This was a method used by the Second Yan Han Empire to safeguard its scriptures.
In principle, it was actually no different from the mental prohibitions employed by Daoist schools.
Moreover, both required the person taking the oath to sincerely cooperate; otherwise, the attempt would certainly fail.
Zhong Shenxiu had understood all this before coming and knew that such vows only had binding power when passing on techniques, and were otherwise entirely ineffective at any other time.
This had been verified over the years.
At this moment, with a slight smile, she stepped forward and placed her palm on the Oath Stone.
"I swear by my Heart Demon never to divulge the techniques..."
A grand voice passed through the stone and directly into Zhong Shenxiu’s heart.
If she resisted, refraining from opening her heart, the oath would disperse.
After entering her body, Zhong Shenxiu repeatedly checked with her mental powers and even risked using the "Pastor" ability to probe with inspiration, ensuring that this was the only constraint of the oath, with no hidden traps or harm, before she fully opened her heart.
"I swear by my Heart Demon..."
In reality, Zhong Shenxiu found herself involuntarily speaking the oath.
At the same time, the Oath Stone trembled slightly in response, marking the successful establishment of the agreement.
Seeing this, the old Daoist gave a slight nod, then another point.
From the Oath Stone, characters appeared out of thin air, ant-like, creeping up Zhong Shenxiu’s arm into her sea of consciousness, coalescing into a set of Daoist verses and a meditation image of a multitude of beasts roaring.
’Ten Thousand Beasts Technique?!’
’This entry-level technique consists of a section on circulating energy, refining techniques, and physical exercises, along with the most crucial meditation image!’
’So it’s done? But I feel the binding power of the oath isn’t too strong. Maybe it won’t hold back Divine Skills, but if one advances to the Primordial Pill Realm, there will be plenty of ways to remove or bypass it... However, a cultivator at the Primordial Pill Realm would not cherish such a pedestrian Ten Thousand Beasts Technique.’
’The Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect feels the same. The mental prohibitions on ordinary scriptures are passable, but the ones on the true scriptures are truly formidable... Even if I break through to the Primordial Spirit, I might not be able to unlock the one in Zhang Taiyi’s sea of consciousness.’
Amidst the whirl of thoughts in Zhong Shenxiu’s mind, she unconsciously took out the Dragon Tiger Pill Book and compared the two.
’Without a doubt, the Ten Thousand Beasts Technique in the Dragon Tiger Pill Book is more detailed than the verses from the Protector Mansion, with clearer meditation images, and it contains many true inheritances... In the future, my practice will certainly be based on the Dragon Tiger Pill Book!’
He opened his eyes, showing joy, "Thank you, Elder, for passing on the technique!"
"Hmm... With the Ten Thousand Beasts Technique, you can cultivate mana and become a cultivator, but to assimilate Gang Sha, you still need to exchange for spells..."
The elder stroked his beard, "These spells require credit to exchange, of course, you can also seek other inheritances."
It was obviously a trap.
Following one’s own preferences to cultivate spells often led to going astray unawares, ending up like the old path of Crow Elder, with no hope for Divine Skills.
Zhong Shenxiu maintained his composure, but inwardly, he was cold.
’Even entering the path with the Ten Thousand Beasts Technique, if I follow the wrong path, it would be even less desirable than Feng Xixi’s legacy. Is this the usual practice of the government, or a way to suppress and create invisible barriers for convicts? Or perhaps... does someone resent me and is secretly causing trouble?’
Zhong Shenxiu, with the experience of Zhang Taiyi’s cultivation, was well aware of the dangers of Daoist cultivation, and how the guidance of others could make a world of difference.
He thought for a moment, then gave a bow, "I wonder if I may have a look at the list of spells?"
"If you enter the path of Dao in the future, you surely could be addressed as a fellow Daoist, so you may have a look," the elder responded with a slight smile, tossing over a jade slip.
Zhong Shenxiu reached out to catch it, channeled his True Qi into it, and pressed it to his forehead, then saw rows of cataloged spells.
’Returning Light Mirror,’ ’Earth Escape Skill,’ ’Clear Wind Escape Technique,’ ’Three Yang Sword Control Skill,’ ’Mixed Evil Beast King Body,’ ’Soul Shaking Roar’...
A seemingly endless list, of no fewer than hundreds, dazzled the viewer.
He feigned delight, "With so many methods to choose from, it’s indeed good for cultivation within the public domain... May I know if the elder has any recommendations?"
"Daoism seeks fate and chance; all are left for you to choose!"
The old Daoist sat down cross-legged, adopting an official and businesslike attitude.
Zhong Shenxiu appeared to linger with fondness, pondered for a long time, and then reluctantly took his leave.
Stepping out of the pavilion, he sneered inwardly.
With the ’Dragon Tiger Pill Book’ and the experiences of Zhang Taiyi, he understood the recommended Gang Sha Skill configuration for ordinary disciples of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect.
Among the spells listed in the jade slip, only a few were suitable.
If he chose to cultivate Daoist skills at random, he would immediately fall into a big trap!
’I’d be a fool to choose those unrelated Daoist skills. If I learned them, and then went to seek mentorship in the future, the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect surely wouldn’t want me...’
’Alas... the path of cultivation is fraught with thorns.’
’I feel that this, aside from being a personal suppression, is the same for other Daoist Officials; at most just a few hints... Cultivators within the public domain without a powerful backing will find it very hard to achieve great success, and here lies the reason.’
Walking out of the lake area, Feng Xixi had been waiting and asked with a smile, "Have you found a spell to learn?"
Zhong Shenxiu showed a look of happiness, "I have to thank Colonel for that."
Taking the chance during their casual conversation, he talked about his spell selection.
Feng Xixi appeared confused, "My Daoist skills are transmitted from my mentor, and I just need to follow suit to cultivate... In your case, it’s somewhat tricky, needing to exchange spells one by one. I have no idea how much merit it would take to suffice. I’ve heard that most Daoist Officials find their own spells and refine them or exchange unique Daoist skills with the government. You might consider looking here... As for the first life-defining spell, I recommend the ’Mixed Evil Beast King Body’... It seems that many cultivators who practice the Ten Thousand Beasts Technique choose this spell; it can refine the Ten Thousand Beasts True Body, which is infinitely beneficial."
"Thanks for the Colonel’s advice. However, I’ll go back and break through Gang Sha first," said Zhong Shenxiu, nodding to himself.
This ’Mixed Evil Beast King Body’ was indeed the most suitable among the hundreds of spells for the Ten Thousand Beasts Technique’s cultivation.
Pity that the refined Ten Thousand Beasts True Body was a simplified version.
In the ’Dragon Tiger Pill Book,’ it was recorded that the complete version was the ’Ten Thousand Beasts True Body Technique,’ which gathers Ten Thousand Beasts True Evil to refine the Ten Thousand Beasts True Body, leading a cultivator’s body toward perfection.
All cultivators have some injuries or slight regrets in their development.
On rare occasions, one in ten thousand would grow perfectly; such a person would be a natural Daoist breed with an Innate Taoist Body.
The Ten Thousand Beasts True Body could remedy these flaws, establishing the sturdiest foundation, a method of creating a Taoist body postnatally.
Disciples of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect must choose this as their first life-defining spell, or they would certainly be left behind by others.
’And to cultivate the ’Ten Thousand Beasts True Body Technique,’ it’s best not to choose Ten Thousand Beasts True Evil, but to refine with the mix of Dragon and Tiger True Evil, which improves the Taoist body effect by thirty percent! This incantation is a secret not passed on beyond the Inner Sect and True Disciples...’
Zhong Shenxiu sighed to himself: ’The path of cultivation is damn treacherous; if I hadn’t slain a Zhang Taiyi, I probably would only be able to level things out by relying on the Heavenly Show System, spending a massive amount of Heavenly Show Points...’