"The Five Spirit Immortal Techniques? I actually know about that. I once read about it in an ancient book, though it's said to be difficult to cultivate. Since you're interested, I'll share the mental cultivation method with you," Han Lingsha said, before reciting the techniques from memory.
"The Dao flows through the three essences and forms one Qi. The heavens operate through Qi, the earth generates life through Qi, Yin and Yang balance and transform through Qi, wind and thunder stir and clash through Qi, the human body breathes through Qi, and Daoist techniques resonate with Qi. Water flows downward, permeating all things. Fire rises upward, burning everything in its path. Lightning condenses and destroys, breaking through the firmest obstacles. Wind swirls and dances, penetrating every barrier. Earth nurtures and transforms, harmonizing all substances."
As Han Lingsha recited the mental cultivation method for the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques, Daniel Davis committed it to memory. Fortunately, through his constant training and enhanced focus, his memory had greatly improved—though not quite photographic, it was sharp enough. After Han Lingsha finished reciting, Daniel double-checked it with her to confirm every detail.
He couldn't help but be impressed by Han Lingsha's exceptional memory. The fact that she could recite such a long and intricate technique in one go was remarkable.
"So this is the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques... spiritual energy," Daniel murmured. Raising his right hand, he extended his index finger, and a droplet of water appeared out of thin air at his fingertip.
In some ways, the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques were reminiscent of the alchemical methods of the Yin-Yang School. However, in terms of level and complexity, the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques were far superior, as they were true immortal techniques.
"Don't get your hopes up too high about this," Han Lingsha said, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment. "I once practiced these techniques for a long time, but they were of no use to me."
As someone who had long pursued immortality since she was a child, Han Lingsha had once come across the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques in an ancient tomb. Since the techniques bore the word "immortal," she had hoped they might provide a solution to her family's curse. She practiced them diligently for a time, but the results left her disappointed.
For Han Lingsha, power and strength were irrelevant—her only goal was immortality. Since the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques couldn't help her achieve that, she no longer cared about them.
But for Daniel, the techniques were immensely valuable, on par with swordsmanship. Having memorized the mental cultivation method, Daniel didn't rush into practicing right away. Instead, he took the opportunity to continue conversing with Han Lingsha.
Over the years, Han Lingsha had traveled extensively, exploring countless ancient tombs and inheriting the skills passed down through her family. Her broad knowledge and expertise, particularly in feng shui, were far beyond what Daniel could match. He saw this as the perfect chance to learn from her.
Feng shui, after all, wasn't just for tomb raiding. It also had significant applications in other areas, such as assessing mountain formations and water levels.
Beyond feng shui, Daniel also asked about the state of the martial world in this world. While Han Lingsha didn't know much about sword immortals, she was very familiar with the martial world.
From her, Daniel learned about various factions and prominent figures in the martial world. For instance, there was the Tang Family Fort in Yuzhou, Sichuan, and the Lin Family Fort in Suzhou. The current young master of the Lin Family Fort, known for his mastery of the "Twin Sword Techniques," was said to be one of the top ten experts in the martial world, despite his young age.
Of course, these so-called top martial experts were limited to the realm of martial artists. They didn't include sword immortals. The gap between immortal cultivation and martial arts was immense. A martial artist might defeat an ordinary disciple of a cultivation sect, but they stood no chance against an elite disciple.
In addition to the Tang and Lin Family Forts, there were also the Shen Family Manor and the Four Great Clans, all prominent factions.
"Familiar names, all of them," Daniel thought to himself after hearing Han Lingsha's explanations. The Lin Family Fort was known for its Seven Techniques Sword Qi, a name Daniel immediately recognized—it was the martial art of Lin Yue Ru's family. Clearly, the Lin Family Fort was the ancestral home of Lin Yue Ru.
Similarly, the Tang Family Fort was undoubtedly the ancestral home of Tang Xue Jian. The Shen Family Manor and the Four Great Clans were also tied to characters from various Sword and Fairy entries.
"It's late. We should get going," Han Lingsha said.
As midnight approached, Daniel and Han Lingsha gathered their belongings and climbed out of the inn through the window, landing quietly in the courtyard. Han Lingsha led the way toward the Liu Residence.
"It seems she scouted the Liu Residence earlier, just like I did," Daniel thought as he followed her. Han Lingsha's familiarity with the Liu Residence suggested she had taken the opportunity to investigate while buying supplies earlier.
"Do you know which room he's in?" Daniel asked in a low voice after they scaled the wall and entered the Liu Residence.
"These kinds of estates always have specific quarters prepared for guests," Han Lingsha whispered back, explaining the layout of the Liu Residence. In ancient mansions, the layout followed strict conventions: the master of the house resided in one area, the women and family members in another, guests in a separate courtyard, and servants elsewhere. These arrangements were carefully designed to reflect the hierarchy of status.
Daniel nodded slightly and followed Han Lingsha toward the guest quarters. Neither of them spoke further, mindful of the need to remain undetected.
"This bumpkin is really making us worry, yet here he is, sleeping soundly," Han Lingsha muttered as they entered Yun Tianhe's room and found him fast asleep. Though her words were sharp, Daniel could see the relief in her expression.
"Is this what they call being tsundere?" Daniel wondered, the thought crossing his mind as he observed Han Lingsha.
"Lingsha… wild boar…" Yun Tianhe mumbled in his sleep, causing Han Lingsha's face to darken instantly.
Being called a "wild boar" by Yun Tianhe had always been a sore point for Han Lingsha—a blemish on her pride. Now it seemed he even dreamed of her as a wild boar.
"I'll check outside," Daniel said quickly, excusing himself as he saw Han Lingsha on the verge of an outburst. Strictly speaking, Yun Tianhe wasn't intentionally insulting Han Lingsha. For him, wild boars held a special significance—they were an important part of his life growing up on the mountain.
From outside, Daniel could hear snippets of the conversation between Yun Tianhe and Han Lingsha. Initially, he didn't intend to eavesdrop, but curiosity got the better of him.
"Fog's rolling in… It seems we've been discovered," Daniel murmured as he noticed a purple mist spreading through the area. The air carried a strange fragrance, and the surroundings began to shift.
Just as Yun Tianhe stepped outside, he sneezed upon inhaling the scent.
"This purple mist… this is definitely an illusion array," Daniel thought, his eyes narrowing.
"You're drunk, and now you're someone's son-in-law? What did you agree to?" Han Lingsha exclaimed, exasperated as Yun Tianhe recounted his encounter with Liu Bo Bo, all the food and drink he'd had, and how, in his drunken state, he had agreed to something about being a "son-in-law."
"A man of gratitude and perseverance… Such people are too rare these days," Daniel thought, reflecting on the actions of Liu Shifeng, the magistrate of Shouyang County. His unwavering effort to repay Yun Tianqing's kindness over the years was admirable. In contrast, modern society, despite its technological advancements, seemed to suffer from a decline in moral values.
"Something's wrong. We need to leave," Han Lingsha said, growing increasingly uneasy as the purple mist thickened, transforming the surroundings. The walls of the Liu Residence faded from view, replaced by blooming peach trees that had no business being there.
"There's no killing intent. Do you hear that sound?" Yun Tianhe asked, his instincts sharp as always.
"Sound? What sound?" Han Lingsha asked, straining to listen but hearing nothing.
"It's the sound of a zither. I hear it too," Daniel confirmed.
"This is definitely an illusion array. To escape, we'll need to meet the one who set it up," Daniel said. While he could have forcibly broken the array, doing so would risk missing the chance to meet Liu Mengli—a meeting he didn't want to pass up.
"Let's go. I want to see what kind of trickery the Liu Residence is up to," Han Lingsha said, her irritation likely heightened by Yun Tianhe's earlier mention of being a "son-in-law."
The trio navigated the illusion maze with relative ease. For Daniel, his strength allowed him to see through the array. Yun Tianhe, on the other hand, relied on his innate intuition, instinctively choosing the correct paths. Before long, they arrived at the Liu Residence's rear garden, where they spotted a figure in purple playing a zither in a gazebo.
Though it was night, the area around the gazebo was illuminated by lanterns.
"That must be Yun Gongzi," the woman said, halting her melody
as she stood up and turned to face them. It was Liu Mengli. With a graceful wave of her left hand, the purple mist began to dissipate, restoring the Liu Residence to its normal state.
The Thousand Flower Illusion Array was Liu Mengli's creation, designed to ensnare intruders in a maze until they were exhausted and easily apprehended.
"Ah…" Han Lingsha gasped softly upon seeing Liu Mengli's face. While Han Lingsha's own beauty was undeniable, Liu Mengli's aura of elegance and sophistication set her apart. Han Lingsha was a delicate and charming "girl-next-door" type, whereas Liu Mengli exuded the poise of a noblewoman.
"Have you stared long enough?" Han Lingsha said, her tone laced with annoyance as she noticed Yun Tianhe and Daniel both gazing intently at Liu Mengli. Her words snapped Daniel out of his reverie.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Han Lingsha asked Yun Tianhe with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Beautiful. Very beautiful," Yun Tianhe said sincerely. Then, realizing the danger in his words, he quickly added, "But Lingsha is also very beautiful!"
"Nice save," Daniel thought, silently giving Yun Tianhe a thumbs-up for his quick thinking. Han Lingsha, flustered by the unexpected compliment, blushed and looked away.
"This is Yun Tianhe, the son of Yun Tianqing," Daniel said, stepping forward to introduce Yun Tianhe.
"Young Master Yun, it's a pleasure to meet you. May I ask, where is Uncle Yun now?" Liu Mengli asked, bowing slightly as she inquired about Yun Tianqing.
"My father passed away a long time ago," Yun Tianhe replied calmly, his tone reflecting his detached view of life and death.
"Uncle Yun… has passed," Liu Mengli murmured, her expression darkening with sorrow. It was clearly news she hadn't anticipated.
Moments later, she composed herself and asked, "Young Master Yun, are you preparing to leave?"
"Yes. We're heading to Chenzhou to meet the Sword Immortal. They seem to know something about my father's past."
Before Yun Tianhe could say more, a stout middle-aged man accompanied by several servants appeared, his eyes lighting up as he spotted Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli.
"Rui'er, ah, my dear nephew, are you two already engaged?" The man's voice boomed, his words startling everyone present.
"This man is determined to marry off Liu Mengli to Yun Tianhe," Daniel thought, barely holding back a laugh.
The man, none other than Liu Shifeng, the magistrate of Shouyang County, seemed to completely ignore the presence of Daniel and Han Lingsha as he focused on Yun Tianhe and Liu Mengli.
"Father! What are you saying? I've only just met Young Master Yun!" Liu Mengli exclaimed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"I understand, I understand," Liu Shifeng said, nodding with an expression that clearly conveyed he thought he knew exactly what was going on.
"You're the so-called 'old spinster'—I mean, the young lady of the Liu family?" Han Lingsha blurted out, nearly letting her inner thoughts slip completely.
"Who are these two?" Madam Liu, a kind-looking woman who had accompanied the magistrate, finally acknowledged Daniel and Han Lingsha. Her gaze lingered briefly on Han Lingsha and Yun Tianhe standing close together before sighing softly.
"Wait, aren't you that tomb raider?" Liu Shifeng said, his attention finally shifting to Han Lingsha.
"Tomb raider? Our Han family is renowned as honorable treasure hunters! We never take from the living, only recover treasures from the dead to help those in need. What's wrong with that?" Han Lingsha retorted, her voice righteous and indignant.
"You twist logic like it's an art," Liu Shifeng said, clearly wanting to argue further but at a loss for words.
"Uncle Liu, I need to leave now," Yun Tianhe said, abruptly changing the subject.
"What? Have I been a poor host?" Liu Shifeng asked, his irritation with Han Lingsha immediately forgotten.
"No, but we must go to Chenzhou to meet the Sword Immortal and learn more about my father," Yun Tianhe explained.
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I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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