Setting Off

"What's that?"

Lin Chan looked curious.

"First-Grade Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins."

Lin Fangzheng fumbled around the offering table behind him and found a string of bluish-black talisman coins. The inscriptions on their surfaces were very unusual—characters Lin Chan had never seen before.

"These are First-Grade Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins, Mortal Talisman Coins. They're made from copper, iron, and Low-Grade Spirit Pivots, and they're the currency immortals use for trade. A Spirit Pivot is a substance that can gather spiritual energy, so the immortals use it to make talisman coins. These are all Mortal Talisman Coins issued by Shu Mountain, so you can take them to Shu Mountain and use them."

Lin Fangzheng explained to Lin Chan.

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

Seeing how precious Lin Fangzheng looked, Lin Chan knew these talisman coins were definitely worth a lot.

"I've been slowly saving them up over the years. One talisman coin costs about two hundred taels of silver to get. The most valuable one among these absorbed our family's incense and fire for over ten years, so it should be worth even more. Be careful when you spend them. Our Lin Family Main Line also places some talisman coins in temples to absorb incense and fire."

A Mortal Talisman Coin was worth about a hundred taels of silver, but supply never met demand, and there was no fixed market price, so the actual cost was much higher.

Incense Talisman Coins were worth even more.

Mortal Talisman Coins used leftover Low-Grade Spirit Pivots, so they couldn't absorb much spiritual energy.

Incense and Fire Prayer Power was different. Even ordinary objects could gather a huge amount of it.

Just like the clay statues in wild temples—if they received enough incense and fire, they could become gods.

Even lifeless ordinary objects could gather Incense and Fire Prayer Power, let alone Spirit Pivot Talisman Coins.

Even the lowest-grade First-Grade Talisman Coins, Mortal Talisman Coins, could accumulate the Incense and Fire Prayer Power of a mortal worshipping for a hundred years.

The standard for this prayer power referred to an ordinary, not particularly devout mortal burning one stick of common incense every day.

And the Spirit Pivot kept the prayer power from dispersing, so the value of Incense Talisman Coins wouldn't easily drop, nor would the power fade much over time.

"Dad! What you're saying makes me afraid to spend them."

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

There weren't many—twenty-three in total—but Lin Chan, with his Spirit Gathering Physique, could sense the faint spiritual energy within them.

As for the Incense and Fire Prayer Power, Lin Chan couldn't perceive it yet.

"What's there to be afraid of spending? Spend them when you need to. I'm just telling you that talisman coins that have absorbed Incense and Fire Prayer Power for a long time double in value. Just don't get cheated when you use them."

Lin Fangzheng said boldly.

After saving up for so long, wasn't it all meant to be squandered by his children and grandchildren?

"Dad! Once I achieve something in cultivation, I'll repay you a hundredfold!"

Lin Chan didn't refuse anymore and pocketed the talisman coins.

"As long as you're safe and sound, that's all that matters. Keep the talisman coins safe and 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 handing over the talisman coins, Lin Fangzheng had nothing else to do.

The day passed without incident, and soon it was the next day.

Lin Hu got up early to head to school.

"Hu Zi! Study hard. Our family's future depends on you."

Lin Chan told Lin Hu, without mentioning his own trip to Shu Mountain.

That kid Lin Hu would cling to him if he heard about it.

So Lin Chan had to keep it from him.

After sending Lin Hu off, it was time for Lin Chan to leave.

Lin Chan first ate a big meal, then said goodbye to his family one by one before lying down in the custom carriage.

The carriage was already packed full—maps, gold, silver, a long blade, talisman coins... and a string of dried meat and dried fish hung on the outside.

If you find this book good, to avoid losing it next time, remember to add it to your bookshelf.

Lin Chan fell asleep. Little Li, who Lin Chan had touched, jumped out and pulled the cart with all her might.

Little White was also tied with a rope, but he wasn't obedient—he kept sniffing the dried meat hanging from the carriage.

Only after Little Li gave him a look, under her pressure, did Little White droop his tail and start pulling the cart properly.

And so, a fat tricolor cat and a big white dog pulled the sleeping Lin Chan toward Shu Mountain.

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

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

Then he figured out what was wrong.

"Uncle Liu! Stop hiding and go back!"

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

"Truly, I've grown old."

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

"Uncle Liu's footwork—I almost failed to notice it."

Lin Chan said.

"Not quite, Young Master. From here on, you must walk the rest of the path alone. Old Liu can only see you off this far."

Uncle Liu said with some regret.

He had wanted to accompany him a bit further.

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

But the truth was clear: at this point, he could no longer help Lin Chan much. He had to stop.

The little cat pulled the cart all the way into the night. Lin Chan got up and let Little White and Little Li crouch inside the Custom Carriage to rest well.

He continued walking through the night. As he walked, he suddenly felt a strange sensation.

The carriage behind him kept following.

This wasn't Lin Chan's imagination. The carriage was clearly faster than him, yet it never overtook him.

Besides, at this late hour, a carriage on the road was itself an unusual thing.

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

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

"Maybe it's just a coincidence. Maybe it's just too late at night for them to dare go fast."

Seeing this, Lin Chan breathed a sigh of relief and took out some dry rations to eat.

Only after that strange carriage had gone far did Lin Chan continue walking.

This time, he moved much slower, one hand holding the Small Carriage's rope, the other resting on the knife at his waist, ready to draw and fight at any moment.

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

He could now successfully channel inner force into his blade techniques, unleashing blade qi—his power far surpassing the innate masters of Yulin City.

Even Lin Fangzheng was no longer a match for Lin Chan.

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

If Lin Chan now faced the Cat Ghost from before on his own, he would have a very high chance of escaping.

He walked slowly until dawn. Lin Chan tied a rope to Little Li and switched the pulling duty to her, letting her pull the cart forward.

This time, Lin Chan didn't have Little White pull as well. Little White hadn't stepped onto the path of cultivation and had no Dao base—she would only hold Little Li back.

Lin Chan controlled Little Li's body to run swiftly, matching the speed of a small pony.

Because of that carriage last night, he had already lost some time. Today, Lin Chan planned to cover more ground.

Other people on the road saw the little cat pulling the cart and cast curious glances.

Lin Chan didn't stop for them. He sped forward.

When he reached another sparsely populated path, Lin Chan saw that same carriage again. This forced him to be on guard and slow down.