Chapter 39: Seizing Opportunity

Chen Luo’s objectives were clear; for him, there were currently two most important tasks at hand. The first was to find an immortal cultivation technique. At the very least, he needed some advanced martial arts manuals or secret manuals of divine powers. Relying solely on the inner qi circulation method from the Black Tiger Fist to harness the blue energy within his body was too slow, severely impacting his recovery speed and ability to exert his full strength.

The second task was to bolster his foundation.

Currently, only the Imperial Brain could utilize this pale-blue energy, which was far from sufficient. It was akin to possessing untapped treasures without knowing how to exploit them. Thus, the second priority was to locate additional ‘brains’ similar to the Imperial Brain, enhancing his cultivation speed.

Both tasks were challenging, with no immediate leads. Obtaining a cultivation technique proved the hardest. Based on Chen Luo’s current social circle, even accessing decent martial arts manuals, let alone those for immortal cultivation, seemed elusive. Although the jianghu constantly evolved, the number of individuals who genuinely mastered divine arts and became experts remained remarkably small. For ordinary people, not only were divine arts unattainable, but even basic access to martial arts was restricted by the imperial court’s stringent regulations. If Chen Luo hadn’t leveraged his connection through Third Uncle to meet Cripple Ma, he too would have been deprived of such opportunities.

After some thought, Chen Luo decided to start with the second task.

Finding a brain with ‘aptitude.’

This would be easier than searching for cultivation techniques. As long as there were dead bodies, he’d have opportunities. The best place would undoubtedly be near the mountain valley, where people perish daily. Unfortunately, Old Daoist Li Chen’s death was too gruesome; his body dissolved into mere blood and gore. Otherwise, borrowing his brain might have allowed Chen Luo to attempt cultivation.

“Going directly there is not an option; it would draw too much attention, and I could easily fall victim to ambush on the way.”

As Chen Luo walked, he pondered his strategy.

At this stage, patience was crucial. When no opportunities presented themselves, one had to take desperate risks to forge a path forward. Now that a path was open, stability should take precedence. Cultivation, like life itself, requires both moments of boldness and periods of caution - these two aspects do not contradict each other.

Those who blindly charge ahead without foresight will not progress far. Similarly, those who lose their drive for advancement cannot become ultimate victors.

“I’ll wait first. After all, once someone dies, they’re typically handled by grave diggers anyway. At most, there might be slight damage to the brain’s integrity, but it shouldn’t affect things significantly.”

Chen Luo glanced in the direction of the yamen.

Having spent most of his life as a grave digger here, Third Uncle’s strongest connections were along this route. For Chen Luo, rather than blindly venturing into danger, it made more sense to wait and excavate graves afterward.

He knew this path well!

“Without considering cultivation techniques, there is only one other way for me to enhance myself now.”

His gaze swept across the area before finally settling on Xing’an Pharmacy at the end of the street.

Medicinal ointments! It was time to develop new ones, leveraging external aids to boost himself and accelerate the digestion of pale blue energy—a shortcut indeed. The previous low-grade potions had become obsolete, making this an opportune moment for an upgrade.

Among the over hundred brains he possessed, there just happened to be one belonging to a skilled herbalist.

“Shopkeeper, I’d like some medicine!” Chen Luo entered the store and tapped on the counter.

“I’ll take one pack of each medicinal herb with indicated years from that top shelf.”

“Coming right up!”

The shopkeeper, who was initially dozing off, instantly perked up upon hearing this request.

A big customer!

After purchasing the medicines, Chen Luo didn’t linger in the city. With his herbs securely packed, he promptly left.

At present, Qingya County remained under strict surveillance. While daytime movement was manageable, nighttime patrols by soldiers could easily lead to complications.

Upon returning to the village, Chen Luo resumed his usual routine. During the day, he prepared medicines and practiced boxing, while at night, he cultivated using over a hundred brains interchangeably. His life settled into this peaceful rhythm, with finding cultivation techniques and planning for more brains no longer as urgent.

The situation in Qingya County remained unstable, making it wiser to remain inactive. After all, he had already secured the greatest benefits.

Third Uncle visited twice, relieved to see that Chen Luo was no longer venturing out on dangerous adventures. He also brought news of Cripple Ma and Shimei He Min, informing him they had successfully established themselves in Yanhu County. With the influence of the Sha Lake Gang, even in a new location, they could swiftly gain footing; the only challenge left was further expansion.

Half a month later.

In the small rural courtyard, Chen Luo sliced up some aged herbs. Picking a piece between his index finger and thumb, he placed it on his tongue, momentarily squinting from the sharp, bitter taste.

Correct vintage.

After setting aside the aged herbs, he retrieved two small purple-black centipedes from a nearby cage. These were venomous, akin to their centipede counterparts. Among the over a hundred brains Chen Luo collected, there were individuals skilled in handling such substances. By briefly reviewing relevant texts and refreshing his foundational knowledge, he could now commence alchemy work.

Placing the toxic insects and aged herbs into a stone mortar, he added the pre-heated black medicinal paste from the adjacent stove, then gradually crushed everything with a pestle.

A strong odor once again filled the air, but Chen Luo had grown accustomed to it. Expressionless, he meticulously prepared the medicinal paste before stepping outside to let the fumes dissipate. Once cooled, he returned to create the topical patch.

“The effectiveness has weakened again.”

Applying the newly made patch on his dantian, he carefully sensed its effects. He noticed that the heat emitted by the paste had significantly reduced, diminishing its impact on enhancing his martial abilities. As for strength, it was even less effective since developing inner qi negated this benefit.

Progress after Bone Tempering became increasingly challenging. Despite trying various methods, Chen Luo couldn’t alter this situation; creating the venomous insect potion itself was already a stroke of genius.

“Even the venomous insect potion is losing its potency.”

Disappointment flickered in Chen Luo’s eyes.

Initially, he planned to stay here peacefully for half a year, waiting until the turmoil around the mountain valley subsided before returning to excavate the grave. However, it seems he underestimated both the difficulty of advancing in the Bone Tempering Realm and his own aptitude.

“It’s not entirely without gains though.”

Glancing at the Herbal Medicine Compendium on the table, Chen Luo swiftly recalled the properties of over a hundred medicinal herbs along with their corresponding toxicity notes. Now, he could be considered a semi-skilled physician. With the knowledge from the brains he possessed, learning these subjects felt like cheating—everything stuck instantly, mastering them effortlessly upon study.

Night fell.

After absorbing the power of the venomous insect elixir, Chen Luo concluded his daily cultivation practice. Opening his eyes to gauge the sky’s color, he secured the room and waited until nearly midnight before changing into night attire and leaving the village.

With no other options, it was time to take risks.

Tonight, he would scout ahead and see if there’s a chance to borrow a couple of ‘brains.’

Moving swiftly, Chen Luo soon reached the edge of the mountain valley.

Before entering, however, he heard the clashing sounds of weapons. Quickly suppressing his presence, he leaped onto a large tree, concealing himself amidst its dense foliage.

The sounds of combat echoed rapidly but dissipated even faster.

The battle had already ended before Chen Luo could approach. The scent of blood wafted through the air, clearly reaching the dense forest.

‘So swift?’

Chen Luo’s pupils contracted as he peered through the gaps in the treetops, just in time to witness a group of imperial soldiers sweeping the area.

Several young jianghu warriors lay dead by the roadside, their bodies riddled with arrows and bearing fatal iron palm strikes on their backs - a gruesome sight indeed.

A combined assault: encirclement by a formidable army and surprise attacks from skilled assassins! No wonder these young masters fell so quickly.