Setting Out

"What is that?"

Curiosity appeared on Lin Chan's face.

"Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins."

Lin Fangzheng searched around the offering table behind them and found a string of bluish-black talisman coins. The inscriptions on their surfaces were peculiar, not characters Lin Chan had ever seen.

"These are First-Grade Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins—Mortal Talisman Coins—made from Copper and Iron and Low-Grade Spirit Pivot. They are the currency immortals use for trade. Spirit Pivot is a material that can gather spiritual energy, so immortals use it to make talisman coins. These are all Mortal Talisman Coins issued by Shu Mountain. You can take them to Shu Mountain and use them."

Lin Fangzheng explained to Lin Chan.

"Dad! Where did you get all these talisman coins?"

Seeing how dearly Lin Fangzheng treasured them, Lin Chan knew these talisman coins were certainly worth no small sum.

"I saved them bit by bit over the years. It takes more than two hundred taels of silver to get a single talisman coin. The one among these that has absorbed over ten years of our family's incense and fire should be worth even more, so be careful when you spend them. Our Lin Family Main Line also places talisman coins in certain temples to gather incense and fire."

A Mortal Talisman Coin was worth roughly a hundred taels of silver, but demand always exceeded supply. They were scarce goods with no fixed price, so their actual cost was far higher.

Incense Talisman Coins were worth even more.

Because Mortal Talisman Coins used Low-Grade Spirit Pivot made from scraps and offcuts, they could not absorb much spiritual energy.

Incense and Fire Prayer Power was different. Even ordinary objects could gather vast amounts of incense and fire prayer power.

Like the Clay Statues in Wild Temples—after receiving too much incense and fire, they could become gods.

Even lifeless mundane objects could gather incense and fire prayer power, let alone Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins.

Even the lowest First-Grade Talisman Coin, a Mortal Talisman Coin, could accumulate the incense and fire prayer power of a mortal worshipping for a hundred years.

That standard of prayer power referred to an ordinary mortal who was not especially devout, offering one ordinary stick of incense each day.

Spirit Pivot could also keep prayer power from dispersing, so the value of Incense Talisman Coins would not easily decline, nor would their prayer power dissipate much with time.

"Dad! After hearing all that, I hardly dare spend them."

Lin Chan spoke as he counted the talisman coins wrapped in thin rope in his hand.

There were not many of them, only twenty-three in total, but Lin Chan, who possessed the Spirit Gathering Physique, could sense the faint spiritual energy within them.

As for incense and fire prayer power, Lin Chan was still unable to sense it.

"What's there to be afraid of? Spend what should be spent. I'm only telling you that talisman coins that have absorbed incense and fire prayer power for a long time are worth twice as much. Just don't let anyone swindle you when you use them."

Lin Fangzheng said grandly.

What else was money saved for so long meant for, if not to let one's children and grandchildren spend it?

"Dad! Once my cultivation succeeds, I'll repay you a hundredfold!"

Lin Chan no longer refused and put the talisman coins into his pocket.

"As long as you stay safe and sound, everything will be fine. Keep the talisman coins hidden. Don't let anyone see them."

Lin Fangzheng reminded him.

"Dad! Don't worry! I'm sharp as a tack!"

Lin Chan patted his waist pouch.

After giving the talisman coins to Lin Chan, Lin Fangzheng had nothing else to do.

The day passed without incident, and in the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Lin Hu got up early in order to rush to school.

"Hu Zi! Study hard. Our family's estate will depend on you to inherit it in the future."

Lin Chan gave Lin Hu a few instructions but did not mention that he was going to Shu Mountain.

If Lin Hu heard about it, he would definitely cling to him and refuse to let go.

So Lin Chan had to keep it from him.

After seeing Lin Hu off, it was time for Lin Chan to leave as well.

Lin Chan first ate his fill, then bid farewell to his family one by one before lying down inside the Custom Carriage.

The carriage was already packed with things: a map, gold, silver, a long saber, talisman coins... A string of dried meat and dried fish hung from the outside.

Lin Chan fell asleep. After Lin Chan stroked Little Li, the cat jumped out and pulled the carriage with all its might.

Little White had also been tied to a rope, but it refused to behave, constantly sniffing at the dried meat hanging from the carriage.

Only after Little Li shot it a look did Little White, cowed by Little Li's pressure, droop its tail and begin pulling the carriage obediently.

And so, a plump Tricolor Cat and a Big White Dog pulled the soundly sleeping Lin Chan toward Shu Mountain.

Not long after leaving the city, Lin Chan sensed something strange.

He withdrew his consciousness from Little Li's body, stopped, and focused his senses.

Soon, he understood where the problem lay.

"Uncle Liu! Stop hiding. Go back!"

Lin Chan climbed down from the carriage and looked toward a large tree.

"In the end, I'm old."

Uncle Liu stepped out from behind the tree and looked at Lin Chan.

"Uncle Liu's movement technique nearly escaped my notice too."

Lin Chan said.

"Far from it, Young Master. From here on, you can only walk the road alone. Old Liu will see you off here."

Uncle Liu spoke with some regret.

He had wanted to accompany him farther.

Lin Chan was, after all, a child he had watched grow up. Now Lin Chan was leaving home to seek immortals thousands of miles away—how could he not worry?

But the truth had proven that he could no longer help Lin Chan much. He had to stop here.

The little cat pulled the carriage until nightfall. Lin Chan got up and had Little White and Little Li crouch inside the Custom Carriage to rest properly.

He himself traveled through the night. As he walked, he suddenly felt a strange sensation.

The carriage behind him had been following him all along.

This was not Lin Chan's imagination. That carriage was clearly faster than him, yet it had not overtaken him after all this time.

Besides, it was the middle of the night. A carriage traveling at such an hour was abnormal in itself.

Lin Chan deliberately stopped and pulled his Custom Carriage to the roadside.

After waiting a while, Lin Chan saw that carriage pass by him.

"Perhaps it was merely a coincidence. Perhaps they just didn't dare travel quickly because it was too late."

Seeing this, Lin Chan let out a breath and took out some provisions to eat.

Only after that strange carriage from before had gone far away did Lin Chan continue onward.

This time, he moved much more slowly. One hand held the rope of the Small Carriage, while the other rested at his saber hilt at all times, ready to draw his blade and face an enemy at any moment.

Several months had passed since the Cat Ghost incident, and Lin Chan's strength was no longer what it had been.

He could now successfully merge his inner force into his saber techniques and slash out saber qi. His strength was far above that of the innate experts in Yulin City.

Even Lin Fangzheng was no longer Lin Chan's match.

That was why Lin Fangzheng had felt at ease letting Lin Chan come out alone.

If the current Lin Chan faced that Cat Ghost from before by himself, there was a very high chance he could run away.

He walked slowly until dawn, then tied Little Li to the rope and shifted into its body, beginning to pull the carriage forward.

This time, Lin Chan did not have Little White pull the carriage as well. Little White had not entered cultivation and possessed no cultivation base; it would only hold Little Li back.

Controlling Little Li's body, Lin Chan ran at a blistering pace, reaching speeds no slower than a small horse.

That carriage last night had delayed him somewhat, so Lin Chan planned to travel farther today.

The other travelers on the road stared curiously at the sight of a little cat pulling a carriage.

Lin Chan did not stop for them and sped onward.

When he reached another secluded path with few people about, Lin Chan saw that same carriage again. He could not help becoming wary and slowing down.