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Click, click, click...
Suddenly, the rust on the copper mirror began to flake off, revealing a smooth mirror surface, which astonishingly reflected an entirely different scene.
Instead of reflecting Xu Xuan's face, the mirror showed another world.
It seemed to be set in a grassy thicket, where dew slowly slid down the mirror's surface, insects crawled across, a gentle breeze blew, and leaves fell in a riot of color.
It was nighttime for Xu Xuan, but daytime appeared in the mirror.
Judging from the dynamic image, it wasn't a painting; it likely reflected a real scene.
"Can my hand go through?"
Xu Xuan gently touched the mirror surface with his index finger but it didn't pass through. However, information flowed into his mind.
At the same time, the mirror displayed Xu Xuan's appearance, with a line of text beneath.
Name: Xu Xuan
Lifespan: 18/71
Cultivation Level: None
Cultivation Technique: None
Technique: Mount-breaking Blade Technique (Entry-level 85%), Squatting Skill (Minor achievement 25%).
"This..." Xu Xuan was immensely excited; the mirror had finally responded. Could it be that it had been lying dormant for eighteen years, absorbing enough vital energy from heaven and earth before it could activate?
Without dwelling on his excitement, Xu Xuan immediately digested the information from his Sea of Consciousness and came to several conclusions.
First, the mirror had two sides, situated in different worlds; the side in his hand was the main mirror, and the other side was the secondary mirror.
Second, the mirror could reveal one's fundamental nature—that is, the information displayed on the mirror surface.
Third, the mirror could transmit objects, images, text, as well as sound.
Fourth, it could not transmit other living beings.
Fifth, the mirror was controlled by the host, having two sides of a whole; if the other side in the different world were destroyed, it could also regenerate, but the new location was not fixed.
At last, Xu Xuan made a summary.
"It has some use, but it depends on luck," Xu Xuan felt somewhat helpless. Simply revealing his fundamentals didn't give him any unfair advantage; it would only allow him to see the results of his efforts.
As for offerings and the like, that would have to wait until the person in the other world found the mirror.
"Let's rest for now, there is at least some hope."
A fighting spirit surged through Xu Xuan.
Every beginning is hard, and with such a miraculous event happening, perhaps he really could step onto the path of cultivation.
Moreover, the mirror could reflect his own abilities.
To see the rewards of one's efforts is great fortune indeed.
"From now on, this mirror shall be known as the Divine Copper Mirror."
The next day.
The rising sun illuminated the east, and the morning glow dispersed the thin mist among the trees.
The youth stood in a horse stance, his hands held level, and a bucket of water hung beneath.
Sweating profusely, his body shook involuntarily.
Beside Xu Guangting were three other people.
The elder, Li Hu, paced back and forth with a leisurely and natural expression.
Beside Li Hu was Xu Feng, who bore a slight resemblance to Xu Guangting.
"Xu Dazhuang, Xu Erzhuang, Xu Gousheng, this old man is getting old. In the future when you take over the 'Corpse Driving,' give your wholehearted assistance to the Xu and Li Families and you won't lack riches and honor."
The family master spoke while pacing.
Half an incense stick later, the Squatting Skill training ended.
Everyone was dead tired.
Although Xu Xuan was exhausted, he felt his strength increasing and was still extremely happy inside.
He sat in the shade under a tree to cool off when Xu Feng approached, smiling, "Big brother, I'll have to trouble you to manage these people in the future. With you assisting, the Xu Family can surely thrive."
"Mhm, I will for sure," Xu Xuan responded with a gentle smile.
"Ha ha, with the two of us brothers, what riches and honor can't we enjoy?"
Xu Feng laughed heartily, appearing to be without schemes.
But Xu Xuan could see the deep cunning within.
Ever since he was a child, this person was good at showing off while also liking to secretly trip him up. Now, he had ascertained that Xu Xuan posed no threat and only then did he hypocritically talk about brotherly bonds.
Of course, this so-called brotherhood was nothing more than a way to get him to do the deadly work of smuggling private salt.
Xu Xuan didn't care about these things and had no desire for the position of family head.
How could a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan?
"Big brother, I'm heading back first."
"Second brother, take care."
After Xu Feng led people down the mountain and everyone else rested, Xu Xuan picked up his blade again and continued chopping repeatedly.
Half a month of cultivation had brought his Mount-breaking Blade Technique to a minor level of proficiency.
It was purely technical skill; even at max level, it could only handle two or three armed thugs at most.
However, in the era of cold weapons, it was still necessary to cultivate such martial skills, and if an opportunity arose in the future, perhaps he could learn some higher-level techniques from martial arts sects.
Cultivating to the level of a sect leader should enable him to take on a dozen or twenty soldiers armed with cold weapons but no crossbows.
In the era of cold weapons, as long as one wasn't trapped, one could basically be called a strong person.
In front of the wooden hut, Li Hu lay on a rattan chair and nodded to himself as he saw Xu Xuan's hard work.
"He's a good seedling, what a pity."
It was a pity that he wasn't valued, and without money or power, he'd be a warrior his whole life.
Thunk, thunk...
The chopping blade struck the tree over and over again.
Practicing with the blade was simple; the most important thing was just to chop properly.
Boom!
The tree, one foot and two inches in diameter, finally fell with a thunderous crash.
"Alright, rest now. Haste makes waste," Li Hu said, pointing to the chair beside him.
Xu Xuan sat down without hesitation and took a big gulp from his water flask.
The two sat in silence, enjoying the gentle breeze through the woods.
Li Hu's eyes were almost closed, as if he had fallen asleep, but his chest didn't rise or fall.
Seeing this, Xu Xuan couldn't help but reach out to check his breathing.
"He's not dead yet."
Li Hu opened his murky eyes.
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
Without a word, Li Hu went back into the house, brought out a small wooden table, and arranged a thick stack of yellow paper on it, along with some bottles of powdered substances and white phosphorus soaking in wax oil.
Li Hu took a small brush while Xu Xuan, in silent agreement, found a stone ink slab, poured out the golden sore medicine from a bottle, mixed it with water, and smoothed it out.
Li Hu carefully smeared the medicine powder onto the talisman paper.
"Pear Manor down the Mountain is where I usually stay. There are three ceremonies coming up. You'll join me for them."
Despite the shabby appearance, as a person involved in smuggling private salt, Li Hu was not that poor.
Of course, he also had a main business in Chenzhou City, doing the same sort of thing—performing ceremonies for people, exorcising evil spirits, healing illnesses, and so on. He had a decent reputation in the city.
Otherwise, if one suddenly became rich without a legitimate earning/business, anyone could tell where the money came from.
After a while, Xu Xuan changed the subject and asked, "Are there really immortals in this world?"
Li Hu chuckled and said, "I've traveled north and south for many years and have never seen any immortals."
"Are the old cultivators in temples and Daoist temples and the legends of history all fake?"
"I'm sixty-three this year. Down the mountain, I claim to be a hundred and five. Do you think it's true? Even if it doesn't look like it, most people just think it's a technique for maintaining a youthful appearance."
These so-called centenarians often appeared in poor and remote areas or during chaotic times, which shared one common characteristic—disorganized household registration.
Age was often claimed by word of mouth, and when asked why they didn't look like centenarians, the answer was usually that they had a technique for maintaining youth.
"Haha, I see. So, the Chenzhou Talisman and Corpse Driving are all fake too?"
"Hmph, not even worthy of a dog's glance. They're not as good as this Ancient Book of Tricks I have."
With a snort, Li Hu proudly took out a booklet from his bosom that listed many deceptive arts, like fire-breathing, oil bath diving, healing with talisman paper, and knocking like ghosts on doors, among others.
Thereafter, Xu Xuan practiced his blade while following Li Hu down the mountain to trick and deceive—no, to perform ceremonies.
He almost learned all the trades except for the smuggling, to which he had no access.