Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 158 The Fate of Modern and Ancient Techniques
Fang Shu looked at the three books in his hand and then got angry.

Then, looking up at the lofty Foundation Establishment Immortal, he bowed respectfully and retreated.

Although the Lead Essence Pearl was lost and the Golden Salt Cloud was not obtained in return, at least the other party gave three books of Qi Refining Techniques.

Although he didn't know the specifics of the spell's effects, he knew that arguing with a Foundation Establishment Immortal like this would not end well.

Fang Shu, clutching the three books, returned to his original position.

When Lu Renjia and the others saw him like this, they looked at each other without any mockery. They simply stared at the book he was holding and examined what it was.

"Wall-penetrating technique?" Lu Renjia muttered to himself, then muttered under his breath:
"The name sounds like a petty trick, is it some kind of petty theft? Isn't this just fooling people?"

His tone was not malicious; on the contrary, it sounded like he was standing up for Fang Shu.

As soon as he said this, Bao Fengtao's expression changed slightly, and she quickly said, "Brother Lu, be careful what you say!"

The next moment, a wisp of yellow smoke fell from mid-air and lifted Lu Renjia up again.

"Hey! Hey!" the other party exclaimed in surprise.

Before Fang Shu and the others could react, the yellow smoke suddenly rose ten feet and then dissipated, throwing Lu Renjia hard onto his backside. Fortunately, it didn't cripple him or kill him.

Fang Shu and Bao Fengtao came to their senses and breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly pulled Lu Renjia up and bowed to the place where the Golden Smoke Immortal was.

Lu Renjia didn't dare utter a word at this point, and bowed formally.

The hiccup passes.

Fang Shu simply laid out all three books of magic spells and handed them to the group so they could study them together.

Among them, Mai Sheng'er seemed to have lost her treasure because Fang Shu, following her advice, not only failed to buy the Golden Glass Cloud but also lost it. The woman felt apologetic and kept her eyes lowered, avoiding Fang Shu's gaze.

"Huh!" As Fang Shu and the other two were observing, the woman suddenly seemed to remember something, pointing to the three spellbooks and saying:

“Brother Fang, I remember now. These three spells are spells that have been passed down since ancient times, and they are not just useless spells.”

I've heard that within the orthodox schools of Taoism, all disciples who cultivate Qi must study these three techniques. Some branches of the Xuan Sect even use them to test the comprehension of their disciples.

These words immediately caught the attention of Fang Shu and the other two.

Fang Shu, in particular, looked at Mai Sheng'er with surprise, wondering what Mai Sheng'er had been through recently.

After all, when they were together in the same room before, this woman never showed any remarkable insight or extraordinary background. On the contrary, she liked to listen to people's discussions and often asked others for advice.

Fang Shu immediately bowed and said, "Ancient magic? Fellow Daoist Mai, please explain in detail. I would like to hear your explanation."

Mai Sheng'er smiled faintly and immediately gave a brief explanation in a low voice.

The biggest difference between ancient magic and modern magic is that ancient magic does not require crafting tools; it can be cast with just a breath of true energy.

However, it is much more difficult to cultivate, and it requires circulating true qi when casting it. It is a spell with a high upper limit but a low lower limit.

Modern magic, like the golden cloud, is quite simple to control and refine; refining magic requires refining artifacts.

The advantage is that even if you have just obtained the spell, you can use it by reciting the incantation. Once you have fully understood it, you can swallow the Golden Nitrate Cloud into your internal organs and fly away with a sneeze when you need it.

Fang Shu and the others already knew these principles, and now they were simply revisiting them.

But what Mai Sheng'er said was more detailed than they knew, and it also revealed something they didn't know.

"I heard from the immortal that in ancient times, magic was considered a heretical and unorthodox art. It was not until the time of the ancient sages and masters that it was recognized. But even after more than 90,000 years, the current orthodox Xuanjiao sect still retains a trend of despising modern magic and praising ancient magic."

Mai Sheng'er paused: "The most despised techniques today are those flesh-and-blood magics that involve harvesting life, cutting or refining internal organs and limbs. These techniques are still condemned as heretical and unorthodox by the immortals of the Xuanjiao sect."

Secondly, there are tangible external objects such as spirit plants and elixirs, flying swords and copper bells; and thirdly, there are intangible external objects such as golden saltpeter clouds, encompassing wind, fire, lightning, and so on.

"The third type of modern magic, due to its formidable power and resemblance to ancient techniques, is now hailed as the orthodox method of the Xuan Sect." At this point, Mai Sheng'er added softly:
"But that's not entirely true. There are also spells that cultivate intangible external objects such as poisonous smoke, poisonous water, and yin energy and ghost energy. These spells were abolished by the Xuanjiao sect."

After listening, Fang Shu and the others all showed expressions of sudden realization.

They quickly bowed to Mai Sheng'er:
"Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist."

"I never imagined that there were so many intricacies between ancient and modern techniques. I've really learned something new today."

Lu Renjia, stroking his chin, muttered to himself, "The orthodox Xuanmen sect, the unorthodox sect... Speaking of my Five Internal Organs Temple, the magic is often strange and bizarre."

Furthermore, I've heard that it's not just this temple; other temples like the Four Limbs Temple, the Flesh and Skin Nunnery, the Bone and Skin Temple, and the Beauty Palace are all the same. Even their sect names sound like they specialize in first-class magic.

This fellow clapped his hands and suddenly said:

"So, in that case, aren't the five sects of Mount Lu all the heretical and unorthodox sects that Fellow Daoist Mai speaks of?"

Mai Sheng'er was speechless for a moment. Fang Shu and Bao Fengtao's expressions also changed slightly, and they quickly looked up again at where Jin Yanxian was. Fortunately, Jin Yanxian did not react to the conversation between the three of them and did not even glance at them again.

However, some of the Qi Refining disciples around them heard Lu Renjia's words and couldn't help but glance at the group.

Fang Shu landed among them and coughed lightly:
"No wonder Fellow Daoist Mai praised the Golden Glass Cloud so highly just now, and no wonder the Immortal Master bestowed these three spellbooks upon me. It turns out they are all Xuanmen techniques."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand towards the Golden Smoke Immortal, saying, "To have this technique by my side is truly my good fortune."

Mai Sheng'er immediately chimed in:
“What Fellow Daoist Fang says is true. I have heard that these three spells are quite convenient once mastered, and what is even more remarkable is that their power will increase automatically with one’s magical power, without the need for refinement.”

For some reason, the Golden Smoke Immortal remained aloof and did not glance at the crowd again. However, Fang Shu could vaguely sense a hint of arrogance on the other's face as he cupped his hands in greeting.

Lu Renjia, who had inadvertently uttered another boastful remark, had his sleeve pinched by Bao Fengtao. In his pain, he repeatedly echoed her praise, "That's right, that's right!"

On the top of the mountain.

As one disciple after another stepped forward to purchase the Golden Salt Cloud, the yellow smoke in the sky became increasingly sparse.

Finally, several people joined forces and stepped forward, but there was only one left.

One of them was quick-witted and nimble, while the other two, holding the spirit stones, were momentarily stunned.

Before they could react, the spirit stones in their hands were taken away, and like Fang Shu, the Golden Smoke Immortal threw three booklets at them and sent them away.

This scene caught Fang Shu's eye, and it made him feel much better.

All things considered, compared to those two, he might actually have made a profit.

Pfft!

"I'm leaving!"

After the Golden Nitrate Clouds were sold out, the Golden Smoke Immortal sneezed, and Xiude leaped into the air and disappeared into the twilight.

The Qi Refining disciples who had been listening to the teachings on the mountain for four or five days, some satisfied and others in a daze, dispersed one after another.

Fang Shu also bowed to Lu Renjia and the others to say goodbye. The four of them agreed to meet again and sit together when they held their next sermon.

Those who arrive first, please remember to save a spot for them.

………………

After leaving the scripture hall, Fang Shu returned to his cave dwelling, where he stayed indoors and did not gather any guests.

As an outer disciple, as long as one does not want to toil for cultivation or spirit stones, one can stay hidden in the cave and never step out of the gate.

Of course, this treatment only lasts for the first nine years. And once their resources are exhausted, they can only rely on absorbing spiritual energy and endure the slow pace of cultivation. After nine years, outer disciples must complete designated tasks each year in exchange for a moment of leisure.

Only by being promoted to inner disciple can one truly live like a superior being, not only free from worldly affairs, but also receiving monthly stipends of spirit stones and pills, and having the opportunity to become a formal disciple of a Foundation Establishment Immortal family.

Nine years is still a long time for Fang Shu. Right now, he should hurry up and complete the transformation of all the true energy in his body before the end of the year, so as to formally enter the "Minor Joy of Life and Death Yin and Yang"!
time flies.

On this day, Fang Shu sat cross-legged in his cave, and the Dao talisman in his mind trembled slightly:
[Analysis of "The Lesser Joy of Life, Death, Yin and Yang, Volume 1" is complete]

A stream of profound principles immediately flooded into his mind, allowing him to have a thorough understanding of the four tribulations of this true qi cultivation method, and even to the point where he could innovate upon it to a certain extent.

Fang Shuxin was delighted. He tried circulating his internal energy and found that the accuracy and speed of his practice had indeed improved considerably.

This made him think to himself, "Completing the conversion within three months is not difficult."

He immediately immersed himself in cultivation once again.

The following days.

Only when the waist token swayed and the message "Scripture Hall" appeared on it would he go out to the hilltop of the Scripture Hall to listen to the teachings and to interact with Lu Renjia and others.

Everything was uneventful, except for the monthly cultivation and listening to the Dao, which made Fang Shu feel fulfilled, and his aura gradually became more tranquil.

The only thing that surprised him was that during another sermon in the church, he caught a glimpse of an acquaintance again.

The other person was dressed in a black robe and had a hunched figure. Although his face was obscured, he was recognized by Fang Jie with just one glance at him through the Taoist talisman.

This person was one of his former roommates, Black Rat, who came from the Black Tiger Pavilion. After spending several months grinding among the menial laborers, he had now also completed the Qi Refining stage and advanced to the outer sect.

Fang Shu looked around and clearly remembered that the other party was skilled at raising beasts, but now there was no sign of rats accompanying the other party.

He withdrew his gaze and sighed inwardly.

Of the original seven people in the room, including himself, five have now reached the Qi Refining stage and joined immortal sects, which is quite a high probability.

(End of this chapter)