And this 『Swimming Dragon Step』 was a superficial technique stripped from 『Swift Swan, Swimming Dragon』, distributed by the Longxiang Army to ordinary martial artists...
Realization dawned on Shen Xiuhan, and he turned his gaze to the second manual.
『Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula』...
Flipping open the inner pages, an introduction to the technique caught his eye:
“The 『Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula』 was created by Yan Yu, the Right Prime Minister of the current dynasty, based on a fragment of the 『Turtle-Breathing Transformation and Self-Substitution Mystic Book』, a Divine Ability of the former Yang Dynasty's 『Thousand-Face Sect』. When cultivated to a deep level, this technique allows one to alter their physical form and face, as well as conceal their cultivation. This volume contains the first layer. Mastering it allows one to shift their shape and change their face for half an hour.”
“Note: This cannot be seen through except by eye-inspection techniques or those of the Spirit Tempering Rank!”
A technique from the former Yang Dynasty, and one created from a Divine Ability at that!
Shen Xiuhan's heart trembled slightly.
The former Yang Dynasty had fallen over a thousand years ago, and most of its heritage had been lost to time.
What remained today was either locked away in the imperial palace of the capital, hidden from outsiders, or kept by the great sects of the various prefectures as their ultimate treasures.
Even if one only mastered the first layer of this 『Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula』, they could completely alter their appearance and stature to match another person, leaving absolutely no flaws.
In any case, Shen Xiuhan had not noticed the slightest flaw.
Before Tian Ping'an died and the technique's effect wore off, he had truly believed the man possessed that ordinary face.
“My current 『Muxu Eye』 is good at detecting weaknesses and capturing the trajectories of moves, but it isn't suited for seeing through physical transformations...”
Shen Xiuhan murmured to himself, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
“I wonder if a two-magatama 『Muxu Eye』 could see through high-level disguise techniques?”
“It's highly likely...”
Shen Xiuhan traced his finger over the very last line of the note.
“Note: This cannot be seen through except by eye-inspection techniques or those of the Spirit Tempering Rank!”
Eye-inspection techniques...
As the name implied, these were techniques specifically created to counter physical disguises.
As for Spirit Tempering... it was the final barrier of the Three Barriers of the Huajin Rank!
Qi Tempering, Essence Tempering, Spirit Tempering...
Once one's cultivation reached the Spirit Tempering Rank, they could see through physical transformations?
Shen Xiuhan recalled his battle with Qu Bushi at Lingshui Pier, where the latter had borrowed the power of the 『Overturning Sea Bead』 to unleash a Palm Force!
Back then, Ji Xue had signaled to him that “Palm Force can only be unleashed once one reaches the Spirit Tempering Rank...”
“It seems that once one's cultivation reaches the Spirit Tempering stage of the Huajin Rank, there is a qualitative leap in strength...”
Shen Xiuhan pondered for a moment before shifting his attention back to the manual.
“It certainly has quite a background!”
“With Deduction in hand, I can push it to Great Perfection. It might not even be impossible to bring that 『Turtle-Breathing Transformation and Self-Substitution Mystic Book』 back into the world...”
Shen Xiuhan murmured to himself, his thoughts flowing like a spring.
“However... although the origins of this technique are terrifying, it only has the first layer, and its weakness is obvious. It can't even hide from a Huajin Rank expert. While it's valuable, it isn't considered exceedingly precious...”
“There must be another reason why Wang Lin and Ding Ning pursued Tian Ping'an so relentlessly...”
Shen Xiuhan closed the book, tidied it up, and then looked to the side.
The final booklet lay quietly on the table, with five large characters written on the cover in a powerful, vigorous hand:
『Dragon-Elephant Golden Body Art』!
“A body-tempering technique?”
Shen Xiuhan's eyes flickered. He reached out to pick it up and flipped open the pages.
After reading just two or three pages, a look of realization gradually appeared on his face.
“This seems to be... an advanced version of the 『Iron Bone Technique』?”
He raised his eyebrows slightly and flipped through a few more pages, becoming increasingly certain.
“No doubt about it!”
“Its subtlety is countless levels higher than the 『Iron Bone Technique』... Could this be a body-tempering technique that leads directly to the Gangjin Rank?”
The more Shen Xiuhan read, the more startled he became. He secretly thought that Tian Ping'an was incredibly bold to dare lay his hands on such a thing!
The value of a body-tempering technique was far above that of ordinary cultivation techniques!
It was just like the status of precious armor among precious artifacts.
The ones that could save your life were always the most expensive!
What's more, this was a body-tempering technique that could be cultivated all the way to the Gangjin Rank!
Shen Xiuhan read on with a solemn expression. When he reached the very last page, his expression changed slightly.
Written on the final page in tiny, dense characters was a record of insights and experiences from cultivating this 『Dragon-Elephant Golden Body Art』.
Deep martial foundation shone through between the lines, and every single sentence went straight to the heart of the matter, showing that the author possessed profound cultivation and vast knowledge.
But the insights themselves were not the key.
Rather, it was the person who signed it—
Wang Zhifan!
“My goodness!”
After a brief calculation, Shen Xiuhan understood the crux of the matter, and his gaze turned increasingly peculiar.
“This fellow was truly daring. He actually stole the technique bestowed by the Zhendong General to the Tabai Camp Colonel, along with the Colonel's personal cultivation insights...”
If Tian Ping'an had merely deserted, it would have been one thing.
The Longxiang Army might have pursued him for a while, but once they failed to find him, they would likely have stopped wasting their efforts over time.
But this scoundrel had not only murdered his comrades, he had also stolen Wang Zhifan's handwritten insights.
What was recorded there was not just the secrets to cultivating the technique, but the martial comprehension of a prominent general. If it fell into enemy hands, it would pose an immense threat.
No wonder Wang Lin and Ding Ning had pursued him relentlessly, chasing him all the way from the border to Changyun County, sparing no effort to travel thousands of miles.
“But in that case... never mind the precious artifacts and precious armor, this manual will probably have to be handed over...”
Shen Xiuhan's thoughts spun rapidly.
Among the five camps of the Longxiang Army, the Camp Commander was always held by an officer of the Colonel rank.
A Colonel held a sixth-rank official position in the imperial court, and the minimum cultivation requirement was the Huajin Rank, such as Colonel Zhenyue, Zhao Zheng.
And the strength of the Tabai Camp Colonel should be even higher than Zhao Zheng's!
This was evident from the fact that the Zhendong General had passed down the 『Dragon-Elephant Golden Body Art』 and his cultivation insights to him.
This person... was highly likely a Gangjin Rank powerhouse!
“Gangjin...”
Shen Xiuhan fell into deep thought, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
He didn't know what methods Tian Ping'an had used to find his way to his doorstep.
The Longxiang Army was filled with experts, with countless individuals far stronger than Tian Ping'an.
If someone came knocking on his door, even with his friendship with Wang Lin and Ding Ning, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even if he jumped into Cloudwater Lake.
Secretly keeping a military secret technique was a crime not just anyone could bear.
“So be it...”
Shen Xiuhan pondered for a long while before finally making up his mind.
“I can use this opportunity to do my senior brother and sister a favor. That way, I'll have a reason to keep the other treasures without looking too greedy. As for these three techniques...”
“『Swimming Dragon Step』 is useless to me. However, I can perform a Deduction on the 『Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula』.”
“As for the 『Dragon-Elephant Golden Body Art』, I cannot cultivate it for the time being. I'll make a copy for myself first and hand over the original.”
Shen Xiuhan picked up the scroll of the 『Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula』, closed his eyes, and cleared his mind of all stray thoughts.
“Deduction!”
The familiar golden phantom slowly rippled across the depths of his consciousness.
[...]
【In the fifteenth year, you comprehend the third and final layer of the 『Turtle-Breathing Face-Altering Formula』, cultivating it to Great Perfection. You can alter your physical stature and facial appearance at will. Tall, short, fat, thin, male, female, young, or old—all can be changed in a single thought. Furthermore, you can suppress your cultivation by up to three minor realms. None can see through it unless they are a Xiantian Rank expert or possess an eye-based Divine Ability!】
“Whew...”
Shen Xiuhan slowly opened his eyes and activated the formula without hesitation.
Crack, crack...
Shen Xiuhan's face became like a piece of kneaded clay, beginning to slowly squirm and warp.
Within a few breaths, his handsome face vanished.
In its place was an ordinary, featureless face.
Han Li!
With another thought.
Amid the cracking of his bones, his face transformed once more!
His brows became sharp as swords, the bridge of his nose grew high, and his thin lips pursed slightly, carrying a touch of coldness.
Ji Ning!
“Interesting.”
Shen Xiuhan was filled with playfulness and continued to try with great interest.
After another series of shifting sounds, his face gradually rounded, taking on a more youthful appearance as he transformed into Luo Feng.
After playing around for a moment and changing into several different faces, Shen Xiuhan calmed his mind and silently circulated the technique.
Whoosh...
A strange ripple spread out, and the abundant Anjin force surging within his Guanyuan and Tinggong acupoints seemed to be veiled by a thin layer of gauze, becoming obscure and faint.
Even though these two acupoints had clearly been opened and Anjin force was flowing through them endlessly, they felt as though they had never been cultivated at all...
At first glance, he seemed like an early-stage Anjin expert who had just forced open his Taichong acupoint!
“Excellent!”
Shen Xiuhan's eyes shone brightly.
This way, he wouldn't have to worry about his cultivation progressing too quickly and raising suspicion.
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