On the banks of the Jinshui River, at the Changrui Dock.

    Next to the Startling Swan ship, dozens of fifty-meter ships were lined up in rows, docked at the harbor.

    Under the lead of a colossal tower ship, they orderly departed from the dock and slowly headed upstream along the river.

    The leading tower ship, spanning more than a hundred meters, had five or six-meter diameter paddle wheels on both sides.

    At this moment, the giant wheels were spinning steadily and rapidly, and the heavy dragon ship immediately cut through the waves.

    Chen Mu stood on the second floor of the Yue Lai Tavern, watching the giant ship with a reflective expression.

    "Quite an eye-opener." Your next read is at m v|l-e''-novelhall.net

    In his previous life, he had never seen such a large tower ship with his own eyes.

    And listening to the discussion in the tavern, those gigantic water-dividing wooden wheels were all powered by human strength!

    "The Shape Cultivation Technique is truly freaking magical," Chen Mu couldn''t help but curse.

    Such massive wheels, powered entirely by martial artists, and they still moved so fast!

    Chen Mu couldn''t help but think of Lin Que, the hall master who had died long ago, who had an excellent skill in steering boats and could make a small wooden boat travel at the speed of a motorboat.

    "If I tried... I probably could too."

    Chen Mu took another glance at the departing ship and turned away.

    "I wonder if I''ll ever see Old Ge again," Chen Mu sighed.

    Such a good seller.

    What a pity he had to follow the Startling Swan Gang up north to fight evil spirits. It''s a life-or-death situation.

    ...

    At the An Ding Gate, in the southern area of Nanyang Prefecture City.

    A troop of several hundred cavalry rode out of the city.

    Dressed in black leather armor, each with a long saber hung on their horse and a short knife at their waist, their faces were expressionless, the air around them murderous.

    At a glance, they were battle-hardened elite soldiers.

    Passers-by by the gate quickly scurried to the sides of the road, not daring to collide.

    "Which batch is this? The Tangshan Army stationed in the city keeps being drawn back to camp; we''re not heading into battle, are we?"

    "No, it''s said that they''re heading north to suppress bandits, preventing rogue armies from invading the south."

    "Thank goodness for the protection of the Tangshan Army. I heard the north is in chaos, with homes abandoned everywhere."

    Hiding among the crowd, Chen Mu watched the hundreds of riders kick up billowing dust as they disappeared into the distance.

    "Suppressing bandits? No, they''re probably going to train their troops against ghosts and spirits."

    "Why bother with those things when life is good? Is what they''re looking for that precious?" Chen Mu frowned, genuinely curious now.

    "Forget it, let them roam themselves; I''ll continue to stay home," he thought.

    After all, he had the proficiency cheat. Sooner or later, he would develop formidable strength. With his Shell Soul, he could roam wherever he wanted.

    ...

    The year 649 of the Da Liang reign, February 19th.

    In the Chen Residence at Shanglin Neighborhood.

    Chen Mu''s muscles swelled again, especially in his forearms.

    At the peak of his burst, they were almost as thick as a cantaloupe.

    Chen Mu stood calmly in the middle of the courtyard, maintaining his breathing method from the Black Tiger Shape Cultivation Technique.

    A quarter of an hour later, his body returned to a lean and muscular state.

    He had undergone Marrow Transformation for the fourth time.

    "Seems it''s gotten a bit faster."

    Practicing the White Ape Shape Cultivation Technique, it had taken him twenty full days to complete the transformation.

    During his practice of the Black Tiger Shape Cultivation Technique, he had monitored Old Ge and even went out to watch the departure of the Startling Swan Gang. Remarkably, it only took him nineteen days to complete the Marrow Transformation.

    "Can''t stack the armor anymore," Chen Mu lamented.

    The more Shape Cultivation Techniques he practiced, the more comprehensive the body enhancements, which made his subsequent cultivation faster. But it also dashed his dreams of becoming a muscle-bound freak.

    ...

    At dinner, Chen Mu, thinking of the recent commotion in Nanyang, couldn''t contain his curiosity and asked, "What exactly are the Startling Swan Gang and Tangshan Army looking for?"

    "It''s of no use to you," Jie Jia replied slowly, eating his meal without even looking at Chen Mu.

    "They''re attracting trouble with evil spirits without any fear; I''m worried about getting caught up in it," Chen Mu expressed his concern.

    "You sure are bold," Jie Jia glanced at Chen Mu and said.

    "I get it, I get it," Chen Mu chuckled and casually handed over ten taels of silver he had prepared in advance.

    A few hooligans burst into unrestrained laughter.

    Just then, a melodious and pleasant singing voice came from the river.

    The men couldn''t help but look over.

    A large red-painted boat silently sliced through the white fog, heading straight for the pier.

    The boat was brightly lit, and through the thin veils of its windows, dancers wearing little more than a few pieces of cloth danced gracefully to the music.

    The dancers'' figures varied; some were petite and exquisite, others mature and voluptuous, every shape and size was enticing.

    "Mine... all mine!"

    The rowdy hooligans suddenly stared at the Red Ship, murmuring mindlessly.

    Their eyes were vacant, their faces infatuated.

    "All mine!"

    Splash...

    One by one, like dumplings, they jumped into the water, desperately swimming towards the Red Ship.

    Shortly after, the large ship disappeared back into the white mist, leaving only faint yellow lights flickering uncertainly in the haze.

    ...

    "Is this the Zuming Talisman?" Chen Mu examined the palm-sized, brown leathery talisman paper.

    He had thought it would be a Yellow Paper Talisman just like the Evil-warding Talisman.

    The power is different, so the carriers are different, too," Jie Jia explained briefly.

    "Where can I learn the skill to draw such talismans?" Chen Mu eagerly looked at Jie Jia.

    He had Proficiency; if he could master the technique of drawing talismans, then he wouldn''t be afraid of any ghosts or monsters, with his pockets full of Zuming Talismans!

    Jie Jia didn''t even look at Chen Mu and turned to leave.

    Chen Mu was immediately frustrated.

    It was still a matter of insufficient strength. Even if he knew, he wouldn''t be able to learn, and even if he learned, he probably couldn''t use it.

    If there was the slightest possibility, Jie Jia wouldn''t pass up the opportunity to make money.

    Chen Mu clenched his teeth and secluded himself, not stepping foot outside as he feverishly practiced Shape Cultivation Techniques.

    For an entire month he didn''t leave the house. Although he hadn''t developed any Soul Strength from the Black Tiger Shape Cultivation Technique, he received an unexpected blessing.

    Under the eaves, Chen Mu sat cross-legged on a rocking chair, took off his shoes and socks, and started to fiddle with his feet.

    On the soles of his feet where there used to be Soul Strength the size of a plump soybean, there were now two the size of plump soybeans.

    The Soul Strength from the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique had grown larger!

    Chen Mu couldn''t help looking at the gray wall.

    Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique: Limit;

    The entry information was still at the limit, but the Soul Strength had genuinely doubled in size.

    And that''s not all.

    Chen Mu took off his shirt to reveal his arms.

    That''s where the Wandering Soul of the White Ape Shape Cultivation Technique had been.

    Now, the Soul Strength, which was initially the size of a quail egg, had also grown bigger!

    "The enhancement of the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique''s Wandering Soul can also increase other Soul Strengths?" Chen Mu''s eyes immediately lit up.

    With a thought, several Divine Intent Diagrams appeared in his mind.

    The previously blurry Divine Intent Diagram of the Red Falcon had become slightly clearer.

    It had been like looking through frosted glass before, now it was like looking through a layer of mist, finally being able to see a bit of brilliant light.

    "I was expecting to comprehend a secret technique; I didn''t expect it to increase Soul Strength multiplicatively!"

    He never gave up on the Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique. When he had time, he''d give it a few tries.

    And that had given him a huge surprise.

    "Not only does it strengthen oneself, it also improves other Wandering Souls!"

    Chen Mu then turned his gaze to the Blue-eyed Golden Ape Soul Strength that encircled his waist.

    If this were to level up, with connections down the line, wouldn''t the area covered by Soul Strength drastically increase?!

    "Be patient, don''t rush!" Chen Mu suppressed the excitement in his heart.

    "We must maximize the benefits," Chen Mu said, looking at the two scrolls on the low table.

    If the Black Tiger Shape Cultivation Technique, White Jade Toad Shape Cultivation Technique, and Heavenly Serpent Shape Cultivation Technique could all develop Wandering Souls.

    And then amplified by the Blue-eyed Golden Ape Polarity...

    Chen Mu''s face turned red with excitement!