Thinking of the Qi Cultivation Technique, Xie Lingyun suddenly had a flash of thought. She remembered Xiaodouding previously saying Zhang Chen had gone crazy, mumbling all day about cultivating immortality through Qi Refining...
At this thought, Xie Lingyun’s gaze towards Zhang Chen subtly changed, and countless thoughts rose in her mind in an instant.
"You need not worry, it’s just some trivial Talismanic Technique which I don’t care about at all," Zhang Chen said to Xie Lingyun while picking up the vermilion brush in front of the desk.
"Let me explain to you now the method of making amulets," he continued.
Without changing her expression, Xie Lingyun watched Zhang Chen as he carefully explained the drawing method of the ’Suppression’ silver talisman to her, holding nothing back. As he painted the symbols, Zhang Chen thought to himself: "If I only teach her useless talismans, with Xie Lingyun’s wisdom, it would surely raise her suspicion. I need an excuse so that if she fails to draw the talisman, it’s her fault rather than mine."
Moreover, Zhang Chen had another worry. Xie Lingyun had guided him in Martial Dao these days and had quite a bit of physical contact with him. He wondered if she had detected his Qi Cultivation Technique. If she realized his magical power and he stayed silent, he might end up outsmarting himself.
"The key to drawing talismans is actually Qi cultivation," he suddenly said, pulling Xie Lingyun’s mind back from her flurry of thoughts as she watched him draw talisman lines.
"Qi cultivation?" Xie Lingyun was taken aback by his words, having assumed Zhang Chen was trying to hide something and was using an ineffective Talismanic Technique to appease her. She never expected to hear this word from Zhang Chen.
When the word jumped from Zhang Chen’s mouth, Xie Lingyun was utterly stunned, a thought rose within her: "Have I misunderstood him?"
Zhang Chen didn’t notice the change in Xie Lingyun’s expression. He continued to draw the talisman infused with Golden Light and said to himself, "Years ago, I acquired a scripture named ’West Ascension Scripture.’ As I pondered it, I suddenly felt a mysterious flow of energy arising within my body, very strange indeed."
"And the most important thing for drawing talismans is this flow of energy. Only by infusing this energy into the talisman can it exhibit incredible effects," Zhang Chen told Xie Lingyun.
Upon hearing these words, Xie Lingyun’s pupils contracted, her eyes shimmering with a trembling light, as a surge of indescribable excitement rose in her heart.
Qi Cultivation Technique! The most legendary, mysterious Qi Cultivation Technique, is it real? Did the young man in front of her truly grasp the legendary Qi Cultivation Technique? Otherwise, how to explain the talisman?
"You want to practice drawing talismans, but you still need to comprehend the Qi Cultivation Technique," Zhang Chen said after finishing the talisman and looked up at Xie Lingyun.
"Are you willing to teach me the Qi Cultivation Technique?" Xie Lingyun’s eyes were full of disbelief. This was a mysterious heritage, even great nobility could barely access the core of it.
"I can’t teach you the Qi Cultivation Technique, because I don’t even know how the qi sensing emerged. All I can do is show you the Qi Cultivation Technique I have seen, and whether you can cultivate it depends on your own talent and understanding," Zhang Chen replied to Xie Lingyun.
He had studied the Fragment of the Western Ascension Scripture before and found it useless. Once the Fox Spirit retrieved the fragment, he set it aside. Now it’s perfect for confusing Xie Lingyun.
They say nine truths and one lie is the most misleading.
The West Ascension Scripture is real, the Talismanic Technique is real, but the Qi Cultivation Technique is false.
Could a fragment of the West Ascension Scripture cultivate anything?
Furthermore, Zhang Chen also thought that this world must have unearthed many ancient tombs, so it might not lack Qi Cultivation Techniques. If he managed to use fragments to entice Xie Lingyun, could he acquire other Qi Cultivation Techniques from her and continue cultivation without the Yellow Heaven Dao’s techniques?
Countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Chen’s mind, and he devised his little plan. He also wanted to leave himself a retreat. If he couldn’t successfully obtain the Qi Cultivation Technique within Yellow Heaven Dao, maybe he could find another way through Xie Lingyun.
As he spoke, Zhang Chen took off his clothes and then tore off the West Ascension Scripture sewn inside, handing it to Xie Lingyun: "The Qi Cultivation Technique I comprehended was perceived while reciting the West Ascension Scripture. If you wish to comprehend the Qi Cultivation Technique, all I can do is give you this West Ascension Scripture, and whether you can sense the Qi Cultivation depends on your talent and whether you have the opportunity for creation."
Zhang Chen looked at Xie Lingyun with pure, sincere eyes, and facing those eyes as clear as water made Xie Lingyun’s heart tremble uncontrollably, a surge of unspeakable shame overwhelmed her.
Shame on Xie Lingyun!
She was almost suspecting this pure young boy was hiding something, suspecting he was an old hand trying to fool her.
"Smack~"
Xie Lingyun suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself fiercely, causing her face to turn bright red, filled with anger at her own filthiness: "I deserve death! I really deserve to die!"
Xie Lingyun felt she deserved a thousand cuts!
She believed she was tainted, having such filthy thoughts. The young man before her was like pure snow; the whiter and purer he was, the more he contrasted with her own unworthiness.
"Why are you hitting yourself?" Zhang Chen watched Xie Lingyun’s actions, feeling a bit inexplicable.
Xie Lingyun didn’t answer Zhang Chen’s question but took a deep breath and tremblingly accepted the West Ascension Scripture. She could feel the mysterious power flowing through the scripture, convincing her the young man was not lying.
"You really gave me the scripture?" Xie Lingyun was somewhat incredulous.
In this age, countless martial artists fight desperately for the pursuit of mysteries, betraying brothers, turning against spouses, sons fighting fathers, all kinds of tragic events unfolding. Yet, it seemed the young man before her was handing out a simple book, giving her the West Ascension Scripture, it was hard for her to believe.
Or perhaps the young man had overturned her previous understanding, challenged people’s attitudes towards treasures, and deeply shook her soul.
"What harm is there in giving it to you? Ancestors created techniques to spread them and let people cultivate them, right? I have already memorized its contents and comprehended the Qi Cultivation Technique. Giving you the West Ascension Scripture doesn’t hinder my Qi Cultivation," Zhang Chen said with calmness.
Xie Lingyun clutched the West Ascension Scripture and vehemently slapped herself again, leaving a blood-red mark on her tender face.
"Why do you keep hitting yourself?" Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. Was the lady before him possessed by a Celestial Demon? Or had she gone insane, turning into someone crazy?
"I deserve death!" Xie Lingyun sighed softly, her voice filled with helplessness.
"Don’t you have any request at all? Wealth, beauty? Or other conditions, like becoming an official, everything could be arranged. If you want, I can make the decision to recruit you into the Inspection and Supervision Department, as part of it," Xie Lingyun said, her eyes staring at Zhang Chen earnestly, wanting to do something for this pure young man.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen scratched his head. In the past, joining the Inspection and Supervision Department with a great backer would have been ideal, but ever since he showed off before Xie Xuan, he completely lost interest.
Why is that?
With prolonged exposure over the years, any skill he hid would eventually be discovered, leading to many uncertainties. What if these sharp people turned their attention to him, coveting the secrets he held? Then he would be in trouble.
So answering Xie Lingyun’s offer directly, Zhang Chen simply shook his head, "Life in the mountains is just fine."