Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art

The martial arts arena matches ended.

The most eye-catching figure in this tournament had undoubtedly been Li Ping'an.

Everyone had assumed Li Ping'an was merely a decrepit old man with one foot in the grave. Who would have thought that he would shine so brilliantly atop the arena, even defeating Zeng Xing after he had taken a Qi-Blood Pill!

Yet because of this, Li Ping'an gained a measure of fame among the miscellaneous disciples and even the outer sect.

Many believed that the old man had been secretly concealing his strength. Quite a few had even begun investigating Li Ping'an in secret,

suspecting that he possessed some hidden treasure that had allowed his strength to soar so dramatically in such a short time.

Li Ping'an likewise knew that the methods he had displayed in the arena would surely draw the covetous eyes of many.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

He had wanted to keep a low profile and quietly lie low, absorbing waste qi in the Waste Hall every day to build himself up without anyone disturbing him.

But there was no helping it. Who told the sect to come up with this arena elimination tournament, forcing him to reveal his strength in the ring?

He would have to find an excuse to explain away his sudden increase in strength. Otherwise, it would surely bring endless trouble in the future.

Lost in thought, Li Ping'an headed back toward the Waste Hall.

Meanwhile, the disciples of the Waste Hall watched He Steward with reluctant eyes.

"Steward, are you really leaving?"

He Steward carried a bundle on his back. He gazed at the sect's buildings with lingering reluctance, then sighed.

"There's no choice. I have to go. I didn't participate in the arena matches, so according to the rules, I should leave the mountain."

As he spoke, he let out another long sigh, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

"I've been in this sect for decades. I've cultivated immortality, and I've eaten jade elixirs and divine dew. My conscience is clear. Now the gate to the Great Dao has closed before me. There's no hope left, so I might as well descend the mountain while I still have some years left to enjoy myself."

"Steward, we can't bear to see you go."

One miscellaneous disciple's eyes had reddened.

"You've worked in the Waste Hall for so many years. Can't the sect make an exception?"

"Forget it."

He Steward gave a bitter smile.

Having spent so many years in the sect, he understood better than anyone how cruel and inhuman it was.

"All right, brothers, I'm heading down the mountain. Take good care of yourselves from now on. I wish every fellow Daoist here success in attaining the Great Dao and ascending to immortality soon. As for me, forget it. I'm no longer good for anything."

"He Steward..."

The group of miscellaneous disciples were all reluctant to part with him.

He Steward was simple and kindhearted, gentle by nature. As the steward of the Waste Hall, he treated the disciples under him like his own brothers, without the slightest air of superiority.

He had never withheld or squeezed the disciples dry, and everyone greatly respected him. Yet now, he was about to descend the mountain.

Just as the atmosphere was steeped in sorrow, Li Ping'an returned from outside.

Seeing He Steward with a bundle on his back, he was startled as well.

"He Steward, you're..."

He Steward smiled.

"According to the rules, I've exceeded the age limit and didn't fight in the arena, so naturally I have to descend the mountain."

Li Ping'an was left tongue-tied. For a long while, he could not say a single word.

"All right, I won't say much more."

He Steward patted Li Ping'an on the shoulder and said earnestly,

"Brother Li, I can tell that although you're older than me, you have a better chance than I do of becoming immortal. Keep going! You'll definitely make something of yourself."

Though he was a few years younger than Li Ping'an, he spoke as though he were Li Ping'an's elder.

Li Ping'an nodded.

"Yes, He Steward. Have a safe journey."

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

He Steward's face darkened.

"Why are you making it sound like I'm going off to die? I still have decades of lifespan left. Once I descend the mountain, I'll become a wealthy old man, take three wives and four concubines, and be surrounded by children and grandchildren. That'll be far happier than you lot suffering and scraping by in this sect."

As he spoke, he laughed, but as he laughed, his eyes grew moist again.

"All right, I'm leaving."

"Take care, He Steward!"

The group clasped their hands in farewell. Watching He Steward's departing back, Li Ping'an could not help but feel a thousand emotions stir within him.

The path of cultivating immortality was simply this cruel.

In truth, He Steward's choice was not bad either. Since there was no hope of cultivating immortality, it was better to descend the mountain early and enjoy the warmth of family.

Just as he was sighing to himself, he saw He Steward suddenly return.

"He Steward, what is this...?"

Li Ping'an was somewhat surprised, unable to understand why He Steward had suddenly turned back.

He Steward stood before him, staring at Li Ping'an with a heavy heart, his face full of hesitation.

"He Steward, do you have something to tell me?"

He Steward hesitated, looking Li Ping'an up and down until Li Ping'an felt thoroughly uncomfortable.

"He Steward, if you have something to say, just say it. If there's anything you need me to do, I definitely won't refuse."

Li Ping'an patted his chest, thinking that He Steward had something to ask of him but was too embarrassed to say it.

"No..."

He Steward shook his head.

At last, he took a deep breath, as though making some kind of decision. He pulled a scroll from his bundle and, with the speed of lightning, shoved it into Li Ping'an's arms.

Then, as though afraid he would regret it, he fled down the mountain as if escaping.

What was this...?

Watching He Steward's disappearing back, Li Ping'an was stunned. What had he given him?

He examined the scroll in his hand. It was an extremely tattered book-scroll, its title page already worn away. Yet he could vaguely make out five large characters inscribed upon it:

Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art.

What kind of cultivation art was this?

Li Ping'an was shocked. He could not understand why He Steward had suddenly given him this cultivation art before leaving.

But judging by how furtive He Steward had been, this cultivation art was probably no ordinary thing.

Li Ping'an did not dare examine it closely right now. He hurriedly tucked it into his robes, intending to look at it after returning.

After He Steward left, the Waste Hall continued operating as usual. The new steward had not yet arrived, but it did not affect the Waste Hall's work in the slightest.

After finishing the day's work, Li Ping'an hurried back to his residence, took out the Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art that He Steward had given him, and carefully read through it.

The writing inside was extremely ancient. Li Ping'an vaguely recognized some of it, but there were characters he did not know at all, and he even had to consult reference books.

After reading roughly several pages, Li Ping'an finally understood. The Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art was a cultivation art, but unlike ordinary cultivation arts,

this art focused on cultivating spiritual power.

Upon reaching the first layer, one could control another person's mind.

However, controlling another person's mind did not mean controlling their actions. Rather, it allowed one to temporarily deceive the other party's vision.

Put simply, by manipulating the spiritual power of the Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art, one could control what others saw.

Whatever he wanted others to see, they would see.

More precisely, it was a disguise technique—a disguise technique that deceived others on the spiritual level.

Of course, using the Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art would likely consume a great deal of spiritual power.

After all, controlling another person's vision was no easy task. The higher the other party's cultivation, the more difficult it would probably be to use.

But none of that could stop Li Ping'an from wanting to cultivate this art immediately.

This cultivation art was simply too well suited for someone like him, who needed to cultivate while lying low!

Especially now, when so many people in the sect had their eyes on him, he needed this kind of disguise technique even more!