Wood Escape Method

His fingers touched the wall.

What met them was the hard yet not cold feel of wood, smooth from its coat of lacquer.

Lin Jue opened his eyes wide and did not dare blink.

It wasn't entirely because he wanted to learn the technique. The magic itself was simply wondrous and fascinating, especially to him. For any ordinary person in this world, such an experience would surely hold tremendous appeal. Yet most people never encountered Demonic Ghosts, and even if they did, they were afraid of them. They could hardly persuade one to grant their request, much less dare entrust their safety to its hands.

If there were no danger, probably few people could resist experiencing what it felt like to pass through a wooden wall.

And Lin Jue had a pair of extraordinary eyes.

In his eyes, Vital Energy flowed through the wall in a wondrous pattern. Suddenly, the Spiritual Resonance of that Vital Energy flowed out beyond the wall, and the entire surface turned illusory.

The sensation beneath his fingertips abruptly became strange.

It seemed the wall had changed, becoming like water or air, something he could pass through. Or perhaps it was his own fingers and arm that had changed, becoming part of the wall.

"..."

Just like that, Lin Jue's fingers slipped into the wooden wall.

At the same time, Lin Jue immediately felt that familiar, peculiar sensation.

The Tree Demon's grip did not stop. It slowly pulled him, drawing his fingertips in, then his palm, until nearly half his forearm had passed into the wall.

It felt cool and viscous, strange beyond compare, wondrous beyond compare.

"If I let go now, your arm would be stuck in the wood. I've heard of some ghost sorcerers with no other skills who trick people this way and harm them. So when you go elsewhere, don't readily agree to let anyone pull you into a wall. Not just walls, either—water and earth are the same. They may not let you back out."

"I'll remember that."

"Slowly pull your hand out."

"All right!"

Lin Jue slowly drew his hand back. Only after it was completely free did he release the branch.

He flexed his fingers again and again, looked down at his hand, and found nothing amiss. He touched the wall in front of him; it felt just as it always had.

What an incredible sensation.

How wondrous.

At the same time, Lin Jue was all but certain—

The Ancient Book had responded.

"Is the 'Wood Escape' practiced by humans different from the Divine Ability you just used?" Lin Jue couldn't help asking.

"Not much, but not little, either." The Tree Demon's voice came from within the wall. "In this world, even within a single category, there may be a thousand or ten thousand techniques, but the Dao is only one. I've heard others say that Spirits and Monsters were originally ahead of Human Realm cultivators. Most likely, Human Realm cultivators saw the abilities of us plant spirits and monsters, then explored and created similar techniques."

"Why do you know so much?"

"You don't know? The Spirits and Monsters around here used to worship a Deity in secret. Though no one has heard news of that Empress for many years now, we still keep in touch with one another."

"An Empress?"

"The affairs of Spirits and Monsters aren't something I can tell you much about."

"Of course, of course." Lin Jue nodded. "I was just surprised that you know so much despite being unable to go out."

"If I could go out, I could learn these things in a year. It's precisely because I can't that it took me decades to learn even this little."

"That's already very learned."

Lin Jue meant it both as a compliment and sincerely.

He sat back down on the bed nearby, trimmed the oil lamp's wick, then let its flame sway as he continued asking, "Are there many Ghosts and Monsters around here?"

"Not many, but there are some. There are very few in the city, though a few live among humans and lead lives just like theirs. I can't tell you who they are, though. There are more in the mountains and wastelands outside the city. But this isn't some remote, desolate place, there hasn't been a war recently, and we're not far from Mount Qi Yun. So even the wild monsters and ghosts in the barren hills are rarely especially vicious or savage."

"From the sound of it, Mount Qi Yun really is impressive?"

"Of course. Mount Qi Yun is one of the four great Daoist sacred mountains. I don't know the details, and I've never been there myself, so I can only guess from the legends—but it must truly be formidable."

"How so?"

"Some of the Ghosts and Monsters I know who have profound cultivation all fear the name of Mount Qi Yun. Even the City God in town seems to have some connection to it. I once heard other rumors, too, saying that some wicked monsters met their downfall at the hands of Mount Qi Yun."

At that point, the Tree Demon paused, then told him:

"That boy Yuanzhong brought a young man from the Wei Household here. He's sitting by the front gate downstairs."

"Hm?"

Lin Jue thought it over for a moment and understood.

There must still have been some money or valuables in the house. Though Wei Yuanzhong had left, he was still worried, so he had called a young man from his family to stand guard at the gate.

"It's only human nature."

That was all Lin Jue said. He didn't think there was anything strange about it.

"You're quite easygoing."

"That's only right." Lin Jue wasn't too concerned. He continued asking, "What about Mount Yi?"

"Mount Yi? There are fewer rumors about Mount Yi. Mainly because Mount Qi Yun worships Deities, while Mount Yi practices magic arts. And Mount Yi is remote, so few people go there or come out of it. Even I rarely hear anything about Mount Yi."

Worshiping Deities? Practicing magic arts?

Sitting in a room upstairs in the Wei household, Lin Jue chatted fearlessly with a ghost, asking questions and absorbing knowledge about the Ghosts and Monsters of this world.

The Tree Demon clearly understood how curious ordinary people were about such immortal and wondrous matters. It kept telling him what it knew, answering his questions and clearing up his doubts. As they talked, Lin Jue gradually realized why it knew so much despite being unable to go out—

Trees had no mouths, but this one was quite the chatterbox.

Yet neither Lin Jue nor the Tree Demon noticed that outside, in the alley by the house, there was not only the young man from the Wei Household sitting at the gate on guard, but also an old Daoist standing quietly, listening to their conversation.

The Daoist seemed to blend into the darkness of night.

Before they knew it, the night had passed.

Lin Jue returned to the inn and opened the Ancient Book in his room. Sure enough, another page had appeared:

Wood Escape Method, one of the Five Elements Evasion Techniques.

The Five Qi are born of Heaven, and the Earth bears Yin and Yang; all can serve as paths. Thus, both Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements, have their own Evasion Techniques. They are inspired by Heaven and Earth and born of the Great Dao. Those who practice them can come and go freely through all things in Heaven and Earth. When practiced to a high level, the technique becomes one with its user, who becomes one with all things. Nothing can harm them, and they can travel among metal and stone or tread through water and fire.

To learn the Five Elements Evasion Techniques, one must resonate with the Five Elements and harmonize with them. Those who are not compatible cannot learn them, and those whose minds are full of distracting thoughts cannot learn them.

"Those who aren't compatible can't learn it?

"Do you need some kind of special talent?

"Or is it like the Fire-Repelling Technique, where you have to comprehend the Spiritual Resonance of fire? If someone can't sense the Spiritual Resonance of plants and trees, or has disliked them since childhood, would they be unable to learn it?"

Lin Jue frowned as he guessed, then reached out and pinched the page.

At once, words sounded in his mind:

"Among the Five Elements Evasion Techniques, Earth Escape is the most commonly used, but also the most dangerous to practice. Water Entry is next in both use and danger, and is still fairly useful. Wood Escape comes after that.

"The Wood Escape Method began with plant spirits and monsters. To practice it, one must be close to plants and trees and possess talent in the Five Elements.

"Beginners can pass into living wood. With further practice, they can pass into dead wood. Those of great skill can pull others into plants and trees, and hide themselves in plants and trees that are thinner, differently shaped, or even smaller than themselves. It is said that those who have mastered it can even move by way of the roots of trees and forests, or through branches and leaves that touch one another. As long as the roots remain connected and the branches and leaves are not too far apart, they can travel a thousand li in a day. No wooden object in the world can harm them in the slightest.

"Those lacking talent in the Five Elements cannot practice it. Those unable to sense the Spiritual Resonance of wood cannot practice it. Those who casually cut down trees and tear up living grass will find it difficult to reach a high level.

"When using the technique, one must cast aside as many distracting thoughts as possible. If one cannot do so, it will be difficult to master, and one may easily become stuck inside the wood.

"..."

Just from the introduction, Lin Jue could already sense how wondrous and elusive the technique was.

How was one supposed to become close to plants and trees?

And people who often cut down trees or pulled up wild grass carelessly seemed to face an obstacle in practicing this technique, making it difficult for them to reach mastery. Was it because they felt no respect for plants and trees?

The rest sounded even more wondrous and ethereal.

Lin Jue only half understood it.

So he stayed in Danxun City for the next few days.

He had originally planned to leave the very next day. Even after Wei Yuanzhong invited him, he had intended to sleep for one night and then go. But he had ended up talking with the Tree Demon for nearly the whole night, and had learned the Wood Escape Method from it. He simply couldn't ignore such a debt of gratitude. And since its cultivation was still in the hands of the Wei Household, Lin Jue had no choice but to stay in Danxun City and wait for the family to seek a talisman from the Green Emperor Temple in Luosu County.

As it happened, he was studying the Wood Escape Method.

Whether he had questions about the technique itself, or about "being close to plants and trees" and "sensing the Spiritual Resonance of wood," there was no better teacher to ask than a tree.

Even a Great Power in cultivation probably couldn't match its insight and attainments in this regard.

Five days later, on a barren mountain outside the city.

The Wei Household had followed the Tree Demon's instructions long ago. Every male member of the family had joined in, digging the stump out together with the ball of roots and soil beneath it. Then they hired an ox cart and, after great effort, brought it up the mountain.

They dug a hole, replanted it, covered it with earth, and watered it.

They did everything with the utmost care.

Lin Jue lent a hand, then stood to one side and watched closely.

If that were all, a tree stump without a single branch or leaf left would probably never survive. What remained was to rely on divine aid.

That was the so-called Green Emperor Talisman.

There weren't many temples or Divine Statues of the Green Emperor in the world. They said that many years ago in Luosu County, the only Divine Statue of his in the world had become covered in dust. Then a destitute wanderer, soaked by the rain, happened to see the statue—half washed clean by the rainwater, half buried in muddy sludge. He felt that its fate resembled his own and was moved by the thought. So he dug it out, cleaned it up, and placed it in the temple nearby.

Perhaps the Green Emperor had been moved by this act. Or perhaps he had already wished to manifest himself again and gather worshippers. In any case, he appeared in the man's dream, bestowed upon him a divine talisman, taught him how to draw talismans, and made him the temple's caretaker.

With this divine talisman, he could set up an altar and perform the proper rites, draw talismans, and borrow the Green Emperor's divine power.

They said the temple caretaker gradually became greedy for money. Whenever someone came to ask for a talisman, he charged them several taels of silver. It was hard to say whether the Wei family feared the Tree Demon's retaliation, had truly repented, or feared their unfilial deeds becoming known to the world and bringing punishment after death. In any case, their sincerity in making amends was considerable: they really had obtained a talisman from the caretaker.

Now Lin Jue watched as they took a bowl, burned the talisman paper, and recited a prayer, then put the talisman paper into the water.

"Gurgle..."

As if it had joined with something and triggered a wondrous reaction, the talisman paper did not go out when it entered the water. Instead, it continued burning until it turned to ash.

The Wei family poured the water over the tree stump.

Lin Jue sensed something and turned to look into the distance.

"Whoosh..."

On a hot, still summer day, a cool breeze suddenly blew from nowhere, as refreshing as a spring breeze. It stirred the people's hair and cloaks, leaving the Wei family bewildered.

When they turned back—

At some point, a tiny bud had appeared at the edge of the stump. It grew rapidly, sending out a slender shoot nearly a foot long, thin as a blade of grass. When the wind blew, it trembled and unfurled several tender leaves.

Lin Jue couldn't help opening his eyes wide.

So the Green Emperor and his divine power really existed.

So wondrous.

Sure enough, one had to venture out into the world to gain such insight.

"Whoosh..."

The tender leaves continued trembling in the wind.

Lin Jue stepped forward.

"Now it seems, Senior, that you have nothing more to worry about. Thank you for answering my questions these past few days." Lin Jue bowed deeply and saluted. "I shall take my leave now."

"..."

When he straightened up, several drops of Peach Gum had appeared on the stump.

A faint voice was too indistinct to make out, but it seemed to be telling him to take them.