"There’s no technique." Vajra hesitated for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, before answering.
"Can you tell me how to practice it?" Yuan Ming asked with a hint of excitement.
"This comes naturally. I can’t explain how to practice it," Vajra thought for a while and then shook his head.
Yuan Ming felt a bit disappointed.
"Alright, I’ll teach you how to read another day," Yuan Ming said reluctantly. "Take this; it should be beneficial for you."
Yuan Ming took out a Copper Skin Pill and handed it to Vajra, who accepted it without hesitation and swallowed one.
"My body feels hot," Vajra remarked after a moment of sensing the effects.
"The medicinal power must be kicking in. It should be useful for you. Go ahead and cultivate." With a wave of his hand, Yuan Ming took out a spirit beast bag and stored the white ape Vajra inside.
He still hadn’t fully understood the reasons behind the mutations and awakening of Vajra and Hua Zhi.
Recalling how he acquired the two creatures, he vaguely felt that their appearances were linked to the two demons he saw in his mind when he first obtained the Stealing Heaven Cauldron after falling into the water in the Southern Border.
***
In the following days, Yuan Ming stayed indoors, and seven days passed in the blink of an eye. The Great Ultimate pattern on the Stealing Heaven Cauldron had regained its brightness.
Seven days had passed, and Yuan Ming wondered if the Precious Spirit Sect would suspect him.
He took out the Stealing Heaven Cauldron and a stick of Black Incense. This new Black Incense was made from materials Hu Tu had purchased on his behalf, using the incense ashes from the Precious Spirit Sect. He wasn’t sure how effective it would be.
After a brief contemplation, Yuan Ming lit the Black Incense and recalled the face of his Sixth Uncle. His vision quickly went black.
***
When his consciousness returned, he found himself in the body of his Sixth Uncle, standing in a place resembling a spirit beast garden, observing a group of fiery red fox cubs. He held a notebook, occasionally jotting down observations, seemingly studying their habits.
After a quick survey of his surroundings, Yuan Ming began to subtly influence his Sixth Uncle, urging him to find someone knowledgeable about Gu Qiulong’s murder.
The effect of the Black Incense made from the Precious Spirit Sect’s ashes was evidently good. After just three or four suggestions, his Sixth Uncle stopped what he was doing and walked to the other side of the spirit beast garden. He soon found a black-bearded elder in a pavilion, who was writing something at a desk.
"Lin Hai, do you need something from me?" the black-bearded elder asked, standing up.
"Gu Zhen, how is the investigation into Qiulong’s death going? Why is there no news at all?" Sixth Uncle asked in a deep voice.
Yuan Ming was delighted. His suggestion had been quite vague, yet his Sixth Uncle not only followed through but also found the right person. The effect of the incense made from the Precious Spirit Sect’s ashes was indeed better than before.
"The sect has its own reasons. It’s best not to inquire too much," Gu Zhen said, glancing at Sixth Uncle.
"It seems the sect has discovered quite a bit. This matter concerns my nephew’s death. Please, Brother Gu Zhen, tell me what you know," Sixth Uncle said, bowing respectfully.
Gu Zhen looked troubled but remained silent.
"Gu Zhen, be straightforward," Sixth Uncle urged.
"Alright, the Sect Master visited the scene. In the Shuiyun Temple dungeon, besides your nephew Gu Qiulong, there was another corpse dressed in the attire of Changchun Temple. Based on the scene, it appears the two fought to the death," Gu Zhen said in a low voice.
"A Changchun Temple cultivator! Do we know who it was?" Sixth Uncle gasped.
"It was an external affairs elder from Changchun Temple, Xu Changqing," Gu Zhen replied.
"Xu Changqing? I’ve never heard of him. Why would they fight to the death? What were they fighting over?" Sixth Uncle frowned deeply.
"All their storage artifacts were missing. Besides the two of them, there was likely a third person, possibly the Shuiyun Temple Master," Gu Zhen said.
"The Shuiyun Temple Master? Gu Qiulong wouldn’t go to Shuiyun Temple for no reason. Where is the Temple Master?" Sixth Uncle asked.
"The Temple Master has disappeared. The other Taoists at Shuiyun Temple haven’t seen Gu Qiulong," Gu Zhen said.
"Additionally, the sect discovered another situation. Your other nephew, Gu Qiuming, also disappeared ten days ago, and his daughter, Gu Hui, went missing seven days ago," Gu Zhen continued.
"Gu Qiuming? I saw him a few days ago. Could he be involved in this?" Sixth Uncle’s body trembled.
"I don’t know. The sect has already sent people to secretly search for the three of them," Gu Zhen said.
The two continued discussing until the Black Incense burned out.
Yuan Ming deduced that Gu Qiuming must have seen his message and fled with his daughter. The Shuiyun Temple Master, fearing retribution from the Precious Spirit Sect, also left after discovering Gu Qiulong’s death.
***
The next morning, Yuan Ming went to the Zhenling Pavilion.
Yuan Ming requested the winged bird he had entrusted Gu Qiuming to hatch for him. The shop assistant said Gu Qiuming had been missing for days. Yuan Ming flew into a rage, demanding compensation. The assistant deferred, saying the manager was not present and asked Yuan Ming to come back another time.
Yuan Ming, having a plan in mind, returned home. Seven days later, he once again possessed the Qi refining disciple Xu Chuan, who had been assigned by Gu Qiuming to receive him.
The Black Incense was lit.
***
At that moment, Xu Chuan was busy in a spirit beast garden. Yuan Ming began to subtly influence Xu Chuan.
Soon, Xu Chuan stopped what he was doing and walked to the other side of the spirit beast garden, finding a young man.
"Xu Chuan, do you need something from me?" the young man asked, standing up.