darknovel Chapter 36 [The Three Incarnations of the Turbid Daoist]
Chapter 36 [The Three Incarnations of the Turbid Daoist]
"Looks like I'm in luck. I was just about to start my Foundation Establishment when I found this opportunity."
He muttered to himself, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes. Jia Yu, backed by the Zhen family, cultivated the "Blood Sea Returning to Origin Dragon Demon Scripture." He had likely acquired this item as preparation for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage and condensing the Blood Sea Dragon Demon Dao Foundation.
Now that the person is dead and their spirit has vanished, this opportunity has fallen into their own hands.
This stone is good, but it may not be suitable for me. Selling it as stolen goods or exchanging it for other resources would be a good choice. If there is really no better place to put it, letting that evil dragon devour and absorb it may also help increase its power.
Foundation Building is the first major hurdle on the path of cultivation, concerning the foundation of one's path, and allowing no room for carelessness. Cultivators must hone their own magical power to perfection, and then find a rare and precious material that suits their path as a catalyst, absorbing its essence in order to forge their foundation.
The Foundation Building method mentioned in the "Killing and Refining the World Scripture" is extremely difficult. The required Dao Foundation is called the "Three Worlds Turbid Dao Lord," which requires the collection of three specific spiritual objects. Its purpose is to subtly align with the Daoist concept of "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones" from the previous life, aiming to differentiate into three bodies. It is extremely profound and difficult.
"However, this matter cannot be rushed." Xu Changqing pondered calmly, "I have just learned the Pure Yang Sword Dao Immortal Scripture, and the first thing to do is to condense the sword seed. The sword seed is the foundation of sword light, and it is also an excellent method for tempering magic power and purifying divine consciousness. Once the sword seed is condensed and I have a precise control over my own magic power, then I can plan the foundation building process with a greater degree of success."
"Let's take advantage of this gap and make a sacrifice to see what good stuff the old devil can spit out."
Xu Changqing focused his mind on his sea of consciousness and summoned the Demonic Path Altar.
"Old Ghost, dinner's ready."
Xu Changqing didn't say much. With a thought, he pushed several techniques toward the altar while chanting to the altar of the Demonic Path.
"Old Ghost, give me a Dragon Body Cultivation Method and a Transformation Technique."
Xu Changqing took the opportunity to explore the depths of the mysterious altar.
Amidst the flickering patterns, a deep, satisfied hum emanated from the depths of the altar, as if a gourmand had just finished enjoying a delicious meal.
Then, the eerie light receded, and three lists of cultivation techniques, each emanating a distinct aura, slowly unfolded in Xu Changqing's consciousness.
The first one is called "The Scripture of Boundless Longevity and Heavenly Transformation: The Donkey Transformation Technique".
The name made Xu Changqing's eyes twitch slightly. He immediately thought of the gray donkey whose mind was trapped in the body of a donkey, and stared at it intently.
[The "Longevity Without End Heavenly Transformation Scripture - Donkey Transformation Technique": A fragment of the fundamental scripture of the Longevity Sect. All beasts represent longevity. It involves refining the essence and blood of living beings, observing their spirit, imitating their form, seizing their innate lifespan, and strengthening their innate destiny. The Donkey Transformation Technique, if practiced, allows one to transform into a strong donkey, running like lightning, carrying loads as heavy as mountains, possessing extraordinary endurance, and also gaining the ability to move through the earth and burrow underground.]
The price of taboo:
First, practicing this art will incur divine wrath. Each time one completes a transformation, one will inevitably suffer a calamity corresponding to the category of the creature being transformed into. The calamity of the donkey transformation often involves the misfortune of being struck by earth and stones, the hardship of carrying heavy loads, or the torment of being whipped and driven.
Second, through repeated practice, the physical body and soul gradually become tainted with bestiality, the appearance becomes distorted, and the mind is easily influenced by the instincts of the transformed beings, leading to confusion and madness. The deeper the transformation, the more difficult it is to return to the original human form.
...]
"To steal lifespan and force a new life, to transform living beings... the price is to gradually become inhuman, and to be accompanied by calamities." Xu Changqing pondered.
The second technique is called the "Taiyuan Ascending Dragon Scripture".
[The *Taiyuan Ascending Dragon Scripture*: It draws upon the most yin and malevolent energies—the Yin Sha of the Nine Netherworlds, the wicked energy of the Blood Sea, and the turbid currents of the earth's veins—to refine the dragon's body. With each refinement, the dragon's body becomes increasingly solid and powerful, granting it the ability to wield true dragon supernatural powers. Upon perfect refinement, it can transform into the Taiyuan Evil Dragon, entering and exiting the Netherworld, and wielding the power of calamity and strife.]
The price of taboo:
First, each refining process requires guiding the evil spirits with one's mind to cleanse the essence of the dragon's body. The pain is comparable to being slowly sliced to death. One must also keep a clear mind in one's spiritual realm, otherwise the dragon's body will disintegrate and the mind will fall into the sea of evil.
Second, by practicing this method, one's dragon nature deepens, and evil spirits entangle the soul. If one is not careful, one will fall into madness and violence.
...]
This "Taiyuan Rising Dragon Scripture" is clearly prepared for the evil Qi Demon Dragon. Although the price is severe, its future growth potential is great.
The last technique originated from the painted skin. After being deduced and completed at the altar, it was named the "Thousand Transformations Skin Demon Scripture".
[The *Thousand Transformations Skin Demon Scripture*: One of the fundamental techniques created by the Thousand Transformations Demon Lord, specializing in the art of "appearance." It can peel the skin off all spirits, refining it into "appearances." Wearing these appearances allows one to alter their form, aura, and some innate supernatural abilities, becoming so lifelike that it's difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. At its deepest level, one can forge the "Thousand Transformations Divine Banner," capable of a thousand transformations in a single thought, creating countless forms.]
The price of taboo:
First, each time a "skin" is refined, it must withstand the impact of the original owner's resentment before death. The mind must subdue and digest it, otherwise the skin will backfire, causing the appearance to rot and the soul to be damaged.
Second, if one wears the persona of another for a long time, one's true self will gradually become blurred, and memories and emotions will be easily influenced by the residual effects of the original persona, risking a loss of self. The more frequent the changes, the greater the risk of losing oneself.
Third, when encountering practitioners of pure Yang, Haoran, or Buddha Light cultivation, one's true nature is easily exposed, and one may encounter their restraint.
"This is similar to the approach of that painted-skin corpse, but it's much more sophisticated," Xu Changqing thought to himself.
The art of transformation is highly practical, proving remarkably effective for concealment, espionage, and escape. The main cost lies in the mental strain and the risk of becoming disoriented, and it is also subject to limitations.
However, since he has mastered the "Killing and Refining the World Scripture" and also obtained the "Pure Yang Sword Immortal Scripture," he is not lacking in willpower or the power to ward off evil, which may offset some of the negative effects.
Each of the three techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the taboos and consequences are increasingly bizarre and dangerous.
Xu Changqing closed his eyes in deep thought, his fingertips tapping lightly on his knees.
The "Longevity Without End Heavenly Transformation Scripture: Donkey Transformation Technique" allows one to glimpse the wonders of transformation and lifespan-snatching, but the dangers of beast transformation and heavenly tribulations are too great. At this stage, it is not worth the loss. Let's wait until there are more transformations to exchange for it later.
Anyway, the cultivation techniques that appear in the Demonic Altar will not disappear from the exchange section even if you don't exchange them.
The "Taiyuan Rising Dragon Scripture" was specially designed for the Evil Qi Demon Dragon, which can greatly enhance the strength of this clone. Although the price is severe, it is borne by the clone and has a less direct connection with the main body.
The "Thousand Transformations Skin Demon Scripture" fills the gap in the ability to conceal and change, making it highly practical. The cost is relatively clear, and as long as one is determined, knows how to avoid it, and uses it as an auxiliary rather than the fundamental method, the risk is controllable.
"Don't bite off more than you can chew. Now that I have obtained the Pure Yang Sword Immortal Scripture, this method is upright and has boundless potential. It is the fundamental path. The most urgent task at present is to condense the sword seed and purify the magic power to lay a solid foundation for foundation building. These techniques can be used as supplements, but we must never put the cart before the horse."
Xu Changqing's mind raced, and he quickly made a decision.
"The 'Taiyuan Rising Dragon Scripture' grants the Demon Dragon Body cultivation, enhancing its capabilities and supplementing its techniques. The 'Thousand Transformations Skin Demon Scripture' can be explored to some extent, taking advantage of its transformative skills to supplement the ability to conceal and adapt. One is the foundation for creating clones, and the other is an auxiliary technique, which can complement one's own cultivation methods."
"Old Ghost, these are the two we'll have."
The altar patterns shone brightly, and two condensed streams of information, accompanied by corresponding cultivation insights and taboo warnings, surged into the depths of Xu Changqing's mind.
Xu Changqing focused his mind on accepting and digesting the teachings, thoroughly understanding all the key points and methods of the "Taiyuan Rising Dragon Scripture" as well as the various techniques of peeling, refining, and transforming skin in the "Thousand Transformations Skin Demon Scripture".
After the reception was completed, the dim light on the altar gradually faded, and it returned to silence.