Uncle Nine: Scattering beans to create soldiers? I'm using plants and trees to create soldiers.

"Looking at the medicinal herbs?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai exchanged a glance.

They clearly came here to exorcise ghosts! How did they suddenly turn into looking at medicinal herbs?

Wen Cai's mind was slow, but his mouth moved faster than his brain. He scratched his head, about to speak, "We didn't come here... Ouch!"

Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Sheng, with keen insight, stomped hard on Wen Cai's instep, causing Wen Cai to swallow the rest of his sentence and grimace in pain.

Although Qiu Sheng was cunning, he was also quick-witted. Seeing that Mao Shanming was also present, how could he not know that his senior brother was giving someone a way out?

Mao Shanming's gaze swept over Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai. Seeing that the two were carrying magic bags and peach wood swords, he knew perfectly well that Lin Xuan had come for a reason.

These three younger members, like him, were probably invited by the Tan family to resolve the ghost problem.

But Lin Xuan refused to mention catching ghosts at all, only saying that he came to see the medicinal herbs.

This was clearly because they didn't want to steal his business in front of the Tan family, and they didn't want him, as the senior apprentice, to be put in an embarrassing situation of "fellow disciples fighting over each other's livelihoods" in public.

A surge of warmth welled up in Mao Shanming's heart, and he felt a deep sense of emotion.

Lin Xuan remained as adept at navigating social situations as ever.

He doesn't need to be reminded of many things; he will proactively save face for others.

Lin Xuan, seemingly completely unaware of the haunting of the Tan family, asked with a smile,

"Uncle-Master Ming, are you here to perform a ritual for the Tan family?"

"I wonder if the three of us could have the honor of staying aside and learning from our senior uncle?"

With a single sentence, Lin Xuan relinquished the position of the person in charge for the day to Maoshan Ming.

He himself, along with Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai, became juniors who accompanied him to observe, giving him ample respect.

Hearing this, Mao Shanming nodded inwardly. Since his nephew had put it this way, he was clearly determined not to compete with him for this business.

Mao Shanming, however, did not actually put on airs as an elder. He waved his hand and said with a wry smile,

"Kobayashi, please don't flatter me."

"Ever since my fierce battle with that evil cultivator from the White Lotus Sect, my cultivation level has been declining repeatedly."

At this point, Mao Shanming's eyes dimmed slightly.

"My internal injuries have not yet fully healed, and my strength is less than one-tenth of what it used to be. I might not even be as good as you juniors now."

"To be honest, it's probably my turn to learn from you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan shook his head solemnly.

"What are you saying, Uncle Ming?"

"Even if one's realm declines, it does not mean that one's cultivation and vision also disappear."

"You have cultivated for many years, and you have seen far more evil spirits and experienced far more magical battles than we have."

"Even a few words of advice are enough for us younger generation to learn for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Mao Shanming couldn't help but laugh.

"Xiao Lin, it's been two years, and you still have such a sweet tongue."

"Stop trying to make your martial uncle happy. I know my own body and strength perfectly well."

Although he said that, Maoshan Ming's expression was noticeably more relaxed.

But behind the smile, there was still a hint of bitterness.

From being a high-ranking teacher to now barely maintaining the early stage of a mage, it's a difference of two whole realms!

Even more critically, with a damaged foundation, using even the slightest powerful technique can aggravate old injuries, potentially leading to the collapse of one's foundation at any time.

Only he himself truly understands the pain of losing all the hard work he has accumulated over many years of spiritual cultivation in a single day.

Lin Xuan noticed the sadness in Mao Shanming's eyes and offered words of comfort.

"Master Ming is deeply blessed."

"To survive such severe injuries back then proves that heaven doesn't abandon those who persevere!"

"Right now, it's just that the foundation has been damaged. As long as we find the right elixirs and methods, we will eventually return to our peak."

Mao Shanming nodded slightly, "Then I'll take your kind words."

Lin Xuan then said, "Once things are settled here, why don't you come back to the Renjia Town mortuary with us, Uncle Ming? Master hasn't seen you in a long time."

Upon hearing "Uncle Nine," Mao Shanming paused slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

But in the end, he shook his head.

"Never mind..."

"I came down the mountain this time because I was getting a bit bored staying at the ancestral temple and wanted to get away for a while."

"After I've traveled around outside for a while, I'll go straight back to the mountain to continue recuperating and won't disturb your master's cultivation."

Lin Xuan nodded upon hearing this; he could roughly understand Mao Shanming's thoughts.

Once a master of human cultivation, his cultivation has now fallen to the early stage of mage. Even when facing familiar fellow disciples, he inevitably feels some loss and embarrassment.

"Going out for a walk will be good for your mind." Lin Xuan didn't insist any further. "A more open mind will also help with the recovery of your injuries."

Mao Shanming nodded, his gaze then falling on the little golden cat perched on Lin Xuan's shoulder.

Little Jin was perched on Lin Xuan's shoulder, its bright black eyes curiously examining the two oil-paper umbrellas behind Mao Shanming.

"Huh?!" Maoshan Ming raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, "Xiao Lin, you've started raising toads now? When did you develop this hobby?"

Lin Xuan turned his head and reached out a finger to pat Xiao Jin's head.

"I captured it by the river a while ago. I thought it was round and cute, and its temperament was fairly obedient, so I kept it by my side as a pet to relieve my boredom."

Mao Shanming's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

cute?!

He stared at Xiao Jin's wide toad mouth and the bluish-black lines on its skin, and couldn't see what this thing had to do with the word "cute".

However, he ultimately didn't voice his true thoughts, "Ahem... these days, encountering a sentient being is indeed a rare opportunity."

As if it understood the word "toad," Xiao Jin croaked at Maoshan Ming.

"Croak!"

Mao Shanming didn't know whether it was a greeting or an insult, so he could only pretend he hadn't heard it.

He then looked at Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai.

"How have you two been lately?"

"Have you been practicing diligently?"

"Still the same as before, causing trouble all day long, making your master and senior brother clean up your messes?"

Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai quickly shook their heads.

"No!"

"Uncle-Master Ming, we've been really serious lately!"

"I've been chanting scriptures and practicing martial arts with my senior brother every day, without slacking off at all!"

Mao Shanming's face clearly showed suspicion.

Lin Xuan said with a smile,

"They've confirmed quite a bit recently."

"My cultivation and understanding of the scriptures have both improved."

With Lin Xuan as their witness, Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai immediately straightened their backs.

Mao Shanming nodded, slightly surprised.

"good--"

"Looks like you two have finally grown up."

Just as everyone was catching up, Tan Baiwan finally found an opportunity to speak.

"I never imagined that Daoist Xiaolin and Daoist Ming were from the same school."

"Since we're all family, there's no need to stand at the door."

"Let's go inside and talk about it."

Tan Baiwan breathed a sigh of relief.

He had just seen his son invite another Taoist priest, and he was worried that the two sides would have a conflict over business.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xuan resolved the awkward situation with just a few words, and this Master Ming was actually Lin Xuan's senior uncle.

In this way, the Tan family's situation is actually more secure!

With Master Lin's uncle personally taking action, and Lin Xuan and the other two helping out, what kind of trouble could the ghosts in the mansion possibly cause?

Standing to the side, Tan Hao was also secretly relieved, as it seemed that his luck had finally started to turn around recently.

The Taoist priest Ming we invited this time is indeed a true disciple of Maoshan, not one of those swindlers and fraudsters from before.

Moreover, the other party's nephew was also a highly skilled person personally invited by his father.

Thinking of this, Tan Hao's worry lessened somewhat.

Finally, at Tan Baiwan's invitation, everyone crossed the threshold and entered the Tan family mansion.

Lin Xuan followed beside Mao Shanming, his gaze sweeping over the oil-paper umbrella behind him, where the information on the panel appeared.

The "Human Tonic: The Startling Umbrella"

[Quality: Green]

[Type: Soul-Nourishing Magical Artifact]

[Description: The umbrella frame is made of locust wood used for nurturing the soul, and the canopy is made of a mixture of silkworm silk and talisman paper. The inside is decorated with talismans for calming, nourishing, and concealing the soul. When opened, it can protect the spirit; when closed, it can hide the soul within the umbrella. It is a ritual implement specially designed by Maoshan Ming to house and nurture the spirit that accompanies him.]

【Specialties: Calming the mind and protecting the spirit; nourishing the soul and providing a spiritual home】

......

A glint of light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes.

Uncle Ming's two magical artifacts look a bit old, but they are both of green quality!

Moreover, judging from the entry, it seems to be a perfect match for his own "soldier's gourd".

If I can get my hands on these two magical artifacts, maybe my mutant gourd vine will be able to evolve into a blue quality next time!