Chapter 23: Dharma Protector Divine Art
‘If I were to use the Disguise Technique, would he still be able to recognize me?’
A thought stirred in Fang Qing’s mind as he sat down. “May I know what the previous person came to ask about?”
He could more or less guess that it had been Li Rulong, and he felt a trace of curiosity.
“Hehe… just a fool. He wanted to end the age of chaos—who did he think he was? Some ancient Human Emperor?”
The blind old man laughed silently.
Fang Qing likewise fell silent.
Setting aside the turmoil of the world at large or even the Land of Ancient Shu, just Ba Commandery alone already bore the shadow of the Black Miasma Sect, a Purple Palace–level force. Ending such chaos—how could it be easy?
Thus, even though the common people suffered greatly, before cultivating to the Purple Palace Realm, he would not even consider such a matter.
Still, for those who acted despite knowing it was impossible, Fang Qing retained a trace of the most basic respect.
“Perhaps… people always needed hope. Maybe it could succeed.” “So young indeed…” the blind old man murmured, as if seeing his own youth—equally spirited and fearless. He then came back to himself. “Daoist friend, what do you wish to ask?”
Fang Qing thought for a moment, then spoke. “I wish to find a body-refining technique—preferably one with low consumption, strong results, and that could also enhance the spirit…”
To be honest, he did not hold much hope. He had already visited every bookshop in the marketplaces.
Body-refining techniques did exist, but either their consumption was low and their power likewise meager,
or they were formidable yet consumed greatly, with no effect of tempering the spirit at all.
It could only be said that Fang Qing’s requirements for auxiliary techniques were somewhat greedy, which was why he had yet to find one to his liking.
Upon hearing this, the blind old man froze. “Where did you hear about this old blind man’s past deeds?”
“Hm?”
Fang Qing looked puzzled, yet inwardly exclaimed, “There’s a chance!”
He immediately said sincerely, “I ask the elder to guide me. I still have some Spiritual Resources.”
Pa! Pa!
As he spoke, he tossed two Treasure Fish onto the stall.
“Ahem… don’t use your silver tongue on this old blind man.”
The blind old man coughed once, then felt the spiritual fish on the stall. “Very well. It seems you truly don’t know… then this old blind man will tell you.”
“All techniques under heaven involve gains and losses. To want this and that like you is indeed somewhat greedy… however, those top-tier body-refining techniques truly can do as you say. Coincidentally, when this old blind man once traveled through the Secret Treasury Domain, he heard of several, such as the ‘Dragon-Elephant Prajna Yoga Secret Art’… Dragon-Elephant signifies divine strength, Prajna signifies wisdom. It is a top-tier body-tempering method that balances physique and spirit.”
“Oh? Elder, do you have this ‘Dragon-Elephant Prajna Yoga Secret Art’?”
Fang Qing’s eyes lit up.
“Of course… I do not.” A trace of fear flashed across the blind old man’s face. “That place was far too sinister. This old blind man barely survived nine deaths, leaving my pair of eyes there forever. All I obtained was one artifact and one technique. This method is called 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》. It is the temple-guarding art of a ‘Horse-Headed Vajra Temple’ in the Secret Treasury Domain. It is said to contain some of the essence of the ‘Dragon-Elephant Prajna Yoga Secret Art,’ able to enhance physique and spirit… most crucially, its consumption is very low. With sufficient wisdom roots, one does not even need special ghee-type spiritual medicines—mere bitter cultivation is enough for continual progress…”
“《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》?”
Fang Qing instead calmed down. “Such a marvelous technique—are you willing to give it to me?”
“Hehe… it can hardly be called marvelous. It is merely a heterodox art.”
A hint of reminiscence appeared on the blind old man’s face. “First, 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》 is incomplete. The original four stages—this old blind man only has the first stage’s visualization diagram and mnemonic, greatly reducing its value. Moreover… this is a Secret Treasury Domain technique, carrying hidden dangers. It depends on whether you dare to cultivate it. Because of this, its price is extremely cheap—far cheaper than those top-tier body-refining techniques. Bring ten more portions of identical Spiritual Resources, and this old blind man will sell it.”
“A Secret Treasury Domain technique? What hidden dangers does it have?”
Fang Qing grew even more curious.
“Cultivators of the Secret Treasury Domain differ from us of Ancient Shu. Their lineage comes from the Snowy Great Mountains. What they cultivate is not the Dantian Sea of Qi, but the Three Wheels and Seven Channels… At the initial stage of Entering the Dao, they are called ‘monastics,’ followed by ‘gurus’ and ‘dharma kings’…”
The blind old man spoke slowly. “Those Secret Treasury Domain monastics do not require the first strand of True Qi to begin cultivation. Instead, they must worship a ‘guru,’ rely upon that guru’s cultivation, and receive their ‘empowerment great precepts.’ It is said that empowerment is the Snowy Great Mountains’ foremost secret, possessing supreme and wondrous qualities… Heh, this old blind man does not know what is wondrous about it. I only know that once they believe in the guru, accept his precepts, and make offerings to the ‘sole secret principal deity,’ their life and death are entirely held in the guru’s hands. Even if ordered to kill all parents and friends and then commit suicide, they cannot disobey.”
“They don’t even need True Qi to Enter the Dao?”
Fang Qing was greatly astonished.
“The Snowy Great Mountains lineage is, after all, different from our Immortal Dao…” the blind old man said. “Some gurus indulge without restraint, enjoy selecting ‘consorts’ to attend them, and can even bestow supreme power upon these consorts. Others demand believers offer up wealth and flesh, refining thangkas and gang-cavern–type sinister artifacts. In short… it is extremely aberrant and bloody.”
“So, what flaw does this Snowy Great Mountains technique have?”
Fang Qing felt that if he were required to do such things, he would find it hard to accept.
“Hehe… it requires no blood sacrifice, progresses rapidly, and has many benefits. Most techniques leaked from the Secret Treasury Domain are like this. However… once you cultivate divine powers, if you encounter a Secret Treasury Domain guru, they might just beckon, and you would willingly become their disciple or dharma protector.”
The blind old man sneered.
‘Damn… what kind of hellhole is this?’
Fang Qing felt his scalp go numb.
This 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》 looked malicious no matter how he viewed it—clearly meant to refine a person into a Dao soldier!
Fang Qing had also heard of Dao-soldier methods within the Azure Sea Sect. This was strikingly similar!
‘Wait… I have the Dao-Birth Pearl. I fear hidden dangers in techniques the least.’
‘At the very least, since it’s cheap, I’ll exchange for it first and decide later whether to cultivate.’
A hesitant look appeared on his face. Suddenly clenching his teeth, he said, “I’ll exchange… but elder, I have another question. Do the Immortal Dao techniques of our Ancient Shu land also have similar hidden dangers?”
“The Immortal Dao values life. The Qi Ingestion techniques of our Ancient Shu land would naturally never teach you to refine yourself into some kind of dharma protector or vajra…”
The blind old man smiled faintly.
“That’s good…” Fang Qing had just relaxed slightly when the blind old man continued, “You only need to be careful not to reveal the name of the technique you cultivate.”
“What… does that mean?”
A chill ran through Fang Qing. “Elder, if you explain clearly, I will buy this 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》 immediately.”
“Hehe. You cultivate a [Ji Water] technique. The only thing to beware of is cultivators of the same technique. With similar origins, if they encounter a bottleneck, devouring another person’s entire True Power can be used to break through.”
The blind old man sneered. “Such behavior is demonic. In Ba Commandery, you only need to beware of a few Dao Foundation families and late-stage Qi Ingestion loose cultivators—especially those famed for [Ji Water] techniques. Therefore, you need not tell this old blind man the specific name of your technique, lest you think I intend to harm you…”
‘What kind of cursed place is this?’
Fang Qing was utterly speechless. He took out portions of Spiritual Items. “Then… are there famous [Ji Water] families within this commandery?”
“Tianshui Luo Family!”
The blind old man cheerfully accepted the Spiritual Resources, pulled a pitch-black, tattered thread-bound book from his robes, and tossed it to Fang Qing. “You entered the Immortal Path by having your fate severed by this old blind man. I also do not wish to see you die with Dao extinguished. I hope that one day you achieve the Dao Foundation.”
“Tianshui Luo Family?!”
Fang Qing seemed to chew those four words in his mouth. He accepted the book, clasped his fists, and took his leave.
Each step he took felt heavy, his brows seeming ready to drip with water.
‘Tianshui Luo Family?’
‘Is it that Luo Family?’
‘Near my home is indeed a county under Tianshui’s jurisdiction… then there can be no mistake. That family actually has a Dao Foundation great cultivator! Fortunately, I did not act rashly before!’
‘[Ji Water]? Could 《Observing Black Ridge》 have problems? No… then could the Nine Rivers Water Pavilion that sold the technique be secretly raising fish and casting bait for the Luo Family?’
‘Had I unknowingly already fallen into a trap?’
At this moment, a bitter smile surfaced at the corner of Fang Qing’s mouth…
……
Azure Sea Sect, Pill Island, cave dwelling.
After closing the cave dwelling’s door and, as usual, affixing a protective talisman, Fang Qing finally let out a long breath.
“This place is still simple and honest—able to soothe my wounded heart…”
With a pat of his storage pouch, all of his gains from this trip appeared.
Several stalks of lustrous, emerald Azure Qi Ginseng, a few Metal- and Fire-aspected Spiritual Items, and that very book 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》!
“Now that the main materials are ready, once I collect another batch of auxiliary materials, I can attempt to refine ‘Ginseng-Green Spirit Water’…”
Fang Qing exhaled deeply again, then looked toward 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》.
Originally, according to his thinking, this pit-filled manual only needed to be glanced at for reference;
there was no need to actually cultivate it.
But now?
Among the cultivation techniques of the entire Land of Ancient Shu, were there any that were not traps?
‘No wonder advancement pills there are so scarce and fiercely sought after… so they directly use people as pills—human pills…’
‘Forget it. One pit is a pit;
two pits are also pits…’
‘There are plenty of problematic techniques. If I cultivate them all, perhaps I could even exploit a bug…’
He opened 《Horse-Headed Vajra Dharma Protector Art》, and a strange fragrance immediately reached his nose.
The scent was faint, not rich, yet it stirred his qi and blood slightly.
“Secret Treasury Domain techniques—upon entry, one begins with the empowerment of the Three Secrets… The Three Secrets are ‘body, speech, and mind.’ The body is the great hand seal, speech is the true-mantra of the principal deity, and mind is the visualization diagram…”
Gradually, Fang Qing came to understand this Secret Treasury Domain body-refining technique somewhat.