The Secret of Daoist Magic

Chapter 49 - Secrets of Daoist Magic

Huh? My aptitude isn't good enough?

Dong Keyan was quite displeased with this answer. Don't look down on me.

She said indignantly, "I don't believe it. I was a top student back in the day."

"Oh really? Come, repeat after me in German: Wang Ba Dan!"

Li Bai set a trap with a straight face. Coincidentally, psychiatrists specialize in curing stubbornness.

The sudden shift in tone caught Goddess Yan off guard. She gritted her teeth, suddenly finding this guy detestable, wishing she could shove a microphone down his throat. If we don't bring up that old joke, we're still good friends.

The livestream fell into an eerie silence, making many think the server had crashed. But in the next second, it erupted like a volcano.

"O.G.A: Even Goddess Yan, who's so sweet, has a day like this. She's met her match."

"Liang Liang: Doctor Li is also a fan of Goddess Yan, otherwise how would he know this joke?"

"My inner maiden's heart: 666, a direct slap in the face!"

"Tsuruya's Brigade Leader: What joke is this? Why are you all laughing so happily!"

"Big Love Loli: Are you new here? Let me tell you what's going on..."

Someone explained the origin of "Wang Ba Dan," and the 666s poured in even more.

Soon, "Goddess, don't cry, stand up and go!" started flooding the screen!

Before, fans were either confused or secretly amused and didn't say anything. Now that it had actually happened, it was out of control.

"Stop joking, I don't believe I can't learn it."

Dong Keyan bit her lip, regaining her usual calm and composure. She was a professional internet celebrity streamer earning a hundred thousand a month; how could she easily be swayed by others? She had to maintain control.

"Alright! Let's do a small test. What is this?"

Sighing, Li Bai held up a finger. It seemed the other party wouldn't give up until they saw the Yellow River.

"It's one!"

Goddess Yan rolled her eyes cutely, looking like she didn't want to be tricked.

"Wrong! It's the index finger!"

Li Bai held up his own index finger and wiggled it triumphantly.

"You, you're being unreasonable!"

Dong Keyan stomped her feet in anger. This person was truly illogical.

"Then let's try again. What is this?"

Li Bai used the same trick, still holding up an index finger.

"This is..."

Dong Keyan was about to say it was her index finger, but she stopped herself abruptly before the words left her mouth.

"Index finger or one!"

As expected of a former top student, Goddess Yan had finally gotten smarter.

"Both are wrong!"

Li Bai still shook his head. This wasn't a multiple-choice question.

Dong Keyan and the viewers in the livestream were equally furious. What did this mean? Was there a new trick?

"The answer isn't on the finger at all, but in your heart. You hesitated. A person with a flaw in their heart, how can they break through another's defenses? Moreover, this is just the most basic foundation. If you can't even get started, how can you learn hypnosis?"

Li Bai revealed the secret. Holding up his finger was just a test; the important part wasn't the answer, but the process.

Dong Keyan, like everyone else, was fixated on what she saw. In reality, during this process, she had unknowingly been manipulated.

The mentor who originally guided Li Bai in learning hypnosis used this very method to determine who could get started.

Before he inexplicably appeared in another world, Li Bai's hypnosis skills weren't as powerful as they were now. Perhaps it was because he spent so much time with the demoness who was skilled in pupil techniques; proximity to the virtuous purifies, proximity to the wicked corrupts. Coupled with practicing the Maha Bolan Sutra, his Spiritual Power became exceptionally strong, causing his hypnosis skills to advance by leaps and bounds, making him comparable to masters who could easily manipulate people's minds.

"Th-this way?"

Dong Keyan looked at her hand in disbelief, her face filled with confusion.

Many viewers watching the livestream used Li Bai's method to test each other and were horrified to discover that ninety-nine percent of them didn't meet the standards for learning hypnosis.

"This is a philosophical category."

Li Bai had long anticipated that this little trick would impress many people.

Ambiguity was one of the characteristics of philosophy. The key lay in one's own insight and understanding; everyone could arrive at different answers.

The way of philosophy lies in choosing what suits you from the three thousand great paths, regardless of right or wrong. Though it is but a finger, it points directly to the true self deep within the heart.

The livestream was once again filled with confusion. Many couldn't imagine how Zhu You Shu, one of the thirteen branches of traditional Chinese medicine, could possibly be related to philosophy.

If everyone could learn hypnosis, wouldn't the world descend into chaos? Such a high barrier to entry was necessary.

A confrontation that was almost a farce finally came to an end.

The police found a batch of dangerous goods in the temple, including detonators, white phosphorus, sodium metal, and TNT, as well as other flammable and explosive materials and high-concentration strong acids. They also found a significant amount of illegally possessed psychotropic drugs and narcotic drugs, and even several syringes of Dolantin, which was almost equivalent to drug possession.

These findings meant that Qingliang Temple was in serious trouble.

The influential figures who were previously friendly with the three Daoist Masters would now be eager to distance themselves, let alone offer help, for fear of implicating themselves.

As the police dug three feet into the ground within Qingliang Temple, searching for evidence of illegal activities, the secrets secretly arranged by the three Daoist Masters began to be revealed one by one.

Thanks to Li Bai, Dong Keyan, who was allowed to stay at the scene to continue her live broadcast, along with her cameraman assistant and the viewers watching the online stream, witnessed these unbelievable secrets firsthand.

Although the entire Daoist temple was not large, it was filled with hidden mechanisms everywhere.

No one expected that Goddess Yan was actually a science and engineering whiz who had advanced from a 211 university to a 985, and even though she had graduated many years ago, she was still incredibly knowledgeable. Through a combination of hints and deductions, she pointed out these mysterious secrets one by one.

Expensive high-fidelity audio equipment was installed in every corner, and it had been meticulously tuned by professionals to ensure near-realistic sound reproduction.

Dozens of transparent threads were suspended in the air above the plaza in front of the Three Pure Ones Hall, connected to a lighting system that could display the Tai Chi Yin Yang Bagua pattern. This system, combined with the three-meter-tall bronze incense burner, formed a special, unconventional Tesla coil, which was the source of the dazzling electrical effects.

The erupting arcs of electricity looked frightening, but the voltage was high while the current was low, so they didn't have much destructive power. Even if someone accidentally touched them, their hair would merely stand on end.

Air ducts were also installed in the vents of the surrounding side rooms. After the high-speed airflow was processed to reduce noise, it would surge out and create whirlwinds in the plaza out of thin air. It was precisely with the help of this airflow that the phosphorus fire, waved out from the sleeve of Qingliang Temple's Great Daoist Master, was able to surround Li Bai as if it were alive.

A colossal secret was hidden beneath the entire plaza. After lifting the stone slabs, within the concrete layer, there was a two-meter-high hollow space. Inside, close to the ground, three layers of extremely large coils, whose purpose was unknown, were laid out on the ceiling.

According to the Daoist priests of Qingliang Temple who were interrogated on site, this was a coil array created by the Second Daoist Master and the Third Daoist Master. It was likely intended to be used in conjunction with special hovering props and props with sound and light effects. The inspiration came from wireless charging devices found online, and the cost exceeded ten million RMB.

Qingliang Temple really went all out to impress the wealthy. With a combination of magic and black technology, they could earn at least seventy million RMB annually. Spending forty to fifty million RMB to meticulously build this dojo was an incredibly worthwhile investment.

It was imaginable that if the coil array beneath the plaza could be completed and function properly, the Daoist Masters of Qingliang Temple might be able to summon flying swords and magic treasures, which would truly be astonishing.

Scholar Goddess Dong Keyan, while trying her best to recall her professional knowledge, made deductions and explanations that left the viewers in the live stream and the police officers collecting evidence at the scene in a state of sudden realization.

Once the so-called Daoist magic was exposed, it held no more secrets and was revealed to be nothing but trickery.

Unbeknownst to them, the number of viewers in the live stream had increased by another small step.

The other streamers whose viewers had been stolen could only resentfully sulk in their hearts. They can clearly make a living with their looks, but they insist on relying on their talent. Are they even going to let the rest of us live?

"Delivery's here, anyone home?"

A moment later, a delivery driver stood in front of apartment 1901, staring blankly at his empty hands.

"Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"