Chapter 462: Lu Ping!
Chapter 462: Lu Ping!
If the other party proved easy to deal with, he might as well handle the matter himself.
After all, it had been five years since he broke through to the Golden Core realm, and he had hardly taken any action since. Even though he was still at the initial stage, his cultivation arts had improved, and his spellcraft had deepened.
Moreover, a Heavenly-Grade Golden Core suppressing an aging Human-Grade Golden Core would be as easy as flipping his palm.
A single divine ability would be more than the old man could withstand.
Furthermore, if worse came to worst, he still had the physical vessel of a Nascent Soul Patriarch. Even though it was merely an empty husk, it remained a Nascent Soul-tier body. Its might was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Even if he merely swung his fists, he could beat the old man to death.
“A Golden Core Perfected Master from the Immortal Sect?”
“Xiang’er is saved!”
“Fellow Daoist Cai, we truly cannot thank you enough!”Hearing that a Golden Core Perfected Master from the Immortal Sect was present, Shen Peng and Lei Yunna were overcome with excitement.
In the eyes of everyone else, the status and strength of Immortal Sect cultivators stood forever above those of ordinary cultivation sects, families, local factions, and Rogue Cultivators.
Any one of them possessed abundant resources, powerful backing, and exceptional aptitude.
Whether it was Spirit Weapons, Magical Artifacts, spirit talismans, or talismanic patterns, they had access to the absolute best.
Their cultivation arts, in particular, were universally acknowledged as the finest in the entire Azure Realm.
Jiang Chen reminded them, “Do not expose anything. If this person comes, simply play along.”
He himself could afford to look down on the old man and treat him with disdain.
But the other party was, ultimately, a Golden Core Perfected Master. Even if he only possessed a Human-Grade Golden Core, to the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators in Green City, he remained an invincible and terrifying existence.
Shen Peng nodded vigorously, like a pounding pestle. “Yes, yes, of course.”
Jiang Chen asked, “Do you still have the spirit talisman I gave you before?”
Shen Peng replied quickly, “We do. We’ve always kept it close to Xiang’er.”
“Bring it here,” Jiang Chen ordered immediately. “I’ll upgrade it.”
Not long after, Shen Peng retrieved the protective talisman Jiang Chen had gifted them several years ago.
Its original effect was to block all attacks at the Foundation Establishment realm and below for roughly the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
Now, after his upgrades, it could withstand even the strikes of a Human-Grade Golden Core, though only for ten breaths.
Afterward, Jiang Chen gave them his final instructions. “I will be staying in Green City for the next few days. I will keep a close eye on the situation here.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he soared into the air and drifted away.
Seeing his departure, Lei Yunna couldn’t help but whisper, “Husband, Shangxiang hasn’t yet…”
Shen Peng quickly waved his hand to stop her. “If not for Fellow Daoist Cai, we would still be entirely in the dark, manipulated by Qiao Baiyang. Do not mention the matter of apprenticeship again.
“Given Xiang’er’s condition, simply being able to live out her life in peace is already a blessing.”
Lei Yunna’s eyes dimmed, and her lips trembled slightly. “What a pity.”
…
…
What greatly surprised Jiang Chen was that after more than four years away, the Fragrance Pavilion had actually relocated.
In the past, he would have been able to see it as soon as he crossed the arch bridge.
Now, a brand-new structure stood in its place.
It took the shape of a five-story pagoda and was named the ‘Earth Shift Pavilion’.
Judging by the name alone, it sounded like something related to earth Spirit Roots or Formation Masters.
Jiang Chen stroked his chin, studying the pagoda closely. “Could an outside Formation Master have settled down in Green City? I’ll take a look inside first, then head to the Fragrance Pavilion later.”
Without hesitation, he walked toward it.
However, before he could even get close—when he was still roughly ten meters away—he suddenly felt a thick, oppressive wave of earth energy.
Who knew what kind of formation had been laid beneath this building, but it constantly dragged the surrounding earth energy toward itself.
Anyone who approached would feel their movements turn sluggish, as if they were sinking into a mire, pulled down by an invisible force.
Yet the stronger the resistance, the more it piqued Jiang Chen’s curiosity and interest.
Therefore, he feigned great difficulty, forcing his way forward step by agonizing step.
He actually took quite a while to cross the final ten meters before finally arriving at the entrance of the Earth Shift Pavilion.
The door was left wide open.
Inside, it was perfectly still.
At least from the outside, not a single sound from within could be heard.
Jiang Chen decisively stepped over the threshold. With just a single step, he felt as though he had entered an entirely different world.
The muddy, sluggish sensation from earlier vanished completely. There was no longer any dragging force beneath his feet; instead, he felt gently supported by a soft, flowing stream of earth energy.
Looking around, the first floor spanned roughly three zhang squared. The floor was made of packed brown earth that had seemingly been polished to a fine finish—smooth, but not slippery, with faint, brownish veins of energy visibly flowing across its surface.
There was no incense burning in the air. Instead, there was a faint, earthy scent. Far from being pungent, it felt strangely comforting as it settled into his lungs.
Directly facing the entrance sat a rough, long wooden table, about waist-high. The tabletop was crafted from a single slab of aged elm, its edges worn smooth by time, with a few tools scattered across it.
A bronze carving knife.
A clay pot for holding eyes.
And several unfinished, humanoid stone carvings.
Behind the long table sat a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties. He wore a coarse, dark-brown robe, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing deeply tanned skin.
His hair was tied loosely at the back of his head with a black wooden hairpin, with several streaks of gray mixed in. Two strands of loose hair hung down over his forehead, partially obscuring it.
His face was slightly square, with a sharp, clean jawline.
His features weren’t particularly handsome, but they exuded a sense of mature steadiness.
His eyes were like two ancient wells—deep, calm, and entirely unruffled.
At this moment, his head was lowered as he carefully carved away at a humanoid stone sculpture.
Noticing someone enter, he didn’t even bother looking up. He simply asked in an indifferent tone, “Are you here for a statue, or to purchase a formation?”
Jiang Chen answered with a question of his own. “Are you the owner of the Earth Shift Pavilion?”
Hearing this, the man finally raised his head. He scrutinized Jiang Chen with a measuring gaze before introducing himself. “Correct. I am the master of the Earth Shift Pavilion, Lu Ping.”
Jiang Chen pressed on. “Judging by this setup, you must be a Formation Master, right?”
Lu Ping gave a slight nod. “Mn.”
Jiang Chen grinned. “I happen to possess an earth Spirit Root as well. I’ve always wanted to learn the art of formations, but being a Rogue Cultivator, I’ve never had the opportunity or connections.”
Lu Ping offered a faint smile. “Formations are not something you can learn simply because you wish to. Comprehension, aptitude, talent, and patience—none of these can be lacking.”
Jiang Chen took a step forward. “What a coincidence. I happen to have all of them.”
Truthfully, he had no idea how many days he would end up staying in Green City.
He couldn’t exactly spend all his time loitering around the Fragrance Pavilion.
He might as well find something productive to do.
He had always wanted to systematically study formations and become a proper Formation Master.
Since he hadn’t found an opportunity before, wouldn’t it be perfect if he could pick up a few things here and bring them back to the sect?
As long as he reached the Novice stage, that was enough. The rest didn’t matter—in fact, it was entirely unimportant.
Lu Ping narrowed his eyes slightly, turning the thought over in his mind, before asking, “Are you a local?”
“Half-local, I suppose.”
“How many years have you lived here?”
“Almost ten!”
“How well do you know Green City?”
“Like the back of my hand!”
The two of them went back and forth, firing off questions and answers.
Through it all, Jiang Chen never showed the slightest hint of impatience.
Seeing that he had probed enough, Lu Ping pointed to the unfinished stone carvings on the table. “Let’s do this. Pick one at random, and try to carve it to match the portrait next to it. If you can succeed on your very first try, I will teach you the foundational knowledge of formations.”
Jiang Chen feigned hesitation. “But this is my first time. What if I ruin it?”
Lu Ping replied flatly, “Then it simply means we are not fated.”
Jiang Chen didn’t waste any more words. He picked up one of the rough stones at random, grabbed the carving knife, and began to shape the stone according to the reference portrait.
At first, his technique was incredibly clumsy, the sort that would easily lead to mistakes.
Yet as time passed, his hand grew steadily more assured.
Naturally, this was an act. After years of refining Spirit Weapons and reaching the Miracle Hands tier in Rune Arts, how could his hands possibly shake or slip?
He was only doing this to make his guise as a Rogue Cultivator more convincing.
However, when this scene fell into Lu Ping’s eyes, it sparked a genuine sense of surprise. Although this man isn’t young, his hands are incredibly steady. Could I have actually stumbled upon a hidden gem?!