I picked up skill fragments in the demon world

#390 - Five Elements Escape

Zhang Chen had long planned to teach Xu Erniu the Great Divine Power of Reversing Yin and Yang.

Xu Erniu cultivates the Dao of Pills and was schemed against by the Longevity Ancestor, becoming a Grass Return Pill. If I teach Xu Erniu the Great Divine Power of Reversing Yin and Yang, and she cultivates it successfully, will she be able to reverse the medicinal properties of the Grass Return Pill within her?

Zhang Chen felt a sense of anticipation in his heart. It should be known that the path of the Grass Return Pill is not easy to walk. This Grass Return Pill is not much different from the flesh of Longevity, and countless people are coveting it. The road is full of dangers, and a little carelessness will lead to death. Zhang Chen doesn't want Xu Erniu to embark on this path. If she can reverse the nature of the Grass Return Pill by reversing Yin and Yang and create a new path for the Grass Return Pill, will she be able to break free from the shackles at that time?

As for whether Xu Erniu can comprehend Reversing Yin and Yang, Zhang Chen is not worried. It should be known that Xu Erniu's Pill Dao is about harmonizing Kan and Li, operating the Dragon and Tiger, and reversing all the laws in her body. For Xu Erniu, her alchemy is about comprehending Yin and Yang. Xu Erniu herself is a Grass Return Pill, so she has a great chance of success in comprehending Reversing Yin and Yang.

Besides, isn't there still Zhang Chen to guide her?

Although Zhang Chen has not cultivated Reversing Yin and Yang, after listening to the mantra taught by the Innate Peacock, he also has some understanding in his heart and has gained many insights into the Great Dao of Yin and Yang. Therefore, Zhang Chen can also provide some guidance to Xu Erniu.

"You're teaching me a divine power? What divine power do you have?" Xu Erniu asked with a surprised expression when she heard that Zhang Chen was going to teach her a divine power mantra. "You haven't even cultivated magic power yet, so how can you have divine powers? How can you teach them to me?"

Zhang Chen smiled calmly when he heard this: "Hehe, you should know a little about my methods down the mountain. How can you look at me with ordinary eyes?"

Saying this, Zhang Chen smiled and stroked Xu Erniu's head: "You should have faith in me."

Xu Erniu nodded obediently when she heard this: "You're right, I should believe you."

Zhang Chen took Xu Erniu to a side hall and then whispered to Xu Erniu: "The divine power I'm going to teach you is of great importance. Even the Ancestral Master cannot know about it. Only you yourself know this divine power, and no one else can know that you have cultivated this divine power."

Xu Erniu nodded obediently when she heard this: "Zhang Chen, I'll listen to you. Hurry up and teach me the mantra."

Looking at the obedient Xu Erniu, Zhang Chen lamented the girl's pitifulness while passing down the mantra of Reversing Yin and Yang.

The mantra of Reversing Yin and Yang has neither more nor less than thirty-six sentences. With Xu Erniu's intelligence, plus her current cultivation achievements, memorizing thirty-six sentences is easy.

"Zhang Chen, this mantra is so profound, I don't understand it at all." Xu Erniu memorized the mantra and then blinked her eyes at Zhang Chen, her eyes full of innocence.

"Don't worry, I'll explain it to you."

Zhang Chen began to explain the mantra to Xu Erniu. When he encountered mantras that he didn't understand, he directly asked the Innate Peacock in the Five-Colored Divine Light. With the Great自在Heavenly Demon staring at him, Zhang Chen was not afraid that the Innate Peacock would randomly explain and deceive him.

Zhang Chen explained for a full three days before explaining all the mantras. Then he asked, "Have you memorized everything?"

Xu Erniu rubbed her head and smiled foolishly: "Of course I've memorized it, but I don't understand it very well."

"Slowly ponder it, there will always be a time when you understand it." Zhang Chen touched Xu Erniu's head, casually dismissed Xu Erniu, and then turned his attention to the Five-Colored Divine Light: "I say, Old Ancestor, it's time for you to teach me the Five Elements Escape Technique, right?"

The Peacock sighed slightly when he heard this. What else could he do now that things had come to this? After all, he needed something from Zhang Chen. He couldn't just ask the horse to run without giving it grass. He could only comfort himself in his heart: "A mere Five Elements Escape Technique is just a small trick, not worth mentioning."

Then he said to Zhang Chen: "Boy, I'll teach you the secret. You must listen carefully. I'll only teach you once. Whether you can memorize it and to what extent you can comprehend it all depends on your own good fortune. If you don't have that good fortune, you can't blame me."

While saying this, the Peacock didn't delay any longer and taught Zhang Chen the mantra of the Five Elements Escape Technique word by word.

The Five Elements Escape Technique has a total of twenty-five sentences, with five sentences for each escape technique.

Old Peacock simply went all the way and was not stingy. He directly explained the mantras of the Five Elements Escape Technique one by one.

Zhang Chen received the mantra and only felt that the Five Elements Escape Technique was extremely obscure. With his current realm, looking at the Five Elements Escape Technique was like looking at a heavenly book. It's like the theory of relativity, people without enough knowledge can't understand it even if you explain it to them.

Only for the Water Element Escape Technique, Zhang Chen had some understanding because he had mastered the Water Control Technique, but it was impossible to directly understand it thoroughly.

"It's so difficult." Zhang Chen sighed softly after comprehending for a moment.

The laws involved in the Five Elements Escape Technique are extremely complex. Its main principle is to transform oneself into the Qi of the Five Elements in order to escape within the Five Elements.

For example, if Zhang Chen wants to cultivate Water Escape, he must transform himself into a stream of water Qi before he can travel in the water. However, it is not accurate to say that he transforms himself into water Qi, it should be said to transform into 'Water 炁'.

Humans are physical bodies, how difficult is it to transform into Water 炁? This is a process of material transformation, which is quite complex and dangerous. A little carelessness will lead to death.

For example, in the process of transforming into Water 炁, if the 炁 suddenly becomes unrestrained and scatters, it will directly lead to death.

For example, after transforming into Water 炁, if one cannot transform back, wouldn't one also die?

For example, when transforming Water 炁, if half of the physical body transforms into a human and half transforms into Water 炁, then one will be neither human nor Qi, and the result will also be death, after all, a person with only half a body cannot survive at all.

"The Dao of Immortals is difficult!" Zhang Chen's voice was full of emotion.

However, he has already been able to transform his body into a stream of water, and he has gained some understanding of the Water Escape Technique. As for when he can use it? He didn't dare to try rashly and had to study and comprehend it carefully.

However, he has already transformed from a human into a stream of water, completing the most crucial part of the material transformation. The cultivation of the Water Escape Technique is just around the corner. As for the other escape techniques, he currently has no understanding in his heart, and cultivation is as difficult as ascending to the sky.

When the Peacock heard Zhang Chen's sigh, he thought that he had not found the way, so he said with a smile: "Little brother, don't worry, you are a Houtian ant, you don't understand the Dao of the Five Elements, so cultivation is of course extremely difficult. You should know that this Five Elements Escape Technique was originally prepared for various Five Elements spirits, so you don't have to sigh if you can't cultivate it."

Zhang Chen ignored him, focusing instead on comprehending the escape techniques: ‘These Five Elements Escape Techniques are somewhat lackluster if only one is mastered. For example, if I master Water Escape, it can only be used in rivers or lakes. If there's no water, it's useless. Only when Water Escape reaches an advanced level, and one masters the Law of Water, can it be used to escape by borrowing the water elements in the air.’

“Among the Five Elements Escape Techniques, Earth Escape is the most useful. After all, the earth is always present, and as long as one steps on soil, they can escape at any time,” Zhang Chen thought to himself.

While pondering the Five Elements Escape Techniques, Zhang Chen also cleaned the palace. He already had an idea for practicing them. If he could just master Water Escape, could he then add all the Five Elements Escape Techniques to the cheat menu?

If he could add all the escape techniques to the cheat menu, wouldn't practicing them be a piece of cake?

“Zhang Chen!” Just as Zhang Chen was thinking, he suddenly heard the Ancestral Master's voice behind him.

“Disciple greets the Ancestral Master,” Zhang Chen quickly put down the rag and respectfully bowed.

The Ancestral Master sized up Zhang Chen and then said, “Several great figures have arrived, and we need someone to serve them. You don't need to clean the backyard for now. Go and serve the Ancestral Masters tea and water every day.”

Zhang Chen respectfully bowed upon hearing this: “Disciple obeys.”

Serving tea and water to the visiting old ancestors every day wasn't something Zhang Chen disliked. On the contrary, he was quite looking forward to it. After all, close contact with these ancestors would give him a chance to act secretly.

Zhang Chen bowed to the Ancestral Master again, respectfully withdrew, and went to serve the Ancestral Masters.

Zhang Chen prepared mountain spring water and selected the finest charcoal and tea leaves, heading towards the separate courtyard where the old ancestors were staying.

Zhang Chen first arrived at the courtyard of Ancestor Dongxuan, only to see Ancestor Dongxuan sitting cross-legged in the main hall, meditating with his back to Zhang Chen, not even glancing at him.

Zhang Chen carefully glanced at Ancestor Dongxuan's back, quickly poured the spring water, lit the charcoal fire, and left the courtyard.

When Zhang Chen arrived at the Overseas Three Immortals' residence, the Overseas Three Immortals were nowhere to be found. Zhang Chen simply added charcoal to the stove, brewed the tea, and then went to Ancestor Xuanji's place.

At this time, Ancestor Xuanji was holding a tortoise shell, examining it. Hearing Zhang Chen's footsteps, he glanced at Zhang Chen out of the corner of his eye and couldn't help but freeze: “Strange!”

Ancestor Xuanji's gaze completely fell on Zhang Chen, his eyes full of surprise, his fingers constantly calculating. As he calculated, his brows furrowed, looking very strange, as if he had encountered some unsolvable matter.

“That little Taoist, come here for a moment,” Ancestor Xuanji beckoned to Zhang Chen.

“Does the Ancestor have any instructions?” Zhang Chen had brewed the tea and was about to leave when he heard Ancestor Xuanji's call and quickly turned around and bowed.

“Come forward and let me take a good look at you,” Ancestor Xuanji said.

Zhang Chen respectfully walked forward, and Ancestor Xuanji stared at Zhang Chen, muttering to himself: “Strange! Strange! I have never seen such obscure heavenly secrets. Since I attained enlightenment, I have never seen a being with such chaotic and unclear heavenly secrets.”

Zhang Chen was secretly shocked upon hearing this: “Could this old guy have seen something?”

He wasn't from the Second Heaven of this spiritual world. If the other party figured something out, it would be troublesome.

“Boy, don't worry. Although this old guy has the ability to deduce heavenly secrets, he can't deduce the strangeness about you. Don't be afraid, don't show weakness!” The Great自在Heavenly Devil's voice sounded in Zhang Chen's heart: “Besides, with this old ancestor guarding your fate, how could this old guy possibly spy on it?”

“Little Taoist, would you like to have your fortune told, to see what your future holds? To see how far you can cultivate in this life, and whether you have any hope of becoming an immortal?” Ancestor Xuanji said with a smile.

Zhang Chen shook his head, refusing decisively and neatly: “Seeking immortality and divination is not as good as taking control of one's own destiny.”

Ancestor Xuanji was stunned upon hearing this. Zhang Chen's words, 'Seeking immortality and divination is not as good as taking control of one's own destiny,' stirred up layers of waves in his heart, and countless thoughts surged like a tide, unable to calm down for a long time.

“Aren't you even a little curious about your future? You should know that countless people in this world want me to tell their fortune but can't get it. Even those at the twelfth level are willing to bankrupt themselves to ask me to tell their fortune. You, a little Taoist, actually rejected the opportunity that was offered to you. It really surprises me greatly,” Ancestor Xuanji patted the tortoise shell in his hand at this time: “Boy, I ignore others who ask me to predict their fate. You don't want me to predict your fate, but I insist on predicting your fate for you. Drop a drop of blood on this tortoise shell, and I will predict your fate for you and guide you, ensuring you easily reach the twelfth level.”

Hearing that the other party wanted his blood, Zhang Chen hesitated. There was no shortage of methods in this world to use blood for curses and secret harm. If this old guy wanted to harm him, wouldn't he be walking right into it?

At this time, the Great自在Heavenly Devil said in Zhang Chen's heart: “What are you afraid of? Just let him measure it. You have the authority of the innate Five Elements, how can he possibly deduce it?”

Zhang Chen looked at Ancestor Xuanji's burning gaze and knew that if he didn't offer blood today, he would probably not be able to deceive him. If he kept refusing, it would arouse the other party's suspicion, leading them to notice something wrong with him and target him.

So Zhang Chen took out a knife, carefully squeezed out a little ordinary blood, and dripped it on the tortoise shell.

Zhang Chen mastered blood control, and what he squeezed out was just ordinary blood. All the essence blood was stored in the blood core. Even if Ancestor Xuanji could deduce heavenly secrets, Zhang Chen didn't believe the other party could see through the clues of blood control.

After the blood dripped, Ancestor Xuanji stared intently at his tortoise shell, couldn't help but widen his eyes, and kept pinching his fingers in the void, as if he had encountered some unsolvable problem.

“Strange! Strange! Truly strange! Strange things happen every year, but this year there are especially many,” Ancestor Xuanji looked at his tortoise shell, a little doubtful of life: “Your fate is white with gray. According to fate, you should have been a dead person long ago, and there would have been no chance for you to come to Qingcheng Mountain to seek the Dao. But you not only survived, but also came to Qingcheng Mountain. It's truly unbelievable.”

Ancestor Xuanji sized up Zhang Chen for a while before saying, “Boy, did you encounter anything strange when you were a child?”