Chapter 51: The Law Does Not Reach Six Ears

  The five masters who came before were all unusual and unconventional. The one who taught the scriptures was a thousand-year-old turtle, the one who taught the method of cultivating energy was a ghost with a strange temper, the one who taught the art of medicine was a young and fiery Taoist nun, the one who taught martial arts was a taciturn wine ghost, and the one who taught incantations was actually a spirit that had been dead for over a hundred years. The sixth master was completely different from the previous five. He was an elderly Taoist priest, about 70 years old, with a clear and thin face, white hair and beard, and a kind expression. He wore a coarse linen robe, had a gentle and elegant demeanor, and carried a white silk whisk in his hand as he walked slowly and leisurely.

  "Infinite Heavenly Venerable, respectfully welcoming the Daoist master." The crowd waited for the old Daoist to approach, bowing their heads in greeting.

  "It's all right, it's all right." The old Taoist smiled and waved his hand, then looked around at the crowd. "Good looks, good demeanor, you're all good young men."

  The old man smiled and spoke in a gentle tone, causing everyone to feel close to him. They bowed their heads again to thank the elder for his praise.

  "You little fox is quite interesting, why cover your face?" The old Taoist asked Ajiu with a smile.

  "Returning to the question of Chang, the universe's yin and yang, male and female have their differences. In order not to disturb the minds of fellow disciples, I, a junior, have taken this action." Ah Jiu replied.

  Lao Dao waved his hand repeatedly, "No, no, you clearly have whiskers on both cheeks and a frightening appearance, that's why you covered your face."

  The old man's words brought about a burst of laughter, and everyone knew he was joking, because Ah Jiu's face cloth had not completely covered his face, and there were no fox whiskers growing on his cheeks.

  Ajiu was not an ordinary woman, she didn't have any pretentious or affected mannerisms. Upon hearing the words, she wasn't shy or embarrassed, and spoke straightforwardly, "Master Dao, are you asking Tianxunzi to remove his headscarf?"

  The old man smiled and nodded, "You are a disciple of the Upper Clarity, a proud son of Heaven, not some nocturnal thief, quickly remove your mask."

  Ajiu heard this and didn't hesitate, and resolutely removed her veil. Mo Xun stood beside Ajiu, and after she took off the veil, he was too polite to glance sideways, so he didn't see what Ajiu looked like. However, he heard the gasps of surprise from the crowd, and presumably Ajiu's appearance was extremely beautiful.

  "It's much better now, let's go and talk inside the temple." The old Taoist stretched out his hand to point at the crippled Daoist standing at the door, "Your magical skills are quite impressive, but we can't let others hear about it."

  Everyone who heard this laughed again. This old Taoist was kind and witty, and it was truly a blessing for everyone to be able to learn from him.

  He didn't ask to follow the old way, and was the first to enter the temple. As he walked forward, his eyes didn't glance sideways, until he returned to his own seat before turning his head to look at Ah Jiu for a moment. His previous guess was not wrong, Ah Jiu was extremely beautiful, and her beauty was different from that of ordinary women. Ordinary women all have big eyes, straight noses, small mouths, red lips, and other merits, but Ah Jiu didn't have any of these. No one could point out where her beauty lay, yet it was precisely this kind of beauty without merits that was the ultimate in beauty. All men would like this kind of beauty.

  "Come, come, tell Lao Dao, what kind of magic do you want to learn? Tian Shu Zi, you first." Lao Dao smiled and opened his mouth to Mo Wen.

  He didn't ask back, he simply hadn't heard the old man's words. He wasn't captivated by Ah Jiu's beauty either. What he was thinking about now was that later generations would all mock King Zhou of Shang for being infatuated with Daji's beauty and losing his country. Both Daji and Ah Jiu were fox tribe women, if Daji's appearance was similar to Ah Jiu's, it would be difficult for anyone in the world to resist her temptation, including those "righteous scholars" who mocked King Zhou of Shang.

  "Never mind, Daozhang asks what kind of magic you want to learn?" Ah Jiu saw Mo Wen stunned and spoke up to remind him.

  Don't ask about the sound that made him return to his senses. He knew he had been absent-minded and impolite, so in a moment of quick wit, he bowed his head and said, "I don't know if you have any magical powers?"

  "All magical techniques are derived from the evolution of yin and yang. The ancient Tao has already clarified the principles of yin and yang, so naturally one can comprehend all sorts of techniques." The old Taoist smiled in response.

  Mo Wen was shocked to hear this, the old Taoist's words implied that he knew all kinds of magical arts, which didn't make sense and must be joking. "I have no requests, I'll follow whatever you teach me."

  "Magic is yin and yang. If I were to explain it in detail, even if I spent three hundred years teaching you, I wouldn't be able to finish. You each choose one, and I will teach you." The old Daoist smiled as he spoke.

  As soon as this was said, the six others were also stunned, and the kind old Taoist actually allowed everyone to choose a spell they wanted to learn and was confident that he could teach it.

  "Master Dao, if I wanted to learn how to turn stones into gold, could you also teach me?" asked Bai Li Kuang Feng tentatively.

  "This is just a trivial skill, do you really want to learn it?" The old Taoist heard the words and waved his hand, in an instant the entire East Hall was shining with golden light, doors, windows, beams, tiles, bricks and stones all turned into gold, dazzling under the sunlight.

  Many people came to Mount Wuliang after being shocked by various magical techniques and schools, but this time it was the most severe. Turning stones into gold is not easy, and transforming the entire Eastern Hall into gold, this person must be a superior immortal without a doubt.

  "Huai Dao Chang, I don't want to learn this." Bai Li Kuang Feng came back to his senses and waved his hands repeatedly. He didn't want to be a wealthy master either, having that much gold was useless.

  The old man smiled and nodded, raised his hand and waved again. The east hall returned to its original appearance, the wood was still wood, and the stone was still stone.

  "Vast Heaven Venerable, dare I ask what is the true person's Dao number?" Mo Wen stood up and bowed his head. This person was indeed an immortal, and could no longer be addressed as a Daoist priest.

  "Tian Shu Zi, what kind of magic do you want to learn?" The old Taoist asked back.

  Don't ask to see the old way, unwilling to reveal his identity, naturally dare not ask more, the fairy has many taboos, can't be rude and offend, but this person can teach people magic is true, choose what kind of magic must be carefully considered.

  "Hui Zhenren asked, and the junior replied, 'I want to learn the true words and finger techniques related to talismans.' After a brief pause, Mo Xian spoke up. Although the progress of talismanic skills is slow, if one practices to the extreme, all phenomena will be encompassed."

  Lao Dao heard this and slightly furrowed his brow, after a moment he raised his hand and pointed at Mo Wen, "Alright, greedy Tian Zhui Zi, as you wish."

  "Thank you, Master." Mo Wen hastily expressed his gratitude in surprise.

  "Junior wants to learn the secret art of alchemy." Ah Jiu didn't wait for the old Taoist to ask and bowed his head to speak.

  The old Taoist nodded again, "The method of external alchemy combines yin and yang, unites the five elements, selects medicine to refine the elixir, can save the world and rescue people. If you obtain the golden elixir, ascending in flight with your physical body is not a difficult thing either. I grant your request."

  Ajiu was also overjoyed when he heard this and hastily bowed his head in gratitude again.

  "Tiānzǐzi, what kind of magic are you looking for?" The old Daoist looked at Yè Xiāoyáo.

  "The junior wants to learn the Lingkong Famen." Ye Xiangyang's voice trembled with excitement.

  "Riding on clouds and driving through fog, roaming the nine states, looking down at the good and evil of human beings, viewing the suffering of all people." The old Taoist nodded calmly.

  "Junior, junior, I haven't thought it through yet." Liu Shaoying saw the old Taoist looking at him and nervously waved his hand repeatedly.

  "Yu Hengzi, what about you?" The old Daoist looked at Baili Kuangfeng.

  "May I ask, Immortal One, is there a way to make oneself invulnerable to swords and guns, with infinite strength?" asked Baili Crazy Wind in a loud voice.

  "There are ways to avoid being hurt by swords and soldiers, but can human strength be infinite?" The old Taoist slowly shook his head.

  "Seeking great strength, not seeking infinity." The hundred-mile wind was stirred up and trembled.

  "Alright." The old Taoist nodded and said.

  "Thank you, Master." Bai Li Kuangfeng bowed his head in gratitude.

  "What is it that you want, young one?" The old Taoist looked at Liu Song.

  "The junior wants to learn the art of change, and asks the true person to fulfill it." Liu Sheng spoke softly.

  "Okay."

  "Junior has no extravagant hopes, just wants to live a little longer." Qian Sui finally spoke up.

  In the past, everyone would have ridiculed Qian Sui, but now everyone's heart is extremely excited, and with Shang Xian present, no one dares to laugh at him.

  "There is a way of prolonging life that I can pass on to you. If there are no untimely disasters, it will increase your lifespan by three thousand years." The old Daoist nodded slowly.

  "Thank you, Master." Qian Sui bowed his head.

  "Really? I'd like to learn how to become invisible." Liu Shaoying chimed in immediately.

  Everyone who heard this thought it was laughable, this hidden method is of little use, and hiding one's head and tail is not glorious. However, Liu Shaoying is timid and afraid of trouble, so this method can indeed keep him safe and sound.

  "Alright." The old Taoist nodded again.

  The old Taoist finished speaking and smiled at the crowd. After a moment, everyone's face showed surprise, and they all closed their eyes one after another. Others didn't know what was happening, but in his mind, he heard the voice of the old Taoist, sometimes slow and sometimes urgent, saying the true words and finger techniques that matched the talisman. He didn't know why, but at this moment, his wisdom surpassed the ordinary, and for every sentence the old Taoist transmitted, he could remember one sentence. It wasn't until now that Mo asked understood that "not transmitting to six ears" didn't mean secretly teaching between master and disciple in the quiet of night, but rather openly bestowing divine teachings under the bright sky.

  After a stick of incense had passed, everyone opened their eyes at the same time, with different expressions, but mostly ecstatic.

  The old Taoist smiled and looked around at the crowd, "What you are seeking is mostly minor skills, but don't abandon the foundation for the sake of trivialities and mistake your cultivation. The Northern Dipper's fate has already been predetermined, but with the reversal of Qian and Kun, the fusion of yin and yang, even that predetermined fate can have variables. You should diligently cultivate yourselves in the future, often doing good deeds to help others, and avoid doing harm to people. If you do too many bad things, you will be punished."

  "We respectfully obey the true person's teachings." The crowd responded in unison, although the old Daoist was humorous and kind, but at this time, the crowd had already guessed that the old Daoist was not the ancestor himself, but rather a great golden immortal descending to the mortal world, so they naturally showed even more courtesy.

  The old Taoist smiled and nodded, turned around and walked out of the hall. "When people face unprecedented disasters and man-made calamities, if the man-made calamity does not stop, people will suffer for a hundred years. If the natural disaster is not alleviated, there will be no one on earth after a hundred years. Those who put an end to human suffering will live as long as heaven and earth, and those who alleviate natural disasters will be worshipped by all immortals."

  "Boundless Heaven Venerable, farewell to the True Person!" The crowd turned around and bowed southward.

  At this time, the old Taoist had already walked out of the temple gate and disappeared, leaving only a faint echo "Proclaiming the great way of Tai Shang, the heavenly decree, the upper clarity, the disciples will be saved on another day, the heavenly thunder will not pursue..."