"A box made of gold." Qu Zan's heart tightened. In Mìdì, this meant it might be used to imprison something uncanny. Could this so-called "Peacock Wisdom King Esoteric Method" itself be an uncanny entity?!
"I'll take you to a peaceful, secluded chamber where you can study the Peacock Wisdom King Esoteric Method!" Jiamo said with a smile.
Qu Zan assented and followed Jiamo into a small scripture hall.
The little scripture hall was cramped, with a thick wool carpet spread across the floor. Opposite it stood an empty square table.
Qu Zan noticed that profound esoteric inscriptions and talismans covered the ceiling, floor, and walls of the scripture hall. It seemed this room was also a mandala.
"Did you bring your own set of the Four Ritual Objects?" Jiamo asked.
"I did." Qu Zan had expected to learn an esoteric method on this visit, so besides the set he had handed over to the monastery,
he had another set of the Four Ritual Objects for his own use.
Jiamo motioned for Qu Zan to sit on the Khadak Mat, while he placed the Golden Box on the square table.
The side of the Golden Box facing Qu Zan unfolded, revealing the uncanny object within.
The Peacock Wisdom King Statue.
The statue had a peacock's head and a human body, with a pair of magnificent wings spread wide and splendid tail feathers bearing human eyes trailing behind it.
Its four arms each held an object: a lotus dripping human blood, an Auspicious Fruit resembling a distorted human face, a Fruit of Auspicious Conditions whose fruits resembled human teeth, and a rotten Peacock Tail.
The Wisdom King Statue stood upon heaps of human bones and skulls. The entire statue looked eerie and sinister.
"To practice the Peacock Wisdom King Esoteric Method, you