A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 223 167: Flood Dragon Subduing Yellow Springs Scripture, Nurturing the Evil Dragon in Heart Lake

Bai Qi felt a sudden thump in his heart; it was clear his master was holding back their anger.

Is there anyone in Black River County who dares offend Ninghai Zen and live to see the next day?

Even if the five hundred miles of mountain paths and eight hundred miles of river were combined, they would still be turned upside down.

He slowed down his steps, passed through the arched stone gate, and saw Ninghai Zen, clad in a green robe, sitting at the entrance of Dezhen Tower.

"What's that smell? Did you clash with a Daoist Skill master?"

Ninghai Zen had somehow moved the Arhat Bed to the bottom, brewing a pot of tea by their side, lazily basking in the sun.

Bai Qi secretly complained in his heart:

"Is this the sharp sense developed from killing so many cultivators?"

He approached his master and eagerly sought acknowledgment:

"Your apprentice did not disgrace the reputation of Tongwen Hall; I fought valiantly alongside two Maoshan Daoists to slay demons and emerged victorious."

Ninghai Zen grasped at the air, seemingly capturing a whiff:

"A scent of turbid tide evil spirit, Third Realm of Dao Skill, Wandering Deity's concentrated thoughts... Under my very eyelids, a foul demon dared to hide."

Bai Qi quickly reported his encounter in Dayu Town, where he witnessed the Dog Demon feasting on humans and the assault on the Alien Evil Monarch.

He also presented the Emerald Green Jade Scroll to Ninghai Zen for inspection.

"An artifact from before the fall of Dao, known as the 'Dharma Transmission Jade Scroll,' quite decent, its spirit intact—a lucky find for you, boy."

Ninghai Zen accepted it, surveyed with the eyes of an appraiser, and casually judged.

"Master, could it contain some unrivaled divine skill?"

Bai Qi rubbed his hands in excitement.

"Don't dream in broad daylight."

Ninghai Zen scoffed:

"Unless one is a heavenly favored child, such blessings are rare. If a grand fortune does manifest, it should fall upon me, for I have lived a life of virtue and good deeds. Should the Heavens open their eyes, they ought to grant me a Profound Mysterious Divine Soldier."

Bai Qi twitched his mouth, showing helplessness:

"Master really dares to dream big."

After exchanging a few jokes, Ninghai Zen flicked his fingers, making an extremely faint crackling sound, as if breaking a restriction:

"This should be a cultivation technique involving consuming energy and Contemplation Method, originally left with a backhand, which I dispersed thoroughly."

Ninghai Zen tossed the Emerald Green Jade Scroll back to Bai Qi, appearing disinterested.

"Master won't give me any counsel? From the miscellaneous articles or storybooks I've read, they always talk about Martial Dao emphasizing focus and pursuing sincerity."

Bai Qi scratched his head, having been mentally prepared for a scolding from Ninghai Zen.

"Common talents indeed value precision; learning too broadly is harmful rather than beneficial. But for exceptional gifts like us, we're not restricted by one or two martial arts."

Ninghai Zen didn't mind, recalling his younger days when apart from diligent training, he also delved into pharmacology, disguise, concealing, assassination, and even mastering blade, sword, spear, and staff for blending in.

The Meridian Sword Sect's true disciple Qiu Qianchuan died at the hands of the Hidden Pavilion Assassin Old Knife Master; after forensic examination and Divine Hunter investigation, the conclusion was he was beaten to death with forceful techniques, primarily due to the wounds suggesting the Buddhist Sect's Great Vajra Power.

Then, the enraged Meridian Sword Sect uprooted all the few temples in Celestial Water Prefecture within ten days, causing trouble for the surviving Great Monks.

"Only by wielding the strengths of many, dining on a hundred families' meals, can one… defeat a hundred families!"

Ninghai Zen paused, looked up, and continued:

"But you should focus on building your foundation well now, and talk about this after you enter the Third Skin Refining Barrier and refine your internal organs."

Walking the Dao Skill Fourth Realm to the end is the supreme path of discerning life and death transformation. Even if the physical body is lost, one's thoughts can re-congregate the soul and spirit; at this stage, one is called a 'Ghost Immortal,' capable of corpse dissolution, reincarnation, and rebirth as a human."

Those noblemen in the prefecture love cultivation; first, their resources are plentiful, leading to rapid breakthroughs; second, Four Cultivation Grandmasters live no more than two hundred years while Dao Skill Fourth Realm Ghost Immortals can live up to five hundred."

Bai Qi listened attentively, as he pressed the Emerald Green Jade Scroll against his forehead before his master.

A torrent of comprehension flowed through his heart, with various texts and images ingraining deeply, difficult to forget.

"The 'Flood Dragon Subdues Yellow Springs Canon'! It's actually a cultivation technique at the 'Canon' level!"

Bai Qi was extremely surprised; the Alien Evil Monarch chose to descend into the turbid tide and only obtained a 'Method' level 'Lunar Refining Spirit Transforming into Invisible Life Method.'

This Emerald Green Jade Scroll ended up in his foul hands but never seemed to have been utilized?

Momentarily setting aside his doubts, he began meditating according to the method. Typically, the Dao Skill Fourth Realm begins with eating elixir and fasting, followed by entering meditation and embracing the embryo.

However, Bai Qi first studied martial arts then cultivation, achieving Perfect Tendon Barrier, acquiring Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, his body's Qi Blood abundant, enough to sustain the consumption of contemplation.

"If the heart is too tired it will be exhausted, if the form is too labored it will rest. If the spirit is too damaged it will be void, if the energy is too depleted it will be cut off. If one desires to not die, cultivate Kunlun…"

Bai Qi's breathing almost imperceptible, gentle as if existent, his mind gradually calming, aided by the Arhat Hand's power to tame distracting thoughts, quickly entering meditation.

Qi Blood flowed through his limbs and bones, like red pythons moving through muscles, skin, and membranes, yearning to transform into a dragon and soar.

Gradually, a lively essence of energy gathered, like a rising cloud mass, lightly drifting toward his brain.

Previously, even during inner vision, Bai Qi had never illuminated his head; for ordinary people, it's a total darkness.

However, with the Contemplation Method of 'Flood Dragon Subdues Yellow Springs Canon,' it seemed to extract all body's Qi Blood, transforming into beams of pure bright light, penetrating the Netherworld.

"Cultivating spirit, condensing thoughts, yet it's easy to cause physical depletion, no wonder He Jingfeng supplements daily with nourishing herbs."

Bai Qi realized deeply, his mind immersed in darkness, as the essence of energy filled his brain, light emerged, vaguely glimpsing a grand portal, intricate with lines, like ravines.