While Mei Qing and Bi Zhen were discussing newly-released thunder techniques indoors, a sudden shout from Mingjing, the young Taoist apprentice outside, startled them. As they looked up, someone pushed the door open and walked straight in. Mingjing stumbled in behind, desperately trying to hold him back.
The newcomer had skin like congealed fat, a face powdered white, eyebrows like willow leaves, and eyes like crescent moons. Dressed in a pale green silk robe with a bright red cape draped over it, he extended a slender, delicate hand like a chrysanthemum petal and spoke in a voice as sweet as a nightingale’s song: “Dear Bi Zhen, why do you always hide from your dear brother?”
“Brother… you must be from the palace, right?”
It turned out to be none other than Guo Xiaogongye, the young nobleman who had been persistently pursuing Bi Zhen.
Bi Zhen, who had been happily chatting with Mei Qing, immediately turned cold upon seeing this effeminate nobleman. She said indifferently, “Lord Guo, as a person of status, why did you barge in without even saying a word today? Bi Zhen’s Benevolent Sage Palace is not your Duke Mansion.”
A flash of resentment flickered in Guo Xiaogongye’s eyes, but he quickly masked it with a smile and said, “Dear Bi Zhen, why so formal? Today, I specially bought a new garden outside the southern city wall and came to invite you to come visit and relax…”
Bi Zhen stole a glance at Mei Qing and saw his displeased expression. She inwardly cursed the annoying fellow for coming to cause trouble and interrupted him, saying, “I am a Taoist nun, so please don’t address me so familiarly. I’ve already told you many times that this Taoist temple is a place of purity and tranquility, and it’s not appropriate for you to come and go as you please. Please understand.”
Guo Xiaogongye’s smile froze on his face. Seeing Bi Zhen’s icy expression and recalling the intimate atmosphere between the two when he first entered, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of hatred and sharply said, “Since you’re a Taoist nun, why is this young man in your room?”
Mei Qing had long disliked this fellow, and when he dragged him into the conversation, he raised his eyebrows and was about to speak when Bi Zhen quickly interjected, “Mei Sheng is my Taoist companion. He came today to discuss Taoist scriptures with me. Do we need Lord Guo’s approval for that?”
“Taoist scriptures?” Guo Xiaogongye sneered sharply, pointing at the scrolls on the table, “You mean these scribbles? Who are you trying to fool?”
Bi Zhen ignored him and coldly said, “I’ve said enough. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Mingjing, please show Lord Guo out.”
Guo Xiaogongye’s face twisted in anger, and he sharply said, “No need! Well done, Bi Zhen. Now that you’ve become a Taoist immortal, you think you’re above everyone else, don’t you! Fine, I’ll leave. There will come a day when you’ll come looking for me!” With that, he flung his sleeve, sending Mingjing stumbling, and stormed out without looking back.
Bi Zhen lowered her head in silence. After a long while, she looked up at Mei Qing and said, “Mei Qing, actually he…”
“Forget it,” Mei Qing interrupted, taking Bi Zhen’s hand gently and saying, “There’s no need to say anything more. Why should we even bother with such a queer fellow? Who would deliberately step on dog shit with new shoes?”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s words, but she then asked curiously, “What is a queer fellow? I’ve never heard of such a term.”
Mei Qing broke out in a cold sweat, frowned, and looked up as if pondering deeply before finally saying with difficulty, “That’s a complicated question. You need to understand, humans are born from human mothers, and demons are born from demon mothers…”
“Oh, come on,” Bi Zhen interrupted Mei Qing without hesitation, “You’ve been studying Taoist scriptures all this time for nothing. Do you really think that demons are born as demons by nature? If that’s the case, then if a cultivator gives birth to a child, would the child be born a Taoist immortal?”
Mei Qing continued to ponder deeply and said, “That’s a profound question. Bi Zhen, any theoretical discussion on this topic would be meaningless. I strongly suggest that we should verify this theory through practice. Let’s discuss first, do you think it would be better to have a male Taoist immortal or a female Taoist immortal?”
“Go to hell!” Bi Zhen blushed deeply, “Who said I want to have children with you? If you want children, go have them by yourself!”
The time for having children was still far away, but Mei Qing finally made some progress in interpreting the later thunder techniques recorded in the Taoist scriptures.
The following Taoist techniques were recorded, totaling three and a half. The reason for the half was because the last part was missing and could not be completed.
These techniques were: the Five Elements Vanishing Technique, Thunder Sealing Technique, Spirit Crane Talisman, and Palm Thunder. The most regrettable part for Mei Qing was that the most powerful technique, Palm Thunder, was precisely the incomplete one.
Even among the first three techniques that had already been sorted out, the Thunder Sealing and Spirit Crane Talismans could not be practiced because both required talismans, and neither of them knew how to create them.
After all, Shengxiao Sect still belonged to the talisman sect, and talismans occupied a significant part of its techniques.
Thus, only the Five Elements Vanishing Technique remained for the two to practice.
Although Bi Zhen herself had never practiced any Taoist techniques, she had been in the sect for a long time and had extensive knowledge. According to her, the vanishing techniques were present in various sects, known as the seventy-two schools of vanishing methods, which were mostly similar to each other. Although the Shengxiao Sect’s techniques were all based on thunder methods, the vanishing techniques were estimated to be not much different from other sects, so Mei Qing could probably practice them without issues.
“Why do you say I can probably practice them? Does that mean you won’t be practicing them?” Mei Qing asked in surprise.
“Once I pass the Condensation of the Elixir stage, I will naturally have Taoist techniques from my sect to cultivate. You, however, are different. You have no sect or school to belong to, and most of my techniques may not be suitable for you. Even if I were to break the sect’s rules and secretly pass them on to you in the future, it would likely be difficult for you to achieve any results. Therefore, the only way for you now is to find a path from the Shengxiao Sect’s secret texts, which is the proper course of action,” Bi Zhen said somewhat sadly.
Mei Qing suddenly understood. Bi Zhen wasn’t like him, with no techniques to cultivate; it was just that the timing wasn’t right. Once she successfully condensed her elixir, she would naturally receive teachings from her sect. If she learned techniques from other schools beforehand, it would actually be inappropriate.
After reaching an agreement, Mei Qing began to study the Five Elements Vanishing Technique first. At the beginning of his practice, he naturally needed Bi Zhen’s guidance. Although Bi Zhen was also a novice in Taoist techniques, compared to Mei Qing, who was even more inexperienced, she was still slightly better.
“It seems I can’t go back tonight. My dear, I wonder where I should stay tonight?” Mei Qing asked with a sly smile, seeing Bi Zhen send a fire worker to deliver a message to the Mei household that he would be unable to return tonight.
Bi Zhen spat and said, “You bad guy, I don’t care where you stay tonight. After you finish practicing, I’ll kick you to the library to find your Jade True sister and practice love and affection there!”
At her words, Mei Qing couldn’t help but picture Jade True’s extremely intimidating image, and he shivered involuntarily.
That night, Mei Qing began practicing the Five Elements Vanishing Technique in Bi Zhen’s room.
The Five Elements Vanishing Technique was a method that used the power of the five elements to instantly vanish. Originally, it was a basic spell that Taoist cultivators learned at the beginning of their training. When practiced to a high level, one could travel a thousand miles in an instant, and entering water without drowning or entering fire without burning were trivial matters.
“That’s great then. Once I master this technique, whenever I miss you, I can directly use Earth Vanishing to reach your room, and then Wood Vanishing to jump onto your bed… Why are you laughing?” Mei Qing was daydreaming about the convenience of mastering the vanishing technique, but noticed Bi Zhen laughing non-stop and hurriedly asked.
“Do you think vanishing techniques are just for casual strolls around? Hehe, since you don’t understand, listen carefully as this immortal maiden explains,” Bi Zhen said with a blooming smile. She was clearly delighted to be spending the night with Mei Qing.
Actually, as the name suggests, vanishing techniques were originally a skill for escaping danger. There were five types of vanishing techniques corresponding to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, hence the name Five Elements Vanishing Technique. However, when using these techniques, there were many restrictions, making it impossible to vanish at will.
Bi Zhen took out a small wooden token and put it around Mei Qing’s neck, saying, “To practice vanishing techniques, you must first establish a token. Although this isn’t made from thunder-struck jujube wood, it’s still a high-quality three-sun peach wood. It’s quite good for practicing this technique, so be sure to keep it safe.”
Mei Qing found it interesting and quickly took it in his hand to examine. Indeed, it was fine and fragrant, quite different from ordinary peach wood. It was shaped like an arrow, only an inch long, so he laughed and said, “So this is what a token looks like. I thought it would be a big one placed on a table. Does that mean I can’t use the vanishing technique without this token in the future?”
Bi Zhen nodded in agreement. Mei Qing played with the token for a moment and suddenly burst into laughter.
“Why are you laughing?” Bi Zhen asked in surprise.
“I just thought, if every Taoist technique you practice requires a token, then those experts who have mastered dozens of techniques must have their necks full of tokens. Just imagining a Taoist master walking around with a bunch of tokens hanging from his neck makes me want to laugh,” Mei Qing chuckled.
“You wish. That’s not how it works,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing and explained.
Actually, ordinary Taoist disciples could only practice a limited number of techniques after entering the sect and establishing their foundation. Some techniques required drawing talismans, but not all required magical artifacts. Moreover, once they reached the stage of refining essence into energy, most of these magical artifacts could be integrated into their bodies, so there was no need to wear them around all day.
“The root of heaven and earth exists before the Taiji… Metal, wood, water, and fire; earth spirit comes first…” Mei Qing stepped in the constellation pattern with his feet and recited the incantation. Beside him, Bi Zhen watched intently without blinking, holding the scroll of the Five Elements Vanishing Technique to guard him.
The Five Elements Vanishing Technique was divided into two layers: “concealment” and “vanishing,” each with its own incantations for the five elements. When practicing, one must choose specific times such as the four seasons, eight solar terms, and the days of Jiazi and Gengshen for ritual cultivation. During cultivation, one first learns concealment before vanishing. The earth element incantation is learned first, and only after three days can the next incantation be practiced. It would take about a month to fully master all the techniques.
The cultivation method was similar to that of ordinary talisman sects, starting with the so-called “primordial ancestral energy.” This ancestral energy was drawn from the kidney water and raised to meet the heart fire, transforming into the five elements’ energy. Then, with a single breath, this energy was blown onto the token. After completing all ten incantations, the token needed to be constantly nurtured with spiritual consciousness. When danger arose, holding the token and reciting the incantation would allow one to vanish at will without any failure.
Mei Qing originally practiced alchemy, so the concept of “primordial ancestral energy” was unfamiliar to him. However, Bi Zhen had already explained that the vanishing techniques of various sects were not much different. Since he was practicing alchemy, he could use alchemical energy instead, which should work similarly. At this moment, Mei Qing followed her instructions, focusing inward on the ancestral aperture, directing a ray of true solar fire downward to strike the nearly solidified vortex of energy below. Indeed, a stream of alchemical energy rose accordingly, soon flowing through all the internal organs, harmonizing yin and yang, and entering a state of primordial chaos and ethereal emptiness.
Mei Qing dared not slack off. His feet continued their movements, tracing the Yin constellations from Taurus to Breaker, and the Yang constellations from Kui to Gang. He stabilized his form, ceased the ancestral energy, and clasped the token with his fingers. As he exhaled a breath, he felt a thick, yellowish energy condense onto the token, subtly resonating with his mind, just as described in the book. He realized that the first earth incantation had been successfully cultivated.
From Bi Zhen’s perspective, after Mei Qing exhaled a breath, his entire aura suddenly disappeared. She felt only a profound, earthy presence. Visually, he seemed to vanish into a hazy mist. However, since she and Mei Qing had developed a strong spiritual connection, she could naturally sense that her beloved was still right in front of her. Seeing that Mei Qing had already achieved such profound results with this technique on his first attempt, she couldn’t help but feel immense joy.
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