CHAPTER 250: CHAPTER 250 "IMMORTAL BLESSING

Jiang Yuan also felt that the secretive old man who had endured so many years was truly pitiable.

Waiting day after day, with no hope in sight, only to be captured and tortured, and even treated as a madman whose future was completely cut off. Without wife or children, he faced such destitution in his old age.

Since there is a chance to fulfill his dreams or even change his fate, why not make the deal?

Before binding the gold finger and crossing to the Otherworld, he was also a small insignificant figure at the bottom, knowing how miserable life without money or power was, and how urgent the craving for success was when one finally grabbed a chance.

Anyway, it’s just like copying and pasting a skill to him, without losing anything, and he can provide clues to complete the side quest, so it’s a deserved trade.

[Please choose a skill for transaction: Paperman and Paper Horse Skill, Incense Chart, Earth Mirror Book (Part One)]

The skills available for imparting were only these three, presumably because the body couldn’t cultivate or absorb Spiritual Energy, only offering some fringe skills, which still distinguished him from ordinary people. In this respect, the system was quite considerate.

Jiang Yuan explained, "You can’t understand the Cultivation Technique nor cultivate to absorb Spiritual Energy, you’re naturally at odds with cultivation. Seeing your persistence, I can teach you an unusual magic, but you must give me the token, it’s a transaction."

Seeing a new opportunity to come into contact with immortal cultivation, Zheng Lang jumped up from the floor and nodded vigorously, "I’ll trade! I’ll trade!"

"Choose one of the three: The first skill is the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill. With diligent practice, you can reach the realm where I can transform paper into a crane, but for a mortal body to act like a cultivator defies the natural order, and forcefully performing it may harm your Yin Virtue or even your life."

"The second skill is the Incense Chart. After acquiring it, you will comprehend the effects and uses of various spices and herbs, enabling you to craft medicinal incense capable of curing illnesses and a variety of incense sticks."

"The third skill grants you the ability to discover hidden treasure within a certain range."

Without much hesitation, Zheng Lang immediately chose to learn the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill.

Although the Incense Chart can cure ailments, it requires spices and herbs, and he had neither the money nor the inclination to deal with those;

The last option would be great, but it lacks the ability to protect oneself. Already of such an age, if others knew he could find treasure, wouldn’t he be bound and used like a tool by the influential?

As long as he can make paper cranes fly, concerns about harming Yin Virtue and so on are issues for later; for now, he’d enjoy life and be carefree!

[After selecting the skill, please touch the transactioner’s head with your right hand to complete the transaction.]

Seeing the prompt, Jiang Yuan thought it quite ceremonial, almost like the saying "The immortal strokes my head, securing longevity with the knot."

With the deal concluded, Zheng Lang then pushed aside the water jar beside his broken bed, dug through the wooden planks to reveal a tunnel, and crawled through the narrow passage to an empty courtyard next door, which no one inhabited. He dug to uncover a stone trough used for feeding cows, and after working for quite a while, he managed to extract a wax-sealed leather package.

This was probably the safest way he could think of for preservation.

Layer by layer, the package was opened, handing over a magnificent phoenix hairpin.

[Phoenix Cloud Hairpin: Low-level Magical Treasure, a relic of Wan Mingchuan’s mother, Ouyang Ying. It contains detailed memories of the last moments shared by the mother and child. To ensure her young son’s safety, Ouyang Ying fought desperately and succumbed to her injuries. Encountering Zheng Lang, realizing he wasn’t suitable to entrust her child with, Ouyang Ying handed him the Magical Treasure to dispel his further greed.

Subsequently, she sacrificed her own life force and cultivation to form an Array protecting her child and summoned suitable individuals within a certain range. Through this, Wan An appeared at Wangting Mountain in a daze and discovered the child protected by the Array. Under the lingering effects of Ouyang Ying’s sacrifice, Wan An hurriedly took the child away from East Lake Port, securing a slim chance for his survival.]

[Task 2 completed, rewards have been issued.]

[Task 3: Deliver this token, the Phoenix Cloud Hairpin, and escort Wan Mingchuan back to the Lin Family so he has the opportunity to activate his bloodline inheritance and obtain a Heavenly-level Cultivation Technique. Reward: Special Material Gift Package +1]

Although he had speculated that the disciple’s background might be tragic, Jiang Yuan felt his heart ache when he received the hairpin and saw the system details, tears welling up involuntarily.

What a parent’s love! To protect her young child, the gravely injured Ouyang Ying did all she could in that fleeting moment. Fortunately, Wan Mingchuan grew up safely and now has a craft to rely on...

"Come, let me teach you the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill." Jiang Yuan took a deep breath, collected his emotions, placed his right hand on Zheng Lang’s head, and pressed the transaction button.

The next second, the anxious Zheng Lang immediately felt a flood of knowledge and spells pouring into his mind, instantly learning everything about paper sculpting!

"Is this the legendary Immortal Blessing?" Old Li, standing nearby, was dumbfounded.

He also wanted to learn but had nothing to offer in exchange with the immortal. Now, he could only hope that Old Zheng would keep his word and teach him the magic he learned.

"Thank you, Great Immortal! Thank you, Great Immortal!" Zheng Lang bowed gratefully to Jiang Yuan, so excited at the thought of making flying paper cranes himself that he wanted to scream and shout.

It was still early in the evening, and Jiang Yuan glanced back to see the little yellow bird still studying the Heaven-Burning Scripture diligently, so he prompted, "I’ll give you the time of one incense stick to study, what and how much you can learn depends on your own fortune."

Mr. Zheng, while I have a bit of time left, let me further guide you. Remember the primary rule: when making paper sculptures, maintain a clear mind and silently chant the incantations in your heart, never speak them aloud, or they will lose their efficacy."

Zheng Lang readily agreed, and Jiang Yuan took materials for making paper sculptures from his Storage Bag and began hands-on guidance.

The Paperman and Paper Horse Skill was one of his hidden talents, a skill he painstakingly mastered through creating by hand. Guiding someone in practice was a breeze.

"You must always remember that magic should serve people. By doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, you can offset the Yin Virtue consumed by making paper sculptures. Never use them for malicious purposes, or you may end up harming yourself."

As the time grew late, Jiang Yuan concluded his instructions and retrieved the Heaven-Burning Scripture, waving at the little yellow bird who had been staring at him intently as if to etch his image in memory, "If fate allows, I’ll let you see it completely someday."

Seeing he was about to leave, Zheng Lang belatedly asked, "What is the Great Immortal’s name?"

"My surname is Jiang," Jiang Yuan specifically added, "like ginger, the spice."

Before the words were fully spoken, he clicked the Teleportation Scroll, and his figure vanished instantly from Zheng Lang’s shabby courtyard.

Old Li touched the gold coins in his pocket, lamenting, "Old Zheng, the Great Immortal must be really wealthy; why didn’t you ask for some gold and silver treasures?"

"Ah, you’re still young," Zheng Lang mused over the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill in his mind, smiling slightly, "At my age, what would I do with lots of gold and silver, besides being marked as a fat sheep and slaughtered? What other good end is there?

Learning the craft, isn’t it just a matter of time and effort to earn money? Immortal Technique is something even mountains of gold and silver can’t buy!"

"Well... Old Zheng, you did say that whoever brought your destined person would receive a share of the immortal fate," Old Li hurriedly said, "You see, others laughed and mocked upon hearing it, yet I firmly believed and immediately brought you the Great Immortal, so about that Paperman and Paper Horse Skill..."

Zheng Lang thought, "The Great Immortal taught me the magic through Immortal Blessing; I don’t know how to give you the same blessing to teach you!"

Didn’t you hear the Great Immortal specifically warned that incantations should be silently chanted in the heart. If spoken, they’d lose efficacy, and what if not only you can’t learn my magic but also invalidate mine?

"Well, I do keep my word," he said reassuringly, "But I just started learning too. Don’t worry, once I’ve mastered it, of course, I’ll teach you!"

Old Li was d elighted, bowing as he said, "Thank you, Old Zheng!"

He chuckled inwardly, figuring he got the gold coins and would also learn the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill; this opportunity truly paid off!

Little did he know, at the same time, the smiling Zheng Lang was already planning to flee under cover of night. Having gained so much, he needed to leave quickly, for if Old Li blabbed, trouble would soon follow!

He planned to gather his gold, silver, and other valuables and the paper figures and horses just taught by the Great Immortal, to travel far and find a secluded place to live. Once he perfected the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill, he would surely be able to call the wind and rain, omnipotent!