Chapter Seven: Scattering Beans to Raise an Army

Chen Jiu felt a faint sense of unease in his heart; he must not let anyone discover the existence of his “Heaven’s Eye”—such a miraculous power! The principle of never flaunting one’s wealth was one he had always regarded as an iron law. Now, “Heaven’s Eye” was his most precious treasure, the very foundation of his survival in this world. Not even someone as close as Li Fenglai, his foster father, could be told! “Heaven’s Eye” was his bottom line—a threshold none could cross.

“Heh, Chief Steward Wang, what do you think?” Li Fenglai, quick as lightning, snatched the Warm Sun Jade from Wang’s hand, afraid the man might renege.

Wang’s astonishment lingered on his face. He stared at Chen Jiu for a long while before sighing deeply.

“It seems I was blind… but you, little Daoist, are quite the surprise.” He patted Chen Jiu’s shoulder, then cast a disgruntled glance at Li Fenglai.

“Ah, Daoist Li, you really are a slave to money.”

Li Fenglai tucked the jade into his sleeve and made a Daoist salute. “Blessings without measure, Chief Steward Wang. Wealth is but a tool for living; today’s jade was well worth the price.”

Wang adjusted his silver crown and addressed Chen Jiu with a stern tone. “I came here today out of respect for your master. I had intended to order you down the mountain to exorcise demons immediately, but it turns out you possess little to no spiritual power… Very well. I’ll give you three more months. After that, you must leave Xuanmiao Mountain and rid the people of Jin of monsters and demons, accumulating merit!”

He then took out a black wooden token and a certificate from his jade robe.

“These are the ‘Order to Pacify the People’ and your official credential.”

With that, Wang saluted Li Fenglai, ignored Chen Jiu entirely, and departed in a hurry, accompanied by several guards.

In the grand hall, only master and disciple remained.

Li Fenglai turned and walked toward his meditation cushion.

Chen Jiu’s expression flickered, and he quickly asked, “Master, what exactly were you discussing with the Chief Steward just now?”

He had never heard his master call him a “genius disciple” or anything of that sort.

Li Fenglai sat upright on his cushion, squinting slightly. “That matter is still some way off. Just focus on cultivating for now—when the time is right, you will understand.”

Chen Jiu responded with an “oh,” then his eyes darted as he cleared his throat.

“Ahem!”

Li Fenglai opened his eyes and glanced at Chen Jiu.

“Hehe! Master, about what you said that day…” Chen Jiu rubbed his hands together.

Li Fenglai understood instantly and couldn’t help but laugh helplessly.

This boy’s mannerisms seemed awfully familiar—who had he learned them from?

He went on, “You really did surprise me—you know, the ‘Everlasting Spring Technique’ back in the day humbled many so-called geniuses.”

“Although this method is of little use now and extremely difficult to cultivate, you…” Li Fenglai rambled, then abruptly paused and looked at Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Master… what did you just say?”

What do you mean the technique is useless and hard to practice?

Why make me learn it then? I’m your disciple! Is this how you treat your apprentice?

If not for his “Heaven’s Eye” power, he’d probably be fetching water to wash Li Fenglai’s feet…

Li Fenglai coughed awkwardly. “Actually, actually, it’s only useless for me. For a newcomer to the Dao like you, it’s the best technique!”

Chen Jiu eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”

Li Fenglai’s gaze grew evasive. Suddenly, he spotted a handful of yellow beans in a porcelain bowl on the table, and his eyes lit up. “Ah, right! Since your master lost the bet, I should fulfill my promise, shouldn’t I?”

Chen Jiu felt a headache coming on. Great, the topic had shifted.

“So? Is Master going to teach me another useless spell?” Chen Jiu said helplessly.

Though Chief Steward Wang had granted him three more months, he knew it would be hard to break through to the “Little Elixir Embryo” realm in that time. Without reaching that stage, he’d be powerless against monsters and ghosts…

“Don’t worry, my apprentice! Your master is reliable!” With that, he swiftly grabbed the yellow beans from the bowl, closed his eyes, and muttered an incantation.

Moments later, his eyes snapped open, and his right hand formed a secret gesture, pointing at the beans in his left palm.

“Go!”

He shouted lightly, flicking the beans with his left hand. They shot to the ground, bouncing wildly.

“Clack, clack, clack!”

Suddenly, Chen Jiu’s eyes narrowed.

From each bean, wisps of white mist emerged!

As the mist faded, five Daoists in robes appeared out of thin air where the beans had landed!

“Disciple greets Master!” The five Daoists, each with different features, saluted. But their voices were wooden, as lifeless as puppets.

Chen Jiu’s expression changed dramatically.

Could this be the legendary “Casting Beans into Soldiers”?

He had read about this spell in books; it had always seemed wondrous, and seeing it in person was even more astonishing!

“This is marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!” Chen Jiu nodded enthusiastically.

If he could conjure a troop of strong men, wouldn’t he be able to form his own bodyguard squad?

“But this spell is limited by the caster’s own cultivation. The stronger your spiritual power, the longer the magic lasts,” Li Fenglai said, gaze intent on Chen Jiu. “But with only a few wisps of power in your body, using this spell will be extremely difficult…”

He continued, “Still, since I agreed to teach you, it’s up to your own effort now!”

Li Fenglai’s expression shifted slightly, then he joined his fingers and tapped Chen Jiu’s brow.

“Focus your mind, gather your energy in your core!”

Moments later, a torrent of information flooded into Chen Jiu’s mind.

“So this is the method for cultivating ‘Casting Beans into Soldiers’…” Chen Jiu absorbed the knowledge.

“This technique is not hard. When casting the spell, simply visualize the form you wish to create—then you’ve succeeded,” Li Fenglai instructed.

Chen Jiu closed his eyes, concentrating deeply.

After a few breaths, he slowly opened them, picked up five yellow beans, and—

He formed a magical gesture with his right hand and commanded, “Go!”

He tossed the beans down.

‘Turn into muscle men! Turn into muscle men!’

“Pop, pop, pop!”

The sound of beans frying rang out, followed by a sudden burst of thick white mist.

Li Fenglai’s expression changed; he quickly flicked his sleeve, stirring a gust within the hall that swept the mist away, revealing a scene that stunned him.

There stood five pudgy little boys, each barely a foot tall, wearing bright red bellybands and sporting lamb-horn braids, gazing blankly at Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu froze as if struck by lightning.

Li Fenglai turned aside, the corner of his mouth secretly curling into a smile.

Staring at five chubby little ones who didn’t even reach his knees, Chen Jiu was utterly bemused.

“Master’s spell is ‘Casting Beans into Soldiers,’ mine is ‘Casting Beans into Tykes’…”

How would these five little chubby boys protect him… Chen Jiu was exasperated.

“It may not be a bad thing,” Li Fenglai said, his smile fading into seriousness.

Chen Jiu’s eyes sparkled. “What do you mean, Master?”

Li Fenglai crouched down, his sharp gaze sweeping over the five dazed little tykes, then explained, “These five little fellows actually possess a breath of life…”

Typically, things conjured by magic have no life, like the Daoists Li Fenglai had created earlier—mere puppets.

Chen Jiu’s heart stirred at his words.

Could it be that these five little ones might actually grow?

Sensing Chen Jiu’s thoughts, Li Fenglai continued, “Perhaps there’s something unusual about these beans, or maybe your spiritual power is unique, causing this phenomenon… In any case, it’s a good thing for you.”

“In time, as your cultivation advances, these five little fellows may undergo astonishing transformations!”

Chen Jiu’s spirits lifted, sweeping away the earlier gloom. He canceled the spell and collected the beans.

“Thud, thud, thud…!” Five dull sounds echoed.

The five chubby tykes vanished, replaced by five golden beans lying quietly on the floor.

Chen Jiu, as if holding precious gems, gathered them all up and tucked them into the inner pocket of his robe.

Li Fenglai nodded. “Five yellow beans are just right for you to use this spell. In the future, nourish them with morning dew.”

Chen Jiu smiled knowingly and nodded.

Afterward, Li Fenglai handed him the Order to Pacify the People and his credential, urging him to focus on his cultivation.