"The Ancestral Master told me that after my father emerged from seclusion, he went down the mountain to handle a significant matter for the sect, but it's unknown how long it'll take for him to return."
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Xu Erniu's eyes reddened, with tears shimmering: "I can't care about that damned father now; our lives are at stake."
Xu Erniu had transformed into a youthful and radiant maiden, her beauty exquisite like a celestial figure from a painting, graceful as a blooming lotus.
Zhang Chen knew Xu Erniu's words were contrary to her heart. He wanted to reach out and ruffle the maiden's hair to comfort her, but upon reconsideration, he withdrew his hand; the former young girl was now a grown lady, and he couldn't casually ruffle her hair.
Yet hearing Xu Erniu's words stirred a myriad of emotions in Zhang Chen's heart. He couldn't believe the Ancestral Master of Longevity would be so deceptive, using lies to deceive Xu Erniu.
"No rush to go down the mountain; things haven't reached that dire state yet," Zhang Chen said cheerfully, internally adding: "I can escape unharmed, but you can't. You're constantly monitored by the Longevity Thief Dao. Any slight disturbance could alert the demon, leading to huge trouble."
Zhang Chen knew he only had one chance to act or escape; if he failed, the Ancestral Master would mercilessly strike, and both he and Xu Erniu would suffer tragic consequences.
Zhang Chen reassured Xu Erniu for a while and then inquired about the Inverted Yin and Yang Great Divine Techniques: "How's your comprehension of the Inverted Yin and Yang going?"
"I've found some insights. Although I've barely grasped a hint of its mystery, it's truly incredible. Where did you get this divine technique? Even the divine techniques the Ancestral Master passed to me aren't as powerful as this one," Xu Erniu fixed her fiery gaze on Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen heard and responded with a cryptic smile, giving an irrelevant answer: "This divine technique is of great importance, remember not to divulge even a bit."
Xu Erniu nodded obediently, then said: "I'm going to do alchemy now, produce more elixirs to assist your cultivation of magical power, which can accelerate your progress. Your aptitude may be lacking, but I'll use elixirs to help you achieve the Immortal Path."
Xu Erniu left, leaving Zhang Chen standing silently under the banana tree, contemplating how to vanquish the Longevity Thief Dao.
"Logically, the simplest way to eliminate the Longevity Thief Dao is to incite his Heart Demon, or to lure him into the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, where he'll be inevitably doomed. Unfortunately, the Longevity Thief Dao isn't Monk Hai Chan; it's not easy to provoke his Heart Demon, nor does he have to enter the Nine Bends Yellow River Array," Zhang Chen continuously calculated various strategies, but each time, unless the Innate Peacock intervened, his chances of defeating the Longevity Thief Dao were less than one in ten thousand.
The gap in cultivation between them was too vast, leading to despair.
Zhang Chen transformed into a droplet, traversing the Nine Bends Yellow River Array, reaching the Nirvana of the Innate Peacock, where Monk Hai Chan's form was no longer visible, replaced by a cocoon flickering with five-color light, enclosing Monk Hai Chan.
"Celestial Silkworm Nine Transformations? What a truly incredible race," Zhang Chen's eyes reflected amazement as he approached to study the colorful cocoon, noting mysterious runes flashing across the cocoon, flowing with the profound mystique of the Innate Five Elements.
Zhang Chen observed the runes for a while and soon felt dizzy, his brain unable to withstand the immense influx of information, forcing him to shut his eyes.
"Such Innate Five Element profound mysteries are simply beyond the grasp of a mere mortal like me," Zhang Chen muttered, circled the cocoon, then activated his mark to sense the imprint. After confirming the opponent could not escape the shackles of the life-death mark even in Nirvana Rebirth, he left the great array contented.
"For me, as long as time prolongs until the Innate Peacock emerges from seclusion, victory is assured," Zhang Chen murmured to himself.
Time passed swiftly, and a month later, Zhang Chen looked at his Golden Finger Interface; the Golden Finger Points had surpassed thirty million, and the energy within his Devouring Space from the Ascension Pool was nearly depleted, leaving only a trace enveloping the Golden Wind Flower to prevent it from being consumed.
Zhang Chen's mind stirred, the Golden Finger Interface Points evaporated, and then the Golden Finger refreshed, with the skill interface flickering:
[Skill 17: Water, Wood, Fire Escape Technique (0\\10000000)]
[Points: 20000000]
As the Fire Escape Technique was conjured, a stream of information flooded Zhang Chen's mind, revealing profound Five Element mysteries and the intricacies of the Fire Escape Technique.
Zhang Chen took out a firestone and ignited the oil lamp on the table. The next moment, a thumb-sized flame rose from the wick, and Zhang Chen silently recited the incantation, simultaneously employing his magical power, causing his form to vanish into the flame, merging with the wick.
Unfortunately, he could only reside within the wick; without an extensive sea of fire, he couldn't escape.
Moments later, Zhang Chen jumped out from the wick and glanced at the Golden Finger Interface:
Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire; following this sequence resembles the Five Elements Escape Techniques, fostered by the succession of elements.
If following this principle, Fire creates Earth, then Earth Escape Technique should come next?
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen's heart was stirred. If he mastered the Earth Escape Technique, then the Five Elements Escape Technique would not just be a chicken rib. By using the Earth Escape Technique to leave, he could be as secretive as possible, and unless someone had the Celestial Eye or other Pupil Techniques, they wouldn't be able to detect Zhang Chen's whereabouts.
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen clicked directly, and the Golden Finger Interface flashed again:
[Skill 17: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth Escape Technique (0\\10000000)]
[Points: 10000000]
It really was the Earth Escape Technique!
At this moment, a stream of information poured into Zhang Chen's mind, a marvelous power circulated throughout Zhang Chen's body, and he immediately felt a familiar, homely sensation from the soil in front of him.
Zhang Chen stepped out onto the floor of the house, stood firm on the soil of the small courtyard, and as he silently recited the incantations and urged his magical power, a yellow light flashed, and Zhang Chen disappeared without a trace.
At this moment, Zhang Chen transformed into an earthen yellow glow, freely shuttling through the earth. It felt as if Zhang Chen had become a fish, and the earth had become a pond, allowing Zhang Chen to swim freely inside.
As for the roots, minerals, and other objects in the soil, Zhang Chen's Earth Escape Technique couldn't pass through them. He could only swim past the obstacles in front of him like a fish swimming by.
"Not bad! This Earth Escape Technique is quite practical, just the speed is not fast, almost no different from my normal running speed." Zhang Chen felt a bit disappointed comparing the speed of the Earth Escape Technique.
The Earth Escape Technique could only traverse through soil, not metals.
A moment later, Zhang Chen reappeared in the courtyard, looked at the remaining points, and added them directly:
[Skill 17: Five Elements Escape Technique (0\\10000000000)]
[Points: 0]
The Gold Escape Technique, naturally, doesn't need much explanation; it can escape through metallic minerals, though its functionality is somewhat of a chicken rib.
However, the Five Elements Escape Technique could actually be upgraded, and it required a billion points, which made Zhang Chen gasp in shock, "What kind of skill requires a billion points?"
"What would the next upgrade of the Five Elements Escape Technique be? Perhaps it involves Yin and Yang, right? This should be the Yin Yang Escape Technique, right?" Zhang Chen mused to himself, "If I grind out the Yin Yang Escape Technique, could I then grind out a Chaos Level Escape Technique? If we reason this way, it doesn't seem unreasonable. Not only is it not unreasonable, but it also seems very possible."
At this moment, Zhang Chen sensed the mysteries of the Five Elements Escape Technique, sensed the various essence and profound meanings of the Five Elements Escape Technique, and in the midst of it all, there was a more profound connection to the Innate Five Elements. Most importantly, there was a slight comprehension beginning in his understanding of the Five-Colored Divine Light. He felt that his past use of the Five-Colored Divine Light was overly crude, and his understanding of the Five Elements was too narrow.
"The Five Elements are omnipresent, and these five feathers are the essence of the Innate Five Elements, where the Authority of the Innate Five Elements lies." Zhang Chen stood in the courtyard thoughtfully, and even had a deeper understanding of the process when Xu Erniu urged plants to grow and sprout back then, seeing a bit of the secret. It was clearly the Authority of Wood Element at work, but Xu Erniu's methods were somewhat crude and not profound enough.
Zhang Chen pondered for a moment before saying, "Even if I see part of the mystery, it's not something I can manifest. It involves the intricacies of the Five Elements and even has a hint of Flower Opening in an instant. That girl doesn't only grasp the Five Elements Dao, she also grasps the Life Dao."
Just as Zhang Chen was deep in thought, Xu Erniu came again, carrying a small cloth bag, wearing a Daoist Robe, looking scruffy and rakishly like a boy, as she walked into Zhang Chen's small courtyard.
"Zhang Chen! Come out quickly. Recently, I have refined some new elixirs. Make sure you keep them carefully, in case we get injured when we go down the mountain in the future. These are life-saving treasures." Xu Erniu said, holding a small bundle, as she came to Zhang Chen, opened the package, revealing dozens of bottles and jars inside:
"There are ones for wound healing, muscle building, blood-stopping, and magical power regulation..."
"Are there any poisons?" Zhang Chen asked.
Xu Erniu was taken aback: "You're right, we're missing some harmful poisons!"
"This isn't difficult. I'll go back and refine a few furnaces of them. It's always better to be prepared," Xu Erniu said with a smile.
While speaking, Xu Erniu carefully took out a small bottle and said to Zhang Chen, "You have to keep this elixir safe and not lose it."
Seeing Xu Erniu solemnly handing over a small bottle, Zhang Chen's eyes were full of curiosity: "What is so special about this elixir?"
"You wouldn't know, but in recent years a fierce person has appeared below the mountain, wielding a knife that exudes a blood-red glow. Once struck, the victim bleeds endlessly and dies!" Xu Erniu said, "This elixir is for blood-stopping! The super blood-stopping kind!"