Painting of the Nine Immortals

Inside the Painting of the Nine Immortals, Liao Cang Qiong was smiling brightly. He planned on getting some good treasures for his apprentice, Ling Xian.

After hearing what he had said, the group of immortals shook their heads and smiled. Even the Untainted who is normally cold couldn’t help but beam.

“You… you sure are thinking for your chosen apprentice’s behalf.” Fa Wu Liang chuckled, “What are you impatient us? Our inheritances will naturally go to this sole inheritor.”

“Haha, that’s right. Though my inheritance doesn’t exactly suit him, as he is the only inheritor, what choice do I have?” Duan Shan He laughed brightly and stared at Ling Xian with his sparkling eyes.

Liao Cang Qiong chuckled and peeked at Ling Xian meaningfulness, “One of those two is the Pioneer of Crafts, while the other is the Ancestor of Technique. You have to accept their inherences.”

Ling Xian smiled bitterly, knowing that his master was warning him to not reject the Untainted and the Immortal of Arrays, like what he did to those two immortals. Since his master had spoken, he could only nod nicely and said, “Please pass down your inheritance to me.”

“Alright, what I have is easy.”

Duan Shan He smiled and wiped it off just as fast, “I will force my knowledge with each individual craft into your brain. They will come in the form of scrolls, which records the unique ways I make each craft as well as some of my findings. Since I cannot teach you holding your hand, how much you learn will depend on your enlightenment.”

“I understand.” Ling Xian’s expression turned serious.

Duan Shan He softly nodded. His finger, lightning fast, pressed down between Ling Xian’s brows.

Instantly, a passage of extremely difficult scripture entered Ling Xian’s brain. They transformed into countless ancient characters that flickered on and off inside his brain.

The General Outline of Craftsmanship.

Such simple words represented all the learnings from the Pioneer of Crafts. It is the most valuable records of crafts in the world!

Though right now, Ling Xian doesn’t really understand what it’s saying, he understands how priceless this inheritance is. To put it bluntly, if the news he acquired this passed around, every craftsman in the world would go insane!

Even the already established craftsman would be fighting to death for this inheritance.

What could they do? This was the summary of everything Duan Shan He had learned. It was the most powerful inherence in the Taoism, whose heart wouldn’t waver?

Obviously, Ling Xian doesn’t understand the scripture just yet, but he was memorizing them with his heart and imprinting them. Because he understood that the value of this inheritance was immense. Though he had no use of it yet, he had to remember it!

Therefore, he manipulated his Qi and imprinted the scripture into his heart.

After a while, Duan Shan He retracted his finger and smiled, “Alright, I have infiltrated your brain with the General Outline of Craftsmanship. The first volume of the scroll records the unique crafts I created and the second volume composes of my experiences and learning. As for whether or not you can achieve greatness with craftsmanship, it will depend on you.”

“Thank you for your kind gift.” Ling Xian thanked him and paid his respect.

Even though he didn’t really understand why every time an immortal awakened in the Painting of the Nine Immortals, they passed down their inheritance to him and why Feng Qing Ming would force him to accept it. But he knew that these inheritances were extremely valuable and were things that all the powerful beings would go crazy over.

Therefore, this giant kindness from them made him extremely appreciative.

“Oh well, to speak it simply, we are all dead. Keeping the inheritances to ourselves is pretty useless. Might as well help enhance your abilities.” Duan Shan He brandished his hand, looking a little tired.

He was, after all, just a soul now. To have just infused all his knowledge to a completion leveled cultivator naturally made him tired.

“Haha, stop flattering yourself.”

Liao Cang Qiong laughed, “Your inheritance is to make crafts. Speaking of enhancing battling capabilities it is bullsh!t. The Ancestor of Technique’s inheritance is better.”

Then, he shifted his gaze towards Fa Wu Liang. His intention was unclear.

Seeing this, Ling Xian’s shiny eyes turned heated. He still remembered clearly how the Ancestor of Technique only needed to wave his hand to increase technique abilities!

The ability to turn the ordinary into extraordinary was heaven-defying!

To receive such a heaven-defying inheritance, who wouldn’t want it? Even the omnipotent in the Taoism community would go crazy over it.

“You old man.”

The Ancestor of Technique laughed, “My inheritance can truly help with battling, but I cannot give it to him.”

After hearing this, the Immortals frowned. Even the Untainted lifted an eyebrow in question.

Ling Xian had passed his test and he had complimented Ling Xian greatly. Yet now, he was saying he didn’t want to pass down his inheritance?

Sensing everyone’s curious gaze, Fa Wu Liang grinned, “As you know, I only practice techniques, and do not cultivate my spiritual energy.”

“The only reason why my attacks just now were so powerful and could easily unleash them, was because I have reached a saint realm, which is why I was able to combine all those low leveled techniques.”

The Ancestor of Techniques paused and continued, “Other than the Technique of Convergence, I have nothing else to pass down to him. Do you understand now?”

Hearing this, the immortals nodded. Their questions disappeared.

The Ancestor of Technique’s ability wasn’t acquired through some insane path he followed, it was acquired through his understanding of techniques. Someone’s understanding of something cannot be taught, it has to be experienced and enlightened.

Therefore, even if he wanted to teach, he couldn’t.

However, the Immortal of Alchemist didn’t give up. He was focused on getting nice things for Ling Xian, “It’s true that you cannot make him enlightened with techniques. But what about the idea of convergence? It is the root of being able to squeeze the potential out of all low leveled techniques.”

“That is true. But do you really think Ling Xian needs that?”

The Ancestor of Technique grinned and peered at Ling Xian, “Though the art of convergence helps enhance techniques, as you saw, it posed no threats to him.”

Hearing this, the immortals nodded, agreeing to that fact.

It was true, the art of convergence was powerful, but no matter how powerful it was, it couldn’t stop Ling Xian.

Seeing this, the Ancestor of Technique grinned, “I can also combine higher leveled techniques. To in order to do so required a higher understanding of techniques. Even if I do pass what I know onto him, it will take at least a few centuries until he reaches the level of understanding required.”

“If that’s the case, then don’t you think we are wasting time?”

Fa Wu Liang grinned, “Plus, my specialty is only convergence. If I pass it on to Ling Xian, he will be stuck in the mindset that converging techniques is the only powerful move.”

The immortals nodded again.

The Ancestor of Technique wasn’t wrong. Even if Ling Xian did learn about convergence, he wouldn’t be able to unleash its true powers until he learns more techniques. Plus, he had the Eyes of Execution, had the unparalleled technique from the Untainted… he had no use for the Technique of Convergence.

It would take him a very long time to study and figure out unique ways to combine different techniques. If that happened, he would be wasting strength and time, wouldn’t that be a loss?

The immortals, however, didn’t really understand what the Ancestor of Technique meant by, “he will be stuck in the mindset that converging techniques is the only powerful move:”

Only the Untainted truly understood. He looked at the gentle and warm Ancestor of Technique and frowned, “So you don’t want Ling Xian to converge different techniques.”

“Yes, it seems like the Untainted guessed my plan.”

The Ancestor of Technique grinned and looked at Ling Xian, “I wonder if you have guessed my plan?”

“I am guessing you don’t want me to have fixated thinking. Rather than simply converging techniques, you want me to understand spiritual energy better and combine them instead, don’t you?” Ling Xian had a faint smile and guessed his plan.

“You sure are a nice seed. You know what’s going on.”

The Ancestor of Technique complimented, “I plan on having you walk the path of combining different forms of spiritual energies.”

Then, the immortals had a change of expression, including the Untainted.

Since the history of time, countless powerful beings have attempted to combine different spiritual energies to form even more powerful attacks. However, without exception, they all failed. Whether they were the powerhouses with historic names or those monstrous cultivators, nobody could combine spiritual energies.

It was because it was far too difficult.

Other than the overall spiritual energy that’s within every Taoist, there were also subcategories. For example, the 12 different peaks from the Wan Jian House had 12 slightly different types of Qi. If someone can combine them all, a newly formed Qi would be created.

It would also be a Qi that is completely unique.

Yet right now, the Ancestor of Technique wanted Ling Xian to walk such a difficult path. Why wouldn’t the immortals be surprised?

However, Ling Xian had a heated gaze and was eager to attempt it.

He had always loved challenges. Against a difficult problem that hasn’t been solved in the history of time, he was very ambitious. Plus, if he succeeded, his power would increase by 10 folds, not just one or two.

Similarly to the logic behind how the combination of low leveled techniques creates a much more powerful attack, can you imagine how much strength a combined Qi will exert?

The combination of different Qi’s… will it destroy the universe?

Ling Xian didn’t dare to imagine it. He was afraid that he would fall into a state of dream and end up being controlled by his own demons. However, this thought was rooted deep inside his mind, and it was hard to remove it.

“It seems like you like my suggestion.”

The Ancestor of Technique grinned, “The art of convergence is merely one method about using techniques. Passing it onto you will be useless to you and will restrict your way of thinking. Therefore, I only have one sentence for you – take risks with your deductions, but be careful with proving your deductions.”

“Take risks with your deductions, but be careful with proving your deductions.”

Ling Xian repeated and carefully remembered this statement.

“Okay, the Immortal of Crafts has given you his inheritance. What I have doesn’t suit you.”

The Ancestor of Technique kindly smiled, “However, as the first person to ever combine techniques, I can help you out a bit. If you ever run into problems, feel free to discuss them with me.”

“Yes, thank you for paving a new path for me.” Ling Xian asked earnestly.

Though the Ancestor of Technique didn’t give him anything directly, he definitely did open the door to a new path for him. As for whether or not he would succeed, it would depend on his abilities.

“You are exaggerating. I merely opened a window for you. As to whether or not you can succeed on this difficult path, it will depend on you.”

The Ancestor of Technique waved his hand, “Alright, it’s been a while since we have seen each other. It’s time for us to catch up.”

Ling Xian nodded softly. He formed a fist with one hand and cupped it with another. Then, he left the Painting of the Nine Immortals.

At this, the immortals exchanged glances and saw the high expectations in each other’s eyes.

They were excited about Ling Xian’s success!