Become a true immortal by emulating all demons.

Chapter 88 You live, I make money

"Thank you, Manager Lin!"

As the young man approached, some people quickly swallowed their rice, looked over cautiously, and forced out grateful yet humble smiles.

"Thank you, shopkeeper."

Everyone else turned their gazes toward them, all looking cautious and apprehensive.

"..."

Lin Shu paused for a moment, then politely nodded her chin before walking behind the counter.

He stared at the little guy, his eyes narrowing slightly, and said, "May I ask Master what you are doing?"

"To do business!"

Yu Sheng stared wide-eyed with an innocent expression: "Aren't we running an inn?"

No wonder he's a descendant of immortals who's been determined to live a life of leisure since childhood.

When others insulted her with an inn, this little thing actually took it as a serious matter.

"With so many people, can you even keep track of the numbers?" Lin Shu glanced sideways across the lobby.

"What accounts? I don't keep accounts."

Yu Sheng shook her head blankly: "They are all laborers from the nearby mines, medicinal fields, and river channels. A few days ago, I saw them passing by the gate, saying that they were not getting enough to eat, so I let them in to eat."

"Alright."

Lin Shu rubbed her temples.

No wonder every table is laden with braised pork knuckles, and these people are still so humble.

It turned out that Yu Sheng had opened a free canteen in Shihu City, with all her favorite dishes laid out on the table.

"Where did you get the money to buy ingredients?"

"Ah, I have no money."

Yu Sheng opened her mouth slightly and blinked twice: "I told the cook, and he went to get it."

Although this place is a border area, it is located by the river, and large ships deliver food, clothing, and other necessities to it every day on time.

As a descendant of immortals, I still have that much face to save.

Lin Shu looked at the little thing again, a touch of emotion welling up in her eyes.

Other immortal descendants rely on their reputation to compete for disciples and seize territory, but this little chick uses her meager reputation to do charity work here.

"Whatever you want."

Lin Shu pondered for a few moments, smiled, and sat down behind the counter.

Yu Sheng giggled and climbed onto his lap again, curling up like a kitten, intending to take a nap: "Look how happy they are eating! I'm going to make sure everyone gets to try the braised pork knuckle!"

"Wait, that's not right."

She suddenly sat up and sniffed, exclaiming, "Weren't you going to regulate your breathing? How come... how come your aura is so much stronger again!"

In just two hours, the young man's cultivation level had made a qualitative leap, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it had doubled.

Mind your own business.

Lin Shu leaned back in her chair and once again restrained the surging spiritual power within her body.

His gaze swept across the hall.

Listen to the miners whispering among themselves.

They were talking about things at the mine: who had mined blood spirit stones and gained a few days of free time, and who had the misfortune of dying in the mine.

"A pool of spiritual milk has been discovered in the White Fang Mine. It was formed from the accumulation of blood spirit stones. Unfortunately, the blood energy is too strong, and ordinary people cannot enter it at all. I wonder if the newly arrived immortal descendant will report this to the elders of the immortal family and ask them to take it out."

"If that's the case, wouldn't you be able to rest for a long time?"

"Shh!"

The laborers at White Tooth Mine frowned, clearly worried, and unwilling to discuss the matter.

"White Tooth Mine?"

Lin Shu raised an eyebrow. If she remembered correctly, this place seemed to have been assigned to that young immortal descendant named Yu Kui.

Just then, his eyes flickered and suddenly turned to a corner of the inn.

Besides the laborers, there were also regular merchants in the inn.

But that table of guests only ordered two meager dishes, and they've been sitting there ever since, without even touching their chopsticks.

Only when he heard those words did he slightly raise his head.

On the left is a girl in a black short-sleeved shirt, and on the right is a skinny young man in hemp clothing, missing an ear and an eye.

The two men's lips were moving, clearly indicating that they were talking about something.

But the girl's hand, hidden under the table, was secretly making hand gestures, making the already faint voice even harder to hear.

"..."

Lin Shu watched quietly, then subtly brought two fingers together.

Inside the storage bag, the Ink Dragon Sword Bracelet trembled slightly, ready to leap out at any moment.

Lin Shu secretly activated this illicit magical artifact in public, not because he had gone mad, but because he sensed a familiar scent.

Just last night, outside the inn.

The aura he could barely sense seemed to contain one that was quite similar to the two people in front of him.

Lin Shu currently doesn't feel any ill will towards demons.

They even felt that these people could temporarily save Gu Nanzhi, and regardless of their other motives, at least they had relieved the county magistrate from his immediate predicament.

To put it bluntly, Gu Nanzhi should be grateful that she has gained even one more day of life.

However, this does not mean that Lin Shu can accept a demon swaggering into her inn without prior notice.

He wasn't so naive as to lower his guard against all demons because of this incident.

A Thousand Threads of Soul-Splitting Entanglement!

Lin Shu summoned a split soul, allowing the faint outline, visible only to herself, to silently approach the two and press close to them.

Then, the sound of their conversation was transmitted back through their split souls.

"My dear Senior Sister Xie, don't scare me to death! We're just a bunch of scattered demons, and Elder Xu refuses to take the lead. Without a demon general to hold us back, how dare you interfere in the affairs of the immortal descendants?!"

"Are we just going to watch those immortal descendants sacrifice thousands of lives to fill the mine?" The girl calmly sipped her tea.

"This...this...it's still not a result yet. What if she ends up asking an elder to come over?" A hint of guilt showed in the monkey's eyes.

"She's already contacting Yu Qing."

Xie Yutang put down her teacup, a mocking glint in her eyes: "These little immortals who have just arrived here can't wait to exchange everything for achievements, how could they possibly let their elders interfere?"

This woman contacted Yu Qing in order to leverage the power of another immortal descendant to share the responsibility for the deaths of thousands of laborers.

With their combined efforts, the two of them can quickly recruit another group of people to fill the vacancies.

"Alright, alright, lives are at stake. Anyway, we only have seven little demons in total... Oh, we brought one back yesterday, so let's call it eight. You rescued them all, and this isn't the first time we've been out doing this. Do whatever you want."

The monkey shook its head, then quickly became excited again: "But if you get that spiritual milk, won't you have a chance to break through to the Core Formation stage, become a demon general, and successfully carry the flag?"

Only demon generals can carry the flag and make a name for themselves, so that their little demons can have a place to belong instead of being scattered demons who can be bullied by others.

"How about using your life to replenish your blood and energy?"

Xie Yutang rolled her eyes at him: "Destroy that mine. We can't let such a treasure fall into the hands of a celestial descendant."

"Even if what you say makes sense," the monkey said with a sullen face and a sigh.

"We're about to do something big. We've pooled our money to create this talisman, why are we giving it to a disciple of a deity? Aren't we afraid he'll use it to take our lives?"

"..."

Xie Yutang remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Because he let Miss Gu go. Old Master Xu said that revenge must be taken and kindness must be repaid. We are walking the path of demons, but we must remember how to be human."

She glanced to the side and noticed that many of the laborers had finished their meals and were leaving the inn one after another.

The girl finally stood up and walked to the counter with a normal expression.

She acted as if she had never seen the two people behind the counter before, and said indifferently, "Shopkeeper, I was in a hurry to leave and forgot to bring any money."

With that, Xie Yutang generously slapped a talisman on the table: "This is a mid-grade talisman, capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a mid-stage Jade Liquid cultivator. Consider this your payment for the meal."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned around and walked away.

Compared to Xie Yutang's composure, the monkey's face was contorted with heartache, and its only remaining ear was so red it looked like it could bleed.

He forced a smile, as if he were about to cry: "Shopkeeper, please use it sparingly."

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Yutang reached out without turning her head, grabbed the monkey by the collar, and forcibly dragged it away.

With her back to everyone, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance finally surfaced on her usually aloof face as she managed to squeeze out a sentence:

"Don't embarrass me!"

"..."

Yu Sheng stared at the talisman on the table, then covered her face tightly: "Wow, we're open for business!"

Excitedly, she grabbed the talisman and stuffed it into the young man's palm.

Through these past few days of digesting and inheriting the knowledge, the little guy has not only increased his magical power, but has also gradually begun to know more things.

A talisman of this quality is worth at least three to five hundred merit points.

"Tsk."

Lin Shu controlled her split soul, following them all the way and figuring out their route.

Only after reaching the limit of his supernatural powers did he manage to retrieve the divided soul.

Laborers to fill the void? Carrying flags?

He lowered his eyes slightly and looked at the talisman in his palm.

These demons, just like the immortals, also challenged his understanding of the world.

I wonder how much money a celestial descendant is worth?

It should be a bit more expensive than a regular Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Before yesterday, Lin Shu would never have entertained the idea of ​​putting herself in such a huge crisis.

But since even a minor demon in the Foundation Establishment stage can walk normally through Yongzhou Pass.

This means they must have mastered some method of concealing their presence.

This also shows that although the Mountain God Mirror is powerful, it is unlikely to be able to protect the entire Yongzhou Pass in every way.

If we could use the name of these demons...

Is it possible for me to do something I want to do?

The inn gradually became deserted.

After the cooks and servants finished clearing the table, they humbly bowed and said, "Mountain God, Manager Lin, we'll be leaving now."

"Thank you for your trouble, go ahead."

Lin Shu lifted Yu Sheng onto her small stool and got up to close the door.

He walked to the door and suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

Tatata!

A group of more than ten people rode into Shihu City on fine horses of extraordinary appearance. The horses' hooves flashed with spiritual light, and their speed was no less than that of Lin Shu running at full speed.

They saw a steward blocking their way and wanted to ask him something.

The group yanked on the reins, bringing their horses to a halt with hooves flying high. They brandished their tokens: "The Liu family of Shuangyun Prefecture in Yongzhou, acting on the orders of our immortal master, are heading to Blackwater City to investigate. All bystanders, please give way!"

Upon hearing this, the deacons' expressions changed slightly.

If you need to add the prefecture name after the state name when introducing yourself, then you are not a half-life immortal.

But the Liu family is different. Although they are not immortals, they are capable generals under the Qi family of Yongzhou.

Just look at this spirited horse and you'll know.

The group was out on private business, but they were using the Demon Slayer Bureau's official vehicle!

The deacons were just about to make way.

Behind them, a young disciple walked out. He was in his early twenties, but his demeanor was quite extraordinary.

The disciple glanced at the tokens in the group's hands and said casually, "Blackwater City is under the jurisdiction of the Yu family. There's no need for outsiders to interfere. Please leave."

The rider frowned suddenly, about to launch into another argument, when he noticed something.

The disciple did not say he was acting on the orders of the Yu family, but instead stated directly "my Yu family".

Everyone instinctively looked at the other person's waist.

There, hanging there was an exquisite jade pendant shaped like a blue phoenix.

Only by wearing the jade pendant can one represent the Yu family in the world and be considered a true disciple of the world.

"We are not here to investigate Blackwater City, but to find the lost item for the immortal. We beg the Yu family to show mercy."

"Once the relics are recovered, the immortal will surely reward you handsomely!"

The group softened their stance considerably, leaping off the spirit horse and bowing to the disciple.

"No need."

The disciple, now wearing the jade pendant, turned leisurely and headed out of the earthen city.

Anyone who dares to confine a descendant of the Yu family in the city, even if the child is born with a deformity, must pay a heavy price to uphold the majesty of the mountain god.

The grudges haven't been settled yet, so what's the point of talking about a generous reward?

"Ha!"

The group hesitated for a few moments, then spat out their resentment.

In terms of cultivation, they might not be weaker than this person, but that small waist token was something none of them dared to offend.

They turned to the inn next door and said irritably, "Innkeeper, we'll provide you with lodgings, but make sure you take good care of the spirit horse. If anything goes wrong, you'll be held responsible!"

Several servants who stayed behind to watch the shop hurriedly went to fetch the horses, while a few others led the group of cultivators, who looked like they were not to be trifled with, up to the second floor.

"Let's stay here for now, and we'll send people over to investigate later."

"We'll find that thing eventually."

"If I catch that thief, I'll tear him to pieces!"

A dozen or so people walked past the young man, chatting amongst themselves. One of them casually remarked, "Shopkeeper, keep an eye out for any suspicious faces passing by. If you have any leads, report them immediately. You'll be in for a treat."

"it is good."

Manager Lin pursed his lips slightly, smiling as he watched the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators go up to the second floor.

It was as if I could see the copper coins clattering as they walked.

Let's wait a bit. This group of people has just arrived in Shihu City; it would be too conspicuous to make a move now.

I've already put them in my pocket, so I'm not afraid they'll run away.

Running a guesthouse is great, really great.

……

The cultivators were located at Yongzhou Pass.

Most of the days are dull and boring.

It was late at night.

On the ten-zhang-high beacon tower.

The group had been on guard duty for another five days and were getting tired, so they could only sit around chatting.

"Junior Sister Yan, Master specially summoned you back, which clearly shows that she values ​​you highly, but I noticed that her attitude was somewhat cold when she sent you back."

"Take out the thing you were planning to give me back then, and let your senior brother take a look at it for you." The red-faced senior brother reached out his hand.

"..."

Under the watchful eyes of the others, Yan Jin lowered her head slightly.

Perhaps out of consideration for Yu Sheng, the little mountain god, the master did not dare to directly take away the stone in his hand.

But she couldn't send them out at all.

While cultivators from enemy countries are certainly dangerous, the neglect of one's master is equally fatal.

Anyone who dares to accept the offer is disobeying their master's orders and will never be able to turn their life around.

Of course, compared to that, staying alive is definitely more important.

But no one was familiar with Lin Shu, so who could guarantee that he could really save lives? Could it be based on those four life-saving bloodstains?

"Here."

Yan Jin still wanted to do more for Brother Lin.

She tried to remove the stone again.

Unexpectedly, the red-faced senior brother snatched it away, his previously gentle voice suddenly becoming much lower: "You are still young and don't understand many things."

"But remember this: our lives are intertwined; we are all in this together."

"Your fellow disciples would never harm you."

"You might think that being neglected by your master is at most a matter of being unimportant, but you don't know..."

The red-faced senior brother seemed to recall something, and a hint of sadness and fear welled up in his eyes.

He has been staying at Yongzhou Pass for four years.

What this cultivator found most unforgettable throughout the night was not the cultivators from the enemy country.

Instead, he witnessed firsthand how a junior brother with whom he had once shared life and death was transformed into a demon overnight!

He didn't know the specifics of what happened.

All that is known is that the junior brother also offended the master, and it is speculated that there may be some connection between the two.

Don't make a mistake for yourself!

The red-faced senior brother took a deep breath and, right in front of Yan Jin, crushed the stone.

"Senior brother!"

Yan Jin exclaimed in surprise, her eyes flashing with anger.

Sword threads instantly emerged from his fingertips, and he said coldly, "If you don't want to use it, then don't use it. I never forced you. Why are you toying with Brother Lin?"

"Playing tricks... it'll only make him come all this way for nothing, but it will show your attitude and ease the tension between you and your master."

The red-faced senior brother frowned, using his spiritual power to suppress the sword threads on the other party's palm, and explained earnestly, "Be sensible, we can apologize to your fellow Daoist Lin in private."

The other cultivators also offered words of comfort.

Just then, a playful voice rang in their ears.

"Hahaha, you Chen family disciples are truly unique in starting an internal conflict on the beacon tower."

"Little sister, thrust your sword thread forward, don't be afraid of him."

Amidst the laughter and merriment, the surrounding shimmering light suddenly began to flicker.

One by one, figures began to converge.

They were all dressed in matching dark purple garments.

The woman at the head of the group had a round face and a sweet smile. She slowly put away the light blue paper umbrella in her hand.

Clearly, it was with this object that these eight people were able to approach the beacon tower silently.

"Yuan Yin, you're arrogant!"

The red-faced senior brother is the most senior here, and his mid-stage Jade Liquid cultivation is quite stable, no weaker than others.

He had clearly dealt with this round-faced woman more than once.

"alert!"

With a shout, the five Foundation Establishment cultivators on the beacon tower stood up in unison.

The Qi Refining disciples below quickly returned to the tower, channeling their spiritual energy into it, causing it to glow brightly and suppress the spiritual energy of the enemy cultivators.

Logically speaking, although the opponent is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, there are still quite a few people on this side.

Unfortunately, Yan Jin has just broken through and has not yet mastered the Foundation Establishment Immortal Techniques; at most, he can only be considered half a person.

Besides.

The red-faced senior brother looked at the umbrella in Yuan Yin's hand with a serious expression.

Holding a magical weapon, he dominated the realm.

This is not just a casual remark.

For such a significant goal as eight Foundation Establishment cultivators, to lose this place for a mere Blood Spirit Stone or Crimson Heart Flower would be a huge loss.

This was a situation he had never seen before, even after guarding the checkpoint for four years.

"Tsk tsk, your steward Luo is hiding and refusing to come out, so we have no choice but to come in and find him. As for you guys, when you get to the underworld, remember to hold your steward accountable."

Yuan Yin smiled sweetly, but resentment welled up in her eyes.

A false rumor caused him to lose four fellow disciples, and that old man didn't even offer an explanation.

Do you really think the cultivators of the Great Shun Dynasty are all made of mud and have no temper?

"kill!"

With a command given, the eight cultivators at the mid-stage of the Jade Liquid Realm simultaneously activated their incantations.

The familiar sword formation reappeared above the beacon tower.

This time, however, the sword formation took only three breaths to form, its entire body gleaming with a jade-like luster, like a sky full of glass, dazzling under the fluorescent light.

Yuan Yin let out a sharp shriek.

The sword formation had already crashed down towards the ground.

"Nine Swords of Heavenly Spider True Qi!"

While both were using sword-based immortal techniques, the red-faced senior brother and the others waved their sleeves in unison, unleashing streaks of snow-white sword light.

The two collided in mid-air, creating a violent shockwave. The beacon tower, like a withered bamboo in a sudden rain, seemed ready to break at any moment.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Junior brother, use the Binding Silk Spell to trap them."

The red-faced senior brother calmly glanced to the side, giving instructions in an orderly manner.

But what came into his view was his junior brother's panicked dodging figure, and a cold light that was rapidly growing larger.

When opened, it's an umbrella; when closed, it resembles a short spear.

Its green ears of grain sway like tassels, and the tips of its umbrellas burst forth with a sharp, cold glint.

Yuan Yin had somehow climbed the beacon tower, and even brought three other people with her. They were already using various methods to attack the crowd.

She held a green umbrella and pointed straight ahead.

The junior brother was able to dodge because the target wasn't him at all. The red-faced senior brother's pupils contracted, and before he could react, an umbrella pierced through his shoulder.

puff!

Blood splattered.

He gritted his teeth to stop crying out in pain, gripping the umbrella tightly with both hands. In such a short reaction time, he unleashed another immortal technique.

Countless jade-colored silk threads shot out from her fingertips, quickly wrapping around the green umbrella and even climbing up the round-faced woman's arm, covering most of her shoulder.

"Old man, you're quick on the uptake."

Yuan Yin once again channeled her spiritual power into the umbrella in her hand, intending to cut off half of the opponent's body.

"Junior sister, she has been trapped by my binding silk spell. Make your move!" the red-faced senior brother said in a hoarse voice.

Yan Jin has been in Blackwater City for so many years. What he lacks is cultivation techniques, but he has plenty of practical experience.

The moment the woman's movements were thwarted, she had already leaned forward, her fingertips flashing like sword light, and pressed accurately and ruthlessly against the woman's brow.

"..."

Yuan Yin was clearly surprised that a young cultivator who had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage and had only just arrived at Yongzhou Pass was involved.

In such a situation, it is not only important to maintain composure, but also to seize this brief opportunity.

She instinctively turned her head to the side.

With a tearing sound, most of Yuan Yin's face was ripped off, leaving it covered in blood.

"ah!!"

She suddenly screamed, not only from the pain but also because her face had been disfigured.

The woman instinctively reached out to draw her green umbrella and kill this damned little cultivator.

"Don't even think about it."

The red-faced senior brother, however, exerted force in the opposite direction, pressing the green umbrella firmly against his shoulder, showing no intention of letting go even though half of his body was torn apart by the spiritual light.

"Junior sister, don't panic, continue."

Although his tone was steady, his voice was extremely weak.

The spiritual light emanating from the umbrella had clearly seeped into his heart, and in a dozen or so breaths at most, it would take his life.

There should be enough time.

"You dare come back... you fool, you're asking for death!"

As Yuan Yin watched the woman charge at her again like a mad wolf, she finally couldn't help but loosen her grip on the green umbrella, unleashing a surge of spiritual energy that shattered the jade-colored spider silk.

She roared and suddenly raised her hand, intending to smash Yan Jin's head with a single blow.

The battle raged on, but no one noticed a figure surging like a cheetah through the mountains and rivers.

His gaze was calm as he leaped dozens of feet into the air.

Then it fell like a falling star.

As his boots stepped down.

The dazzling glass sword formation shattered instantly, turning back into specks of spiritual light that dissipated.

This was followed by a tremendous rumble of thunder that shook the earth.

Rumbling--

The beacon tower that the Chen family disciples had risked their lives to protect collapsed like a mountain from a single step!

Smoke and dust rose everywhere.

Everyone staggered, their faces momentarily blank, and they instinctively looked around.

Apart from Yuan Yin.

Because her face was being held tightly by her fair and slender fingers.

His feet were off the ground, and he kicked his legs as if he couldn't breathe.

Through the gaps between her fingers, she saw a face that was just as young.

The young man was extremely handsome, but his indifferent expression and the terrifying power emanating from his face sent chills down her spine, even making her lose her courage and soul.

He had been so focused on what was in front of him that he allowed a Body Tempering cultivator to get close!

Crack!

As Lin Shu slowly closed her five fingers, the head crumbled inch by inch.

His blue robe became somewhat tattered under the Glazed Sword Formation, but his upright figure, shrouded in black flames, did not appear disheveled at all.

"Wait, a magical artifact!"

The cultivators of the Great Shun Dynasty were stunned for a few moments until they saw Yuan Yin being casually thrown to the ground and motionless, at which point they realized what was happening.

However, he hadn't finished speaking.

Lin Shu had already turned slightly to the side and casually pulled the green umbrella from the shoulder of the red-faced disciple who was slumped on the ground.

"hiss!"

The red-faced senior brother, who had remained silent until now, couldn't help but let out a painful groan under this brutal action.

He clutched his shoulder, staring blankly at the newcomer.

With his perfected cultivation, even at the Foundation Establishment stage of Spirit Liquid, he could easily overwhelm everyone present.

Even more terrifying is that the opponent has obviously cultivated some kind of body tempering method, and his physical body alone is comparable to the mid-stage of Jade Liquid!

Adding the two together...

Chi Chi!

Suddenly, two red lights appeared in mid-air, resembling the eyes of some giant creature.

The next moment, the two red lights converged, like a crimson moon.

It slowly rotated, unleashing a dense barrage of invisible arrows towards the remaining seven Great Shun Dynasty cultivators.

The piercing howls of wolves filled their minds, cruelly tearing their souls apart.

The group's hand seals faltered slightly.

Warm blood seeped from their seven orifices, and they staggered backward. Even as they frantically used their spiritual power to attack their sea of ​​consciousness, their vision remained extremely blurry.

And it was in this incredibly blurry vision.

The hazy figure casually flicked the green umbrella, shaking off the remaining jade threads on it.

The next moment, the young man vanished from the spot.

puff!

When the cultivator from the Great Shun Dynasty saw the other party again, he had already been violently knocked away by the seemingly thin shoulder.

The green umbrella, like a sword, pierced through his chest.

Lin Shu's figure shot out again, and before the blood on the green umbrella could condense into beads, it had already pierced into another person's body.

Suddenly, the area around the broken beacon tower was filled with a pungent smell of blood.

One by one, the figures fell down.

Divine Soul Techniques and Body Tempering Immortal Techniques.

The two most feared methods among cultivators have actually been combined in one person!

The moment Lin Shu slowly came to a stop, the paper umbrella in her hand had been stained a dark red that was too dark to look at, wet, sticky, and filthy.

"Ho! Ho!"

The red-faced senior brother sat on the ground with a numb expression, then suddenly used his palms to push himself up and took a few steps backward.

Even if he were stupid, he should have guessed it.

The reason this disciple appeared so suddenly and arrived so timely was clearly because of the stone he had just crushed.

The other party's identity is self-evident.

Unexpectedly, his previous "playful" act ended up saving the lives of himself and his companions!

Looking at Lin Shu again, the red-faced senior brother's neck veins bulged, and his body trembled slightly.

so horrible.

A disciple of the prestigious Yu family, yet he doesn't know a single one of the Yu family's immortal techniques!