Chapter 79

Jing Shizhen is well-versed and has handled no fewer than a hundred magical artifacts.

Among these, there are not only mid-grade artifacts but even high-grade ones. Normally, a single artifact wouldn't make him lose his composure.

However, the dragon-shaped jade pendant that Su Xiaofan took out was somewhat different.

After feeling the magical power of the jade pendant, it was undoubtedly a mid-grade artifact.

But the pendant gave Jing Shizhen a feeling that it could rival a high-grade artifact, similar to his own white jade gourd, which was of extremely high quality.

Moreover, pendant-type artifacts are particularly precious. Su Xiaofan's dragon-shaped jade pendant might be something that even a high-grade artifact couldn't exchange for.

If low-grade artifacts can occasionally be seen, mid-grade artifacts are usually kept secret and are extremely rare to find outside.

"Master, when he gets serious, he really has a commanding presence."

Seeing Jing Shizhen's expression, Su Xiaofan felt a chill all over, as if he were being stared at by a ferocious beast.

"Master, this artifact was given to me by my father!"

Su Xiaofan threw the blame without any pressure, and what he said was true; his sister was also present when his father gave him the object.

"Your father gave it to you? Where... where did he get it from?"

Jing Shizhen didn't expect this answer and was taken aback. It seemed this was a family heirloom.

"Father said he got it abroad."

Su Xiaofan scratched his head. He was also starting to doubt the origin of the jade pendant. Could it be that antiques were really everywhere in foreign countries, and you could just pick them up?

"Abroad? Why not say you picked it up on the street?"

Jing Shizhen was almost choked. Su Xiaofan's talent in cultivation was strong enough, but did he also have a father with even better luck?

"Who knows?" Su Xiaofan glanced at Uncle Jing and said, "Master, why don't you call and ask?"

His father hadn't called in over ten days, and Su Xiaofan didn't know where he was on this planet. Whenever he called, nine times out of ten, it wouldn't connect.

"Since you have this, why do you still want my prayer beads?"

Jing Shizhen played with the jade pendant for a while and then returned it to Su Xiaofan. Seeing the prayer beads on his wrist, he became even more irritated.

"An elder's gift, I dare not refuse."

Su Xiaofan took the jade pendant and put it around his neck with a smile. As for the prayer beads, he naturally wouldn't return them; they were the gift he received by bowing to his master.

"You also have a wind chime at home, right?"

Jing Shizhen counted the artifacts Su Xiaofan had and couldn't help but grind his teeth. At Su Xiaofan's age, he hadn't even seen an artifact.

"Master, the wind chime was bought from you."

Su Xiaofan reminded his master. It was bought with real money; he wouldn't give it back.

"Looking at your attitude, I don't want it from you."

Seeing the car drive out of the parking lot, Jing Shizhen said, "First, take me home. I'll pack some things, and then we'll go to Fengcheng."

"Master, why are we going to Fengcheng?" Su Xiaofan had heard Uncle Jing mention it before, but he hadn't explained.

Actually, Su Xiaofan wasn't very willing to go out. He had just unblocked his major meridians and was enjoying the pleasure of cultivation every day.

"You said artifacts are useless, right? I'll show you their use."

Jing Shizhen said this and then closed his mouth, taking out his phone to navigate an address and placing it in front of Su Xiaofan.

Jing Shizhen's residence wasn't far from the high-speed railway station, in a villa complex on the outskirts of the city. It took only about ten minutes for Su Xiaofan to park the car in front of the villa.

"Master, you have villas all over the country, don't you?"

Su Xiaofan picked up his suitcase and looked at the villa in front of him with envy. He had just acquired his first villa, and compared to his master, he felt like a pauper.

"Living in an apartment is inconvenient for cultivation." Jing Shizhen waved his hand, and his words resonated with Su Xiaofan.

After entering the villa, Jing Shizhen asked Su Xiaofan to rest in the living room while he went upstairs.

After about ten minutes, Jing Shizhen came downstairs, changed his clothes, and had an additional item in his hand.

"Master, what are you doing?"

Seeing Jing Shizhen in a blue Taoist robe, Su Xiaofan was taken aback. "Didn't you say we're not Taoists, just inheritors of Daoist traditions? Are you wearing a Taoist robe to convert to Taoism?"

"You know nothing. This is just a blue gown, what does it have to do with a Taoist robe?"

Jing Shizhen glanced at Su Xiaofan and said, "Remember, a zhuangzi towel, cloud socks, ten-direction shoes, and a Taoist robe are the standard for Taoists. Don't pretend to know and spread misinformation."

"Okay, I understand, Master." Su Xiaofan nodded, willing to learn and not ashamed to ask.

"Master, is that a magical sword?" Su Xiaofan asked cautiously.

In Jing Shizhen's right hand was a wooden-sheathed sword about fifty centimeters long. From the magical power fluctuations, Su Xiaofan could sense that it was an artifact.

"Yes, it's a peach wood sword, a low-grade artifact." Jing Shizhen nodded.

"You're not a Taoist, huh?"

Su Xiaofan muttered to himself. A Taoist robe and a peach wood sword were usually the setup for a Taoist exorcist.

Jing Shizhen opened the box and put the peach wood sword inside. Su Xiaofan, with his sharp eyes, saw the white jade gourd and the money sword in the box.

"Master, are we going to catch ghosts?"

Su Xiaofan couldn't help but ask again.

The thought of catching ghosts excited Su Xiaofan. He had lived in the legendary place at the foot of Mang Mountain for over ten years and hadn't seen a single ghost. He was eager to see what they looked like.

"Once we get there, you'll know. What's the point of asking so many questions now?"

Jing Shizhen closed the box and stood up. "Let's go. First, we'll pick up the wind chime, then change into sports clothes. Oh, and bring a few extra sets of clothes. We're driving to Fengcheng."

"Okay!"

Driving to Fengcheng would take only two to three hours, and Su Xiaofan could suppress his curiosity for a few hours.

Back at his own complex, Jing Shizhen didn't go up but waited in the car for Su Xiaofan.

After packing a few sets of clothes in a suitcase, Su Xiaofan hurried back to the car.

Driving was Su Xiaofan's job. After getting on the highway, they arrived in Fengcheng after about two hours.

During the two-hour drive, Su Xiaofan asked his master many questions about cultivation.

Jing Shizhen answered all his questions and said he would teach Su Xiaofan a spell when he had time.

However, he didn't say much about the cultivation methods after the major meridians, only telling Su Xiaofan to consolidate his realm and that he would teach him when the time was right.

This made Su Xiaofan a bit skeptical. Could it be that their lineage only went up to the major meridians?

The car stopped in front of a five-star hotel on the outskirts of Fengcheng.

As soon as Jing Shizhen opened the car door, several people waiting at the hotel entrance came forward.

"Hey, isn't that Mr. Tong?"

Through the car window, Su Xiaofan saw the person at the front, who was none other than Tong Dongjie, who had bought his pen holder in Beijing and later helped him with the bill.

"Xiaofan, get out. Let him help you park the car."

After shaking hands with Jing Shizhen, Tong Dongjie saw Su Xiaofan in the driver's seat and turned to his subordinates, who immediately went over.

Su Xiaofan didn't hesitate, unbuckled his seatbelt, and got out of the car. The two suitcases from the trunk were already taken out, and Su Xiaofan quickly took them over.

Su Xiaofan didn't dare let them carry the suitcases, as the artifacts inside were worth millions, and losing them would be a big problem.

"Uncle Jing, the room is ready. Let's go to the room and talk."

Tong Dongjie led the way. If Su Xiaofan hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have thought it was a different person. The Tong he saw at the club was surrounded by people and had a grand presence.

Tong Dongjie's respect for Uncle Jing was evident not only in the reception but also in the room. Su Xiaofan saw that it was the presidential suite of the hotel.

Tong's grand presence was still there. After entering the room, someone immediately opened the windows for ventilation, and someone else went to boil water for tea.

After inviting Uncle Jing to sit on the sofa, Tong Dongjie said, "Uncle Jing, there are three bedrooms. Xiaofan can stay here too. If you're not comfortable, I can get him another room."

"No need for that. Xiaofan can stay here."

Jing Shizhen waved his hand and said, "Dongjie, you're my junior. Why all this fuss?"

"Uncle Jing, my father repeatedly instructed me to take good care of you." Tong Dongjie watched his subordinates bring the boiled water and waved them out.

Seeing that only Tong Dongjie, Su Xiaofan, and himself were left in the room, Jing Shizhen asked, "Wasn't the matter in Jiaocheng? Why come to Fengcheng?"

"Uncle Jing, Jiaocheng doesn't even have a decent hotel."

Tong Dongjie poured tea for Jing Shizhen and Su Xiaofan and explained, "We're staying here, and it's only an hour's drive to Jiaocheng."

"You."

Jing Shizhen shook his head and said, "I'm here to work. What does the quality of the accommodation matter?"

"That won't do. You need to rest well."

Tong Dongjie laughed. He knew Uncle Jing was also a wealthy person and, although he didn't travel with a large entourage, his standards for food and lodging were high.

"Let's go there early tomorrow and enter the village at noon." Jing Shizhen nodded and didn't dwell on these minor details.

"Alright." Tong Dongjie stood up and said, "Uncle Jing, you and Xiaofan rest first. I'll come and call you for dinner later."

"Wait, Mr. Tong, I still don't know anything."

Seeing Tong Dongjie about to leave, Su Xiaofan quickly called him back. His master hadn't told him anything, and he was still in the dark after driving for hours.

"Still don't know anything?" Tong Dongjie looked at Jing Shizhen.

"Yes, I haven't told him. Dongjie, you tell him, from the beginning."

Jing Shizhen took a sip of tea and said, "My disciple is no ordinary person. His cultivation is only slightly weaker than mine. If you want him to come with us, you need to negotiate the terms with him."

"Hmm? Master, are you letting me bargain?"

Although he didn't know what the trip was about, Su Xiaofan could sense something from their conversation.

Mr. Tong had a request for Uncle Jing, and this matter didn't involve him before. If Mr. Tong wanted to include him, he would need to offer some compensation.