Chapter 170: Water-Repelling Mantra
The Great Void Pill Scripture was the most renowned and publicly recognized classic text.
The work began by stating the premier method of concocting pills: The Great Void[1] as the cauldron, the Supreme Ultimate as the furnace, purity as the pill base, doctrine of inaction as the dantian, life as lead and mercury, and the five organs as fire.
This was how the Three Esse True Fire came to be and why it was revered by pill-concocting masters as their most prized treasure. The Three Esse True Fire could refine natural treasures from heaven and earth. In some sense, cultivators could also be considered as such treasures. If a cultivator encountered the Three Esse True Fire, one could only imagine the consequences.
Although Lu Yang’s Three Flavored True Fire was born from the Three Esse True Fire and slightly paled in comparison, it was still not to be underestimated.
On the battle stage, Lu Yang’s Three Flavored True Fire was fast and furious as it gushed forward, transforming into a fire dragon that bit into the jinwu crow and forcefully ripped it apart.
Bai Ming couldn’t believe his eyes. Someone actually mastered True Fire at just the Foundation Establishment Stage, and it’s even the famous and legendary Three Esse True Fire at that?
For someone who had been showered with admiration and praise since childhood, he found it hard to accept what was unfolding before him.
At the spectator stand, Qiu Jin’an had originally slapped his thigh in joy upon seeing his disciple unleash the Jinwu Crow Flame in a brilliant display. However, his flame of excitement was soon doused when he saw Lu Yang casting his true fire.
“This is the Three Esse True Fire? Wait, it’s not, but it’s very close!” Qiu Jin’an searched through the repository of true fires in his head, but none seemed to match.
A terrifying thought began to burgeon in his mind. This can’t be a fire beyond the 108 True Fires, right? Was it previously not recorded and discovered, or has it just been invented by someone?
“Sect Leader Lu, what kind of true fire is this?”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy impassively replied, “It’s nothing, just a flame for barbecuing skewers. You don’t have to be so alarmed, Sect Leader Qiu.”
Her attitude only further reinforced Qiu Jin’an’s conjecture, causing him to gasp inwardly. How is this person so powerful? Not only is he proficient in wood, earth, and fire-type spells like Bai Ming, he can even create new spells and techniques!
Inventing spells is one thing, but inventing true fire?
Bai Ming got burned by the Three Flavored True Fire. Lu Yang quickly followed up with a punch to his chest, sending Bai Ming flying with a mix of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors in his mouth and his breathing almost imperceptible. As he flew backward, it dawned upon him that the battle was over, and there was no hope of turning the tide.
Should I gracefully admit defeat, or should I stubbornly wait for the result to be announced?
A myriad of scenes flashed through Bai Ming’s mind.
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At a young age, his shifu had brought him up the mountain, and he grew up under the care of his senior brothers and sisters, reading books diligently and training assiduously. During his training in cultivation, his shifu would become stern and chastise him to correct his attitude and posture. After training ended, however, his shifu would apply medicine for him and encourage him to persevere in his cultivation.
Despite tirelessly training until he was drenched in sweat, he never slacked off, comprehending spells and enduring the cold, heat, and loneliness. His accumulated efforts paid off, and he rapidly grew, advancing from the Qi Training to the Intermediate Foundation Establishment stage without losing a single battle.
Bai Ming closed his eyes, comprehending and reflecting on his battle with Lu Yang. He felt as if something was about to sprout in his heart.
Landing steadily, he brought his palms together like he was in prayer and stood on one leg, his breathing growing stronger and more sturdy. When he opened his eyes, he radiated a power that surpassed his own.
“He has broken through to the Advanced Foundation Establishment Stage?” Qiu Jin’an was euphoric to see his disciple break through. Bai Ming has been at the Intermediate Foundation Establishment Stage for several months, so it is about time for him to break through. I just didn’t expect it to happen now.
In the audience, the disciples of the Five-Elements Sect buzzed among themselves at the new turn of events.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang didn’t know where to start venting. I was on the brink of victory, and you just had to break through in the middle of battle right then?
Shouldn’t something like this happen to me instead?
“Never mind, I’ll just continue fighting then.” Lu Yang raised his Qingfeng Sword. I haven’t showcased my real abilities yet. Neither the Slashing Word Mantra nor the Breaking Sword Mantra have been used. I’ll forget about the Animal Form Fist. That is overkill.
Lu Yang felt that he still had a shred of conscience within him.
“Lu Yang, Lu Yang, let me, let me!” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy called out to him. Watching Lu Yang’s exciting battle, she was itching to join the fun.
Since she was in the state of a soul, the twenty-meter restriction didn’t apply to her. As long as Lu Yang agreed, she could separate a wisp of her mental power and infuse it in Lu Yang’s clone anytime.
Lu Yang was a bit skeptical. Can the Everlasting Immortal Fairy be counted on?
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy placed her hands on her hips and pointed at Lu Yang, “I am the sect leader. You have to listen to me!”
Lu Yang sighed helplessly. Fine then, I’ll go along with her. She has even pulled out the acting sect leader card. If things don’t look optimistic, I’ll just reclaim control of my body.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy gleefully took control of the bald Lu Yang clone as she had wished. When she raised her right hand and extended a finger, she appeared rather coquettish.
Bai Ming cast a peculiar look at Lu Yang. If the Lu Yang a moment ago resembled a monk, he now looks like...a nun?
Does he have a split personality disorder?
Bai Ming had heard of a saying in the cultivation world: “No insanity, no victory.”[2] There are countless cultivators throughout history who cultivated until they developed a split personality disorder, and those who made it into the annals of history were undoubtedly extraordinary.
“Could Lu Yang’s crazy strength come from a split personality disorder?” The more Bai Ming thought about it, the more plausible he felt his theory was.
Just then, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy slowly lifted her finger. An immortal spell twined around her fingertip as she softly chanted, “Water-Repelling Mantra.”
An invisible barrier spread outward with the Everlasting Immortal Fairy at its center, expelling all moisture within its range. The remaining moisture had already thinned from the two rounds of flames clashing. Now, not even a drop remained around the Everlasting Immortal Fairy.
This was not the most terrifying. The truly horrifying part was that there was also water within Bai Ming, and it was rapidly leaving his body!
Although Lu Yang’s body also contained water, as the spell caster, the rate of his bodily water loss was much slower than Bai Ming’s!
Bai Ming stared at his gradually desiccating body in horror and was at a loss for what to do. He had no way to stop the spell; it was far beyond his realm of understanding.
The Water-Repelling Mantra exhibited no visible effect when it was cast. To bystanders, it appeared as if nothing had happened. Only those experiencing it firsthand could fathom just how terrifying this spell was!
“We concede!” Qiu Jin’an personally stepped in and halted the water loss from Bai Ming’s body, quickly feeding him a pill for his body to recover.
He cast a meaningful look at Lu Yang. As expected of someone who could become the acting sect leader. Not only is he well-versed in four of the five elements, but he can even use a water-type spell that is recorded as a forbidden mighty ability in the ancient texts!
Lu Yang’s eyes widened. So this is the Water-Repelling Mantra the Everlasting Immortal Fairy had described? Its effects are actually this terrifying?
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy giggled. “Hehe, it’s nothing special. Unfortunately, your cultivation realm is too low. Your senior brothers and sisters are at the Golden Core Stage, and their moisture is locked within their bodies, so this move won’t work on them. Once you have reached the Golden Core Stage, I’ll use your body to cast the spell, and none of them will be my match!”
“Can you teach me?” Lu Yang rubbed his hands together, eager to learn the technique.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy turned her head away. “Hmph, that’s what you get for looking down on my legacy! Not teaching!”
“Teach me, please, Immortal Fairy-jiejie.”[3]
“Not teaching! I said no, and I meant it!”
~~~
When Qiu Jin’an returned to the spectator stand, he found that Lu Yang was gone, the seat beside him now taken by Yun Zhi. Although I did say that I want someone else to sit beside me, it’s anyone but Yun Zhi!
He felt as if the surrounding temperature had dropped by a few degrees.
“Miss Yun Zhi, where did Sect Leader Lu go?” Qiu Jin’an tried to strike up a conversation, unable to stand the frigid atmosphere.
“There are some guests outside the entrance who are adept at barbecuing. He’s gone to receive them.”
“Huh?”
1. Taixu refers to the primordial state of the universe in ancient Chinese philosophy. ☜
2. The original quote is common in Beijing Opera, where it refers to how only those eccentric individuals who are mad and obsessed with their craft accomplish great things. I tried to make it rhyme since it does rhyme in the original Chinese version. ☜
3. ”Jiejie” means elder sister in Chinese and is also a form of endearment. It sounds more informal and occasionally “cute” compared to when only “jie” is used. ☜