Metaphysics Master (14) Ling Jing strolled over unhurriedly, both feet solidly on the ground. “Earlier, when I said add more money, I meant actual cash. But the extra just now”—she smiled sweetly as she spoke, sitting down beside Qin Jingzhou and deliberately revealing her hand, which had once been stark white bone but was now already layered with fresh flesh—“that refers to merit. The more you give, the faster the recovery.”
Mr. Li ran his bony fingers through the newly grown hair on his head. Even without any sense of touch, his mood was visibly excellent. “I can tell.”
Qin Jingzhou kindly explained further for his children and Chairman Xie. “Adding spirit herbs can quickly wash away yin and baleful energy and stabilize the soul. Then, after mixing in an appropriate amount of spirit stone powder and letting the spiritual energy simmer in—”
Even Mr. Li, the one who had personally been ‘boiled,’ couldn’t help laughing. “Before long I’ll look human again. No need to worry about opening the Heavenly Eye for them anymore.”
Chairman Xie laughed sincerely as well. Taixu Sect keeps awakening fierce ghosts everywhere, huh? After calming down a little, he hurried forward and grabbed Qin Jingzhou’s hand. “Senior, the formula and the procedure—can we buy the full set?”
Qin Jingzhou answered without hesitation. “For sale.” He then explained again, “Boiling ghosts may look bizarre, but it’s actually simple and cost-effective. It allows fierce ghosts to quickly transform into communicative, cooperative, and relatively stable ghost cultivators.”
Jin Ziyun had been paying close attention to her father’s expression. Seeing the timing was right, she voiced her doubt. “When a soul returns to itself…” She looked at Mr. Li, whose flesh had already grown up past his neck. “Once it returns to its own body and gradually restores a human form, how is it different from an ordinary person?”
Naturally, Qin Jingzhou answered his daughter carefully. “Cultivation always involves both body and soul. Due to differences in talent, techniques, and resources, their growth may not stay in perfect sync. But a ghost cultivator who has died once can only cultivate the soul. While the body can still be repaired, their realm is essentially locked—they’re mostly destined to stagnate.”
“So that’s how it is.” Jin Ziyun stepped forward and hugged her father’s arm. “Then… making us sort bone fragments?”
Qin Jingzhou replied, “The spirit medicine and the bone fragments both carry traces of spiritual energy. Practicing how to distinguish them will help your divine sense grow in the future.” He then looked at Chairman Xie. “You can copy this method wholesale.”
Chairman Xie immediately agreed. “Absolutely!”
Jin Ziyun shot her brother a look. See? And you said Dad was deliberately tormenting people. Gu Yu, wearing a smug little smile, glanced at his brother-in-law and said nothing.
Today’s Jin Yuansheng was the transmigrated, reborn demon cultivator Jin Yuansheng.
Even with the original him and his precious sister comforting and persuading him, he still couldn’t help… assuming the worst of people. Now that he’d been proven wrong, and feeling the look his biological father cast his way, he forced out a smile. The gloom coiled around his soul finally dissipated a little.
No matter where their biological father got his opportunities, or how he cultivated such power—a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. That much had to be true.
…He’d allow himself to be muddleheaded for once.
Chairman Xie was eager to purchase the formula, and insisted on hosting the meal. Since Mr. Li was recovering well but still not suitable to appear in public, his assistant went to invite the Association’s head chef and disciples.
The Ancient Martial Association—anyone with even a little understanding knew the truth: called ancient martial arts, written as cultivation.
The Association’s head chef was naturally a renowned spirit chef. Upon hearing he’d be cooking for the only Golden Core cultivator currently known, he was delighted. He’d long heard from the chairman and vice-chairman that this senior was the real deal—being casually guided by him brought immediate gains.
The spirit chef brought his disciples and several treasured ingredients to the flower shop… well, next door. Two doors down from the shop was a private kitchen restaurant famous among the upper class.
The chef’s reputation preceded him. When he asked to borrow the kitchen, the restaurant owner agreed without hesitation and even suspended business to fully accommodate him.
The chef prepared a full table of his signature dishes. Qin Jingzhou sampled each one and merely commented, “Not bad.” When the chef personally came with his disciples to clear the dishes—yes, the tableware itself was part of the chef’s sect and personal collection, practically half-spirit artifacts—Qin Jingzhou had Jin Yuansheng carry over a potted flower and handed it to the chef.
“Use the petals to brew tea. In the right amount, it nourishes the meridians. Too much, and it’ll rupture the dantian—guaranteed.”
The chef was overjoyed, thanking him profusely, hugging the flowerpot himself and refusing to let his disciples touch it.
Chairman Xie sipped his tea and once again asked seriously, “The spirit plants in the house… are they for sale?”
Qin Jingzhou’s tone remained even. “For sale. But the spirit plants I raise depend on fate. If it doesn’t feel right, I won’t sell.”
Chairman Xie understood immediately. So the plants in the shop are ones the senior personally nurtured—their value exceeds even the formula he sold. With the boiling method in hand, not all, but at least some of the fierce ghosts awakened by Taixu Sect to cause trouble could be turned around to join the authorities. The crisis of high-end combat power seemed largely resolved.
And yet—it was obvious the senior still had far more in reserve.
He needed to go back and discuss this thoroughly with leadership and colleagues, devise a proper approach, and dig deeper. Ideally, they could persuade the senior to become their strongest advisor and theoretical backbone.
Having made up his mind, Chairman Xie departed with his assistants.
Mr. Li stayed behind to recuperate. He took a phone from his brother—now that he had a physical form, even with hands still partially skeletal, using a phone was effortless—and sent his anxious, conflicted older brother away.
Seeing Mr. Li hesitate, Qin Jingzhou reminded him, “Follow your heart. But once your body is fully restored, you’ll be taking a public post. Eating the government’s rice bowl means leaving room in what you do—but don’t let people think you’re easy to bully.”
Mr. Li stared at Qin Jingzhou for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. “Thank you.”
The original owner’s courtyard was a nonstandard two-courtyard layout—no rear wing or back yard, but it did have a row of inverted rooms by the entrance.
With Jin Yuansheng and Jin Ziyun both moved in, those rooms were converted into guest quarters. Mr. Li—already a strikingly handsome man above the neck—was temporarily housed there.
He’d just been admiring how exquisitely designed the courtyard was, with even denser spiritual energy than the flower shop, when Jin Ziyun arrived holding a list. “Dad says we don’t keep idle people at home—even if you’re paying for treatment.” She handed him the list. “Just help tend the plants.”
Mr. Li took a look and immediately grimaced. “Anything I tried to raise while alive died… and after dying once, I doubt that talent’s improved.” Before Jin Ziyun could frown, he hurriedly added, “But I’m pretty good at cooking.”
The next morning’s breakfast was personally prepared by Mr. Li.
Strictly speaking, his sense of smell and taste hadn’t yet recovered, and his hands were still covered in only a thin layer of flesh—yet the wontons he wrapped were universally praised.
Even picky little Gu Chen ate a full bowl with enthusiasm and wanted more.
Ling Jing couldn’t help teasing, “I kind of want to hire you as a chef.”
Mr. Li actually considered it seriously. “I’m a bit tempted to become a spirit chef.” After all, anything involving spirit had a bright future.
Qin Jingzhou said, “Register with the Association first. Go through the official foundational education, then decide.”
No one present was stupid. Under everyone’s gaze, Mr. Li grew visibly excited. “I—”
Qin Jingzhou spoke plainly. “You’re suited to be a sword cultivator. And your talent is the best I’ve seen so far.”
The system, still traumatized from being repeatedly humbled, quietly added, “Aside from you.” That afternoon, the well-informed Chairman Xie came again, bringing a full set of talent-testing instruments and reagents.
Mr. Li’s aptitude was confirmed on the spot. He signed the contract immediately. That very night, he was accepted as a disciple by the strongest sword cultivator in the Association—someone stationed there and already touching the edge of Golden Core.
Since Mr. Li still needed to return to recuperate, and with Qin Jingzhou’s permission, his new master came along to visit.
Just as both sides were chatting happily, disaster struck.
This world possessed thin but sufficient spiritual energy to sustain cultivation, so the existence of centuries-old “antiques” was nothing unusual.
In the mountains outside the capital lay dozens of imperial mausoleums. Many of them, along with their accompanying tombs, still housed reclusive “antiques.”
This time, the incident involved a Ghost King whose strength equaled peak Foundation Establishment.
This Ghost King had long since lost all friends and family. After lying low for years, he suddenly rebelled—there was no explanation beyond Taixu Sect paid too much.
Upon hearing the news, Qin Jingzhou didn’t even bother bringing his children. He only had Chairman Xie arrange protection for them, then pulled Ling Jing, Mr. Li, and his master along onto a helicopter.
From far away, Qin Jingzhou saw the mountain shrouded in dense black fog, with streaks of blood qi flickering within.
Ling Jing had transmigrated only a week ago, but her experiences had multiplied. Relying on Qin Jingzhou—both teacher and ally—not only had her body recovered by half, her cultivation had shot up to Qi Refinement Layer Three. If word got out, the cultivation world would be stunned.
Yet even with a big shot like Qin Jingzhou beside her, her heart—beating once every five seconds—tightened painfully.
Just as she grew restless, sensing faint… lethal danger, Qin Jingzhou suddenly stood, opened the helicopter door, and flew out.
The original plan had been to land at a relatively safe distance and then confront the Ghost King. But plans couldn’t keep up with reality. Chairman Xie gave a wry smile and exchanged a look with the old sword cultivator—there was nothing to do but have the pilot follow.
They watched as Qin Jingzhou flew straight into the black fog that blocked sight and divine sense alike. After a crisp sound, the fog dispersed at astonishing speed.
Everyone rushed over, only to see the Ghost King kneeling on the ground in a perfect “TZ” pose—while the “O”… was in Qin Jingzhou’s hand.
Qin Jingzhou said flatly, “If Taixu Sect realizes even a Ghost King can’t deal with me, they’ll finally start targeting me seriously.” With that, he kicked the “O” away, sending it flying out of sight.
The Ghost King collapsed face-first.
Everyone: …For some reason, the Ghost King seemed a little pitiful.
Qin Jingzhou had no intention of handling the aftermath. He came and left just as swiftly.
Back home, Mr. Li—who had followed them back—volunteered to prepare a late-night snack.
Ling Jing tugged on Qin Jingzhou’s sleeve and whispered, “You’ve proven you can’t be physically dealt with. I’d guess Su Weiwei and her mother will be gearing up soon.”
The word gearing up was exquisitely chosen.
Qin Jingzhou smiled. “I’m very curious myself. I hope they don’t disappoint me.”
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