"Wenbing, speak frankly. There is no need to hesitate in front of your teacher."
Volume Two: The Fairy in White, Chapter Forty-One: The White Crane Ancestor
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Xiao Wenbing responded, "Yes, Master. What I saw a few days ago was that there didn't seem to be many items on the incense table. If every patriarch left a token, then wouldn't the number of those who attained immortality in our sect be...?" He looked up at the old Daoist Xianyun's face and slowly said, "Wouldn't that be too... that... rather... it seems... maybe... there are... one or two dozen missing?"
The old Taoist priest's expression froze, his smugness instantly turning into embarrassment.
"Well, actually, our sect has been around for over three thousand years, which is a relatively short time in the cultivation world. Moreover, each generation has been small, with no more than ten people in any one generation. But in these three thousand years, we have still managed to have seven people who have attained immortality. This ratio is definitely among the best."
Xiao Wenbing nodded as if he understood. The proportion was indeed one of the highest, a truly remarkable figure. However, if we put it another way, the total number of people who attained immortality was hardly something to boast about.
Who was this old Taoist priest, Xianyun? Upon seeing Xiao Wenbing's expression, he immediately guessed what was on Xiao Wenbing's mind.
Looking at this most outstanding disciple in the history of the Secret Talisman Sect, he felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
For ordinary people, finding a renowned teacher is extremely difficult; even if they travel across mountains and rivers, they may not have the opportunity.
However, for cultivators, finding a young person with exceptional talent to inherit the Daoist tradition is an extremely rare and sought-after opportunity.
Therefore, although the old Taoist Xianyun was not satisfied with the aptitude of his disciples, he still accepted them into his inner sect. This was because he feared that the lineage of the Secret Talisman Sect would end there.
Unexpectedly, Lu Jun went on a journey and, while unexpectedly finding a treasure, also unexpectedly brought himself a disciple with a talent that was unique in the world.
The record of completing a pill in one year is absolutely unparalleled among countless cultivators throughout history.
In Xiao Wenbing, the old Taoist saw hope—the hope that the Secret Talisman Sect could flourish and become famous throughout the cultivation world.
Therefore, he treated this disciple with utmost care, afraid of burning him if he held him in his mouth or freezing him if he held him in his hands. He hesitated repeatedly, let alone scolding him harshly.
This feeling of being anxious about gains and losses was indeed something he was experiencing for the first time in hundreds of years.
Therefore, when it came to his more original ideas and more unconventional actions, the old Taoist priest Xianyun would turn a blind eye, pretending not to know.
"Ahem..." The old Taoist priest Xianyun coughed lightly, pulling Xiao Wenbing back to reality: "This time, Patriarch Baihe bestowed a spiritual talisman." He glanced at his most prized disciple and sighed, "Even the Patriarch dotes on you... For so many years, all of us disciples have prayed, but we have never received a response. Only you this time, not only did you receive treasures from two Patriarchs at once, but they are both... supreme treasures."
"What treasure?" Xiao Wenbing asked curiously.
"The White Crane Ancestor bestowed upon you a life-saving talisman, which is an immense treasure. Once used, for a day and a night, no one in the cultivation world will be able to harm you in the slightest."
"Such a wonderful thing, wouldn't it be invincible?" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed with delight.
"Otherwise, this talisman can only be used three times."
"three times?"
"Indeed, the White Crane Ancestor bestowed this talisman so that you would be prepared for any eventuality. I estimate that you should keep it to deal with the heavenly tribulation when you are undergoing your tribulation."
"For me?"
"Nonsense, this prayer is to report to the patriarchs that a peerless genius has emerged in our sect, so the blessing you receive is naturally yours."
Xiao Wenbing chuckled. He didn't really care about the life-saving talisman. He had supernatural abilities, so as long as he scanned it, he could copy as many as he wanted.
"The ring bestowed by Patriarch Tianxuzi is a mustard seed ring."
"Something that can hold items?"
"good."
"Master, don't you have any mustard seed items?"
“Yes, how could someone who has achieved the elixir realm not possess mustard seed items?” The old Daoist Xianyun glanced at the astonished Xiao Wenbing, suddenly understood his meaning, and laughed, “The items bestowed by the Ancestral Master are naturally incomparable to our ordinary items. Take them and use them, and you will understand the reason for them in the future.”
Xiao Wenbing bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Master."
"Third Senior Brother, look!" Xiao Wenbing said to Mingmei, showing off the mustard seed ring he had received from Master.
Ever since the old Taoist priest Xianyun bestowed those two treasures from the immortal realm upon him, Xiao Wenbing has brazenly taken them for himself.
"Yes, it's a good thing. In our sect, I'm afraid only you, junior brother, can use it," Mingmei said sincerely.
"Thank you, senior brother. Master bestowed this treasure upon me and instructed me to come and learn how to use it."
Ming smiled knowingly. He knew that although he could still show off in front of him for a while, he wouldn't have the chance again for long: "Junior brother, for us cultivators to use magic weapons, our cultivation level must be at least at the Core Formation stage. You can be considered just qualified."
"Please give me some pointers, senior brother," Xiao Wenbing said eagerly.
"First, you must master divine thought."
"...?"
"It's about using spiritual power to replace your eyes, ears, and fingers, like this," Mingmei explained as she stretched out her spiritual power.
A faint, undulating wave formed in the space, sweeping over Xiao Wenbing like a wave.
Xiao Wenbing's expression changed drastically. He was so frightened that his voice trembled uncontrollably: "Senior...Senior Brother, this...this is...this is divine sense?"
Mingmei stared at Xiao Wenbing, utterly bewildered. In all his years of life, this was the first time he had ever seen someone so terrified after witnessing the power of divine sense. Especially considering his junior brother's timid nature, this unexpected reaction seemed particularly abrupt.
However, he reacted quickly, immediately reassuring her, "Exactly, it's not difficult at all, it's very easy. Just try a few more times and you'll master it easily. Think about it, back in my day, it also took me... a while to master it."
Mingmei originally wanted to boast a bit, but then he suddenly thought of his junior brother's astonishing progress in cultivation, and the words he was about to say changed his tone.
Xiao Wenbing's lips twitched twice, but he didn't answer. He just gave Mingmei a strange look.
Volume Two: The Fairy in White, Chapter Forty-Two: The Art of Divine Sense
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Mingmei was taken aback and was about to ask him a question when he suddenly felt a wave of mental energy coming from Xiao Wenbing.
He opened his mouth in surprise, and after a long while, he finally looked up to the sky and sighed, saying, "Junior brother, I am truly convinced."
Back then, he practiced for three whole months to master the art of divine sense, while Xiao Wenbing only witnessed it once and already seemed to handle it with ease. The difference in their aptitudes was not just a little bit.
Little did they know, Xiao Wenbing was also filled with surprise and uncertainty.
What kind of divine sense is this? This is simply a supernatural scanning ability. He has used it countless times over the past twenty-odd years and has long since mastered it. Even if he wanted to pretend to be a novice, he couldn't do it.
"Senior brother, this...right, besides replacing a person's sight, hearing, and touch, does this kind of divine sense technique have any other...special effects?"
Xiao Wenbing asked cautiously, "Could it be that this special ability isn't unique to me?"
"Special function?" Mingmei shook his head blankly, saying, "I have never discovered it in decades, but..."
Xiao Wenbing's heart immediately jumped into his throat. He looked at Mingmei nervously, afraid that he would hear some bad news.
"Although I haven't heard of it, my master is very knowledgeable and might know about it."
Xiao Wenbing nodded silently, knowing he would find an opportunity to ask him about it later before he could feel at ease.
“Since Junior Brother has mastered the art of divine sense, he can naturally use this item.”
Mingmei listlessly taught him everything he knew about how to use the ring.
Xiao Wenbing noted everything down, and after Mingmei finished speaking, he said impatiently, "Senior brother, if there are no further instructions, I will go into seclusion to try it out."
Mingmei nodded blankly, watching Xiao Wenbing's cheerful figure disappear into the distance. He sighed inwardly, wondering why his junior brother always brought him unexpected surprises every time they met. What saddened him even more was that this guy seemed to exist solely to undermine people's confidence.
He vowed in his heart that no matter what outrageous things he did in the future, he would turn a blind eye.
After entering the quiet room and closing the door, Xiao Wenbing laughed three times and sat down cross-legged.
The first thing he needed to do was not to verify the spells taught by Mingmei. Instead, he needed to copy these two treasures from the celestial realm. Once he could scan them into his mind, he could use them without limit.
Especially that life-saving talisman from Master Baihe, that's an incredible treasure! With it, one can roam the cultivation world without any worries.
He took out a life-saving talisman, and sent out a wisp of divine thought, sweeping it over.
A clear progress bar appeared in his mind. He was currently full of spiritual energy, and although this thing had an extraordinary origin, it was still no challenge for him.
Progress was being made little by little. This talisman was clearly no ordinary item; the scanning speed was unbearably slow.
After a full hour, it had finally reached 98%, but then the progress bar suddenly stopped. Xiao Wenbing was shocked. He hadn't even used up all his supernatural abilities, let alone his spiritual power. How could it have stopped like this?
Undeterred, I tried again, but the result was the same.
After pondering for a while, I changed the mustard seed ring, but the situation remained exactly the same.
"well……"
With a deep, helpless sigh, Xiao Wenbing gave up his plan to create the two items from the Immortal Realm.
I don't know why, but every time I use my special ability to scan and reach 98% of the progress, I can't go any further.
It wasn't that his abilities were insufficient, but rather that he couldn't recognize it. It was like a floppy drive unable to read a disc; it would freeze every time it reached this point.
Even though he was unwilling, Xiao Wenbing had no choice but to admit that these things from the Immortal Realm were indeed special. They must contain things that he couldn't understand at his current level.
Of course, if one day I can successfully overcome the tribulation and ascend to the immortal realm, it would be a piece of cake to create these two things.
The White Crane Immortal's life-saving talisman was a life-saving item, so it had to be kept carefully. Xiao Wenbing studied it for a while, but couldn't figure it out, so he had no choice but to put it away.
That mustard seed ring, however, is a useful item.
All mustard seed equipment can hold items, but the capacity depends on the weight of the items. Generally speaking, a mustard seed equipment that can hold ten cubic meters and ten tons is considered top-of-the-line.
However, the ring given by True Person Tianxuzi had a capacity ten times larger. What was even more enviable was that, perhaps due to the presence of some immortal energy, not only Xiao Wenbing but even the Daoist Xianyun, with his level of cultivation, could not open it. Moreover, with a mere thought, the ring would immediately transform into a stream of energy, entering the dantian and disappearing from view.
This is equivalent to a portable safe, and you don't have to worry about being stolen or robbed. With such advantages, it's no wonder that even the old Taoist priest Xianyun was a little tempted.
With a thought, the Heavenly Void Ring appeared on his finger. Since it was a treasure bestowed by the True Person Heavenly Void, it was naturally called the Heavenly Void Ring.
Xiao Wenbing's thoughts entered the ring, which contained an enormous space, even larger than a large football field. Above the football field, countless white clouds drifted slowly.
Hehe... Xiao Wenbing smiled smugly. As expected of something an immortal possesses.