Vajrayana

Hu Mang looked up and saw a streak of azure light flash from the mountaintop, instantly transforming into a tiny Daoist priest in front of him.

This was his senior brother, Chunwuzi, one of the Five Dwarfs of Mystic Peak, a True Disciple whose status within the sect was not much lower than that of Yue Chongzheng.

Moreover, he was a proper Daoist priest who had entered the Grand Pure One Register.

His short stature was a problem; he was about the same height as the Hu Mang's thigh. So when the python looked at him at eye level, the Hu Mang tightened instantly, and he quickly squatted down to show respect to his senior brother.

After squatting down, Hu Mang felt even more strongly that this senior brother was truly a little kid.

The young Daoist priest before him wore a well-tailored blue robe, with a yellow silk sash around his waist and small cloud-patterned shoes on his feet. On his back was an ancient pine-patterned sword taller than himself. His hair was styled in a standard Daoist bun, secured with a white jade hairpin. He had a round face, fair skin, and regular features, looking like a child of about seven or eight years old. However, his eyes revealed a shrewdness and maturity completely incompatible with his age, and he was looking directly at the Hu Mang.

It is said that this senior disciple was born with Innate Dao Body. He stopped growing when he was five or six years old. As a result, he was encountered by the passing Old Daoist Ge, who directly brought him into the sect. His cultivation level was also at the Primordial Spirit level. It is said that Venerable Dongyue, who is the big boss of their lineage, intends to cultivate him as his successor.

"Where is my junior brother going?"

"Junior brother, I have rebuilt my cultivation after dispersing my cultivation. Now that the essence and qi flowers have been re-refined, I am going to the Scripture Pavilion to find some Law Technique and Divine Ability to practice," Hu Mang said honestly.

Chunwuzi frowned and said:

"Junior brother, rebuilding your cultivation after losing your power is a slow and gradual process. Haste makes waste. If your foundation isn't solid, it won't be good for your future cultivation. Are you sure you've already made the necessary adjustments?"

Perhaps it's a case of things turning into their opposites; under Ge Wen, this incompetent mentor, Chunwuzi is actually a very responsible person. In the past month, he has been teaching Hu Mang by word and deed, even neglecting his own cultivation.

Hu Mang hadn't expected that this mediocre mentor would actually have a reliable senior brother. Could it be that the inheritance had mutated?

"Then what does Senior Brother want?" Hu Mang asked helplessly.

"Naturally, I'll use my True Qi to cleanse your meridians, junior brother, and also to test your foundation."

For an ordinary disciple, having a master of the Primordial Spirit realm cleanse your meridians would be a great thing, but with so many secrets within Hu Mang's body, how could he dare to let the other party do such a thing?

That won't do.

"Why?" Chunwuzi asked seriously.

Men should not touch each other.

"..."

Chunwuzi paused for a moment, then said, "In that case, junior brother, how about we try another method?"

"In what way?"

"Junior brother is Rogue Cultivator, so he should know some self-defense and combat techniques. Since junior brother feels he is ready, he can try casting Law Technique using the Mystic Peak True Qi. Although our Spring Thunder Ridge is not like Great White Peak, which focuses on combat, I, as senior brother, still have some self-defense skills."

Upon hearing this, Hu Mang immediately became interested. Last time, when he fought against Primordial Spirit cultivator from this realm, he directly severed one of the opponent's arms, but that was by cheating with the power of the Demon-Subduing Thunder God. However, this time, with this opportunity, he really wanted to test how he fared compared to the True Disciple of his sect.

"Then, senior brother, I'll go."

"Please."

The next moment, rolling dark clouds and lightning covered Hu Mang's entire body, even engulfing the surrounding mountains. In this state of Unity of Heaven and Man, Hu Mang felt the "Mystic Peak True Qi" within his body frantically combining with the earth's veins. In an instant, it was as if he were Spring Thunder Ridge, Spring Thunder Ridge was him.

"Good heavens, so the legends are true. Without using the mountain-protecting formation, just by combining my sect's True Qi with my sect's sacred mountain, my Law Power is ten times stronger than ordinary Unity of Heaven and Man."

His True Qi extended in all directions along the veins of the earth, like roots penetrating every crevice and every Spirit Vein of the mountain rocks, merging with them.

His bones became mountain ridges, his blood became streams, his breath became mountain winds, and his heartbeat became the pulse of the earth.

He could feel the snow on the mountaintop melting in the sunlight, the stream at the foot of the mountain flowing between the rocks, the activity patterns of the birds, beasts, insects and ants that lived in the purple bamboo forest, and even the breeze stirred up by a disciple practicing swordsmanship on the neighboring mountain peak.

Fortunately, the Hu Mang was no novice; it quickly adapted to this level of Unity of Heaven and Man and looked at the other party hesitantly.

"Senior brother, this is my first time using the sect's True Qi. Should I hold back for now?"

Chunwuzi's expression had already changed from serious to surprised. Upon hearing this, he immediately shook his head and said earnestly, "Junior brother, that's exactly what we need—you giving it your all!"

"OK."

The next moment, Hu Mang clenched his fist, and the sky darkened. Rolling dark clouds poured down from the sky without warning. The clouds were as black as ink, churning and boiling, completely obscuring the open space, preventing even a ray of sunlight from penetrating.

Then, the "celestial clouds" above Spring Thunder Ridge suddenly exploded.

The sound echoed through the mountains, wave after wave, spreading in all directions like a tide. It startled the mountain birds perched on several distant peaks, causing them to take flight in panic and circle in the sky. Even the disciple practicing his sword on the neighboring peak was shaken by the loud noise and almost dropped his sword.

Hu Mang's fist appeared in front of Chunwuzi without anyone noticing, while Chunwuzi's Ziwu Seal enveloped Hu Mang's fist without anyone noticing.

There wasn't a single crack or gap in the ground around them.

"Senior brother, is this alright for me?"

Chunwuzi paused for a moment before replying, "If one can achieve this level of evolution of heaven and earth, then of course it is possible."

"Then there's no problem. Hello, senior brother. Goodbye, senior brother."

Without saying a word, Hu Mang headed straight for the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Chunwuzi, regaining his senses, quickly called out from behind, "Junior brother, the three arts of our sect—Mountain Moving, Mountain Repairing, and Pulse Suppressing—are essential skills to learn. The Mountain Moving technique is based on the Five Sacred Mountains Bearing Gang Method, the Mountain Repairing technique on the Divine Light of Condensing Peaks, and the Pulse Suppressing technique on the Immortal Scripture of Locking Rivers. These are the most suitable for those with earth and wood Spirit Root to cultivate. Don't forget them!"

The Hu Mang slithered away even faster.

The Old Fifth only said that when looking for a mentor, you should avoid looking for a direct disciple or mentor. Why didn't he tell me that besides a direct disciple, there is also a direct disciple senior brother?

Is this his style even when he's the senior member of the project team?

After the Hu Mang disappeared, two more streaks of light appeared around Chunwuzi. They were clearly fellow disciples of Spring Thunder Ridge who had been startled by the noise. Upon seeing Chunwuzi, they quickly asked him what was happening.

"Chunwuzi, did you spar with any of your True Disciple?"

"Why are you here instead of going to Spirit-Unifying Mountain for a duel with fellow disciples? Have you offended them?"

"It seems to be Thunder Method, the Tianhuai of Great White Peak?"

Chunwuzi opened her mouth, unsure how to explain.

Hu Mang, who had finally shaken off Chunwuzi after showing off his skills, also breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought this major sect would be full of intrigue and a harsh hierarchy, but it turns out to be this nanny-like type. Wasn't the cultivation Immortal Realm supposed to be a dog-eat-dog world with cold human relationships? How come this one I've met is like my long-lost brother?"

The Hu Mang muttered to itself as it finally arrived at the Purple Bamboo Forest. As soon as it entered the forest, it felt an indescribable sensation.

Bamboo is bamboo, bamboo leaves are bamboo leaves, soil is soil, light and shadow are light and shadow. Everything stays quietly in its own place, neither competing nor vying, neither too much nor too little, as if it has been so since the beginning of time, and will continue to be so forever.

The entire bamboo forest is like a silent old monk, not uttering a word, yet it makes everyone who enters the forest unconsciously slow down their pace and breathe softly. The distracting thoughts in their hearts are as if gently brushed away by an invisible hand, gradually settling down and revealing the tranquility that originally existed in their hearts.

Hu Mang's heart stirred, and he sat down on the spot. His body shone brightly with Buddhist light, and his original three-headed, six-armed Buddha body vanished in a flash, merging into his body.

The three heads and six arms represent Wisdom King Aizen, and the three bodies combined form Vajrasattva.

Hu Mang clasped his hands together, interlacing his fingers to form a hand seal that he had never learned before, yet which appeared naturally in his mind.

With that single strike, the Buddhist power within him erupted like a powder keg ignited, transforming into a dazzling golden Buddhist light that spread outwards from him. The light pierced through the layers of the purple bamboo forest, turning the purple light spots that were originally dancing among the bamboo leaves into a pure gold, and the entire bamboo forest seemed to transform into a golden palace in an instant.

Vajra means indestructible and can break through everything without being broken by anything; vehicle means to carry, which can ferry practitioners from this shore to the other shore.

Vajrayana is the supernatural power to cut off all afflictions and obstacles with diamond-like determination and wisdom, and directly reach the other shore of Divine Ability.

This Divine Ability is not an offensive Law Technique, but a protective one. It allows him to maintain a state of unwavering resolve and undisturbed by external circumstances at all times, while also enabling him to utilize his Buddhist power in a more efficient and purer way, reducing losses and enhancing its power.

When Hu Mang came to his senses, he heard a cold and serious female voice.

"Go three hundred paces west from the Sutra Repository; don't go the wrong way."

"Yes, senior."

Hu Mang snapped out of his daze, quickly put his hands together in prayer position—oops, I mean, quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

How did I suddenly gain Divine Ability? I've never had any before.

Is the effect of this natural cultivation environment really that exaggerated?

"So it was emptiness meditation? How did it become emptiness meditation?"

Hu Mang scratched his head as he walked towards the sect's library.

After the Hu Mang disappeared, two figures emerged from the forest. One was his nominal master Ge Wen, and the other was a middle-aged nun.

Ge Wen scratched his head in the same manner, his old face showing utter bewilderment.

Seeing his hopeless state, the middle-aged nun couldn't help but say, "Look at you, so useless! You call yourself a teacher? What can you possibly teach anyone?"

"Senior sister, don't be silly. I don't even know much about Daoist magic. Do you expect me to teach Buddhism?" Old Ge Wen said with a sheepish smile.

The middle-aged nun was also somewhat speechless.

"I had always felt that this child possessed Buddhist power, but I didn't expect his Buddhist nature to be so profound. With just a little guidance, he actually comprehended Vajrayana."

"That's good. Now you, this fake Daoist priest, not only have a real Daoist priest under your wing, but also a real monk."