Chapter 73
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The young girl spoke as she stretched out her hand, pulling the old yellow ox nearby by its horns. The young Daoist saw the face of the old yellow ox appear in the mirror and greeted it, saying: “Uncle Niu, long time no see.”
“Indeed, it has been a year,”
The old yellow ox replied unhurriedly, chewing on some [Yellow Sprout]. It glanced at Qi Wuhuo and praised:
“Clear and untainted spirit, harmonious Primordial Qi, a complete life treasure—this is the supreme achievement of the Three Talents in their entirety.”
“In just a year of cultivation, you’ve reached this stage.”
“As expected of your teacher’s disciple.”
Qi Wuhuo thanked him, saying: “I must also thank Uncle Yun for that hearty meal.” He understood well that without the spiritual substance, a rare treasure accumulated over a thousand years that amounted to merely three dou and three sheng, he could never have reached his current state of cultivation within a year. The old yellow ox shook its head and said: “That thing only served to mend the flaws in your foundation and provide you with vital energy.”
“You could say it’s just firewood. Whether it ignites into a blazing inferno depends entirely on you.”
“If you hadn’t endured the hardships of cultivation yourself, the vital energy would have simply leaked away through the apertures and pores of your body.”
“Other than satisfying your hunger, it would have been utterly worthless.”
“In the end, it’s your diligence in cultivation that matters.”
Yun Qin saw the old yellow ox chatting leisurely with the young Daoist, exchanging pleasantries without addressing the main issue.
So, she nudged the old yellow ox lightly with her elbow.
She urged softly: “Uncle Niu!”
The old yellow ox rolled its eyes. “I know, I know. It’s about that matter, isn’t it? The trouble you, little girl, caused, and now want this old man to help resolve.”
“But, to be fair, it can’t entirely be considered your fault. Your mother never told you about that mirror.”
“After all, she came from such a noble background. Perhaps she thought there was no need to explain it to you.”
Or maybe she never expected that her daughter, even in the heavens, could manage to give away the mirror.
The old yellow ox mused unhurriedly in its mind.
When Yun Qin first told him about this, the old yellow ox had been leisurely watching the commotion unfold in the Divine Firmament Jade Purity Thunder Mansion.
Life on the Heavenly River had become too dull, and seeing those lofty immortals from the Divine Firmament Jade Purity Thunder Mansion scrambling in chaos was immensely entertaining. Entertaining to the point that even the [Yellow Sprout] in its mouth tasted sweeter.
But then, upon hearing that the young girl had given away the ancient dragon-patterned mirror, the old ox, who had been watching for amusement, nearly suffered a heart attack.
When he learned it had been gifted to Qi Wuhuo, however, the old yellow ox instantly calmed down.
He even found the leisure to chew a few more bites of the snack in his mouth to steady his nerves.
“Oh, so that’s how it is.”
“If it was that boy, there’s no problem.”
“In fact, knowing that one’s temperament, they’d likely just smile knowingly upon finding out.”
Now composed as an old ox, he spoke slowly: “That mirror, you see, is indeed an item of significant symbolic importance. However, Wuhuo, there’s no need for you to worry too much.”
“For others, possessing it might feel like holding a hot coal. But for [you], it won’t bring any danger.”
“On the contrary, if you ever find yourself in true peril, remember this: listen to your Uncle Niu’s advice.”
The old yellow ox paused for a moment before speaking seriously: “Smash the mirror directly.”
“As for any punishment from the master in the future, that can be dealt with later.”
“But at that moment, you… no, you will absolutely turn danger into safety.”
“As for the spell—”
“Just go with Yun Qin’s excuse. Tomorrow, inform the Celestial Monarch that this divine ability was something Yun Qin found in ancient texts. When the day comes that your cultivation is sufficient, you can reclaim this divine ability under your own name.”
“As for the fragments of the ancient text, leave them to me, this old ox. Haha, don’t be fooled by how I look now. Twelve hundred years ago, before I joined the Celestial Court, I wandered the lands of the demon kingdoms, trading treasures from ancient ruins. Restoring old texts? That’s my bread and butter.”
“Deceiving that pure and reclusive Celestial Monarch is no big deal.”
Qi Wuhuo saw the young girl busying herself nearby as the old yellow ox finished chewing the Yellow Sprout in its mouth.
In a moment, the old ox transformed into a tall, honest-looking man with graying temples. He sat cross-legged on the ground without a care in the world.
Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled out a piece of white jade and explained: “This is a type of Kunlun white jade. Only texts from three to six thousand years ago used this jade as a recording medium. It’s knowledge known only to a small group of people who specialize in ancient jade slips. It’s the perfect material for inscribing your incantation scroll.”
He then took out a carving knife and continued: “Three thousand years ago, there was a method of inscription for jade slips that allowed them to retain power.”
“The script used was the ancient Cloud Seal Script. Over the past three millennia, immortals have simplified the writing of Cloud Seal Script for easier spellcasting.”
“Of course, it also saves effort when drawing talismans.”
“However, ancient Cloud Seal Script varies slightly depending on the Daoist sect lineage. But don’t worry. Although I may look burly and rough now, I was once a scholarly young ox who studied the Dao. Seventeen hundred years ago, I diligently learned these characters from a great demon, systematically mastering over seventeen hundred variations of Cloud Seal Script. I guarantee no flaws will be detected.”
The old yellow ox quickly inscribed a fragment of the incantation onto the jade slip.
The characters were elegant and composed, exuding the refined spirit of Daoist tradition.
Then, he pulled out a small jade bottle from his sleeve and explained: “Once the jade is inscribed, the fluctuations of spiritual energy within it become fixed. This is known as ‘spiritual resonance’. Over time, this resonance develops various characteristics, much like the rings of a tree, which cannot be altered. This is how immortals identify whether something is an ancient artifact or determine how many years it has existed.”
“This jade bottle contains a substance refined by the South Pole Longevity Heavenly Sovereign. It can foster the growth of all things.”
“But it can also be used for aging.”
“My elder brother, Old Niu, secretly took this from the furnace of the Supreme Elder Lord.”
“I’ve never been willing to use it.”
“But using it for you—this is how it should be.”
The middle-aged man tapped his finger lightly, and a stream of divine light flowed out, landing on the jade slip.
In an instant, the jade slip became ancient in appearance.
Within just a few breaths, it carried the aura of something that had weathered four or five millennia. The essence of its antiquity seemed to circulate within the fragment.
If presented outside, no one would doubt that it was an artifact from several thousand years ago.
The old yellow ox smiled warmly, his expression honest: “Looks like I haven’t lost my touch.”
He cheerfully gathered up the tools and treasures around him, shrinking them all down and tucking them into his sleeve. Then, he turned to Qi Wuhuo and spoke kindly: “Though many disciples of the Dao choose to live in seclusion, matters concerning the Daoist Canon and spells must still bear a name. Such recognition is important.”
“When it comes to spells created by someone like you, it can also serve as proof that your teacher made the right choice in selecting you.”
“In the eyes of cultivators from the Yuqing lineage, this is of great importance—it determines whether you have the foundation to establish a new branch of the Dao.”
His voice paused momentarily, then he shook his head and chuckled: “Though that one likely wouldn’t care much.”
He held the jade slip before the [Round Light Manifestation Technique] and said:
“Wuhuo, write your name on it yourself.”
“This will serve as proof that this method was created by you.”
The young Daoist thought for a moment and, following the old yellow ox’s suggestion, inscribed the words:
“In my youth, with my cultivation shallow and the Three Talents incomplete, I found it difficult to employ the Round Light Manifestation Technique. Thus, I created this method to maintain ties with dear friends.”
He then lifted his hand.
The old yellow ox shook his head and said: “Add your age as well.”
There was a trace of satisfaction in the old yellow ox’s demeanor.
He was only disappointed that he couldn’t also record the exact date the young man began his cultivation. If he could, it would truly leave an indelible impression on those who followed the Shangqing teachings—a disciple of the Taishang lineage creating such an incantation within just one year of entering the Dao would certainly cause a stir.
Qi Wuhuo had no choice but to write down his age, indicating that he created this at the age of fifteen, as no New Year festival had passed since his entry.
Somehow, through an unknown method, the old yellow ox caused these words to float on the surface of the “ancient jade slip fragment”.
The old yellow ox clapped his hands and laughed: “Done.”
Then, with remarkable swiftness, he inscribed another line upon the jade slip. Blowing lightly over it, fine jade dust flew off the white jade, revealing a heading at the top:
[Dao Sovereign Wuhuo’s Sublime Art Profound Chapter]
The old yellow ox chuckled and said: “That will do.”
“As for tomorrow’s matter, leave it to this old ox.”
He then teased with a hearty laugh:
“Ha, Wuhuo, perhaps one day when you ascend to the celestial realm, your Profound Chapter might already be famous across the four corners of the heavens.”
Hearing the rumbling thunder in the distance, a glimmer of excitement flickered in his eyes. He carefully stored away the ancient jade slip and said: “I’ll head to the Divine Firmament Jade Purity Thunder Mansion for a look. If there’s anything interesting, I’ll come back and share it with you both.” Without waiting for Qi Wuhuo or Yun Qin to respond, the old yellow ox departed in a whirlwind, leaving as abruptly.
Qi Wuhuo then explained to Yun Qin the simple incantation and divine technique he had created.
Suddenly, he felt a faint sting at the center of his brow, realizing that the time his cultivation could sustain the Round Light Manifestation Technique had reached its limit.
The young Daoist raised the osmanthus cake in his hand and said: “I’ve bought the osmanthus cake.”
“But is there any way to send it to you?”
The girl rested her chin on her palm, gazing longingly at the osmanthus cake. Though clearly fond of it, the distance between them made it impossible. She sighed with regret and said:
“Unless there’s some Xuantan Ritual Method or similar technique.”
“Wuhuo, do you know any?”
The young Daoist shook his head.
Yun Qin mused: “I see…”
She looked at the sweet-scented osmanthus cake for a moment, waved her hand decisively, and said:
“Then tomorrow, after meeting my teacher, I’ll head to the Shangqing Scripture Repository to search.”
“I’ll see if I can find some version of the [Xuantan Ritual Method] that can be shared externally and then pass it to you through the Round Light Manifestation Technique.”
[TL_Note:Xuantan – Mysterious Altar]
“Although, most of these will likely be [Origin Canon]—unrefined and possibly a bit difficult to learn.”
