Chapter 17: Three Years of Teaching at Wudang, Duobao Gifts a Golden Lotus Upon Parting
The ancient trees were lush, cranes cried, cicadas sang, phoenixes danced, and everything on Golden Turtle Island was incomparably peaceful.
Under the trees, Wudang sat quietly on a mat, and in front of her, Li Mingzhu also sat quietly.
"Mingzhu, now that you've entered our Jie Sect, what do you wish to learn?"
Wudang opened her eyes and looked at Li Mingzhu gently, smiling as she spoke.
Li Mingzhu was a bit speechless upon hearing this, resisting the urge to complain: you're the teacher, whatever you teach, I'll learn, why ask me what I want to learn.
I want to learn how to become a Saint, can you teach me?
However, Li Mingzhu answered seriously, "Disciple wishes to learn arrays and also to learn the Upper Pure Immortal Skill and various Daoist Skills."
This was practically praising the Jie Sect indirectly, as everyone knows these two are formidable in the sect.
"Array, Upper Pure Immortal Skill, Daoist Skills, they all fall under the category of magic. Overall, in the Primordial World, the various cultivation systems are simply two paths, magic and body, which one do you choose?"
Wudang didn't mind Li Mingzhu's flattery, instead, she smiled and explained to Li Mingzhu.
"Is array also a part of magic cultivation?" Li Mingzhu asked, honestly, he never considered this question before.
"Any power that manifests in the form of mana is considered part of magic cultivation," Wudang explained.
It turns out there's such a saying, Li Mingzhu seemed to open a door to a new world, and some things he didn't understand before suddenly became clear.
For example, previously, Li Mingzhu foolishly separated sword cultivation and magic cultivation, believing them to be two different systems. Now it seems sword cultivation also falls under magic cultivation, although it somewhat strikes at the pride of sword cultivators, that is ultimately a fact.
"So what kind of magic will the teacher teach the disciple?"
Li Mingzhu asked with a smile, which caught Wudang a bit off guard, then she laughed heartily, initially thinking Li Mingzhu would ask about body cultivation, but did not expect this disciple to be so unconventional.
"I will naturally teach you the fundamental methods of our Jie Sect. The Daoist methods inherited from Nuwa are indeed exquisite, but when it comes to offense, they cannot compare to our Jie Sect's Upper Pure Immortal Skills. Additionally, I will teach you Pangu's True Body Cultivation Method."
Wudang finally got to the point and at the same time, pointed to Li Mingzhu's head, transmitting both magic and body techniques.
Wudang transmitted the methods, and Li Mingzhu received them diligently.
"In the Enlightenment Pavilion, there are a myriad of Daoist skills of our Jie Sect, as well as countless arrays. You can learn them on your own. After mastering them, go see your senior uncle once, then you can leave on your own. I'm returning to Wudang Mountain."
After the transmission was complete, Wudang drifted away, leaving only these words.
One cannot help but admire the strength of a Saint's inheritance. It took Li Mingzhu three days to only start on the Upper Pure Immortal Skills.
In fact, it was fortunate Zhao Gongming and the others didn't know, otherwise, they'd be green with envy. They took a full month to get started back then, and even Duobao took half a month.
After all, it's the authentic Pangu inheritance. Though Nuwa's Chaos Creation Skill provides countless transformations, it ultimately cannot compare to it.
What is Pangu's True Body Cultivation Method? If you want to find the true one, you can only seek it from the Witch Clan. The Pangu Body Refining Technique of the Human, Chan, and Jie sects is actually created by Tongtian based on the Witch Clan's body refining methods, named the Nine Revolution Profound Skill, which Yang Jian also cultivates.
Now, Li Mingzhu has officially started cultivation, with his Innate Taoist Body granting him swift progress.
In just three months, Li Mingzhu pushed the Nine Revolution Profound Skill to the Third Transformation, equivalent to the True Immortal Realm.
With the departure of the Wudang Saint Mother, only Duobao remained among the elders on Golden Turtle Island, and Duobao did not care for him, allowing Li Mingzhu to enjoy his freedom, spending every day in the Enlightenment Pavilion.
As Wudang said, any energy that manifests in the form of mana is magic cultivation, so Li Mingzhu also gave up his past life's obsession with sword cultivation.
He studies all skills, as long as he finds them useful, including arrays he dabbles in.
The benefit of this is a wide range of knowledge and many spells to use against enemies, but the downside is obvious: knowing everything superficially.
But for fighting in the Mortal World, it's more than sufficient; not to mention Li Mingzhu possesses the Qiankun Ring and Huntian Ribbon, two Innate Spiritual Treasures, whose power is magnified under the restrictions of heaven and earth rules in the Mortal World.
Unless one's Daoist skills far exceed his, as long as you're not at a quasi-sect leader level, you might just get taken down by an unknown pawn wielding a powerful spiritual treasure.
Therefore, besides spiritual treasures, the physical body and close combat are equally crucial in the Mortal World. Naturally, Li Mingzhu spends more energy on cultivating the Nine Revolution Profound Skill, now at the Fourth Transformation, equivalent to the peak of the Taiyi Profound Immortal.
Heaven and earth rules can cut off mana but cannot cut off the physical body, so Li Mingzhu's Fourth Transformation of the Nine Revolution Profound Skill equals real Taiyi Profound Immortal power in the Mortal World.
This is why during the Great War of Witches and Monsters, the Demon Clan was driven from the Primordial Land by the Witch Clan. As long as their feet touch the ground, the Witch Clan is invincible.
One day, Li Mingzhu stepped out of the Enlightenment Pavilion, his white Daoist robe fluttering as he slowly walked towards the Wanhua Tree, covering a hundred feet with each step, Shrinking Ground to Inches.
It has been three years. Li Mingzhu has learned all he could on Golden Turtle Island. Staying longer would not yield much improvement, so he plans to leave.
He misses home a little after three years away.
If not for Wudang's instructions, Li Mingzhu wouldn't even bother to see Duobao, always feeling something is about to happen, his mind restless recently.
"Disciple Li Mingzhu requests to see Senior Uncle."
Outside the flowerbeds near the ancient tree, Li Mingzhu called towards Duobao under the tree.
"Come over, there's no need for so many formalities." Duobao raised his hand, and a small path appeared under Li Mingzhu's feet.
"Not bad, the Nine Revolution Profound Skill has reached the Fourth Transformation, and your cultivation is at the peak of the Profound Immortal. The reason for calling you aside from giving you the greeting gifts from your uncles, is also to give some instructions."
Duobao brushed the air in front of Li Mingzhu, and suddenly treasures and exotic fruits appeared, all exquisite Primordial World items.
Li Mingzhu did not stand on ceremony, accepting them all, not refusing any gift.
"Once you leave Golden Turtle Island this time, don't return without a significant reason. Also, don't disgrace the reputation of our Jie Sect outside, and don't bully others with the sect's name... these are the sect's rules, I hope you'll remember them."
Duobao spoke earnestly, instantly transforming into a nagging grandmother, making Li Mingzhu drowsy, feeling like he was being taught like a child.
....
"Finally done, don't think I'm nagging, though I am a bit, these are master ancestor's requirements, I can't help it either!"
Duobao sighed, looking helpless.
Li Mingzhu glanced at Duobao to show understanding, just not expecting Tongtian to be so warm-hearted. Although these things were nagging and called sect rules, they were more like advice and concern from elders to the younger generation.
Judging from Duobao's expression, this seemed customary, which burdened this Senior Uncle of his.
"Li Mingzhu, keep this well."
Duobao took out a freshly bloomed golden lotus, meticulously handing it to Li Mingzhu.
"Senior Uncle, why is this?" Li Mingzhu asked, his heart vaguely guessing.
"There's no need for so many whys, I tell you to keep it, so you keep it." Duobao said with slight anger, yet his face showed satisfaction.
"Thank you, Senior Uncle. Disciple takes his leave." Li Mingzhu dared not ask more, bowing as he left.
"Go on!"
Duobao turned around, facing the ancient tree.