At noon the next day, after eating and drinking his fill, Chen Mo sorted through the things at home. Carrying the enormous sum of 100 taels of silver sponsored by the village, he left the home he had lived in for over half a month.
Once he left, he had no idea when he would be able to return.
Before leaving, Chen Mo could not resist using today's Epiphany on the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique. To his surprise, it had failed to raise the technique from Initiation to the Proficient level. Rather than angering him, it filled him with delight.
With his current Quite Potential aptitude, even one Epiphany had not been enough to raise it to the Proficient level. In contrast, aside from Tiger Fist going from Great Accomplishment level to Perfection Level, every previous Epiphany had raised it by one level. This showed that the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique was of a higher grade than Tiger Fist.
"Hope for the Divine Strength Realm..."
A flicker of joy flashed through his eyes. The strength bottleneck that had troubled him for more than ten days finally showed signs of breaking. Chen Mo remained extremely calm, thinking that once he reached the County Town today, he needed to keep as low a profile as possible.
Being too wild when one lacked strength was simply courting death.
The strongest people in the County Town were certainly not limited to the Divine Strength Realm. Divine Might Realm martial artists, or even Qi and Blood Realm martial artists, might exist there. With his meager strength, it was not yet time for him to run wild.
He sniffed himself. There was no strange odor, so Chen Mo stopped lingering and headed toward the village entrance.
Before he had gone far, he spotted Chen Chao waiting for him at the Training Ground.
Chen Chao had clearly waited there deliberately. The moment he saw Chen Mo, he immediately came over to greet him.
As for village chief Chen Qun, he was most likely leading the villagers at the village entrance to trade with the merchant caravan.
Chen Family Village was over a hundred li from Hequ County. Merchant caravans came by once every three months. If they missed one, they would have to wait another three months.
Of course, they could choose to go to the County Town themselves. Leaving aside the distance, safety along the way could not be guaranteed, and it was time-consuming and exhausting besides. It simply was not worth it.
For the sake of safety, even if their prices were pressed somewhat lower, Chen Family Village still chose to trade with visiting merchant caravans and rarely went to the County Town themselves.
It was a choice born of necessity.
"Are you ready?" Chen Chao asked with a smile.
At forty-three years old, he looked at Chen Mo, whose face still appeared somewhat youthful but who was remarkably steady and powerful, and saw nothing but his own fifteen-year-old self.
Back then... well, forget it. Back then, he had not even begun practicing martial arts. He had never left the village, much less entered the mountains to hunt. All he could do was trail behind his mother and help with some odd chores.
A fifteen-year-old Inner Strength Realm martial artist, especially in a place like Chen Family Village—there would probably never be a second one in the future.
"I've been ready for a while," Chen Mo replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Chen Chao nodded slightly. "Since you're ready, come with me. The village chief has already spoken with the merchant caravan. When they leave later, just follow them. You should reach the County Town by evening."
"Thank you." Chen Mo spoke sincerely.
Though there had been an element of trade between them, Chen Chao had truly helped him greatly. He had not only taught him cultivation techniques for free, given him plenty of food, and taught him many hunting skills, but had also provided financial support.
For Chen Family Village, 100 taels was an enormous sum.
His previous self's family had not even been able to scrape together one tael of silver.
Even in the County Town, 100 taels could accomplish many things. It was enough for Chen Mo to live on for some time.
"If you truly want to thank us, then once you've grown stronger, help the village more," Chen Chao said seriously.
To sponsor Chen Mo this time, they had truly spent heavily.
Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi, who had gone to the County Town before, had not received such treatment.
There was no reason to refuse. Chen Mo nodded.
"I will."
Chen Chao smiled in satisfaction.
They had already said more or less everything that needed to be said earlier. Without speaking further, Chen Chao led Chen Mo to the village entrance, where they met the merchant caravan that had arrived.
Chen Family Village was the final stop on this merchant caravan's current buying trip. More than ten carriages were already filled with all kinds of goods, and the transaction here was nearly complete. When Chen Qun saw Chen Mo and Chen Chao arrive, he waved with a smile.
"Captain Wang, Chen Mo is in your care!" Chen Qun solemnly requested of the burly man beside him.
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Hearing this, Captain Wang patted his chest and laughed. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to deliver this young man safely to the County Town."
As he spoke, his gaze assessed Chen Mo. He was a little over 1.7 meters tall, with an ordinary build. Compared with Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi, who had previously been sent to the County Town, there was nothing about him that stood out.
Yet when his gaze met Chen Mo's calm eyes, for some reason, Captain Wang, an Inner Strength Realm martial artist, actually sensed a hint of threat.
He shook his head slightly, tossing that unrealistic thought from his mind. What threat could a fifteen-year-old youth possibly pose? Captain Wang smiled.
"You're Chen Mo, right? Can you ride a horse?"
"No," Chen Mo answered truthfully.
Whether in his previous life or this one, he had never ridden a horse.
"Then stay in the carriage."
"Mm."
"..."
Captain Wang did not mind Chen Mo's attitude. He was only sending someone to the County Town, after all. It was not just Chen Family Village—other villages also occasionally asked him to take people there.
The first time was unfamiliar, the second time familiar. He had long grown used to it.
After chatting with Chen Qun and Chen Chao for a while longer, Captain Wang left. Before setting off for the County Town, he still had matters to handle. The entire merchant caravan needed his coordination and management, so he had no time to stand around chatting.
"Chen Mo, the County Town is not like this place. You must think thrice before acting in all matters," Chen Qun said earnestly.
Chen Mo nodded and replied seriously, "I understand."
Chen Qun was very satisfied with Chen Mo's attitude. Perhaps because Chen Mo had lost both parents at a young age, Chen Qun saw in him a maturity and steadiness that a fifteen-year-old youth should not possess.
By comparison, the other youths in the village fell far short in terms of character alone.
"Once you reach the County Town, go to the Zheng Family Martial Arts School in the Outer City. Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi are studying martial arts there. You can join them, and the three of you can look after one another."
At this point, recalling that Chen Mo had already become an Inner Strength Realm martial artist, Chen Qun added.
"Of course, it's fine if you don't want to join the Zheng Family Martial Arts School. It all depends on your own wishes."
"Mm." Chen Mo nodded faintly.
According to Chen Chao, the School Master of the Zheng Family Martial Arts School was only at the Inner Strength Realm. Too weak. Chen Mo still intended to first see whether he could obtain cultivation techniques elsewhere. If not, he would consider joining a Martial Arts School.
Unaware of Chen Mo's thoughts, Chen Qun merely assumed Chen Mo looked down on the Zheng Family Martial Arts School and intended to attend a Martial Arts School in the Inner City.
Compared to Martial Arts Schools in the Outer City, the Inner City Martial Arts Schools were undoubtedly much stronger. It was said that their School Masters were all Divine Strength Realm martial artists, while the School Masters of the two strongest Martial Arts Schools had even surpassed the Divine Strength Realm.
Being able to join a Martial Arts School in the Inner City would undoubtedly benefit Chen Mo more.
They certainly would not object to that.
Afterward, Chen Qun and Chen Chao explained some more about the County Town to Chen Mo. Then they watched Chen Mo board one of the merchant caravan's carriages and gradually disappear into the distance, until he vanished from their sight. Each was lost in different thoughts.
Chen Chao had immense faith in Chen Mo's future. With such outstanding talent, he would likely rise swiftly.
While Chen Qun also thought highly of Chen Mo, he was somewhat worried. The County Town was not like Chen Family Village. It held too many temptations and too many dangers. Though Chen Mo had reached the Inner Strength Realm and counted as an expert in the County Town, many people were stronger than him. He also lacked experience in handling affairs. If he offended some powerful noble, the consequences would be dire.
But there was no use thinking too much now. Chen Mo had already left.
Having left Chen Family Village, Chen Mo could only rely on himself.
At this moment, seated in the carriage, Chen Mo watched the scenery around him while casually chatting with the driver beside him. He learned much about the County Town that Chen Qun and the others had not mentioned.
The driver was not stingy toward the youth who had shared dried meat with him. He answered every question without holding anything back.
Through their conversation, Chen Mo gained a deeper understanding of the County Town and learned that the merchant caravan he was currently traveling with belonged to the Shi Quan Merchant Association in the county. Its main business was collecting animal pelts, medicinal herbs, ores, and other goods from nearby villages.
They purchased nearly everything of value, then transported it to the County Town for processing and sale. Their business scope was extremely broad.
Upon learning this, a trace of delight appeared in Chen Mo's eyes.
"Since the Shi Quan Merchant Association sells everything, does that mean they also sell cultivation techniques?"
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