After the golden halo faded, Wang Ping finally got a look at his surroundings—he was in a storeroom.
Inside the storeroom, the lamplight was faint.
Ten lifelike bronze statues stood in an open space, and Wang Ping was standing among them, like a husky in a wolf pack.
’This is not good.’
Wang Ping quickly reviewed the memories that came with his transmigration, and his heart grew heavier. His current situation was hardly any better than his time in the Da Shun Dynasty.
Strictly speaking, it was even worse.
This was because in the Immortal Sect, Warriors were not permitted to have consciousness. They only possessed necessary knowledge, and all their actions followed predetermined instructions.
’In other words, a Warrior is just a humanoid, inanimate object. My current state, possessing an independent personality and the ability to think, is definitely a problem. If I’m discovered, it’ll be a complete disaster. I absolutely cannot let myself be exposed before the Outer Heaven Demon recovers.’
This was, in fact, incredibly difficult.
The greatest difference between a person and an inanimate object is the ability to think. Once you can think and have emotions, many of your reactions can’t be suppressed at will.
’I have to find a way.’
Wang Ping clenched his jaw and delved deeper into the Warrior-related memories in his mind, trying to find any useful information.
As it turned out, the Immortal Sect truly lived up to its name.
’There is something!’
Even the lowest-level Warriors weren’t just rigid, lifeless puppets. Within the Warrior’s memories, Wang Ping actually found a complete form of Magic!
The Magic was called Qi Suppression.
By cultivating with this technique, one could refine a strange power called True Qi, which had the ability to stop bleeding, regenerate flesh, mend bones, knit sinews, and make one impervious to blades and spears.
At this thought, Wang Ping felt an unbearable itch of excitement.
If his environment weren’t so restrictive, and if he didn’t have to keep a low profile, he would have practiced Qi Suppression a few times to enjoy the sensation of casting Magic.
After all, practicing Magic required real application; mental simulations were useless.
However, Wang Ping was in no rush.
’It’s fine. I’m a cultivation tool now, and it looks like someone has already ordered me. When the time comes, I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to practice Magic.’
With that thought, Wang Ping settled in to wait patiently.
An unknown amount of time passed. He was only roused from his study of Qi Suppression when a loud noise suddenly echoed from outside the storeroom.
"CLANG!"
It was the sound of the great door opening.
Immediately after, a blinding light flooded Wang Ping’s vision, revealing the scene outside the storeroom. It was a simple, classical Daoist Temple.
The Daoist Temple seemed to be nestled deep in an old mountain forest. The morning sun blazed overhead, while a lush, magical wilderness stretched out below. The air was filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Auspicious clouds drifted by, and streams of light flowed across the ground. At the entrance to the storeroom, Wang Ping saw three figures standing opposite one another—one on the left, two on the right.
"Senior Sister You, these are the ten Warriors you requested."
Of the two on the right, one was short and stout with a round face, revealing sharp teeth when he smiled. The other was tall and gaunt, cursed with a long, horse-like face.
In contrast was the third person standing opposite them.
She was a Daoist Nun in a blue-and-white Daoist Robe. With her waist-length hair, she looked like a Fairy who might ride away on the wind at any moment.
"Thank you, my two Junior Brothers."
Her vermilion lips parted, and her voice came out, crisp and pleasant to the ear. It instantly diminished her transcendent aura, adding a touch of the Red Dust.
Wang Ping did not consider himself a lustful person. Yet, the moment he saw this Daoist Nun, an inexplicable desire welled up from the bottom of his heart. Almost instinctively, his mind conjured up a violent image: knocking her from her pedestal, pinning her to the ground, and tearing away that transcendent aura.
’...Something’s wrong!’
The moment he had that thought, Wang Ping realized something was wrong. He focused his mind on the Warrior’s memories, and all the profane thoughts subsided, vanishing into nothing.
Almost simultaneously,
"Hm?"
The Daoist Nun, who had been speaking with the two delivery disciples, suddenly frowned. She turned, her gaze locking onto the storeroom.
Fortunately, there were ten Warriors in total inside the storeroom.
At that moment, Wang Ping could clearly feel the "weight" of the Daoist Nun’s gaze, as if soft little hands were caressing his body, stimulating his senses.
In response, Wang Ping could only focus with all his might on the Warrior’s memories, reading their contents and forcing himself not to think of anything else.
"Senior Sister You?"
Seeing Daoist You staring intently at the storeroom, the short, stout Immortal Sect Disciple asked curiously, "What is it? Is this batch of Warriors not to your liking?"
"...Junior Brother, you misunderstand."
Daoist You shook her head and replied faintly, "The quality of these Warriors is quite good. They are more than sufficient for cultivating the True Art of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd."
Hearing this, Wang Ping’s heart skipped a beat.
The True Art of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd. His memories as a Warrior also contained this Cultivation Technique, as it was one of a Warrior’s intended uses.
Under the rule of the Immortal Sect, there were millions of different Magic Gates, but without exception, all of them were derived from the ’Three Paths, Eight Techniques, and Seventy-Two Arts.’ Of these, the Seventy-Two Arts were unrestricted and could be learned by anyone. However, only True Disciples were qualified to view the Three Paths and Eight Techniques.
’And the True Art of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd is one of the Eight Techniques.’
Wang Ping knew this because this Cultivation Technique required a Warrior to act as a "Whetstone," and its cultivation demanded the Warrior’s active cooperation.
’It’s a bit like dual cultivation.’