Chapter 481: Seeking Divine Techniques
Chapter 481: Chapter 481: Seeking Divine Techniques
What Bai Mo had his eye on were the Divine Techniques of Divine Dao Mountain’s many Dharma Protectors.
These Dharma Protectors accepted the offerings of Divine Dao Mountain, and over time, many developed their own Divine Techniques.
After seeing Yuan Chu and the others borrow and use these techniques a few times, Bai Mo couldn’t help but become intrigued.
"Divine Techniques?"
Hearing this, Yuan Chu subconsciously asked,
"The ones that Xiong Xin and I use won’t work?"
Bai Mo shook his head.
"The Divine Techniques you brothers use are, ultimately, borrowed. I can’t get to the root of them. No matter how much I study them, I won’t be able to grasp their true essence."
Yuan Chu sucked in a breath, a troubled expression on his face.
"That’s going to be difficult."
"Most of the Dharma Protectors on the mountain have quite the temper. To let you observe them, let alone experiment as you please..."
He shook his head.
"I’m afraid none of them would be willing!"
Bai Mo cupped his hands toward him.
"Please think of something, Senior Brother."
Yuan Chu gazed at the distant scenery beyond the mountain, pacing with his hands clasped behind his back.
This junior brother of his, Bai Mo, had just done him a huge favor. To say no now would make him look bad.
But forcing the mountain’s consecrated protectors was out of the question.
He didn’t just lack the guts; he also lacked the power and means to risk offending all the Dharma Protectors.
His expression shifted as he mulled it over for a long moment. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said,
"There is a way!"
"There’s a protector on the mountain who, during the conflict between Kunwu True Monarch and Nai Daoist, managed to offend both of them with his words."
"Nai Daoist didn’t mind, but with Kunwu True Monarch’s demonic nature, he’s been holding a grudge and constantly ostracizing him. This protector has had a hard time for quite a while now."
Yuan Chu’s mind raced as he laid out his plan.
"Mediating a truce is probably impossible, but Junior Brother, you were the key person responsible for Kunwu True Monarch being brought to Divine Dao Mountain."
"I’ll tell him you can help smooth things over, and that he should give you some sort of benefit in return..."
Bai Mo was surprised.
"Kunwu True Monarch probably hates my guts. Will a story like that really work?"
Yuan Chu nodded firmly.
"It will!"
"Cause and effect on Divine Dao Mountain aren’t as straightforward as in the outside world. No one can predict how things will play out."
"Besides, that protector has nothing to lose, and it’s not like we’re really trying to swindle him..."
After getting their stories straight, Yuan Chu summoned his Flying Ship, bid farewell, and soon vanished into the distance.
Bai Mo drew his gaze back from the horizon and returned to his house.
Yuan Chu was a trustworthy person. Since he said it was possible, he would surely make it happen.
All he had to do was wait for word.
Bai Mo went back to his stone house and sat cross-legged before the Pill Furnace.
With his eyes slightly closed, he could see a wisp of white smoke rising from the Pill Furnace, faint and unsteady.
When the wind blew, when a damp rain fell, with every change in temperature or humidity, the wisp of white smoke would waver.
At its most extreme, the smoke was nearly extinguished.
This was the destiny of this batch of Pills. If the white smoke were to truly go out, this batch of Pills would be a complete failure.
After a long while, the white smoke shuddered, then finally stabilized.
The Pills were ready.
...
Several days later, a message arrived from Yuan Chu on Divine Dao Mountain, stating that everything was arranged.
Two days after that, Bai Mo accepted his invitation and headed for Divine Dao Mountain with Ah Er.
At the foot of the mountain.
Yuan Chu had been waiting for a long time.
"When we see the protector, remember to be polite, Junior Brother."
"He may not be much in Kunwu True Monarch’s eyes, but to ordinary people like us, he’s a terrifying existence."
Divine Dao Mountain was shrouded in mist.
As they walked the mountain path, the surface of Bai Mo’s robes quickly grew damp.
Something flickered in and out of sight within the mist, eavesdropping on Yuan Chu’s words.
Yuan Chu paid it no mind, continuing to advise Bai Mo.
"I’ll be there to help you. ’The less said, the better,’ as they say. Don’t say much; I’ll do the talking for you..."
"If he asks you about Kunwu True Monarch, you don’t need to hide anything. Just tell him the truth."
WHOOSH!
The mist stirred as if something had shot past, raising a gust of wind.
Yuan Chu glanced in its direction and pursed his lips.
"Such a coward. No wonder he never amounted to anything, before or after death."
Bai Mo followed him. Ah Er, terrified of Divine Dao Mountain, stuck close to their heels, not daring to stray a single step.
Upon reaching the mountainside, Bai Mo followed Yuan Chu around a bend and suddenly heard the sound of rushing water.
It was a mountain spring, artificially channeled from several sources to converge in one spot.
As Bai Mo reached the pool, he saw what looked like a bluestone turtle shell move, sending ripples across the water before submerging and disappearing from view.
Bai Mo was surprised.
"Could that be Senior Money Turtle, the one Senior Brother Gong Gui worships?"
Yuan Chu cleared his throat and shook his head.
"Senior Money Turtle has his own aquatic manor. If you ever have the chance to see it, Junior Brother, you’ll understand."
"It’s unbelievably extravagant."
He introduced, "This is Sheqing Mountain, Dharma Protector She."
GLUG!
A strange sound came from the pool. The next moment, the bluestone-like shell emerged from the depths, clear water cascading down its surface.
The exposed shell alone was over twenty feet in both length and width.
An old turtle rested its head on the pebbles of the bank, its two long barbels leaving wet streaks on the stones.
"Brat with the surname Yuan, since he only knows of the Money Turtle, let him go find the Money Turtle. Why bother an old turtle like me?"
Yuan Chu quickly cupped his hands.
"Senior Money Turtle is nowhere near as reasonable as you, Senior. After all, you hail from the Huilong River at the foot of the Great Green Mountain."
"Even the common folk of the mortal realm know of you. They even went so far as to invite a great scholar to bestow a name upon you."
Upon hearing this, the expression on Sheqing Mountain’s turtle-like face visibly softened.
"I’ll grant you this, boy, you know how to talk."
Sheqing Mountain commented idly, then turned his gaze to Bai Mo.
"You there, boy. Are you the one who covets the Divine Techniques of us Dharma Protectors?"
Bai Mo approached, neither servile nor arrogant, and cupped his hands.
"I wouldn’t use a word like ’covet,’ Senior. I merely wish for the Dharma Protector to bestow a small piece of your art, so that this humble one might study it for my Alchemy."
"Hmph, hmph!"
Sheqing Mountain let out an ambiguous chuckle and suddenly asked,
"Do you have a history with Kunwu True Monarch?"
Bai Mo answered truthfully, "I wouldn’t say we have a history. I just happened to discover his whereabouts, called upon the disciples of your esteemed mountain, and had him captured."
’Come to think of it, despite our few encounters, I’ve never gotten a clear look at Kunwu True Monarch’s face, only glimpsed him in passing.’
Sheqing Mountain nodded.
"That’s enough."
"It’s not that I’m afraid of him. I just don’t wish to expend the energy, which is why I’ve been letting him have his way."
Sheqing Mountain turned his shell and, with a single motion, swam down into the pool, vanishing in an instant.
"If you see him, ask if he’s willing to reconcile with this old turtle..."
The pool likely connected to the base of the mountain, or perhaps held some other unknown, mystical passage.
A creature of Sheqing Mountain’s size swam into it, yet was instantly concealed by the current.
Bai Mo walked to the edge of the pool and peered into its murky depths.
It was pitch black below; he couldn’t see a thing.
A moment later, Yuan Chu turned and asked,
"How do you feel?"
Bai Mo closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment. Then, he suddenly took a step and walked right toward the adjacent cliff face.
Without a sound, half of Bai Mo’s body passed straight through it.
But just as half his body submerged into the rock, he stopped and took a few steps back.
Seeing this, Yuan Chu said excitedly,
"It’s Senior She’s Mountain-Phasing Divine Technique!"
"So many disciples on this mountain would kill for that Divine Technique!"
Bai Mo focused on the sensation he had just felt. It was incredibly strange.
"But inside the rock, I couldn’t see a thing..."
Yuan Chu said quickly, "That must be because you haven’t made any offerings to him yet, so your connection is still weak."
Bai Mo nodded in understanding.
No wonder the disciples of Divine Dao Mountain willingly endured the many taboos and still flocked here, relishing the experience.
The profound mysteries and unique joys of the Divine Techniques alone were enough to make it all worthwhile.