Half-Step Invincible Divine Art

The Dinghu Sect's lineage traces back to the ancient Human Emperor, Xuanyuan Shi. Legend holds that Xuanyuan Shi ascended on a dragon right here at Ding Lake.

The primary arts passed down within the sect include Talisman Arts, Sword Arts, Formation Arts, Medical Arts, Divination Arts (Yi Arts), and the Dual Cultivation Arts, which only exist in sect rumors.

Originally, Alchemy Arts were also part of the tradition, but due to the arrival of the Age of Dharma Decline, heavenly materials and earthly treasures withered away. Only a small fraction survived under the protection of various powers, leading to the decline of alchemy, which is no longer widespread.

This diversity of arts resulted in rows upon rows of bookshelves within the Dao Arts Pavilion. Fortunately, Jiang Li already had his targets. He first went to Area C, third bookshelf, and found what he was looking for.

— White Sun Talisman Compendium.

Opening the ancient-looking book, images of various Rank 9 talismans entered his view one by one.

Simultaneously, Jiang Li whispered inwardly: "Causality Collection."

Text automatically appeared on the pages of the collection, displaying the arts he currently knew in a format similar to a status screen.

[Jiang Li

Realm: Rank 9

Dao Fruit: Daoist · Wang Chongyang

Mind Technique: Rank 9 · Wandering Spirit Qi Circulation Art

Talisman Arts: Sharp Metal Talisman, Wood Spirit Talisman, Ice Talisman, Fire Cloud Talisman, Fire Thunder Talisman, Protection Talisman, Lightness Talisman, etc.

Martial Arts: Chasing Wind Palm, Cirrus Cloud Step, Five Phases Fist, Flowing Cloud Sword Art, Water Cloud Palm, etc.]

Both martial arts and magical arts originated from Qi. However, to unleash their full power, the latter required precise control via Spirit element, while the former needed a strong physical body working in tandem with Qi.

Jiang Li's Essence, Qi, and Spirit elements were currently balanced. Although he had accommodated the Daoist Dao Fruit, it didn't mean he couldn't continue developing comprehensively.

Moreover, achieving perfection with his Dao Fruit was also inseparable from martial arts.

To advance the Dao Fruit further, one needed to fully integrate the current Dao Fruit. The method of integration was simple—acting.

Or perhaps, enacting.

By doing things a Daoist would do—meditating, reading scriptures, cultivating quietly—his progress would gradually increase until reaching perfection.

Jiang Li's 'Rank 9 Dao Fruit · Wang Chongyang' was unique. Integrating this Dao Fruit might allow for a more detailed approach, further 'acting' as Wang Chongyang.

And speaking of Wang Chongyang inevitably led to the Quanzhen Sect, which then extended to martial arts.

The Quanzhen Sect was practically a fixture in Wuxia novels. In terms of appearance rate, perhaps only Shaolin, Wudang, the Beggars' Sect, and the Demonic Cult—the Wuxia F4—ranked above it.

Historically, the Quanzhen Sect was also a school that practiced Internal Alchemy (Neidan), suggesting they likely practiced martial arts as well. Coupled with the effect of the [Dual Cultivation of Nature and Life-Essence] ability, not continuing to pursue both magical and martial arts would feel like a waste even to Jiang Li himself.

"Golden Armor Talisman, Qi Gathering Talisman, Geng Metal Talisman, and..." Jiang Li flipped through the compendium pages, his gaze suddenly halting. "Six Ding Six Jia Protection Talisman."

This talisman manifested the divine forms of the Six Ding and Six Jia spirits, providing comprehensive protection, life extension, fate stabilization, spirit calming, and soul guarding. By rank, this talisman should be Rank 7, but it wasn't impossible to draw with Rank 9 True Qi, albeit with greatly reduced effect.

"Counting this mission and the extra income, I have five thousand merit points in total. The Six Ding Six Jia Protection Talisman costs four thousand merit points. If I get this talisman, I probably won't be able to exchange for other talismans, but it's sufficiently comprehensive."

One talisman replacing many, and usable all the way up to Rank 7. Jiang Li gritted his teeth and made the exchange.

He located the scroll for the Six Ding Six Jia Protection Talisman according to the compendium. Pressing his disciple jade token against it, merit points flowed away rapidly, and the restriction seal on the book automatically released, allowing him to read it and take it away.

"Next up are the martial arts. Hopefully, Elder Yun isn't messing with me."

Jiang Li walked towards the most secluded corner bookshelf.

He wasn't seeking some peerless divine art. Techniques of that level were likely beyond his ability to practice anyway, given his current rank limitation.

Higher-ranked techniques imposed stricter requirements on the cultivator. Forcibly cultivating them before reaching the necessary level was more harmful than beneficial.

This was less critical for magical arts and specific moves, but if it were a mind technique, it could potentially drain a person dry.

Of course, if there truly was an evolving technique like Flame Mantra, Jiang Li wouldn't refuse it.

Unfortunately, he didn't have that kind of protagonist treatment.

When Jiang Li found the so-called half-step invincible divine art in the corner, his expression shifted, becoming indescribably strange.

"So the sect rumors weren't lies," Jiang Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Dual Cultivation Arts actually exist."

The supposed half-step invincible divine art turned out to be a bedroom technique manual titled Flower Plucking Hand.

This art specialized in recognizing and striking acupoints, but not the ones for stopping bleeding or disabling enemies. Instead, it targeted the Fuliu Kidney acupoints.

What are Fuliu Kidney acupoints?

Hmm... they can be understood as acupoints that, when pressed, could make one's girlfriend extremely ecstatic, perhaps even revealing an ahegao expression.

This technique could be considered specialized against females. Once mastered, half the people in the world would be susceptible to its effects—hence, a half-step invincible divine art.

It's just that spreading this around wouldn't be good for one's reputation.

Especially with the two elders, Jiang Li feared he would forever be labeled as someone with 'certain afflictions'.

"Wait, this book has no restriction seal!"

Jiang Li flipped through the pages, a pleased expression appearing on his face.

...

A quarter-hour later, Jiang Li walked out of the Dao Arts Pavilion and handed the two scrolls in his hand to Elder Wan for registration.

"Six Ding Six Jia Protection Talisman? You certainly have quite a few merit points. This talisman is very difficult, but for you, it shouldn't be a problem."

Elder Wan first saw the thinner scroll, raising an eyebrow slightly, then looked at the other one. "Louguan Sword Art... This is the half-step invincible divine art you mentioned?"

He glanced towards Elder Yun.

Elder Yun looked suspicious, staring at Jiang Li. "You little brat, don't tell me you hid that secret manual on your person?"

If a secret manual's restriction seal wasn't removed, it couldn't be taken out of the Dao Arts Pavilion. But that Flower Plucking Hand had no seal at all; secretly taking it out was entirely possible.

"Elder Yun must be joking," Jiang Li projected an air of righteousness, speaking clearly. "This disciple is wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao and keeps away from worldly desires. As for bedroom arts, I hope Elder Yun will refrain from mentioning them again. If the Elder doesn't believe me, feel free to check inside the Pavilion whether that manual is still in its original place."

"Bedroom arts!" Elder Wan narrowed his eyes.

He used his elder jade token to register the scrolls, handed them to Jiang Li, and instructed, "Return the books in one month. Furthermore, do not allow others to view them. Violators will face, at minimum, double the merit point penalty, or in severe cases, have the relevant memories erased."

"Disciple understands."

Jiang Li accepted the scrolls, bowed again, and turned to leave.

After he disappeared into the rear hall of Phecda Hall, a strong gust of wind immediately rose in front of the Dao Arts Pavilion, accompanied by shouting.

"Yun, you surname Yun! How dare you stuff such filth into the Dao Arts Pavilion!"

"What do you mean filth? This is a treasure passed down from our ancestors! The Human Emperor ancestor pleasured three thousand women; are you daring to call our founding ancestor filthy?"

"Sophistry and cunning arguments! Prepare to die, old man!"

The two elders started fighting fiercely, the depth of their relationship clearly not meant for outsiders to comprehend.

Listening to the sounds from behind, Jiang Li casually glanced at the Causality Collection.

[The human body possesses Fuliu Kidney acupoints; pressing them can cause women to lose...]

Visible only to him, the pages clearly recorded various techniques, accompanied by vivid illustrations.

The drawings were so stimulating that just looking at them caused a rush of blood downwards, clearly indicating the artist possessed exceptionally high painting skills.

This was indeed the content of Flower Plucking Hand.

Jiang Li, after all, couldn't maintain his righteous facade and succumbed to the temptation of being half-step invincible.

He used the Causality Collection to copy the contents of Flower Plucking Hand, taking the secret manual away in another form.

Simultaneously, this also saved Jiang Li from social death.

'Good treasure, truly a good treasure.'

Filled with satisfaction, Jiang Li walked through Phecda Hall.

[At the same time, a figure quietly began following, trailing Jiang Li all the way towards the disciple dormitories. Noticing this, Jiang Li dropped the scrolls to the ground. As he bent down to pick them up, he discreetly glanced behind him, spotting the follower wearing a cyan robe—an unfamiliar outer disciple.]

The Causality Collection continued to automatically record his experiences. Jiang Li mentally raised his guard.

'Someone sent by Luo Yi?' He picked up the scrolls, his fingers tightening on the covers.

He had just left Alkaid Hall, and someone was already tailing him. Luo Yi was definitely involved.

The possibility of Luo Yi being merely narrow-minded seemed increasingly unlikely. Conversely, the probability that Jiang Li himself was the target grew larger.

What Jiang Li couldn't figure out was why he was being targeted.

'Could it be that I possess some secret I'm unaware of?'

(Note: The point about talismans, whether invoking deities or communicating with spiritual Qi, now communicating with oneself instead, will be explained in the next chapter.)