"Very well, I have two types of transformations here. One is the Heavenly Gang Number, which consists of thirty-six variations; the other is the Earthly Fiend Number, which, once mastered, includes seventy-two variations!"
"Which one would you like to learn?"
When the Skinny Daoist spoke of the Heavenly Gang Number, he stopped short, but when he mentioned the Earthly Fiend Number, he deliberately emphasized, implying that only the latter was truly formidable.
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, where do you have the Heavenly Gang Number transformations?
The transformations of the Heavenly Gang Number and Earthly Fiend Number are completely different from the Divine Techniques of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend. The former are divine techniques within the Dao, while the latter are the path of transformation independent of divine techniques.
It is also a method outside the Dao to evade the calamities of the three disasters and avoid the disasters of the three realms, hardly attainable even by ordinary immortals and deities!
Xu Qing looked at the Skinny Daoist's serious demeanor and blinked, "They say the heavens are yang, the earth is yin; the heavens are empty, the earth is solid; Celestial Venerable, Earthly Humble... Since I'm here to learn something powerful, I'd surely choose a position of superiority, why not learn the Heavenly Gang transformation?"
"..."
The Skinny Daoist couldn't help but ask, "The Heavenly Gang Number only has thirty-six variations, but I have seventy-two variations in the Earthly Fiend. Why don't you go for more?"
Xu Qing shook his head, "Rarity is valuable, more doesn't necessarily mean better. Is that not right, elder?"
"..."
The Skinny Daoist's face darkened, his ruler ready to strike, eager to kick this brat out right now!
Forget it, ignorance is not a crime, why argue with a junior?
The Skinny Daoist chuckled strangely, "The Heavenly Gang transformation requires someone with exceptional talent to practice, your comprehension is lacking, you can only learn the Earthly Fiend transformation!"
Oh, Xu Qing nodded in agreement:
"The Earthly Fiend is still decent, I don't mind, I hope the elder will teach me."
What do you mean the Earthly Fiend is still decent?
The Skinny Daoist's grip on the ruler tightened again and again.
He almost gritted his teeth, "In that case, come forward, I will teach you the mantra!"
Xu Qing glanced at the eager ruler, then at the Skinny Daoist's elusive expression, and finally stepped forward, obediently waiting by his side.
The Skinny Daoist held his breath and whispered in his ear, without knowing what intriguing method, managing to make Xu Qing, accustomed to refined grain, show gleaming eyes.
This truly is: Corpse Monster meets true Immortal in a dream, seventy-two changes comprehend the profound mystery. At the thought of hiding traces and disappearing, impervious to countless calamities, free within the body!
...
Three months later, Qingqiu Ruins.
Since learning the transformation method of the small Water Curtain Cave, Xu Qing immersed himself in cultivation day and night.
His talent wasn't particularly outstanding, at most just above average, naturally unable to comprehend all seventy-two variations in three to five years like the owner of Little Monkey's Blessed Land.
Currently, after three months of travel and cultivation, Xu Qing has managed to change his appearance and adjust his height and build, no more than that.
However, this is already quite convenient for him, at least, no matter how times change in the future, he will no longer need to rely on makeup and embalming to conceal his ageless secret.
"Sect Leader, Autumn Rain seeks a favor."
Before entering the Qingqiu Ruins, Bai Qiuyu suddenly approached Xu Qing, and said seriously:
"I am the last descendant of Qingqiu, the lone heir of the Nine-tails. Now that my family and country are gone, the Fox Tomb is withering, I really can't bear to disturb our ancestors.
If Sir would kindly pay respects to our ancestors' remains when you proceed to Qingqiu for the sacrificial rites, this is all I ask. As long as the Sect Leader agrees, I will regard the Sect Leader as a benefactor, whatever the Sect Leader wishes will be my duty..."
Xu Qing was stunned, is this Qingqiu Fox Girl trying to forge a bond with him?
"Have you thought this through?"
"Yes." Bai Qiuyu nodded lightly, her voice as soft as a mosquito.
No, if bonding for cultivation, then bond for cultivation, why act so bashfully?
Xu Qing frowned slightly, not agreeing outright.
The foxes bond for cultivation, yet this bond is far from simple, especially with ancient fox immortal lineages like Qingqiu and Tushan, requiring caution.
Hu Baosong once said that ten thousand years ago, Qingqiu Fox Kingdom was replete with immortal treasures, a top-notch blessed land, yet no one dared covet Qingqiu.
The reason being Qingqiu often bonded with humans, and at the time, Qingqiu's Fox Immortals had an exceptional eye, able to penetrate human hearts.
Ten thousand years ago, a princess of Qingqiu went so far as to lower her status and bond with a poor Daoist from a declining temple, less than a hundred years later, the Daoist ascended in glory.
By then, the heaven and earth were still in communication, soon after the Daoist ascended to the celestial realm, he sent down a Celestial Scripture, gifting it to the princess.
The princess of Qingqiu, now a new ruler, after obtaining the Celestial Scripture, ascended and attained the Dao in less than a hundred years.
And the story of the Empress of Qingqiu and the Daoist is but the tip of the iceberg of Qingqiu Fox Race bonding with people.
Besides the Empress, there were times Fox Immortal aided founding monarchs, and episodes of a top scholar receiving clothing and food from an old fox lady in distress, or a fallen woman being guided by a fox scholar to cultivation, becoming the leader of an immortal sect, establishing a sect...
Whether it's due to profit or affection remains unclear, perhaps it's both. But if judging by deeds and not intentions, all this seems unimportant, yet the issue is once a fox forms a mutual fate with the chosen person, it's akin to forming a contract of shared glory and loss, yet it targets only the Fox Immortal unilaterally.
Looking at Bai Qiuyu, Xu Qing pondered a while before asking, "How are you certain I can lead you to Ascend to Immortality?"
Bai Qiuyu smiled slightly, eyes shining like mist, "Sect Leader completing the Qingqiu inheritance for me grants me the potential to become a Fox Immortal. If the Sect Leader Ascends to Immortality first, I naturally gain from it, but if the Sect Leader falls short, failing to achieve it, I can also benefit from it..."