Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit-Chapter 73 - 54: Paper-cut Soldiers, Clay Sculpture General!

Chapter 73: Chapter 54: Paper-cut Soldiers, Clay Sculpture General!

That night.

The moon was bright, stars sparse.

Chen Jichuan entered the courtyard to cultivate.

The surroundings were silent, with only the sound of wind as accompaniment. Chen Jichuan had already mastered entering meditation with ease and employing the Visualization Technique.

Moonlight enveloped him, nourishing his Divine Soul.

Such progress is invisible to the naked eye—it can only be achieved through nightly cultivation and constant accumulation, until his Divine Soul becomes strong enough to exist outside the physical body. At that point, the third realm of Daoist Skill, the ’Soul Emergence’ Realm, would be considered complete.

Currently, Chen Jichuan had only cultivated the ’Taiyin Refining Body Technique’ to the fifth layer.

Reaching the Soul Emergence Realm still required considerable time.

He was in no rush.

Calmly observing and visualizing.

Unaware of when, the wind began to pick up, bringing a chill to the courtyard.

Chen Jichuan remained absolutely still.

Meanwhile, outside the courtyard.

The sound of rustling grew louder, and soon, a small figure carrying a spear stepped in. Upon touching the ground, it transformed into the size of an ordinary person.

"Heh-ya!"

It raised its spear and stabbed toward Chen Jichuan.

Judging by the force, it rivaled a master of dark strength. If struck, the consequences would be crippling if not fatal.

"Again?"

Chen Jichuan shook his head.

He rose to his feet.

Grabbing the treasured blade nearby, he slashed and deflected the spear, causing the attacker to stumble.

"Take this!"

With swift precision, Chen Jichuan swung the blade, striking the attacker’s neck, decapitating it in one clean stroke.

In mere moments.

The head and body separated, collapsing to the ground. Yet upon inspection, no corpse was left, only a small paper figure fluttering to the ground.

It was indeed a paper figure brought to life.

After killing the paper figure, Chen Jichuan remained vigilant, standing armed and watching the courtyard’s edge.

Before long.

A grotesque creature climbed over the wall, its face twisted and ghastly like a demon.

Upon landing, it charged ferociously at Chen Jichuan.

Chen Jichuan wielded his blade to strike, but the creature’s body was unnaturally pliable, its arms and legs twisting grotesquely. Its attacks were potent, stronger than the paper figure from earlier, and carried the air of a master in Transforming Strength.

Even a Level 6 dark strength expert, or an inexperienced Level 7 Transforming Strength practitioner, would struggle against such a creature. The former would find it nearly impossible to handle, while the latter risked injury or death if careless.

But Chen Jichuan was no novice.

"Well met!"

He swung his blade forcefully, slicing at the creature’s waist.

The nimble and grotesque monster, despite its erratic movements, was instantly cut in two.

And yet, it did not die on the spot.

It continued squirming on the ground.

"Disgusting!"

With a look of revulsion, Chen Jichuan unleashed a burst of flames, combining fire with his blade strikes, targeting the two sections of the creature’s body.

At that moment.

His blade struck, and the creature’s texture changed from flexible to solid. Upon closer inspection, it was a clay sculpture crumbling into fragments on the ground.

"Paper cutouts as soldiers."

"Clay sculptures as generals."

"Always the same old tricks. Qizhenzi, could it be you’ve run out of ideas?"

Chen Jichuan looked toward the courtyard edge, sneering coldly.

The surroundings remained silent and empty.

His words carried an eerie quality.

But after his voice fell, there was indeed a reply—

"Daoist Chen, your skills grow sharper by the day. Truly worthy of congratulations."

The voice came from nowhere, its echo confounding the senses, evoking an unsettling fear. It sounded aged yet somewhat amicable.

Chen Jichuan grew more wary, scanning his surroundings, before replying, "Even if my skills grow, what use is it when I cannot penetrate your Tongshen Temple?!"

The Mount Qian Tongshen Temple.

Home to an ancient fiend.

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Chen Jichuan inadvertently came across Tongshen Temple, drawing its attention and narrowly escaping death at the hands of its inhabitant.

This fiend was none other than the one now speaking—

Known by the title: Qizhenzi.

Sixty years had passed.

Qizhenzi remained alive, his Daoist power having grown even more formidable.

Residing deep within Mount Qian, he maintained a low profile yet was infamous for his atrocities.

Under his control were the ’Five Passes Gods,’ lustful entities who preyed on the wives and daughters of common folk. Using cruel methods, they dominated their victims, leaving families too terrified to retaliate.

Their tyranny brought immeasurable suffering.

Living in Dai County, Chen Jichuan had encountered the ’Five Passes Gods’ multiple times, purging them with thunderous resolve. However, they would resurface soon after, continuing their misdeeds with greater cunning and broader reach.

Despite years of intelligence and skilled fighters from White Jade City and Baozhi Forest combating this menace, he had been unable to eradicate the ’Five Passes Gods.’

As for cutting the problem at its root—killing Qizhenzi to end the gods—

That task was exceedingly difficult.

Qizhenzi dwelled deep in the mountains, inaccessible to armies. Attempting to carve a path through would exhaust resources, and by the time it reached him, Qizhenzi could easily flee, leaving efforts wasted.

Moreover, Mount Qian was meticulously fortified after nearly a century of Qizhenzi’s presence. The number of traps and deadly schemes hidden within was unknown. Any reckless attempts to breach it would surely result in catastrophic loss of life.

Thus.

The current stalemate persisted—

Chen Jichuan fearful of Qizhenzi.

Qizhenzi wary of Chen Jichuan, regularly sending paper figures and clay soldiers to probe his strength, an annoyance without end.

However.

Chen Jichuan was no longer the frightened youth who had once cowered in mortal terror at a single shout from Tongshen Temple.

Facing Tongshen Temple.

Facing Qizhenzi.

He now possessed greater confidence and stronger capabilities for self-protection.

"Daoist Chen harbors too much prejudice against this humble Daoist."

"Today, emperors lack virtue and officials are corrupt. In the Jianghu, Daoist and Buddhist sects clash, while demons run rampant. We both reside near Meishan; ought we not support one another, rather than clash incessantly?"

Qizhenzi’s drifting voice carried a tone of helplessness.

Yet Chen Jichuan knew.

This ancient fiend was the epitome of cunning!

In over sixty years, Chen Jichuan had never seen Qizhenzi depart Mount Qian; he rarely even left Tongshen Temple.

Whenever he acted externally.

It was always through paper figures, clay soldiers, or the Five Passes Gods.

Now, visiting Baozhi Forest.

Coming to Chen Jichuan’s stronghold, it was naturally not his true self.

"Mutual assistance is acceptable."

"Just disband the ’Five Passes Gods,’ hand the ’Dharma Protecting God Generals’ from Tongshen Temple to me, and swear to never again sacrifice to evil gods or ghost generals. If you do, I promise to never trouble you again."

With a soft laugh, Chen Jichuan addressed Qizhenzi.

The Five Passes Gods.

The Dharma Protecting God Generals.

These were the foundations of Qizhenzi’s survival, but also the sources of widespread suffering. For Qizhenzi to abandon them was impossible, just as Chen Jichuan could not tolerate them.

Between the two.

There existed an irreconcilable conflict—true cooperation was a fantasy!

"Daoist Chen, do not deceive me. I came today with utmost sincerity. You intend to ally with Miao Fa and Hong Yuan to attack Tongshen Temple, aiming no doubt for my ’Jade Dragon Fruit Tree.’ But let us disregard whether you can even defeat Tongshen Temple, or whether the tree will remain afterward. Even if successful and obtained, you’d have to share it with Miao Fa, Hong Yuan, and contend with others coveting it—a recipe for endless trouble."

"Why not ally with me instead, secretly eliminate Miao Fa and Hong Yuan first, then I’ll give half of each season’s ’Jade Dragon Fruits’ to you."

"Would that not be ideal?"

Qizhenzi refused to give up, continuing his persuasion.

"Ha!"

"Chen does not oppose you for personal gain; it is purely for the sake of righteousness. Do you think mere ’Jade Dragon Fruits’ can buy me?!"

Chen Jichuan stood firm, unwavering in his rectitude.

Yet the fact that Qizhenzi had quickly discerned his intentions to collaborate with Miao Fa and Hong Yuan to target Tongshen Temple left Chen Jichuan perturbed.

Still, this was to be expected.

As he monitored Tongshen Temple’s movements, Qizhenzi would likewise pay close attention to Baozhi Forest’s activities.

...