Chapter 120: The Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique
Shi Hao said, “I understand, Master. Please teach me the Nine Yin Demonic Primordial Technique and the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations.”
Su Mei recited the techniques, and Shi Hao memorized them.
The Nine Yin Demonic Primordial Technique could only be cultivated after reaching the sixth rank. For now, he could only memorize it and practice after completing the ritual outside.
However, with Su Mei’s explanations, he understood the general applications of the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations.
Hypnosis, bone shrinking, illusions, tendon shifting… a wide array of tricks and deceptions.
Some of these tricks, to those unfamiliar with their workings, would seem like supernatural abilities.
Although they were essentially just “magic tricks” using demonic energy, used at the right moment, they could be incredibly effective.
After explaining the techniques, Su Mei smiled, “We still have some time. Let’s go outside. Show me how much your martial arts have improved.”
They left the hall. Su Mei’s crimson robe, loose and flowing, exposed her shoulders and collarbone, the sheer undergarment beneath clinging to her body, her curves accentuated by the thin fabric.
The robe, draped loosely over her arms, seemed impractical for fighting, but she didn’t seem to mind, “Don’t worry, I’ll match my strength to yours. If you can even touch my chest, I’ll grant you any wish.”
Shi Hao took a deep breath. Despite her dismissive tone, he remained calm.
She was already trying to undermine his confidence before they even started. If he lost his composure, he would lose the fight.
He channeled the Unfettered Demon’s Boundless Art, his palm like a blade.
Empowered by the True Dragon energy, his demonic power surged.
At the same time, he used the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique and his Primordial Energy to anticipate her every move.
Although she stood motionless, an invisible aura surrounded her, her robe and sleeves swaying gently, her beauty captivating.
Having practiced countless sword techniques in the Celestial Realm, Shi Hao knew he couldn’t touch her with just the Violet Vortex Blade Technique and the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger.
He quickly reviewed the sword techniques he had learned, adapting some of them into saber techniques.
He suddenly stepped forward, crossing a zhang in an instant, his palm-blade slashing downwards, not at Su Mei directly, but creating a vortex beside her, pulling her towards it.
Then, he changed his technique, channeling the Mysterious Charm Technique, unleashing a burst of demonic fire towards her chest.
“Not bad,” Su Mei said, flicking her sleeve and floating away, appearing behind him in a flash – the Soul Chasing Locking Steps!
Shi Hao hadn’t expected to hit her so easily. With his Primordial Energy, he could clearly sense her movements behind him.
He pivoted, a vortex forming beneath his feet, and, ignoring her palm strike aimed at the back of his neck, pushed towards her with his other hand.
This palm strike was a feint, a distraction from the “Celestial Maiden Scatters Flowers” sword technique, too weak to cause any real damage.
But he didn’t need to injure her, just touch her.
And being a feint, without any real force behind it, it was incredibly fast. He was certain that as she struck him, his hand would reach her chest. He might be knocked unconscious, but it didn’t matter, as long as he touched her.
“Cunning! You’re learning,” Su Mei said, tapping her foot on the ground, disrupting the vortex beneath him.
Her movement faltered momentarily as his fingers brushed against her chest, less than an inch away.
“But not enough!” The moment her foot touched the ground, she leaped into the air, kicking him, sending him flying.
Although she had held back, she had expected him to be incapacitated for a while. But he jumped to his feet and attacked again, his movements swift and agile, like a monkey.
“Using both your Daoist and demonic energies for defense, interesting,” Su Mei chuckled, seeing through his technique.
He continued his assault, using every technique he knew.
But even with her suppressing her power to his level, his skill was still far inferior to hers. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t touch her.
She dodged his attacks, occasionally kicking or tripping him, sending him sprawling, but also offering guidance and correcting his mistakes.
By the time they returned to the waterfall, Shi Hao was exhausted.
He hadn’t landed a single blow, while Su Mei seemed quite pleased with herself.
Reaching the waterfall, he didn’t see Ye Zi Yin, so he crossed the lake and entered the grotto behind the waterfall.
He found her beneath a giant peony, as tall as a house.
He recounted his “training” with Su Mei, not hiding anything.
Ye Zi Yin had him sit down and, amidst the glowing plants, using her knowledge of strategy and the Yin Talisman, analyzed his fight with Su Mei, move by move.
He had initially thought of the strategies of Guiguzi as an art of persuasion and the Yin Talisman as military strategy.
But now, under Ye Zi Yin’s guidance, he understood that, in some ways, they were also applicable to martial arts.
The “opening and closing”, “reaction”, “flying pincers”, and “opposition and agreement” tactics of Guiguzi, along with the five methods of persuasion – conjecture, observation, weighing, planning, and decision – could be used to observe, analyze, and manipulate opponents in combat.
Knowing when to feign weakness, when to lure the enemy, when to strike…
And the “seven techniques of the Yin Talisman” – “Five dragons method of invigorating the spirit”, Tortoise method of nourishing the will, Winged serpent method of solidifying intent, Bear method of dividing power – taught adaptability, choosing the right approach for each opponent.
They could be applied to military strategy, diplomacy, and even martial arts.
With Ye Zi Yin’s analysis, Shi Hao’s one-sided “defeat” against Su Mei was dissected, each move examined and explained.
Since his martial arts skills were inferior, he had to rely on strategy. What to do in each situation, how to anticipate and counter the opponent’s moves, how to discern feints from real attacks, how to disguise his own intentions…
With Ye Zi Yin’s explanations, incorporating principles of strategy and military tactics, Shi Hao felt a sudden clarity, a deeper understanding of martial arts.
He also finally understood why, despite the witch’s cunning, the immortal was more than a match for her.
After the analysis, Ye Zi Yin began teaching him the “Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique,” an advanced version of the Gathering Essence Flowing Pearl Technique, combining it with three foundational techniques: the Immortal Ice Technique, the True Water Technique, and the Profound Wind Technique.
After reciting the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique, she taught him the True Water and Profound Wind Techniques.
Like the Immortal Ice Technique, these two were eighth-rank techniques, easily mastered by Shi Hao.
The Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique, however, required him to reach the sixth rank and refine the corresponding elixir before he could practice it.
She didn’t teach him any new sword techniques. There was no need.
He had already learned countless techniques in the Celestial Realm, more than enough for him to practice and refine.
Learning too much at once would only be detrimental.
Ye Zi Yin said, “The external elixir for the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique requires three Dream Grasses, one Illusory Sea Lingzhi, and one Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit, as well as three liang of Devil’s Thorn, seven qian of Sappanwood, one liang and three qian of Red Yeast Rice…”
She explained the ingredients and the refining method for the sixth-rank elixir in detail, then added, “The ingredients for higher ranks will be increasingly difficult to obtain. Be prepared. The Illusory Sea Lingzhi grows from the seed of the Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit planted in jade.
“Since you were able to find the Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit, the Illusory Sea Lingzhi shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain. Dream Grass originally only grew in the East Sea Dragon Palace. I don’t know if it can still be found. And as for the Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit, if you can’t find it, you can refine a hundred jin of ordinary Vermilion Fruit to create Vermilion Spirit Water, which has the same properties. You should learn this method as well, just in case.”
She then explained the method for refining Vermilion Spirit Water.
After Shi Hao memorized everything, their time was almost up.
But Shi Hao still had a question. He whispered, “Sister Zi Yin, is there really no way to resolve the conflict between you and Su Mei?”
Ye Zi Yin looked at him and shook her head slowly, “Countless lives were lost in that catastrophe. Now, only she and I remain. This conflict… it has to end. One of us has to die.
“She killed my master. And many of my companions died by her hand. This isn’t something you can resolve. Don’t get involved.”
Her voice was calm but firm.
Shi Hao remained silent.
“Speaking of which,” Ye Zi Yin smiled faintly, “The poem you recited last time, why was it only half a verse?”
Shi Hao whispered, “I only managed to compose half of it at the time. I finished the rest during my travels.”
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