353: Chapter 353 Giving You a Fortuitous Fortune

On the edge of the ferry crossing outside Jinchan Island, a pig demon had been squatting for a long time.

It wore an ill-fitting gray cloth jacket with a straw rope tied around its waist, its two front hooves resting on its knees, squatting at the very edge of the crowd like it was waiting for a ship that would never come.

Nearby were several other groups of travelers waiting for the ship, mostly Cultivators of the Human Race, with an occasional minor demon mixed in, but they all stood far away from the crowd, as if afraid of being noticed.

The pig demon hadn't stood close at first either, but after waiting too long, tired and hungry, it had unconsciously squatted closer to the ferry crossing.

A sharp-eyed Cultivator saw it, frowned, but said nothing.

Soon, someone went to report to the monk on duty at the ferry.

A slightly chubby monk walked down from the ship, his gaze landing on Xiaobai, who was squatting on the shore. He looked it up and down a few times, his tone carrying an undisguised sense of disgust.

"You creature, do you even deserve to cross the sea?"

His voice was not loud, but it was enough for everyone around to hear.

The pig demon was choked by those words, but soon, as if remembering something, it hurriedly stood up.

It pulled a yellowed, old booklet from its chest, flipped to a page, and pointed at the handwriting on it, saying:

"Great Master, this minor demon is called Xiaobai. Look, this is the 'Nine Swine Technique' created by my grandfather, an Earth Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique! I am not crossing the sea for free; I can use this Cultivation Technique to pay for the fare—"

The monk lowered his head to glance at the booklet, then raised his foot and kicked Xiaobai on the shoulder.

Xiaobai couldn't keep its balance and rolled back twice, its gray cloth jacket covered in dust. The old booklet also slipped from its hand, fell to the ground, and lay open to a few pages.

"Earth Rank Cultivation Technique? Just from a pig demon like you?"

The monk's tone carried an annoyance, as if he couldn't be bothered to say more, "Bring me ten thousand Spirit Stones, or get lost."

After saying this, he turned and returned to the ship without looking back.

Several Cultivators nearby heard this; some laughed, some shook their heads, but no one spoke up for it.

Xiaobai climbed up from the ground. It didn't go to pick up the booklet, nor did it argue; it just silently retreated to a position further away and squatted down again.

A youth passing by in the distance saw this scene and wanted to come over to help, but was pulled back by his companion: "Don't meddle in other people's business. That monk has Jinchan Island behind him; he's not someone we can afford to offend."

Xiaobai seemed to hear it, yet also seemed not to. It just sat there, burying its face in its knees, and didn't look up again.

It was at that moment that Chu Sheng saw it.

He didn't rush forward, choosing instead to stand in the distance and observe for a while.

Chu Sheng's gaze lingered on the pig demon for a moment, and he suddenly whispered, "Nine Swine..."

Jiuer stood beside him. Hearing him repeat the term in a low voice, her gaze also landed on the pig demon, but she offered no comment.

Chu Sheng recalled something from a long time ago.

Back when he was at his most humble, he had obtained a tattered Cultivation Technique booklet.

The paper of that booklet was rough, its edges worn and curled. Most of the handwriting on the cover was blurred, with only the two characters "Nine Swine" still faintly discernible.

Relying on that tattered Cultivation Technique, he had made it through the most difficult period of his Qi Induction.

Later, as his cultivation grew and he obtained better techniques, that booklet was placed in a corner of his Storage Pouch and never opened again.

But its existence had always remained in his memory.

At this moment, suddenly seeing a pig demon calling itself "Nine Swine," that sense of familiarity emerged involuntarily.

Chu Sheng stepped forward.

He ignored the travelers nearby who were still whispering, walked straight to the pig demon, squatted down, and looked it in the eye.

The pig demon raised its head and looked at him, its gaze filled with a hint of confusion but no wariness.

Chu Sheng asked, "Is your surname Nine Swine?"

The pig demon nodded, "My name is Xiaobai. Nine Swine is the surname of my ancestors."

Its tone was very calm, as if it were talking about something that had little to do with itself.

Chu Sheng didn't respond, just watched it.

Xiaobai hesitated for a moment before speaking again, its voice a few degrees lower than before.

"My grandfather was named Nine Swine Invincible. He was quite glorious in the past... He created a Cultivation Technique called the 'Nine Swine Technique,' an Earth Rank High Grade. He thought he was invincible under the heavens and went everywhere looking for people to challenge."

"Later, he went to challenge the Snake King. The Snake King didn't even make a move; he sent his weakest son out to accept the challenge."

"My grandfather used his full strength the moment he stepped up, but the opponent... only used one palm."

"And then my grandfather was gone."

Its tone remained flat, as if it were telling a story that had long passed and had little to do with itself.

"After the Snake King's son slapped him, he didn't even bother to take another look, just like swatting away a bug."

"My grandfather had offended many people while he was alive. After he died, his enemies came knocking one after another, and the Nine Swine clan scattered quickly."

"By my generation, basically no one remembers the surname Nine Swine anymore."

It stopped there for a moment, then pointed in a direction, its tone carrying a flat, realistic quality: "A Buddhist Cultivator once saved me. If it weren't for them, I might have been gone long ago."

"So I want to cross the sea to see the Buddhist Sect."

Several Human Race Cultivators nearby heard this conversation and turned their heads.

Someone whispered: "Those two look like major Cultivators..."

"Why are they chatting with a pig demon?"

"What could there be to talk about with that pig demon..."

Chu Sheng ignored the gossip, just looked at Xiaobai and asked, "You just said your grandfather created a Cultivation Technique?"

Xiaobai nodded, "Yes, it's called the 'Nine Swine Technique.' But later, no one learned it anymore."

Chu Sheng was silent for a moment, then extended his hand and channeled a gentle stream of spiritual energy into Xiaobai's Meridians.

That wisp of spiritual energy slowly traveled along a specific path, as if confirming something.

A moment later, Xiaobai suddenly froze. It lowered its head to look at its front hooves, as if it could feel something flowing within.

Chu Sheng withdrew his hand and said calmly, "I have seen the incomplete version of that 'Nine Swine Technique' before, and I once walked a stretch of my path relying on it."

He paused, then added, "If that Cultivation Technique had subsequent chapters, would you be willing to learn them?"

Since he had once received a favor, he might as well resolve this Karma.

"Little pig, how about I grant you a stroke of fortune?"

Xiaobai stared at him blankly for a good while, then, as if finally understanding something, nodded vigorously.

Several Human Race Cultivators nearby witnessed this scene. Some opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but closed them again.

They saw Chu Sheng's casual action of channeling spiritual energy, and they also saw the obvious change in Xiaobai, but no one could confirm what it actually meant.

They could only vaguely sense it.

This seemingly unassuming Human Race Cultivator was likely not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

A young Cultivator hesitated for a moment and asked, "Dare I ask, Senior, are you also crossing the sea?"

Chu Sheng didn't look at him, just gave a faint "Mn."

The man wanted to say more, but Chu Sheng had already stood up and said to Xiaobai, "Let's go, come on board with me."

He turned and walked toward the ferry. His pace was not fast, but it carried a certainty that needed no explanation.

Xiaobai was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly stood up and followed.

Jiuer walked by Chu Sheng's side without asking further questions.

The monk on the ferry had originally been sitting cross-legged at the bow of the ship. When he saw Chu Sheng and Jiuer approaching, his half-open, half-closed eyes seemed to be lightly stirred by something.

His gaze rested on Chu Sheng for a moment, shifted to Jiuer, then shifted back to Chu Sheng.

Chu Sheng's aura was undisguised—it was undeniably that of a top-tier Dao Palace.

The monk's expression changed extremely quickly, from his initial nonchalance to slight concentration, and then to a smile that quickly formed after seemingly confirming something.

The whole process took only about two breaths.

He stood up, pressed his palms together, and his voice was noticeably softer than when he had spoken to the others just now: "Amitabha, two benefactors, are you looking to cross the sea?"

He glanced at Chu Sheng, then at Jiuer, his tone carrying a perfectly pitched warmth: "Although this humble monk's ship is not large, it is stable. If the two benefactors are willing, I can arrange a window seat, which is quieter than the deck."

Chu Sheng looked at him, didn't say much, and just asked, "How much is the fare?"

The monk hurriedly waved his hands: "No matter, no matter. The two benefactors look like people of destiny; how could this humble monk have the nerve to collect fare?"

Compared to the words "You creature, do you even deserve to?" and "Bring me ten thousand Spirit Stones" that he had used with Xiaobai just now, his tone was as if spoken by two different people.

Chu Sheng did not decline, nor did he thank him; he simply stepped aside to let Xiaobai board the ship first.

The monk saw the chubby white pig demon behind Chu Sheng and paused, but quickly resumed that smiling face, as if he hadn't seen it at all.

Xiaobai lowered its head, walked quickly onto the deck, and squatted down in a corner, as if it had long been accustomed to such unnoticed positions.

Chu Sheng didn't stop it; he just walked to one side of the deck himself and sat down, leaning against the ship's railing.

Jiuer sat down beside him, glanced at the monk, withdrew her gaze, and said nothing.

The outline of Jinchan Island gradually became clearer in the distance.