Chapter 88 Awakening from the Dream

The Mid-Autumn Feast ended abruptly in this manner. The various lineages departed in a hurry to return and prepare for the upcoming examination.

Jiang Chen also prepared to head back, but before he could leave, he was intercepted by two groups of people.

The first to arrive was Su Baiwei.

"Daoist Priest Jiang, I'm afraid I cannot remain in Chang'an any longer."

"Oh. Safe travels."

"..."

"You truly are a man of few words, Daoist. If you have leisure time in the future, you may come to Yangzhou to find me. I will certainly welcome you with open arms."

As she spoke, Su Baiwei's face showed a hint of shyness, her beautiful eyes not daring to meet Jiang Chen's gaze directly.

"Alright, we'll see."

Su Baiwei paused, giving Jiang Chen a slight glare.

"You really are lacking in romance, Daoist. You've completely ruined the mood."

Having said that, she walked away with a graceful gait to follow Princess Yuzhen.

After Su Baiwei left, another unexpected person stopped Jiang Chen.

Yang Huazhang greeted Jiang Chen, "Daoist, I hope you have been well since we last met!"

"Daoist Priest Jiang, I have long heard of your reputation. I am Yang Sixu, and this is my worthless son. You two have crossed paths before."

Jiang Chen realized who he was and cupped his hands. "So it is General Yang. May I ask why you have stopped this humble Daoist?"

"Ah, it is like this. First, on behalf of the millions of commoners in the Huainan and Henan Circuits, I thank you, Daoist Priest Jiang, for being willing to lend a helping hand."

Jiang Chen shook his head slightly. "This is merely part of my duty."

"Furthermore, the Talismans you sold to my son previously were very effective. This old man is being thick-skinned in wanting to buy a few more from you, Mr. Jiang. If it is possible, please just name your price!"

"I see." Jiang Chen had already sensed a dense military Evil Qi on General Yang Sixu's body, which no longer seemed like the result of normal military cultivation.

It was more like being haunted by Evil Qi; most who suffered from this were old generals who had spent long years on the battlefield.

Being plagued by Evil Qi would not only affect one's cultivation and shorten one's lifespan, but it would also cause agonizing pain every day, making it difficult to cure or uproot.

Presumably, his request for Soul-Calming Talismans was to alleviate the pain caused by the Evil Qi.

Without hesitation, Jiang Chen took several Talismans folded into triangles from his sleeve.

"These are what I drew previously; only these few are left now. You have been tainted by Evil Qi while toiling for the country and serving the people, General. Why speak of buying and selling?"

"However, if I may speak plainly, the Evil Qi on your body is extremely heavy, General. These few Talismans of mine can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause."

General Yang Sixu sighed, looking somewhat melancholic.

"Sigh, you're right. But if these Talismans can uproot even a sliver of Evil Qi and ease my pain by a few degrees, they are already the most precious medicine."

"If you can trust me, General, then wait for a period of time. Perhaps I can find a way to treat the root of the problem."

"Are you serious!"

General Yang Sixu's eyes lit up. He excitedly grabbed Jiang Chen's arm, then realized his outburst and quickly let go.

"Please do not take offense, Daoist. I was just too excited. Naturally, I believe you. Even if you cannot find a way, it is no matter. To have lived this half of a lifetime, I can consider myself content."

"Father." Yang Huazhang had tears in his eyes as he looked at General Yang Sixu sadly.

"What are you crying for? A real man does not shed tears easily. Your father is sick, not dead!"

Watching this scene of filial piety, Jiang Chen wasn't sure for a moment if he should speak up and interrupt.

"Ah, then I shall not disturb you further, Daoist Priest Jiang. I only hope you can provide me with more Talismans in the future; I would be eternally grateful!"

After saying this, he pulled Yang Huazhang away and left.

Jiang Chen also walked toward the exit of Taiye Pool. On the way, he bumped into the two people from the Way of the Celestial Masters.

Zhang Gaoxian said with a half-smile, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, please go easy on us during this competition."

"To me, this is a great matter of aiding the people of the world. The lives of millions are tied to us; it really cannot be considered a mere competition."

Zhang Gaoxian was stunned for a moment, and then he became somewhat angry.

What is this? I came to give you a challenge, but ended up being lectured by you instead?

Who do you think you are?

Zhang Huaiyi watched the expressions and bearing of the two from the side, sighing slightly in his heart.

The talent of this new Disciple his Revered Master had taken in was naturally top-tier; his speed in practicing Lightning Magic was the fastest in the Way of the Celestial Masters.

But his Heart-Nature was still a bit lacking.

In comparison, this young Disciple of the Maoshan Sect's Great Immortal Master, despite having only entered the sect for just over two months, had a state of mind and bearing that truly possessed the air of the Yellow-Lao tradition.

Moreover, his cultivation was not weak. From Zhang Huaiyi's observations just now, he sensed that Jiang Chen's cultivation was likely not inferior to Zhang Gaoxian's.

Could it be that he joined the Maoshan Sect midway and already had a Revered Master before?

The suspicion flashed through Zhang Huaiyi's mind and was then tossed aside.

The priority now was to prepare and go suppress that evil entity.

He had heard that the droughts in the two circuits were both related to this evil entity; its strength was surely not to be trifled with.

...

Returning to his residence, Jiang Chen did not rush to Cultivate.

Although he had no Bottleneck to speak of and could theoretically keep Cultivating indefinitely...

...he had just achieved a Breakthrough, and his mind was somewhat exhausted.

If he rushed to Cultivate, it might lead to unstable Qi, which would be more loss than gain.

At this moment, it was better to settle down through the Way of nature.

Jiang Chen put down his Dharma Sword, washed up, and then lay down, preparing to enter the land of dreams.

Tonight there was no rain, the moon was bright, and the stars were sparse.

...

When Jiang Chen woke up, it was already broad daylight. The sound of sirens outside made him feel slightly dazed.

He was back.

He looked at the alarm clock on the wall; it was already ten o'clock.

It seemed this sleep of his had been quite long.

Jiang Chen stretched, got up, and washed up.

He could no longer absorb the Purple Qi today. It was already ten o'clock; any further absorption would just be a mouthful of Solar Essence.

However, the morning lessons still had to be recited. Jiang Chen sat cross-legged directly on the balcony, ignoring the gazes from the outside world, and began to chant under his breath.

...

"What is he doing?"

In a tall building in another residential complex opposite Jiang Chen's...

...two people were currently peering toward Jiang Chen's side with binoculars.

"I don't know. I don't know what Captain Xu wanted us to monitor. He turns off the lights and goes to sleep as soon as he gets home, and sleeps for nearly twelve hours. Where's the abnormality!"

"How is that not abnormal? Among today's young people, how many have you seen who turn off the lights and go to sleep at ten at night? And he's a practitioner. Do you sleep at ten? I certainly don't!"

"True, I don't sleep then either."

"Exactly. And he sits on the balcony as soon as he gets up in the morning. That's also an abnormality. Report it all to the captain."

When Captain Xu Chang received the message from the surveillance personnel, a big question mark appeared over his head.

"This is the 'abnormality' you found for me? Is there nothing else?"

"There really isn't, Captain. This guy's self-discipline is terrifyingly high. I suspect he's practicing some ancient cultivation method when he gets up in the morning!"

Captain Xu Chang's spirits lifted; these two guys were finally being useful.

"What method?"

"The Muscle-Bone Strengthening Classic!"

"Huh???"

"Uh, commonly known as Indian Yoga."

"..."

"Get lost!"