I am grinding experience in another world-Chapter 685 - 673 Progress

On the Heavenly Pass Star, the changing seasons are imperceptible, and months slip by in the blink of an eye.

That day, at dusk, in the Jiwei Courtyard of Yangdu Square.

By the window, Chen Mu lounged contentedly in a new rocking chair, swaying back and forth.

A gray wall appeared before his eyes, and as he gazed at one of its panels, his face lit up with a smile.

Jade Cicada Secret Scripture: 232/10000/Third Rank;

As the scripture advanced in rank, the jade seed's restructuring progressed even further. The golden patterns on the inner wall now occupied more than two-thirds of its surface.

The insights relayed back from the gray wall once again filled in some gaps in the "Jade Cicada Secret Scripture."

Over the past few months, Chen Mu's Daoist Foundation cultivation had progressed at an astonishing speed.

"I've got to thank Meng Qingchan for this." Chen Mu chuckled to himself.

Ever since he'd tossed the Inheriting Heaven Gourd into the Bottomless Pool, he'd never run short of Replenishing Origin Soup or Nourishing Spirit Wine.

Even though the gourd was only about the height of a forearm, the vital energy it contained seemed limitless.

With the Seven Turns Banquet Primordial Curse and the Ninth Transition Soul Capturing Spell repeatedly extracting energy, the abundant protective qi belonging to Meng Qingchan within Thousand Lanterns City hadn't diminished in the slightest.

"A small gourd holds such immense vital energy—no wonder Meng Qingchan is so confident in his resurrection plan."

"Since that's the case, charging him a bit more rent shouldn't affect his recovery."

Chen Mu's lips curved upward, and he immediately began to circulate the Mountain-Carrying Scripture.

From the ghostly creatures, yin spirit divine power was extracted and inadvertently converted into a chilly white mist, which was then used to nourish the divine fetus and cultivate the Heavenly Demon Body.

For a straight hour, he continued until the ghosts' divine power had been completely drained.

Inside the Five Ghosts Bag, four thousand ghostly creatures wafted aimlessly above the Bottomless Pool.

The surface of the pool remained smooth as a mirror, but thin strands of mist resembling water vapor began to rise.

As they scrambled to absorb the white mist, it didn't take long before the once-dazed ghostly creatures began to gradually recover.

"Not enough ghosts." Chen Mu shook his head regretfully.

If there were another batch, he could establish a two-shift system: one set resting and recovering while the other continued to be drained for yin spirit divine power to aid Heavenly Demon Body cultivation, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the Inheriting Heaven Gourd.

Such a pity.

...

The next day.

Demon Dispel Alley, Xinsi Courtyard.

"Fifteen of them?"

"Manager Wu, wasn't the task previously just thirteen Eagle-beaked White Jade Snakes?" Chen Mu frowned and complained.

"You said it yourself—that was before."

"With the great victory at Starside, the number of demons slain has increased, and heavier workloads at Demon Dispel Alley are inevitable."

"Instead of complaining to me, why not get started already?" The stout Manager Wu spoke calmly.

"At first, it was just ten snakes, then twelve, then thirteen, and now it's fifteen. The workload has really become excessive." Chen Mu pretended to be troubled.

Of course, he knew the reason for the adjustments—not just for him, but for all the butchers in the Xinsi Courtyard, whose tasks had similarly multiplied.

Griping a bit to vent frustrations was the norm for most butchers.

"Double the rewards, and ten Daoist points added to your record daily." Manager Wu replied slowly.

"Say no more! Consider it done!" Chen Mu's face turned resolute and serious.

I knew you Daoist Soldiers were all like this.

Manager Wu shot a glance at Chen Mu, gestured for the two Daoist Soldiers behind him to place down the buckets carrying the Eagle-beaked White Jade Snakes, and then clasped his hands behind his back to depart.

But after taking just a few steps—

SQUEEECH!

A sudden, sharp screech erupted.

BANG!

A distant rooftop of a partitioned building suddenly exploded, sending shingles and wooden debris flying, as a massive Eagle-beaked White Jade Snake, the size of a train, soared skyward.

Manager Wu, who had been leisurely ambling, vanished instantly, and with an agility utterly incongruous with his stout frame, he leaped deftly into the air.

In several quick flashes, he appeared above the White Jade Snake and dealt a single airborne punch that sent its colossal head crashing back into the courtyard.

"Who would've thought—this Manager Wu's movement technique is impressively nimble." Chen Mu remarked from his high stool, watching the chaotic scene in the distance with interest.

Eagle-beaked White Jade Snakes were naturally endowed with the Desired Size Divine Power, and the one-to-two-meter-long White Snakes usually seen were merely their post-mortem state.

If alive, they could, as demonstrated by this snake, effortlessly transform into a formidable behemoth.

A series of deafening crashes mingled with hawk-like cries and snake-like shrieks, and soon the White Jade Snake was subdued.

"That's the fourth accident this month, isn't it?" Chen Mu shook his head disapprovingly.

"The Daoist Soldiers stationed by Starside are just careless. They can't even kill a White Jade Snake properly, missing those sneaky snakes feigning death to evade detection."

Shaking his head, Chen Mu withdrew his gaze, dipped his hand into a nearby bucket to grab a White Jade Snake, and pressed it onto a stone table, ready to complete his daily task.

But just as he was about to begin, a powerful force suddenly exploded in his palm.

The White Jade Snake wriggled like a slippery fish swimming in water, its strength not only overwhelming but also making it impossible to grasp.

Chen Mu's eyebrows shot up.

The fifth snake playing dead?

Tsk!

The front-line Daoist Soldiers are really rough!

Glancing around and seeing that everyone else's attention was drawn to the uproar in the distance, Chen Mu's eyelids drooped slightly,

and the air to his left faintly distorted as an invisible wave emerged from his palm.

BUZZ!

Chen Mu raised his hand slightly and lightly slapped the Eagle-beaked White Jade Snake. The immense force pierced through its protective qi mechanism, straight into its brain.

CHIRP!

A brief, sharp cry of anguish rang out.

The White Jade Snake, which had been preparing to gather strength, suddenly stiffened, then collapsed limply on the stone table.

The gray wall slowly emerged in Chen Mu's vision. Glancing at one of its panels, a smile appeared on his face.

Ten Directions Hand: 734/10000/Third Rank;

"The Third Rank Ten Directions Hand is amazing."

Ever since arriving on the Heavenly Pass Star, Chen Mu had been focused on restructuring his jade seed, but he hadn't completely abandoned the Ten Directions Hand.

In the intervals spent waiting for his body to recover its vital energy, he'd practice the Ten Directions Hand to pass the time.

Over time, the secret technique gradually advanced to the third stage, its capacity to accumulate power becoming increasingly potent.

For an average Qi Cultivator practicing this secret technique, it would be decent at best.

But Chen Mu was different.

Not only did he train in authentic Qi Refining Technique, but he also practiced various unconventional Daoist arts. His body had undergone multiple rounds of tempering, giving him an exceptionally solid foundation.

The Ten Directions Hand, which uniquely concentrated every ounce of strength in the body, had thereby become extraordinarily powerful.

If not for ensuring the snake's muscles and outer layers remained intact, he could have easily crushed its head just now.

"You doing okay there?" Manager Wu returned, staring doubtfully at the limp White Jade Snake on the stone table.

"Doing just fine!" Chen Mu responded with a wide grin.

"What brings you back, Manager Wu?" He feigned ignorance, posing a question.

Mistaken, maybe?

Manager Wu glanced at the bucket full of White Jade Snakes beside the stone table, scratched his head, and left burdened by confusion.

No, you heard it right—you were just late.

Chen Mu's lips curved into a smirk as he lowered his head, feigning effort while dealing with the snake's remains.

...

"Too bad Replenishing Origin Soup and Nourishing Spirit Wine can't be stored long-term like pills."

At dusk, Chen Mu reclined against a soft pillow on the low couch, as he habitually schemed ways to maximize the use of the Inheriting Heaven Gourd.

The thought of Meng Qingchan possibly moving away from Thousand Lanterns City soon filled him with a sense of urgency.

If he left and Chen Mu hadn't extracted enough vital energy, it would be a real loss.

"Hmm, the Giant Spirit Secret Technique has plateaued for a while—it requires a massive amount of vital energy, so this could use some extra attention."

"The Five Ghosts Bag itself craves flesh and blood essence as well. More consumption would benefit it greatly."

"Better make the most of it."

"If Meng Qingchan comes back to life, there'll be no sheep left to shear."