After a short moment, the usually composed patriarch let out an exclamation of surprise.
Something's off, nine out of ten parts are off!
Today, it seems something truly extraordinary has entered the White Cloud Cave.
It's not entirely filthy, rather it's like a feces wrapped in honey, with the honey mixed with oil, forging an improbable fusion of incongruous entities, yet seamlessly composed, leaving no apparent divisions.
Strange, so strange!
The patriarch's heart stirred slightly, and he immediately extended his finger to point three times at Li Nu in front of him, saying: "Sincerity yields success; if the Xu Immortal Family you speak of is sincere, how could they not learn the True Skill?"
Xuan Yu's eyes brightened, once again bowing continuously like a human toward the patriarch.
In the White Cloud Cave, having copied the last Earthly Fiend technique, Xu Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Right now, midnight is already halfway past; another half hour, and the Celestial Scripture of the White Cloud Cave will once again vanish and hide.
"Xu Immortal Family!"
As soon as Xu Qing put away the treasure book of the Earthly Fiend section, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
He turned around and saw Xuan Yu leaping onto the stone table, signaling him to bow his head.
Though puzzled, Xu Qing still slightly bowed his head.
Seeing the Xu Immortal Family bowing his head, Xuan Yu immediately imitated the patriarch's method, raising his furry cat paw to pat the soft pad on Xu Qing's forehead three times.
"..."
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, looked around; if not for the public setting, he would surely tease this cat head to tail.
Why should a cat stroke a human, does his Sect Leader need no dignity?
"Properly comprehend the profound techniques here, do not delay the timing."
Seeing Xu Qing reach out to brush aside his paw, and reveal a serious expression, Xuan Yu finally couldn't hold back and spoke:
"Xu Immortal Family not smart!"
Who's not smart? Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, just about to retort when the cat in front urged in imitation of his words:
"Xu Immortal Family quickly go comprehend the Celestial Techniques! Do not delay the timing!"
"Sincerity yields success; Xu Immortal Family must be sincere!"
After all, Xu Qing is not a fool; he noticed Xuan Yu's abnormal behavior and thus asked: "Could it be that the Profound Jade Immortal Family also learned the Celestial Divine Techniques?"
Xuan Yu raised his long neck, somewhat proud, and said: "I have learned nine Divine Techniques."
"..."
Xu Qing did not hesitate anymore; he got up and went to the left stone wall, where only Qishan still stood in a trance.
Calculating the timing, Xu Qing chose not to interrupt the mountain spirit's enlightenment; he took this opportunity to inquire from Xuan Yu about which Divine Techniques he learned, and then sought out Senior Sister Yizhen, Bai Qiuyu, Lu Xiu, and others for details, and after noting down a total of twenty-one Divine Technique names, Qishan also returned from his meditation.
Xu Qing asked her what Divine Techniques she learned.
Qishan replied: "One Mountain-lifting Sea-crossing technique, enabling me to move freely without being weighed down by heavy pressure once practiced."
"One Transformation technique, where flowers blossom instantly, allowing me to harness the life aura of the mountains and forests and turn barren mountains lush once practiced."
"And one Shadowless Standing technique, allowing me to hide invisibly and cause renowned mountains to vanish from view, even rendering them undiscoverable by immortals once practiced."
Xu Qing noted these three Divine Techniques, and now the entire Immortal Hall together had a total of twenty-four Celestial Divine Techniques.
From the start to the end, he never asked which person taught the Divine Techniques to the Immortal Family; if it was to be spoken of, Xuan Yu would be the first to tell the truth.
Xu Qing understood; if he insisted on asking, he might get an answer, but clearly, such a pursuit was something only a fool would do.
Now that Xuan Yu had guided him, there was no need to obsess over these minutiae. As long as he could reach the Celestial Scripture, would he still fear not knowing who taught the Divine Techniques?
Xu Qing approached the left stone wall, saluted with a disciple's courtesy, yet the Celestial Scripture remained indifferent.
He felt no discouragement and immediately declared:
"I, Xu Qing, humbly seek the profound path, knowing that without utmost sincerity, one cannot knock on heaven's door, and without a wise master, one cannot seek the path of immortality."
"I, junior, wish to steal a glimpse of the Celestial Scripture, which is wrong, but my desire for the path is sincere."
"Heaven and earth have their cycles, plants have their transformations in decay and bloom, cold and warmth have their seasonal cycles. Yet outside of Yin and Yang, matters transcending the Five Elements I know little of; they are cosmic mysteries, which fools cannot comprehend."
"Though I am dull-witted, I have heard that a wise man hears the path and diligently follows it."
"I do not aspire for instant ascension, but only to know the clear path, to understand the principles of creation, so that I may die content!"
Xu Qing prattled on for quite a while, and finally added:
To hear the path in the morning, and die in the evening.
I am merely a zombie; if I can hear the path daily, even if it means dying once a day, continuing to die that way, I would be happy as can be!