Chapter 195: The Xuanmen Association

　　The catfish's head is particularly large.

　　Among a pile of pale brain matter, Jing Jian successfully found a green internal dan.

　　It was as big as an adult's thumb, reflecting a faint dark green glow in the sunlight.

　　Lu Fei also found the fish startling stone.

　　In fact, not every kind of fish has the fish startling stone. It is usually found under the occipital bone of bluegill and carp. It is named for its powers to ward off evil, protect children from fright, and attract blessings and prosperity.

　　And this catfish, having become a spirit, had condensed a heart-shaped stone the size of an apricot kernel.

　　The texture was warm and smooth, crystal clear like amber, very beautiful.

　　Lu Fei put it away carefully, and also peeled the skin off the big fish.

　　Then, he opened his backpack.

　　The little black dog was safe and sound, sleeping soundly inside.

　　"We fought until the sky turned dark, and you slept like a log." Lu Fei smiled.

　　It seemed that this little creature had not yet finished digesting the flesh of the small fish demon, so there was no need to feed it the big fish.

　　They cremated and buried the fish carcass.

　　By the time they had done all this, it was already dawn, with sunlight spilling down and a rainbow appearing on the surface of the lake.

　　At this moment, Fuxian Lake was bathed in gentle breezes and warm sunshine, presenting a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

　　Who would have thought that so many unknown ghosts and monsters were lurking deep beneath the lake?

　　They returned to the small inn.

　　The owner had woken up, completely unaware of what had happened, still thinking it had been a nightmare.

　　The three of them freshened up, paid their bill, and left.

　　This trip could be said to be a complete success!

　　Not only did they get what they each wanted, Lu Fei also gained an extra small inner pill and two fish skins.

　　Even the little black dog got to eat some fish meat.

　　Although their bodies were tired, everyone's spirits were extraordinarily high.

　　The minivan gradually drove away from the town.

　　Lu Fei cast a glance at the shimmering lake water.

　　"Rain-summoning stone, I'll remember it. I will come back!"

　　Hu Zi and Jing Jian took turns driving, and after a long journey, they safely returned to Jiangcheng.

　　Everyone was both tired and hungry.

　　Lu Fei had many questions to ask Jing Jian, so he let him rest at Sinisterium Pawnshop.

　　After getting some sleep, they went out for a meal.

　　Street food stall.

　　Lu Fei ordered a full table of dishes.

　　"Brother Jing, help yourself, if there's not enough, we'll add more."

　　"Then I won't be polite," Jing Jian rubbed his hands together.

　　After this, his relationship with Lu Fei and Hu Zi became even closer, and their conversation became less formal.

　　The three of them were extremely hungry, so they ate like ravenous wolves.

　　When they were almost done eating, Lu Fei finally asked, "Brother Jing, how exactly should one absorb these magical items? And how should one use the inner dan?"

　　"Anything that a magical tool can absorb is a magical item. You can try it out with your thunderstruck jujube wood staff when you get back," Jing Jian took a sip of water and explained slowly.

　　"The inner dan is used by cultivators to enhance their internal energy. You can either swallow it directly or absorb it bit by bit using your powers."

　　"Swallowing it will have the quickest effect, but it depends on your own ability. If you cannot absorb the power of the inner dan in a short time, it's very easy to explode from overloading, or to go into demonic possession."

　　"Absorb it bit by bit with magic power. Although the effect is slow, it's the safest way.",

　　"I can only use magic power.",

　　Jing Jian laughed self-deprecatingly, his eyes filled with many aspirations.

　　"After I absorb the inner core of the fish demon this time, I can consider refining a life-bound magical artifact. When we go and pick the coffin fungus together then, I'm sure we will succeed.",

　　"So there are so many details. Thank you, Brother Jing, for clearing up my confusion." Lu Fei nodded. No wonder they say the depths of the mystic world are unfathomable; the path of cultivation is indeed long.

　　"With such a large inner core, how long will it take for you to absorb it, Brother Jing?",

　　"It's hard to estimate, after all, this is my first time getting an inner core from a demonic creature." Jing Jian thought seriously, "But I think it will take at least ten to fifteen days.",

　　"That long?" Lu Fei opened his eyes wide.

　　Doesn't that mean we can only go to pick the coffin fungus in half a month?

　　"That's assuming everything goes smoothly with the absorption." Jing Jian smiled helplessly, "What can I do? My skills are not good enough. I am relying entirely on self-cultivation, and without a master to guide me, it is a bit slower."

　　"So how did you start practicing?" Tiger couldn't help but ask curiously.

　　"When I was young, I was very weak and often encountered unclean things, falling ill with strange diseases. My parents thought I wouldn't grow up. Later, I met a powerful old Taoist who divined for me and said that if I wanted to grow up safely, I had to learn to practice. He taught me a few techniques, and I've been relying on those to get by until now," Jing Jian explained.

　　"Wow, your experience is like something out of a novel!" Tiger said with some envy, "How come I never encounter such good fortune?"

　　"Who knows if it's good or bad fortune." Jing Jian shook his head with a sigh, "But once you're on this path, you have to see it through. It's been over a decade already."

　　"Brother Jing, having been in the江湖for so long, you must know quite a few people, right?" Lu Fei asked again.

　　"I'm ashamed to say, but I haven't made much of a name for myself. I don't even qualify to join the Mystic Door Association," Jing Jian said somewhat embarrassed.

　　"The Mystic Door Association?" Lu Fei was taken aback, "I think my grandfather mentioned it. Is it called the Lingyin Association?"

　　"That's right, only the most capable people from the Mystic Doors can join. The most basic requirement is to possess a life-bound artifact," Jing Jian looked at Lu Fei.

　　"But you might give it a try. Your thunderbolt wood is so powerful; sooner or later, you'll be able to refine it into a life-bound artifact."

　　"Only with a life-bound artifact will you be considered a top cultivator among the Mystic Doors, and others will truly look at you with new eyes."

　　Lu Fei paused, suppressing the urge to mention that his jujube wood staff was already his intrinsic magic weapon, and said, "I'm just a shop owner. What benefits would I get from joining this association?"

　　"Being able to join the association is a symbol of status. If we must talk about benefits, it's that you gain more renown and can meet more powerful people... But ordinary rogue cultivators can't enter this circle unless you know an influential person who can bring you in."

　　"Meeting more people..." Lu Fei couldn't help but be moved.

　　The left-handed person he met in the underworld with his grandfather was no ordinary man; maybe he was in the Lingyin Association.

　　"By the way, Brother Jing, are there any powerful left-handed people in the martial world?" Lu Fei asked nonchalantly.

　　"Left-handed? Jing Jian replied, "I know only one. The old Daoist who guided me back then was left-handed and called himself Zuo Daoren (Left Daoist)."

　　Lu Fei's heart skipped a beat.

　　What a coincidence?

　　"Where is he now?"

　　"I don't know either. He was also a rogue cultivator, traveling everywhere without a fixed residence! It was my luck that I met him! He is my cultivation goal!" Jing Jian said with admiration.

　　"Then his skills must be quite impressive." Lu Fei suppressed his surprise and only showed a bit of curiosity.

　　"Chanting spells, drawing talismans, fortune-telling, he's very good at all of them. As for the rest... I haven't seen it myself." Jing Jian smiled, "But he said we would meet again if fated to do so. As long as I continue my cultivation, there might be a day when I see him again."

　　"Then I wish you good luck."

　　Lu Fei didn't ask any more questions. Jing Jian didn't know much, and just being left-handed doesn't prove anything. It seemed he still needed to find a way to get information from the Lingyin Association.

　　After the meal.

　　Jing Jian hurriedly bid farewell.

　　Lu Fei was also somewhat eager. Alone in his room, he took out the Fish Fright Stone and the inner pill.

　　One looked like amber, the other like black jade.

　　First, he tried the Fish Fright Stone.

　　Taking a deep breath, he channeled his magical power, holding the lightning-struck jujube wood stick, and gently tapped on the amber-like stone.

　　The stone quivered slightly.

　　A moment later, a faint golden light emerged from it and was instantly absorbed by the jujube wood stick.