The Water is Too Deep

The Gray-Eyed Bandits' invasion could be called the greatest crisis the Yunyang Sect had faced in recent years.

There was no need to elaborate on the enmity between the two sides.

As the saying went, righteousness and evil could never coexist. The sect's higher-ups had in fact been wary of and prepared for the Gray-Eyed Bandits' resurgence from the ashes.

Yet some time ago, the Outer Sect Guard Hall had expanded the Night Patrol Team and forcibly conscripted Outer Sect disciples into becoming Night Watchmen.

There had clearly been serious problems with that decision.

Fortunately, the Sect Leader was wise and saw through the treachery.

It was said that a certain Deputy Hall Master who bore primary responsibility had already been stripped of his post and rank, then punished with thirty years of facing the wall in the Demon Suppression Cave to reflect on his mistakes.

Not only that, when disaster struck, the Inner Sect and Main Hall had promptly dispatched more than a dozen Purple Mansion cultivators, slaughtering the invading Evil Cultivators until heads rolled, forcefully safeguarding the border's security.

There had certainly been cultivators slaughtered by the Gray-Eyed Bandits.

But not many.

It was simply that there had been far too many rumors lately, both true and false, making them impossible to distinguish. Still, one could not blindly follow the crowd and spread nonsense.

In light of the two packets of Cloud Mist Spirit Tea, as well as Wang Chen's sincerely earnest attitude, Old Master Sun bared his heart and spoke to him with grave sincerity, revealing quite a few secrets and rambling on at length.

After the old man had indulged himself to his heart's content, he perhaps felt that the subject was inappropriate and that he had spoken too deeply to someone he barely knew.

So he forcibly changed the subject and called his family over to keep Wang Chen company.

Then an entire troop of third aunts, sixth aunts, seventh sisters-in-law, and eighth sisters crowded around Wang Chen, saying baffling things like, "Doggy, do you want a wife?" "You're this old already—it's time you got married." "I have a cousin's niece..."

When they saw Wang Chen's embarrassed expression, they all burst into laughter, filling the Living Room with a cheerful atmosphere.

Left with no choice, Wang Chen could only use the Vajra Indestructible Method again to forcibly break out of the encirclement.

When he took his leave, Old Master Sun personally saw him out.

The Village Chief said meaningfully, "Think it over when you get back. Have you offended someone before?"

Wang Chen was jolted with alarm.

Though Old Master Sun had put it somewhat indirectly, Wang Chen understood perfectly well.

There was clearly another story behind Wang Chen's inexplicable conscription into the Night Patrol Team.

Yet after returning home, he racked his brains.

He searched through all of the original owner's memories, but still could not think of anyone he had offended.

The original owner had poor aptitude, an introverted personality, and a simple nature. He had always diligently farmed in the Outer Sect.

His usual social circle had been very narrow.

The only person he might have ever clashed with was Zhang Xiaoshan of the Zhang Family.

But it was absolutely impossible for such a trivial matter to invite such immense retaliation.

Not to mention Zhang Xiaoshan—the Zhang Family itself did not possess such influence!

Wang Chen thought until his head ached.

He felt as though he had fallen into an invisible net, knowing danger lay within yet having no idea how to break free.

He also felt that the waters ran far too deep.

Gritting his teeth, he made another trip to Yunyang City.

Before the Library Pavilion closed, he spent seventy Merit Points to exchange for an Earth Stone Technique.

The Earth Stone Technique sounded rather plain, but it was a genuine mid-to-high-tier Qi Refining spell with extremely strong practical utility.

Just as the Cloud Rain Art could be divided into Cloud Gathering and Rain Casting, the Earth Stone Technique likewise contained two methods.

They were Turn Stone to Mud and Solidify Mud into Stone.

The two were exact opposites.

This spell was mainly used for mining, opening roads, splitting mountains, building houses, and the like.

A divine skill for wage slaves.

But Wang Chen had no intention of changing jobs to become a laborer.

He had learned the Earth Stone Technique because he planned to dig a tunnel!

Though limited by his sources of information, Wang Chen knew little about the Yunyang Sect and had no way to obtain the latest news in time.

But he could fully feel the increasingly tense situation both inside and outside the sect's mountain gates.

The Gray-Eyed Bandits had been driven back for the time being.

But who could guarantee that they would not return in a swirl of dust?

Evil Cultivators who worshipped the Evil God were like weeds in a Spirit Field—very difficult to truly eradicate.

Wang Chen had no idea what danger he would encounter next.

Moreover, someone within the Outer Sect was very likely lurking with ill intentions toward him!

And on top of that, there were the even more terrifying Evil Spirits...

The current Wang Chen had neither the means nor the strength to flee, nor could he enter the safest Inner Sect.

He did not even have a foothold in Yunyang City.

Therefore, under such circumstances, Wang Chen could only find ways to improve his living environment.

He could not afford defensive formations costing hundreds or thousands of Spirit Stones, so he might as well imitate a cunning rabbit and dig several Cave Dwellings.

Should he encounter a danger he could not resist, he would at least have places to hide and routes to escape through.

He could even hide away in an underground chamber for his usual cultivation and sleep.

Brimming with a sense of security!

The more Wang Chen thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was the right path, one that perfectly captured the essence of Cowardly Cultivation.

Thus, over the following days, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to comprehending the Law Seed of the Earth Stone Technique.

He strove to get started as soon as possible and farm skill experience.

To that end, he temporarily set aside the Shadowless Divine Movement and Breath Concealment Technique he had exchanged for at the cost of a great many Merit Points.

It could not be helped. The foundation left behind by the original owner was simply too poor, leaving him, the one taking over the mess, with a great deal of remedial work to do.

As the saying went, hard work did not fail those with resolve. Through Wang Chen's tireless efforts, on the fourth day after exchanging for the Law Seed, he successfully grasped the basic methods of the Earth Stone Technique!

In the small courtyard, Wang Chen grabbed a lump of black mud he had dug from a ditch outside the fields and channeled Mana into his palm.

A faint yellow glow immediately spread across his right hand.

In an instant, the black mud covered by the yellow glow rapidly hardened.

Solidify Mud into Stone!

Earth Stone Technique · Experience +1

Wang Chen spread his fingers, and a black mudstone ball fell to the ground with a bang.

It was as hard as a billiard ball.

He reached out again and used the Object Manipulation Technique to draw the stone ball back into his palm.

He clenched his fingers and squeezed hard.

Crack!

The stone ball shattered into four pieces, countless specks of mud and dust spilling through the gaps between his fingers.

This still was not hard enough.

Wang Chen guessed it was because the skill level was too low. He believed it would improve drastically once it advanced to Proficient and Minor Mastery.

He was not merely planning to dig tunnels.

If he wanted true safety, he had to dig himself a bunker.

Even if a powerful enemy invaded, it could hold them off for a while and buy him a chance to escape.

The higher the level of the Earth Stone Technique, the stronger it would surely become!

Fortunately, this spell did not consume much Mana, and farming skill experience was easy as well.

Even if he had to spend Human Virtue points on it, Wang Chen would force it up to Minor Mastery.

He grabbed another lump of black mud.

Pat, pat!

Just then, the courtyard gate was lightly knocked upon.

A deep, hearty voice reached Wang Chen's ears. "Excuse me, is the master of the house in?"

Who was it?

Wang Chen tossed aside the black mud in his hand and casually cast a Cleanse Art.

Then he went over and opened the courtyard gate.

Outside stood a tall, powerfully built, bearded man. Upon seeing Wang Chen, he immediately cupped his fists in greeting. "Immortal Master, forgive my presumption, but may I ask whether your household needs to hire someone to harvest rice?"

Wang Chen was slightly stunned.

The man's aura was deep and imposing. He was clearly an Innate expert!