Chapter 8 Mutual Assistance

  The term "Yanling" is rarely seen in ancient Chinese, to the point where Qian Yiqun still feels a bit of a Japanese flavor. In fact, long before the Japanese had language and writing, the ancient Shenzhou already had the concept of "Yanling". The fairy in the book claims to be from the time of Emperor Wu of Han, and her words and phrases retain some of the ancient rhyme. Seeing that Qian Yiqun didn't understand, she began to explain it carefully.

  It is said that the people of ancient times were innocent and pure, in harmony with yin and yang, and in accordance with the principles of numbers. The Taoist teachings and mystical arts complemented each other, as if they were divine. Among these people, there were some who could utter a single word and make it come true. Later generations thought this was "knowing before divination", but actually, it reversed the causal relationship.

  "We usually call this kind of person a crow's mouth." Qian Yiqun thought to himself.

  In the book, Xian smiled and said: "This is the power of 'words', it's also the embryonic form of incantations. Later, Cang Jie created characters and ghosts cried at night, precisely because he turned 'words' into 'characters', making the power of incantations solidify and last longer, thus becoming talismans. Incantations are divided into oral incantations and finger incantations, which are also variations of spirit words, with their roots still in spirit words."

  After Xian finished speaking in the audiobook, Qian Yiqun thought to herself: I didn't realize I had a talent for being a jinx before, is what she said reliable?

  "If it weren't for Xian Chang's words dispelling the charm of the heavenly spirits, how would I have known?" Xian laughed and said.

  "Is there another way to try?" Qian Yiqun was bewildered and ignorant, the illusion was like a dream, and after waking up, there were only faint marks left.

  Shu Zhong Xian thought for a moment, and secretly said to himself: If I teach him a spell, it will definitely be discovered by Bai Ze. It's better to let him go find Bai Ze. Having made up his mind, Shu Zhong Xian said: "This little slave doesn't know any magic, why don't you ask Bai Ze for the simplest incantation?"

  Qian Yiqun thought so too, but thinking of the price of a roasted lamb leg, it's a bit expensive. He had already made up his mind to deceive the fox, but unexpectedly ended up being deceived by the fox instead.

  The fox saw Qian Yiqun silent for a while, and now he couldn't help but glance at himself with his eyes, his heart racing, having some bad premonitions. He asked: "Why hasn't the roasted lamb leg arrived yet?"

  Qian Yiqun smiled and said, "Perhaps there isn't any ready-made at the shop, it's being roasted right now. Immortal, I've decided to learn this talismanic array, please give me a manual."

  "Hmph," the fox sneered, "these four paths are indeed profound techniques, but they're enough to exhaust a common person's lifetime of energy. Do you still want to master all four?"

  "It doesn't matter which one, please enlighten me, great master." Qian Yiqun's face was full of smiles, but his heart was filled with sorrow: why did others only need to open their mouths to learn something, while he had to work so hard?

  He didn't know that the secret art had always been passed on to disciples, not sons. In this era, if you want to learn something real, three years of carrying water and chopping firewood, three years of carrying water and chopping firewood, nine years of hard work, if you can get the true transmission of the true technique, it's already very rare.

  Rebirth and reincarnation are all unexpected by heaven's way, just like a condom breaking, do you really think of yourself as the king of heaven?

  The fox's eyes rolled around, and it said quietly: This little guy has a strong desire for revenge. If he gets into trouble, where can we go to eat? If we don't give him some sweet treats, I'm afraid we'll have to call someone like Butcher to skin us again...

  "Alright," said the fox with a pretentious air, "I'll make an exception and teach you the Dust-Evasion Technique."

  "What's the trick to avoiding dust?" Qian Yiqun was taken aback.

  The fox thought Qian Yiqun looked down on him, so he hastily said: "This trick is very easy and simple, but it's the foundation. All immortals start with this practice! If you can learn it within three days, it proves that your talent is not bad, and I'll teach you a new one." After speaking, the fox secretly smiled to himself: anyone who has some cultivation will learn the Dust Avoidance Technique, but not because of "foundation", but to maintain their own image as a superior being.

  This trick can only prevent clothes from getting dusty and has no other effect, and it can't even avoid soup stains.

  Qian Yiqun originally had some disdainful meaning, but after hearing Hu Li say so, he naturally thanked him and decided to learn one anyway, which would also be considered truly stepping into that mysterious door.

  The fox first talked about the calming and peaceful entry method, and let Qian Yiqun try it. Qian Yiqun only felt that the azure sea in his body gradually calmed down, and soon not even a wave was stirred up, and he entered an extremely calm state. The fox had never been reincarnated as a human, so naturally didn't know that the gate of Lang Huan's courtyard, apart from absorbing the spiritual energy of the person opening it, could also make people reflect on their inner selves.

  Not to mention the fox spirits, even other cultivators may not know. Because when they learned about the great secret of Lang Huan's courtyard, their own cultivation had already reached the level where they could reflect on themselves.

  As a novice cultivator, Qian Yigun didn't know that this was his true self's Sea of Consciousness, he only knew that every time he saw this vast ocean, he felt a kind of serene and tranquil feeling that made him forget about the distinction between himself and the world. He recalled those two mighty water dragons, and vaguely guessed that this was the source of his power, which might also be what the fox spirit referred to as "Lingyun".

  Just then, a loud noise suddenly came from the sea, shattering the calmness that had just been restored. A series of eerie sounds invaded Qian Yiqun's heart and finally condensed into two words.

  Qian Yiqun opened his eyes, with a hint of divine light in them. He muttered to himself: "Avoid dust!" In an instant, a gentle breeze rose from under Qian Yiqun's feet, blowing against the hem of his pants and the edge of his sleeves, swirling around him and gathering at the top of his head, forming a thin layer of air that enveloped him completely.

  The fox was stunned, and although the Dust Evasion Technique was a common trick, it was rare for someone to use it so skillfully on their first try.

  Qian Yiqun looked down at himself and said discontentedly, "Nothing has changed."

  The fox tilted its head, its tongue licking the edge of its mouth, feeling an itch on its gums, as if it wanted to bite out blood.

  Even if it was an ancient spiritual species, having seen countless superior talents, seeing Qian Yiqun use the Dust Avoidance Technique with such ease still made it feel a twinge of envy and jealousy. It quickly comforted itself, thinking that if its true form were to be revealed, this kind of mystic technique would be beneath its notice.

  "Can't you teach me something useful?" Qian Yiqun looked at the fox, suddenly enlightened, and changed his flattering tone from earlier. He said with a serious expression, "Now that you're just an ordinary fox spirit, it seems like you don't have any way to protect yourself either. Why not teach me some practical mystic techniques? In the future, I can also protect you! You're the first spiritual creature I've ever met, if I don't help you, who will?" He spoke with utmost sincerity, and even he himself believed it seven or eight parts out of ten.

  What kind of fox is a fox if it's not suspicious? Although I couldn't deny the reasonableness of his words, I only believed one or two parts. A cunning smile spread across the fox's face: "Your words are correct, but as people often say: 'Husband and wife are birds in the same forest, when disaster strikes they fly separately.' Even husband and wife can be like this, let alone us who have just met by chance - how can we easily trust each other? I know many mysterious skills, but I don't dare to mislead bad people!"

  Qian Yiqun heard that there was a play and hurriedly asked: "Does the great immortal have any instructions?"

  "You and I have exchanged blood, neither of us will deceive the other. Naturally, I will impart all my knowledge to you," said the fox. "If you are destined to enter the realm of divine communication, help me with one task."

  "What's wrong?" Qian Yiqun's heart tightened, and his neck shrunk back in fear of that "Divine Realm".

  "We're tired of reincarnating, want to be reborn with a clear spirit and form a spiritual body. At that time, you'll have to lend us a helping hand." The fox was serious. As an ancient spiritual species, although its wisdom was not lost, but reincarnation was beyond its control. If it could choose for itself, it would have chosen to be born human long ago, at least without the danger of being skinned and made into medicine.

  Qian Yiqun thought to himself: It's just one arm, I won't be able to use both hands!