Chapter Forty-Seven: Jiang Yunyi

Shen Changan carried the Dragon Girl on his back, moving at a rapid pace. His stride was swift, and carrying a person did not hinder his speed in the slightest.

"Daoist Shen."

The Dragon Girl’s voice came from his back.

"What is it?"

Shen Changan replied, though he did not slow his pace by even a fraction.

"I see that we are almost at a town ahead..."

Shen Changan paused slightly, thinking that the Dragon Girl must be wishing to part ways. He had brought her out only to thwart Xue Lie's plans; he had no intention of keeping her captive. Just as he was about to speak, the Dragon Girl continued, "Let us stop for a moment to disguise ourselves before we enter the town."

Shen Changan was stunned. He stopped in his tracks, looking at her with curiosity. "Disguise? Do you not intend to return?"

The Dragon Girl chuckled. "What is there to go back to? Since I have finally managed to get out, I shall never return."

Shen Changan frowned. "You are a Dragon Girl of noble status. If you wander about outside..."

The Dragon Girl let out a soft snort. "Rest assured, the Dragon Emperor and I do not have much of a connection; otherwise, I would not have been captured by such lowly thieves."

"But this..."

"As the saying goes, if you save a person, save them to the end; if you see a Buddha off, see them to the West. Daoist Shen, I must trouble you to be merciful and take me along for a journey. Oh, that’s right—help cannot be given for free. Let me think..."

After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Your cultivation, Daoist Shen, draws directly from the essence of heaven and earth, yet your spiritual foundation is quite unique. I presume you are practicing only a common sensing technique."

To have his learning exposed at a glance left Shen Changan quite surprised. Most people, seeing his profound internal energy, would never guess that he was practicing only a rudimentary sensing method. Although the Qingping Sect’s founder was unparalleled, their actual connection to the founder was practically non-existent. At most, they possessed a few ancestral techniques and used the founder’s name to gild their own reputations. Their crude sensing method was proof enough of their decline. With the sect’s subsequent decay, the remaining techniques became even scarcer, and without proper guidance, progress was arduous.

"Since you lack a proper method, I happen to have three visualization techniques. Consider them my token of gratitude."

Upon hearing the term "visualization technique," Shen Changan was taken aback. In the world of cultivation, methods were generally categorized into three types. The first was the "Sensing Method," which involved sensing the existence of mysterious forces and bridging a connection to draw in spiritual energy. This relied entirely on luck; if one could not sense anything, one would never enter the path.

The second was the "Heart Technique." This consisted of mantras and scriptures. By chanting and meditating upon these, one grasped the underlying principles to circulate energy and condense power. This was not a matter of luck but genuine cultivation. A profound understanding of these mantras could bolster one's strength, and for the most powerful techniques, each recitation increased one's power—a diligent practitioner could achieve results even with limited talent.

The third, and most formidable, was the "Visualization Technique." By visualizing various entities and combining them with heart techniques, a practitioner could strengthen their soul and generate power. Visualization techniques incorporated heart techniques while concretizing the sensing method. While sensing methods required one to seek an unknown entity, visualization techniques depicted it in detail. As the practitioner meditated upon these images, they strengthened their soul and birthed power. Because these techniques required both meditation and deep contemplation of scripture, they were considered the premier methods in the cultivation world.

When the Dragon Girl offered three such techniques, even the calm Shen Changan was left speechless.

"Visualization techniques?" he asked, unable to believe it.

The Dragon Girl smiled. "Do not be surprised. I am of the Dragon Clan, after all; I possess quite a few such methods."

Shen Changan pondered before saying earnestly, "Simply escorting you is not worth such secret manuals. However, I do indeed lack a proper path. If you are willing, one would be more than enough."

The Dragon Girl shook her head gently. "These techniques are intended for human cultivators and have little value to me. Giving them to you serves two purposes: to have you protect me for a time, and to thank you for saving me."

Seeing her resolve, Shen Changan ceased his polite refusals. The Dragon Girl smiled and placed her delicate white hand into his large one. Shen Changan paused, and she laughed, "My power is currently sealed. Please channel your energy into this ring of mine."

Shen Changan realized with a start that this Dragon Girl was remarkably wealthy; the ring she wore was a "Cosmos Ring." Such items contained a separate spatial dimension within them, capable of storing vast quantities of goods. They were treasures rarely seen by ordinary people; even talents like Zhang Hongyu, who possessed a divine sword, did not have one.

Shen Changan channeled his energy into the ring. A crack appeared, revealing a space about the size of a small room. The Dragon Girl reached in and retrieved a small booklet, a piece of golden gauze, and a tiny stone statue.

"The booklet contains the 'Lesser Zhou Celestial Phenomenon Art' of the Daoist school. The gauze is embroidered with the 'Immovable Wisdom King Heart Sutra' of the Buddhist school. And the statue holds a nameless technique for visualizing a dragon coiling around one's body to temper the physique."

Shen Changan accepted the three techniques. The Dragon Girl rummaged a bit more and produced a painting, handing it to him.

"Here, this is my 'Bathing Portrait.' You may take it to study."

Shen Changan’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the scroll. The Dragon Girl gave a mischievous smirk and whispered into his ear, "It is, of course, a painting of my dragon form. What else did you think you were going to see?"

Shen Changan’s ears turned beet red, leaving him speechless for a long moment.

The Dragon Girl giggled. "Use this painting while you practice that nameless technique; it will ensure twice the result with half the effort."

Shen Changan nodded and tucked away the three manuals. "I have received your kindness, yet I do not know your name."

The Dragon Girl gave a playful smile. "My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Yunyi."

"Jiang Yunyi," Shen Changan repeated to himself.