Chapter 557: Divine Technique
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"The White Mountain Lady refers to the white tiger? Did you two know her?"
Fang Yuan asked the fox girls.
"Sister Bai was very nice...she helped us chase many bad people away!"
The younger girl said timidly.
"Bad people like me?"
Fang Yuan rubbed his face and joked, only to see that the two girls agreed with his statement. He could not help but feel slightly embarrassed.
"Heh...a classic example of the fox hiding behind the might of the tiger. Birds of a feather flock together."
Tigers eat meat, of course. The white tiger had treated the fox sisters well, but she was still a serial killer.
After all, in her eyes, the Shang army was but a large group of walking pieces of meat.
The white tiger had underestimated the Shang army though. She had attempted to prey on the Shang soldiers but ended up becoming their prey instead.
In Fang Yuan's opinion, this was natural selection. The laws of nature dictated that there was no right or wrong in the fight for survival.
Only the fittest could survive in the long term.
"Alright, tell me. How did you two learn these cultivation techniques?"
Fang Yuan glared at the two girls sternly.
The two foxes practised a cultivation technique that was entirely different from the one practised by the white tiger. The white tiger followed the orthodox demon methods of honing the demonic body, refining demonic pills etcetera. These two foxes, however, were abandoning their physical forms in favour of honing their divine souls. This was more reminiscent of the celestial dao practised by humans.
"Grandfather Sang Qing taught it to us…"
The two fox girls were wary at first but fell under the spell of the golden gleam emanating from Fang Yuan's eyes. They ended up telling the whole truth.
"Sang Qing? An old fox? Where is he?"
Fang Yuan's interest had been piqued.
"We don't know!"
The two fox girls shook their heads.
"Grandfather Sang Qing was only passing by and imparted some skills to us by chance...he told us that we could go look for him at the Tu Mountain when we had achieved success in our cultivation."
"Tu Mountain?"
Fang Yuan nodded. He questioned them further and found out that the two foxes were timid by nature. They had not dared to venture into the world despite having achieved a high level of cultivation. Later, they made friends with the white tiger and became her sworn sisters.
The movements of the Kui Ox had displaced them from their old home and they had been forced to look for a new place to settle down in.
The white tiger practised the demon dao and ate people whenever she felt hungry. In the end, she had suffered retribution for her savagery. Although the two foxes had no intention of avenging the white tiger's death, they wanted to retrieve her remains on account of their sisterhood and all that she had done for them. Little did they know that they would run into Fang Yuan.
"Another two unimportant characters. What a pity!"
Fang Yuan shook his head and giggled.
"It's just as well. The two of you aren't common foxes either...you shall join me from now on!"
Fan Yuan told the fox girls to revert to their animal form.
"Mm, the older sister will be called Big White and the younger sister will be called Little White! From today onwards, I will be your master! Obey me or you won't get anything to eat, is that clear?"
"Nng…"
The two foxes blinked as tears began to fall.
"Don't even think about running away. I've already done something to your divine souls and there is no way that you can escape!"
Fang Yuan gave the foxes a warning before carrying them back to his tent.
"Huh? Master, have you just gone on a night hunting trip?"
Hei Zhong was waiting alone in the tent and shook his head in dismay when he caught sight of the two foxes.
"These two little lumps meat won't even fill up our mouths!"
"These are my beloved pets. Take good care of them. I'll skin you alive if they get hurt in any way!"
Fang Yuan had to warn him.
After all, he was sure that Hei Zhong would barbeque the fox sisters if he was not told otherwise!
"Nng! Nng!"
The two foxes were terrified upon seeing the burly Hei Zhong and whimpered as the both of them curled up into a ball.
"Haha!"
Fang Yuan was greatly amused by the sight.
…..
In the company of his two pets, Fang Yuan began to conduct research on Hei Zhong's technique as well as the white foxes' cultivation technique. He put in all his efforts into studying the world systems of the realm energy practitioners. He would then make Hei Zhong test out his hypotheses. In this way, Fang Yuan made wonderful progress.
Time flew by quickly as Fang Yuan submerged himself in his research.
On this day, they had arrived in the lands surrounding the Shang capital.
"Is this it? The Shang capital?"
Fang Yuan stood on the elevated ground and scanned his surroundings with a fiery gaze.
His physique was more impressive than before and every movement of his had an indescribable majesty to it. There was an otherworldly quality to him now.
This was the work of the witch blood flowing through his veins. His Ultimate Witch Body was growing stronger.
Fang Yuan took a look at his stats board:
"Name: Fang Yuan
Essence: 50 (100)
Spirit: 50 (100)
Magic: 50 (100)
Profession: ???
Cultivation: ???
Technique: Ultimate Witch Body (90%)
Skill: [Medicine (Level 3)], [Botany (Level 6)(Peak)], [Fiery Golden Eyes (Level 1)], [Body Seal (Ultimate form)]"
"Even though I want all my special abilities to be on my stats board, this is not the time to restore the Pangu Eagle Body technique. I have to stick to the power systems of this world and level up by utilising the native energy. It will be slower this way but I won't encounter any bottlenecks before I reach the True Divine stage!"
"Also, because of the purity of the old witchcraft dao, the Fiery Golden Eyes divine technique has levelled up!"
Fang Yuan was looking at the runes of the Fiery Golden Eyes technique when a message surfaced:
"[Fiery Golden Eyes (Level 2)]: Divine Technique of the Witches, converted to this technique from the Dacheng Fiery Eyes (Level 5). Unlocks astrological and geomantic abilities. Able to identify changes in the six energies and to expose future perils! Currently Level 2!"
"Every world has its unique charm and culture. To suppress these would be to ruin something beautiful and might even lead to a backfire...since the Ancient Realm has already accepted me, I shall make use of its pathways...for the sake of smoothness and efficiency!"
Fang Yuan's face shone with happiness upon seeing that one of his skills had levelled up.
The Fiery Golden Eyes technique was not just any simple divine technique. It had evolved from the Level 5 Dacheng Fiery Eyes technique, making it practically a Level 7 technique! This exceeded even his skill in Botany, which had already peaked!
Fang Yuan had high hopes for his special abilities. After all, even the world could not suppress the imprint of his true aura!
Later, Fang Yuan noticed a magnificent city standing in the distance.
As the capital city of the Shang Dynasty, Shangyi had a breathtaking splendour that was unrivalled in the world.
The huge walls, the imposing armed guards, the fluid crowds and the farming slaves were all unique features of the Pre-Qin canvas.
Fang Yuan saw more than that.
"Is this...tribal energy?"
With his Fiery Golden Eyes, Fang Yuan could see plumes of black energy rising from the Shang capital. They stretched on for miles and were ever-changing, even vaguely forming the shape of a gigantic mysterious bird. Fang Yuan knew for sure that this was the tribal energy of the Shang! A skilled energy reader would be able to derive the foundations and destiny of the Shang by observing this sight!
Except that it was not possible for common energy readers to see something like that, or there might be divine retribution!
Nonetheless, Fang Yuan was able to see everything easily.
"To identify changes in the six energies and to expose future perils...not so far-fetched after all!"
Fang Yuan gave a small sigh. Suddenly, a look of uncertainty crept across his face.
The skies above the Shang capital were filled with dark tribal energy that became bright and colourful when they descended onto the city. This was supposed to be normal.
However, numerous purple energy rays were shooting upwards into the skies. One of the rays took the form of a blazing sword while another took the form of a shining scroll. They all moved independently and looked like they were pitting themselves against the Shang tribal energy.
The last energy ray played it safe and concealed itself. Fang Yuan would not have noticed it if he did not have the Fiery Golden Eyes ability. Thus, he had become wary of this particular ray.
"The purple energy is vast and mighty. This indicates that a sage is present!"
Fang Yuan sighed internally.
"The purple energy ray isn't more than 6 miles in length, which means that the person it represents has not yet reached the level of a True Divine. Nevertheless, he is at least a 'Sir' among the Hundred Schools of Thought, or perhaps a 'Sage'?"
As Fang Yuan occupied himself with his thoughts, the army set up camp outside the city gates. Later, Senior Fang and the other officials were summoned into the palace by the Shang King.
Fang Yuan inhaled sharply and calmed himself down as he followed the unit into the city. They were now in the heart of the Shang Dynasty.
"I feel like...the crowd here is a little too small!"
Meng Kuo scanned their surroundings tentatively.
Nevertheless, he was a man of influence and went about asking questions. He returned cheerfully a short while later.
"Jie...today is a day of festivity. The Sword Sage Sir Cao has set up a school in Shangyi and is accepting students. Nearly half the city has gone over to check out his school!"
"Besides, I heard that the Legalists, Confucianists, Mohists and many other schools of thought have organised discussion forums to share their philosophies as well as to recruit disciples. We are lucky to have entered the city at this time!"
"The Hundred Schools of Thought?!"
There was a strange look on Fang Yuan's face.
"It's too early...alright, I knew this isn't the normal Pre-Qin era."
There was indeed a hazy impression on Jie's memories.
Many of these schools were influential and world-renowned. They had disciples all over the empire and were recruiting aggressively, making them forces to be reckoned with.
Fang Yuan was wary of their power and influence.
In the previous world, the Hundred Schools of Thought only surfaced during the chaotic Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods where royal authority had declined severely. The various feudal states were competing for hegemony and needed intellectuals to serve as their advisers on matters of government, war and diplomacy. Thus, they encouraged the free discussion of a broad range of thoughts and ideas and created conditions that were ripe for the rise of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
However, in this world, the Shang Dynasty reigned supreme. How could the King not worry about these powerful and unregulated organisations?
"Throughout history...powerful organisations would definitely incur the paranoia and suspicion of the hegemon...the fact that these schools of thought could survive this long and grow in strength means that there is something fishy going."
Fang Yuan laughed grimly.
"There must be another organisation backing these schools up. Or they might even have garnered the support of the feudal states. The reason for this is simple...they want to usurp the Shang!"