nyslfriends Chapter 25: The Boundless Path to Immortality is Sailed by Money
Chapter 25: The Boundless Path to Immortality is Sailed by Money
I came out of the store.
Cao Xing's mood instantly soured.
I mentally calculated the amount of money I had.
Li Zhen had three hundred taels of silver in his pocket, which seemed like a lot, but according to the shopkeeper, it was far from enough.
35 taels of silver—that's just the entrance fee to the Shangfang Temple.
To truly become a follower of Shangfang Temple, you still need to spend money.
Thinking of this, Cao Xing gave up his original idea of taking his sister out for a lavish feast and turned to lead Bixia into the noodle shop next door.
Two large bowls of soup noodles, plus two side dishes, were quite a bargain. For Bixia, a demon who had never eaten noodles before, it was an impeccable delicacy.
The two ate their fill, and it only cost them twelve coins, plus an extra one coin for the peace tax.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Cao Xing took Bixia to the yamen (government office) to pay the money and get things done.
"So many people?"
When Cao Xing and his group arrived at the yamen, they were astonished to find that the line of people stretched for two whole streets.
No, so many people want to join the Shangfang Temple?
Cao Xing had no choice but to drag Bixia to wait in line obediently.
"Young brother, do you also wish to join a sect of immortals?"
At this moment, a young man spotted Cao Xing, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over and asked with a smile.
Cao Xing squinted and looked the young man up and down, then nodded noncommittally: "What is it?"
"Hey, young master Yang, I'm familiar with the procedures of every initiation ceremony over the years. This is probably your first time here, brother. I can explain it to you and increase your chances of entering the immortal sect."
Cao Xing initially thought this was a scam, but after glancing at Bixia, and seeing Bixia's eyes light up slightly as she looked at Yang Sheng, she actually nodded to Cao Xing.
Is this guy actually telling the truth?
Cao Xing immediately became interested, a smile spreading across his face. He pulled Yang Sheng over and said, "I really have to thank you for your guidance, brother."
Yang Sheng was grabbed by Cao Xing and instinctively tried to break free, but Cao Xing's grip was frighteningly strong. Once he grabbed Yang Sheng's wrist, it was like an iron clamp that made Yang Sheng unable to move. This made Yang Sheng's heart tighten, and he realized that he seemed to have picked the wrong person.
But it was too late for regrets now. Cao Xing pulled him in front of him and asked with a smile, "Brother, this is our first time here. What's the meaning of this conversion ceremony?"
Faced with Cao Xing's increasingly friendly smile, Yang Sheng felt a chill run down his spine and regretted provoking such a barbarian.
He only dared to approach Cao Xing because he didn't think Cao Xing was a bad person, and he just wanted to make a little money.
But it was too late to regret it now. Yang Sheng dared not refuse and immediately explained to Cao Xing, "Brother, you don't know this, but the methods of the conversion ceremony at Shangfang Temple are different each time. However, each time there is great danger. If you are eliminated, that's fine, but many people do not know the danger and end up either dying or going mad."
Yang Sheng wasn't a liar after all; he did know some things.
He recounted to Cao Xing the content of the previous two sessions of the Shangfangguan assessment.
"For example, at last year's initiation ceremony, the competition was about carrying heavy loads. Many people died. They were all people who overestimated their abilities, thinking that if they held on until the end, they would definitely be able to enter the immortal sect. In the end, they were crushed into mincemeat."
Speaking of last year's conversion ceremony, Yang Sheng sighed. He had witnessed a 1.8-meter-tall man being smashed to pieces by a stone.
In contrast, in the previous assessment, although many people went mad, not many died. That year, the test was about perseverance, and the immortal masters of the Upper Temple used illusions to test everyone.
"If it's so dangerous and difficult, why are there still so many people here?"
Cao Xing pointed to the long queue in front of him. In the short time it took for the two of them to speak, a long line had already formed behind Cao Xing.
"Brother, you don't know, it's difficult in some ways, but not difficult in others." Yang Sheng wanted to keep it a secret, but seeing Cao Xing's gaze, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly explained, "The essence remains the same despite all the changes; it all boils down to one word!"
Yang Sheng rubbed his index finger and thumb together lightly in front of Cao Xing, then lowered his voice and said, "Money!"
"Pay money to buy qualifications?" Cao Xing thought of what the clothing store owner had said.
"No, no, no!" Yang Sheng corrected Cao Xing's statement. "Brother, you are joking. How can the qualification to enter the immortal sect be bought with money? As the saying goes, the path to immortality is boundless, and money is the boat; the sacred mountain has a path, and jade is the ladder. Don't say that the stench of money in the mortal world is too heavy; one can spend a thousand gold coins to enter the vast void."
After saying this, Yang Sheng imitated the earnest manner of the immortal master at the conversion ceremony and said, "Money is the path to entering the immortal sect and the capital on the road to immortality. The more money you have, the greater your potential for immortality. When you are in the conversion ceremony, if you are not strong enough, you can use money to pave the way. As long as your potential is greater, you will be able to pass smoothly."
"I see, I've learned something new."
Cao Xing nodded, inwardly cursing, "Just like that bald monk Buddha."
"Da da da da..."
At this moment, a carriage stopped directly in front of the yamen. The curtain was pulled open with a "whoosh," and a young man in his early twenties, dressed in brocade robes, stood on the carriage shaft.
His face was arrogant, his chin slightly raised, and his eyes swept over the long, winding queue at the entrance of the government office with undisguised contempt.
"Hmph, a bunch of peasants, daring to dream of climbing the ladder to heaven?" The young man snorted disdainfully, ignoring the lined-up crowd, and strode into the yamen.
Seeing this, no one dared to stop them.
Looking at this scene, Yang Sheng couldn't help but say with envy, "That's Chen Xiang, the young master of the Chen family's rice shop. It's said that it's only a branch of the Chen family, but it's already one of the top wealthy families around here."
At this point, Yang Sheng looked at Cao Xing and asked, "Brother, do you know the Chen family of Yuanhui? It is said that the Chen family has mountains of gold and silver, and they have more money than they can spend. They are so rich that they can rival a country."
Upon hearing this, Cao Xing pondered for a moment and immediately realized whose family Yang Sheng was referring to.
Chenjiazhuang, Yuanhui County, Chechi State.
This challenge involves a carp spirit, a demon of Guanyin Bodhisattva, who specifically targets the boys and girls of Chen Family Village to eat.
After Sun Wukong arrived, he questioned Master Chen about his property, and that's what Master Chen said at the time.
There are forty or fifty hectares of paddy fields, sixty or seventy hectares of dry fields, eighty or ninety pastures, two or three hundred water buffalo, twenty or thirty donkeys and horses, and countless pigs, sheep, chickens and geese.
This Mr. Chen certainly didn't say everything, but from this glimpse, we can see the whole picture and imagine how wealthy the Chen family was.
To Cao Xing's surprise, the Chen family's influence extended even into the Kingdom of Wuji.
Indeed, there are no superfluous details in Journey to the West. Even the seemingly insignificant Chen Family Village has a terrifyingly powerful foundation.
After waiting for almost an hour at the yamen gate, it was finally Cao Xing's turn.
Cao Xing then released Yang Sheng and gave him ten copper coins as payment for his services.
Although the money wasn't much, Yang Sheng still thanked Cao Xing happily before leaving.
Upon entering the yamen, there is a separate side room to the left of the main hall.
After entering, a constable sat down in a chair, and Cao Xing took out the silver he had exchanged at the clothing store from his pocket and presented it to the table.
The other person glanced at him, squinted, and looked behind Cao Xing. Seeing Bixia hiding behind Cao Xing, they asked, "Which of you two is participating in the conversion ceremony?"
"My older sister and I will not be participating."
Cao Xing had already thought it through. Bixia had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage and had not fully transformed. Although he used his supernatural powers to help conceal it, it would still be too risky for her to come with him to the Conversion Ceremony. Therefore, it would be best for her to stay outside and wait for him.
After I infiltrate the Upper Temple and ascertain the truth, I will then find a way to bring Bixia in.
After paying the money, the other party didn't ask for Cao Xing's name or place of origin, but simply handed him a contract.
"Sign it."
"What??"
Cao Xing stared wide-eyed at the contract handed to him, quickly scanning it to find it was a loan agreement.
The content is roughly that all loans incurred during the conversion ceremony will be covered by the government, but Cao Xing will need to repay them at a monthly interest rate of four percent.
With a monthly interest rate of four percent, that's roughly 100 taels of silver, plus a repayment of 148 taels. It seems alright, but in reality, it's much more than that.
In the end, I'll probably have to pay at least double the price.
Seeing this, Cao Xing's expression turned slightly cold. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinized the constable before him, and pushed the contract back to him, saying, "I don't need it!"
"Um!!"
The constable frowned and suddenly looked up, but when his eyes met Cao Xing's, a chilling aura swept over him, instantly turning his face pale and causing him to shiver. His attitude immediately softened.
The constable quickly composed himself, his face changing faster than turning the pages of a book, and explained with a smile, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I was mistaken and took the wrong one."
As he spoke, the bailiff immediately took out another contract from the drawer and handed it to Cao Xing.
Cao Xing glanced at it; the content was roughly the same as the previous one, but this one only charged one percent interest and clearly stated that there would be no compound interest.
"Young master, this contract is for your convenience during your initiation ceremony, in case of any unforeseen circumstances. If there is no need for it, it will be void on the spot."
Upon hearing the bailiff's words, Cao Xing finally showed a satisfied expression. He readily signed the document, and the bailiff handed Cao Xing a wooden plaque, which served as proof of his participation in the conversion ceremony.
Just as Cao Xing received the receipt and was about to leave, several constables walked past him with long faces, muttering curses:
"Sir, the case in Gaoche Town is simply beyond our ability to investigate, which has caused us to stay in that wretched place for so long."
"That's right. Even the immortal masters of Shangfang Temple said that the other party didn't even touch the treasury silver. It's obvious that they knew that Shangfang Temple left a magic seal on the silver, so they had no direction to follow."
"That's enough, that's enough. Let's finish our work and have a good drink. The conversion ceremony is coming up soon, we can't afford to delay anything."
The constables strode forward, completely unaware that Cao Xing, who was standing to the side with his head down, was now drenched in a cold sweat.