Chapter 6, A Sense of Familiarity

The true dragon energy cultivated from the Supreme Transformation Dragon Secret is warm and gentle like water, radiating a soothing warmth in the dantian. Chen Qi attempted to guide this warm true energy several times, aiming to open the acupoints in his arms, but this true dragon energy could only flow along the meridians and could not remain in any of the acupoints.

What a disaster! What the Heavenly Book passed down by the Ancestor of the Heavenly River refers to, I do not know whether it is those three pages of golden scripture or the He Mountain Classic, or perhaps a combination of both. It turns out that many people have already set their sights on this batch of goods. If it were to be known that I had handled the belongings of Xiao Pingnan, I cannot imagine what means they would use to torment me and force me to reveal their whereabouts. If I truly had them in my possession, that would be one thing; I could simply hand them over. However, the three pages of golden scripture have already disappeared, and merely handing over the He Mountain Classic may not suffice.

This sorcerer, relying on his magical powers, actually managed to entangle himself with the concubine of the magistrate of Poyang Prefecture. Truly audacious and reckless. However, given that he possesses considerable magical skills, one might say that those with great talent often have great courage, so it is no wonder he dares to act so presumptuously

This residence covers a vast area, approximately several dozen acres in size, with around ten courtyards. Chen Qi observed from the wall and already had a clear understanding in his mind. As he stepped onto the ground, he crouched down to leverage the momentum, thereby dissipating the force and avoiding any significant noise.

Chen Qi had also heard that those who understood strange spells rarely appeared before ordinary people; they were like figures of divine dragons. These individuals were proficient in magic, able to summon spirits and deities, possessing various incredible abilities that ordinary people could never contend with. Even those with exceptional martial skills appeared as mere ants in the eyes of such individuals, easily crushed or toyed with at will

This portrait bears a striking resemblance to the person he first led down the mountain to commit robbery, who died violently during the incident, and who obtained the He Mountain Classic and the three pages of the heavenly scriptures. Coupled with the words spoken by Li Meimei, Chen Qi can be certain that this Xiao Pingnan is indeed that person

Chen Qi was searching for gold and silver treasures when he suddenly heard laughter coming from the innermost room of the main house, which startled him greatly. After listening for a while, he cautiously approached and saw two naked bodies rolling on the bed, with a set of women's skirts and a disheveled Daoist robe scattered on the floor

Lu Haozhi chuckled, pondering for a long time. Li Meimei's words were simple and did not reveal the truth, clearly indicating a lack of optimism about any news from Tianma Mountain. However, Lu Haozhi was an ambitious person, and he couldn't help but speculate whether this matter could bring some benefits to himself. After thinking for a moment, he pulled Chen Qi aside and said, "There is no need to mention that you and I are brothers. I originally intended to introduce my brother to a few leaders of the Zhuzhi Gang, but I stumbled upon this matter. If we can find out the whereabouts of Xiao Pingnan, the benefits may not be limited to this. Li Meimei did not provide detailed information, and I wish to go out and investigate. If we obtain concrete information, how should we, as brothers, plan our next steps?"

Chen Qi watched intently, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. The Taoist seemed unaware of his gaze, merely forming a hand seal and with a shout, pointed at the table. Suddenly, eight plates and a pot of fine wine appeared on the previously empty table, the dishes steaming hot, and the wine evidently warmed, exuding a faint, fragrant aroma that filled the entire room.

What is there to fear from him? With just a single incantation of mine, I could bring about his demise. After all, he is merely a mortal, and even if he holds the esteemed position of a magistrate, how could he possibly contend with someone like me, an immortal

Upon hearing this, Chen Qi smiled and said: "I wonder what kind of magical artifact it is. As we traverse the rivers and lakes, we inevitably pass through desolate wilderness, dilapidated temples, and old residences. In the event that we encounter any transformed demons or spirits, possessing such an item would serve as a means of self-defense and preservation of life, preventing untimely death. Such things are worth their weight in gold and are not easily obtained."

The Daoist let out a long laugh, as if he had already finished his task. He donned his robe, rose to his feet, and said: "Let me show you the abilities of this Daoist."

Chen Qi loudly cheered, and Lu Haozhi gave Chen Qi a few reminders before heading out to inquire about the current situation. Alone in the large mansion, Chen Qi found a secluded room, ensuring that the servants and attendants would not disturb him. He contemplated for a moment and then thought to himself: "That dead ghost, Xiao Pingnan, has only met me once, and now he lies buried by the roadside along with the others. No one would suspect that I was the one who did it. As long as I don't speak, no one will know. The only concern is the whereabouts of those three pages of golden script. Looking at Lu Haozhi's demeanor, he doesn't seem to know my secret. Well, I won't think about these trivial matters for now. I will see if I can enhance my cultivation of the Supreme Transformation Dragon Technique and try to utilize the sinister artifacts recorded in the He Mountain Scriptures. If I can use even one of them, it would certainly astonish many people."

The woman was overjoyed and exclaimed, "The Taoist priest truly possesses remarkable skills; please demonstrate a few more impressive tricks for me!"

The Taoist priest said jokingly, but do not take it lightly... If my master sees this, it is not a matter to be trifled with...

He was not particularly concerned about the passage of time during his cultivation, only stopping when he felt a bit hungry in his stomach. By this time, it was already late, and Lu and the others had not returned, nor had the servants, who had all gone to rest. Chen Qi, however, was not picky; he went to the kitchen to search for a while, found some food, and casually filled his stomach. Seeing that the moonlight was just right, he could not resist climbing over the wall and wandering around Poyang City.

What a beautiful person, indeed quite interesting, no wonder your master loves you

There are many martial artists in the world, but the so-called "immortal sects" are extremely rare

Chen Qi was in his room, practicing the Supreme Transformation Dragon Technique with the door closed. He had only been studying and practicing this technique for a short time, and much of it was self-taught, leading to many shortcomings. To date, apart from having opened the dantian, he had not yet unblocked any other acupoints.

Lu Haozhi watched as the third leader of the Bamboo Branch Gang departed. Once Li Meimei's figure had completely vanished, he spat and said: "Do not be deceived by this woman's loose demeanor; her subordinates are ruthless. Her martial arts skills are likely only matched by the Great Leader. She is known by the nickname 'Scorpion Lady.' Seventh Brother, you must be cautious of this woman"

Chen Qi, confident in his martial arts skills and possessing a bold and reckless nature, followed the main street, made a detour, and found himself at the back of the large residence. Behind it stood a high wall, and the courtyard was rather desolate, in stark contrast to the lively scene in front. With a leap, Chen Qi employed his lightness skill to ascend the wall, peering into the courtyard. Noticing that no one was passing by, he then flipped over and dropped down.

Li Meimei did not pay much attention to Chen Qi at all. He concealed it well, and this third leader of the Bamboo Branch Gang did not notice anything amiss. He merely exchanged a few jokes with Lu Haozhi before taking his leave, appearing rather hurried.

The woman's voice came from the bed, exclaiming in surprise: "Indeed, what a marvelous spell! It seems that these clothes can appear as if a person is inside them without anyone wearing them. Daoist, do you have any other spells?"

Chen Qinuo agreed, though she did not understand why Lu Haozhi suddenly reminded her. However, she pondered a great deal about what Li Meimei had said, secretly contemplating: "There are still some iron plates carved with birds and beasts in the Five Yin Bag; their purpose is unknown. Since Xiao Pingnan has an extraordinary background, those iron plates are likely valuable items as well. Yet, there is no record of them in the He Mountain Classic, so I do not know their use."

Chen Qi smiled faintly, not daring to provoke this Taoist priest. Just as he was about to sneak into another room to steal, he suddenly heard the woman breathlessly ask: "Your master possesses boundless magical powers; have you learned any skills as well? Could you show me something to broaden my horizons? I have yet to witness any Taoist sorcery!"

Chen Qi was accustomed to being a mountain bandit, but he also had some knowledge of robbery and theft, though he had never tested his skills in practice

Upon seeing it once, Chen Qi suddenly thought to himself: "This household is so affluent, who knows how much gold and silver might be hidden in the courtyard. It would be better for me to sneak in and casually take some valuables; I certainly shouldn't come to Poyang Prefecture for nothing."

Lu Haozhi said a few words, noticing that Chen Qi seemed somewhat distracted, he smiled and asked: "Seventh brother, are you feeling eager and hoping to gain some benefits? The whereabouts of Xiao Pingnan could be exchanged for a magical artifact; I wonder who is so generous to act in such a manner"

Chen Qi spat quietly and murmured to himself: "These people certainly know how to enjoy life. If they dare to pass by Tianma Mountain, just wait and see if your Chen Village Master won't rob each and every one of you clean."

He was deeply curious, so he leaned over to take a glance. When he saw the scroll of images that Li Meimei had taken out, his heart began to race, and he thought to himself: "This is not good, something bad has happened."

The Taoist exclaimed, "We must have some food and drink to liven things up after we have turned the clouds and stirred the rain. Let me use my magic to summon some."

Chen Qi, upon hearing that they were going to demonstrate a spell, couldn't help but feel curious. He dipped his finger in some saliva, broke through the window paper, and looked inside. The Taoist priest, smiling, pointed his hand, and the scattered garments on the ground flew up as if someone were wearing them, floating in the air

Poyang Prefecture is the capital of a county, with a vast city that, even at midnight, sees no trade and few pedestrians, giving it a desolate and lonely atmosphere. Fortunately, Chen Qi is indifferent to such things. After wandering the streets for a while, he suddenly noticed bright lights not far away and, curious, approached. It was an enormous residence, which, compared to the home of Lu Hao, appeared as humble as a thatched cottage. From a distance, Chen Qi observed that outside this grand mansion, more than ten extremely luxurious carriages were parked, with dozens of servants attending outside. Inside, the lights blazed brightly, and it was impossible to tell how many people were present, but he could faintly hear the continuous sounds of singing and dancing, the gentle music of strings and bamboo, and the distant clamor of toasts.

The main residence is quite grand, and it must surely be the dwelling of the owner of this place. It is bound to contain some valuable items, so I will first take a look around.

Chen Qi was also unaware of where the problem lay, whether it was that the mental method had not been fully comprehended, or that his skills were insufficient, or perhaps he was simply not following the correct approach. He could only attempt repeatedly, hoping that by chance he might grasp the underlying intricacies.

He was not afraid of being seen, swaying as he passed through the doors and courtyards. Upon encountering the courtyard wall, he leaped over it and arrived at the tallest main house of the estate, where he stealthily entered. This main house had several servants attending to it, but since the master was entertaining guests in the front, they took the opportunity to slack off. Chen Qi, employing his lightness skill, evaded the attention of these individuals and quietly made his way into the room.