Originally Meant For You

The sound of the zither invited them.

Elder Tao's expression tensed for a moment before relaxing. He solemnly adjusted his robes. Even before he was outside the wooden door, he lowered his gaze, cupped his hands, and walked forward step by step. As soon as he furrowed his brow, he was completely serious. It wasn't that he was being overly cautious; he had simply been intimidated.

The old Earth Deity was different from Qi WuHuo.

He had lived for a very long time and understood more about cultivation, knowing the details more thoroughly.

The orthodox Mystic Gate had extended to the present, and many spells and supernatural abilities had become systematic.

The true practices were the Five Arts.

Mountain, Medicine, Physiognomy, Destiny, Divination.

These five categories were the directions of cultivation.

The supernatural abilities that protected the Dao were generally divided into two types. The first type could be used at any time, like breathing in thunder. This used one's own Primordial Prenatal Qi as the core, a manifestation of internal visualization to external manifestation, which was swift and could be performed with a mere gesture.

The other type required incantations, footwork, and even assistance.

This was the Mystic Altar type.

Mystic Altar type supernatural abilities mostly borrowed the power of spirits, immortals, or ancestral masters.

The highest level could borrow the power of the vast heaven and earth.

This type of supernatural ability required preparation in advance, with strict and demanding requirements for every detail. However, once unleashed, its power was immense.

As long as there was enough preparation time, once successful, one could often unleash supernatural abilities that surpassed their own realm.

Based on their respective lineage masters and their relationships with immortals and earthly deities.

Different lineages had different inheritances.

Disciples of a different lineage, without their names recorded in the Jade Book or having received ordination, could not summon power or perform spells even if they obtained the method for the supernatural ability. They might even suffer a backlash from the supernatural ability.

If someone were to kill a disciple of the Divine Firmament lineage, seize their altar's Jade Book, and then send a Jade Book talisman to the Daoist Thunder Prefecture, requesting that a Five Thunder Spell be cast at a certain year, month, and place.

That Five Thunder Spell would most likely strike the caster directly.

Then, with the inheritance of the Daoist lineages, these Mystic Altar rituals leaked out, and some other cultivation methods imitated the Daoist Mystic Altars, creating similar supernatural abilities of their own.

However, whether it was the orthodox Mystic Gate, the Side Gate and Left Path, or even folk lineages.

As long as it was a Mystic Altar type supernatural ability, the basic framework of the supernatural ability was the same.

Not to mention the specifications for setting up the altar and performing rituals.

Next came talismans, Taoist rituals, and Yu Steps.

Then came the incantations and spells—spells encompassed everything, but the basic logic was to first indicate the direction of the power being borrowed.

This was to avoid finding the wrong deity.

Then, report the situation encountered.

The third sentence stated the desired effect.

Only then would the specific content of the spell follow.

For example, the folk lineage's [Wine Burning Incantation].

The first sentence stated: "I, by the order of the Fox Predecessor Master, descend the mountain to accompany the Golden Lock."

The second sentence then said, "Now I see a living person roasting wine to eat."

The final part was the purpose of the spell: "To seal the wine into the Golden Gate."

This was a small trick used by itinerant sorcerers who roamed the world to steal roasted wine, but it also borrowed the template of the Mystic Altar lineage's true system to create its own inheritance. The advantage was that even cultivators who had not cultivated Primordial Prenatal Qi could perform various spells with their own Qi and prior preparation, which was beneficial for inheritance.

And it was all-encompassing; even a Swordsman who also cultivated the Mystic Altar could handle most situations encountered while traveling.

From transcending lonely souls and expelling evil spirits and Beguilers above, to finding shelter, cooking wine, and concealing oneself below, there were corresponding methods.

The disadvantage was that it took too much time. One wrong step, contacting the wrong spirit or earthly deity, would result in no response.

However, regardless of the lineage of the spell, the target was always addressed with extreme reverence.

Either invited or honored!

But what he had just heard was a command—

Elder Tao lowered his gaze, not daring to look up.

He walked forward step by step.

He felt his footsteps becoming heavier.

The difference between a command and an invitation was like heaven and earth.

What was even more terrifying was that he had not seen any method or Mystic Altar just now, nor had there been any incense burning or rituals.

There was nothing!

This meant that simply by speaking, one could reach the heavens above and the underworld below, issuing a command to transcend lonely souls.

The more he understood about cultivation, the more terrified he became.

Based on the knowledge accumulated over Elder Tao's years of cultivation, this represented only two possibilities. If the person making the move was not a mortal, their strength had already surpassed the mundane.

It is the highest attainment of the Mystic Gate of the Daoist sect.

A successor of the Supreme One lineage.

Otherwise, one would not be able to use the name of the Supreme One to command the Underworld.

No matter which one it was, he, as a Fortunate Earth Deity, had to be respectful. As he approached, Elder Tao said politely, "I am Tao Kan, the Fortunate Earth Deity of this city. Greetings, Daoist master. Your esteemed presence graces my humble abode. I failed to greet you from afar, please forgive me."

As he spoke, he looked up and saw the appearance of the person playing the zither. His expression instantly froze.

"It's Elder Tao."

The blue-robed youth introduced by the Fierce Tiger sat on a stone stool, one hand resting on the zither. He apologized, "I only sensed a familiar aura and couldn't identify who it was, so I said a friend."

"Why have you come?"

Tao Kan's kind expression froze.

Qi... Qi WuHuo?

It took his Primordial Spirit a while to regain its senses.

His experience of over two hundred years prevented him from losing composure at that moment.

"You, this, this is..."

"Those just now..."

Qi WuHuo cupped his hands and replied, "My Primordial Spirit was too heavily damaged just now, and I couldn't get up to open the door to welcome you. Please don't blame me."

Elder Tao slowly shook his head. "No, no blame... no blame..."

"How would I dare to blame you?"

His brain gradually regained its judgment. He looked up and saw that the Yin energy was still circulating and had not yet dispersed. Faint golden light still lingered in the air, surrounding the youth. Elder Tao slowly accepted that these were indeed things the youth had done. Recalling now, the Fierce Tiger Mountain God, whose origins were unfathomable and whose methods were profound, treated this youth with great importance. He couldn't help but have some guesses.

So that's how it is, so that's how it is...

Mountain God, you've kept me in the dark!

Elder Tao sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries with Qi WuHuo before saying, "Just now..."

"WuHuo, what kind of spell did you cast to be able to convert these people?"

Qi WuHuo was about to say it wasn't his credit.

But thinking that the old man had concealed his presence, clearly unwilling to show himself, he paused and said, "I cannot divulge these matters, Elder Tao, please forgive me..."

Cannot be divulged.

As expected...

The Earth God's heart stirred. He stroked his beard, nodded, and said seriously, "It's alright, it's alright, WuHuo, you don't need to say more."

"I understand."

"Understand."

He no longer spoke with the casualness of calling him a "little brat" when he chatted with other Earth Deities.

Nor did he harbor any intention of keeping secrets.

He then saw the sword box placed upright over there. He immediately recognized it as the treasure used by the Evil Cultivator today, capable of summoning sword energy like waves and swirling winds. The numerous talismans and restrictions that had been refined by Tantai Xuan over a hundred years had been completely unlocked. His eyes twitched, and then he thought of something.

Many of the world's supreme treasures originated from the Supreme One lineage.

If this youth before him was from the Supreme One lineage.

It was only natural for him to be proficient in refining artifacts and elixirs.

But the Supreme One lineage truly lived up to its name.

A natal treasure, refined by a cultivator of the ordinary Primordial Prenatal Qi level who spent their entire life to open a lineage, was subdued in an instant.

From now on, it could be operated at will, without restraint.

However, this item should have been with that tiger. He hadn't expected that the tiger wouldn't keep the treasure for himself but would gift it to this youth. It seemed that the tiger knew he was a successor of the Supreme One lineage, which was why he treated him so well?

Elder Tao's thoughts churned.

He suddenly made up his mind.

Stroking his beard, he smiled and said, "However, I had already intended to return to the mountain to find you earlier."

"What a coincidence."

Qi WuHuo was puzzled.

The Earth Deity reached into his robe, took out an item, and gently placed it on the table. It was made of wood, with fine grain. On its surface was a talismanic character like a lightning snake. It was the identity token of the [Ming Zhen Dao Alliance]. Qi WuHuo's expression changed slightly. Elder Tao said, "...I only just remembered."

"This token does not lock the Primordial Spirit."

"Tantai Xuan can kill people and steal their treasures, so naturally, others can too."

"That Evil Cultivator was captured by the Mountain God in the first place, and it was you, WuHuo, who killed him."

"According to the rules, this item should rightfully belong to you."

The Earth Deity, Elder Tao, smiled and raised his hand, pushing the waist token, which he had originally intended to use himself, towards Qi WuHuo.

Then, with a straight face and a smile, he said:

"I know you need this. I was planning to return it to you on the mountain anyway."

"This works out perfectly now."

PS:

The Wine Burning Incantation originates from the folk method, Lu Ban's Method.