Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1325 - 393: Dead End (Part 2)

"So, is there any hope of breaking through the realm recently?"

"Not for now. I had some incorrect ideas earlier, but I’ve found a new direction. It might still take some time, there’s no point in rushing it in the short term."

Chu Keqing nodded and after a while, she sighed: "Since that’s the case, I can rest assured. I was about to tell you, I have some matters to attend to for a business trip."

Chen Yan spoke calmly, "Matters concerning the sect?"

Chu Keqing smiled, "I’ve joined a folklore association and even became an honorary president. It’s considered a channel to deal with official matters. There’s an event over there requesting my presence. Alongside, there are some collaboration projects they want me to assist with negotiations.

Originally, if you were about to break through, I would decline and not go. But if it’s not urgent, I’ll make an appearance."

"It’s not urgent. You go take care of your matters. Although I’ve thought of a new direction, it will still take some time, not something that can be solved immediately."

After pausing, Chen Yan suddenly remembered something: "There’s something I need you to check for me, something I fear I cannot accomplish on my own."

"Speak!" Chu Keqing became more spirited.

"You yourself are a cultivator and have traveled to many places. You’ve surely visited a lot of famous mountains and rivers. I want you to help me recall those places you’ve visited, if there’s anything peculiar.

Also, help me check, starting domestically, if there are any places with unique environmental features — I mean natural environments, like any particularly unique mountains, waters, or even plants. Something unique."

Upon hearing this, Chu Keqing lowered her head and thought carefully: "Of the places I’ve been, thinking back now, I don’t recall anything particularly unique. But I can have someone look into the information, and I’ll think back about it myself."

She said, smiling: "I have a good relationship with the people in the local folklore associations, and they have good connections with the local history departments. I can ask more people to help me check, starting from the local history records."

This is not a bad idea.

Chen Yan’s eyes brightened.

Local history records, in essence, are actually ’history’.

Most ordinary people know of the Twenty-Four Histories, such as ’Records of the Grand Historian’, ’Book of Han’, ’Book of the Later Han’, ’Records of the Three Kingdoms’, and so on.

These are official histories, but they’re on a national level, recording events that influence the direction of dynasties.

The characteristics of these historical materials are that they only record major events and significant people.

But local history records are different. They document local history, local figures, and local events.

You won’t find these details in the Twenty-Four Histories.

Essentially, these local history records form a complete system of historical records, where many materials can complement each other and verify one another.

For example, about a certain dynasty, the national histories recorded that a Great General led an army to fight in a certain province, city, and county.

Then by looking at the county’s local history records, you can find relevant documentation: On a certain year, month, and day, a Great General brought his army here to fight, conscripting how many locals, gathering how much grain.

Or, during leisure time, the Great General invited local notable folks to a meal, said certain words, and left some famous sayings.

What mountains, what waters were visited...

These details cannot be found in the Twenty-Four Histories.

And more specific local era changes are also hard to see in the Twenty-Four Histories.

The local customs, landscapes, the changes in the terrain, these are rarely recorded in the national histories – unless they caused significant impact, such as the Yellow River changing course.

But apart from that, each locale’s local history records are a treasure trove of abundant information.

Chen Yan thought Chu Keqing’s idea was good, but Chu Keqing still had a concern: "Local history records are numerous, and the data volume is large; checking them isn’t easy."

"No hurry, just take your time. This isn’t something that needs urgency." Chen Yan shook his head: "Check slowly, I also have other directions I can explore. Asking you to handle this is like casting a wide net, seeing if we can get lucky."

Chu Keqing smiled and agreed.

Chen Yan asked another question: "When are you leaving?"

Chu Keqing seemed a bit embarrassed: "Originally, I wanted to decline, but seeing as you have nothing urgent, the sooner I leave, the better, the quicker I go, the quicker I return."

"So, you’ll leave tonight?"

"Yes, if I leave tomorrow morning, I’ll lose half a day on the road. It’s better to go overnight and have the discussions in the morning, finish early and return early."

Chen Yan smiled: "Do you want me to help pack your luggage?"

"No need, I have a suitcase constantly ready in the house next door, prepared by Xiaocai. Everything is ready, and every time I go on a long trip, I just take the suitcase and leave."

Chen Yan pondered for a moment, then took out a Talisman from his Storage Jade Pendant and handed it to Chu Keqing: "This Light Body Talisman I made, if you encounter any danger outside, don’t worry about losing face, don’t try to act tough, run!

Run to a safe place and then contact me, and I’ll come to make it right for you."

Chu Keqing took the rune seriously, put it in her pocket, and looked at Chen Yan with a smile in her eyes: "I’ve traveled far and wide more than you have, don’t worry, nothing will happen."

Then Chu Keqing called her assistant Xiaocai and asked her to drive to the door.

Chen Yan got up to see Chu Keqing off the door; Gu Qingyi remained seated, but as Chu Keqing left, she still sighed: "Be careful on the road."