Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Lesser Five Elements Water Stealth Technique

Having selected the necessary cultivation techniques for the Dao Entry stage, Uncle Wu sent someone to fetch two translucent emeralds, within which faint golden characters shimmered. These emeralds contained the two techniques.

"Here is one hundred Dao coins for you to use for now, Young Master Bai. Once the consignment of the talismans is concluded, I will have someone deliver the proceeds to your doorstep," Uncle Wu said with a chuckle, handing Qi Xiu a finely crafted purse woven with gold thread.

"You are too kind, Senior Wu."

Qi Xiu opened the purse and took out a Dao coin to examine it. It resembled the copper coins of the mundane world: black-gold in color, octagonal in shape, with a dragon and a phoenix intricately carved on the surface. When rubbed with a finger, the raised textures revealed two characters: "Da Xuan." There was also a faint, mysterious aura hidden within the coin—much like the watermark on paper currency in his previous life—making it impossible to counterfeit.

"A reward for you."

With a flick of his thumb, Qi Xiu tossed the coin—which was worth ten thousand pieces of gold—directly into the lap of the girl named Yan'er nearby. She trembled in surprise, clutching the coin with wide, delighted eyes. This single coin was worth half a year’s performance bonuses for her.

"You lowly maid, why haven't you thanked Young Master Bai?" Uncle Wu frowned, chiding her in a low voice as she remained lost in her excitement.

Quickly tucking the coin into her bodice, Yan'er bowed. "Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Bai. If there is anything you need, I will certainly do it for you." Her eyes were filled with charm, as if she wished to melt into his very being.

"It is a deal, then." Qi Xiu gave her fair, delicate cheek a pinch, laughed, and left the Shen Family General Store, personally escorted by Uncle Wu.

...

At the Dafu Restaurant, in Room Nine of the Heaven Pavilion, the two translucent emeralds lay quietly on the table. Qi Xiu picked one up. As he held it, the golden runes trapped within began to leap out like living things.

As the golden characters emerged, the room instantly grew humid, and within the blink of an eye, a faint mist covered the surface of the table. Without checking, he knew this emerald contained the "Lesser Five Elements Water-Traversal Evasion Technique."

"Dao Entry techniques are rooted in the supernatural; ordinary text cannot record them. One must use these 'Law-Storing Emeralds' to seal their essence to preserve the complete methodology." His trip to the Shen Family General Store had certainly broadened his horizons.

The golden symbols rose into the air, transforming into countless tiny bubbles that swarmed into Qi Xiu's nose. The next moment, a woman's voice resonated in his mind—flat and indifferent, like a piece of ice pressed against his ear. Every word was so bone-chillingly cold it made him want to sneeze. As she chanted the essential points of the technique, each phrase manifested as a new memory in Qi Xiu's mind. By the time the icy voice vanished, he possessed the full content of the technique, including the cultivation method, precautions, taboos, and some rudimentary insights. These memories were etched deep into his mind, impossible to forget.

Quietly contemplating this strange evasion technique from the Demonic Sect, Qi Xiu opened his eyes and clicked his tongue.

"As expected of a Demonic Sect technique. The materials, rituals, and locations required are all steeped in blood and gore, bringing disaster to others. No wonder the Shen Family General Store only noted the effects; they were probably afraid that if the conditions were known, no one would choose it. It really is quite sinister."

Recalling the contents, Qi Xiu pondered. Practicing it step-by-step as written was impossible. He was neither a twisted, homicidal maniac nor did he wish to be hunted by the righteous path.

"According to the essence of the technique, without those necessary materials, rituals, and locations, one can still practice, but the progress will be agonizingly slow. It’s like a car; the materials and rituals are the fuel. With them, you step on the gas and go. Without them, I’m left pushing the car myself."

A thought crossed his mind. He was alone, with nothing to his name. Since he began his cultivation, he had been timid and cautious, but now that he had this miraculous technique, perhaps he should be bolder. Once one enters the Dao, one transcends the mundane. Who was to say that disciples of great sects and noble families hadn't already been killing people to refine their arts in secret to gain an edge? If they could do it, why couldn't he?

Bloodshot veins began to appear in his eyes, and his expression turned gloomy as faint, dark, miasmic smoke began to emanate from him.

"No!" Just as the blood-red color was about to fill his pupils, he snapped out of it. "There is demonic intent hidden in this technique!"

Realizing his state, Qi Xiu’s expression darkened. He held his hands in a gesture, and deep within his heart, the Hunyuan Pearl suddenly burst into brilliant, multicolored light. In his sea of consciousness, the ink-colored dragon opened its emerald eyes, and the purple tiger in his Dantian lifted its head!

*Roar!*

The dragon's cry and the tiger's howl shook the very heavens. The bloodshot veins vanished, and Qi Xiu’s eyes cleared. The dark mist dissipated. Having escaped that state of growing evil and near-possession, he was drenched in cold sweat, his heart still racing. He looked at the emerald on the table with a heavy gaze.

"Truly a Demonic Sect technique. Every word hides demonic intent, preying on the practitioner's malice to lead them to fall into madness."

He hadn't expected such danger. Had he followed the cruel methods described, he would have likely abandoned his humanity and turned into a demon within a day. No wonder it had become a discarded item at the shop—the hidden threat of demonic corruption had likely never been uncovered because no one had ever chosen it.

"Fortunately, I have the ink-colored dragon guarding my sea of consciousness and the purple tiger watching over my life, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to break free."

He let out a long breath, wiped the sweat from his brow, and shook his head with a bitter smile. This was the fatal weakness of a rogue cultivator: without the guidance of a master, the path was filled with pitfalls. Lacking systematic training, his knowledge was narrow, and he could not accurately judge potential dangers.

"I should go back to the Shen Family General Store and buy some books on lore and common knowledge, or I will surely suffer such losses again."

After some thought, Qi Xiu held two fingers of his right hand against his left palm and activated the power of the ink-colored dragon. In his sea of consciousness, the bored dragon suddenly perked up, its emerald eyes glowing. It snatched a bubble—within which a ferocious shadow shimmered with blue-black light—and swallowed it in one gulp.

*Dragon Seclusion.* One of the divine powers of the ink-colored dragon.

It allowed the dragon to take over the cultivation of a technique, like an automated process. Since the dragon fed on the dark and filthy energies of the world, the demonic intent of the technique could not affect it. As the dragon coiled up, its eyes half-closed, black mist swirled around it, manifesting into flickering characters.

On his proficiency panel, the "Lesser Five Elements Water-Traversal Evasion Technique" appeared, and the proficiency number began to tick upward.

At the same time, the Hunyuan Pearl at the center of his heart began to shed strands of primordial energy. In his sea of consciousness, the dragon began to chant the formula, its aura reflecting the symbols of the technique. Under this operation, a wisp of supernatural energy—finer than a strand of hair—was drawn in. It merged with the energy from the pearl to form a trail of indigo-black light, like flowing water and mist.

Looking at the grain-sized light in his heart, Qi Xiu gave a wry smile. With so little, he would likely exhaust it before he even got off the ground. Without the cruel materials and rituals, the energy pulled in was pathetic.

"They designed it so that you cannot master it without those horrible conditions. But they are wrong. I can."

With a calm gaze, he watched the process. A few seconds later, a strand of his own innate energy emerged and collided with the thin, weak evasion energy. The latter suddenly swelled, fed by the proficiency points. The light began to grow, merging with his primordial energy until it became a deep, blue-black stream flowing around the pearl.

Estimating that he had enough, Qi Xiu formed a seal. His figure instantly transformed into a misty, translucent vapor. Curious, he maneuvered through the room, then impulsively dashed straight at the wall.

*Whoosh.*

The mist flickered, and he passed directly through the wall, emerging outside. A waiter happened to be passing by with a tray of food. He looked at the faint mist that had just flashed past in confusion.

"Where did this mist come from in this room?" the waiter muttered, shaking his head.