Taoist priests in the supernatural world

"The transformation technique of the Ubume (a mythical bird) after removing its clothes?"

Huang Bai sat in front of the alchemy furnace, his gaze fixed on the white fox inside.

"Who taught you that?"

Inside the alchemy furnace, the Taiyi True Fire still swirled and did not dissipate.

The flames, like layers of fine needles, relentlessly drilled into the white fox's fur, flesh, and demonic aura.

Xiao Wei was curled up in the fire, her white fur charred black, no longer the pitiful sight she had before.

Upon hearing Huang Bai's question, she dared not conceal anything any longer and quickly replied:

"When I first gained spiritual awareness, I met a passing Taoist priest who taught me this technique."

"That sorcerer also said that once I successfully transformed into human form, I should go to Chang'an to find him, as he has even better magic for transforming skin."

The real fire weakened slightly.

Xiaowei was finally able to catch her breath.

She was panting heavily, her eyes filled with fear.

Huang Bai continued to ask:

"What did that sorcerer look like?"

A hint of fear flashed in Xiaowei's eyes, and she whispered:

"This person has no facial features. When he first met me, his face was smooth, as if covered by a blank human skin. He said he would come to find me when I arrived in Chang'an."

"No facial features..."

His yellow and white eyes flickered slightly.

"The Guhuoniao disrobes and transforms into human form—is this the true name of the art of skin-painting?"

It seems my guess was right.

The art of skin-painting is not an innate supernatural power of a single fox demon, but a complete spell.

The Guhuoniao is an ancient mythical bird. The Classic of Mountains and Seas says: "The Guhuoniao with feathers becomes a flying bird, and when it sheds its feathers, it becomes a woman."

Legend has it that this bird can steal people's children and steal their souls.

Presumably, this so-called "skin-painting magic" evolved from the Guhuoniao's ability to transform itself by removing its clothes.

Since there are magical arts, there must be a lineage of them.

Judging from the information revealed by Xiao Wei, this sorcerer who is skilled in using the art of skin-changing magic has probably already arrived in Chang'an.

He might even transform into a high-ranking official and mingle with the emperor.

Huang Bai looked at Xiao Wei inside the cauldron and said:

"Tell me your secret magic tricks, and I'll spare your life."

"Is what you say true, Immortal Master?"

Huang Bai's expression remained unchanged.

"A true person doesn't lie."

Xiaowei gritted her teeth and finally lowered her head.

"Okay, then I'll tell you."

She gathered her thoughts, not daring to miss a single detail.

The Art of Skin Painting has three levels.

The first step is to paint human skin.

That is, Xiaowei's current level.

This realm requires peeling off human skin to maintain the vitality of the skin with demonic energy, runes, and flesh.

After donning a mask, one can transform into a human and mingle among mortals.

But since human skin is not one's own, in order to maintain it for a long time, it is often nourished with human blood.

Otherwise, the painted skin will wither and decay, revealing its true demonic nature.

The second step is to draw a magical skin.

At this level, the painted skin is no longer just an outer garment for changing appearances, but can possess its own supernatural powers.

Each piece of skin can carry one or even multiple spells.

They can fly, dive into water, become invisible, breathe fire, or transform in countless ways.

It transforms from a simple transformation into a true magical artifact.

Upon hearing this, Huang Bai thought to himself:

"This level of skill is comparable to the transformation technique of the twelve zodiac animals."

However, unlike the twelve zodiac animals that can be changed at will, an ordinary skin-changing sorcerer may only have two or three skins in his entire life.

Each hide requires a large amount of materials, runes, and blood to nourish it.

If the mask is damaged, the sorcerer himself will also suffer severe damage.

The third level is to paint the skin of immortals.

Once you reach this level, you can simply put on a mask and transform the fake into the real, truly becoming an immortal.

This is the realm that the sorcerer who paints skins strives for throughout his life.

Donning the skin of a deity, one's mortal body transforms into an immortal one, and demons and ghosts become true immortals.

"Another method to achieve immortality."

Huang Bai felt a slight sense of emotion.

The world is full of wonders, even unorthodox practices like becoming an immortal by painting one's own skin have emerged.

Of course, Huang Bai, who possessed the Dao of External Alchemy, looked down on this so-called "Painted Skin Immortal Cultivation Method".

This method completely transforms oneself.

It replaces its own essence with the skin of external things.

Whether one ultimately achieves immortality through practice, or through the transformation of a human into an immortal, is hard to say.

Moreover, this method does not have the straightforward path of the Nine-Turn Elixir.

If one is not careful, one may completely lose one's true self.

At this moment, Xiaowei's voice interrupted Huang Bai's thoughts.

"Immortal Master, can you spare my life?"

Huang Bai glanced at her and said, "Of course."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his yellow and white sleeves.

The real fire suddenly completely covered Xiaowei's body.

"what!"

Xiao Wei screamed in terror.

This time, Huang Bai did not burn her to ashes.

The Taiyi True Fire penetrated deep into her demonic body, refining the demonic energy she had cultivated over the years inch by inch.

After a while, the white fox spat out an inner core.

The inner elixir fell into the yellow and white palms.

Xiao Wei's breath suddenly stopped and she fainted on the spot.

When she woke up again, her eyes had lost their original cunning and lively quality.

She lay on the ground and glanced at Huang Bai warily, like an ordinary white fox.

A moment later, she jumped onto a branch, disappeared into the night, and quickly vanished.

Huang Bai did not stop them when he saw this.

A gentleman's word is as good as his bond.

If I say I'll spare your life, then I will.

However, Xiao Wei has committed too many murders.

She could escape the death penalty but not the punishment, so Huang Bai scattered her cultivation, took her inner core, and turned her back into a beast.

Whether she can regain her intelligence in the future depends on her own fate.

Huang Bai rubbed the painted skin and inner elixir in his hands.

The painted skin was withered and cold, while the inner core carried a strange and eerie energy.

"Painted skin... inner core... the demonic energy on the demon seems to enhance the Queen Mother of the West's Immortal Scripture, and may promote the cultivation of the inner core."

Thinking of this, Huang Bai summoned the alchemy furnace again.

He used Xiaowei Demon Core as a base, combined with several medicinal herbs, to refine the pill anew.

The fire of alchemy rises.

The demonic aura was gradually washed away, its impurities removed.

Finally, a pale white pill was formed.

Take the yellow and white medicine orally.

After the pill entered the stomach, its medicinal power flowed into the limbs and bones, and then slowly gathered near the center of the forehead.

His vertical eye between his brows shone brightly.

That eye that sees into the heart is much stronger than before.

……

The Huo residence.

The lights were on full display, and the guests were having a great time.

After experiencing the fox demon incident, everyone in the Huo family felt like they had survived a calamity.

Huo Shan and his wife Pei Rong personally hosted a banquet to entertain Huang Bai.

Pei Rong returned to her original appearance, but her face was still somewhat pale.

During the meal, Pei Rong raised her wine glass and toasted Huang Bai from afar.

"Thank you, Immortal Elder. If it weren't for your intervention, the fox demon would have succeeded, and I don't know how much more injustice I would have suffered."

"No need to be so polite."

Huang Bai waved his hand.

"This is the duty of those who cultivate the Tao."

Having said that, he stopped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"General Huo, when are you going to Chang'an to report on your duties? I need you to take me there."

Huo Shan put down her wine glass, her expression shifting slightly.

"I am ready to travel to Chang'an at any time. But what brings you to Chang'an, Immortal? Are you also searching for the elixir of immortality for His Majesty?"

At the end, his tone carried a hint of worry.

Huo Shan was very worried that this would cause the emperor to suffer even more hardship and waste of resources.

In recent years, the trend of seeking immortality and medicine in Chang'an has become increasingly popular.

Alchemists roamed freely, and elixirs were everywhere.

Many people have used the guise of immortals to swindle and deceive, and to disrupt the government.

However, since Huang Bai was his benefactor, Huo Shan couldn't speak too harshly.

Huang Bai looked at him and said calmly:

"No, I'm going there to kill someone."

"What?"

Huo Shan was shocked. The wine glass in her hand wobbled, and she accidentally spilled the wine all over the floor.

He quickly put down his wine cup and asked, "Whom does the immortal wish to kill?"

Huang Bai said:

"There is no elixir in the world that can instantly make mortals immortal after taking it, therefore the alchemists around the emperor must be frauds."

"The fox spirit once said that the sorcerer who taught her the art of skin-painting was in Chang'an. Therefore, there might be a demon skilled in skin-painting around the emperor."

Huo Shan was shocked to hear this.

Over the years, he had always thought that most of the Taoist priests in Chang'an were frauds.

"No wonder the emperor sought immortality for many years without success; they were all frauds."

Huo Shan stood up, his hand on his sword, looking excited.

"If the immortal wishes to subdue demons and monsters, I will certainly lend my full assistance. Tomorrow, I will depart for Chang'an to report on my duties!"

He didn't want to wait a moment longer.

In recent years, there have been successive uprisings among the people, and life has become increasingly difficult for the people in the border areas.

Huo Shan knew that the people would never easily rebel unless they were desperate to survive.

In order to avoid dealing with the Han people, he took the initiative to go to the Western Regions, this godforsaken place.

Now that we have the opportunity to set things right, it's time to return to Chang'an.

Huo Shan took a deep breath, a long-lost look of anticipation appearing in her eyes.

"The Wei and Huo families are in the court, as is the Crown Prince. As long as the immortal reveals the true nature of the sorcerer, His Majesty will surely repent."

"I hope so."

Huang Bai remained noncommittal.

Huo Shan may not have known, or she may have been unwilling to believe it.

In fact, their greatest enemy was not the sorcerers, but Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che).

Even if this group of sorcerers is killed, as long as Liu Che still wants to live forever, another group of swindlers will appear.

In his later years, Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) became obsessed.

Those who support him should be killed, and those who don't should also be killed.

He might even kill neutral people if he perceives them as a threat.

Liu Che wanted to kill all those who posed a threat to his power.

Like Ying Zheng, Liu Che feared losing power in his later years and desperately clung to all power.

However, he was different from Ying Zheng.

When Huang Bai met Ying Zheng, Ying Zheng was still young and had a chance to turn back.

As for this old man, he probably doesn't have much hope left.

News from the border town quickly reached Ganquan Palace in Chang'an.

An immortal receives dew under a lamp.

Liu Che's expression was uncertain as he slowly consumed the elixir.

The elixir was crimson in color, contained in a jade cup, and emitted a faint metallic aura.

A young man in his twenties, dressed in fine clothes, was kneeling before him.

It was none other than Crown Prince Liu Ju.

Liu Ju kowtowed deeply, his voice earnest.

"I beg Your Majesty to cease your imperial tours and suburban sacrifices, and to stop the construction of grand palaces and pavilions. The population of the land has dwindled sharply, and rebellions are breaking out one after another. The people are already overburdened and can no longer seek immortality."

During this remonstrance, Liu Ju was even prepared to be deposed.

But there were some things he had to say.

If we don't speak up, the very foundation of the Han Dynasty will be shaken.

Liu Che looked at the kneeling crown prince, his eyes gradually turning cold.

He couldn't even be bothered to explain.

"Get out of here."

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the candlestick from the table and threw it at the person.

boom!

The candlestick hit Liu Ju on the forehead.

Liu Ju's eye suddenly split open, and blood flowed down his cheek.

He remained kneeling in the same spot, motionless.

"Please, Father, rescind your decree!"

The palace maids in the hall were silent as cicadas in winter, and the sorcerers dared not raise their heads.

The anger in Liu Che's eyes grew stronger.

"Guards, take the Crown Prince away."

"Urgent report from the border town!"

Just then, the alchemist's report interrupted the argument between the father and son.

A palace attendant hurried into the hall, knelt down, and reported.

"Your Majesty, a demon fox disguised as a woman has appeared in the border region. The fox devours human hearts and was killed by a sorcerer named Huang Tian."

"Painted Skin..."

Liu Che muttered to himself.

He slowly turned his head and looked at the sorcerer beside him.

"Do you think this 'Painted Skin' magic can grant immortality?"

The sorcerer was startled and dared not give a reckless answer.

"I am unaware."

Liu Che did not delve into the matter further, but instead asked:

"Is the dew-collecting plate finished?"

The sorcerer quickly replied:

"It will be completed in three days."

Liu Che put down the jade cup and slowly walked out of the main hall.

A night breeze swept in from outside the palace.

He looked in the direction of Jianzhang Palace.

Inside Jianzhang Palace, a bronze pillar rises from the ground, over forty meters high, its shaft as thick as a building, its entire body gleaming with a faint bronze light.

At the top of the bronze pillar, a bronze immortal holds out his palm to hold a tray, as if to receive sweet dew from the heavens.

When the sunlight shines on it, the entire terrace resembles a bronze needle piercing the sky.

As Liu Che gazed at the terraced platform, the look of infatuation in his eyes grew ever stronger.

"On an auspicious day, I will offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for the elixir of immortality!"

at the same time.

Huo Shan and Huang Bai have already set off from the border town for Chang'an.

(Please vote with monthly tickets. There will be another chapter later. Today's chapter is another 10,000 words.)