His fingers touched the wall.
The wooden boards ahead felt hard but not cold, smooth beneath a coat of lacquer.
Lin Jue widened his eyes, not daring to blink.
It was not entirely to steal the skill; truthfully, magic itself was fascinating, especially to him. For any ordinary person in this world, such an experience would surely hold immense appeal. The vast majority of people would simply never encounter demons or ghosts, and if they did, they would be terrified. Not only would it be difficult to convince a spirit to grant such a request, but they also would not dare entrust their safety to one so easily.
If there were no danger, probably few could refuse the chance to experience passing through a wooden wall.
And Lin Jue had a pair of extraordinary eyes.
In his eyes, he saw only the primary energy flowing within the wall, its structure profound and mysterious. Suddenly, the spiritual luster of this energy bled out to the exterior, and the entire surface instantly turned illusory.
The sensation on his fingers abruptly became peculiar.
It seemed as if the wall had changed, becoming like water or air, allowing passage. Yet, it also felt as if it was his own fingers and arm that had changed, becoming part of the wall.
"..."
Just like that, Lin Jue's fingers passed into the wooden wall.
At the same time, Lin Jue immediately felt that familiar, strange sensation.
The tree demon's force did not stop. It slowly pulled him, from his fingertips to his palm, gradually drawing half of his forearm into the wall.
It felt cold and viscous, incomparably bizarre, and deeply profound.
"If I were to let go right now, this section of your arm would be stuck in the wood. I've heard that some monsters and sorcerers have no other skills but this, relying on such trickery to harm people. Therefore, when you go to other places in the future, do not lightly agree to let anyone pull you into a wall. Not just walls, but water and earth as well. They might not necessarily let you out."
"Thank you for the guidance."
"Slowly pull your hand out."
"Alright!"
Lin Jue slowly withdrew his hand. Only after it was completely free did he let go of the branch.
Flexing his fingers, he looked down at his hand and found nothing amiss. He touched the wall in front of him again; it felt the same as always.
This feeling was truly far too magical.
Wondrous, truly wondrous.
At the same time, Lin Jue was basically certain—
The Ancient Book had already reacted.
"Is there any difference between the Wood Escape practiced by humans and the divine ability you just cast?" Lin Jue couldn't help but ask.
"It is neither great nor small," the tree demon's voice drifted out from the wall. "In the affairs of the world, even within a single category, there may be thousands or tens of thousands of techniques, but there is only one Dao. I heard others say that spirits and monsters originally walked ahead of human cultivators in the Mortal Realm. It was likely human cultivators who saw the abilities of us flora spirits and groped their way toward creating similar spells."
"How do you know so many things?"
"You wouldn't know this, but originally, the spirits around here all secretly worshipped a deity. Even though it's been many years since anyone heard news of that Lady, we still keep in touch with each other."
"Lady?"
"It is not convenient to speak to you too much about the affairs of spirits."
"Of course, of course," Lin Jue nodded. "I was just surprised that, given you cannot easily travel, you know so much."
"If I could travel, I would have understood these matters in a single year. It is precisely because I cannot easily leave that it took me decades just to learn this little bit."
"You are already extremely knowledgeable."
Lin Jue meant it as a compliment, but it was also his sincere thought.
He sat back down on the nearby bed and trimmed the wick of the oil lamp, leaving the flame to flicker.
He continued asking for guidance, "Are there many spirits and monsters around here?"
"Not many, but they exist. There are very few inside the city, though some do mix into the mortal world and live like humans. It is not convenient for me to say exactly who they are. There are more in the wastelands and mountains outside the city. However, because this is not some remote, desolate place, nor has there been any recent war, and we are not far from Qiyun Mountain, even the wild demons and ghosts in the barren hills are rarely overly rampant or cruel."
"From the sound of it, Qiyun Mountain is truly that formidable?"
"Of course. Qiyun Mountain is one of the four great famous Daoist mountains. I don't know the others, nor have I personally been to Qiyun Mountain. I can only guess from the legends, but I suspect it is indeed formidable."
"Some monsters and ghosts I know with high cultivation all fear the name of Qiyun Mountain. Even the City God in the city seems to have some connection to Qiyun Mountain. I've also heard other rumors in the past, saying that some evil-doing spirits fell at the hands of Qiyun Mountain."
Speaking to this point, the tree demon paused.
It informed him, "That boy Yuanzhong called a young man from the Wei Family over. He's sitting by the front gate downstairs right now."
"Hmm?"
Lin Jue thought for a moment and understood.
There must still be wealth or valuable items stored in this house. Although Wei Yuanzhong had left, he couldn't put his mind at ease, so he had called a young man from his family to guard the gate.
"Human nature."
Lin Jue merely said this, not thinking much of it.
"You are quite free-spirited."
"It's only right." Lin Jue didn't care much, continuing his inquiries. "And Mount Yi?"
"Mount Yi? Rumors of Mount Yi are fewer. This is mainly because Qiyun Mountain reveres deities, while Mount Yi cultivates magic arts. Furthermore, Mount Yi is remote; few people go there, and few come out. Even I rarely hear things about Mount Yi."
'Revere deities? Cultivate magic arts?'
Sitting in the upstairs room of the Wei Family, Lin Jue chatted idly with the demon without a hint of fear, asking for guidance and absorbing this world's knowledge about spirits and monsters.
This tree demon clearly understood the curiosity mortals had toward these illusory and magical matters, so it continued to recount what it knew, clearing his doubts and answering whatever he asked. As they chatted, Lin Jue came to a general understanding of why it knew so many things despite being unable to easily leave its home—
Trees fundamentally lacked mouths, yet this one was actually quite talkative.
However, neither Lin Jue nor the tree demon noticed that in the alley outside the house, besides the young Wei Family man sitting and guarding the gate, there was also an Old Daoist quietly standing there, listening to them talk.
The Daoist seemed to blend into the dark night.
Unknowingly, a night passed.
...
Lin Jue returned to the inn and opened the Ancient Book in his room. Sure enough, another page had appeared on it:
Wood Escape Method, one of the Five Elements Escape Methods.
Heaven births the five qi, and the earth bears yin-yang; all can serve as paths. Thus, both yin-yang and the Five Elements possess escape methods, resonating with heaven and earth, and born from the Great Dao. Those who practice them can move freely through all creations in the world. Reaching a profound level, one harmonizes upon casting the spell, becoming one with all things so that nothing can harm them; wandering between metal and stone, or treading through water and fire, all becomes possible.
To learn the Five Elements Escape Method, one must resonate with the Five Elements and harmonize with them. Those who are incompatible cannot practice it, and those whose hearts are filled with distracting thoughts cannot practice it.
'Those who are incompatible cannot practice it?'
'Does it require a special talent?'
'Or is it like the Fire-Spitting Art, where one must perceive the spiritual resonance of fire? Does it mean those who cannot perceive the spiritual resonance of flora, who have disliked vegetation since childhood, simply cannot learn it?'
Lin Jue frowned in speculation and reached out to pinch the page.
Instantly, words rang out in his mind:
"Of the Five Elements Escape Methods, Earth Escape is the most commonly used, and also the most dangerous to practice. Water Escape is second in both commonality and danger, and is considered useful. Wood Escape comes next.
"The Wood Escape Method originated from flora spirits. Cultivation requires an affinity with vegetation, and one must possess a talent for the Five Elements.
"Beginners can pass into living wood, and with further cultivation, they can pass into dead wood. Those at a profound level can pull others into vegetation, and can hide themselves within flora that is thinner, differently shaped, or even smaller than themselves. It is said that those who achieve great mastery can even move through the roots of trees and forests, or through touching branches and leaves; as long as the roots are unbroken and the foliage is not sparse, they can travel a thousand li in a single day, and no wooden instrument in the world can harm them in the slightest.
"If one's talent for the Five Elements is insufficient, they cannot practice it. If they cannot perceive the spiritual resonance of wood, they cannot practice it. Those who frequently and casually fell trees or uproot living grass will find it difficult to cultivate to a profound realm.
"When casting the spell, one must discard distracting thoughts as much as possible. If this is hard to achieve, it will be difficult to cultivate, and one will easily be trapped inside the wood to die.
"..."
Just from listening to the preceding introduction, Lin Jue felt a distinctly profound and elusive flavor.
'And for those who often recklessly chop down trees and pull weeds, it actually seems to become a hindrance to practicing this spell, making it hard to reach great mastery. Could it be because they lack respect for flora in their hearts?'
Listening further, it felt even more profound and ethereal.
Lin Jue seemed to understand, yet did not.
Therefore, for the next few days, he remained in Danxun City.
He had originally planned to leave the next day. Even after being invited by Wei Yuanzhong, his intention had been to sleep for one night and then go. However, he had chatted with that tree demon for nearly the entire night and had learned the Wood Escape Method from it. This was a favor he absolutely could not ignore. And since its cultivation base was still in the hands of the Wei Family, Lin Jue had no choice but to stay in Danxun City, waiting for the Wei Family to obtain the Azure Emperor Talisman from the Temple of the Azure Emperor in Luosu County.
He also happened to be studying the Wood Escape Method.
Whether regarding this spell, or in terms of having an affinity with vegetation and perceiving the spiritual resonance of wood, if he had any doubts, there was no better choice than to seek guidance from a tree.
He suspected that even the accomplishments and insights of mighty cultivators in this area could not compare to it.
Five days later, on a barren mountain outside the city.
The Wei Family had already followed the tree demon's instructions. All the male members of the family had turned out, digging up the tree stump along with the root ball and soil beneath it. They then hired an ox cart and expended a great deal of effort to finally transport it up the mountain.
Digging a pit, transplanting, burying it with soil, and watering it.
Everything was done with the utmost care.
Lin Jue also lent a hand, then stood to the side and watched carefully.
If it was just this—a section of stump without a single branch or leaf left—it likely would not survive. The rest would depend on divine assistance.
Which was the so-called Azure Emperor Talisman.
The Azure Emperor did not have many temples or statues in the mortal world. It was said that many years ago in Luosu County, one of the few statues of the old gentleman in the world had gathered dust. At that time, a destitute man was wandering in the wilderness and got soaked by the rain. He suddenly saw the statue, half-washed by the rainwater and half-buried in thin mud. Feeling that its fate was similar to his own, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Thus, he dug it out, cleaned it up, and placed it in a nearby temple.
This action might have touched the Azure Emperor, or perhaps the Azure Emperor already had the thought of manifesting his spirit again to gather incense. Thus, he granted the man a divine Talisman in a dream, taught him how to draw Talismans, and let the man serve as his temple warden.
Relying on this divine Talisman, by setting up a ritual altar and drawing Talisman papers, one could borrow the Azure Emperor's divine power.
It was said that this temple warden gradually developed a greedy disposition. Whenever someone came to seek a Talisman, he would charge several taels of silver. It was unknown whether the Wei Family was afraid of the tree demon's revenge, truly repentant, or afraid that their unfilial behavior would become known to the world and they would suffer punishment after death. In short, their sincerity in making amends was quite sufficient, and they actually managed to procure a Talisman from the temple warden's hands.
At this moment, Lin Jue only watched as they brought over a bowl, burned the Talisman paper, muttered words of prayer, and placed the Talisman into the water.
"Bubble, bubble..."
As if harmonizing with something, it triggered some magical reaction. When the Talisman paper entered the water, it surprisingly did not extinguish, but instead continued to burn into ash.
The Wei Family members poured the water onto the tree stump.
Lin Jue seemed to sense something and turned to look into the distance.
"Whoosh..."
On a hot and quiet summer day, a gentle breeze suddenly blew in from an unknown source. It was as cool as a spring day, lifting everyone's hair and robes, and eliciting a wave of marvel from the Wei Family.
Looking back again—
At some unknown point, a small bud had appeared on the edge of the stump. The bud grew rapidly, sprouting a branch nearly a chi long and as thin as a grass stem. Blown by the wind, it trembled and unfurled a few tender leaves.
Lin Jue couldn't help but widen his eyes.
'There really is an Azure Emperor and divine power.'
'It's actually so magical.'
'Sure enough, one must step out into the world to gain such experience.'
"Whoosh..."
The tender leaves were still trembling in the wind.
Lin Jue walked forward.
"Looking at it now, Senior is already free from worry. Thank you, Senior, for answering this junior's questions and clearing my doubts these past few days." Lin Jue bowed deeply, offering a salute. "Now, we shall part ways here."
"..."
As he straightened his back, a few pieces of Peach Gum had appeared on the tree stump.
There was a faint voice that could not be heard clearly, seeming to tell him to take them away.