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The person who had broken his vase was found, but Master Danyang couldn't feel happy at all. He looked complexly at Zhengkun's mutilated body and ferociously kicked it away.
"I almost raised you like my own son! And this is how you repay me!"
The entire cave was dead silent, with only the hurried breathing of Master Danyang.
This situation lasted for the time it took to burn two incense sticks before Master Danyang slowly raised his hand and pointed directly at Li Huowang in the crowd. "You, come here, kowtow to the Taoist Master."
Li Huowang was slightly stunned, but eventually walked over in front of everyone's gaze and knelt on the ground to worship the three statues on the wall.
After a full ritual of three bows and nine knocks, Li Huowang, who was holding the three incense sticks, had already understood what the other party intended to do. "From now on, you are the last disciple of this Taoist Master!"
"Yes, Master." At this moment, Li Huowang was so excited that his heart nearly trembled. "Finally, this moment has come. Don't worry, leper head, I will definitely help you achieve immortality!"
"Follow me, I have something for you to do." Master Danyang carefully cradled the remnants of the vase head in his palm.
Following behind Master Danyang, Li Huowang retraced his steps, returning to his residence.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~!" The black threads that entwined the stone slabs whirled like a snake at high speed, diving into Master Danyang's sleeve, and the so-called Heavenly Book was fully revealed before him. "Can you understand what is written here?"
Li Huowang pretended to discern it in detail before asking with some confusion, "Master, didn't you tell me before that the way to immortality is the dual cultivation of inner and external alchemy? But that's not right, there's nothing about inner alchemy here."
"Hmm? What?!" Master Danyang's expression changed unpredictably as he looked towards the vase head corpse.
"Absolutely sure," said Li Huowang with finality.
Heaven knows what that vase head had previously fabricated to Li Huowang; if he couldn't follow up, it would be a dead giveaway. Rather than face that risk, it might be better to simply be honest and start from scratch.
Moreover, he hadn't lied; the so-called Immortality Cultivation Technique previously mentioned by Master Danyang was indeed something the vase head had made up, completely false.
Of course, what he was about to concoct wouldn't be real either.
Master Danyang fell into an uncertain contemplation; at first, he did not want to believe what Li Huowang said, but his suspicious nature made him increasingly aware of more inconsistencies as he thought about it more.
No wonder he hadn't attained immortality for so long. No wonder that girl said the contents of this Heavenly Book would change and couldn't be memorized rigidly—it all made sense now.
"Crack—Ptui!" A loathsome glob of green spit was hurled by Master Danyang right onto the vase head, then he turned to Li Huowang, "Then tell me, what is written in this Heavenly Book?"
"Well... it's an Internal Cultivation Technique. It says here that one must practice during the transition from the old year to the new, using several External Alchemy Pills in combination. Only by catching the strand of spiritual energy from the Immortal Realm that descends into the Mortal World through the Heavenly Dao can one absorb it to achieve immortality," said Li Huowang, his brow furrowed as if he was seriously explaining.
"There are several Elixirs to consume as well, like, let's say, a Pill Recipe that requires 2 taels and 4 qian of Cinnabar, 1 qian of Silver coins, 1 tael and 2 qian of Arsenic Trioxide, and also... Mercury Ore? Master, what kind of ingredient is 'Mercury Ore'?"
Master Danyang did not answer but silently looked at Li Huowang. "Child, that girl could deceive me, but surely you wouldn't also deceive me, would you?"
Li Huowang replied decisively. "Master, this is the technique for achieving immortality, how could I deceive you! I too desire immortality!"
"Good!" Master Danyang slapped his hand heavily and laughed out loud, "Then this time, we, master and disciple, will attain immortality together."
Li Huowang's expression stiffened for a moment, then became extremely excited. "Is this true? Master, can it really be? Thank you, Master! Thank you!!"
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Master Danyang observed his expression carefully but, having detected no signs of irregularity, nodded in understanding.
"Mm, we can put off making the Elixir for now. You first tell me about that Cultivation Technique. Once we, as master and disciple, have practiced it thoroughly, we can start refining External Alchemy Pills. There's still time before the New Year," he said.
"Yes, Master!" Li Huowang then recited a so-called Internal and External Grand Circulation Cultivation Technique to Master Danyang.
On that day, Li Huowang stayed in Master Danyang's room for a long time, not returning until late into the night.
Carrying a lantern through the tunnel, Li Huowang walked, his heart abuzz with the smooth progress of his plans, his goal now nearly within reach.
Having suppressed his feelings for so long, finally, something good was happening.
When he arrived at the storehouse, he found that the others, as expected, had not slept.
Seeing that it was Li Huowang, everyone immediately swarmed over, their eyes shining with excitement. They all understood what today's events meant; Li Huowang had already specially leaked the news to them.
"Don't worry, just wait for my good news, and you'll be able to go home soon," he assured them.
At Li Huowang's words, the people were so moved they were nearly in tears; they would finally be able to go home.
"Brother Li, you are my reborn parents! You are a living Bodhisattva!!" exclaimed one of the children with polio, emotional to the point of kneeling and attempting to kowtow to Li Huowang.
He seemed to take on a leading role, with others quickly following suit.
Li Huowang spent a while persuading them, and finally, the commotion ceased. "This afternoon, if it weren't for all of you, I would have been finished. Should I kowtow to you too, then?" he joked.
They got to their feet, faces beaming with joy, as happy as if it were New Year's.
Li Huowang, watching the smiling faces before him, felt a warmth in his heart; in this strange world, these oddly shaped fellows had become his companions.
"Brother Li, I did well, didn't I? That scabby-head was like an idiot, completely fooled by me," bragged Gouwa, slapping his sunken chest and grinning at Li Huowang for praise.
"Indeed, you did well. If it weren't for your act, Master Danyang wouldn't have let things go so easily," he acknowledged.
While the others crowded around Li Huowang, bombarding him with questions, someone else was worried about something different.
"Brother Li, are you alright? He really didn't give you any trouble, did he?" Bai Lingmiao approached, asking with a hint of concern.
Hearing this, Li Huowang remembered Master Danyang's talk of ascending to immortality together and the master's scheme to use him for testing potions. It was enough that he was aware of it; there was no need to tell her.
"He's now having me translate the contents of the Heavenly Book for him. What could possibly happen to me? Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine," he reassured her.
After some casual conversation, Li Huowang became serious again, "The first day of the lunar month is nearly over, and those travelers will soon be coming back from the market. We should cut to the chase; I still need your help with something. Did your grandfather tell you any more stories?"
He hadn't quite finished fabricating the Immortality Alchemy Pill formula in the Heavenly Book.
Simple Cinnabar, this kind of Mercury Ore, could no longer satisfy him; he wanted to add other things, the more sinister, the better.
He hadn't forgotten Master Danyang's power. He had to ensure his complete and utter demise.