"If I used the art of disguise, would he still recognize me?"
Fang Qing's heart stirred. He sat down. "May I know what the last person came here to ask about?"
He could more or less guess that person had been Li Rulong, and he was rather curious about it.
"Hehe... just a fool who wanted to end this chaotic age. Who did he think he was? The Human Emperor of High Antiquity?"
The Old Blind Man laughed despite himself.
Fang Qing fell silent as well. Forget the chaos of the world or the Land of Ancient Shu—even Ba Commandery alone bore the shadow of the Black Blight Sect, a Purple Mansion force, amid its turmoil. Ending it was easier said than done.
Thus, no matter how hard the common people's lives were, he would not even consider such matters before cultivating to the Purple Mansion realm.
Yet Fang Qing still held the most basic measure of respect for those who knowingly did what could not be done.
"Perhaps... people always need hope. Who knows? It might just work."
"So young... You make this old blind man feel as though he has seen his younger self again, equally high-spirited and fearless..." the Old Blind Man murmured before coming back to himself. "Fellow Daoist, what is it you wish to ask?"
After thinking for a moment, Fang Qing said, "I wish to find a Body Refinement technique—preferably one with low consumption, good results, and the ability to strengthen one's spirit..."
To be honest, he did not hold much hope for it. He had visited the bookshops in every market town.
There were Body Refinement techniques, but either their consumption was low and their power was low as well.
Or they were powerful but costly, with no effect of tempering the spirit.
All one could say was that Fang Qing's demands for an auxiliary technique were somewhat greedy, which was why he had yet to find one that suited him.
Yet when the Old Blind Man heard this, he froze. "Where did you hear about this old blind man's past exploits?"
"Hm?"
Fang Qing wore a puzzled expression, but inwardly he thought, There's a chance!
He immediately said sincerely, "I ask that you enlighten me, sir. I do possess some Spirit Assets."
Smack! Smack!
As he spoke, he tossed another two Treasure Fish onto the stall.
"Ahem... There is no need to use such glib words on this old blind man."
The Old Blind Man coughed, then felt the spirit fish on the stall. "Very well. It seems you truly do not know... This old blind man shall tell you about it."
"Of the myriad arts in this world, every gain comes with a loss. Wanting this and that as you do, Fellow Daoist, is rather greedy... Still, the highest-grade Body Refinement techniques can indeed achieve what you seek. As it happens, when this old blind man traveled through the Secret Treasury Domain in his younger days, he heard of several such techniques. For example, the Dragon-Elephant Wisdom Yoga Secret Art... Dragons and elephants signify Divine Power, while wisdom signifies intelligence. It is a supreme body-tempering method that attends to both physique and spirit."
"Oh? Sir, do you possess this Dragon-Elephant Wisdom Yoga Secret Art?"
Fang Qing's eyes lit up.
"Of course... I do not." A trace of fear flashed across the Old Blind Man's face. "That place was far too sinister. This old blind man narrowly escaped death, leaving both his eyes there forever, and only obtained a Dharma artifact and a manual. This technique is called the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, the temple-guarding art of a Horse-Head Vajra Temple in the Secret Treasury Domain... It is said to contain a few essences of the Dragon-Elephant Wisdom Yoga Secret Art, able to strengthen the body and spirit... Most importantly, its consumption is extremely low. If one possesses spiritual roots, one does not even need Spirit Herbs such as specially made ghee. One need only cultivate bitterly to advance without end..."
"The Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art?"
Fang Qing calmed down instead. "Would you truly be willing to give me such a marvelous art, sir?"
"Hehe... It can hardly be called a marvelous art. It is merely an evil art."
The Old Blind Man seemed somewhat nostalgic. "First, this Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art is incomplete. Of its original four stages, this old blind man has only the visualization diagram and incantation for the first stage, greatly reducing its value. Besides... this is a Secret Treasury Domain technique, and it carries considerable hidden dangers. Whether you dare cultivate it is up to you... Precisely because of this, it is exceedingly cheap—at least far cheaper than those top-grade Body Refinement techniques. Bring this old blind man ten more portions of the same Spirit Assets, and I will sell it to you."
"A Secret Treasury Domain technique? What hidden dangers does it have?"
Fang Qing became even more curious.
"Cultivators of the Secret Treasury Domain differ from us in Ancient Shu. Their lineage comes from Great Snow Mountain. What they cultivate is not the Dantian Qi Sea, but the Three Wheels and Seven Meridians... At the beginning of their path, they are called 'monks,' followed by 'masters' and 'Dharma Kings'..."
The Old Blind Man spoke unhurriedly. "Those Secret Treasury Domain monks do not need their first mouthful of True Qi to begin cultivation. Instead, they must acknowledge a 'master,' rely upon him in cultivation, and receive his Great Empowerment Precept. It is said that the Empowerment Method is Great Snow Mountain's greatest secret, possessing unparalleled wonder... Hehe, this old blind man does not know what is so wondrous about it. He only knows that once they believe in a master, accept his precepts, and make offerings to the Sole Secret Deity, the lives and deaths of those monks are entirely held in their master's hands. Even if their master commands disciples to slaughter all their parents and friends before killing themselves, they cannot disobey."
"They do not even need True Qi to enter the path?"
Fang Qing was greatly astonished.
"The Great Snow Mountain lineage is ultimately different from our Immortal Dao..." the Old Blind Man said. "Some masters eat meat and vegetables alike, selecting Wisdom Consorts to attend them as they please, and can even bestow supreme power upon those consorts... Others demand that believers offer up their property and flesh, refining sinister Dharma artifacts such as thangkas and bone caves. In short... it is exceedingly strange and bloody."
"So what flaw does this Great Snow Mountain technique have?"
Fang Qing felt that if he had to do such things, he probably could not accept it.
"Hehe... It requires no blood sacrifice, progresses at a breathtaking pace, and offers countless benefits. Most Secret Treasury Domain techniques that leak outside are like this. It is just that... once you cultivate Divine Abilities, should you encounter a master from the Secret Treasury Domain, they might merely wave a hand and you will willingly become their disciple or protector..." the Old Blind Man sneered.
"Damn... what kind of hellhole is that?"
Fang Qing's scalp tingled.
This Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art looked more and more ill-intentioned. It was clearly trying to make people refine themselves into Dao soldiers!
Fang Qing had heard of methods for creating Dao soldiers in the Azure Sea Sect. They were very similar to this!
"Wait... I have the Dao-Born Pearl. I fear hidden dangers in cultivation techniques least of all."
"At the very least, it is cheap. I should exchange for it first, then decide whether to cultivate it."
A hesitant expression appeared on his face. Then he suddenly gritted his teeth. "I'll exchange for it... But sir, I have another question. Could the Immortal Dao techniques of our Land of Ancient Shu also have similar hidden dangers?"
"The Immortal Dao values life. Naturally, the Qi Ingestion techniques of our Land of Ancient Shu would not teach you to cultivate yourself into some protector or vajra..."
The Old Blind Man smiled faintly.
"That is good..." Fang Qing had only just relaxed a little when the Old Blind Man continued, "You merely need to be careful not to reveal the exact name of your own cultivation technique."
"What... does that mean?"
Fang Qing suddenly felt chills run down his spine. "Sir, if you explain it clearly, I will buy this Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art immediately."
"Hehe, you cultivate a Winnowing Basket Water technique. The only thing you need to beware of is others cultivating the same technique. Their origins are similar, and if they encounter a bottleneck, devouring another person's entire Dharma power can be used to break through the realm." The Old Blind Man sneered. "Of course, such conduct is the way of demons. In Ba Commandery, you need only watch out for those Dao Foundation Aristocratic Clans and late Qi Ingestion Rogue Cultivators—especially those famous for Winnowing Basket Water techniques. So there is no need for you to tell this old blind man the specific name of your technique, lest you think this old blind man intends to harm you..."
"What kind of damned place is this?"
Fang Qing was completely speechless. He took out portion after portion of spirit materials. "Then... are there any famous Winnowing Basket Water Aristocratic Clans in this commandery?"
"The Heavenly Water Luo Family!" The Old Blind Man cheerfully accepted the Spirit Assets, pulled a tattered, blackened thread-bound book from his robes, and tossed it to Fang Qing. "You stepped onto the immortal path only because this old blind man severed your fate. This old blind man does not wish to see you die and vanish from the Dao either. I hope to see the day you achieve Dao Foundation..."
"The Heavenly Water Luo Family?!"
Fang Qing seemed to chew those four words in his mouth. He put away the thread-bound book, cupped his hands, and took his leave.
Every step he took was incomparably heavy, and his brows seemed ready to drip water.
"The Heavenly Water Luo Family?"
"Is that the Luo Family?"
"The county seat near my home indeed falls under Heavenly Water... It seems there can be no mistake. That family actually has a Dao Foundation Great Cultivator! Good thing I did not act rashly before!"
"Winnowing Basket Water? Could there be a problem with the Black Ridge Observation Book? No... Could Nine Rivers Water Pavilion, the place that sold the technique, be the Luo Family secretly raising fish and scattering bait?"
"So I had already fallen into a trap without realizing it?"
A bitter smile could not help appearing at the corner of Fang Qing's lips...
Azure Sea Sect, Pill Island, cave dwelling.
After closing the cave dwelling's doors and, as usual, affixing a protective talisman, Fang Qing finally let out a long breath.
"The folk customs here are still simple and honest. At least they can soothe my wounded heart..."
With a pat of his storage pouch, all the gains from this trip appeared before him.
Several Jade Qi Ginseng plants glowing emerald green, several spirit materials of metal and fire attributes, and that copy of the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art!
"Now that I have the main ingredients, I only need to gather another batch of auxiliary materials before attempting to refine Ginseng Green Spirit Water..."
Fang Qing exhaled, then looked again at the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art.
Originally, he had thought that he only needed to read this flawed secret manual for reference and did not necessarily need to cultivate it himself.
But now?
Were there even any cultivation techniques in the entire Land of Ancient Shu that did not have pitfalls?
"No wonder pills that improve cultivation are so scarce over there, and so fiercely sought after... So they directly use people as pills. They use Human Pills..."
"Forget it. One pit is a pit, and two pits are still pits..."
"There are so many problematic techniques. If I cultivate them all, perhaps I can even exploit a bug..."
He opened the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, and an unusual fragrance reached his nose.
The scent was faint rather than rich, yet it caused the qi and blood throughout his body to stir slightly.
"To cultivate Secret Treasury Domain techniques, one enters through the Threefold Secret Empowerment... The three secrets are body, speech, and mind. The body is Mahamudra, speech is the secret mantra of the deity's true words, and mind is the visualization diagram..."
Gradually, Fang Qing came to understand this Secret Treasury Domain Body Refinement technique somewhat.
Before you continue