This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 15 Thunder Has Escape Techniques, Body Tempering Technique Perfected
Zhong Bai was humming and hawing, but Ming Wanqian hadn't actually exerted any force at all.

Well, he's a grandmaster uncle, someone you have to coax. If you don't coax the old man a little, Zhong Bai thinks it will be hard to find a way to get things done today.

Sure enough, upon hearing Zhong Bai's whining and groaning, Ming Wanqian revealed a rare, lighthearted smile.

"You're quite something, managing to play tricks on this old Taoist priest like this. Everyone else who enters the Scripture Pavilion is stiff and rigid, like a piece of wood."

You're just my type, hmm, not bad, not bad. Anyway, back to the point, the "travel magic" is actually just an escape magic.

The world is unfathomable; who knows when we might encounter an invincible demon?

Therefore, running fast is very important!

Having said that, Ming Wanqian seemed to be recalling something, or perhaps sighing, and gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

"Among the scriptures, there are two that are more suitable for you. One of them is the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique."

"You're only at the third level of Qi Refining now. Using the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique, you can escape and travel within the five elements."

Upon hearing about the Minor Five Elements Escape Technique, Zhong Bai's eyes lit up. The Five Elements Escape Technique, even with the word "minor" added before it, was still something that was hard to come by.

"Grandmaster Uncle, the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique is excellent, this is it!"

Seeing Zhong Bai's anxious look, Ming Wanqian glared at him in annoyance.

"What's the panic? Let me finish. Although you can try to cultivate the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique now, before you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, among the Five Elements, you can use the Wood Escape to quickly move through the forest."

Fire Release... I estimate it will burn you to death in no time.

Water escape means you can only hold your breath for a little longer, about the same as a swimming fish.

Metal Release, like Fire Release, is not yet qualified.

Earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows one to burrow a few feet underground; it cannot actually pass through the ground.)

After hearing about the future prospects of his current cultivation of the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique, Zhong Bai became withdrawn.

In other words, apart from Wood Release: Technique which is somewhat useful, everything else is just a mirage, something that can be touched but not reached.

"Grandmaster Uncle, since you know that I'm still struggling to cultivate the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique, you..."

Zhong Bai didn't say what was coming next, but Ming Wanqian knew exactly what was going to happen.

"There's no other way. There are only two escape techniques in the Scripture Pavilion that can be practiced by those at the Qi Refining stage, and the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique is one of them."

As for the other one, I think it's more suitable for you: Lightning Release Technique!
This supernatural ability is originally used by practitioners of thunder magic, but of course, it becomes somewhat insufficient once one reaches the Foundation Establishment stage.

That's why your master cultivated Shrinking Earth to an Inch technique instead of Thunder Escape Technique.

"Well, so, it's up to you whether you choose the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique or the Lightning Escape Technique."

After posing the question to Zhong Bai, Zhong Bai was caught in a dilemma. Without a doubt, the Little Five Elements Escape Technique would achieve even greater heights in the future.

When he reached the Qi Refining stage, the Lightning Escape Technique was most suitable for him.

"That's enough. Once you reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, you can come to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a method again. After Foundation Establishment, you can enter the Scripture Pavilion at any time."

"Once we have more demon-slaying points, it won't be too late to learn the Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique!"

Having made his decision, Zhong Bai's reply was equally decisive.

"Grandmaster Uncle, I have made up my mind. The Lesser Five Elements Escape Technique is of limited use to me at the moment. The Thunder Escape Technique is more suitable for me."

I humbly request that my grandmaster uncle guide me in learning the Dharma!

Zhong Bai regained the respect he had shown when he entered. Ming Wanqian knew from his resolute gaze that Zhong Bai's decision wasn't impulsive, so he simply let him have his way. He reached out and grabbed a book in the distance, and a thin, magical manual easily floated into his palm, hovering in the air.

"Here you go, Lightning Release Technique. Just remember to return it in a month..."

Since they had all been to the Scripture Pavilion before, Ming Wanqian didn't mention any other precautions. Just as Zhong Bai was about to express his gratitude with the Thunder Escape Technique in his hands, Ming Wanqian suddenly rolled his sleeves, and Zhong Bai was thrown out of control and flew towards the outside of the Scripture Pavilion.

"You don't need to say thank you, kid. It's too much for people to hear. It's all the same old routine, everyone does it, it's so annoying."

It wasn't until Zhong Bai stood outside the Sutra Repository and heard his grandmaster's words coming from inside that he realized he was being disliked.

With a bright smile, it must be said that this grandmaster uncle is quite unique!
After bowing respectfully to the Scripture Pavilion, Zhong Bai stopped worrying and planned to return to his courtyard to study the lightning escape technique he had just acquired.

......................................................

Inside the small courtyard, on a futon.

Zhong Bai calmed himself down and looked at the lightning escape technique so close at hand, feeling somewhat hesitant to make a move.

He read it over and over again, but when it came to actually implementing it, Zhong Bai found it all to be unfamiliar and difficult to understand.

"Alright, just memorize the Lightning Release Technique first, there's no rush."

For now, let's focus on perfecting the Body Tempering Technique.

Zhong Bai came up with this idea because he considered that it would be difficult for others to discover the improvement of the physical body, and that the stronger the physical body, the more helpful it would be for the future use of thunder magic.

Therefore, Zhong Bai plans to put all his demon-slaying points into the Body Tempering Technique!
"Currently, I only have 450 demon-slaying points, which I painstakingly accumulated over two trips down the mountain."

For now, it can only be used to improve the physical body.

Shaking his head, Zhong Bai wasn't reluctant to part with the Demon Extermination Points. His two trips down the mountain made him realize that obtaining Demon Extermination Points wasn't difficult. However, he couldn't go down the mountain often at the moment, so they seemed especially precious.

[Successfully exchanged Demon Extermination Points for 450 days of cultivation time for the Shangqing Body Tempering Technique!]

In an instant, Zhong Bai felt his muscles and bones begin to writhe rapidly, and the sensation of surging blood and qi made his consciousness somewhat blurred.

However, Zhong Bai quickly bit his tongue, and the sensation of blood seeping from his tongue prevented him from falling into a coma.

Immediately afterwards, the body's Qi and blood increased continuously. This sudden surge in Qi and blood quickly made Zhong Bai's skin resemble a boiled shrimp, with a rosy glow beneath which tiny, almost imperceptible black impurities were gradually expelled...

After Zhong Bai had mastered the Body Tempering Technique, there were hardly any impurities left in his body. In addition, some were expelled when lightning was drawn into his body. Now, with the expulsion of impurities from Zhong Bai's body, his meridians and bones have become translucent.

Time passed little by little. While the cultivation of the Accelerated Body Tempering Technique might only take a moment, Zhong Bai's physical transformation required considerable effort.

Half an hour later, Zhong Bai slowly opened his tightly closed eyes. Even though his lips were pale and his whole body was trembling, the joy in Zhong Bai's eyes could not be concealed.

"It's done! The Shangqing Body Tempering Technique has been mastered!"

After slowly uttering these words, Zhong Bai trembled all over, and in an instant, his muscles and bones creaked!
"When the Shangqing Body Forging Technique is perfected, a single punch can produce the sound of a tiger or leopard, and the arms can exert the force of three thousand jin!"

"While it might not be enough to deal with demons and evil spirits, ordinary people will no longer be able to harm me with weapons."

After a few words of reflection, Zhong Bai went to take a bath.

Night falls on the roof of the small courtyard.

Zhong Bai sat comfortably on the roof beam. He had a strong belief that once he reached the point where he could graduate, he would be a dragon soaring across the world.

"Sweeping across the land may no longer be a distant dream!"

A strong killing intent flashed in his eyes. At this moment, a bloodline of slaughter was constantly awakening in Zhong Bai's bones, and a heart that wanted to sweep away all demons was pounding in his heart.

(End of this chapter)