Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 698 - 682: Overwhelmed by Fragrance

Faced with these two questions that were both somewhat naive and profound, Master Huang San stroked his whitish beard and sighed lightly.

If it were anyone else, he certainly wouldn’t have the patience to explain each one, but since the person could make incense, he had to adopt a friendly cooperative attitude if he needed something from them.

"Young Jiang, regarding the methods of cultivation, the legendary spiritual energy, and evil techniques, I can explain them to you in detail. However, although I have some cultivation experience and audaciously claim the name of an ’Immortal Family,’ I have not yet achieved the state of a True Immortal, so I cannot ensure what I say is entirely accurate; I can only share what I know with you."

Where should I start?

Sitting with his legs crossed, he adjusted his small glasses and pondered for a moment before speaking: "Indeed, there are methods of cultivation, but what exactly is cultivated varies across different schools and sects.

You shouldn’t concern yourself with this; once you’ve had a meal in the Underworld, joining this sect means you can’t easily change alliances.

Moreover, both Daoist and Buddhist sects have many followers and numerous branches. True and righteous methods certainly exist, but they emphasize fate. The so-called cultivation heart methods are all passed down orally from master to disciple. Without the qualification to accept disciples, they cannot be spread; these are the foundational teachings of sects, and no one reveals them easily.

Those who receive instruction have a destined fate and are taken in as inner sect disciples early on; ordinary people rarely have the chance to see them.

The rest is a mix of genuine skills and street tricks; it’s very complex, and I don’t know much or dare to comment. However, as far as I know, almost all cultivation techniques can be summed up in four words—self-improvement and spirituality nurturing.

What is cultivated is oneself, and what is nourished is spirituality.

I wonder if you’ve noticed that our bodies and souls are actually two different things.

Take Tiezhu, for instance, who often says he has procrastination issues, something like a giant in thought but a dwarf in action... these kinds of things actually reveal the fundamental issue, that our souls can’t completely control our bodies.

That’s why one must cultivate the body and nurture the spirit, achieving harmony of body and soul, knowing and acting as one, unity with heaven and man, then cultivation becomes successful."

"What you say, Master, makes it seem like whether or not there is a heart method is not that important." Jiang Yuan thought about it and found it made some sense.

If the soul could truly and completely control the body, whatever is thought of can be accomplished; controlling the organs’ functions and cells’ metabolism naturally wouldn’t result in illness or aging, and injuries could heal instantly, much like the legendary Immortals.

Delving deeper, those cultivators in the Wilderness World breathe and absorb the heaven and earth’s spiritual energy for their own use; fundamentally, it seems to be trying to use spiritual energy to better control the body...

Master Huang San waved his paw with a smile, "That statement is incorrect. Everyone knows and can speak grand philosophies, but how many can achieve them? The so-called heart method is actually a method summarised by predecessors, a way easier to achieve goals.

It’s like there’s a mountain in front of us, and everyone knows winning means reaching the summit. Having a heart method to know the paths trailblazed by predecessors certainly allows one to be faster than someone who knows nothing, not even the direction.

Life is limited; in the limited time available, not taking detours naturally makes cultivation easier to achieve."

The so-called great truth is simple; Jiang Yuan nodded in agreement but also felt a bit disappointed.

With so many cultivation techniques in the Wilderness World, not understanding them, not hearing them clearly, and the system being lazy by not providing translations; as for the rules operating in the real world, obtaining true skills and righteous paths on my own is highly unlikely.

"You’re probably pondering, game over! The master left early, no one to lead, and obtaining heart methods from other sects is impossible, so cultivation in this lifetime is hopeless." Huang San twisted his whiskers with his paw, his face showing a bit of smugness as he laughed, "Child, you’ve got it wrong.

What we’re talking about is not like what’s depicted on TV, fierce fighting and boasting.

If you watch early TV series, many truly skilled individuals would always say a phrase, ’Martial arts are not for fighting and killing, but for self-cultivation.’

External body techniques train the physical form to conform to the natural timings; internal heart methods nurture the spirit and soul; the aim is for the early merging of inner and outer. So if you can’t get a heart method but want to cultivate, what do you do? I’ll point you to the simplest yet toughest path—accumulating virtue and practicing kindness.

I’m confident in telling you this because it’s through accumulating virtue and practicing kindness that I, Master Huang San, achieved my current cultivation level."

Jiang Yuan suddenly widened his eyes, "Could you expand on that part?"

"Master, what are they discussing?" Chuci heard the words "heart method," realizing they were certainly discussing some secret.

Unwilling to apply ointment for "eavesdropping" in front of others and yet extremely curious, could only inquire in a low voice.

Li Tiezhu showed an embarrassed expression; Immortal beings can instruct him anytime they wish, but for him to hear or see an Immortal, he must light incense to seek them, and only after gaining permission can he use the incense as a medium to hear or see.

At this moment, clearly, the Immortal did not want him to hear, and probably wouldn’t respond even if he lit the incense.

He could only shake his head silently, explain in an extremely low voice, "The Immortal doesn’t want us to hear; it is likely that heavenly secrets cannot be divulged."

Upon hearing this, Chuci grew even more curious, rubbing his ears and scratching, regretting not applying ointment earlier. Then turning his thoughts, if what they wish not to disclose is so secretive, even with the ointment, it is likely he would be asked to leave.

So this is what they call fate, even when it’s right under your nose, you can only stare blankly.

"To elaborate on this part, it involves the aspect of spiritual energy you asked about." Master Huang San paused, leaned in to sniff the faint, nearly dissipated fragrance on the other person, smacked his lips, "Hold on a second, let me have a sip of water to wet my throat."

Saying this, he took out a small water bottle from the pocket of his traditional jacket, and leisurely sipped tea from its spout.

Jiang Yuanxin wondered whether he also had a storage bag?

Later, he thought about how books like Youyang’s Miscellaneous Ramblings described small magics like turning beans into soldiers or paper into people, so it seemed quite normal for someone who could speak human language to know a few transformational tricks.

Master Huang San was really tempted, but having just promised to explain things in detail, it was inappropriate to stop now and ask for benefits. He really wanted to know the quality of the incense Jiang Yuan made; if the price was too high, what would he do about the fact that Yuan’s finances were limited...

He continued to sip tea while lost in thought; the other two didn’t chat either, both pricked their ears, waiting to hear something from Jiang Yuan’s mouth, making the room momentarily very quiet.

"Incense?" Jiang Yuan reacted after a moment, thinking to himself that Master Huang San must be smelling the fragrance of incense sticks on him?

Before leaving, he had lit a good incense stick to cover the fishy smell in the restroom, and it must have lingered on him. His nose is really keen!

"Master, have some tea and rest for a while, I’ll go downstairs to get something." Remembering Qu Luming’s loss of composure when eating incense, he thought that no matter how high Master Huang San’s cultivation was in the real world, he might not be able to resist the temptation of offering incense?

A few incense sticks weren’t a big deal to him, and if it could coax out the information he wanted to know, it was definitely worth it!

He grabbed the car keys and hurried downstairs, pretending to get something from the car, while actually retrieving two offering incense sticks from his storage bag.

Without packaging, Jiang Yuan tore two pages from the notebook in the glove compartment. Having made many papermen and paper horses, his hands had become quite nimble. He carefully folded the pages into a slender paper pouch and slipped the two incense sticks inside, making it seem legitimate.

Back upstairs, the moment he entered the room, Master Huang San paused slightly in his tea-drinking, put away the teapot, widened his eyes, and sniffed with his short nose, "Such a wonderful fragrance! Is it the offering incense made by the young friend?"

"I planned to offer incense at a temple last time, so I took two sticks." Seeing Master Huang San’s reaction, Jiang Yuan knew he had him hooked, so he casually made up an excuse: "But all I found were mud sculptures and painted statues, so I left the incense on Chuci’s car and just remembered to bring it for you to see."

Chuci’s eyes lit up, having studied this particular knowledge point before. He understood well the difference between incense sticks, incense, offering incense, and medicinal incense. Seeing how naturally Jiang Yuan mentioned it, he realized offering incense was indeed what the Immortal Family required for worship.

He habitually rubbed his temples with his fingers, pondering whether to apprentice and learn the art, perhaps study incense-making with Jiang Yuan? He wondered if Jiang Yuan would be willing to teach, and if mastering this skill would let him convert money and time into trade resources, drawing him closer to another side of the world... 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Oh my!" Master Huang San stood up straighter, eyes gleaming with excitement as he saw Jiang Yuan extract an offering incense stick, exuding a faint fragrance, from its simple paper pouch—a top-quality item!

This old man’s been around for years, yet it’s my first time seeing such high-quality offering incense.

What ingredients were added?

He sniffed, trying to discern its secrets, but remained baffled, enchanted by the scent. It showed that the maker not only used good ingredients but possessed excellent craftsmanship, ensuring that the recipe wouldn’t be leaked or deciphered by other handcrafted incense makers.

He truly craved to light one up and indulge!

Master Huang San couldn’t help but swallow the saliva threatening to overflow, took a deep breath to calm himself. The more cultivated someone is, the more they understand the laws of the Great Dao—one mustn’t be greedy or seize advantage lightly, or they’d have to repay a greater debt.

"Such well-crafted offering incense surely costs a lot in raw materials, so it must be expensive?" He cautiously inquired, "May I ask, young friend, how much does it sell for?"

Offering incense had never been sold in the real world before, so what price was appropriate?

Jiang Yuan hesitated slightly; this wasn’t like medicinal incense, which could quickly cure ailments. Once health was restored, it wasn’t needed anymore. Offering incense was different; it was a staple, and one’s strength doesn’t just soar after consuming a few sticks, so the price shouldn’t be too high.

"Since Master has been so endlessly patient in answering my questions, let’s be friends." He seemed to decide on something, then said, "How about we round it to ten thousand yuan per stick? I’ll give the two sticks to Master as a taste test. If you like them, you can order more from me in the future."

What on earth costs ten thousand yuan per stick?!

Secretly sniffing a cigarette for a whiff, Li Tiezhu was so shocked it fell from his mouth, eyes darting between the slender incense stick in the other’s hand and the untouched red envelope on the table, his heart racing.

Oh, my goodness!

Why is it that every peer I meet is more skilled, makes money easier than I do, and yet I’m so unfortunate?

"Ah, well...you get what you pay for." Master Huang San felt a bit shaken inside, but the key was that the stuff was genuinely good. Even though it wasn’t even lit, he was almost captivated by it. Imagine how wonderful it’d be to snack on one!

Jiang Yuan, seeing this, smiled slightly, "Master, would you like to try an incense?"