owlsbooks Chapter 5 Human Lotus
Chapter 5 Human Lotus
A cold sneer flashed in Xu Changqing's eyes, but his expression remained as gentle as ever.
"good."
He took out a roll of bluish-gray silk from his sleeve, with lotus patterns faintly visible on the surface.
"This is the 'Lotus Cleansing Heart Method,' which can sense the pure Qi of the heart, cleanse away impurities, and point directly to the Great Dao. You should sit cross-legged by the pond, follow the scripture to guide your Qi, and I will protect you."
Donkey Tooth's hands trembled as he took the silk scroll. Unfolding it, he found the text profound and the illustrations exquisite, indeed seemingly a deep method for sensing Qi. Although he didn't recognize most of the runes, he could vaguely discern several paths for cultivating Qi and opening the meridians, which surprisingly resonated with the scattered methods he had pieced together over the years. His heart pounded, and he couldn't think of anything else.
He was naturally unaware that this was actually the second volume of the "Mysterious Lotus Heart Sutra". Once mastered, the cultivator's acupoints would transform into lotus holes, his skin and flesh would gradually turn bluish-black, and resentment and fear would arise in his heart. In the end, he would be unable to speak or move, and would transform into a superior human-shaped mysterious lotus, which would be the best material for refining the Mysterious Lotus Heart Incense.
If he truly succeeds in refining it, Xu Changqing is confident that he can elevate that incense stick to another grade, further enhancing its effectiveness.
He glanced down at the bald back of Donkey Tooth's head, and a thought crossed his mind: Black Wind King is probably in for a treat.
He sat cross-legged on the blue stone by the pond as instructed, made the hand mudra as shown in the scripture, and closed his eyes to concentrate.
Xu Changqing stood beside him and pointed his finger. The resentful energy in the pool seemed to be drawn in, transforming into wisps of black smoke that slowly flowed into Donkey Tooth's seven orifices. With his other hand, he made a hand seal, and several ink-colored talismans appeared in the air, shaped like lotus buds, swirling around his fingertips before silently disappearing into the back of Donkey Tooth's neck.
Donkey Tooth trembled violently, feeling a chilling yet soft and sticky aura penetrate his meridians. Wherever it passed, his acupoints felt sore, numb, and swollen, and he actually felt a "qi sensation".
Overjoyed, he became even more certain that he had received the true teachings, and immediately began to fully circulate the "Lotus Cleansing Heart Method," greedily absorbing the Yin Qi in the pool.
As he circulated his cultivation technique, his exposed skin gradually turned bluish-gray, and black veins emerged beneath the skin, winding like lotus stems.
With each breath, it exhaled a faint black mist, carrying the scent of decaying earth and resentment.
Xu Chang'an watched quietly, his eyes sparkling with starlight, precisely controlling the rhythm and amount of Yin Qi infused into him. The lotus-shaped runes mixed in with the Yin Qi were embedding one by one into the major acupoints around Donkey Tooth's body, like seeds falling into fertile soil.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Donkey Tooth's body had stiffened, and his neck made a "crackling" sound like withered wood when he turned it.
He tried to speak, but could only utter a hoarse sound, unable to utter a single word.
Only then did Donkey Tooth realize with horror that something was wrong.
The "Nether Heart Qi" that surged into his body not only failed to cleanse him of the dust and turbidity, but instead took root in his acupoints like a malignant tumor, devouring his own blood and essence. Furthermore, a monstrous resentment arose from the depths of his heart, and countless tragically dead faces screamed in his mind.
He suddenly opened his eyes, which were bloodshot, and his resentment burned like fire towards Xu Changqing.
However, the body was no longer under control, the skin turned completely bluish-black, and lotus petal-shaped patterns appeared. The fingernails fell off, and tender roots sprouted from the fingertips.
Xu Changqing looked down at him, his gentle expression vanishing, leaving only a cold smile. His hands moved incessantly, and countless lotus runes surged up like ants, densely covering Donkey Tooth's stiff body.
"How about it? I, Daoist Master, will let you taste what it's like to be turned into raw material and slaughtered at will."
Donkey Tooth's eyes were wide open, he made a "hoarse" sound in his throat, his whole body was trembling violently, and something seemed to be moving under his bluish-black skin.
Knowing he was doomed, his fear and despair suddenly transformed into madness and ruthlessness.
"If you want me to die, then we'll die together."
With his last ounce of control over his body, he thrust his right hand into his robes and grabbed something. It was a piece of white bone and jade hairpin, only about six inches long, as thin as a chopstick, its surface covered with blood-red runes.
This object was unexpectedly obtained by Donkey Tooth in a deep pool. Although its origin is unknown, it is extremely vicious. He nurtured it day and night for several years with his heart's blood before he could barely activate it. Once activated, it can transform into a black water curse, directly targeting the soul of the enemy. Those struck by it will have their souls dissipate and die within three days. It is extremely vicious and is also a last resort for mutual destruction.
Donkey Tooth grinned, revealing a hideous and twisted smirk, and his fingertip pierced his heart, spraying a stream of blood onto the white bone jade hairpin.
The white bone hairpin suddenly emitted a black, watery light, and the incantation wriggled like a living thing.
He forced out a muffled roar and, with his last ounce of strength, hurled the white bone hairpin at Xu Changqing.
The water shimmered like an arrow, piercing the air silently, yet carrying an overwhelming sense of resentment and death, rushing straight towards Xu Changqing's face.
"Fellow Daoist, please don't get agitated, lest it affect the quality of the Human Lotus."
Xu Changqing remained expressionless, his hands never ceasing their hand seals. He had naturally been prepared for Donkey Tooth's dying counterattack.
Those who dwell in the void are governed by fear and illusion. The original owner cultivated the "Heavenly Void Nourishing Life Method" for many years. Although the influence of the technique made him live in constant fear and he could only hide in this remote Qingyang Mountain to plot and scheme, it was also because of this deep-seated fear of death that he developed a true skill for self-preservation.
The Illusion Technique is one such technique. This technique allows a person to temporarily become ethereal, immune to external influences. The original owner of this body expended a great deal of mental energy to cultivate this secret technique, precisely so that, in a moment like this, one could have an extra life.
The white bone and jade hairpin pierced through his chest, yet it was as if he had passed through a wisp of green smoke or a phantom.
Xu Changqing's figure swayed slightly, like a reflection on water ruffled by the wind, before returning to normal. Not a single crease appeared on his Taoist robe.
The water flowed on relentlessly, embedding itself in the stone lantern by the pool behind him. The lantern shattered into dust without a sound.
Donkey Tooth's eyes widened.
In those eyes, now covered by the dark blue lotus pattern, resentment still lingered, but there was even more bewilderment. He didn't understand what had happened, nor did he have time to figure it out.
The roots have climbed up the throat, the cheeks, and covered the eye sockets.
The last thing he saw was Xu Changqing's face, which had regained its gentle warmth, with lowered eyelashes, calmly watching him.
The last glimmer of light in Donkey Tooth's eyes went out, its body became completely stiff, and its skin turned into a texture like a bluish-black lotus stone. Roots burrowed into the cracks of the blue stone from the ends of its limbs, and with a soft "pop" from the fontanelle on the top of its head, a dark lotus bud about an inch long emerged, trembling slightly.
The human-shaped lotus has been formed.
Xu Changqing's ethereal form solidified again, his Taoist robe spotless.
He glanced at the white bone jade hairpin on the ground, and with a flick of his fingertip, he channeled his life energy. Although the hairpin had lost its owner, it still struggled violently, transforming into a swirling mass of water, but ultimately flew helplessly into his palm. It continued to emit a chilling, bone-piercing power, but it was firmly enveloped by his illusory life energy and could not advance an inch.
"It's a good product, but unfortunately it's been given to the wrong person."
He used his illusory destiny energy to suppress the white bone jade hairpin, then put it into his sleeve, his gaze returning to the "lotus person" transformed from the donkey tooth.
The lotus bud was tightly closed, with a faint bluish-black mist circulating inside. This was the "lotus marrow" formed from the essence and remnant soul of Donkey Tooth after it had been refined by the cultivation technique. It was a mixture of resentment and fear, making it a superior incense. It was of far superior quality to the ghostly lotuses in the pond that were nourished by the heads of mortals.
"It's getting late." Xu Changqing nodded in satisfaction and glanced at the sky.
"It's time to prepare the food."