Chapter 18: Deceiving Heaven and Crossing the Sea

  "The Five Spirits Transformation Technique" is actually a very practical technique. If a cultivator has two water spiritual roots and one wood spiritual root, then this cultivator can cultivate the Five Spirits Transformation Technique to bring out the power of the extra two water spiritual roots.

  According to Lin Lao's account, the Five Spirits Transformation Technique was a compulsory technique in the former Wulingmen. After all, people like Shi Chuan with pure spiritual roots are extremely rare.

  Practicing the "Five Spirits Transformation Technique" can slightly increase one's own strength, but for Ishikawa, practicing this technique is only to be able to cast water-based spells, and it doesn't have much use.

  So Ishikawa didn't study carefully either, just roughly learned some basic incantations and was barely able to operate the "Water Dragon Decision".

  Ten days later, Ishikawa appeared in front of Yunlao's cave mansion.

  The disciples guarding the cave mansion had only seen Ishikawa once, so they naturally forgot what he looked like. Moreover, Ishikawa was wearing the attire of an outer sect disciple.

  "Halt! This is Cloud Elder's place of quiet cultivation. How dare you intrude on your own?" the disciple shouted sternly.

  "In Xiashanjiang, I pay respects to Yun Lao and hope that Shixiong can pass on a message." said Ishikawa with respect.

  After a period of cultivation, Ishikawa was able to circulate the Water Dragon Decision. According to Lin Lao's words, the water-based strength displayed by Ishikawa should be close to the first layer of the Qi Refining stage.

  "Yun Lao also thinks he can just see whoever he wants, whenever he wants. How far away do you think I should roll?" The gatekeeper disciple cursed impatiently.

  "Let him in." A low voice came from within the cave.

  As Yun Changlao's foundation-building period cultivation, hearing the discussions outside the cave was a very easy matter.

  The gatekeeper's disciple looked at Ishikawa with a puzzled expression, nodded his head and gestured for him to go in.

  "Ishikawa, what brings you here?" Yun Lao's eyes were tightly closed, as if he didn't even want to look at Ishikawa.

  "Master, I know my talent is mediocre and I've let you down with your kindness. So for the past half year, I've been practicing day and night without stopping. Finally, yesterday I was able to master the 'Water Dragon Skill', so I came to see you immediately."

  "Really?" Yun Lao opened his eyes, looking at Ishikawa with some incredulity. He had already given up on Ishikawa, but unexpectedly, Ishikawa was actually able to wield the "Water Dragon Technique". In that case, he couldn't just let Ishikawa develop freely anymore.

  "Let it run once and see." Yun Lao still wanted to confirm.

  He mobilized one-tenth of the earth spiritual energy in Ishikawa, then used the Five Elements Conversion Technique to convert it into water spiritual energy, starting to circulate the Water Dragon Decision, while a part of the water spiritual energy directly covered his body surface.

  Before long, a thin layer of frost had formed on Ishikawa's eyebrows and hair, his complexion turned pale and bloodless, and his whole body was trembling.

  Ishikawa gritted his teeth and continued to circulate the "Water Dragon Classic" for a good half an hour. Finally, he managed to complete a large cycle, his body trembling like sieved flour, and his tongue somewhat unable to move: "Master... Master, how's my circulation of the 'Water Dragon Classic'?"

  Yun Lao said expressionlessly, "It's passable, you barely qualify as a beginner." However, in Yun Lao's heart, he was secretly astonished. Earlier, he had seen that Ishikawa had endured all sorts of suffering and still managed to persevere, and he couldn't help but think to himself, "This child has an unyielding temperament, and his innate talent is rare in a thousand years. If only he had the Water Spirit Root, it would be easy for him to take over the other four schools."

  However, that's just a fleeting thought. In an instant, Yun Changlao knew his stance. After Ishikawa cultivated the earth-based technique, he absolutely had no benefits for the Water Spirit Gate and instead benefited the Earth Spirit Gate.

  "Master, a few months ago, when I was practicing the 'Water Dragon Technique', there was always a sharp pain in my body, but I persisted and after several months of hard work, I finally succeeded." Ishikawa said hastily.

  "Now that you've mastered the 'Water Dragon Technique', I'll take you on as my entry-level disciple. As for other matters, go find the Executive Elder. If there's any progress in the future, come notify me immediately." Yun Elder closed his eyes again, indicating that Ishikawa should leave.

  "Thank you, Master." Ishikawa bowed respectfully and quickly left Yun Lao's cave.

  His back was covered in cold sweat. This bitter trick was thought up by Lin, and earlier, Shi Chuan could only disperse a portion of the Water Spirit's power to his skin surface, also to show that Shi Chuan's Earth Spirit Root cultivation was not suitable for water-based techniques. If Shi Chuan had been able to normally use the Water Dragon Technique, then it would have raised Yun Lao's suspicions.

  "Kid, I didn't deceive you, did I? This Cloud Elder thinks what I think, it's all clear in my mind. He absolutely won't take action against you personally. And don't worry, the higher your water-based cultivation reaches, the happier he'll be." Lin Old said with a boastful tone, seeing that his plan had succeeded.

  These principles Ishikawa naturally understood, a five-element cultivator of the earth attribute, the higher the level of water-based martial arts cultivation, the greater the probability of going crazy and entering madness, perhaps one day, suddenly dying in a fit of rage.

  Ishikawa looked at the small black token in his hand, this was the token of an inner disciple, something that countless outer disciples dreamed of having. Ishikawa sneered and tossed it into his bosom.

  To be honest, Ishikawa couldn't bear to part with the scrap warehouse of the Refining Workshop, so he decided to continue serving as the executive. Anyway, he had become an inner disciple, still Cloud Elder's inner disciple, and Hong Baozi couldn't not give him this face.

  "Hey, isn't this Ishikawa Shitei?"

  Ishikawa turned his head and saw a familiar face, Hua Xiong. Ishikawa didn't have a good impression of this person, so he didn't bother to greet him.

  "Wait, Ishikawa-senpai." Huaxiong ran over from a distance. "I heard that Ishikawa-senpai is in charge of the scrap warehouse and has plenty of free time. Since I'm free today, why don't we go to the school's tea room for a chat?"

  Menpai Teahouse, Ishikawa has heard of it. On the eighth day of each month, there will be a lecture by the elder of the foundation period, and at other times, it is a place for inner door disciples to exchange and cultivate their experiences.

  Of course, Ling Cha is not free either, so ordinary inner disciples can't afford it.

  "No need, I have some other things." Ishikawa refused directly.

  "Huh, you're one of those who don't drink when toasted but have to drink the penalty wine, right?" Huang Shu Lang appeared out of nowhere and said with a sarcastic tone.

  Ishikawa couldn't even be bothered to give him a glance, for this kind of clown, Ishikawa didn't want to waste his time on him.

  "Damn it, you want to die!" Huang Shu Lang was furious, although his status among the outer door disciples was not high, but an outer door disciple dared to speak to him like this, Shi Chuan was the first.

  Huang Shu Lang said so, but he didn't dare to take action. The rules of the Water Spirit Gate were extremely strict, and once a private fight was discovered, the punishment would be very severe.

  "Trash!" Hua Xiong watched as Shi Chuan's figure disappeared into the distance, viciously kicking Huang Shu Lang with a foot full of malice in his eyes.

  "What shall we do now, Brother Hua?" Huang Shu-lang asked, licking his face.

  "What's there to ask? You're an outer sect disciple, you should know how to handle it better than I do."

  ………

  Shi Chuan arrived at the Executive Hall, respectfully presenting his token. The elderly executive scrutinized Shi Chuan before saying in a deep voice, "As an inner disciple, you should be familiar with our rules. Water Spirit Sect rewards and punishes clearly, but we won't bend the rules for one person. Additionally, you may choose a place for quiet cultivation."

  The deacon elder waved his hand, and on the originally empty table surface, a huge scroll appeared, which was actually an overhead view of Shuiling Gate. On it, many small dots were densely marked, some red and some blue.

  "The red one means someone has already lived there, and the blue one means no one. You can choose whichever you like."

  These red and blue dots, most of which are densely concentrated together, should be the gathering place of the inner disciples. However, Ishikawa didn't want these people to live together. Ishikawa noticed that in a corner on the southwest side of the gate, there was a solitary blue dot, far away from other red and blue dots. He immediately asked: "Disciple wants to choose this place."

  "Here?" The elder steward looked at Ishikawa with an expressionless face, picked up Ishikawa's token and lightly tapped it, saying: "Alright, from now on, as long as you complete enough sect tasks every month, you will receive the corresponding spiritual stones and medicinal rewards. Otherwise, not only will you get nothing, but you will also be punished."

  "Thank you, Elder." Ishikawa put away the token and strode towards the room he had chosen for himself.

  The deacon elder looked at the distant figure of Ishikawa, his eyes narrowing into a line, and muttered to himself: "I really don't know whether to say you're clever or stupid, choosing such a place with thin spiritual energy, it's also reducing the speed of cultivation, and the probability of going crazy is also reduced."

  ………

  Ishikawa walked while studying the inner door disciple's rules.

  Don't look at it as just a small booklet, the things introduced inside are actually quite numerous. Just talking about this house, it's very particular. Each house has a special defensive formation, and only with an identity token can the formation be opened. If there is no identity token, at least four or five Qi-refining fifth-level cultivators would need to work together to open it.

  The defensive nature is not strong, but it's already enough to use.

  After arriving at the room, Ishikawa looked around and felt very satisfied. This place was far from the core location of the Water Spirit Gate, and it was quiet. Moreover, with the protection of this forbidden magic array, Ishikawa could feel at ease in breaking through the bottleneck of the fifth layer of Qi training, without having to worry about someone suddenly bursting in like they were in a warehouse every day.

  After changing the attire of the inner door disciples, Ishikawa returned to the outer gate and met with Hong Baozi. With the help of a few pieces of Ling Stone, Hong Baozi agreed in one mouthful, and Ishikawa remained as the steward of the waste warehouse.

  Ishikawa can also put his mind at ease, as long as he comes back regularly to replenish the waste products, the refining materials in the Earth Mother Stone will definitely accumulate gradually.

  However, as the number of forging materials increased, Ishikawa discovered another problem.

  The artifact wasn't just made from refined materials like Xuan Iron, Jing Gold, and Chi Copper. It also contained some beast bones and claws. However, when a similarly damaged artifact was placed in the Earth Mother Stone, it only condensed into Xuan Iron and Jing Gold, while the beast materials disappeared. There must be something strange about this Earth Mother Stone.