Chapter 29 Shape-shifting Technique

Although the man's attack was fierce and brutal, Ning Daoran was already psychologically prepared. The moment the opponent's sword was drawn, the Qiushui Sword also left the sheath, with the tip nonchalantly colliding with the other's sword.

"Boom!"

A dull sound erupted, and the opponent's soft sword was instantly deflected.

"You?"

The thin and wiry man was shocked. From the moment of contact, he knew that the other's mana intensity far surpassed his own.

Ning Daoran bent his body, leaping up from the green bamboo leaves like an arrow loosed from its string, delivering a punch that cut through the air.

The close combat technique of Jianghu martial artists.

The thin and wiry man was startled, unable to think of any magic or spells to use, only trying to dodge.

But where could he escape to? With just one punch, his head was blasted open.

...

Ning Daoran swiftly searched the body in mid-air, and after a Soul Search, threw out a fireball to reduce it to ashes.

The result of the Soul Search was not too surprising.

The man was named Chen Huaiyi, a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, hiding in Yellow Dragon Square and profiteering in various ways to solidify the foundation of his cultivation.

His current identity was that of a servant in "Flowers Pavilion," a brothel in the Square. Who would have thought that a Late-stage Qi Refining Great Cultivator would be willing to serve those pot-bellied customers in a brothel?

But that was always the case in the Cultivation World. Never judge by appearances, or it would be all too easy to encounter trouble.

Ning Daoran learned from the Soul Search that this man had some dealings with Fatty Wang, and even the conversation with Fatty Wang before the fight was crystal clear.

In that case, if Chen Huaiyi suddenly disappeared, Fatty Wang would naturally suspect it had something to do with him!

Fatty Wang might even guess that he was hiding his true strength. On the surface he appeared as a harmless Qi Refining Middle Stage, but in fact, he could easily exterminate a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator!

This would be troublesome, a significant security risk.

Therefore, Ning Daoran decided to return to Yellow Dragon Square to erase this hidden danger.

Black market, meat shop.

Ning Daoran returned, with his clothes fluttering as if he had not been through anything.

A look of surprise flashed across Fatty Wang's face, which he then replaced with his trademark smile, "Little friend, why have you come back? Do you want to buy some more low-grade demon meat?"

"Boss."

Ning Daoran gave a slight smile, "I have a business proposition I'd like to discuss with you in the back room. Would that be alright?"

"Sure, that's fine!"

Fatty Wang was refreshingly straightforward, probably feeling he had done nothing to wrong Ning Daoran, so he went straight into the back room.

As soon as Ning Daoran entered the back room, he immediately performed a Soul Search!

This search was quite spectacular.

Fatty Wang's mind was crammed with all sorts of confusing things. As Ning Daoran's Divine Sense delved into the brothel keeper's mind, all he could see were scenes of Fatty Wang with his eight wives, a complete collection of all kinds of "activities."

"Damn it..."

Ning Daoran felt his own mind being invaded by too many dirty things and hurriedly selected some of the important ones to view.

Besides bedroom matters, the shining gem in Fatty Wang's memory was the partnership with others to buy demon meat, with variably cunning betrayals and narrow escapes from death.

In addition, there was an exceptionally important piece of information. Fatty Wang and his friends were raising a living White Tai Sui, hence the abundance of Tai Sui meat—cut right from the White Tai Sui's body.

Ning Daoran frowned.

White Tai Sui... that was just so-so, not enough to tempt him into taking risks.

Therefore, he quickly erased Fatty Wang's memory of today's events with Chen Huaiyi and himself, and even to avoid any discrepancies in the Tai Sui meat and Spirit Stone quantities, he fabricated a new memory of a bald martial artist coming to buy Tai Sui meat.

After concluding the Soul Search, Ning Daoran left silently through the back door.

Fatty Wang woke up from the bed in the back room, touching his forehead, "Why did I fall asleep? Seems like I'm really getting old—I mustn't indulge in things like spending the night with seven women anymore..."

With that, he slowly got up and walked to the meat stall, a smile on his face, "Back to work then. Time to earn some more gold and silver Spirit Stones. I've got a house full of big fat boys to feed~~~"

...

77 Spiritual Field Courtyard.

In the twenty-zhang-deep secret chamber, Ning Daoran began to inventory the treasures bestowed by Chen Huaiyi.

The soft sword was a First-tier Lower Grade Magical Artifact, fairly sharp with insufficient Spiritual Energy and some damage in the middle. It was convenient for surprise attacks but rather redundant for a real Fight Technique.

Ning Daoran placed it aside; it was worth about eighty Spirit Stones or so.

Chen Huaiyi also had a flying artifact of First-tier Middle-grade, about the same as green bamboo leaves, but with some flaws. If Ning Daoran didn't wait, he wouldn't have been able to catch up with the leaves.

In addition, Chen Huaiyi had more than three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones on him, the sum total of a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator's possessions.

Ning Daoran felt somewhat sad; the Cultivation World's low-level cultivators lived such tight lives, how could one not be moved!

At that moment, he picked up a segment of rusty gold arm guards.

These arm guards were stripped from Chen Huaiyi's arm, not a magical artifact, but they were embroidered with golden trim and looked quite luxurious.

However, as he closely examined the guards in his hand, the Grass and Wood Holy Spirit System panel suddenly flickered, attempting to ingest a Cultivation Technique!

[Shape-shifting Technique Upper Volume: Earth Rank top-grade (Uninitialized), cannot ingest the Spiritual Beast Secret]

...

"Ah?!"

Ning Daoran was instantly shocked.

Inside this arm guard, there was actually a cultivation technique hidden, and it was the Spiritual Beast Secret?

Moreover... it was Earth Rank top-grade?

His mind went blank, the highest quality technique he currently mastered was the Soul Searching Technique, and that was only Dark Rank Lower.

This Shape-shifting Technique was nearly two whole realms higher in grade than the Soul Searching Technique!

Disassemble the arm guard!

He lifted his hand and drew out a piece of broken porcelain, using the sharp edge of the porcelain to slowly cut open the seams of the arm guard. Indeed, as the arm guard was pulled apart, there really was a shimmering copy of the Spiritual Beast Secret titled the Shape-shifting Technique.

Besides, apart from the Shape-shifting Technique, there were also three glowing drawings with condensed spiritual energy.

The Demon Form Basic Map.

There were three in total, each being the Turtle Form, Leopard Form, and Bear Form Basic Map.

These things...were quite foreign to Ning Daoran.

He frowned, recalling from the Soul Searching Memory of Chen Huaiyi that this arm guard was stolen from a guest at the Flowers Pavilion.

At that time, the guest had called four brothel ladies into his room to compare skills, and had left his clothes by the door, from which Chen Huaiyi took his opportunity.

The guest must have been in a great hurry to lose the Earth Rank top-grade Spiritual Beast Secret and the three Demon Form Basic Maps...

"Heh heh!"

He couldn't help but smirk.

Big Stupid Deer's Strengthening Technique had already achieved a small accomplishment, and he was wondering where he would find a Spiritual Beast Secret to continue cultivation when it had been delivered right to his doorstep. He began to study the Spiritual Beast Technique recorded in the Shape-shifting Technique.

This was an Absolute Skill that recorded "Transformation," suitable for various spiritual beasts to cultivate, but it demanded extremely high bloodline requirements, only compatible with mid-level or higher bloodlines.

He wondered about Big Stupid Deer's bloodline.

Ning Daoran frowned, ever since he found out that Big Stupid Deer was a White Deer, he suspected that this Old Lu was also hiding secrets, even if it didn't know them itself.

No matter, first let it start cultivating.

"Old Lu, come down!"

After a low shout, Big Stupid Deer leapt down from the surface.

"Cultivate this technique diligently, remember to keep it secret, and only practice underground. Also, don't reveal it casually in front of others to avoid drawing fatal trouble."

Ning Daoran's heart was clear as a mirror, such an Earth Rank top-grade technique was truly a treasure.

In the Cultivation World, it had always been said that magic and wealth walked hand in hand; the importance of a cultivation technique was evident.

Chen Huaiyi was merely a Late-stage Qi Refining servant, while that guest who carried the Shape-shifting Technique was likely a big shot.

Thus, cultivating the Shape-shifting Technique must be kept secret to avoid attracting deadly trouble!

As for divesting oneself of the Shape-shifting Technique to avoid trouble and deflect it elsewhere, Ning Daoran would naturally not do such a thing.

Since he had stumbled upon it by chance, it was a gift of fate. If he did not take what was given by heaven, then what was the point of cultivating for immortality.

Big Stupid Deer began to practice the Shape-shifting Technique.

Ning Daoran, on the other hand, continued to cultivate the Body Tempering Technique and the Evergreen Technique, slowly advancing his own cultivation.

...

Several months later.

In the underground secret chamber, Big Stupid Deer let out a howl. After several months of cultivating, the Shape-shifting Technique finally reached Small Accomplishment!

Accompanied by the sound of his bones cracking "crackling," Big Stupid Deer's body shape slowly changed. Its body shrank, its head drooped, its neck shortened, and spots even began to appear on its skin.

Leopard Form, Small Accomplishment!

Ning Daoran held the Leopard Form Basic Map and grinned: "Not bad at all, to achieve such progress in a few months, Old Lu, it seems your talent and understanding for cultivation even surpass mine!"

"Ao~~~"

Transformed into the Leopard Form, Big Stupid Deer leaped onto the table and rubbed Ning Daoran's arm with its head, indicating that its understanding was just average compared to the ease with which his big brother could cultivate techniques to the level of Return to Nature.

"You know that's good. Since there is a gap compared to a genius like me, you should strive even harder in your cultivation."

Ning Daoran kept a straight face as he closed the Refining Time system.

He looked at Big Stupid Deer, who gazed back with admiration, and couldn't help but let out a "hee hee hee" laugh.

...

The next day, early morning.

On the ridges of the fields at Qiongbi Peak, a group of Spirit farmers chatted.

"Something big happened in Yellow Dragon Square last night."

Ma Quanyou's expression was solemn.

"Oh, how big of a deal? Enough to have you, Old Ma, so worried?" asked Ning Daoran.

"You don't know, Fellow Daoist Ning."

Ma Quanyou took a deep breath and said, "Just last night, the most well-known brothel in Yellow Dragon Square, Flowers Pavilion, was wiped out. More than sixty charming and beautiful young women, all tragically met their demise!

It's said that even the brothel owner, as well as the madams and servants, were killed, leaving none behind. The methods were extremely brutal, and even a middle-stage Qi Refining fighter was killed among them."

"That actually happened..."

Huang Shan frowned: "Who would want to wipe out a brothel?"

Ning Daoran didn't speak, his mood slightly heavy. This incident was very likely related to the first volume of the Shape-shifting Technique!