Hidden Moth

Chapter 138: Emerald Leaves Golden Buds and the Natural Spring


He Kao started preparing from around eleven in the morning and was busy until about seven in the evening before the banquet began. The two Elders only ordered food and did not order wine; the wine gourd was mysteriously produced by Li Xiuyuan from somewhere.

The two Elders exchanged courtesies, leaving the position at the head of the Eight Immortals table empty. They sat on either side, while He Kao sat below to pour the wine.

Jiang Daozhen chuckled and said, "Xiao Kao, if you can handle it, have a couple of drinks with us, but don't drink too much."

He Kao then offered each Elder three glasses of wine. Li Xiuyuan asked, "How's the wine?"

He Kao replied, "It's very good, but it feels a bit strong. My body feels warm, but I don't feel dizzy."

Li Xiuyuan said, "This wine aids in Refining Form, but those with physical ailments can't drink it. It's most effective for Tier Two Sorcerers. Although you've broken through to Tier Three, it's still useful for you. It can invigorate the meridians and smooth Divine Qi…"

Jiang Daozhen nodded, "Right, a young man's body should be strong, it's always beneficial. Even after breaking through Tier Three, don't forget to strengthen and keep fit.

Many people mistakenly believe that once their realm rises, the previous techniques become useless. Actually, cultivation at every layer is a continuous process.

You've had enough to drink, no more. Go out to the courtyard and practice a set of the Five Elements Staff, disperse the power, then you'll feel it…"

The Five Elements Staff combines Inner Cultivation Moving Technique and is also a spear technique, another name for it is "Dragon Tendon Training". This spear technique is difficult to master, and performing the movements correctly requires a very high demand for the tendons and bones.

When normally practicing the Five Elements Staff, one does not hold a spear, but rather uses a set of hand and foot movements, said to achieve the effect of vital energy coursing like a dragon, inheriting from the Heart Plate Sect.

He Kao's external Moving Technique began with the Observing Body Sect's set of Eight Pieces of Brocade, originally not related much to martial arts. Later, to practice the Heart Plate Sect's Earth-Traveling Skill, he also practiced the auxiliary Five Elements Staff, but always felt something was lacking.

Now, after six cups of wine, he felt warm all over. Standing in the courtyard and setting up the stance, he immediately felt power flowing like a stream throughout his body. After finishing a small set, he was slightly sweaty on the forehead but felt extremely comfortable and even wanted to shout out loud.

The two Elders sat in the hall watching, and Li Xiuyuan nodded, "Not bad, not bad, do a whole set again." This meant he wanted him to grab a spear and perform.

He Kao didn't drive his car back today, and since there were no trees planted in the front yard, the practice routines were basically stationary movements, and a spear could still be handled.

He Kao utilized the Invisibility Ability to go out and fetch a suitable bamboo, carve it to an appropriate length, and used it as a makeshift Eight Zhang Spear.

He had practiced the spear's large set before, but never could perform it fully right. Even though he had Tier Two Cultivation, he lacked a foundation from a young age; just being able to perform the movements was already good enough.

Having finished that small set, with power coursing through his body and vigorous vital energy, he felt uncomfortable without continuing with a more vigorous routine, so he proceeded to perform a set of spear techniques.

The feeling while practicing the spear today was different than previous times. Although the spear was in his hand, He Kao unconsciously used the Object Control Skill. It wasn't about controlling the spear with the Object Control Skill, but treating this long bamboo as an extension of his body and senses.

The spearhead quivered and thrust out, seemingly producing a dragon's roar as it pierced the air, and his muscles and bones resonated with it… After completing this set of spear moves, he didn't feel physically tired, yet his Divine Power was unexpectedly depleted significantly!

The spear technique is actually also a staff technique, a long staff is just a spear without a point, so calling it Five Elements Staff isn't strange. The staff is a short spear, and it can also refer to the barehanded small set.

To truly master the spear technique, one must understand why this skill is also called Dragon Tendon Training. Training the Dragon Tendon, who is the dragon? The person and the spear together form the dragon.

Li Xiuyuan nodded slightly, "That's enough, a sorcerer doesn't need to be a martial artist."

Jiang Daozhen: "What child doesn't like playing with spears and staffs? With encouragement today, he found his rhythm, and will surely put in more effort himself."

Li Xiuyuan: "Exactly, although Hidden Moth emphasizes surprise, one must still practice their skills."

He Kao completed his practice, and although exhausted, he was quite excited, returning to the room with a spirited look: "Thank you, Uncle Li, for the Spirit Wine, and thank you for your guidance in the skills."

The two Elders came today to deliver the Spirit Lock Array, which was already a tremendous honor.

In He Kao's view, the wine Elder Li let him drink just now must have been something good, and pointing out the key to Dragon Tendon Training for him was likely the gift Old Man Jiang mentioned.

However, Jiang Daozhen shook his head, "Once the realm is reached, you can naturally master it; he just pointed it out… this little thing, hardly counts as a greeting gift."

Li Xiuyuan: "The way you say that, it feels like when spring comes, the trees will sprout, but doesn't it need a spring rain?"

Jiang Daozhen: "Exactly, like the dish just now, tender yellow sprouts and green leaves, naturally spring."

Just now? It was only then He Kao noticed the table was already a mess of plates and cups, and the four dishes and one soup were nearly finished. He immediately asked, "Should I get two more dishes?"

Jiang Daozhen patted his belly, "No need, we've eaten quite well already!"

He Kao: "Would you like some staple food?"

Jiang Daozhen: "What more staple food, it's unnecessary, time to handle serious matters…"

The two were empty-handed when they came, and did not seem to be carrying any items. Even He Kao hadn't seen clearly where Elder Li produced the gourd of wine from just now?

Jiang Daozhen flicked his sleeve, and the remnants of the meal flew back into the kitchen without a sound. Then, in the blink of an eye for He Kao, a net bag appeared on the table, containing three small Banners.

This is the Celestial Spirit Banner, Human Spirit Banner, Spirit Lock Banner, and with the Earth Spirit Banner that He Kao has obtained, they make a complete set.

Jiang Daozhen handed him a bamboo slip, saying, "This contains the array inheritance. I've copied it onto a Bamboo Proverbs. If you hadn't broken through to Tier Three today, you wouldn't be able to decipher this Bamboo Proverbs anyway. It turns out to be just right now."

Only by breaking through to Tier Seven cultivation can you imprint the Divine Control Thought onto a crafted item, thus leaving an indirect form of inheritance. These items are also called Proverbs.

This item is Jiang Daozhen's first successful creation of a Bamboo Proverbs, recording the Spirit Lock Array's formation. One needs at least Tier Three cultivation to decipher the inheritance within, but at least Tier Four cultivation to truly master and operate the array.

That is to say, He Kao, who has broken through to Tier Three, has just reached the stage where he can learn but not yet apply it.

He Kao: "Will this kind of thing be traced by someone? I've heard that magical treasures have a Spiritual Guide, which can be sensed from far away."

Jiang Daozhen: "What you said makes sense, but it's not entirely true. If someone has performed a ritual on this magical artifact, there would indeed be a sensory response within the range of their Divine Sense. But just hiding it well would solve it, wouldn't it? Don't be silly and leave it at home!

With your Tier Three cultivation, you still can't control the Spirit Lock Banner, but you can attempt a rudimentary ritual—communicating more with it using Divine Sense, sensing its spirituality, and perhaps you might uncover some subtle use.

To truly grasp the Artifact Control Technique, you'd have to wait until you break through to Tier Four.

Another point to note, even though they're a set of magical artifacts, the Earth Spirit Banner in your hand can also be used independently... As for its uses, the inheritance is all in here!"

He Kao expressed his gratitude and took the net bag and the Bamboo Proverbs, planning to store them in that secret cave mansion deep in Gu Mountain, thanking his foresight in preparing such a place.

At this moment, Li Xiuyuan chuckled and took out something: "Old Ghost Jiang has been ribbing me all day, and of course, I can't just eat your meal without reciprocating.

If I just take any random thing to fool you, he'd mock me more later. It's a rare chance to celebrate your cultivation breakthrough... Try putting this on."

What he took out was a black elastic wide strip of cloth with two holes in the middle, and putting it on the head instantly made it an eye mask. He Kao found it somewhat familiar, like something seen in some action adult films, and casually put it on.

Old Man Jiang wondered aloud: "What is this thing, Zorro?"

That was a character from a foreign movie, whose masked appearance was very similar to He Kao's image with the eye mask on.

Li Xiuyuan smiled bitterly: "According to records, this should be the object passed down from the Hidden Moth Sect, the Invisible Artifact—Hidden Moth Gauze. Its original form was a woman's veil."

Old Man Jiang: "How did it turn into this look?"

Li Xiuyuan: "My master was quite old at the time but still had a child's temperament. After watching that movie, he re-forged this Invisible Artifact, genuinely mimicking Zorro..."

Some twelve hundred years ago, the Hidden Moth Sect was annihilated, and its items were divided among the Seven Great Magic Sects, few of which have survived to today, including this Invisible Artifact Hidden Moth Gauze.

An Invisible Artifact, as the name suggests, is formless and intangible, but how can something formless and intangible be carried, stored, or sensed? In normal states, it often has a tangible form or a physical proxy.

The Hidden Moth Object is an intangible divine artifact, its true form formless and intangible. Huang Xiaopang's bracelet and He Kao's pendant are merely its tangible proxies.

The tangible form is another matter; through rituals, one can make it appear in a perceivable shape ordinarily, like a beam of light, a wisp of fog, or even just an object.

The last Hidden Moth was a nun, and in her hands, the Hidden Moth Gauze was a woman's veil, hung on the forehead or the brim of a hat. Later, this item came into the hands of the Xingshen Sect and was passed down through generations, now belonging to Li Xiuyuan.

The item was passed down by his master, whose surname was Cai. Jiang Daozhen calls him Master Cai. This Master Cai was quite mischievous; no one knows if it was a sudden whim or an impulsive urge, but he actually reforged the Hidden Moth Gauze into the shape of an eye mask.

Jiang Daozhen exclaimed: "Didn't expect you'd actually bring out this item!"

Li Xiuyuan: "It's inherently a Hidden Moth Object, so what's unexpected... How is it, is it enough to shut your mouth?"

Jiang Daozhen: "It is, certainly is, truly considerate... Xiao Kao, you should bow a few more times to your Uncle Li!"

He Kao obediently stepped back two steps and performed a grand ritual of bowing and kowtowing to Li Xiuyuan.

Li Xiuyuan said repeatedly, "No need, no need," but only after He Kao finished, did he get up to lift him, saying, "Hand the mask over, I'll demonstrate for you."

Tier Six Illusion Master Li Xiuyuan put the Hidden Moth Gauze on his head and suddenly disappeared into thin air! Despite being mentally prepared, He Kao was still quite surprised. What kind of wonderful use was this, an invisibility cloak?

Fortunately, He Kao had already broken through to Tier Three, so at such close range, he could extend his Divine Sense to explore, sensing that Elder Li was just where he had been, but his entire being seemed formless and intangible.

Jiang Daozhen chuckled: "Just a little trick."

"Just a little trick?" the invisible Elder Li spoke, and with the sound of his voice, his figure reappeared.

Jiang Daozhen jumped up in shock: "Xiaolizi, you're, you're not playing fair!"

Li Xiuyuan had now transformed into Jiang Daozhen, and the room now had two Old Man Jiangs.

**

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