Fellow Daoist Entrusts His Child: Immortality Begins with Nurturing a Demoness

Chapter 19 The Solution, Enlightenment and Success

Outside the county government building, at the drill ground.

Under the bright sunshine, amidst the cries of pain, Luo Fanchen entered the arena to find Ling Moxue wielding a wooden sword and battling nine constables.

The girl's sword moved swiftly like the wind, and her agile movements allowed her to move with ease amidst the clubs of the nine burly men.

In the corridors surrounding the arena, more than a dozen yamen runners, their faces bruised and swollen, stared at the battlefield while covering their wounds. Their eyes, however, held a mixture of fear and envy as they looked at Mo Xue.

"Once you step onto the path of immortality, you are far beyond what we ordinary mortals can compare to."

"Tsk, this girl murdered her mother and wiped out her clan, her viciousness is hard to extinguish, who would have thought she would have such a destiny to become an immortal, of course it makes people envious."

The bailiffs were chattering and making noise. When they saw Luo Fanchen approaching, they quickly stood up and shrank back to bow to him.

Several rough-looking men, their foreheads beaded with sweat, hung their heads like quails, trembling and barely daring to breathe.

"We pay our respects to the Immortal Master."

Luo Fanchen waved his hand, using the excuse that Ling Youdao had returned to Qinghe Sect to report for duty to appease the county officials, temporarily take charge of Yanyun City, and restore Ling Moxue's innocence.

With Ling Qiuyun in charge and his reputation as a celestial master, no one dared to question him openly.

"The Ling family was robbed and murdered by treacherous cultivators. This matter has been settled. If you have any objections to the judgment, you may report it to me in person."

Luo Fanchen's voice was icy cold. The lips of the several constables trembled, their minds completely captivated by the true energy, and they could not utter a single word.

"This is a one-time exception. If I hear any more gossip, I will not let it go. This stuff has healing properties, so let everyone use it."

After saying that, Luo Fanchen casually tossed out a few bottles of crudely prepared spiritual liquid.

The constables felt as if they had been granted a pardon. After kowtowing and thanking them, they carefully took the elixir and instructed everyone to wipe it on their wounds. They felt that the pain in their wounds had completely disappeared, and the cool sensation was very comfortable.

Immortal Master Luo is extremely kind and benevolent. Mortals who offend him are often left with half their lives, but Immortal Master Luo will instead heal them.

The constables were flattered and their opinion of Ling Moxue changed greatly. Such a reasonable immortal master would not stoop to deceiving them.

It turns out that Ling Moxue was indeed wrongly accused. They are racking their brains on how to change the girl's reputation as soon as possible, so as not to anger the immortal master again.

"Master Luo is too lenient with them. I don't care about the thoughts of these ordinary people."

After a while, once the constables had left, Ling Moxue wielded her wooden sword, leaving afterimages as she casually struck the joints of her sparring partners a few times, defeating them before slowly walking to Luo Fanchen's side.

Her pretty face was slightly flushed, and a few strands of her hair, soaked with sweat, clung to her cheeks, making her look a little disheveled.

She had intended to demonstrate her improved swordsmanship, deliberately using all her skills to engage in a fierce battle, but unexpectedly, Master Luo didn't pay any attention to her at all, and his eyes held a hint of resentment.

"Just consider it me meddling in other people's business."

Luo Fanchen gently shook his head and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from the girl's forehead.

Mo Xue is sensitive and insecure, distrustful of any strangers, yet longs for recognition and acceptance.

They care deeply about public opinion, even towards unrelated people.

Otherwise, he wouldn't still be complaining about her now after leading her in the parade that day.

"Master Luo, it's dirty."

Ling Moxue tilted her head slightly, her lips pouting, while her waist unconsciously began to sway gently. If she had a tail, it would probably have left a trail of afterimages.

“Um, Master Luo, I recently learned a new sword technique, and yesterday I even broke through an intermediate-level acupoint.”

Mo Xue rubbed her fingers awkwardly; Master Luo hadn't praised her in a long time.

"Not bad, as expected of Mo Xue, she is no less than the disciples of the great clans."

Luo Fanchen suddenly realized, he shook his head and reached out to stroke Ling Moxue's little head, the latter tilted her chin slightly and grumbled.

"Master Luo, I'm not a child anymore."

Despite her verbal complaint, before her hand could land, Ling Moxue nudged his palm with her head and gently rubbed it against his.

A ticklish sensation spread through her. Nourished by the snake soup and her true essence, the girl's dry, messy hair turned jet black and smooth, and her withered, sallow skin gradually became moisturized.

In just half a month, the unruly and slovenly girl had transformed into a demure and refined young lady.

I inexplicably feel a sense of accomplishment, like raising a daughter.

“Being a member of a powerful clan is nothing special. Qiu Yun said that all the disciples of the Daoist sect are geniuses. I am still far from reaching the second level of Qi Refining.”

Mo Xue hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

The spiritual energy in the mortal realm is scarce. After she refined the snake soup, her cultivation could no longer be improved. She had no choice but to find a few mortal sword techniques to refine her skills.

She wanted to ask Master Luo for a few spirit dusts for cultivation, but knowing how precious they were, she was too embarrassed to ask.

The two then sat down in the nearby corridor, where Luo Fanchen patiently explained the cultivation techniques to Mo Xue and answered her questions about cultivation.

The girl possessed exceptional comprehension, and her understanding of the Longevity Technique officially entered the first level.

Her body contained abundant and high-quality true essence, and she perfectly refined the snake soup essence in just half a month, twice as fast as he had expected.

At the first level of Qi Refining, the main focus is on the Ren Meridian, which has a total of twenty-four acupoints. Mo Xue has broken through three acupoints in succession, and the fourth one, Guanyuan, is also mostly open.

This is under the condition that spiritual energy in the mortal realm is scarce and there is no suitable cultivation technique.

"A superior spiritual root, truly deserving of its reputation."

After a long while, Luo Fanchen withdrew his index finger from Mo Xue's wrist, his eyes filled with envy and a hint of loneliness.

Can he really successfully establish his foundation with his five spiritual roots?
"It's alright, Master Luo. Five spiritual roots are already quite impressive."

Luo Fanchen's lips twitched slightly. He tilted his head to examine Mo Xue's slightly dazed face, and then belatedly realized what was happening.

This silly girl probably meant that he's quite powerful now, having cultivated with five spiritual roots.

“Master Luo, I have heard that there is a method in the world to improve the purity of spiritual roots. When I join the Daoist sect in the future, I will definitely ask for one for you.”

"I'm satisfied as long as you have this intention."

Even if it was just empty promises, Luo Fanchen felt somewhat relieved, as Mo Xue had no idea how precious such a treasure was.

He took out a spirit stone from his pocket, stuffed it into Ling Moxue's hand, and said with a hint of reluctance.

“The path of cultivation should be balanced between exertion and rest. You should only rest for two hours each day, right? Don’t overwork yourself. Take this spirit stone for your cultivation, and I will give it to you when you’re done.”

"But I am already eighteen years old. Only by working hard can I catch up with the geniuses of the Taoist sect."

Ling Moxue did not show any joy at receiving the spirit stone; her face was lowered, and she was in a bad mood.

She silently moved closer until she was right next to Luo Ye's shoulder. The faint scent of pine wood calmed her anxiety a little, and she murmured.

"Master Luo, Qiuyun doesn't really have time left, does she?"

"you know?"

Luo Fanchen frowned slightly, then gently shook his head. He had come to find the girl because of Qiu Yun's matter.

"Master Luo, I'm actually quite clever."

Ling Moxue's gaze was deep and uneasy. She rested her head quietly on Luo Fanchen's shoulder, her pretty face sad: "Qiuyun is a deep thinker. She only knows how to bear things on her own. After hiding it from me so many times, I can tell the difference."

"I used my inner energy to examine Qiu Yun's heart meridian while she was unconscious."

"Qiuyun, there's no way to save her, is there?"

Ling Moxue's almond-shaped eyes reddened slightly, and her small hands clenched Luo Fanchen's sleeves until they were wrinkled.

In recent days, she has also read through many of the cultivation classics left by Ling Youdao, most of which are basic common sense and miscellaneous discussions, including content related to palpitations that Ling Youdao has annotated.

Born with a deficiency, his lifespan is no more than eighteen years. He needs a second-tier water-attribute spiritual treasure, refined by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to have even a sliver of hope for survival.

None of the above are things that these independent cultivators can handle.

"I thought you were going to cause a huge scene."

"It's no use. Qiuyun didn't want me to be sad, that's why she kept it from me. I can't let her worry about me until the very end."

Ling Moxue lightly bit her lip, unaware that bloodstains were left on her lips.

She buried her head in Luo Fanchen's chest, her face deeply buried, sobbing uncontrollably.

Qiuyun was her only remaining relative. She watched helplessly as her younger sister grew weaker and groaned in pain, feeling utterly powerless. The sense of helplessness in her heart almost tore her apart.

She was sensitive and suspicious, distrustful of any stranger, and only Master Luo could tolerate her and offer her some comfort.

"Master Luo, if I can achieve the elixir, will I be able to bring the dead back to life?"

"No, once a person dies, their soul dissipates. Even a powerful Nascent Soul True Monarch is powerless to stop it."

Ling Moxue did not respond, but her sobs grew louder, her tears soaking her clothes and making them sticky. Luo Fanchen sighed softly and gently stroked the girl's thin back to comfort her.

"However, if the soul still exists, there is still a possibility of rebirth." "Master Luo?"

Ling Moxue stopped sobbing immediately. She wrapped her arms around Luo Fanchen's waist, raised her head with tearful eyes, and sobbed, "Master Luo... is there a way to preserve his soul?"

"Yes, but it's very dangerous and it's an evil path, so I need your permission."

Luo Fanchen explained the method of the Soul Banner in detail and informed him of the risks involved. Finally, he said, "I can collect Qiu Yun into the Soul Banner and refine her into the main soul, or the banner spirit."

"In this way, Qiu Yun's three souls and seven spirits can be preserved, her consciousness can be maintained, and she can continue to cultivate the Soul Devouring Technique and increase her lifespan."

Ling Moxue's head drooped, making it impossible to see her expression.

The main soul cannot resist the banner master; life and death are in the hands of a single thought. If the banner master's intentions are impure, the main soul will also be affected, falling into a vicious ghost that only knows how to kill, and suffering the torments of Asura forever.

The Soul Banner is one of the few magical artifacts that can backfire on its owner and distort their mind.

"Do you believe me?"

Luo Fanchen had already anticipated this when he saw the girl remain silent.

He wasn't confident enough to gain the girl's unconditional trust, but Mo Xue just sniffed and tightened her arms around him.

She pulled out the dagger she always carried with her from under her skirt, held it in reverse, and solemnly handed it to Luo Fanchen.

Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her gaze darted away, her trust unspoken.

May I accept this?

Luo Fanchen's voice was gentle as he softly stroked the girl's hair, feeling the strands of hair flowing through his fingers.

The dagger was nothing more than an ordinary object, its blade chipped and broken, yet it weighed as much as a thousand pounds.

It is all that the girl can offer, and it is also her most precious possession—a sense of security.

“I want to become family with Uncle Luo.”

Luo Fanchen was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head. This girl's ability to express herself was really lacking.

He solemnly accepted the dagger, placing it close to his chest. The instant they met, the girl's admiration level jumped to 2, and she gained an additional 200 admiration points.

The part of the Eight Desolate Demoness Records concerning Ling Moxue is not yet fully unlocked, but some vague information can already be seen.

Once your admiration level reaches around three, you can officially bind with the girl and obtain her exclusive [Cause and Effect] supernatural power, which is one-fifth of the cultivation returned by the girl when she breaks through a realm.

In the evening, the air in the two-story attic was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

With Mo Xue's help, persuading Qiu Yun was not difficult. Mo Xue successfully made Qiu Yun worried by using a method that was almost moral blackmail.

The two sisters huddled together, crying their eyes out, their noses red. Qiu Yun was finally awakened to her will to live, and she weakly gave Luo Fanchen a forced smile, her voice barely audible.

"I'm going to have to trouble Uncle Luo again."

“The Soul Banner is already lacking a main soul; you are helping me.”

Luo Fanchen sighed softly. He calculated the materials needed for soul refining in his mind. Fortunately, Ling Youdao had reserves of most of the magical treasures, which could barely meet the requirements.

The master soul must be a cultivator who is willing to cooperate, making them extremely difficult to find.

Without a master soul, the treasure banner would likely lose 30% of its power.

"I believe in Uncle Luo. From now on, I will definitely guard the soul banner for you and serve you to repay your kindness."

Ling Qiuyun's dim eyes were filled with gratitude. It was truly a blessing from heaven that her sister and she were able to meet Uncle Luo.

If it were anyone else, even Mo Xue, she would refuse the method of refining the soul without hesitation.

The Soul Banner is malevolent, and its killing power far surpasses that of ordinary magical artifacts. However, it can backfire on its owner, subtly distorting their mind and thus affecting their soul.

Only Luo Shu's unwavering Daoist heart, as steadfast as a rock, could remain unmoved by evil thoughts.

Luo Fanchen fed the girl a Meridian-Sealing Pill, which was left by Ling Youdao. It was a low-grade first-level demonic pill that could seal the blood and true essence of several major meridians. It was a good treasure for murder and robbery.

This is a poison pill; if the dosage is controlled, it can put Qiuyun into a state of suspended animation, allowing her to survive for a few more days.

Of course, after taking this pill, the girl never woke up again.

Sleep well, Qiuyun, we will meet again.

Luo Fanchen took a deep breath and watched Qiu Yun fall into a deep sleep as if relieved. Before losing consciousness, the girl still tried her best to give him a smile that said, "It's okay."

He gripped the jade slip containing the transfer of power tightly in his hand; the girl's life was entirely in his hands.

Leaving Mo Xue to take care of Qiu Yun, Luo Fanchen immediately went into seclusion to begin comprehending the Shaoyang Wood Transformation Technique.

The girl had long ago instructed Mo Xue that, regardless of success or failure, she must not harbor any resentment towards him and should always respect him as her teacher.

"What an amazing technique!"

On the prayer mat in the inner hall, Luo Fanchen gripped the jade slip tightly, his hands trembling slightly.

After studying the method carefully, he was certain that it had a backup plan, and what he possessed was likely a legendary Taoist method.

The reason is simple: this mere superior-grade technique actually contains records of supernatural abilities involving the level of rules and spiritual power.

It is said that within the Taoist sects, there is a sect-protecting secret manual that can lead directly to the Nascent Soul stage.

Orthodox disciples of the Daoist sect cultivate the simplified techniques passed down from countless predecessors from a young age, preparing for inheriting the profound teachings in the future, until they achieve the Golden Core, formally resonate with the profound techniques, and comprehend the Great Dao.

One of the most prominent features of inherited techniques is that they possess a small number of profound characteristics and come with their own accompanying supernatural powers.

"After the Shaoyang Wood Transformation Technique, there should be two more inherited techniques: one for Foundation Establishment and one for Core Formation."

Luo Fanchen murmured to himself as he lit two calming incense sticks and held them between his fingers. If the incense burned out, it would forcefully wake him up.

Without much hesitation, he placed the jade slip directly against his brow.

Fortune favors the bold, and so-called backup plans are at most just means of confirming his whereabouts.

This Lesser Yang Wood Transformation Technique might be the only high-level martial art he could ever access in his life, so he couldn't miss this opportunity.

The moment the jade slip shattered, wood-elemental spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred meters gathered towards the pavilion, forming a miniature vortex above Luo Fanchen's head as it surged upwards.

Tender buds sprouted from the floor, withered trees in the courtyard came back to life, and dense vines grew and stretched out out of thin air, wrapping around Luo Fanchen like a net.

The misty air resembled a churning sea of ​​clouds, creating a dreamlike scene.

In the bedroom outside the corridor, Ling Moxue was breathing with her eyes closed when she was startled by the sound of thunder in spring.

She immediately woke up and nervously stayed by her younger sister's side.

"call--"

Luo Fanchen's eyes were tightly closed, and his pure wood spirit power condensed into hundreds of withered vines, which constricted his joints until they turned purple and he could hardly breathe.

The spirit vines climbed over the thorns, with faint arcs of electricity swirling within, tearing Luo Fanchen's skin and flesh apart.

The spirit vines entwined and clung to him, slowly wrapping around his neck and gradually tightening their grip.

The bones groaned in agony, unable to bear the weight any longer, but Luo Fanchen seemed oblivious.

Just as the vines were about to strangle him, Luo Fanchen's brow shone brightly, and the jade slip that transmitted his power shattered into pieces, with all the seal script disappearing into his brow.

Jade slip fragments filled the sky, but under the influence of wood-elemental spiritual power, they coalesced into an ancient wooden plaque.

The wooden plaque is engraved with the Five Elements, Sun, Moon, Heaven, and Earth patterns in gold foil, resembling a token, but the signature area is blank.

As soon as the token was issued, the vines bowed in submission, their murderous intent vanished, and they yielded and stretched out.

After the spirit vine released Luo Fanchen, it transformed into countless spiritual roots. Most of them entered his body with pure wood-attribute spiritual power, while a small portion transformed into inky black seal script, which was engraved on the wooden plaque, mysterious and difficult to understand.

The red marks faded, and the broken bones were remodeled.

Two hours later, when Luo Fanchen regained consciousness, the calming incense on his fingertips had turned to ashes.

The room was completely empty, and I felt no discomfort whatsoever, as if I were in a dream.

"How did he fall asleep?"

Luo Fanchen rubbed his head, feeling refreshed and full of energy.

He was searching for the jade slip when he found only a wooden plaque on his chest. The inscription at the bottom appeared to be in seal script, a script he did not recognize.

"The jade slip for transferring power has failed?"

Luo Fanchen's face was grim. In his moment of defeat, a cultivation technique spontaneously appeared in his mind, primarily of the wood element, and characterized by its neutrality and harmony.

It was through the Lesser Yang Wood Transformation Technique that he succeeded?

　Recommendations needed! I'm eager to read more!
　　

(End of this chapter)