Chapter 1879 Litany Of The Verdant Forests
While the Four Guardian beasts marveled at Lin Mu, the man in question was still comprehending the Longgui Bulwark Armor.
He had understood the concepts that composed the technique and felt like he would be able to use them once he was outside.
Soon enough, Lin Mu opened his eyes and glanced at the four guardians who were standing there calmly.
"You've done well." The Black Tortoise spoke.
"It's all due to the guidance provided by you." Lin Mu replied calmly.
The guardian beasts couldn't help but feel like Lin Mu was even better than they thought.
'Talented sure… but talented while being humble, now that is as rare as a phoenix's feather.' The Vermillion bird thought to itself.
From what the guardians beasts had seen, most geniuses and talented cultivators became arrogant and drunk on their power. As such they would be difficult to deal with and often cause problems due to it. Someone like Lin Mu who could keep a calm temper was certainly uncommon to them.
"Now then, since you've gotten your first reward what is it that you want as your second reward?" The Azure Dragon questioned.
"The second reward that I wish to ask for is also defensive in nature." Lin Mu answered.
"Also defensive?" The Black Tortoise was surprised until Lin Mu finished his words.
"I want a technique that can help defend my mind and perhaps my soul too." Lin Mu requested before explaining his reasoning to help make the guardians understand better. "In my battle against Dugu Shanhe, I realized I am lacking in the mental and soul defenses. If I encounter someone that uses the Six Faiths Mystic eye art or other techniques like that, I'd be in a dangerous situation again."
Hearing that, the Guardian beasts became silent.
"Hmm… the Six Faiths Mystic Eye Art huh… didn't think I would hear it about it again. That Dugu Shanhe sure was an enigma." The White Tiger spoke having known about the technique.
"Your mentality is actually quite strong compared to most immortals. But yes you are right, you will have a hard time defending against skills like the Six Faiths Mystic Eye Art which are simply too aggressive and special.
You'll need something better to defend against it." The Vermilion Bird stated.
"Indeed." Lin Mu nodded his head. "I know where my weaknesses lie."
"Its is good to know where one lacks… and now you shall overcome that too." The Azure Dragon suddenly spoke. "I shall teach you a technique myself."
Lin Mu's eyes lit up, hearing that the Azure Dragon wished to take the lead this time.
"May I know what the technique is?" Lin Mu asked.
"I'll clarify this first. The technique I'm about to teach is something that is actually not from my clan or any of the Guardian beast clans." The Azure Dragon replied.
"It's not?" Lin Mu felt confused but wished to know more.
"No, it is a technique that has existed for a long time. It is said that it was created by a Soul Cultivator around the time when the Immortal Court was first established. But what was special was that it wasn't made by a Human." The Azure Dragon explained.
"Not a human? Then a demon? Or a beast?" Lin Mu wondered.
"None of those… it was actually created by a Tree Spirit!" The Azure Dragon revealed.
"A Tree Spirit? Like a tree that gained sentience and turned into a cultivator?" Lin Mu had read about them in the memoirs of the Lost Immortal.
He also had a few Sentient plants of his own in the Sleepscape and as such was familiar with them. A tree spirit was similar to them, but it took a highly different path than what the Wood Spirit Tulip, or the Violet Mystic Life Tree and the Purple Sickle Amaranth were on.
A Tree Spirit would fully transform into a humanoid form upon cultivating to a high enough stage. They would still have the characteristics of plants of course, but they would be able to live as a human and have the same abilities as humans too.
They were rare and could have some very unique skills.
These Tree Spirits were innately talented in Alchemy and Herbology and as such were highly valued by sects and many powers.
Lin Mu had read about a Tree Spirit that was born from a Million year old Parrot Bamboo Fruit.
Every breath that the Tree Spirit took could make immortal herbs grow in seconds and give birth to fruits and more plants. It could enrich a place with wood Qi simply by staying there and turning it into a sanctuary for all wood elemental cultivators.
Recalling all this though, Lin Mu felt a bit perplexed as to how the technique would work since the Tree Spirits were specialized in a different field.
The Azure Dragon seemed to have sensed this and explained it further.
"I know it might seem contradictory, but the Tree Spirits are actually really good at the workings of soul. This is due to the fact that they have to go through a lot to transform themselves from a plant into a humanoid.Their true souls transform as well, which makes them experts at it.
Of course, they don't take on the Soul Cultivation part, as they aren't actually good at the offensive part for this. But for defenses, they are amazing." The Azure Dragon stated.
"I see… what is the technique's name?" Lin Mu asked next, as he was willing to learn.
"The technique is called as the Litany Of the Verdant Forest!" The Azure Dragon answered, making Lin Mu highly interested.
"It is a slightly unusual technique that is very difficult to learn." The Azure Dragon added. "Even I have not been able to learn it." He revealed.
"But if it's you, I think you'll be capable of learning it." The Azure Dragon had faith.
Lin Mu showed no hint of hesitance on his face when he spoke, "I'll learn it. I know I can do it."
"Good." The Azure Dragon smiled, its whiskers waving. "I'll impart it to you now. You already know what to do." It added.
"Yes," Lin Mu replied and closed his eyes.
~SHUA~
The Azure Dragon's horns glowed and a green stream of energy flowed out of it. The stream of energy connected to Lin Mu's forehead and information started to flow into his mind.
The information that appeared in Lin Mu's mind was rather gentle this time. He didn't know that the Azure Dragon was taking extra efforts to make sure that Lin Mu could understand it better and wouldn't have difficulties.
Litany of The Verdant Forest was a technique that was actually harder to learn than the Longgui Bulwark Armor.
Lin Mu felt the information pour into his head about the technique as well as how it was practiced. Unlike the last time, he didn't see any scene that taught him. Instead, it was just raw information.
'Considering that the information is in this form, it's clear that the Azure Dragon hasn't been able to learn it. But he had certainly tried to do it… since there are bits of tips and hints added to it all.' Lin Mu thought after going through the information.
It was very detailed and extensive showing just how complex the technique was.
'This is unlike anything I've practiced until now… there isn't even Qi involved.' Lin Mu was surprised and intrigued.
The Litany Of The Verdant Forest was a strange technique that was wholly focused on the comprehension and understanding of the practitioner.
In order to practice it, one needed to 'hear the voice of the forests'.
When one could hear the whispers of the forest, they would be considered to have reached the Beginner stage of the technique.
The next stage was the Advanced Stage and one needed to fully hear the voice of the forest.
After that was the Expert Stage in which one didn't just hear the voices of the forest, but could even converse with them!
Then there was the Master Stage, which required one to talk with the Forest and ask them to sing their Litany.
Doing so would allow one to create defenses around their mind and soul. But the technique did not explain what kind of defenses one would have, as they could be different and vary according to the person!
It was said that only when one reached the beginner stage and had a little success would they figure out their defenses.
Lin Mu learned further and discovered that depending on the kind of forest one practiced, the results could be different. After all, there were many kinds of forests and each of them would have their own voices.
'This is certainly a unique technique… Looks like I'll have some fun in learning it.' Lin Mu wasn't discouraged by the vagueness of the technique, instead, he was excited about it all!
Time passed and eventually, Lin Mu opened his eyes, the four guardians smiling at him.