Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 114 Gu Weapon Array: Meeting Aunt in the Imperial Examination Hall (4 words)

With a thought swirling in his mind, Fang Shu pondered for a moment and decided to ask the owner of the inn directly:

"Master, may I ask if a Gu Master's natal Gu worm is related to their spiritual root? Are the two the same thing?"

The owner of the pavilion was a little surprised that Fang Shu would ask this question, but she immediately remembered that she had instructed Fang Shu to refine his natal Gu worm before he began cultivating Qi.

The old woman organized her thoughts and answered:

"Generally speaking, a spiritual root is a spiritual root, and a Gu worm is a Gu worm."

The Gu Master's natal Gu, although it has the concept of natal, is actually still an external object, somewhat similar to a pet beast.

Fang Shu was slightly disappointed by these words, thinking that he had misunderstood.

But the next moment, the master of the pavilion spoke up again: "In the path of weapon cultivation, those immortals who have planted weapon spirit roots, such as the most typical sword cultivators."

They use the sword as their spiritual root, striving for perfect harmony between man and sword. Their natal sword is both their magical weapon and their spiritual root, enabling them to absorb spiritual energy and refine their magical power.

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu's heart stirred.

Speaking of the natal insect embryo on his forehead, it was precisely the natal vessel embryo method from the Lead Technique that he subdued. Strictly speaking, before he carried out the second step of refining the natal Gu worm, the insect embryo should actually be called a vessel embryo.

However, compared to ordinary sword cultivators, his magic weapon is a pure flesh and blood magic weapon.

As he sorted through his thoughts, a sudden realization dawned on him:
“The cultivation of a tool is based on the tool itself, which is the spiritual root. My insect embryo is related to magic tools, so it’s no wonder that I was moved by the spiritual root catalog.”

In this way, when he cultivates spiritual roots in the future, he may indeed confuse his natal Gu worm with the spiritual root.

At that moment, Fang Shu stood in the hall and probed indirectly, asking whether the cultivator who combined spiritual roots and magical artifacts was better or worse compared to other cultivators.

The owner of the independent hotel gave a cautious reply:

"This move has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it makes it easy to enter the Dao. Those who are wealthy and powerful can enter the Dao and cultivate Qi simply by finding a spiritual artifact. Some clans even have spiritual artifacts passed down from generation to generation, which can be passed down from father to son, from grandfather to grandson, and become the spiritual roots of their descendants."

Furthermore, weapon cultivators only cultivate one weapon, and their magical power is pure. In particular, sword cultivators are the most skilled in killing and combat. Those who can even turn weapons into human beings primarily use their weapons, and their bodies are killing machines, making them extremely fierce.

However, as long as the artifact remains, the person remains; if the artifact is destroyed, the person dies. Other immortals, when their magical artifacts are damaged, at most lose a spell, but this person loses their life.

Compared to other immortals, these people's methods are rather weak; they are not good at preserving their lives, let alone maintaining their health, and most of them die young.

Fang Shu listened carefully and understood.

He immediately added, "If these cultivators only use their natal magical artifacts as tools to aid their cultivation and not for fighting or combat, wouldn't that prevent them from getting damaged?"

The innkeeper raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled, "I knew you were clever, but I didn't expect you to react so quickly. What, are you planning to abandon our Gu Dao and turn to the so-called Weapon Dao?"

Fang Shu quickly lowered his head: "This disciple dares not, I was just curious."

The owner of the private club chuckled and said:
"What you said makes sense, kid. The situation is just as you said. All we need to do is not use our natal magic weapon in combat."

However, you've overlooked one point: this doesn't focus on the artifact itself, so it can't be considered artifact cultivation. Instead, it should be classified as talisman cultivation, puppet cultivation, corpse cultivation, and so on. These immortals can also refine their own natal magical artifacts, only they call them 'natal talismans' and so on.

After exchanging words, the old woman suddenly added casually:
"However, you have reminded me that these so-called Tao and cultivation methods are ever-changing, but in reality they are all about using the false to cultivate the true and making good use of things. When you truly cultivate, why bother with these rules and regulations?"

Fang Shu listened attentively to what the owner of the pavilion said before without much reaction, but the owner's last words stirred up waves in his heart.

He then asked questions in detail in the hall, and when there was nothing more to ask, he respectfully took his leave.

The owner of the pavilion was very pleased to see so many questions from him, and felt even more strongly that he was a promising candidate for immortality. However, before he left, he still gave him a serious piece of advice:
"The exam will start in a day or two. Get some rest in your room and don't think too much about unnecessary things. It's a waste of energy."

If you can't climb the mountain, no matter how high your comprehension or how many ingenious ideas you have, it's all useless.

Fang Shu replied in a deep voice, "Yes, disciple understands."

He then returned to his room in the inner courtyard.

Even when he was alone in a room, Fang Shu's mind was still filled with turbulent thoughts.

He also slightly closed his eyes and began to mentally review the spiritual root records, lead cultivation techniques, insect cultivation techniques, and even the dragon-seeking and gold-touching techniques recorded in the Daoist talismans... as if a storm was raging inside his head.

The three terms—natal Gu worm, natal artifact embryo, and dragon-seeking gold-touching—represent the three paths of immortality: the Gu path, the artifact path, and the array path!

Ordinary people can find great help in their path to immortality by choosing one of these paths, but only those with extraordinary talent can cultivate several at the same time.

Fang Shu, though not a prodigy, possessed Daoist scriptures and was most adept at comprehending secret texts and techniques, thus being able to cultivate several disciplines simultaneously.

Right now, Fang Shu's thoughts are churning, and he has already come up with a more perfect idea for refining his natal Gu worm!
"Could it be that my path to immortality shouldn't be confined to the mere path of Gu, but rather I should broaden my horizons by exploring multiple paths? After all, my master mentioned at the end that the so-called Gu path and the path of artifacts are merely paths taken by those who came before. True cultivation often leads to the same destination through different paths..."

In an instant, his mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts, which he found hard to shake off.

After pondering deeply for a while, Fang Shu glanced at the time it would take for the Dao Talisman to analyze the Spirit Root Chart, let out a long breath, and chose to suppress these distracting thoughts one by one.

He burst into laughter on the spot, and said self-deprecatingly, "I haven't even learned to walk yet, how can I expect to run?"

Moreover, even if one were to truly cultivate all three paths, there should be a primary and secondary distinction among them; one should not foolishly contemplate the so-called simultaneous cultivation of all three paths.

Fang Shu still possessed this self-awareness, even though he possessed Daoist talismans.

After all, whether it's refining Gu, crafting weapons, or setting up formations, any one of these three has numerous branches and paths, and any one of them is enough to make one spend a lifetime studying and researching.

Even the analysis of the secret texts of the Daoist talismans takes time and cannot be learned in one go.

In addition, Fang Shu had also seen many stories in the local folk tales and some ancient books about immortals who boasted of their abundant talent, cultivated multiple paths, but ultimately achieved nothing.

Silently reflecting on his actions, Fang Shu gradually put aside these distracting thoughts.

Finally, he stopped pondering the matters of Gu Dao and spiritual roots and began to calmly prepare for the upcoming spring imperial examination.

As the owner of the guesthouse said, going up the mountain and joining the sect is his most urgent task at present, and it is his top priority!

only.

The various ideas about the spiritual root method had already left a mark on Fang Shu's mind.

………………

Time passed quickly.

The opening time of the imperial examination was set at the perfect time, on the fifth day after Fang Shu left the pass.

The news was only sent to the various dojos that morning, and a notice was posted in the center of the market, which seemed rather casual. But that's understandable.

The so-called Spring Examination was just an important day for these young Taoist disciples; for the disciples of the Immortal Sect, it was nothing more than a mundane matter of going down the mountain.

Moreover, there is more than just Guling Town at the foot of Mount Lu.

On the day.

Upon receiving the news, Fang Shu immediately left the pass.

His second uncle, Yu Le, had also been waiting in the courtyard with Li Hou'er and others for a long time.

Although only Fang Shu and Qin Min from the entire Dugu Pavilion were eligible to participate in the Spring Imperial Examination, this matter was not just their own affair.

Not only did Li Hou'er and the others go to join in the fun and make a big splash, but the owner of the Duguan Pavilion herself was also waiting in the hall for Fang Shu and Qin Min.

Upon their arrival, the owner of the guesthouse said in a deep voice, "Let's go!"

Under her leadership, everyone in the Dugu Sect who didn't have urgent business left the sect, whether disciples or servants. They even closed the main gate, leaving only the side door open.

The group of people set off in a grand procession toward the center of the market.

It wasn't just the Dugu Temple that was like this; this year, every Taoist temple with disciples eligible to participate in the Spring Examination sent out their entire force. Even those temples without disciples participating had their members making a racket, crowding into the examination hall in twos and threes to join in the fun.

By mid-morning, the square in the center of the market, a hundred feet wide, was already packed with people, a veritable sea of ​​heads, shoulder to shoulder.

For a moment, Fang Shu was so caught up in the crowd that he couldn't tell who was there just to join in the fun and who was there to take a look.

Fortunately, the market had already dispatched people in black clothes and hats to manage things, and in the end, only Fang Shu and his nephew, Qin Min and her sister, and the owner's grandmother and grandson were able to enter the market.

Even the Du Guanzhu and Du Yu'er would normally be barred from the examination hall, because each candidate is only allowed to bring one relative or friend from their registered residence inside.

The reason the grandmother and grandson were able to enter was because the museum master released his divine sense, scanned the people in black robes and hats, and explained his identity as the museum master, which allowed them to enter the inner area.

As for Li Hou'er and the others, they could only gather outside the arena, looking up at the arena inside.

Fortunately, a high platform had already been erected inside the arena, with several structures resembling arenas or wooden stakes, standing tall, presumably for the upcoming magical duel.

No matter how many people are there, those outside the venue can simply look up without having their view blocked.

"Brother Fang! Well done, keep it up!"

Suddenly, as Fang Shu stepped onto the inner field, he heard several voices calling to him, including a faint female voice.

He looked in the direction of the sound and first saw Li Hou'er making faces, then he saw the talisman master Li Yuan, and his female neighbor Dou Sufu in the courtyard.

Fang Shu cupped his hands in greeting to Dou Sufu and the others, then turned to look into the arena and mingled into the crowd of people going to take the exam.

The sun gradually reached its zenith.

All the candidates had already been called out multiple times, and not a single one was absent, but the spring examination still had not yet begun.

This caused some unrest among the test takers and their relatives and friends, who kept whispering among themselves.

The people dressed in black and white seemed not to have expected the exam to start so late. So, after confirming the number of participants, they simply loosened the rules and let everyone talk and even walk around, whether they were chatting about relationships or secretly testing each other, it was unclear.

Anyway, even if there's some commotion at the scene, the ones who will suffer are the ones taking the exam; it has nothing to do with these guys who are just here on official business.

On the contrary, meddling too much might anger these candidates, and if they were to actually enter the immortal sect, they would have offended a powerful figure.

Fang Shu didn't wander around; he just stood quietly in a corner.

Unlike Qin Min, he didn't really know anyone else in the room besides the few people around him.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the side:
"Hey! Old Yu, is that you, Old Yu?!"

Someone called out "Old Yu" repeatedly, and the voice was unfamiliar; it was a woman's voice, and she walked directly toward the uncle and nephew.

As the sound drew closer, Fang Shu, out of curiosity, turned his head and saw a heavily made-up mature woman swaying her hips as she walked towards him.

The other person stared intently at his second uncle, Yu Le, his beautiful face filled with astonishment.

When the second uncle, Yu Le, saw the other party, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. His expression was complicated, somewhat timid, yet also somewhat arrogant.

The mature woman walked over, giving her second uncle, Yu Le, a familiar look, and clicking her tongue in disapproval.
"I thought you were finished after being expelled from the dojo, but it seems you've found work again and joined another dojo. You're even sending a dojo disciple to participate in the spring imperial examination today, so it seems you're highly regarded."

The other party looked at Fang Shu and immediately showed a reserved smile: "Greetings, immortal. I am an acquaintance of Lao Yu. Please give me your greetings."

The woman seemed not to know Fang Shu, nor had she ever heard of the relationship between the uncle and nephew.

Second Uncle Yu Le stood awkwardly to the side, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but he seemed hesitant.

Before the second uncle, Yu Le, could speak, the woman bowed to Fang Shu and then left in a hurry without paying any more attention to him.

She staggered to the side to serve a dashing young man.

"I'm here, I'm here," the mature woman said, showing concern and care for the young man.

This woman was clearly dressed in gold and jade, and looked like she came from a wealthy family, so she should be an elder. However, her behavior was no different from that of a maid or servant.

Fang Shu felt something was amiss. He also noticed that his second uncle, Yu Le, was still staring intently at the mature woman, his face filled with melancholy.

This made him raise an eyebrow, realizing what was going on.

If he guessed correctly, the mature woman who greeted him earlier should be his second aunt, whom he had never met before, or rather, his former second aunt.

As expected, Fang Shu subtly hinted at something, and Second Uncle Yu Le's face turned red. He stammered, "Children shouldn't meddle in adults' affairs."

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowd, we waited from noon until sunset.

As the day drew to a close, the spectators outside the arena had changed several times. Then, three figures appeared on the high platform, coldly observing everyone.

　Book Recommendation: *The Dharma Boat*

　　Author: Xun Chun Xu Zhou. An experienced author returns to classic Xianxia, ​​told from the perspective of a low-level cultivator in a demonic sect. The protagonist accidentally enters the demonic sect, encountering the eerie ghost realm, beautiful skeletons, strange and unorthodox methods, unpredictable events, and scheming cause and effect, yet he always keeps his eyes fixed on the path to immortality, yearning to ascend to the heavens.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)