Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 104 Visiting Card and Loach Mud

"We have finished the discussion."

Chen Ji looked into the well and said.

The water column that just fell startled the water surface, and ripples were now spreading.

The loach monster floated above the ripples, without any disturbance.

Seeing this, Chen Ji knew that the loach monster had already developed extremely strong water control abilities, which was a clear improvement compared to the day when it couldn't even spray out a column of water from the wellhead.

But I'm also curious why it progressed so quickly.

"To be honest, this is the benefit brought by the Dragon Soul."

The loach monster said seriously.

"Originally, I had the ability to control water, but it wasn't this powerful. After absorbing the dragon soul, I suddenly felt like I understood a lot. I've been trying to control water recently, and it's indeed much better than before."

"Now I can even absorb the essence of the sun and the moon faster than before."

"Then congratulations, fellow Daoist."

Chen Ji looked into the well and smiled.

"It's all thanks to you, fellow Daoist. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such a dragon soul."

The loach monster thanked him sincerely and said again.

"It was only after I obtained the Dragon Soul that I realized how ridiculous my previous thoughts were."

"Even a proud True Dragon could be beaten by a Taoist until blood flowed for a hundred miles. I am weak and yet I am so unruly. I have to thank you Taoist for showing mercy and not hitting me."

"Actually, I also thought about hitting you that day."

Chen Ji said slowly.

"..."

The ripples in the well suddenly stopped, and the voice of the loach monster was heard slowly.

"You don't have to tell the truth, fellow Daoist."

"Those who practice cultivation do not tell lies."

"Why didn't you take action then?"

"You're in the water. I'm not good at water magic, so I can't hit you."

The loach monster's eyes moved and he laughed out loud.

"Fellow Daoist, if that's what you say, then I have some other ideas. I still remember the day you drove me out of the Water Palace."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Ji spoke again slowly.

"But now there are other techniques that can be used to hit the water, so it would be better for you to not have any other thoughts."

The loach monster's laughter stopped abruptly, and after a pause, he asked cautiously.

"I wonder what kind of magic it is, and how to defend against it? I've never heard of anything like it before."

"I was just joking with you, fellow Taoist. This technique is indeed uncommon, and I haven't even mastered it yet."

Chen Ji said seriously.

But the loach monster had no interest in it anymore.

It swung its tail and dived into the well, then emerged from the water and looked at Chen Ji.

"Oh, it turns out that what the other water creatures said is right. Humans are not as simple as monsters. You can't believe a single word they say."

"You said earlier that practitioners don't tell lies, but now you're trying to deceive monsters."

"No wonder it's Mr. Fox, he's even more cunning than a fox!"

Chen Ji laughed out loud.

"Fellow Daoist, why not give it a try? If I really don't know this technique, can't I avenge the prank I played on me that day?"

The loach monster was a little tempted, but still held back and twisted its body on the water surface.

"If you say you can, I'd like to try. But now I don't know if you can do this kind of magic. If you do, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?"

"Besides, I can't even stand your fire dragon. If there really is such a technique, beating the monster will be even more painful. I won't give it a try!"

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something.

"Fellow Daoist, you're usually absorbed in spiritual practice, exorcising demons and ghosts, or discussing Dao with foxes. How come you have time to chat with me today?"

"I'm going to Hutuo River and want to ask fellow Daoist about the situation."

"You are not from the water tribe, what are you doing there?"

"I'm going to Longzi to ask for something."

"Hiss, you can't go there!"

The loach monster shook his head hurriedly.

"Why?"

"That dragon is naturally arrogant and unruly. A few days ago, he encountered a familiar water creature in the river. He said that he was angry after losing a fight to a Taoist priest, and he often took the water palace to the river to find monsters and ghosts for training."

"There used to be some monsters on both sides of the Hutuo River, but now they can't stand the harassment and have all moved away."

"Because the Water Controlling Young Master disturbed the Water Palace with his tricks, he brought the demons to the Zhanshui City God to have a debate. Now, even the fishermen in Zhanshui Town have become much quieter, fearing they might provoke this mad dragon."

“Is that so…”

Chen Ji nodded slightly and asked again.

"Then, are the monsters originally on both sides of the river good monsters or bad monsters?"

The loach monster was stunned for a moment and shook his head.

"It's hard to say whether it's good or bad. If it affects people, it's a bad demon. If it doesn't affect people, it's not a good demon either. But the ones we expel do harm more people."

Chen Ji was a little surprised when he heard this.

Judging from these things, this dragon son does not sound as arrogant as the legend says, but rather seems to be quite wise.

So Chen Ji became even more interested.

"That's even more interesting. Even if I have nothing to ask of you, I should still meet this mad dragon. I'd appreciate your introduction, fellow Taoist."

"Let me think about it!"

The loach monster dived into the water, tumbling in the well, stirring up a whirlpool, and it took a long time before it emerged from the water.

"Forget it! I'm afraid none of the monsters I know would want to offend that dragon at this time."

"I am also half of the Hutuo River water tribe, so there is no need to seek other demons and ghosts to introduce me. I will go with my fellow Taoist."

"Not with me."

Chen Ji said.

"what!"

The loach monster was shocked.

"Fellow Daoist, are you asking me to face that dragon son on my own? I... I... I really don't dare!"

The loach monster huddled in a crack in the stone wall of the well, curled up into a ball, with only its head exposed to look outside.

"That dragon boy even wants to collect all the blood he shed. If he knew I ate the dragon blood coral transformed from his blood, he would probably eat me. Fellow Daoist, please spare my life. Even if I can't transform into a dragon in the future, I want to travel around and spend more time there."

Chen Ji shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist, you're really overthinking it. When did I ever say I'd let you, a demon, go face Long Zi? Miss Bai will go too this time."

"Senior Fox is going too? Two demons and one person? That's totally fine!"

The loach monster nodded quickly.

Chen Ji found it funny.

"Why wouldn't a demon dare to go alone? You and I can go, and if we take Miss Bai with us, there will be no problem at all."

"After all, the water tribes of Hutuo River are all monsters. It is not good for you to go alone. But if you have two monsters with you, there will be no such problem."

"However, dragons are naturally proud and pay attention to etiquette. If you want to go, you should send an invitation in advance to make an appointment, so as not to be rude and not be able to meet."

"As it should be."

Chen Ji nodded.

"But how do we send a letter to the water tribe?"

"I do not know either."

The loach monster said decisively.

"Then how did you know about writing a visiting card?"

"The gatekeeper of the Water Palace is my old friend. I heard what he said."

Chen Ji was stunned, but he didn't expect that this loach monster had such a relationship, so he bowed.

"I underestimated the Dragon King. He even planted spies in the River Dragon Palace. It seems that taking over the Dragon Palace is just a matter of thought."

The loach monster's expression changed immediately.

"Fellow Daoist, please don't say this in the Water Palace. If it's Dragon Son... No, if you go to the Water Palace, remember to call him Dragon Lord. Don't call him Dragon Son casually. Do you understand?"

"Of course, these rules apply to the human world as well." "Fellow Daoist, please remember this. Also, don't mention what I just said. If the Dragon Lord hears and thinks I really have such thoughts... I'll be dead!"

"I know, I know."

Chen Ji nodded and laughed, then returned to the house to write a visiting card.

Although the loach monster didn't know how to write, it didn't stop Chen Ji from asking Miss Bai.

"Sir, would you like to write a visiting card to the Dragon King of Hutuo River? That's appropriate, since we are the ones who come to ask for something."

After hearing Chen Ji's question, Miss Bai nodded slightly and then talked about the way to write a visiting card.

"Sir, all you need to do is use your finger as a pen and control your magic power to write on paper. With the protection of magic power, even if you enter water, there will be no problem."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of letter paper and demonstrated it to Chen Ji.

The slender fingers fell on the paper, and the words appeared as they were written lightly. Then they disappeared in a few breaths, just like a new piece of paper.

"Sir, you can use your magic power to make it reappear."

Chen Ji took it and released his magic power, and sure enough, he saw the words he had just written appear on the paper.

"What a magical technique!"

"It's not really a magic, it's just a simple application of mana. If you get to know more Taoist friends in the world in the future, you can also spread messages in this way."

"Excellent."

Chen Ji changed to a new piece of letter paper and quickly wrote the content.

Then he used the wall-opening technique to make a wooden box and installed it, then went to the wellhead and knocked on the well wall.

"Is your visitor here? I've already written the visiting card. Please take the trouble to deliver it."

A whirlpool appeared on the water surface, and the loach monster appeared.

"Just drop it down, I'll be right there."

Chen Ji did as he was told, but he was still curious about how the loach monster would carry it. He saw it open its mouth wide and swallow the wooden box in one gulp. Except for its larger body, its other behavior was similar to Bai Ba's after swallowing the box.

"Daoyou, this technique is not simple."

Chen Ji was sincerely moved.

The loach monster paused for a moment, as if swallowing the wooden box in its mouth, before slowly speaking.

"That's not really a magic trick. Eating underwater every day means you'll always have to spit out mud and sand. If you practice, you'll naturally develop this ability. You won't be able to eat anything too big."

"That's not quite the same as the magic I know."

"Oh? There's magic involved here?"

The loach monster stopped and looked at Chen Ji.

"Yes, a fellow fox who came down the mountain this time accidentally mastered this technique, but he can eat things much larger than himself."

"I wonder which fellow Taoist you are? Can we discuss the Dharma together?"

The loach monster stopped and asked.

"This skill is really useful sometimes. I'm suffering from not being able to practice it, and I don't know how to practice it. If this fellow Taoist is willing to discuss the Dao, I can give up a piece of loach mud!"

"Loach mud? What is that?"

The loach monster cruelly spat out a piece of mud from its mouth, then used its magic to spray out a column of water, which rushed out of the well with the mud and landed right next to Chen Ji.

“That’s it.”

Chen Ji took a look and found that the mud on the ground was indeed a bit special.

It was clearly washed up by water, but it was not soaked at all. Instead, it was just moist enough to be like plasticine.

It fell to the ground without getting covered in dust, and remained a light brown ball.

While I was still figuring out how to use it, the voice of the loach monster was heard.

"This is the clay I usually save. When I absorb the moonlight, I breathe in it and refine it. It is an excellent material. It can be used to burn clay dolls. It can be attached to souls and is the best puppet material."

"If you take it, you can also feel the spiritual charm of the earth, the effect is no less than feeling the earth dragon turning over."

"Or it can be used to set up an array. I heard that there are many Taoists who specifically dig up soil from the places where loach monsters live, and then go back to set up Yin meridians to raise corpses."

"But those are all poisonous. If the poison is not removed, it will be inconvenient to use. Mine are clean and have been refined through rituals."

Chen Ji smiled and shook his head.

"Isn't this okay?"

The loach monster sighed.

"Then I really don't have anything better, unless I have to bleed, which is too difficult."

"You misunderstood, fellow Daoist. I'm not complaining about the amount being too little. We were just discussing Dao. There's no need to be so rude."

"Fellow Daoist, please keep these loach muds."

Chen Ji threw the loach mud back, creating a circle of ripples in the water.

"You do not want?"

The loach monster widened its eyes.

"This is different from the people I know. Those people try every possible means to get something from the monster. How can you be like this?"

"Is this the first time you know that I'm different from ordinary people?"

"Yes, you're the first one who can spit fire to scare loaches and make the fish come to the loaches!"

After saying that, he thought of something and looked at Chen Ji worriedly.

"But it's Fellow Daoist Fox who's discussing Dao with me, not you. How do you know Fellow Daoist Fox won't hide anything?"

"Loach mud is just an external thing I gained through my practice. As long as I have enough time, I will always have more. If Fellow Daoist Fox feels that I have neglected him and does not explain the key to this technique to me, what should I do?"

"You can rest assured about this. Fellow Daoist Fox himself doesn't know how to practice this technique."

"what?"

The loach demon opened his eyes wide, unable to believe what he heard.

After a long time, it swung its tail and hit the water.

"My friend, are you serious or joking?"

"Since this involves cultivation, I naturally dare not joke. If you don't believe me, you can wait for Fellow Daoist Hu to come and ask him yourself. He also cultivated this technique by chance."

"How do I find him?"

"Just wait until you hear that there are many foxes and yell Bai Ba."

"Bai Ba, huh? I've got it. Let me go ahead and deliver the letter for you. I'll come back and ask you about your magic."

The loach monster turned over and drilled into the well without causing any ripples.

Chen Ji couldn't help but feel envious when he saw it.

This kind of creature that lives by the five elements is different after all.

Although Bai Shiliu's stone-penetrating technique has reached a certain level, he can still feel the awkwardness in its use.

However, Senior Huai's wood escape technique and this loach's water escape technique are both natural.

However, the envy was only fleeting. Chen Ji quickly returned to the house to find Miss Bai and talked about new things.

"Sir, are you going to talk about the saints?"

"Exactly."

Miss Bai nodded.

"When I was in the mountains, I asked Mr. Su, sages like things with talent the most, and they use three kinds of animals and five kinds of grains in sacrifices."

"When I was catching plague ghosts in the academy, even though it was for the town, it alerted the saint and used up several years of my talent. I should offer sacrifices in return, but it's easy to find animals and grains, but how can I find this talented creature?"

Miss Bai frowned as she spoke, thinking about something, and suddenly her eyes lit up.

"Why don't you write an article or a poem? I heard from Bai Qi that you are also very good at writing poetry."

"This... I don't have any inspiration at the moment. If the Saint doesn't like it, it will be inferior. It's better to find something with talent. At least it won't be wrong."

Chen Ji waved his hands hurriedly.

He recited the poem that day, firstly because he was extremely shocked by the first sight of the waterfall, and secondly because he wanted to show some literary talent so that the fox would accept his identity as a gentleman.

Besides, the foxes don’t know that the poem was not written by them.

The situation is different now.

Saints really exist in this world, but I don’t know if they know those articles and poems. It’s better to be sincere if it makes a fool of oneself.

"Too."

Miss Bai nodded, her brows furrowed.

"But where can I find something so talented? The Four Treasures of the Study? Or ancient books? This fox really doesn't have them, and I guess the mountain god doesn't have them either..."

"Have it!"

Chen Ji's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Miss Bai, I know what to give to the Saint!"

(End of this chapter)