Chapter 313 - 30: Small Daoist Collection

Upon hearing this, Tong Hou flipped his hand and took out a small box.

The box was rectangular, over a foot long and half a foot wide. Its entire body was crystalline like jade, looking like a giant jade stone.

Seeing the Runes on the box, Zhang Deming’s expression sharpened. ’So it really is the Core Daoist Canon of the Cyan Wood Secret Realm.’

Tong Hou gently opened the box. From Zhang Deming’s vantage point, he could see several books inside.

The book right on top was none other than the Tier Five *Cyan Wood Divine Refining Technique*.

Under Zhang Deming’s gaze, Tong Hou took the books out one by one.

He placed them one by one before Zhang Deming—five books in total. Two were Cultivation Techniques, and three were Techniques.

The Cultivation Techniques were: the Law-Level Mid Grade, Tier Five *Cyan Wood Divine Refining Technique*, and the Law-Level Elementary, Tier Four *Cyan Rattan Skill*.

The Techniques were: the Law-Level Mid Grade, Tier Five *Withered Wood Revives in Spring*; the Law-Level Mid Grade, Tier Five *Jade Vine Realm*; and the Law-Level Elementary, Tier Four *Vine Body Technique*.

Staring at the five books, Zhang Deming was slightly taken aback. "That’s it?" he asked.

This was far from what Zhang Deming had expected. He had thought there would be five Cultivation Techniques, the Core Daoist Canon of the Cyan Wood Scripture Pavilion...

’Then again,’ he thought, ’it makes sense. A complete five-volume set of a Tier Five Cultivation Technique in exchange for a Tier Three Inheritance Bead Set?’

’Only a complete fool would have the "guts" to make a trade like that!’

Tong Hou paused. Noticing Zhang Deming’s slight frown, he asked, "Senior, you don’t think this is enough to be worth a Tier Three Set Bead?"

Zhang Deming shook his head. "No, that’s not it. In terms of pure value, this is obviously enough."

"I simply thought you had obtained the Core Daoist Canon of the Cyan Wood Secret Realm. From the looks of it now, this is at best the Daoist Collection of one of its branches."

"These items of yours are certainly not bad, but aside from the *Cyan Wood Divine Refining Technique*, the others hold little appeal for me."

"Therefore, the so-called ’tailor-made’ aspect of this deal is of little consequence to me. After all, custom work is a seller’s market."

Zhang Deming paused, then shook his head. "Why am I even telling you this? Never mind. It’s not like I’m taking a loss, anyway. Let’s sign the contract."

Zhang Deming wasn’t lying. Unless they were exceptionally unique, Techniques above Tier Three truly held little appeal for him right now.

He simply didn’t have enough Qi Fortune to spare for learning Techniques of Tier Four or higher anytime soon.

And even if he did, he wouldn’t learn one rashly.

For those at the Tai Chi Cultivation level, ordinary people mostly used Tier Two Techniques. Geniuses, on the other hand, might occasionally have a Tier Three Technique as a trump card.

As for a Tier Four Magic Level Technique, it wasn’t necessarily a good thing for a Cultivator in the Tai Chi Stage.

Tier Four represented a massive jump from Secret Level to Law Level, a quantum leap in power and effect.

By the same token, the spiritual cost and the burden on the Cultivator increased enormously as well.

Joy spread across Tong Hou’s face. Watching his reaction, Zhang Deming said, "However, I want the originals. That part is non-negotiable."

Tong Hou seemed to have expected this and, in the end, nodded his assent.

For Cultivation Techniques and Techniques of Law Level or higher, creating a proper Daoist Collection, whether on a Jade Scroll or in a book, involved more than just simple transcription.

The books themselves would contain a certain guiding aura. Holding such a book allowed for better cultivation and made it easier to reach the Entry Level. Only then could they be considered a proper Daoist Collection.

This unique guiding aura also served as an excellent anti-counterfeiting measure.

Simple copies mostly circulated in back-alley markets, their value heavily discounted and their authenticity nearly impossible to verify.

And that was just for the Law Level. For the Scripture level and higher, the requirements were even stricter. All books or Jade Scrolls had to be inscribed with Runes by someone who had personally comprehended the art for it to be passed down.

Mere transcription was not enough.

Techniques and Cultivation Techniques above the Scripture level were not passed down through ordinary words at all; the teachings were transmitted through the Runes themselves.

As the two parties finalized the contract, it transformed into two Runes that flew into the palms of Zhang Deming and Tong Hou.

The Runes flickered a few times before vanishing.

Zhang Deming could clearly feel a strange power take up residence in his right hand.

Once they had signed, Tong Hou placed the books back in the box and pushed it out from within the One-Way Array.

Zhang Deming paused at this. "You had this ready all along?"

Tong Hou reverted to his devil-may-care attitude and grinned. "From the moment I took the first step, I never planned on keeping any of this."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming glanced up at him again.

He reached out, took the jade box, looked it over, then with a flip of his hand, stowed it in his storage bag. "Alright, then. Do you have any other requests regarding the Inheritance Bead Set?"

Tong Hou shook his head. "I trust your professional expertise, Senior."

Zhang Deming looked at Tong Hou and asked, "For now, you’ve only learned the Yin Yang Chess Dao Technique, right?"

Tong Hou nodded. "Mm, I’ve learned the Yangqi Trapping Array and the Yin Chess Move. I haven’t formed any other Magic Runes."

"Alright, then. In a week, I’ll come up with a preliminary plan for the bead set, and we can meet again to discuss the details."

"If there are no problems after that, I’ll start the production," Zhang Deming stated.

Now that the contract was signed, Tong Hou visibly relaxed. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "I was wondering, Senior, how long will it take you to produce the bead set?"

Zhang Deming said, "I can’t be sure yet. You’re requesting a top-tier bead set, which requires ensuring all the Techniques are mastered."

"Based on my Mastery Spirit Nurturing Beads, each Technique should require about five beads."

"Plus, for the Rune Core Technique, you specifically requested to achieve mastery as quickly as possible. To be on the safe side, that will need fifteen beads."

"So, for the whole set, I’ll only be able to give you a definitive number after I see how they’re combined."

Tong Hou frowned slightly. "Five? Fifteen? Shouldn’t it be ten and dozens, respectively?"

Zhang Deming chuckled. "The Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Bead Set I’m talking about isn’t quite the same as what you’ve come to understand. You’ll see when the time comes."

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, let’s call it a day. This is a temporary Communication Card, effective anywhere within Celestial Spirit City."

"Stay within the city limits, and we’ll meet again in seven days."

Tong Hou nodded. "Alright."

With that, he took the Communication Array Card, rose to his feet, and left the private room.

After leaving Jade Delicacy Tower, Tong Hou cautiously applied several Disguises. Only after confirming that he wasn’t being followed did he quietly make his way to West City.

This area was inhabited mostly by mortals, making it the equivalent of the Slums for the Cultivators of Celestial Spirit City.

He arrived at a small, decent-looking courtyard and opened the gate. The yard was empty and looked somewhat derelict, having been untended for a long time.

Tong Hou entered the courtyard and closed the gate behind him.

He entered a side building in the courtyard. The room’s decor made it look like an ancestral shrine.

A large altar dominated the room, occupying the most prominent position. Upon its surface sat only two spirit tablets.

Tong Hou gazed at the spirit tablets, silently stepped forward, lit a few sticks of incense, and respectfully placed them in the holder.

He then knelt quietly on a prayer cushion, his gaze unfocused. He stared blankly into space, his thoughts wandering to places unknown.

After a long while, for reasons unknown, an exceptionally savage expression twisted his vacant features.

He looked at the two spirit tablets and said in a raspy voice, "Mother, Sister, you can rest assured. I have a path now. I *will* avenge you!"

With that, he began to kowtow, his forehead striking the floor with audible THUDS.

His forehead, unprotected by the slightest bit of Spiritual Power, instantly grew bloody. He seemed not to feel it, only stopping after he had completed nine forceful kowtows.

...

Zhang Deming watched Tong Hou’s disappearing figure, somewhat lost in thought.

’This Tong Hou... he’s no Ordinary person, it seems.’

’Back then, more than a thousand Core Disciples came away with nothing from that Secret Realm, yet he, a mere Apprentice, actually managed to acquire a partial Daoist Collection. That’s quite interesting.’

’What’s more interesting is that, even now with such good options available, he’s still sticking with the Yin Yang Chess Dao. Now *that* is interesting.’

’In other words, his choice of Basic Technique wasn’t a last resort. This is a path he chose to walk intentionally.’

’To walk such a bizarre path, you’re either a fool or you have an ulterior motive.’

’And looking at him now, he’s clearly no fool.’

...