I Am Grinding Experience in Another World

With the departure of a large number of skilled practitioners,

Eagle Grief Cliff was instantly much less lively.

The flow of people in the market at the base of the mountain became ever sparser.

Yet, the price of exotic beast meat unexpectedly fell quite a bit.

"Those who eat meat have all run off to the Six Consecutive Mountains to risk their lives, and without lowering prices, we simply can’t sell anything," Butcher Zhang lamented.

"If they didn’t risk their lives, where would they get the white jade to buy your meat? Be content," Chen Mu chuckled.

"Had I known earlier, I would have closed shop and gone to the Six Consecutive Mountains as well," Butcher Zhang regretted as usual.

"Then go," Chen Mu said with a sidelong glance.

"Forget it, one more or less of me won’t make a difference; I’d rather not go and be a bother to them," Butcher Zhang said with a nonchalant face.

Chen Mu gave him a sidelong glance, "You’re right."

...

One day, a month later.

The weather was clear, the sky cloudless.

In the underground secret chamber, Chen Mu sat cross-legged on a soft couch, holding the three-legged two-eared Primordial Furnace, his eyes tightly closed.

He carefully activated the Wind Fire Pivot Charm, and the pill furnace immediately emitted a rhythmic buzzing sound.

Before this, he had already concocted two hundred and seventeen batches of Rejuvenation Pills, and without exception, all were ruined at this last hurdle.

Chen Mu became even more cautious, unwittingly sweating profusely from his forehead.

After a long while.

Bang!

A muffled sound rang out.

Chen Mu’s heart sank.

Done for!

Just as he was about to withdraw his mana, he suddenly felt the Five Qi Primordial Technique was still intermittently exerting force.

He was immediately shocked, hastily focused his concentration, and carefully arranged the fusion of the thirteen essences according to the Primordial Force.

A quarter of an hour later.

Chen Mu carefully opened the Primordial Furnace and peeked inside to see a drab elixir pill floating in the middle of the furnace.

"Tsk... the pill’s shape is oval, the aggregation technique too crude."

"Half black, half white, the essence fusion efficiency isn’t high."

"A hint of scorching taints the taste, not good at all."

"Which is why, I’m not at all proud."

"It’s just a Rejuvenation Pill, what’s there to be proud of."

He glanced indifferently at the gray wall.

Alchemy (Rejuvenation Pill): 1066/10000;

"Ha!"

...

At dusk, with the setting sun slanting to the west.

On a mountain path, Chen Mu floated one meter above the ground, gliding leisurely through the air.

The three-meter-long, barrel-thick strange fish floating by his side was controlled by him to shake its head and wave its tail, as if swimming through the air.

This was a Silver Moon Golden Eyed Fish, a specialty of the streams in East Ridge Mountain—delicious and highly nutritious.

Its scales shone like silver moons, and its pair of golden eyes nearly took up half of its head.

Chen Mu controlled the Qi Forbidden Hundred Miles, floated the Silver Moon Golden Eyed Fish in front of him, and stared intently into those golden eyes.

His eyebrows slightly furrowed, his expression serious, he hesitated for a moment before speaking solemnly, "Do you know where Red Sleeve Square is?"

Silver Moon Golden Eyed Fish: "..."

"Green Embroidery Square is fine, too."

"You’re an East Ridge local fish, how could you not know Red and Green Embroidery Squares?"

"If you don’t talk, I might just stuff you into the Primordial Furnace, you know."

"Hey! I’ll have you mixed with the Primordial in just a moment."

Just as he was happily teasing a bored person, he lifted his head to see someone standing at the front door of his house.

"Is this Pill Master Chen in person?" The man was in his forties, plump and with a smiling face.

Seeing Chen Mu float effortlessly in the air and glancing at the golden-eyed bizarre fish, his expression became even more cordial.

"I am Du Cheng from the Hundred Workshops Hall, and I hope you’ll excuse my intrusion," he said.

The Hundred Workshops Hall?

"And you are...?"

"I’ve just moved here today and came specially to pay a visit," Du Cheng said, pointing to a wooden building over a hundred meters away.

He then took out a talisman from his sleeve: "Just a small token of my appreciation, it’s not much."

"You’re too kind." Chen Mu waved his hands in refusal, again and again.

"It’s a homemade Dust-Avoiding Talisman, not worth much," Du Cheng insisted, holding it out to Chen Mu.

"You are actually a Talisman Maker? What a pleasure, what a pleasure!" Chen Mu no longer refused and accepted with a smile.

Had the Hundred Workshops Hall discovered the death of Brother Liu?

He probed without showing any change in demeanor, "I have been busy refining pills these past few days and didn’t notice that Brother Liu has already moved out."

"He might have gone to the Six Chains Mountains," Du Cheng said casually with a laugh.

"I’ve heard that many people made a fortune and went straight back to Jade Spring Mountain for a secluded cultivation. Perhaps Brother Liu did the same."

Chen Mu acted as if he had suddenly understood and nodded in agreement, then immediately opened the door and invited, "I apologize for not being able to welcome you properly, Brother, please come in."

Smiling, Du Cheng waved his hand: "Maybe next time, I’ve just arrived and still need to organize my things."

With that, he bid farewell and left.

Chen Mu watched the man’s silhouette disappear into the wooden building then calmly turned and went back inside.

"Brother Liu has been missing for nearly two months, aren’t they going to check?" His expression was complex.

Even though this meant he was free from the risk of being investigated,

Chen Mu didn’t feel much joy in his heart.

If one day he were gone, would he also be ignored and forgotten in a flash?

Just like the stray cats and dogs by the trash can, disappearing after a hasty glance.

"I don’t seek fame after death, so why think about these things." Chen Mu shook his head and chuckled at himself.

"Rather than mourn the seasons of death, I might as well live brilliantly."

Frying, steaming, poaching, and stewing, Chen Mu put forth his Sixth Rank culinary skills and thoroughly enjoyed a full fish feast.

Then he plunged into the secret chamber and methodically began to accumulate experience in Condensing Aperture.

...

Three days later.

Chen Mu stood in front of the window, his index finger reaching out to lightly sweep the windowsill.

He couldn’t help but turn his attention to the brown Mustard Seed Talisman on the jade window.

"This Dust-Avoiding Talisman is really useful indeed."

In past days, a small amount of dust would accumulate on the windowsill every few days.

It was nowhere near as spotless as it was now.

The ground around the window was also a lot cleaner. Clearly, it was the effect of the Dust-Avoiding Talisman.

"Marvelous."

Chen Mu played with the Yang Judge Bone Shield while slowly moving it around the windowsill’s edge, gauging the range of the Dust-Avoiding Talisman’s effect.

On his ear, he naturally employed the Truthful Listening Technique. A hissing sound, akin to acid corrosion, arose from over a hundred meters away.

"Drawing talismans again?" It was the sound of Dharma Ink corroding the talisman skin.

Chen Mu laughed softly, "Still a homebody cultivator."

It’s good to be a homebody cultivator. They don’t cause trouble, safe.

"When I have time, I should really think about the Three Talents Method Prohibition."

He hadn’t felt the need before. But now, he suddenly thought about it. Just as he could listen in on others, others could do the same to him.

He had the Truthful Listening Technique, and others had their own extraordinary talismans.

"Too bad Brother Liu’s cultivation notes don’t contain much on prohibitions."

The old book had already been flipped through several times by Chen Mu. "Point Ground into Steel" had generated hundreds of experiences again.

Yet no gains could be seen from the Three Talents Method Prohibition.

"How did Brother Liu learn it?"

The cultivation notes contained all of Liu Hongyang’s insights from his practice.

Just like "Point Ground into Steel," there were traces to follow step by step.

But as for the Three Talents Method Prohibition, he seemed to have taught himself without a teacher.

The initial sporadic records were all superficial attempts. However, the underground secret chamber was indeed equipped with hidden prohibitions.

Despite having learned it not long ago, he could use it flexibly.

Divine blessing?

Or... directly absorbing the experience and talents of others?

Thinking of Brother Liu’s mad appearance, Chen Mu shivered.

This experience pack is not good to savor.

"I’d better level up slowly."

...

As days and months turned, the weather gradually warmed up.

One day, the market district suddenly burst into excitement.

Every person’s face in the village overflowed with excitement and joy.

The usually deserted northern district also regained its past bustle.

"If I had known, I would have gone too," Butcher Zhang beat his chest in regret.

With every guest that came, he would sigh like this.

"What happened?" Chen Mu pointed his chin at the bustling crowd.

"Pen Rack Mountain and Cliff Shaman Mountain have been taken down by us," Butcher Zhang said, his face full of regret as if he had lost money.

"Weren’t they going to back up Sixth Lian Mountain? How did it..." Chen Mu was startled.

"That was just a ruse."

"The affiliated court gathered manpower, ostensibly to back up Sixth Lian Mountain, but secretly turned around to attack Pen Rack and Cliff Shaman Mountains."

"The barbarians on the mountain were caught off guard and could not organize a decent defense, and we easily dispersed them."

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.

With all six mountains taken, they can support each other in offense and defense, and with the support of Jilong Road Upper Court, the Jade Spring Mountain affiliate was now firmly established in East Ridge territory.

"You don’t know, those who went there really... made a killing!"

"I regret it!" Butcher Zhang chopped on his butcher block with force.

"You’re not too late to go now, and if you can’t eat the meat, you can still drink some soup," Chen Mu cajoled with a smile.

"Drinking some soup is fine, but I’m not at ease," Butcher Zhang said, poking his head out and whispering, "Let me tell you, Old Li’s meat across the way isn’t clean. If I leave, you old customers won’t be able to eat good meat anymore."

"Sigh... I can only painfully give up," Butcher Zhang sighed with a face full of regret.

He talked as if it were true.

I think you just can’t bear to leave this business that’s getting better and better.

Chen Mu rolled his eyes.

"Give me two black sheep with antlers," he waved his hand and ordered.

Happy!

He planned to cook one for Replenishing Origin Soup, and have a whole-sheep feast with the other.

"With the affiliated court standing firm, the chaos in East Ridge will soon end."

"It’s good to end the chaos, stability, safety, it deserves celebration," he said.

...

Red Grass Hall.

Contrasting with the bustling scene outside.

Upon entering, Chen Mu sensed a heavy atmosphere.

Several people with pale faces and missing arms and legs were waiting to pick up medicinal materials.

As soon as Chen Mu appeared, these people looked over with wary expressions.

A few of them even instinctively reached for their wrists wrapped with Mustard Seed Talismans, like startled rabbits.

Upon recognizing Chen Mu’s attire and demeanor, they slowly relaxed.

Chen Mu narrowed his eyes.

Post-battle syndrome?

"It seems that those two mountains were not as easily taken as said outside,"

The gaunt shopkeeper shrugged as he saw off a few wounded people.

"Even a desperate rabbit will bite. We’ve attacked their homeland, so it’s quite normal for them to fight back fiercely and cut down or maim a few of us,"

"Outside, everyone is talking about who got their hands on magic artifacts and made a fortune, but that’s only seeing the thieves eat meat, not seeing the thieves get beaten,"

"Those few disabled lucky ones came back at least. But how many did not return, who knows?" the gaunt shopkeeper said with a sigh.

Chen Mu nodded in agreement.

"It’s still more reliable to stay put on the mountain."

...

In the underground secret chamber, Chen Mu looked at the third layer of talismans nearing perfection, his face full of satisfaction.

The three layers of silver hollow spheres nested within one another, slowly and disorderly rotating.

The Jade Seed had expanded another circle, now the size of two fists.

His mana surged, becoming even more condensed.

The spot three inches below his navel pulsed, as the third secret aperture gradually opened.

Chen Mu checked the gray wall.

Netherworld Grand Summary: 9530/10000/Third Rank;

"With Replenishing Origin Soup and Rejuvenation Pill escorting,"

"With Fasting Pill to earn White Jade resources,"

"And with the affiliated court about to grow and strengthen, and the East Ridge territory becoming increasingly safe,"

"Just let me cultivate in peace for three or four years, and I’ll show Old Ghost Sun a thing or two!"

He still remembered the peril when he was struck by lightning.

With a thought, the black moon blade flashed into existence. Habitually activating the Spirit Nourishing Curse, he enhanced the blade’s spiritual power a notch further.

"Hmph, given the chance, I must also slash that old ghost to see," he muttered.

Just as he was imagining his future,

A dull thud suddenly came from above.

It was followed by an earthquake, as the continuous rumbling shook everything.

The sturdy secret chamber collapsed almost instantly under this wave of force.

Chen Mu’s face abruptly changed color.

An earthquake?!

"Point Ground into Steel!"

The rocks and earth about to crash onto his head immediately softened into mud and were then repelled and parted by an invisible exotic force.

Chen Mu, surrounded by a flickering spiritual light, shot up to the surface agilely like a fish in water.

As he popped his head out, he saw a large, green, flame-like ball shaped like a heap of dry bones appear on the horizon.

That flame dragged a long tail and swiftly reached the summit.

Boom!

A sound even louder than the last one exploded.

Crack.

It was like the snap of sugarcane breaking.

Chen Mu turned around abruptly, only to see the peak of Eagle Grief Cliff, which wasn’t far away, slowly tilting and collapsing?!

In that instant, his heart felt as if it was being mercilessly squeezed.

"The mountain... broke?!"

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