Chapter 003: The Essence

The young Taoist reacted quickly. Seeing Wang Bo vanish, he instinctively became alert.

But Wang Bo was faster. His Nine Yang Sword Qi being shattered made him realize the enemy's strength exceeded his expectations. After being bound by the漫天 golden threads, he teleported behind the young Taoist.

Nine Yang Five Extremes!

Fire Cloud Palm, Snake Spits Venom!

This strike came from an oddly tricky angle, swift as a viper, its palm force unpredictable.

Wang Bo channeled his Nine Yang True Qi, struck out with a palm, and lightly took the young Taoist's occiput. Though the young Taoist reacted extremely fast, he was still far inferior to Wang Bo and was hit by Wang Bo's move.

With a crisp crack, the young Taoist was instantly sent flying by Wang Bo, slammed against the wall of the pavilion with a thud, and fainted without a sound.

The漫天 golden threads, with the young Taoist's unconsciousness, shattered in an instant, turning into specks of light and disappearing on the spot.

Li Changsheng stood to the side, watching the clash between Wang Bo and the young Taoist. The outcome was decided in the blink of an eye, and he was already scared out of his wits. Seeing the young Taoist knocked out, he fell to his knees with a thud.

"Spare me, great hero, spare me."

Wang Bo stepped forward, struck out with a palm, and knocked Li Changsheng unconscious as well.

Then, he grabbed the young Taoist and teleported away from the National Teacher's Mansion.

Even a young Taoist could see that he had no magical power in his body, only surging Nine Yang True Qi. Then the young Taoist's master, Taiyin Zhenren, could naturally see it too.

So Wang Bo no longer planned to stay in the National Teacher's Mansion. If the National Teacher discovered him, it would inevitably lead to another great battle.

Although Wang Bo was not afraid of the National Teacher Taiyin Zhenren, he was not a battle maniac and had no interest in fighting.

In an instant, Wang Bo left the National Teacher's Mansion and appeared among lofty mountains and ridges.

Wang Bo set down the young Taoist, pressed one hand on his forehead, and施展催眠术, attempting to hypnotize him and extract the complete method of the Taiyin True Art from his mouth.

But to Wang Bo's surprise, when he tried to hypnotize the unconscious young Taoist, the magical power within the young Taoist surged up, blocking Wang Bo's magical force.

His hypnotism had actually failed.

Wang Bo became increasingly astonished. The Taiyin True Art was indeed extraordinary; even with its master unconscious, the magical power could automatically protect its body and block such minor tricks. But this did not stump Wang Bo. He channeled his Nine Yang True Qi, slowly infused it into the young Taoist's body, and sealed off all his magical power.

This technique was already recorded in the Nine Yang Divine Art and was not a difficult method. Wang Bo learned it at once but had never had the chance to apply it on anyone else.

The young Taoist was the first person on whom Wang Bo used such a technique. After his magical power was sealed by Wang Bo's Nine Yang True Qi, he could no longer resist.

This time, Wang Bo successfully hypnotized the young Taoist and asked about the Taiyin True Art.

The young Taoist opened his eyes, their light dim, and between the opening and closing of his mouth, he revealed the complete method of the Taiyin True Art in full detail.

This naturally included the method of absorbing venomous snakes to enhance power.

After listening, Wang Bo confirmed his thoughts. The Taiyin True Art was upright and proper, indeed a cultivation method for attaining the Dao and ascending to immortality. It did not contain such a method of absorbing snake essence to increase power.

This method was a heterodox path that Taiyin Zhenren had obtained elsewhere.

Taiyin Zhenren must have been unable to endure the long cultivation, eager for quick success, and thus used this method to increase his magical power, seeking an early ascension.

This is only human nature.

If one cultivated the Taiyin True Art uprightly, without several hundred or even a thousand years of accumulation, one could not attain the Dao and ascend. Moreover, during those centuries or millennia, there would be too many variables.

What if one fell into demonic deviation and lost all previous gains?

What if one got into conflict with others and was killed?

What if one got stuck at a certain realm, unable to progress, and eventually died of old age?

Thus, after obtaining this method of absorbing snake essence to increase magical power, Taiyin Zhenren became addicted to it, and the young Taoist also fell into the same addiction.

After all, this was a shortcut to the heavens.

By continuously absorbing snake essence, one could accumulate a vast amount of magical power, shortening hundreds of years to decades or even less. Any cultivator would be tempted.

Taiyin Zhenren was naturally no exception.

Moreover, although this method was heterodox, it was not demonic. It required neither killing humans for blood nor devouring human souls, nor did it harm harmony.

And using snakes for cultivation could, in an extreme view, even be considered slaying demons and eliminating evil.

For this reason, Taiyin Zhenren was so impatient that he even persuaded the emperor to order the people to catch snakes for him, and snakes could even be used to offset the harsh taxes of the time.

However, this also led to many snake catchers losing their lives to snake bites, causing widespread resentment.

Of course, in Taiyin Zhenren's view, this was all worth it.

...

After draining everything the young Taoist knew, Wang Bo waved his hand and sent him back to the National Teacher's Mansion.

This fellow, though arrogant and domineering, had not indiscriminately killed the innocent. So Wang Bo did not harm him but instead let him go. As for how he would explain to his master after returning, that was none of Wang Bo's concern.

On the other hand, although Wang Bo now knew the complete cultivation method of the Taiyin True Art, he was somewhat disappointed.

Because he himself was not suited to cultivate this method.

After all, he was a superman who could absorb sunlight to grow stronger. Both the Ripple Breathing Technique and the Nine Yang Divine Art were of great benefit to Wang Bo.

But the Taiyin True Art required absorbing the Taiyin Qi of heaven and earth, which had many drawbacks for Wang Bo.

Although all things bear yin and embrace yang, blending qi to achieve harmony, for Wang Bo, the disadvantages of cultivating the Taiyin True Art far outweighed the advantages, so he discarded it like a worn-out shoe.

However, some spells obtained from the young Taoist's mouth interested Wang Bo greatly.

But to Wang Bo's dismay, these spells required magical power to drive, yet Wang Bo had no magical power in his body, only true qi and magical force.

Wang Bo had tried using true qi or magical force to drive these spells, but the results were unsatisfactory.

This left Wang Bo very frustrated.

Magical power, magical force, true qi—though all are energy, energy must also be categorized. Clearly, spells were techniques specifically created for magical power.

Other energies simply could not drive spells, or at least their effects were far inferior to magical power.

If Wang Bo were as erudite and knowledgeable as Master Gu Yi, he might be able to return to the origin, adapt these spells, and create spells that could be driven by magical force.

But unfortunately, Wang Bo did not yet have such ability. His research into magic was mediocre, let alone spells.