Wu Yunhe

Ping Qi stopped in his tracks and called out, "Elder Wu, your junior brother Ping Qi has a matter to discuss. I ask that you open the door for a chat."

A moment later, the cave door creaked open, and a voice drifted out: "Junior Brother Ping, what a rare guest. What wind blew you to my doorstep?" The voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth or welcome.

Ping Qi did not mind and walked into the cave. Inside sat an old man with sunken cheeks and skin stretched tight over his bones, looking for all the world like a skeleton. This was Wu Yunhe, whose cultivation had already reached the late stage of Qi Gathering, second only to the sect leader, Tian Lingzi.

Wu Yunhe gestured toward a stone chair and said, "Junior Brother Ping, please sit. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"

Ping Qi smiled faintly, produced the Hidden Dragon Staff, and asked, "Elder Wu, pray tell, what is this?"

Wu Yunhe looked up, and his gaunt face shifted instantly. "This is the Hidden Dragon Staff. Where did you obtain it?" As he spoke, he reached out, eager to snatch the staff into his own hands.

Ping Qi pulled the Hidden Dragon Staff back behind him and said, "I am glad you recognize it, Elder Wu. This is a trophy my disciple, Yan Chihuo, obtained after slaying the Heavenly Evil Blood Demon. My disciple is quite filial and chose to offer this staff to me."

Wu Yunhe retracted his hand and remarked, "Junior Brother Ping is truly extraordinary to have trained such an impressive disciple. A great teacher indeed produces a great student. But what is your intent in bringing this staff here? Surely you aren't just here to flaunt it before me."

Ping Qi laughed heartily. "While my disciple's filial piety is commendable, keeping this Hidden Dragon Staff for myself would be a slight to your face, Elder Wu. Anyone in the sect with a bit of experience would recognize this as your former possession the moment I revealed it."

Wu Yunhe asked, "And so what if they do?"

Ping Qi replied, "Think about it, Elder Wu. Once they recognize it, word will inevitably spread. With so many people talking, who knows what rumors might arise? I fear it would tarnish your reputation."

Wu Yunhe scoffed, "I do not concern myself with the slander of petty people."

Ping Qi laughed again. "In that case, I shall make this Hidden Dragon Staff my primary Dharma Tool."

Wu Yunhe glanced at Ping Qi and said, "Junior Brother Ping, I know what you are after—you simply want some benefits. As long as you don't open your mouth too wide, I will agree."

Ping Qi said, "Elder Wu is truly straightforward. In truth, this Hidden Dragon Staff is of little use to me, but it was hard-won by my disciple. He currently lacks even a suitable Talisman Artifact, so as his master, I must plan for his future."

Wu Yunhe replied, "Junior Brother Ping, you jest. How could your high-achieving disciple be without a Talisman Artifact?"

Ping Qi explained, "My disciple has high aspirations. He only has a Talisman Artifact Primordial Embryo, the Soul-Breaking Sword, taken from the sect. However, he has taken an interest in artifact refining, so I wish to ask you, Elder Wu, to teach him the art of refining so he might forge that Soul-Breaking Sword into a true Talisman Artifact."

Wu Yunhe nodded. "That is easily done. While my refining skills are not peerless, I can certainly teach your disciple enough to ensure he successfully forges that Soul-Breaking Sword into a Talisman Artifact."

Ping Qi continued, "The Hidden Dragon Staff is a Dharma Tool, after all. If I only exchange it for one Talisman Artifact, others might not call me blind, but they would certainly call you stingy, Elder Wu. Thus, I have a second condition: I want my disciple to learn your secret technique, the River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique."

Wu Yunhe's expression changed. "The River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique is an earth-attribute secret technique, but it is of little practical use and quite troublesome to learn. Your disciple need not waste his efforts on it. Junior Brother Ping, choose another condition."

Ping Qi insisted, "You are the only one in this sect who understands the River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique, and my disciple yearns to learn it. As his master, I must fulfill his wish."

Wu Yunhe's face shifted several times before he finally nodded. "Very well. I will teach him the River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique only once. Whether he can master it depends entirely on his own talent."

Ping Qi said, "Many thanks, Elder Wu." With that, he handed over the Hidden Dragon Staff. Wu Yunhe took it and told Ping Qi, "Have your disciple come to me tomorrow to learn the River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique and the art of artifact refining. I will not see you out."

Seeing that he was being dismissed, Ping Qi stood up and said, "Elder Wu, please rest. We shall take our leave."

Wu Yunhe sat motionless, saying nothing. Ping Qi turned and left, with Yan Chihuo hurrying to follow. Once they were far from Wu Yunhe's cave, Wu Yunhe's eyes suddenly flashed with a blade-like sharpness. His right hand gripped the Hidden Dragon Staff tightly, as if fearing it might be lost again, or perhaps struggling to suppress a surge of rage.

Once they were a safe distance away, Yan Chihuo said to Ping Qi, "Master, you are truly formidable. You managed to make Elder Wu bleed for a single Hidden Dragon Staff."

Ping Qi replied, "I could see you would never give up on artifact refining, so I had to take this opportunity to fulfill your wish. If you cannot learn anything from Wu Yunhe, then you should stop wasting your time on refining."

Yan Chihuo asked, "Understood. Master, what is the River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique? Why is it called a secret technique?"

Ping Qi explained, "Regardless of the attribute, there are four categories of spells. Are you aware of them?"

Yan Chihuo answered, "Disciple knows them. The four categories of low-level spells are attack, defense, crowd control, and movement. For the earth attribute, these are Falling Rock, Stone Armor, Imprisoning Earth, and Earth Shrinking Step."

Ping Qi nodded. "Correct. But there is also an earth-attribute spell called the River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique; it is a secret technique. By definition, a secret technique is not something everyone can master. The River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique is a method of water-parting that can split the waters of rivers, lakes, and seas to reveal the land beneath. The power of this technique grows with your mana, and at its peak, it is no less powerful than minor divine abilities, or even spirit-channeling abilities."

Yan Chihuo asked, "Master, do you not know this secret technique?"

Ping Qi shook his head. "Since it is a secret technique, it is not common knowledge. In our sect, only Wu Yunhe understands it; it is primarily used to counter water-attribute movement techniques. However, if you master it, you will gain a deeper understanding of earth-attribute cultivation, which will aid your progress. By the way, although Wu Yunhe agreed to teach you, he is not doing so willingly. You must be prepared; if you fail to memorize it all, you will have wasted this opportunity."

He looked at Yan Chihuo and added, "The River-Dividing Land-Creating Technique has another use: once your cultivation is sufficiently profound, it can help you master supreme divine abilities. While that realm is still far off, it will be quite beneficial for mastering other abilities in your daily practice."