Sounding Him Out

Cultivation techniques and connections are both important resources for cultivators. If I know something that you don't, cultivators have more confidence.

This is no different from controlling the means of production and distribution channels in an economic society. Asking or demanding things from someone rashly is like cutting flesh from their body; there is absolutely no possibility of getting something for free.

Zhang Xuezhou gave away information about the Life-Creating Pill for free, but Zhang Xuezhou remained tight-lipped about the details of the great cultivators skilled in detoxification and the 108,000 techniques for avoiding poison.

Daoist Ran Deng had dealt with many people, and he was well aware that the other party had shown sincerity. The next step was to see if they would reciprocate with equal sincerity.

It sounds absurd that a cultivator at the True Self Realm would sit and discuss the Dao with a cultivator who has not yet attained Divine Ability, or even seek instruction from the other. But it is true.

If the other party was of bad character or was overly protective of their secrets, the Daoist Ran Deng would take drastic measures to detain them in the Western Sect and then obtain their secrets through torture and other means.

But Zhang Xuezhou very cooperative.

Compared to malicious torture, he only needs to pay a tiny price right now.

"He knows so much; he must have connections or possess some special skills!"

Daoist Ran Deng was highly skilled in cultivation. Even though he was ill, he did not believe that he could not subdue a cultivator who had not yet reached the Divine Ability Realm.

However, interrogating someone for secrets takes time, requires cooperation after they submit, and it's also necessary to distinguish the truth from falsehood in what they say, all while completely avoiding provoking other cultivators.

With so many restrictions, Daoist Ran Deng only pondered for a few seconds before the thought of maliciously probing and questioning vanished from his mind.

"Speaking of which, I taught Tathagata the art of 108,000 acupoints," the Daoist Ran Deng laughed. "Although I haven't practiced the art of 108,000 acupoints, it was I who taught Tathagata this art!"

"You know about this too?" Zhang Xuezhou asked with slight surprise.

The Daoist Ran Deng traveled tens of thousands of miles from the Western Lands to seek the Buddha. Zhang Xuezhou believed that the Daoist Ran Deng was highly skilled, but in reality, he was likely a protector of the Buddha, just like the group of protectors that Buddha Son Shigong had brought in the past.

But Zhang Xuezhou never expected that the Daoist Ran Deng was the Buddha's teacher.

This is similar to the relationship between Rong Tianding and Zhang Xuezhou. Although Rong Tianding practiced the Corpse-Climbing Technique, some of his abilities were taught to him by Zhang Xuezhou.

"I'm merely knowledgeable in theory," Daoist Ran Deng nodded. "Only those with great perseverance, those who cultivate their destiny, and those with innate intelligence can practice the 108,000 acupoints of the Daoist arts. This old Daoist lacks both talent and the perseverance to practice such arts, hence I only have the ability to talk about it!"

"Young man, your cultivation is not high; you've only just begun to understand the 108,000 acupoints for poison dispelling." Zhang Xuezhou said, "But the one who taught me the poison dispelling acupoints once mentioned that this technique can theoretically be mastered to the highest level, thus granting immunity to all poisons!"

"As long as your ability of the 108,000 acupoints is complete, that is the greatest detoxification ability that the physical body can tap into," Daoist Ran Deng nodded and said. "When ordinary people are poisoned, the poison accumulates in one place, relying on that area to withstand the invasion of the poison. However, the 108,000 acupoints technique can disperse the poison to every place, and each acupoint provides the ability to neutralize and detoxify, thus greatly reducing or even eliminating the poison!"

"The Daoist priest is indeed well-versed in theory!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded, his gaze sweeping over the river not far away.

Meanwhile, Daoist Ran Deng looked at Zhang Xuezhou, who was discussing matters with him without the slightest sense of inferiority. Zhang Xuezhou's expression was extremely calm, and he was neither humble nor arrogant in his discussions, without the slightest panic or evasion.

This is the behavior of a normal person engaging in philosophical discussions; only someone with sufficient knowledge can remain calm and composed.

The amount of knowledge required to sit down and discuss the Dao with a cultivator at the True Self Realm is enormous. The lower-level content may be content that the great cultivators already know, or content that the great cultivators don't need.

If we want to have an equal discussion, then we need to have equal qualifications.

If the 108,000 techniques can only advance to the Body Transformation Realm, then they are meaningless to Daoist Burning Lamp or Buddha. Only the ultimate realm mentioned by Zhang Xuezhou can ensure what each person needs.

Then, the Daoist Ran Deng mentioned the theory of 108,000 acupoints to ward off poison, which also made Zhang Xuezhou nod in agreement.

Wu Chao had promised Zhang Xuezhou a reward for his knowledge of the Western Sect cultivation techniques, something Zhang Xuezhou was eagerly anticipating. However, Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't place all his hopes on Wu Chao; even if he obtained two sets of information, he wouldn't lose out by comparing and verifying them.

If a True Self Realm cultivator were standing in front of him, it wouldn't be in line with Zhang Xuezhou's character for him to hide or let the other party leave after a few words.

Over the years, Zhang Xuezhou has had many dealings with these top-tier cultivators. Compared to developing emotional connections, these cultivators place more emphasis on reciprocal benefits.

These people don't care about gains or losses as long as they can provide enough value; they won't even mind if a junior takes advantage of them.

Zhang Xuezhou wasn't worried that the Daoist Ran Deng would kill him to silence him after their conversation. Besides exchanging information, they were mostly discussing the difficult-to-cultivate technique of the 108,000 acupoints.

The technique that could make Buddha cultivate diligently for a hundred years while Dipankara Bodhisattva gave up directly is not a good technique for cultivation, and it is almost impossible to reach the top.

The Daoist Ran Deng spoke frankly, saying that he hadn't even made the vow not to divulge the secret, and that under equal circumstances, there wouldn't be any problem if he revealed it to Tathagata.

Of course, the 108,000 techniques were taught to the Buddha by the Daoist Ran Deng, but they were not techniques created by the Daoist Ran Deng.

This is a technique that was eliminated due to its excessive complexity, and very few people can master it.

"I've heard of a medicine gourd that, when filled with pills, can conjure even more powerful ones. If we could obtain that gourd, our cultivation of the 108,000 acupoint techniques would be significantly easier!"

Zhang Xuezhou and Daoist Ran Deng sat down and discussed the Dao. They spoke in unison, each with their own tacit understanding, and it was clear that they had memorized each other's words.

As the night wore on, Zhang Xuezhou felt a pang of regret while drinking water to soothe his throat.

This information gave Daoist Ran Deng a jolt of energy.

"Could you be referring to the Purple-Gold Medicine Gourd of the Immortal Court Laojun Laozi?" said Daoist Ran Deng. "I've heard that this gourd can nurture and cultivate elixirs, and the elixirs poured out of it are all top-grade medicines."

"Is Laojun the only one in the world who has a medicine gourd?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"Oh, have you heard of any other medicine gourds?"

The monk Ran Deng seemed doubtful, which made Zhang Xuezhou frown slightly.

If there is only one medicine gourd in the world, then the origin of Yi Shuo's medicine gourd is highly suspicious.

Gourds are not made of gold, silver, copper, or iron that can be repeatedly forged; rather, they possess the property of growth. It is difficult for two gourds to grow to be exactly the same, and it is even more difficult for two gourds to have the same abilities.

"I have a gourd that holds water," Zhang Xuezhou said. "I've often heard people talk about various magical gourds, and I'm very interested in them. I know some information about them, and I really want to understand these mysterious gourds."

Zhang Xuezhou casually tossed the water hyacinth hanging from his waist, while repeatedly sighing.

"I've heard that someone has used a medicine gourd to refine a potent Spirit-Forging Pill," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Leaving aside obtaining various powerful medicines to advance the 108,000 acupoints, even just getting a more potent pill to help me break through to the Divine Ability Realm would be a good thing. I can't help but have some wild thoughts in my mind."

"Who wouldn't covet such a treasure?" said Daoist Ran Deng. "You must be referring to the medicine gourd in the Immortal Court. This treasure is hidden by Laojun, one of the top three masters in the world. It's impossible for an ordinary person to obtain the medicine gourd from him!"

"Is there some secret to Laojun's medicine gourd? How can it turn ordinary pills into more powerful elixirs?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"I heard Jieyin that Laojun's medicine gourd is made from the primordial Spirit Root of heaven and earth. This gourd contains the medicinal core of the Spirit Root, which allows pills to absorb a trace of the medicinal properties of the primordial Spirit Root after entering it, thus generating a stronger medicinal effect," said Daoist Ran Deng. "However, Laojun is too stingy. Getting a pill from him is harder than taking his life!"

If the owner of a treasure possesses top-tier skills to protect it, or has even formed a powerful force, then trying to take it from them becomes extremely difficult.

When the Daoist Ran Deng spoke of it, he sighed repeatedly, clearly extremely envious of Laojun's medicine gourd.

"The medicinal core of the Chaos Spirit Root?"

Zhang Xuezhou wasn't sure if Yi Shuo's medicine gourd belonged to Laojun. Only by comparing it with similar products did he begin to understand its nature.