Seeking Immortal Pier had beco akin to purgatory on earth.
Everywhere were remnants of smoke, flas, and ruins, with a large number of workers, vendors, and travelers wailing within.
Tao Qian did his best to save people, while also piecing together the causes of the terrifying event from the accounts of various survivors.
Before the battle, the aged monster and the young Daoist both had their say.
A tit for tat, which clarified so secrets.
Of course, only those unlucky ones nearby heard it—those like Tao Qian who had fled far away heard at most so shrieks.
"The squad leader of Cao Gang is nad Hong Heihu. Although he is rely the leader of a branch in Seeking Immortal, it seems he holds a not insignificant status in the main gang due to certain special reasons."
"About fifteen years ago, Hong Heihu earned a great rit and was given a profound magic skill by the main gang, which is the so-called 'Blood River Scripture.'"
"Who would have expected that while practicing this cultivation technique, an accident occurred, causing a mutation and loss of control, leading him to swallow his own wife alive."
"This scene was unfortunately witnessed by his only son, Hong Youhu, who, in terror, fled Seeking Immortal County."
"Eighteen years later, he returned for revenge."
"Here at Seeking Immortal Pier, he enacted an extrely terrifying slaughter before many people."
...
When the officials from Seeking Immortal County Governnt arrived, Tao Qian no longer interfered and returned to the city with the chaotic crowd.
Listening to the wails and cries around him, Tao Qian knew that tonight, very few in Seeking Immortal County would be able to sleep.
Even though the people of this world, like the original hero and scholar, all knew that many demons, ghosts, immortals, and abnormalities exist within the boundaries of Longevity Heavenly Dynasty.
But such transcendent beings rarely fought so recklessly like just now, displaying extre terror that could drive people insane.
Not only was it Tao Qian's first ti seeing such a scene, it was the sa for the residents of Seeking Immortal County.
It reminded Tao Qian of the old scholar's howl, and a sense of urgency surged in his heart.
Without further delay, Tao Qian quickly returned to his own Chengyou Bookstore.
Although many new books had co in, he didn't plan to open for custors.
He entered the bookshop directly through the side door from the alley and went into the small partitioned room reserved for sleeping and resting.
He organized the books he had bought, and quickly ate the al he had purchased en route.
After making sure the doors and windows were well secured, Tao Qian slowly took out his true gains from this trip from his bosom.
Two ancient, moderately thick books filled with the breath of history.
Or rather, Cultivation Secret Manuals.
One is the "Bai Qin Play Fragnt"; the other is the "Naless Secret Manual."
The forr was obtained by opening a Fortune Box with one silver coin, and the latter was bought from a pile of books for twenty copper coins.
Of course, acquiring these two secret books relied on Tao Qian's unique Extraordinary Perception.
Today's "experience" completely confird Tao Qian's previous speculation.
His soul had a special ability, capable of sensing transcendent and cultivation-related items, whether living or non-living beings.
Holding the two books, he weighed them for a mont.
Then, Tao Qian first set aside the Naless Secret Manual and solemnly opened the Bai Qin Play Fragnt.
After all, the fragnt only had ten pages left; best to start with the simple.
Previously, the information sensed in Tao Qian's mind described that Bai Qin Play was created by a human cultivator who called himself "Bai Qin Elder."
From the description in the fragnted book, it was a potent Cultivation Secret Manual.
But at the sa ti, it concealed terrifying ferocity.
It led to the so-called "Disorder of Bai Qin."
The details of that catastrophe, Tao Qian knew nothing of.
What he did know was the terrifying price to pay for practicing this fragnted book.
"Once started, one will gradually lose their human form, then their nature, and finally, turn into a bizarre bird beast, roaming the world, at ease and carefree?"
"In other words, completely turned into a selfless monster with only the instincts of beasts, like the Blood Beast transford by Hong Heihu seen at the pier?"
"That is truly dreadful, but it seems I might freeload."
Muttering to himself, Tao Qian turned the first page.
The first thing that caught his eyes were many faceless little figures, their bodies twisted, mimicking bird-like postures.
At first glance, Tao Qian recognized what the mimicked creature was.
"A pig?"
Had he not already witnessed the terrifying power possessed by cultivators, Tao Qian would have been entirely dumbfounded at this mont.
Mimicking a tiger, lion, or buffalo from the animal kingdom made sense.
Mimicking a pig... wait, wild boars are also leaders in the animal kingdom, after all, "a pig ranks first followed by bears and then tigers."
Tao Qian felt he understood.
With curiosity, he continued reading.
Soon, Tao Qian discovered that the strange postures in the fragnted book couldn't reveal much, perhaps only after starting the cultivation practice could the special characteristics be discovered.
But what genuinely captured Tao Qian's attention was the note at the bottom of each page.
Written in ancient seal script, the steps for the cultivation technique were:
"To cultivate pig form, one must first collect a sufficient amount of beast blood; dostic pigs that have lost their wild nature are not suitable; only the black pigs with the most wildness from mountainous wilderness are required."
"At dusk each day, consu one jar of black pig blood, then practice the 'Bai Qin Play' described in the book."
"Practice daily, and if one has talent, entry can be achieved in three days, gradually obtaining the Power of the Pig."
"If one can practice to a deep level, the body can temporarily transform into the form of a black pig, with tusks like halberds, strength surpassing a hundred cows, and skin tough like iron and copper, leaving ruins wherever it goes, and even divine weapons can hardly harm a half-inch of its skin."
"If one has exceptional talent, they may even gain one or two Bloodline Divine Powers related to the pig, which are known to include summoning wind, rain, lightning, Innate Demon Fire, and possessing an Inner World."
"However, when cultivating this technique, care must be taken not to touch human blood or flesh, and one must not harbor lascivious thoughts; once desires of lust and gluttony invade, the heart and soul will instantly lose defense, and in monts, one will completely shed human form, transforming into creatures like 'Pig Demon' or 'Pig Monster.'"
After reading these notes, Tao Qian's brow gradually furrowed.
He originally thought that the 'Bai Qin Play' cultivation secret technique must belong to the path of demons and monsters.
After all, from the results it seed, anyone who cultivated from this book ultimately turned into a demon, hence the chaos of Bai Qin.
But now, with these details, Tao Qian had a new guess.
In his mind, he recalled the peculiar information about the fragnted book.
"The steps of cultivation... precautions... all were clearly pointed out, with nothing hidden or omitted."
"Perhaps the creator of this cultivation technique, the 'Bai Qin Elder,' wasn't soone from the Demon Path."
"If one can indeed avoid touching human flesh and blood and avoid impure thoughts, one can clearly obtain the Power of the Pig and even those unbelievable Divine Skills."
"It's just unfortunate that while the forr isn't too hard to achieve, the latter would be difficult for an ordinary person or even a Great Scholar."
"Even saints say, 'Appetite and lust are natural to man'; how much more so for common folk."
"So, this 'Bai Qin Play' is actually a powerful cultivation technique that is not difficult to practice, but it has a huge flaw."
Tao Qian felt as if he had discerned so truth amidst these thoughts.
Glancing at the strange little characters, he shook his head and turned to the second page.
This ti, it was the sheep.
Tao Qian didn't plan to start practicing right away, so he directly ignored those diagrams, focusing his attention on the note at the bottom of the page.
"To cultivate sheep form, one must similarly collect a sufficient amount of beast blood; dostic sheep fed by humans are not suitable; one needs the Spiritual Sheep found deep in the mountains, hard to track."
"At noon each day, consu one jar of Spiritual Sheep blood, then practice according to the book."
"Practice diligently every day; entry can be achieved in two days, gradually obtaining the Spiritual Sheep's Power."
"Once practiced to a deep level, one's shell can temporarily transform into the form of a Spiritual Sheep, changing forms and shifting between the real and the unreal, traversing mountains and cliffs as if walking on flat ground, and with a pair of Spiritual Sheep's horns, can instantly consign creatures like demons and monsters to death."
"If one has outstanding talent, they could gain Bloodline Divine Powers during the transformation, which are known to include Destiny Defining Divine Light, Prediction of fortune and misfortune, and dematerializing one's body."
"When cultivating this technique, care must be taken not to touch any flesh or blood; even in everyday life, one should not consu at, only flowers and plants for food. The slightest touch of aty filth will instantly cause the heart and soul to lose their defense, and in monts, completely shed human form, transforming into 'Sheep Demon' and other such monstrous creatures."
"Jeez!"
Finally unable to hold back, Tao Qian let out a sound of exasperation.
His previous guess was astoundingly accurate.
"To cultivate pig form, one mustn't touch human flesh or have bad thoughts, which still sounds passable; being a pig cultivator who cultivates character doesn't seem too hard to accept."
"But the price to pay for cultivating sheep form is just too much, not eating at aside; the description is clearly excessively harsh, not even a hint of aty filth can be touched, probably even the sll could pose a risk."
"That is to say, if you choose the sheep form, you might easily succeed and obtain powerful abilities and Divine Skills, but you must live like the 'Spiritual Sheep.'"
"So, this thing is simply not intended for normal people."
"The flaw is too significant; should human beings practice it on a large scale, only one outco is possible, creating a multitude of demons possessing the Power of Bai Qin... Hm?"
His thoughts swirling to this point, Tao Qian suddenly had a realization.
Though he still didn't know the details of the chaos of Bai Qin, he no longer needed to investigate.
"Most likely, in the region of Tuo County, quite a few people practiced this 'Bai Qin Play,' but I fear none could truly follow the precepts, and as a result, all suffered."
"With the pig and sheep forms being so, what about the others?"
Tao Qian, having just mouthed off, beca intensely curious again.
His hands moved quickly, flipping through the remaining eight pages.
Ten birds were discussed, two done, leaving eight.
What kind of birds and beasts are these?
What price must be paid?
What bizarre precepts are there?
Tao Qian, for the first ti encountering the Cultivation World and cultivation secret books, felt an intense curiosity, fully experiencing the thrill that cos with seeking knowledge.
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