Becoming an immortal and ancestor begins with the golden toad spitting out money.

Chapter 17 Truth and Deception, The Mysterious Golden Toad

Before the upgrade of the Heavenly Manipulation Technique, Su Ji always thought that the Heavenly Manipulation Technique was not very useful. It was not until he cultivated the Heavenly Soul and Spirit that he realized how difficult the Heavenly Manipulation Technique was.

What he wanted was either to become an immortal or to take human form; these thoughts could no longer be called demands, but rather wishes.

Although the plan doesn't say it's impossible, it might take decades or even centuries to succeed.

After the upgrade of the Heavenly Calculation, apart from being at a loss in terms of mystery, all its abilities have been improved. As long as there is enough computing power, it can quickly deduce a magical technique.

Therefore, Su Ji directly issued the order: "Yan Tianchou, immediately observe the subtle changes in the Golden Toad's movements, absorb the memories of the Golden Toad during this period, and then deduce a more profound supernatural power than [Transformation into the Golden Toad]!"

Yan Tianchou immediately accepted the task and began to quickly deduce the results according to Su Ji's instructions.

In Yan Tianchou's opinion, the low-level supernatural power [Transformation into a Golden Toad] is indeed somewhat useless.

When Su Ji lived in the river, he could deceive predators by transforming into a golden toad, which was a very powerful life-saving ability.

Now, Su Ji has become a daytime wandering spirit soldier of the local earth god temple, and he only comes into contact with gods, demons and ghosts. Once he is discovered, he can only hope that the other party cannot find a way to break the curse.

Even the reason why the Golden Toad was able to deceive the strange snake sent by the Black Tiger Demon last time was probably due to the power of the Earth God...

After the upgrade of the Tianchou system, there were also ideas to improve the [Transformation into a Golden Toad] supernatural power, but it was shelved because it required too much computing power.

Now that we have a ready-made "answer" in front of us, even if we can't directly use it, we can "copy" it down and slowly deduce its meaning.

"Om-"

The black and white light tokens transformed from the Heavenly Tokens were running at full power, beginning to "copy" the "answers" from the Dream Toad, and even reminding it: "If you want to collect enough information, the Toad needs to take action."

Meanwhile, Zhang had already entered the house, trying her best to appear kind and approachable.

However, Zhang Xiaolian almost jumped out of bed after seeing her mother, Zhang Shi.

Why did Mother suddenly appear?
Not long after the village began to be haunted, Zhang Xiaolian's dreams began to take some strange turns.

In the dream, Zhang Xiaolian's mother was harmed by demons while protecting her. Although Zhang Xiaolian knew it was a dream, she still cried for a long time.

After that, her mother never appeared in her dream again, so Zhang Xiaolian assumed that this place had become the most private space. The appearance of Zhang Shi really startled her.

At this moment, ignoring the toad moving around on the bed, Zhang gently called to her daughter, "Xiao Lian..."

Even in her dreams, Zhang was willing to risk her life to protect her daughter from demons, which naturally shows the deep bond between mother and daughter.

Just as Zhang Xiaolian was about to respond, she suddenly caught sight of the golden toad crawling on the bed. Her smiling expression instantly turned into one of terror, and she quickly lifted the blanket to cover the seemingly alive toad.

Immediately, a slightly embarrassed smile appeared on Zhang Xiaolian's face: "Mother..."

Zhang Xiaolian lost her father when she was young and was raised by her mother, Zhang, alone. She experienced both her mother's love and her mother's authority.

Her mother, Zhang, had repeatedly emphasized that she should not believe in the "golden toad spitting out money" myth. She had earnestly advised her against it and had also demonstrated the strictness of a mother.

Even Zhang Xiaolian herself began to feel, under the relentless pressure from her mother, Zhang Shi, that she might actually have some kind of problem.

"Xiao Lian—"

Seeing Zhang Xiaolian's subconscious actions, Zhang felt a pang of heartache.

In order to save enough dowry for her daughter, she did chores such as weaving and sewing every day. Although she responded to everything, she neglected her daughter's inner feelings.

Now, it's time to clarify everything and help her and her daughter Zhang Xiaolian reach a reconciliation...

Just as Zhang was about to speak, a familiar voice suddenly echoed from the depths of her heart.

It was none other than Su Ji, who used the Tianchou method to issue the "Xi Sheng" (a type of auspicious omen).

"Night Wanderer, since your daughter Zhang Xiaolian can remember things from your dreams, you can reveal your identity as a Night Wanderer. It's best not to reveal that the Golden Toad is a Day Wanderer, lest you bring trouble upon me."

"As for the story of the golden toad spitting out money, you could say you didn't believe it at first, but only after hearing the local earth god's explanation did you start to believe it..."

"For now, I will leave my golden toad form in your home as a mysterious and unpredictable object!"

Su Ji's move was not a sudden change of heart, but a well-considered compromise. The new explanation seemed more complicated, but it did not affect the reconciliation between Zhang and Zhang Xiaolian.

He wasn't worried about Zhang Xiaolian exposing his identity, after all, he was bound to Zhang, this night-roaming spirit soldier. The reason he did this was because Zhang Xiaolian's real dream was just too wonderful!

In just a short while, Yan Tianchou had copied down most of the "answer".

Furthermore, Yan Tianchou also provided some encouraging news: "Through this 'opportunity,' the computing power required for the intermediate-level divine ability [Golden Toad Transformation] will only be 38% of what was originally estimated."

【Golden Toad Transformation】is the new name for 【Golden Toad Transformation】upgraded to a mid-level supernatural power.

For Su Ji, collecting computing power not only requires time, but finding a way to do so is also uncertain. Saving so much computing power is equivalent to saving him a lot of time. If he could copy all the "answers," he could even reduce computing power consumption to less than 20%. How could Su Ji not be tempted?
However, one thing will change the bright future we envision.

If Zhang Xiaolian learns the truth from her mother Zhang's account, she will surely change her opinion of Jinchan.

A monster that can transform into a golden toad?
The so-called "golden toad spitting out money" is actually just money collected from the river.

Is the Golden Toad merely a Day-roaming Spirit Soldier on par with the Night-roaming Spirit Soldier?
……

Once this information is revealed, it will change Zhang Xiaolian's impression of the Golden Toad. After the mystery of the Golden Toad disappears, Zhang Xiaolian will inevitably have to re-define the Golden Toad, and it may even affect the trace of mystery on the Golden Toad in her dream.

If it were merely to save the computational power of his divination abilities, Su Ji wouldn't need to deceive a little girl. His true purpose was precisely that mysterious trace on the Dream Toad.

He wasn't just thinking of himself; he was also considering the future of the project.

After the upgrade, the performance of the TianChou was greatly improved, but it was stumped by one thing: the mystery of "being" and "not being".

Even if Su Ji says that the "nothingness" of the profound is the realm of transformation of the laws of the profound, and the "existence" of the profound is the cultivation of the accumulation of profound energy and magic power, the Heavenly Calculation can only help Su Ji accelerate the accumulation of profound energy and magic power, but cannot replace Su Ji in improving the realm of the profound principles.

The difference between "knowing what" and "knowing why" is like an insurmountable chasm. Su Ji also understands that the profound insights others gain are ultimately theirs.

However, this just proves that Yan Tianchou can also comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth, but this kind of comprehension cannot be imposed on Su Ji.

Su Ji had long suspected that Yan Tianchou had obtained a trace of mystery during the process of deducing the [Golden Toad] from nothing.

However, this subtle mystery belongs to Yan Tianchou, and it has always been Yan Tianchou who uses the [Golden Toad Transformation] supernatural power.

Now, Su Ji has seen a higher level of mystery than the [Golden Toad] in Zhang Xiaolian's real dream, and naturally he wants to find ways to benefit from it.

Furthermore, advancing the [Golden Toad] supernatural power is a minor matter. If Yan Tianchou can thoroughly comprehend this profound mystery, it will prove that Yan Tianchou can also obtain the profound mystery possessing the characteristic of "nothingness".

"Should I be the one to unravel the mysteries of the Dream Toad?"

After Yan Tianchou became a spiritual intelligence, his emotions became much richer, and his voice even contained a hint of surprise.

“That’s how it should be!” Su Ji couldn’t help but smile.

Although the power brought by the Heavenly Mandate is only external, it is tailor-made for the Golden Toad's body and can naturally become a great help.

It could even be said that Su Ji's human soul cultivated his celestial soul and spirit through the "Minor Yin-Yang Method," while Yan Tianchou used the method of deduction to empower the golden toad's body; the two are not contradictory.

Su Ji added, "Only after you understand the mysteries of the Dream Toad will you be able to better help me 'know the why'..."

"You can gradually grasp the principles I've come to understand now, and perhaps one day in the future, I will be able to fully grasp all your insights!"

The Heavenly Decree is Su Ji's greatest reliance on his path to immortality. If he doesn't give it enough trust, how can they work together to move forward?

……

The spirit transmitted the message, drawing upon Su Ji's celestial soul and spiritual power. Zhang could hear it but could not reply.

Fortunately, this did not prevent Zhang from acting in accordance with Su Ji's method.

"Little Lian, according to the local earth god, that golden toad is a mysterious creature. When it's in a good mood, it might spit out money, and when it's feeling adventurous, it might go to the river to experience life..."

Zhang didn't really want to lie, but this matter did affect the lives of the day-roaming spirit soldiers, so she said earnestly, "From now on, we must not mess with the golden toad anymore, but maintain a sense of awe for divine creatures."

If it were just what Zhang said herself, Zhang Xiaolian might still have a slight doubt, but since Zhang brought up the local earth god, Zhang Xiaolian believed it completely.

Zhang Xiaolian even felt a little worried: "Mother, I've done these things to the divine toad these past few days. Will the divine toad leave our home because of my naughtiness?"

Zhang Xiaolian is essentially just an ordinary young girl who only came into contact with ghosts and spirits a few days ago due to the ghostly encounter. At heart, she is still very kind and innocent.

The reason they were so stubborn was just a bit of stress and a rebellious mentality.

Seeing this, Zhang felt even more guilty. Just as she was about to reveal a flaw, she saw the golden toad jumping around happily on the bed.

Zhang's heart skipped a beat: "The Day-Wandering Spirit Soldiers do seem to have a childlike heart..."

Upon closer inspection, the golden toad form of the Day Wandering Spirit Soldier is less than a year old, and is also a little guy who needs protection.

So, Zhang said with a touch of emotion, "The local earth god also said that those were just unintentional actions by children. As long as you don't do anything offensive after you know the 'truth,' the divine toad won't blame you..."

If Jinchan had ulterior motives for doing this, Zhang would certainly have to consider the consequences. Fortunately, Jinchan was only trying to protect himself, so it was understandable.

Zhang Xiaolian not only believed it, but also breathed a sigh of relief: "That's wonderful!"

Afterwards, Zhang Xiaolian and her mother, Zhang, took the golden toad out of the quilt and carefully placed it on the ancestral altar.

(End of this chapter)