Chapter 213
Chapter 213
Once the wondrous phenomena faded, Deaf Granny hurriedly said with a smile, “It worked! It worked!
“The Celestial Master has decreed that each should be taught according to their aptitude. Immortal Spirits, please go up one at a time!”
Everyone rose and exchanged glances, struggling to contain their delight.
After a moment’s thought, Chang Huaiyuan said, “Brother Qingshan, the Hu Family enjoys the deepest fortune because Third Grandfather watches over you. Please go first.”
Hu Qingshan did not presume upon his status. Instead, he took Hemp-clad Grandmother by the arm and led her and Hu Fei’er onto the altar with him.
“In terms of closeness to Xiao Jiu, Sister Hemp-clad and I are equals. We should go together.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother had long since come to regard Hua Jiunan as her own direct kin, so she did not stand on ceremony. Instead, she turned with a cheerful smile and called to Chen Daji.
“What are you standing there thinking about, you little bastard? Come with Grandmother!”
Chen Daji froze.
“Huh? Grandmother, I can learn from Big Brother too? I’m a little slow. I’m afraid I won’t get it.
“Besides… novels say that learning Daoist arts makes you immortal. If I live forever, when will I ever get to marry the sisters…”
As he spoke, Chen Daji secretly glanced toward the six shapely Red-Dressed Female Ghosts in the distance.
Enraged, Hemp-clad Grandmother rapped him hard on the head.
“Pah! Can’t you show a little ambition, you little bastard? You think a brat like you can live forever? You’re more likely to wind up neither properly alive nor properly dead! Shall Grandmother make that happen for you right now?”
Chen Daji had always been filial. Seeing Hemp-clad Grandmother angry, he hastily tried to ingratiate himself.
“Grandmother, why are you getting so worked up? Don’t be angry. I was just talking nonsense, hehe.”
As he spoke, Chen Daji could not resist looking again at the row of lovely female ghosts. His heart fluttered with desire.
“Grandmother, when are we going to put that hospital idea we discussed last time into practice…”
Once they reached the altar, Hua Jiunan tried to rise and salute them, but Hemp-clad Grandmother stopped him.
“Eldest Grandson, right now you represent the one above.”
As she spoke, Grandmother pointed toward the sky.
“A noble person bears great weight. There’s no need to stand on ceremony with us!”
Hua Jiunan nodded.
“I understand, Grandmother!”
He looked at the sage-like Hu Qingshan and the fairy-like Hu Fei’er. After a moment’s hesitation, he brought out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and began copying secret arts from the *Baopuzi Inner Chapters*.
There was the Great Way of the Golden Elixir for Seizing Kan to Fill Li and Harmonizing Dragon and Tiger;
The secret art of incense offerings, which accumulated virtue through daily good deeds;
And several immensely powerful Daoist arts.
After writing these, he felt the pressure around him suddenly intensify until he could write no more.
Hua Jiunan felt a twinge of regret, but quickly composed himself and handed the recorded secret arts to Hu Qingshan.
Hu Qingshan merely skimmed them, yet his heart was already surging with excitement. He performed three kneels and nine bows before the offering table, then backed down from the altar with Hu Fei’er.
Hua Jiunan turned to Hemp-clad Grandmother.
She gave him a kindly smile.
“Don’t be nervous, Eldest Grandson. Life and death are decreed by fate, wealth and honor by Heaven. Grandmother accepted that long ago.
“How much I can learn depends entirely on what the Celestial Master sees fit to bestow.”
Hua Jiunan nodded and began to write.
First came the secret art of Soul Nurturing and a method for cultivating a yin deity;
Then eight Ghost Path curse-killing arts in succession before the pressure became crushing.
Seeing this, Hemp-clad Grandmother reached out and stopped Hua Jiunan from forcing himself to continue.
“Xiao Jiu, Grandmother was only ever a wandering ghost. It was thanks to you that I gained the fortune I enjoy today. I’m content!”
With that, Hemp-clad Grandmother knelt and bowed before the offering table.
“Celestial Master above, this lowly ghost thanks you for granting my wish!”
Hemp-clad Grandmother had just turned to leave when Hua Jiunan suddenly remembered something.
“Grandmother, please wait. Let me see if I can write down something else!”
Taking back the paper, Hua Jiunan tried copying arts recorded in the *Taiping Scripture*.
“Summoning the Yellow Turban Strongmen,” the “Taiping Pure Sand Incantation”…
Only when the entire sheet was full did Hua Jiunan reluctantly put down his brush.
Hemp-clad Grandmother beamed from ear to ear.
“My Eldest Grandson is the best. Grandmother didn’t dote on you for nothing!
“Daji, you little bastard, learn something useful from your brother! All you think about from morning to night is finding a wife and opening a hospital!”
Chen Daji gave an awkward grin and did not dare talk back. He hastily changed the subject.
“Big Brother, just teach me whatever you think I can learn. The Seventy-Two Transformations or Somersault Cloud will do. I’m not picky…”
Hua Jiunan could not be bothered with the unreliable fool. He raised his brush to begin writing.
But the instant brush touched paper, there was a bang-the brush exploded.
Several splinters lodged themselves in Chen Daji’s forehead, sending blood streaming out.
Chen Daji bared his teeth in pain and cursed, “What the fuck is this supposed to mean?!”
Hua Jiunan was speechless as well. He could only reassure him softly.
“Don’t panic, Daji. It may have been a coincidence. Let’s try again.”
He took out another brush, but just as he was about to try, there came another bang. It exploded too.
Several more splinters appeared in Chen Daji’s forehead. Naturally, even more blood flowed…
Chen Daji was on the verge of tears.
“Big Brother, is someone trying to kill us? Did they stuff dynamite into the brushes?
“And why am I always the one who gets hurt while nothing happens to you…”