Chapter 11 - Qingyang Temple.

Under the city gate.

Li Shiwu's body was as if rusted, and with stiff movements, he took out a bronze mirror from Coffin Master's belly.

He looked into the mirror, silent for a long time.

The passing common folk, seeing his terrifying appearance, all shivered and hurried their steps.

"Shi... Shiwu, what's wrong with you? Let's go see a doctor, say something!" Hua Erling couldn't help but panic.

"Erling, you know, when planting crops, the land needs fertilizer for the seedlings to grow quickly and well."

"You mean?" Hua Erling seemed to have thought of something.

"That's right," Li Shiwu responded heavily, looking down at the strange black soil clinging to his feet.

He took a deep breath and said, "I think it might be that the black soil under my feet has run out of nutrients, so my 'immortal seedling' is withering and shriveling along with it."

Hearing this, Hua Erling's spirits lifted.

Without a word, he stepped forward, stopped a dung cart that had just driven out of the city, and kicked the dung collector to the ground.

He scattered a handful of silver fragments and said fiercely, "You leave, the dung stays, now get lost!"

Then he turned back: "Shiwu, do you think this is enough?"

"If it's not enough, this young master will risk his life today to make everyone in Tangcheng defecate until the sky turns upside down and excrement flows everywhere."

Li Shiwu: "..."

He said, somewhat speechless, "Erling, stop messing around, it's not that simple."

"Then what do we do?" Hua Erling grew more anxious.

Li Shiwu remained silent, just gazing into the distance, seeing rolling green mountains and birds circling in the sky.

His gaze slowly became resolute.

"Erling, let's go, into the city."

After speaking, the two immediately turned around and re-entered Tangcheng.

The Human Rearing Sect's horse selling was still ongoing.

But in a short time, out of over a hundred Five-Fingered Horses, only twenty-odd remained.

And those wealthy households and powerful gentry were all red-faced and thick-necked, scrambling even more vigorously.

"Get out, all of you, get out of my way!"

Li Shiwu, holding a woodcutter's knife in one hand, unreasonably pushed people aside, looking like a bandit.

And the people around, seeing his terrifying face and fierce demeanor, avoided him like the plague.

"Tsk tsk, interesting!"

The goat-bearded middle-aged man adjusted the red tall hat on his head, showing a look of interest, and watched Li Shiwu approach him step by step.

"Young friend, by your appearance, it seems you've run into trouble, things don't look good." Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

His tone was unhurried, and he casually glanced at Coffin Master hanging from Li Shiwu's left ear.

"Senior, could you sell me a horse?" Li Shiwu cupped his hands, his attitude sincere.

"Yes, two hundred gold."

"Not expensive, reasonable."

Li Shiwu didn't haggle at all; he simply took out two hundred gold from Coffin Master's belly and placed it before the man.

"Excellent, in that case, choose one yourself," the middle-aged man said with a smile, pointing behind him.

Li Shiwu also didn't hesitate, he led the nearest Five-Fingered Horse and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Senior, for your generosity."

"Don't fret, take this." The goat-bearded man took out a yellow paper from his pocket, with a mysterious talisman drawn in cinnabar, and a large character '豢' (huan, meaning 'rear' or 'raise') on the back.

"This item is a fate talisman of my Human Rearing Sect."

"From now on, the power over this horse's life and death is entirely yours."

"If this beast becomes disobedient, you can just kill it."

Li Shiwu took the yellow paper with both hands and thanked him again.

The goat-bearded man asked, "Young friend, what is your name?"

"This junior is Li Shiwu, may I ask your esteemed name, Senior?"

"Pang Dahai."

"Uh..."

The middle-aged man's expression changed, displeased, "Boy, put away that prejudiced and annoying look of yours."

"The surname 'Pang' is ancient in origin and involves connections so vast you wouldn't dare imagine."

Li Shiwu nodded, and after a serious gaze at the middle-aged man, he led the horse and, with Hua Erling, headed out of the city without looking back.

"Boss, that kid seems a bit off!"

"It's nothing," Pang Dahai said calmly, "In this world now, strange things keep emerging. This kid probably provoked something."

"As for that toad, heh heh."

"What is a mere Coffin Master in front of my Human Rearing Sect?"

Outside the city gate, Hua Erling observed the Five-Fingered Horse, especially its eyes, and increasingly felt that it was a person.

"Shiwu, what now?"

Li Shiwu looked up at the sun, and without a word, directly swung onto the horse, then pulled Hua Erling up.

He felt the horse's back was flat, its spine strong and powerful, completely incomparable to the donkeys he had ridden before.

"This place is one thousand five hundred li from Qingyang Temple."

"In my current state, I feel I can last at most half a month." Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"After half a month, I'll probably completely wither and die, my soul scattered, so I can't care whether it's a horse or a person."

"We must first reach Qingyang Temple."

Li Shiwu felt his physical condition, then reached out and stroked the horse's head, saying in a deep voice: "Your life contract is in my hands."

"It's a thousand five hundred li from here, so please be a bit faster."

"As for my junior and I, though our lives have been rough, we are not harsh or tyrannical people, and we won't make things too difficult for you."

At this moment, a wealthy young master, wearing a peacock feather, who had fortunately bought a Five-Fingered Horse today, was taking it out of the city for a stroll with his retinue.

Seeing two young Daoists riding a Five-Fingered Horse and blocking the city gate, he couldn't help but sneer, feeling a desire for competition.

So, with a hoarse voice, he feigned elegance and said, "Daoist priest, how about a horse race?"

Li Shiwu turned back, narrowed his eyes, and raised his knife: "Get lost, I don't have time to mess around with you. Say another word, and I'll chop you down."

Hua Erling: "Go, go, go, we're busy."

As for the black horse beneath them, it instantly showed a look of terror, reared its hooves high, neighed, and shot out like an arrow.

Horse: Didn't you say you wouldn't be tyrannical?

The two were also helpless; after all, having followed Qianyuanzi since childhood, such behavior was normal after years of observation and influence.

From then on, the two traveled eastward.

And the Five-Fingered Horse from the Human Rearing Sect, one could only say, was worth every bit of the two hundred gold.

Its steps were like wind, yet extremely steady, and it didn't need to be actively ridden, nor did they have to worry about going the wrong way or getting its hooves stuck.

Thus, as the second day approached dusk.

Under their rapid journey, the two successfully arrived at the foot of the low mountain where Qingyang Temple was located.

Even looking up the mountain, they could see the temple's eaves and corners shining brightly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Erling, let's go."

Li Shiwu and Hua Erling dismounted, holding the reins, and began to ascend the mountain along a mountain path.

Half an incense stick's time later.

A Daoist temple named 'Qingyang' clearly appeared before the two; it was ancient and elegant, exuding a serene and natural charm.

Making the two, who had rushed all the way, calm down as well.

"Two Daoist brothers, have you come wandering and wish to stay for the night?" a young Daoist acolyte, seeing them dressed in Daoist robes, proactively approached to speak.

However, after clearly seeing Li Shiwu's face and the Five-Fingered Horse, his eyes immediately showed terror.

Li Shiwu, seeing this, was not surprised; instead, he took advantage of the situation.

He returned the greeting, saying: "In that case, we apologize for the disturbance."

"This... this Daoist brother, your horse?" The young Daoist acolyte hesitated.

"It's nothing, just find a place to tie it up and feed it some steamed buns." Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

Li Shiwu thought for a moment, then took out a piece of gold: "This disturbance to your esteemed temple, these mundane things are a small token of our appreciation, consider them incense money."

The young Daoist acolyte's eyes lit up, and he immediately smiled, happily reaching out to take it.

"Daoist brother, you're too kind. All Daoist sects under heaven are one family. Allow me to inform the temple master."

Watching the other party leave, Li Shiwu began to carefully examine the Daoist temple before him. Apart from being a bit quiet, it was, as the white-bearded old man had said before.

Very ordinary, with no spiritual or miraculous qualities.

Li Shiwu's brows furrowed deeply.

"How can this be?"

"Since it's connected to Seed Immortal Temple, how can this Qingyang Temple be so ordinary?"