usatvline Chapter 108 Making Animals
Chapter 108 Making Animals
The old Taoist priest acted so readily, as if he could teach Wang Qilang the Seventy-Two Transformations immediately.
Having received affirmation, Wang Qilang couldn't help but start daydreaming again, because
When he first spoke, he said he would only learn one spell, but in the two or three months he had been in the mountains, he had seen countless magical techniques. Making a decision in such a short time was really difficult for him.
He would take the spells he had learned back with him and naturally demonstrate them to his family to prove that he had not gone up the mountain just for fun and that his pursuit of Taoist magic was not due to ignorance.
In this way, he needed to learn something extraordinary. Wang Qilang glanced at Cang beside him. He had seen the other party transform into a streak of light and fly into the sky. When he chopped wood, he could always hear melodious music. Based on his family's opinion, the other party's Taoist arts combined with string music would be the most likely to amaze the audience.
It's a pity that Cang said from the beginning that he would not accept disciples, and also pointed out that his cultivation method was different from that of the people in this world. Since there was a gap between the two sides, it was probably no use for Wang Qilang to bring it up.
Recalling the magic he had witnessed on the old Taoist priest, Wang Qilang made a decision and spoke to the people above.
“I often see Master walking around the temple, and no wall can stop him wherever he goes. If I could learn your magic of passing through walls, I would be content.”
Wang Qilang wanted to learn the art of walking through walls, and the old Taoist readily agreed, immediately imparting the incantation. Cang, watching from the side, couldn't help but wonder if the old Taoist chanted anything when he walked through walls. It seemed not.
The process of imparting the incantation was done without any attempt to hide it from others. Neither of them lowered their voices, and Cang, who was standing next to them, heard everything clearly. Even though he didn't know the old Taoist's wall-penetrating technique, he could tell that this wasn't the incantation for performing the wall-penetrating technique.
If you ask why, the old Taoist priest only recited a very ordinary incantation, simply taking a part from a certain passage. Only Wang Qilang, an outsider, couldn't understand it and really thought it was some profound magic formula.
After Wang Qilang memorized it, the old Taoist priest pulled him a few steps toward the wall, then pushed him forward and shouted.
"Get inside the wall!"
Faced with the solid wall, Wang Qilang dared not go any further. Watching others walk through walls was one thing, but doing it himself was another. All he could see was a wall, and as he walked forward, he couldn't help but imagine himself crashing into it.
Seeing Wang Qilang hesitate, the old Taoist priest told him to try walking forward first. After Wang Qilang moved step by step to the wall and maintained a posture of facing the wall in contemplation, the old Taoist priest picked up his whisk. Cang Xin understood and took a few steps back to make room.
"Head down and charge forward, don't hesitate!"
"……it is good."
Trusting the old Taoist priest, Wang Qilang thought that the immortal wouldn't lie to him, and since he was already close to the wall, rushing over wouldn't hurt too much. Thinking of how the old Taoist priest usually moved freely, Wang Qilang gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and ran towards the wall in front of him.
As he ran, Wang Qilang felt no obstruction. Before he closed his eyes, he was very close to the wall. Under normal circumstances, he should have been blocked and unable to run away immediately.
But now, he has run a short distance without feeling any obstacles. There is nothing in front of him, as if he has run in an open space.
When they stopped, a gust of wind blew around them, making it feel like they were inside a house. Wang Qilang opened his eyes and found himself outside the Taoist temple, with a wall not far behind him.
He really did pass through the wall inside the temple and run outside. The immortal hadn't lied to him; he had mastered the art of passing through walls!
After chopping wood for nearly three months, Wang Qilang finally learned a Taoist technique. Overjoyed, he ran to the temple to thank his master. After being told, "You must be pure and self-disciplined when you return home, otherwise your magic will not work," he went home satisfied.
As for what happened after Wang Qilang came down the mountain, and how he showed off in front of his family by pretending to run into a wall, that had nothing to do with the people on Laoshan Mountain. Anyway, he did indeed run through a wall on the mountain.
"If you are eager for quick success and instant benefits, how can you endure the hardships of spiritual practice?"
The old Taoist priest stroked his beard and sighed softly. Judging from Wang Qilang's expression as he descended the mountain, he knew that the other party had not heeded his instructions. His words applied not only to the casting of spells, but also to all matters; maintaining purity and self-respect was always the right thing to do.
……
Ma Jiepu left with the fox and the rat. Because the matter was complicated and he was not participating as a human, he did not ride the donkey anymore. Moreover, since the fox and the rat who were leading the way were not human, the roads he was led on were not suitable for riding a donkey.
He didn't know much about the White Lotus Sect, mostly from hearsay from passersby. He knew that the "White Lotus Sect" was a large group with countless branches and sects, and that there were many desperate people practicing evil arts and witchcraft within it.
The White Lotus Sect is making such a big show of things, it's practically inciting the hatred of all the spirits and monsters. It's one thing to go against the government, but to go against the monsters too. When did this kind of folk cult become so powerful?
The yellow fox and the gray rat led Ma Jiepu to the neighboring town. Their friends had all been captured, and their leader had come to the town. Because they couldn't transform into human form, they couldn't infiltrate and had to find helpers.
Is it in this city?
Ma Jiepu looked at the two little creatures leading the way. One was a fox, and the other was a mouse. They were both people that everyone wanted to kill if they ran into the street. The little mouse, in particular, was already a handful of cats kept by the city residents.
"I'll go check first. You all be careful outside."
He has a human appearance, so going into the city to investigate is no problem for him. But the two of them are intelligent creatures, which are half-monsters, and they are very likely to encounter danger outside.
Especially now, with members of the White Lotus Cult inside the city, there must be others outside as well. Since this is an organized operation, it's impossible that only a few people would be mobilized.
After instructing the two little ones to hide well and leaving them some things to escape with, Ma Jiepu straightened his clothes and easily blended into the crowd.
From his appearance, he was a young man dressed in a somewhat chivalrous manner, and there was no discernible difference. Ordinary cultivators would not be able to see through his true form.
If they were just ordinary followers of the White Lotus Sect, it would be quite difficult for Ma Jiepu to find them, because most of them were "lay Buddhists" who practiced at home, and their daily attire was no different from that of ordinary people.
But if it's a sorcerer who knows magic, then it's simple. As a fox spirit, if he can't see through someone practicing evil magic, then Ma Jiepu's cultivation has been in vain.
He walked into the bustling city, brushed past a man leading five donkeys, and followed him toward a nearby inn, maintaining a safe distance throughout.
The person leading the donkey, both he and the donkey, are problematic.
Five donkeys—that's quite a lot. Although it might be a livestock transaction, one person leading five donkeys at the same time, with no luggage on their backs, and despite being restless, they obediently following the person. Is it that these donkeys are too well-trained, or that this person is truly strong enough to pull five donkeys by himself?
Ma Jiepu watched as the man tied the donkeys to the inn's stables. Hearing the man say he would come back, he went in and chatted with the innkeeper, asking to stay at the inn and intending to see what was going on.
To avoid arousing suspicion, he stood at a distance and saw the other person and the shop assistant exchanging words, which were probably about the donkey, but unfortunately he couldn't hear them clearly.
There's definitely something wrong with those donkeys. Ever since the person leading them left, the donkeys have been braying restlessly, and everyone sitting in the shop can hear them clearly.
Ma Jiepu noticed the donkeys were behaving strangely and suspected they were cursed. Just as he was thinking of an excuse to check on them, he saw a yellow figure walk in.
"Whose donkeys are those outside? Aren't you going to do anything about all the noise they're making?"
A young man dressed in a yellow robe with a white cloak behind him strode in. His brown hair was tied up in a high ponytail, but it actually had many intricate designs. The hair ornaments, ears, collar, and even the long sword behind him were decorated with gold. He had long eyebrows that reached his temples, and he looked like a spirited young man.
Overall, he looks like a young knight-errant like Ma Jiepu, but the exquisite ornaments he wears are not the kind of things a typical knight-errant would wear.
It is said that wealth should not be flaunted. If someone like this young man were to walk around with gold jewelry and jewels on his body, alone, he would be an easy target for a group of people to attack.
The young man must have been staying at the shop for a while. After entering, he went straight to the shopkeeper. The long sword behind him, inlaid with rubies, had a very conspicuous pendant that swung back and forth as he walked.
"Five donkeys are braying at the same time. Aren't you going to do anything about it, shopkeeper? At least give them some water."
"The guest just said that we shouldn't give water to the donkey."
The previous worker chimed in, explaining that this was what the man who brought the donkeys had instructed him to not give the donkeys water. The worker was puzzled; someone who could afford five donkeys must be wealthy, but even wealth shouldn't be wasted like this. If the donkeys became thirsty, it would affect their ability to be sold or used for work.
"You can't drink water..."
Ma Jiepu was standing nearby and overheard their conversation. The fact that overly obedient livestock shouldn't be given water reminded him of a certain kind of witchcraft.
"The donkey is so thirsty, if it keeps braying like that, you won't be able to do any business."
The boy in yellow was right. One donkey braying was enough to be a nuisance. Now there were five donkeys braying and kicking at the horse stable. Getting close would give you a headache. With such ear-piercing noise, who would want to come to the shop?
The shopkeeper thought about it carefully and agreed. He was also getting a headache from the donkey's braying, and it was strange that the animal wasn't given water. What would happen if it drank water? He couldn't think of any consequences, so he asked his assistant to fetch a few buckets of water for the donkey.
"Five donkeys are hard to handle, and I'm also annoyed by the noise, so I want to go with this guy."
By this time, Ma Jiepu had already guessed where those donkeys came from. He stood up from his seat with a serious expression and went out to fetch water with the helper.
Although he looked upset, there were five donkeys braying outside, so the others assumed he was just annoyed by the noise and didn't pay much attention. They offered to help, and the man couldn't refuse.
"I am coming too!"
The boy in yellow glanced at Ma Jiepu, then followed him out. The waiter walked ahead, while Ma Jiepu and the boy lagged slightly behind.
"first meet."
The boy introduced himself in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
"The scoundrels of the Silver Horse family squandered their wealth and are now nowhere to be found."
"Hello, I am... eh?"
Still thinking about the donkey outside, Ma Jiepu subconsciously responded to the person next to him as they introduced themselves, but then realized something was wrong and abruptly stopped.
Silver Tiger in charge, isn't that...?
To be honest, when this young man walked in just now, he was indeed guessing whether the other person was a Xiantian person. Although his hair color was not very special and his clothes were not as complicated as those of the others he had seen before, the young man's hairstyle matched the characteristics.
Anyway, just by looking, Ma Jiepu couldn't tell how his hair was styled. Several strands of hair were coiled on it, and now that he was closer, he realized that the hairstyle wasn't a ponytail. The illusion he had just had was created because he was backlit, and the ribbon on his head and the hair hanging down were mixed together.
Upon closer inspection, it appears that the other person's hairstyle is a variation of the Daoji style, combined with embedded hair ornaments for securing it.
“I was sent here by my master to investigate. You must be the fox my master was talking about…”
"Exactly."
The two spoke softly, and ordinary people couldn't hear their conversation, but Ma Jiepu still interrupted them urgently. There are people among mortals who are born with good hearing, and it's better to be safe than sorry.
"Is there something wrong with those donkeys?"
Mo Xunzong initially only complained about the donkey's noise, but after noticing Ma Jiepu's strange expression, he followed along.
That's not a donkey.
Ma Jiepu shook his head with a complicated expression.
"If it's not a donkey, then what is it?"
"It's human."
"?!"
The sun was quite strong today, and the donkeys kept braying because they were thirsty. The innkeeper thought it was related to the sun, so he led the donkeys to a shady spot and asked his assistant to bring water buckets over.
These donkeys were indeed very thirsty. As soon as they saw water, they rushed over. The waiters and the manager, seeing this, were afraid of being bumped by the donkeys, so they all moved to a safer distance.
Ma Jiepu was closest to the donkey, staring intently at the donkey as it drank water, explaining his earlier answer to Mo Xunzong.
“There is a kind of animal-making witchcraft in the southern region that can turn living people into livestock, making them obedient and led away.”
"And those donkeys...they..."
Mo Xunzong pointed to the donkeys drinking water, not knowing what to call them. Ma Jiepu had already made it very clear that these donkeys were the result of a "livestock creation" witchcraft.
He just arrived, and he's already getting such a heavyweight plot right off the bat!
"People under this spell cannot drink water; once they have drunk their fill of water..."
What happens after you're full?
Mo Xunzong, who was listening nearby, was getting anxious. Ma Jiepu gestured for him to turn his head and look at the donkey.
By this time, one of the donkeys had finished drinking. It lay down and began to roll on the ground. Amidst the rising dust, the group watched as the donkey's figure changed shape, becoming increasingly distorted and shrinking into a tangled mess, completely unrecognizable as a donkey.
"Shopkeeper, look!"
The man thought he was seeing things, so he quickly rubbed his eyes and found that he wasn't seeing things. In fact, upon closer inspection, he felt that the shadow in the dust looked like a person.
He wasn't mistaken. When the dust settled, the donkey was gone, leaving only a woman with a dazed expression and blank stares.
"...Just like this, the animal-creating spell is lifted, and the animal turns back into a human."
With the woman's appearance, Ma Jiepu finished speaking.