Chapter 304 - 150: Guardian Dao Skills: Art, Skill, Method, Dao! In the Scripture Pavilion, Advancing the ’Daoist Technique’ Divine Talisman Fire

He watched as the Profound Seal was pressed into a groove on the Profound Iron Gate. Gleaming with a cold, dark light, it began to RUMBLE as it twisted open...

Ji Xiu lifted his foot and stepped inside.

CLICK. CLACK. CLICK. CLACK. CLACK.

Walking through the silent halls on the first floor, just as Xiao Mingli had said, Ji Xiu saw the "spoils of war" Marquis Beicang had accumulated from his campaigns across the lands.

There was a Demon King's Broken Horn, its fearsome aura yet to fade; a Sect's Guardian Jade Gui made of an extraordinary material, seemingly not from this Celestial Universe;

and Gilded Golden Gloves imbued with a Dragon and Tiger Qi Mechanism, War Armor Treasure Armor... and so on. The dazzling array nearly filled the Obsidian Shelves on both sides, making Ji Xiu click his tongue in silent amazement.

Any single item here could upend the auction houses in the Prefecture City, causing people from all walks of life to fight over it and spend money like water.

However, even though these treasures were incredibly precious and no one was around, Ji Xiu only gave them a brief glance before looking away. He showed no trace of greed, let alone touched a single thing.

'Never mind that the Beicang Marquis's Mansion is full of hidden masters,' Ji Xiu thought. 'If they were truly on guard, not even a fly could escape, let alone a person. The moment I gave in to greed, my head would surely roll.'

But even setting that aside, out of respect for Xiao Mingli's trust, Ji Xiu kept his gaze clear and walked forward with the candle, never once pausing.

The second floor held the Scripture Collection.

Ji Xiu saw identical sandalwood shelves stacked with scrolls of scriptures and texts.

Following Xiao Mingli's instructions, he went to the beginning of the shelves, picked up a book titled *Commentary on the Art of Spirit and Soul*, and began to study it.

The Divine Soul gives birth to Divine Thoughts, which can create something from nothing.

At their weakest, Divine Thoughts can shift one's form and position; at their strongest, they can incinerate mountains and boil seas. They possess all sorts of unbelievable powers...

But in the process of Refining Illusion into Truth, the ranks of Dao Skills are always divided. Thus, the Ancient Immortals established four tiers: Art, Skill, Technique, and Divine!

The countless Magic Techniques born of thought all stem from this...

...

This commentary is by the True Venerable of Ten Thousand Laws from the Chixiao Heaven Universe.

Creation is difficult; plagiarism will be prosecuted. Even across the boundless seas and Celestial Universes, there will be karmic consequences. Do not invite ruin upon yourself.

Dao Skill, Daoist Skill, Daoist Technique, Divine Techniques!

Ji Xiu closed the ancient scroll, shaken to his core.

'So Divine Thoughts are just the beginning.'

'After that...'

'There's so much more to Daoist Skills!'

'And these are just Guardian Dao Skills. As for the True Skills of Cultivation that point directly to one's foundation...'

'How much harder must those be to find?'

"According to the book, a Dao Skill is roughly equivalent to a Grandmaster Level Martial Art, a Daoist Skill corresponds to the Sect Establishment Level, and a Daoist Technique is comparable to the True Sect Level!"

"As for Divine Techniques..."

"Whether Great or Minor Divine Techniques, those are all attainments beyond a Martial Saint."

"And according to Xiao Mingli, this Scripture Pavilion of the Beicang Marquis's Mansion holds a collection of seven Dao Skills, four Daoist Skills, and even..."

"...an Incomplete Level Daoist Technique!"

Ji Xiu walked along the sandalwood shelves, his fingertips brushing past one strange and magnificent art after another...

[Tutor has come into contact with the Daoist Art Level 'Vajra'. The caster can activate this Dao Skill with their thoughts, making their physical body like a vajra—incorruptible, impervious to decay, and difficult to harm with other skills.]

[Acquisition Conditions: Hold stone and iron in your mouth daily to stimulate your thoughts. Visualize inwardly, seeing your body as indestructible. Practice its countless variations, and the Dao Skill will form on its own.]

...

[Tutor has come into contact with the Daoist Art Level 'Concealing Deity'. This is the entry-level skill in the Stealing Heaven and Changing Day line of Divine Techniques. It has the ability to hide one's Qi Mechanism and conceal one's presence.]

[Acquisition Conditions: Bathe in moonlight and let your body enter a state of stillness. Walk a thousand roads without startling a single living creature until your body becomes transparent and imperceptible even to a Divine Soul. This is the path to mastery.]

...

[Tutor has come into contact with the Daoist Level 'Control Soldiers'. This is the entry-level skill in the line of Divine Techniques for commanding Immortal Soldiers. By scattering Spirit Beans with your thoughts, you can transform them into Talisman Armor to fight your enemies!]

[Acquisition Conditions: Recruit and raise strongmen, forging them into Daoist Soldiers. Use your thoughts to brand their essence into a medium, inscribing it a thousand times until you can command them freely, controlling ten suits of armor at once!]

As he walked on, details of the various Dao Skills and Daoist Skills, along with their effects, surfaced in his mind...

The more he saw, the more amazed he became.

If Martial Artists were supreme in direct combat, then these methods born from thought were truly bizarre, varied, and all-pervasive.

Furthermore, failing to grasp the essence of any one of them could make it even harder to learn than a Secret Martial art. No wonder Xiao Mingli had warned him not to bite off more than he could chew.

Gradually, Ji Xiu came to a stop at the end of the sandalwood shelves.

Here, a lone Jade Scroll was on display, upon which a line of commentary from an unknown author was inscribed:

This Daoist Skill is one of the very few great offensive skills. It is suspected to be incomplete and damages the physical body, carrying the risk of depleting one's flesh and Divine Soul. Those who come after should be wary. Do not, simply because of the two words 'Daoist Technique,' overestimate your abilities and destroy your foundation.

—Xiao Pingnan

Xiao Pingnan?

'To be able to leave his mark here... Could he be Xiao Mingli's father, the famous Marquis Beicang?'

'A great offensive skill... a Daoist Technique comparable to the True Sect Level!'

Ji Xiu was taken aback for a moment, and then his spirits soared!

[Tutor has come into contact with the Daoist Level 'Divine Talisman Fire'. This technique is a collateral branch of the Nanming Li Fire Divine Technique. Once cast, it can create a Void Flame, igniting a Golden Core True Flame that can burn anything!]

[However, it is a flame of life and must be nurtured with life. Only those with an extremely high level of physical tempering, whose blood and qi are boiling, can hope to condense it!]

[Acquisition Conditions: You must temper your Flesh, Bone, and Skin to cultivate a searing Purest Gang capable of supporting your physical body. Use your body as a seed to plant this flame!]

[Visualize it daily until the flame reaches a height of ninety-nine feet. Only then is it considered to have reached Great Success!]

The Daoist Technique, Divine Talisman Fire!

After seeing the effects of this Daoist Technique, Ji Xiu clenched his fists. In an instant, his eyes blazed like bright flames, bursting with joyous surprise!

'This...'

'Isn't this Daoist Technique tailor-made for me?!'

'Others might see it as a fearsome beast. Unable to meet the requirements, trying to cultivate it would be like pulling chestnuts from the fire—they would only end up incinerating their own bodies.'

'But for me... it's as easy as taking something out of my own pocket!'

'I have to cultivate it! I absolutely have to!'

'If I can get the flame to ninety-nine feet and then cultivate a True Skill...'

'...and I take another step forward, won't my Divine Soul become a Daoist High Merit comparable to a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster?!'

'Primordial Daoist Talisman.'

'Advance it to me!'

In that instant, within the Scripture Pavilion of the Beicang Marquis's Mansion, a Golden Core flame ignited without a breeze. It appeared on the young man's fingertip as it passed over the scroll, flickering abruptly to life, shining like a newborn star!

Within his eyes, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit seemed to merge as one, igniting a brilliant light that purged all impurities!

Divine Talisman Fire!