfection."

"I've heard that Senior Brother Lu's master, Daoist Silent, is a cultivator who practices amidst the mundane world. Senior Brother Lu must be familiar with such cultivation methods and should understand this humble monk's approach."

Lu Yang actually wanted to say that his master usually cultivated in the mundane world from within a prison, not in places that cost money. But, as saying so would dishonor his sect, he decided not to elaborate.

They were all disciples of immortal sects, and a few drops of blood weren't worth much money. Meng Jingzhou was generous and directly gave Shi Chan twenty drops of blood. For an ordinary Nascent Soul stage cultivator, one drop of blood would be effective. However, for a genius Nascent Soul stage cultivator like Shi Chan, one or two drops wouldn't suffice; he needed twenty drops at once.

Shi Chan felt the Yang energy in the blood, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly: "Shi Chan thanks you two Senior Brothers in advance." Shi Chan didn't stand on ceremony and swallowed all twenty drops of blood.

"It truly works."

Shi Chan's eyes lit up. Senior Brother Meng's blood was much more effective than he had anticipated; his body had already reacted, a sensation he had never experienced before. Seeing that he couldn't suppress the effects of Meng Jingzhou's blood, he walked directly toward the brothel, his expression still indifferent and otherworldly.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou didn't know how long Shi Chan would stay in the brothel, so they decided to wait at a small tavern nearby. It was a good time to count the money they earned that night.

"150,000 spirit stones, 500,000 spirit stones, 100,000 spirit stones... A total of 2,300,000 spirit stones!" Meng Jingzhou beamed with joy. He had earned so much money on his first business venture; it seemed he had a talent for commerce. However, this business couldn't be done continuously. The blood sold that night wasn't just casually drawn from his body; it had been compressed and refined to achieve a blood essence-like quality. He would need a few days of rest before he could refine the second batch.

"But I've proven I can make money; there's no need to keep selling blood."

2,300,000 spirit stones was an amount even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator couldn't produce all at once.

"Here, take half." Meng Jingzhou, grinning, pushed half of the storage ring toward Lu Yang. While Lu Yang's promotional phrases weren't the most pleasant, they had been incredibly helpful and facilitated later sales. Sharing the spirit stones was only fair.

Lu Yang didn't decline and accepted the spirit stones. The two chatted while drinking free water, ignoring the tavern owner's angry glares.

"Shouldn't Shi Chan be out by now?"

As they spoke, Shi Chan calmly walked out of the brothel, his expression as indifferent as when he entered, showing neither joy nor sorrow. Lu Yang waved, signaling Shi Chan to come over.

"How did the tempering of your state of mind go?"

Shi Chan smiled faintly: "The tempering failed."