Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art (Seeking Recommendations)

If I used a disguise technique, would he still recognize me?

Fang Qing's heart stirred. He sat down. "May I know what the previous person came to ask about?"

He could roughly guess that person had been Li Rulong, and he was rather curious about it.

"Hehe... just a fool who wanted to end the troubled times. Who did he think he was? The Human Emperor of High Antiquity?"

Old Blind Man laughed despite himself.

Fang Qing likewise fell silent. Never mind the chaos engulfing the world or even the Land of Ancient Shu—within Ba Commandery alone, the Black Blight Sect, a Purple Mansion force, had its hand in the 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.

Still, Fang Qing retained a sliver of basic respect for those who knowingly did the impossible.

"Perhaps... People must always have hope. Who knows? Maybe he'll succeed."

"Truly young... You make Old Blind Man seem to see his younger self, equally high-spirited and fearless..." Old Blind Man murmured before coming back to himself. "This fellow cultivator, what do 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 the mind..."

Truthfully, he did not hold out much hope. He had visited the bookshops in every market.

There were body-refinement techniques, but those with low consumption were weak as well.

The powerful ones, meanwhile, consumed greatly and had no effect of tempering the mind.

It could only be said that Fang Qing's demands for an auxiliary technique were somewhat greedy, which was why he had been unable to find one to his liking.

Yet Old Blind Man froze upon hearing this. "Where did you hear about Old Blind Man's past exploits?"

"Hm?"

Fang Qing wore a baffled expression, but inwardly thought, There's a chance!

He immediately said earnestly, "I ask that you, sir, dispel my doubts. I do have some Spirit Assets."

Smack! Smack!

As he spoke, he flung another two Treasure Fish onto the stall.

"Cough, cough... There's no need to use Eloquence's Edge on Old Blind Man."

Old Blind Man coughed, then felt the spirit fish on the stall. "Very well. It seems you truly do not know... Old Blind Man shall tell you."

"Of the myriad methods in this world, every gain comes with a loss. Wanting this and that like you do, fellow cultivator, is somewhat greedy... However, those top-tier body-refinement techniques truly can achieve what you describe. As it happens, when Old Blind Man traveled through the Secret Treasury Domain in his youth, he heard of several such methods—for instance, the Dragon-Elephant Wisdom Yoga Secret Art... The dragon-elephant represents Divine Power, while wisdom represents intellect. It is a supreme body-tempering method that attends to both physique and mind."

"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 Old Blind Man's face. "That place was too wicked. 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. It is the temple-protecting 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, capable of strengthening the body and mind... Most importantly, its consumption is very low. If one possesses spiritual insight, one does not even need spirit herbs such as specially made ghee. So long as one cultivates bitterly, one may constantly advance..."

"The Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art?"

Fang Qing instead calmed down. "Would you truly be willing to give such a wondrous method to me, sir?"

"Hehe... It cannot be called a wondrous method. It is merely an evil art."

Old Blind Man seemed somewhat nostalgic. "First, this Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art is incomplete. Of its original four stages, Old Blind Man possesses only the visualization diagram and mnemonic verse for the first stage, so its value has greatly diminished. Besides... this is a Secret Treasury Domain technique, and it carries considerable hidden dangers. It depends on whether you dare to cultivate it... For that very reason, it is exceedingly cheap—at least far cheaper than those top-grade body-refinement techniques. Bring 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 grew even more curious.

"Cultivators of the Secret Treasury Domain differ from us of Ancient Shu. Their lineage comes from Great Snow Mountain. They do not cultivate the Dantian Qi Sea, but the Three Wheels and Seven Meridians... When first entering the path, they are called 'monks,' then 'gurus,' and later 'Dharma Kings'..."

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 worship a guru, rely upon him for cultivation, and receive his Great Empowerment Precept. It is said that the Empowerment Method is Great Snow Mountain's foremost secret and possesses supreme marvels... Hehe, Old Blind Man does not know what marvels this Empowerment Method has. He only knows that after believing in a guru, accepting his precepts, and making offerings to the Sole Secret Deity, those monks' lives and deaths are entirely held in their guru's hands. Even if their guru ordered those disciples to slaughter all their parents and friends before killing themselves, they could not disobey."

"They do not even need True Qi to enter the path?"

Fang Qing was greatly astonished.

"The Great Snow Mountain lineage is, after all, different from our immortal path..." Old Blind Man said. "Some of those gurus abstain from neither meat nor women, and enjoy selecting Wisdom Consorts to attend them. They can even bestow supreme power upon those Wisdom Consorts... Others demand that believers offer up their wealth and flesh to refine wicked dharma artifacts such as thangkas and skull bowls. In short... it is most bizarre and bloody."

"So what flaw does this Great Snow Mountain technique have?"

Fang Qing felt that if he had to do such things, he would find them somewhat unacceptable.

"Hehe... It requires no blood sacrifice, progresses at breakneck speed, and brings countless benefits. Most techniques leaked from the Secret Treasury Domain are like this. But... once you cultivate a Divine Ability, if you encounter a guru from the Secret Treasury Domain, perhaps with a mere wave of his hand, you will voluntarily become his disciple or protector..." Old Blind Man sneered.

"Fuck... What kind of shithole is that?"

Fang Qing felt his scalp prickle.

This Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art looked more and more like it harbored sinister intentions, meant to make people refine themselves into Dao soldiers!

Fang Qing had also heard of Dao-soldier methods in the Azure Sea Sect. They were very similar to this!

Wait... I have the Dao-Born Pearl. I fear hidden dangers within techniques least of all.

At the very least, I'll exchange for it while it's cheap, then decide whether to cultivate it.

A hesitant expression appeared on his face. Then he suddenly gritted his teeth. "I'll trade for it... But sir, I have another question. Could it be that immortal cultivation techniques in our Land of Ancient Shu have similar hidden dangers as well?"

"The immortal path 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..."

Old Blind Man smiled faintly.

"That's good..." Fang Qing had just relaxed slightly when Old Blind Man added, "You need only take care not to reveal the name of the technique you cultivate."

"What... does that mean?"

Fang Qing suddenly felt chills crawl down his spine. "Sir, if you explain clearly, I will buy this Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art immediately."

"Hehe, you cultivate a Ji Water technique. The only thing you must guard against is cultivators of the same technique. Their origins are similar, so if they encounter a bottleneck, devouring another person's entire cultivation can be used to break through." Old Blind Man sneered. "Of course, such conduct is the path of demons. Within Ba Commandery, you need only beware of those few Dao Foundation families and Late Qi Ingestion rogue cultivators, especially those renowned for Ji Water techniques... Thus, you need not tell Old Blind Man the specific name of the technique you cultivate, lest you think Old Blind Man means to harm you..."

"What kind of shithole is this?"

Fang Qing was completely speechless. He took out portion after portion of spiritual items. "Then... are there any renowned Ji Water families in this commandery?"

"The Heavenly Water Luo Family!" Old Blind Man cheerfully accepted the Spirit Assets, pulled a pitch-black, tattered thread-bound book from his robes, and tossed it to Fang Qing. "You entered the immortal path only because Old Blind Man foretold your fate. Old Blind Man does not wish to see you die and vanish from the Dao. I hope you live 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 fists, and took his leave.

Every step he took was exceedingly heavy, and his brows seemed as though water might drip from them.

"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! Luckily, I did not act rashly before!"

"Ji Water? Could there be a problem with the Black Ridge Observation Book? No... Could the Nine Rivers Water Pavilion that sold the technique be the Luo Family secretly raising fish and casting bait?"

"So I had fallen into a trap without realizing it?"

At this moment, a bitter smile could not help but appear at the corners of Fang Qing's lips...

Azure Sea Sect, Pill Island, cave dwelling.

After closing the cave dwelling's gates and, as usual, affixing a protective talisman, Fang Qing finally let out a long breath.

"The folkways here are still simple and honest. At least they can soothe my wounded heart..."

With a pat of his storage pouch, all of this trip's gains appeared before him.

Several Jade Qi Ginseng plants glowing emerald-green, several spirit items of metal and fire attributes, and that Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art!

"Now that I have the main ingredients, once I gather another batch of supplementary materials, I can try refining Ginseng Green Spirit Water..."

Fang Qing exhaled softly and looked again at the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art.

Originally, he had intended merely to read this flawed manual for reference, without necessarily cultivating it himself.

But now?

Were there any immortal cultivation techniques in the entire Land of Ancient Shu that did not screw people over?

"No wonder the pills that increase cultivation are so scarce over there, yet so fiercely sought after... They directly use people as pills—Human Pills..."

"Whatever. One pit is a pit, and two pits are still pits..."

"There are plenty of 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 begins with Threefold Secret Empowerment... The three secrets are 'body, speech, and mind.' The body is Mahamudra, speech is the secret mantra of the deity, and mind is the visualization diagram..."

Gradually, Fang Qing came to understand this Secret Treasury Domain body-refinement technique somewhat better.