Zhang Chen's heart was stirred upon hearing these words, and he unconsciously tapped the book in his hand against his palm. After a while, he said, "The most important thing for me is to first understand the crucial connection between Yin Yang Qi and the Innate Five Qi, then restore the cultivation of my Magical Power. Only by regaining my Magical Power can I sacrificially refine the Blood Transformation Divine Saber and disrupt the Ancestral Master of Longevity's scheme. So, I need to come up with a way to head to the rear hall and take a look at that mirror, to find an opportunity to strike a deal with the Innate Peacock."
"I can't help you with that; you'll have to devise a plan on your own," the Great Freedom Celestial Demon Dao said.
He wasn't omnipotent; what he could do was provide Zhang Chen with strategies and references. As for how Zhang Chen would accomplish it, that wasn't something he could dictate.
After putting down the book, Zhang Chen said, "I'll probe around first."
The next day, when the Ancestral Master of Longevity's lecture ended, Xu Erniu winked at Zhang Chen and then left with the Longevity Ancestral Master. Seeing this, Zhang Chen also dispersed with the crowd, pretending to wander aimlessly within the Daoist Temple.
He passed through layers of halls, walked through palaces, and finally arrived at the backyard of the Daoist Temple. Just as he reached the entrance to the backyard, he saw eight disciples in Daoist robes guarding the gate. As Zhang Chen approached, one of them blocked his path: "This is the forbidden area of the backyard; disciples are not allowed to enter. Please return, Junior Brother."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen was about to turn around and leave when suddenly he heard laughter from behind: "Zhang Chen, what are you doing here?"
Zhang Chen turned his head and saw the Little Fatty, Zou Wenlong, looking at him smugly.
"I'm just wandering around the Daoist Temple with nothing to do," Zhang Chen said, not annoyed.
Having heard Zhang Chen's words, Zou Wenlong mocked, "This is the forbidden area of the backyard. Only the core disciples who have received the secret teachings from the Ancestral Master can enter. How can a mere outer disciple like you enter?"
When he finished speaking, Zou Wenlong arrogantly walked into the backyard, leaving Zhang Chen standing at the gate, lost in thought.
"I seem to have an idea now," Zhang Chen said, watching Zou Wenlong's retreating figure, his mind forming a plan. But to implement it, he still needed an opportunity.
In a flash, three months passed. Recently, Zhang Chen had stopped going to the Library Pavilion because he had read all the texts there, and going again would just be a waste of time.
Zhang Chen was also tired of squeezing in with other disciples at the large common room, so he built a grass hut in front of the medicinal field and began living there.
One day, Xu Erniu came to visit again, full of curiosity, and asked, "Zhang Chen, why did you move here to live? Is someone bullying you? Tell me, and I'll stand up for you."
"No one is bullying me; I just prefer to be alone and quiet," Zhang Chen replied. Now, Xu Erniu's skin was smooth, and her flesh was well-proportioned, looking like a porcelain doll, no longer the withered state she was in when below the mountain.
However, seeing Xu Erniu's changes and recalling the matter of the Grass Returning Pill, Zhang Chen felt a shadow loom over his heart.
"Zhang Chen, I've recently mastered another Divine Technique," Xu Erniu said joyfully, looking at Zhang Chen.
"Oh? What Divine Technique?" Zhang Chen asked, curious.
In the next moment, Xu Erniu picked up a stone, and with a shout, 'Transform,' the stone glowed with a golden light and actually turned into a piece of gold.
"Zhang Chen, we'll never be lacking in money again. I'll take care of you," Xu Erniu said proudly, holding the gold in her hands.
Zhang Chen was shocked: "Material transformation!"
Alchemy is about material transformation, understanding the interactions of creation and destruction between materials. This Divine Technique is not simple; it's considered a Great Divine Technique, no wonder Zhang Chen was so shocked.
"Hmm, you have quite the insight," Xu Erniu remarked, surprised, looking at Zhang Chen.
"I've read all the books in the Library Pavilion. In terms of cultivation progress, I don't match up to you, but in terms of knowledge, you can't compare to me," Zhang Chen said.
"Have you cultivated any Qi Mechanism?" Xu Erniu inquired.
Zhang Chen shook his head, and Xu Erniu's smile instantly turned forlorn, unable to maintain any cheer. She encouraged Zhang Chen, "It's okay, I'll protect you from now on. I'll definitely refine an Immortality Elixir for you, so even if you can't cultivate, you'll achieve immortality."
Zhang Chen, seeing the sincerity in Xu Erniu's eyes, finally said, "I have something to discuss with you."
"What is it?" Xu Erniu asked.
"From now on, lock yourself in every day to cultivate, act like a cultivation fanatic, and tell everyone you're so busy with cultivation that you can't eat, sleep, or take care of your life," Zhang Chen said.
This matter was crucial to whether he could enter the backyard, so Zhang Chen's expression was extremely serious.
Xu Erniu was stunned and asked blankly, "Why?"
"Just do as I say," Zhang Chen replied mysteriously.
Xu Erniu nodded, although she didn't know why Zhang Chen wanted her to do this, she trusted him and would comply.
After the two chatted for a while, Xu Erniu turned and left, leaving Zhang Chen standing before the grass hut, staring into space at Xu Erniu's retreating figure.
He could, of course, ask Xu Erniu to see if she could help him gain access to the backyard, but Zhang Chen chose not to, because what he was planning was astonishing and if it were exposed, he could still retreat to the Material Realm, whereas Xu Erniu might end up implicated and perish.
Zhang Chen's best candidate was Zou Wenlong. The boy was young and easy to fool, and he could enter the backyard. Being a core among cores, if Zhang Chen could maneuver things, he might achieve his goal.