Chapter 100: The Ginseng Fruit, Great Destiny, and the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend Techniques!

“Whoosh.”

In the dimly lit bedroom, Lu Fei slowly opened his tightly shut eyes. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled sharply, releasing a bright white breath shaped like a sword. The breath surged through the room, passed the folding screen, and flew straight outside.

The breath was clear and white.

Before this, Lu Fei had been cultivating the most basic and common practice of the demon world.

Setting aside the slow progress, its very essence was worlds apart from Taoist cultivation methods.

This confirmed Lu Fei’s earlier suspicions: why do demons emit black smoke or fog when they move, while Taoist immortals are surrounded by pure white clouds or auspicious mists? The stark difference came down to the cultivation techniques.

Until now, Lu Fei had only held this as a theory.

Now, it was confirmed.

Because he himself was living proof.

With a subtle shift of thought, his divine awareness sank into his dantian.

Before dispersing his power, the once pitch-black, turbid, and viscous breath vanished.

In its place swirled a vibrant azure qi.

Though less dense and powerful than before, each strand of azure qi was lively and vigorous, clearly superior.

He had suddenly dropped from the late demon general stage—equivalent to the late Foundation Establishment stage—to the realm of demon soldiers practicing Qi Refinement, which felt quite uncomfortable.

However, this dispersal and re-cultivation went smoothly.

From now on, he only needed to proceed step by step, steadily cultivating.

Having experienced a prior breakthrough, this time raising his cultivation was straightforward, without any bottlenecks, allowing him to restore himself to the late demon general stage before dispersal.

Moreover, he was now retraining with the Taoist grand method recently passed down by his master, Zhen Yuanzi: the “Primordial Chaos True Vigorous Heavenly Scripture.”

Having already experienced a day of training yesterday, Lu Fei’s joy was beyond words.

Even at the initial stage, his cultivation speed nearly matched the efficiency of his previously perfected “Demon Clan Breathing Technique.”

With a few more days of familiarization, the efficiency would equal or surpass that.

Once proficient in the “Primordial Chaos True Vigorous Heavenly Scripture,” his cultivation speed would far exceed his prior pace and surpass all the demons in Langlang Mountain and Great Wilderness Mountain.

Fortunately, the spiritual energy in the Five Village Temple’s cave heaven was the richest in the mortal world below.

At his current pace, he estimated it would take one to two months to return to the Foundation Establishment stage.

About a year later, he should regain the late demon general stage before dispersal.

In short, the retraining would be swift.

“Wait, why does it smell so foul?”

At this moment, fully alert, Lu Fei suddenly caught a strong stench—an odor like the foul smell on many demons.

Then, he felt sticky and slimy on his body.

Looking down, a thin layer of black mud covered him from head to toe.

Sniffing it, the stench was unbearable.

“What is this...?”

“Is it being expelled from my body?”

At that instant, Lu Fei understood.

He also realized the formidable power of the “Primordial Chaos True Vigorous Heavenly Scripture” his master had transmitted.

Such a marvelous effect appeared already at the first cultivation.

Though he had trained from a minor demon to a late demon general, he had never experienced this before.

Thinking quickly, he looked at the thin, disgusting black mud on his body and could no longer bear it.

With a thought, he instantly appeared in the living room.

At the same time, Little White excitedly chirped once, leaping down from the windowsill and rushing toward his master’s bedroom.

But as it reached the hall, a white breath suddenly flew toward it.

It immediately flipped to dodge but crashed into a wall that had materialized out of nowhere.

Watching itself bounce off, Little White was dazed.

Lu Fei ignored it, disappearing again to stand before a large water jar in the room.

He began to wash.

Soon, after cleansing the grime, Lu Fei felt refreshed, gazing at his reflection in the calm water.

A young man with thick eyebrows, bright eyes, and a sunny, handsome aura.

Appearance reflects the heart.

Having arrived at Mount Wanshou’s Five Village Temple, he was not only the youngest in age but also, naturally, the youngest in mindset.

He came here to apprentice and learn the Dao.

Unlike on Langlang Mountain, where strength and cruelty were necessary to survive, here at Five Village Temple, such harshness was unnecessary.

This explained his youthful spirit.

As long as he didn’t deliberately try to alter it, appearance changes naturally mirrored the inner state.

Since coming to the mortal realm, Lu Fei had never intentionally changed his appearance and had no desire to now.

Though on Langlang Mountain he was a ferocious and cold demon general boss, here at Five Village Temple, he was merely the youngest junior disciple, eager to learn, a novice in cultivation with no need to change.

“Let’s go.”

“Today is the day the Ginseng Fruit Garden opens.”

Retracting his gaze, Lu Fei put on a gray disciple’s robe.

Looking at Little White lying on the Eight Immortals table in the living room, he said, “We need to arrive early.”

“Chirp.”

Hearing the ginseng fruit’s call, Little White chirped and jumped down from the table, running a few steps before leaping toward his master.

Lu Fei caught it, shook it gently, and said, “You’ve gotten heavier again.”

“Chirp, chirp, chirp,” Little White protested.

“Haha, alright, enough complaining,” Lu Fei laughed heartily, stroking the little fellow’s head to soothe it.

Placing Little White on his shoulder, he stepped toward the door and went outside.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

The eastern horizon was turning pale with early dawn light.

At this hour, he would normally already be on the way to the kitchen courtyard to work.

Today was no exception.

There was still time before morning lessons, so he planned to help out in the courtyard.

Although Qing Feng Ming Yue had advised him not to rush and to wait until his cultivation stabilized before helping, Lu Fei was restless.

There were chores beyond just kitchen work: planting vegetables, flowers, trees, grains, various melons and fruits, tending and miscellaneous tasks—all required effort.

Indeed, the Five Village Temple had more than just ginseng fruit; whether one considered ginseng fruit a fruit or not, there were other melons and fruits supplied for the disciples.

As for vegetables, they were not essential like the daily bowl of spiritual rice.

Jindan-stage cultivators could fast for extended periods, and those above could fast completely, needing only to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Thus, some disciples found eating ordinary food bothersome and gave up such desires entirely.

Though the vegetables cultivated in the cave heaven were not ordinary, they were inferior to spiritual rice.

Even spiritual rice was sometimes ignored by some disciples who didn’t want to bother going to the kitchen for a single meal.

Still, planting vegetables was a duty; whether one ate them was up to the individual.

Therefore, to eat ordinary vegetables, one either had to plant them oneself or request help from disciples skilled in cooking.

Zhen Yuan Daxian’s methods of training disciples over the years were not merely about making them do chores.

Lu Fei himself did not want to slack off.

Though with his current cultivation below Foundation Establishment, his abilities in the kitchen were limited.

Humming a tune, he walked briskly toward the kitchen.

Seeing two blue-robed senior brothers ahead, he hurried to greet them.

“Good morning, Senior Brother Liuguang.”

“Good morning, Senior Brother Leyi.”

“Good morning, Junior Brother Bailang.”

“Good morning to you too, Junior Brother Bailang.”

Watching Lu Fei’s polite and swift departure, Liuguang sniffed the air and looked surprised.

“Hmm, the demonic scent on the junior brother is gone?”

“Yeah, his aura is much weaker than before.”

Leyi nodded thoughtfully, “He must have changed his cultivation method, dispersing and retraining.”

“Given the timing, that makes sense; the master just returned a few days ago.”

Liuguang sighed, “Junior brother is lucky—only three months here and already given the grand method. When I came, I did chores for a year and a half before the master passed down any techniques…”

Leyi laughed, “You’re luckier than me; it took two years before I was taught cultivation methods.”

“Junior brother spent over three years at the mountain’s heart refining his mind and came with late Foundation Establishment cultivation. The master passed down the method early; it must be related.”

“That’s true.”

Liuguang nodded, then asked, “Do you know about the little white rat that follows the junior brother?”

Leyi replied, “It should be a spiritual beast of some kind. Junior brother is fortunate.”

Liuguang said, “Having such a little companion is interesting. I’m thinking of searching for one or two next time I go down the mountain to keep me company.”

“Haha.”

Leyi laughed, “Never thought you’d want that too.”

“I know thanks to junior brother’s little rat, many brothers have considered raising spiritual beasts. I look forward to next year in the temple.”

“That will be lively.”

“Wonder what the master will think.”

“Haha.”

Lu Fei was unaware that his dispersal and retraining had been deduced by these two brothers in a few words.

He continued toward the kitchen.

Soon, he arrived at the courtyard.

As he entered, he heard the voices of senior brothers Qing Feng and Ming Yue inside the kitchen.

“I wonder how the junior brother’s retraining is going?”

“Has it stabilized?”

“Today is the garden opening day.”

“We can’t help him with this; it concerns his foundation. We can only hope he succeeds.”

“But the junior brother is always lucky; I’m sure this time—”

Before Qing Feng could finish, a voice came from outside, “Thank you for your good wishes, Senior Brother Qing Feng. I’m fine now.”

At that moment, Lu Fei stood at the kitchen door.

Ming Yue was delighted, “Junior brother, you came just in time! I thought I’d have to fetch water alone again.”

She handed him a carrying pole.

Lu Fei looked at it, suddenly realizing he had come too early.

With his cultivation before dispersal, carrying water was already strenuous.

Now, he wasn’t sure he could manage.

He had only planned to do small tasks like chopping wood or sweeping.

He looked at Qing Feng timidly. “Senior Brother, with my current cultivation, can I carry two buckets of water?”

Qing Feng smiled, “Try it and see.”

In the end, Lu Fei followed Ming Yue, each carrying two full buckets of water from the spiritual spring, one after the other.

Only then did he realize that his strength as a late demon general felt the same as when he was just a demon soldier in terms of carrying weight.

Half an hour later, having finished his daily tasks early, Lu Fei brought Little White and the two seniors to the morning lesson site at the main hall’s white jade plaza.

Usually, it was led by Senior Brother Qingchen.

Today, however, Master Zhen Yuanzi appeared suddenly in midair.

Only then did everyone realize the master himself would lead the morning lesson.

Such occasions were rare.

All disciples instantly calmed their minds and focused.

Lu Fei was fully alert.

Little White sat quietly beside him, unusually obedient.

That little creature had been wise to follow his master out of the mountain; otherwise, it wouldn’t have had the chance to train in the Five Village Temple’s cave heaven, let alone listen to the teachings of the Celestial Immortal Ancestor, the saint known as “One with the World,” Zhen Yuan Daxian.

Later, when it could speak, it would surely boast to the crows, the red-skinned and yellow noble uncles far away in the Great Wilderness Mountain.

As for the little tiger from Wondashan One, well, that was insignificant.

Time passed slowly.

As the light orb in the eastern sky rose, its brilliance became dazzling.

In midair, Master Zhen Yuanzi’s lecture ended.

Below, on the white stone plaza, all disciples stood and saluted.

Lu Fei suppressed his joy and followed suit, thanking the master in unison, “Thank you, Master, for imparting the Dao.”

When the voices died down, Zhen Yuanzi looked toward the ginseng fruit tree, then at the sky, and said, “The time has come. Disciples, follow me to the Ginseng Fruit Garden.”

With that, he flew directly toward the tree.

The disciples quickly rose, following behind.

Lu Fei, no longer a demon general, could only walk.

At this moment, Qing Feng and Ming Yue approached.

Qing Feng took Lu Fei’s arm, while Ming Yue carried Little White, and together they followed the others toward the garden.

Soon, the disciples arrived at the Ginseng Fruit Garden.

Lu Fei and Little White accompanied Qing Feng and Ming Yue, trailing behind the senior brothers.

“Qing Feng, Ming Yue,” Master Zhen Yuanzi said, “You two take my golden hammer and the silk-lined tray.”

With a wave of his hand, a golden long-handled instrument and a silk-lined tray fell into their hands.

Zhen Yuanzi then asked the disciples, “Do you know what precautions must be taken when harvesting ginseng fruit?”

Everyone answered immediately, “No.”

Zhen Yuanzi explained, “The ginseng fruit fears the five elements: it falls when it meets metal, withers with wood, dissolves with water, scorches with fire, and sinks with earth.”

“So, it must be struck down with metal tools to harvest, and caught using a tray lined with silk.”

“If touched by wooden tools, it withers and loses its life-extending properties.”

“Fire scorches it, rendering it useless.”

“Finally, to eat it, use ceramic utensils and dissolve it in pure water.”

After finishing, Zhen Yuanzi looked at the two waiting disciples, “Qing Feng, Ming Yue, start harvesting. Remember what I said.”

“Yes, Master.”

Qing Feng climbed swiftly like a monkey with the golden hammer, while Ming Yue held the tray below.

Under the watchful eyes of the master and senior brothers, Qing Feng reached a large ginseng fruit resembling a two- or three-year-old child.

Ming Yue positioned herself below with the tray.

Qing Feng raised the golden hammer and asked, “Master, how many should I strike?”

Zhen Yuanzi glanced at the excited disciples and casually said, “Three.”

“Alright.”

Qing Feng shouted, “Catch it!” before striking the wriggling fruit.

A childlike cry sounded as the ginseng fruit fell.

Ming Yue caught it steadily in the tray.

They repeated this to harvest three fruits.

Soon, everyone returned to the white jade plaza.

This time, many porcelain jars appeared before the disciples, containing the three ginseng fruits dissolved in water.

Zhen Yuanzi waved his hand, and forty-nine cups appeared.

Each cup flew into the jar, filled with clear, seemingly empty liquid, then flew out to each disciple.

When the last cup reached the youngest disciple, Bailang, Zhen Yuanzi noticed a single drop remaining in the jar.

He smiled at the small spirit rat beside Bailang and said, “Very well, this is your blessing. Take it.”

Pointing to the little rat, the last drop of ginseng fruit essence flew toward it.

Little White’s eyes brightened as it caught the essence midair.

It leapt, chirping excitedly, then knelt and kowtowed earnestly toward Master Zhen Yuanzi.

The master laughed heartily, then vanished into the air.

The disciples then drank their cups.

The sound of gulping filled the plaza.

Watching Little White kowtow, Lu Fei originally intended to share some essence with it, but seeing this, he changed his mind.

Raising his porcelain cup, he drank the ginseng fruit essence in one gulp.

Instantly, his body felt utterly clear and transparent.

It was as if what he had drunk was not essence, but a vast amount of lifespan itself.

Though indescribable, the sensation was real.

At the same time, the spiritual energy in his dantian churned wildly.

“What is this?”

Feeling the change within, Lu Fei beamed with joy, disregarding the vanished cup, scooped up the still-kowtowing Little White, placed it on his shoulder, and dashed toward his room.

“What’s going on with junior brother?” Ming Yue asked Qing Feng as they watched Lu Fei run off.

Qing Feng looked at his empty cup fading in the air and replied, “We all felt a clear boost in cultivation from drinking the ginseng fruit essence; it must be even more so for junior brother, who hasn’t yet reached Foundation Establishment.”

“Don’t worry, this is good for him.”

Rushing back to his room, Lu Fei’s face was flushed red, his frantic movements reminiscent of a time when he desperately sought a bathroom during a bout of diarrhea.

Only now it was spiritual energy surging, not excrement.

With a slam, he shut the door, vanished into his bedroom, sat cross-legged on the bed, and quickly began cultivating the “Primordial Chaos True Vigorous Heavenly Scripture.”

In the hall, Little White watched its anxious master with puzzled eyes.

Suddenly, overwhelming drowsiness swept over it.

It immediately ran to its usual sleeping spot on the large windowsill.

Just as it leapt up, the drowsiness struck in full force.

Little White instantly fell asleep midair, then drifted down, half-leaning against the wall, deeply asleep.

Silence returned to the room.

Time passed.

After an unknown period, Lu Fei, still meditating, suddenly opened his eyes.

He glanced around, then calculated mentally.

He realized two days had passed since the ginseng fruit garden opening; today was the third day.

Not a problem.

His divine awareness sank into his dantian.

Soon, glowing pale-white ink-like characters appeared before his eyes:

【Host: Lu Fei】

【Realm: Late Demon Soldier (1852/10000)】

【Experience: 456/6000】

【Soul Power: None】

【Cultivation Techniques: Demon Clan Breathing Technique (Perfected); Primordial Chaos True Vigorous Heavenly Scripture (Beginner) (6/100)】

【Skills: Staff Technique (Mastery) (316/2000); Spear Technique (Proficient) (311/500); Archery (Proficient) (88/500); Harpoon Technique (Proficient) (65/500)】

【Divine Powers: Square Step (Mastery) (112/2000); Heavenly Wolf Swallows Moon (Intermediate) (937/1000); Earth Escape (Intermediate) (898/1000); Swift Step (Intermediate) (752/1000); Ambush (Intermediate) (225/1000); Whisper (Intermediate) (222/1000); Within the Square (Intermediate) (33/1000); Breath Holding (Proficient) (331/500); Tiger Roar (Proficient) (198/500)】

“As expected, my cultivation value has returned to over 1800 points.”

“As long as I reach 2000, I can regain the Foundation Establishment demon general realm.”

“I thought it would take one or two months to recover, but even diluted, the ginseng fruit essence is incredibly powerful.”

“It almost pushed me back to the demon general realm directly; in three to five days, I’ll return to Foundation Establishment.”

“Once there, I can seek master Zhen Yuanzi again.”

Staring at the data, Lu Fei was stunned.

He recalled master telling him to return after regaining Foundation Establishment to learn the protective Dao divine powers.

With that in mind, he quickly scanned the other stats.

In over three months at Five Village Temple, his time had mainly been spent reading, doing chores, and studying, with little extra time.

Other stats had improved slightly.

He dispersed the data.

Stretching, he headed outside.

He remembered that three days ago, Little White nearly exploded from the surge of spiritual energy after receiving a drop of the diluted ginseng fruit essence.

He wondered how it fared.

“Little White.”

Exiting his room, Lu Fei saw the soundly sleeping Little White curled in a corner below the window.

“Heh, you even changed your bed. What a pose.”

Hearing its soft snores, he knew it was fine.

He approached, picked up Little White, and placed it back on the windowsill.

Watching it sleep deeply, Lu Fei thought the little one was truly fortunate.

He had apprenticed under a master, done chores for three months, and finally received a cup of ginseng fruit essence by luck.

This little fellow, meanwhile, ate well and slept soundly every day and just happened to snag a drop of essence, personally granted by the master.

If he ever returned to Langlang Mountain and told this, the crows, Red Skin, and Yellow Noble would be envious to death.

Ruffling Little White twice, Lu Fei looked outside.

Though noon brought bright sunlight, the Five Village Temple cave heaven still felt cool and pleasant year-round—warm in winter, cool in summer, springlike in all seasons—not just empty words.

After a moment’s thought, he returned to his bed and sat cross-legged, breathing deeply to cultivate again.

He was close to Foundation Establishment.

He planned to charge through and then seek his master.

Five days later.

At dawn.

Lu Fei awoke from meditation.

Exhaling a long white breath, he opened his eyes, feeling the powerful energy flowing within.

A smile spread across his face.

“Finally back to the demon general realm.”

“Time to find master.”

With a slight movement of his divine awareness, he vanished from his bedroom and appeared in the living room.

Just then, Little White leapt down from the windowsill and ran toward him.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp.”

It jumped into Lu Fei’s arms, chattering.

Lu Fei patted its head, then pulled out a stash of colorful fruits from his storage space—gifts from senior brothers to encourage his cooking practice.

He had repeatedly taught Little White not to run wild, cause trouble, steal food, or beg.

Having been in seclusion for several days, the little fellow was quite hungry.

“These are for you to eat first. Dad’s going out but will be back soon.”

“Be good; I’ll give you rice tonight.”

“Chirp.”

Soothing Little White, Lu Fei tidied his appearance, opened the door, and stepped outside.

“Protective Dao divine powers.”

“I wonder what master will teach me this time?”

Walking briskly through the garden hills and pavilions, Lu Fei’s thoughts wandered to what abilities his master might impart.

With memories of Sun Wukong apprenticing under Patriarch Bodhi, he couldn’t help but imagine.

The eastern sky gradually brightened with white clouds.

Lu Fei’s steps quickened as he approached the pavilion he had visited before.

“Come up.”

He heard his master’s voice transmitted directly into his mind.

Taking a deep breath and steadying his emotions, he ascended steadily.

As before, Lu Fei respectfully entered Master Zhen Yuanzi’s meditation room and stood.

“Do you know the dangers of the Three Calamities?”

Zhen Yuanzi opened his eyes and looked at his junior disciple.

Lu Fei replied respectfully, “I know, Master. The Three Calamities are thunder, fire, and wind disasters.”

“All three arise from the heart, born of desire.”

The master nodded and said, “It seems you have been to the library.”

“Knowing their dangers is good.”

“I have here methods to avoid the harms of the Three Calamities.”

“One is the Heavenly Gang method, with thirty-six transformations; the other is the Earth Sha method, with seventy-two transformations.”

“Which do you choose?”

Lu Fei’s heart pounded wildly.

He knelt, then cautiously asked, “Master, may I ask the difference between the two?”

Zhen Yuanzi smiled, “One is easier to achieve, the other harder to learn. What do you think?”

Lu Fei’s resolve hardened.

“Master, I fear no thorns or hardships and wish to learn the harder method!”

(End of chapter)