Chapter 100: The Five Spirit Technique (Please Subscribe!)

Could it be the shamans? Yes, it must be them. The shamans surely understand the secret realm and know how to avoid its dangers. Shang Lu pondered this, but a new question arose: it’s not surprising that the shamans know the secret realm well, but why does San Niang also seem so familiar with it? This question would have to wait until they returned to be answered.

After a moment’s consideration, Shang Lu cautiously asked, “Senior Uncle, do you know where my two senior brothers are now?”

He figured that the language and customs of the ancient sect in this region might differ from those of the Ba Kingdom, so their speech would likely have many differences. He had worried that the creature might not understand him, and was already thinking about how to communicate if that were the case. Yet to his surprise, the creature understood and replied:

“They are at the Dragon Transformation Pool. An older disciple brought a snake there, hoping to nurture it into a dragon. Unfortunately, his training methods were wrong—he was too eager and went astray. That snake can at best transform into a ‘jiao’... Strange, who taught him such a forbidden method?”

Shang Lu was astonished. Did the creature understand the Ba language? Or was there some magic here that translated languages? Regardless, being able to communicate was a good thing.

Just as Shang Lu was about to inquire further about the shamans, the creature beat him to it: “Your two senior brothers somehow got into a fight and are currently battling at the Dragon Transformation Pool.”

Two shamans fighting? They really weren’t on the same side!

Shang Lu wanted to learn where the Dragon Transformation Pool was but feared arousing suspicion. The name itself sounded like a landmark; as a sect disciple, he should know of such a place, or he might be suspected. Fortunately, San Niang should be able to find it.

By now, Shang Lu was nearly certain that San Niang had brought him into the secret realm mostly because of the strange snake about to transform into a ‘jiao’. The bloody meat paste he had eaten earlier had come from that very snake. Now that the snake was about to transform, its flesh and blood would surely have even more miraculous effects, benefiting his cultivation and breakthrough.

Not wanting to miss the opportunity, he was about to say goodbye to the creature and leave.

But just as he started to walk away, he was called back.

“Wait!”

The creature inside the molten pillar sized him up and down, its gaze filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

“Why is your strength so weak? Didn’t Junior Brother Chu teach you how to cultivate? And your evasive maneuvers just now had several errors and flaws. How did you learn them?”

Shang Lu’s heart sank. Could the creature have seen through him and realized he wasn’t a sect disciple? Although the creature was just a carving, it possessed the uncanny power to turn people into maggots. Unless he destroyed the molten pillar first, he stood no chance. Even destroying the pillar might not eliminate it.

Cold sweat broke out on Shang Lu’s brow as he scrambled for an excuse to bluff his way out.

Unexpectedly, the creature’s voice echoed in his mind again:

“Junior Brother Chu is lazy. I thought he’d become more responsible after taking on disciples, but apparently not. Well, since you called me Senior Uncle, let me take his place and teach you properly. Kid, this is how you practice the Five Spirits Skill—watch carefully.”

Shang Lu never imagined the creature would help him fabricate an excuse, let alone teach him a cultivation technique!

Suddenly, the carving on the molten pillar shifted. The creature vanished, replaced by a figure within the carving. The person’s face was indistinct, but his attire closely resembled Chu Yun, likely a disciple from this ancient sect.

He began demonstrating a skill within the carving.

Though the creature was gone, its voice continued resonating in Shang Lu’s mind, explaining the technique, sharing experience, and pointing out key details.

At first glance, the skill resembled the Five Beasts Nourishing Body Technique, which explained the creature’s earlier confusion.

However, this technique was inspired not by tiger, bear, ape, deer, and bird, but by five spiritual beasts: dragon, tiger, tortoise, phoenix, and qilin.

Hearing the explanation, Shang Lu’s heart surged. This skill was clearly superior to the Five Beasts Nourishing Body Technique. Having already mastered that technique, he possessed the experience to quickly grasp the Five Spirits Skill.

His eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on the carving, fearful of missing any detail. His body moved in tandem with the figure inside.

According to the creature’s introduction, the Five Spirits Skill comprised two parts: the cultivation method and the fighting techniques.

The cultivation method was gentle, meant to strengthen the body, fortify internal organs and meridians, enhance blood energy, and absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The fighting techniques, by contrast, were swift and fierce, designed for combat. The style varied with each of the five spiritual beasts—some domineering, some rapid, some cunning.

The figure in the carving soon demonstrated both the cultivation and fighting methods, while the creature detailed all key points in Shang Lu’s mind.

Then the figure disappeared. Just as Shang Lu thought the instruction was over, the postures of the dragon, tiger, tortoise, phoenix, and qilin appeared one after another within the carving.

The creature’s voice sounded again:

“Remember them. Whether cultivating or fighting, you can visualize these to fully unleash this skill’s power.”

It paused, then added, “It’s a pity the beast enclosure is empty now, or you could observe the real creatures for a deeper impression.”

Real creatures? So this ancient sect once raised spiritual beasts like dragons and phoenixes?

Shang Lu was amazed, his curiosity about this mysterious sect deepening. He kept his eyes glued to the carving, imprinting the postures, expressions, and aura of the five spirits in his mind.

In a trance, he felt his spirit enter the molten pillar, the carving, becoming the dragon, tiger, tortoise, phoenix, and qilin, experiencing their essence firsthand...

Only after the display ended did his spirit return to his body.

For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure if he was human or one of the five spiritual beasts.

The creature reappeared, yawning deeply with a sleepy expression: “You may go now. I need a good rest...”

Shang Lu respectfully performed a disciple’s bow, thanking the creature for teaching him the skill.

The creature nodded slightly without a word.

After finishing the salute, Shang Lu was about to leave and follow San Niang to the Dragon Transformation Pool.

But after taking a few steps, he turned back.

“Senior Uncle, can you teach me the ability you used to turn me into an insect earlier?”