LRAB Page 41
Page 41
Fengping noticed his unusual behavior, asked him a question, and followed his gaze.
The next second, Feng Ping's expression was exactly the same as Zhao Tieshan's.
Shocked, stunned, and unbelievable.
Finally, there was utter horror.
The two of them stood there dumbfounded, mouths agape, staring intently at the approaching figure, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
The surrounding noise, the disciples' shouts, and the sound of the truck's engine all seemed to fade away at this moment.
In their world, all that remained was that impossible figure slowly approaching.
Zhang Yunyuan, standing before me, wore a plain Taoist robe, spotless.
He was slender and handsome.
His appearance, his figure, his eyes as calm as an ancient well...
It looks exactly the same as when we first met at Yinghe Tower seven years ago!
There has been absolutely no change!
Seven years, seven whole years!
They themselves have transformed from spirited youths into weathered adults.
But time seemed to stand still on him, leaving not even the slightest trace.
This...how is this possible? !
Their minds went blank, and countless absurd thoughts surged forth.
Or is it some kind of miraculous age-preserving technique that they cannot comprehend?
They couldn't even speak; it was as if something was tightly blocking their throats, and they could only make meaningless "hoarse" sounds.
Zhang Yunyuan walked up to the two of them. Seeing their expressions of utter disbelief, he had already anticipated it, but he still gave them a perfectly timed, warm smile, as if they were reunited after a long separation.
That smile, just like it was seven years ago, was gentle yet carried a reassuring warmth.
"Fengping, Tieshan."
He bowed to the two of them from afar, his voice clear and melodious, just as always.
"Yun Yuan, a disciple of Longhu Mountain, has come uninvited. Seven years have passed since we last met. How have you been?"
Chapter 47 Simulation of Dao Qi, First Trial of Fire Escape
"Yun... Yun Yuan's benefactor?"
Zhao Tieshan's voice was dry and trembling, as if a lost traveler in the desert had finally seen an impossible mirage.
He rubbed his eyes hard, his bloodshot eyes, which had been exposed to the kiln fire for years, now stared wide open, bigger than copper bells.
The scene before me remained unchanged.
Standing next to him, Fengping was even more horrified, his mouth agape, as if he could fit an egg in it. The ledger in his hand had already slipped to the ground and hit his foot without him even noticing.
For seven whole years, his appearance, his figure, and his calm, water-like eyes remained exactly the same as when we first met at Yinghe Tower seven years ago.
Time seemed to have stood still on him, leaving not even the slightest trace.
On the other hand, they themselves had been weathered by seven years of hardship, their skin was dark and rough, and fine wrinkles had appeared at the corners of their eyes.
This stark contrast has a devastating impact.
Seeing the two of them looking like they'd seen a ghost, Zhang Yunyuan found it somewhat amusing, but he managed to put on a perfectly timed, helpless, bitter smile.
He knew how shocking his appearance was, and he had already prepared his response.
"You two need not be alarmed."
He sighed softly, his voice carrying a deliberately crafted sense of vicissitude that didn't match his age, as if he had experienced countless adventures.
He said slowly.
"It's a long story. Seven years ago, after parting ways with you two, I went into the mountains to cultivate alone, but I accidentally stumbled upon a blessed land left by someone before me."
"I was in seclusion there for seven days, but when I came out, I was surprised to find that seven years had passed in the outside world."
This half-true, half-false explanation left Feng Ping and Zhao Tieshan looking at each other, half-believing and half-doubting.
A blessed land, a dream spanning seven years.
This kind of strange story is too unbelievable; it's even more bizarre than the stories told by the most boastful storyteller in town.
But considering the various legends circulating in the world of supernatural beings, and the strange tales left behind by those god-like predecessors, it seems... it's not entirely impossible.
After all, the world of supernatural beings is a world that cannot be understood by common sense.
Most importantly, the living, breathing Zhang Yunyuan before us is the most direct and irrefutable evidence.
Besides this explanation, they couldn't think of any other way to make a person look young for seven years, or even have an aura that became more unfathomable than before.
Their initial shock quickly transformed into overwhelming envy and awe.
"The Taoist priest is truly blessed!"
Feng Ping was the first to recover. The horror on his face was replaced by ecstasy. He rushed forward and gave Zhang Yunyuan a tight bear hug, so strong that it almost broke his bones.
The three friends were overjoyed to be reunited.
Feng Ping and Zhao Tieshan immediately dropped what they were doing and, without even reporting to the sect leader, pulled Zhang Yunyuan toward a private reception room inside the kiln.
They excitedly ordered the best Junshan Silver Needle tea and all sorts of exquisite pastries to be prepared so they could have a good reunion with their friend.
The aroma of tea wafted through the private room.
When Zhao Tieshan asked Zhang Yunyuan about his current strength, Zhang Yunyuan just smiled calmly and did not answer directly.
He picked up the teacup and casually attached a wisp of primordial Dao energy, refined to its utmost, to the hard porcelain cup.
A very faint, almost inaudible cracking sound rang out.
The thick porcelain cup, fired to an incredibly hard state and capable of withstanding the high temperatures of the kiln, silently turned into a pile of fine, even powder under the light touch of his fingertips, which slipped through his fingers.
Throughout the entire process, not a single bit of extra energy was leaked, and not even the tea on the table was disturbed.
This precise control over "Qi" made Zhao Tieshan and Feng Ping's eyelids twitch and their hearts tremble.
The two of them are now considered top-tier second-rate fighters, and they're confident they can crush a teacup.
But to be able to decompose objects into powder like Zhang Yunyuan, while controlling it with such ease, is simply a pipe dream.
This is no longer a simple matter of cultivation level, but rather a matter of understanding and applying "Qi" to a level that they could not even imagine.
The two no longer had any doubts, believing that he had obtained an extraordinary opportunity in that blessed land and that his strength had already reached a level that they could not even dream of.
Zhao Tieshan was a kind and honest man who always remembered the life-saving grace Zhang Yunyuan had given him seven years ago, as well as the insightful guidance he had given him on his martial arts techniques.
Now that he has reunited with his old friend, and seeing that his strength has reached such an unfathomable level, he feels not only awe, but also gratitude and closeness.
He then proposed to demonstrate the secret techniques of the Huode Sect, which were not easily passed on to outsiders, to Zhang Yunyuan, as a way for the two of them to exchange and verify their techniques, and also as a way to repay Zhang Yunyuan for his guidance back then.
Zhang Yunyuan readily agreed.
That night, the night was deep.
Zhao Tieshan led him to the main kiln, which was the most central part of the kiln.
The roaring fire illuminated the entire vast space as bright as day, and the air was filled with a scorching heat and the smell of sulfur. An ordinary person standing here would suffocate in no time.
"Daoist Yunyuan, please watch carefully!"
Zhao Tieshan took a deep breath, his expression became extremely focused, and his entire aura changed, as if he had merged with the surrounding flames.
"The secret technique of my Fire Virtue Sect is called—Fire Release Technique!"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly took a step forward and plunged straight into the raging furnace!
Zhang Yunyuan's pupils contracted slightly.
The moment Zhao Tieshan's figure came into contact with the flames, he was not burned. Instead, he became ethereal, as if he had transformed into a blurry phantom that merged with the flames.
The color of the phantom was exactly the same as the surrounding flames, and it was almost impossible to detect unless one was deliberately trying to perceive it.
The next moment, the phantom flashed past in the furnace fire.
Ten meters away, flames suddenly shot upwards from another, smaller kiln, and Zhao Tieshan's figure appeared out of thin air. Apart from some charred corners of his clothes, he was completely unharmed.
"This technique allows the body to be temporarily 'transformed into Qi' and merged into flames, enabling rapid movement and evasion."
Zhao Tieshan's breathing was slightly unsteady, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, clearly indicating that this move had taken a toll on him.
"The drawback is that it can only be used in places with flames, and it requires a very high level of fire qi cultivation."
"If one's cultivation level is insufficient and one forces the use of this technique, at best the meridians will be burned, and at worst one will be assimilated by the flames and turned to ashes."
Zhang Yunyuan watched this scene, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
In his perception, just a moment ago, Zhao Tieshan forcibly altered the form and structure of his own fire energy, causing its vibration frequency to briefly synchronize with the energy fluctuations of the flame.
This allowed them to deceive the "rules" and achieve "travel".
He only glanced at it, and with the extraordinary characteristics of the Primordial Dao Qi that encompass all things and simulate all laws, he already understood the secret.
When old friends reunite, they naturally drink and chat until late at night.
The three chatted about the changes that had taken place over the past seven years, about their respective spiritual practice and experiences, as if they had endless things to say.
After Feng Ping and Zhao Tieshan had both fallen into a drunken stupor and were helped back to their rooms by their disciples, Zhang Yunyuan was wide awake.
He quietly approached the main kiln, watching the roaring fire and feeling the intense energy fluctuations within him. The primordial Dao Qi within his body began to circulate slowly.
He closed his eyes and carefully recalled the frequency changes of the fire energy within Zhao Tieshan's body when Zhao Tieshan used the fire escape technique.
The simulation of Hunyuan Dao Qi begins.
The first time, the frequency was too high, and the breath seemed somewhat violent.
The second time, the frequency was too low and not flexible enough.
In just a few attempts, that all-encompassing Primordial Qi perfectly replicated the Qi frequency of the Fire Escape Technique, even more standard and stable than Zhao Tieshan's.
Zhang Yunyuan suddenly opened his eyes and took a step forward.