Chapter 601: Water Prison Technique

After Ink Painting left his name, he waited expectantly. Finally, after the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, the Tai Xu Order vibrated slightly.

Ink Painting's application was accepted.

One hundred merit points!

Ink Painting was extremely happy.

After that, he began to prepare for the "mix" bounty matter.

He brought some spirit stones, some spirit ink, and his "conceal" small cloak. Although the Qian Jun Bang wasn't of much use, it had been with him for so long that he brought it along for now.

Furthermore, in the Dian Cang Prefecture, there seemed to be a Dian Cang Mountain...

He didn't know what poisonous gas or miasma was in the mountain, so detoxifying pills and miasma-dispelling pills were also needed, and they had to be second-grade ones.

Ink Painting prepared all the other miscellaneous items as well.

The last problem was preparing some means of subduing the enemy.

Ink Painting pondered silently...

A mid-Foundation Establishment stage task, pursuing a rogue cultivator, that rogue cultivator should also be at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation.

If their cultivation was higher than his, the power of his fireball technique would likely be greatly diminished.

As for formation techniques...

The second-grade Di Huo Zhen was a thirteen-pattern, initial-rank second-grade formation. Its killing power against a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator would likely be somewhat insufficient.

"I'm still lacking some attacking methods..."

Ink Painting sighed and said.

However, he was only at the initial Foundation Establishment stage. Not being able to defeat a mid-Foundation Establishment stage cultivator seemed normal.

Moreover, the requirement for this bounty was a formation master "proficient in formations."

It was clear that he didn't need to kill them himself.

He just needed to rely on his formation ability and "mix in"...

But, it was better to do more preparation.

In case he encountered a strong enemy, it would be best if he could also help a bit.

"It's currently the third day of the month. There are still six days until the ninth day..."

Ink Painting thought and said, "Six days' time is barely enough for me to learn one technique..."

"This technique doesn't need to be for killing..."

"Because my spirit power is weak, except for the fireball technique, I probably can't learn other powerful techniques. Even if I did, their power would be very low..."

"Then I'll learn a control technique..."

A control technique...

Ink Painting's eyes lit up, "Second-grade Shui Lao Technique!"

The Shui Lao Technique was still very useful.

Especially when used to trap enemies, interrupt attacks, and restrain those cultivators with extremely good movement techniques, it was basically a sure thing.

However, before, he only had the first-grade Shui Lao Technique manual, which he used more often during the Qi Refining stage.

After advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage, the effect of this technique was greatly reduced, and he used it less.

But he couldn't find a second-grade technique manual.

This was the predicament of a rogue cultivator with weak inheritance.

Ink Painting had no other way.

But now, after entering the Tai Xu Sect, it was different.

The Tai Xu Sect had a long inheritance and deep foundation, collecting many Dao methods from around the world.

There should be a second-grade Shui Lao Technique in the Merit Record.

Ink Painting felt a little happy in his heart, and his divine sense immediately sank into the Tai Xu Order. He flipped through the Merit Record again and again. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he indeed found the method for the Shui Lao Technique!

Moreover, it was a complete set!

The complete Shui Lao Technique Dao method manual from first-grade to fourth-grade!

Below, there were even some notes:

"Shui Lao Technique, a rare technique.

Once the absolute art of the Shui Lao Sect, it was generally not transmitted outside.

In the winter of Dao Calendar 10980, the entire Shui Lao Sect fell into demonic ways and was suppressed by the Dao Court. After its destruction, the Shui Lao Technique flowed out and spread throughout the world, but many of the methods were incomplete...

In Dao Calendar 10990, this technique was compiled into a book by True Person Yi and collected in the Tai Xu Sect..."

Behind it, there was another sentence of comment:

"The function of the Shui Lao Technique is obscure, easy to learn but hard to master, choose carefully."

After Ink Painting read it, he was somewhat astonished.

This Shui Lao Technique unexpectedly had some origin.

Shui Lao Sect, what sect was that?

How did the entire sect fall into demonic ways?

And who was this True Person Yi...

Ink Painting thought for a bit, but didn't pay too much attention.

The cultivation world was so vast, and there were so many sects and cultivators with origins, where would he have the time to investigate them one by one.

It was fine as long as he could learn it.

Ink Painting looked at the Merit Record and discovered that the complete Shui Lao Technique, from first-grade to fourth-grade, would cost over ten thousand merit points in total...

Ink Painting took a deep breath.

Too expensive!!

He couldn't afford it even if he sold himself.

Ink Painting looked closely again, and then discovered that this technique could be purchased separately.

The first-grade to second-grade only cost two hundred sixty merit points.

The higher grades were expensive. The third-grade cost over two thousand, and the fourth-grade cost over eight thousand.

Ink Painting let out a breath, "Fortunately, I only need to buy the second-grade one..."

But then he thought, two hundred sixty merit points for the second-grade was not cheap at all...

He currently only had two hundred seventy-eight merit points in total.

This was after he had worked hard, taken so many bounties, drawn nearly a hundred formations, and saved for so long to save it up.

Ink Painting was a little conflicted, flipping it over and over in his heart, comparing for a long time, and then painfully decided.

Merit points were meant to be used!

If he didn't spend them, what did he earn them for?

It was just the cost of one or two sixteen-pattern formations.

If he thoroughly learned this Shui Lao Technique and practiced it proficiently, he could benefit throughout his entire Foundation Establishment stage!

"Buy it!"

Ink Painting grit his teeth and decided.

Then he drew a small hand, and his hard-earned merit points "swished" away.

Ink Painting's heart ached to the point of not being able to breathe.

But thinking that he had a new technique to learn, he felt a little better.

Without delay, Ink Painting immediately ran to the Merit Pavilion to exchange for the book "Second-grade Shui Lao Technique" that he had just bought.

The one who received Ink Painting was still that Merit Elder. He looked at the "Shui Lao Technique" manual and said somewhat surprised:

"Didn't you say you wanted to save merit points to learn formations? How did you save for so long and exchange for a technique manual?"

"Moreover... it's still this strange Shui Lao Technique?"

Ink Painting said, "Sharpening the knife doesn't delay chopping wood! I'm learning techniques so I can 'mix in' tasks better and earn more merit points! Then I'll go exchange for more formations!"

"Mix in tasks?" The Merit Elder was stunned.

Ink Painting said guiltily, "I said it wrong, it's 'take' tasks."

The Merit Elder shook his head, a little confused.

"This little kid, how strange..."

"Learning this tricky technique... what exactly does he want to do?"

But since Ink Painting wanted to exchange it, he couldn't say anything. Originally, this also conformed to the rules of the Tai Xu Sect. As long as you had merit points, you could exchange for whatever you wanted. He couldn't interfere either.

The Merit Elder handed the second-grade Shui Lao Technique manual to Ink Painting.

Ink Painting took the manual and ran away with raised eyebrows and a smiling face, leaving the Merit Elder with a thoughtful expression.

Ink Painting returned to the disciple residence and impatiently opened the "Shui Lao Technique Manual".

This manual was a second-grade one.

But because all Tai Xu Sect disciples started their schooling from the Foundation Establishment realm, the second-grade manual also "included" the first-grade method inside.

"Buy one get one free..."

Ink Painting nodded, feeling like he hadn't lost anything.

In order to earn more, Ink Painting flipped through the first-grade Shui Lao Technique again from beginning to end. He was then surprised to discover that this first-grade Shui Lao Technique was actually very different from the one he had obtained...

The method was more complete, the key points were more complex, and the circulation of spirit power between the meridians was also more difficult.

Ink Painting recalled the origin of the Shui Lao Technique on the Merit Record and suddenly understood in his heart.

His previous first-grade Shui Lao Technique manual, obtained from a rogue cultivator in Da Hei Shan, was an incomplete inheritance that flowed out after the destruction of the Shui Lao Sect.

While the one collected by the Tai Xu Sect was the method organized by that True Person Yi. This was the complete, orthodox Shui Lao Technique inheritance.

"This True Person Yi might truly be a great good person!"

Ink Painting also stuck a "good person" label on True Person Yi.

Then Ink Painting began to review and fill in the gaps, reshaping his own first-grade Shui Lao Technique, and at the same time, on this basis, studying and continuously practicing the orthodox second-grade Shui Lao Technique.

The orthodox Shui Lao Technique emphasized condensing form with "water" and drawing the ground as a prison.

Ink Painting's previous Shui Lao Technique could only simply "bind".

But the orthodox Shui Lao Technique was more like a kind of "shackle".

Even water-attribute spirit power would erode the meridians and cause pain.

Its killing power wasn't great, but it would make people feel a kind of "suffocation" discomfort.

As if it were a true "water prison".

Whether it was "imprisoning" or "suffocating", the technique's effect was a level higher than before.

Because Ink Painting was extremely proficient in the first-grade Shui Lao Technique, optimizing the technique on this basis and upgrading its grade was just half the effort with twice the result.

While the Shui Lao Technique was indeed obscure and very difficult to cultivate.

But Ink Painting's divine sense was powerful and keen, so learning it was not very strenuous.

After five or six days, Ink Painting's second-grade Shui Lao Technique began to take shape.

He tried the effect and felt quite satisfied.

It was valuable for people to have self-awareness.

One's own positioning should be clear.

Since killing was not his strength, then learning some Shui Lao Technique to annoy people was also good.

It could also be counted as contributing to completing the task!

When the ninth day arrived, Ink Painting packed his things and set off to a certain foot of Tai Xu Mountain to meet up with his several "teammates".

The Tai Xu Sect had ten days of rest, two days of holiday every ten days.

The rest days every month were the ninth and tenth days.

During these two days, disciples could arrange their time freely. As long as they didn't do evil, it was fine. The sect didn't impose restrictions.

Before the ten days of rest, Ink Painting had been nesting alone in the disciple residence practicing formations.

This was his first time going out.

Ink Painting wore his Tai Xu Sect Daoist robe and left the Tai Xu Sect. According to the agreed time and place, he arrived at the foot of a certain mountain in the southwest direction.

Next to the mountain foot, there was a large stone, which was very conspicuous.

When Ink Painting arrived at the mountain foot, he saw that under the large stone, there were already two cultivators, and both were female.

One was wearing the Tai Xu Sect's Daoist robe, with a tall and slender figure and a gentle and beautiful appearance.

The other was wearing a gold and pink brocade-clustered embroidered Daoist robe. Her clothes were luxurious, her appearance was pretty, and she looked like she wasn't from the Tai Xu Sect.

Both were at the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation and were a bit older than Ink Painting.

Ink Painting then greeted them and said, "Senior Sisters, good."

The two females were somewhat surprised, but seeing Ink Painting's painted eyebrows and eyes, white skin, and clear gaze, and that he was wearing the deep white interwoven Tai Xu Sect Daoist robe, they all smiled slightly and said:

"Little Junior Brother, good."

However, since they were relatively strangers, they didn't say anything more.

Ink Painting just waited obediently to the side.

The two Senior Sisters looked at Ink Painting in surprise, thinking he was waiting for someone, so they didn't say anything more and also waited silently.

After a while, another cultivator came.

It was a male, wearing a gold and red Daoist robe embroidered with mountain patterns. His aura was thick, and he was tall and handsome.

He walked directly over, with a gentle temperament, and greeted them:

"Two Junior Sisters, good."

The two female cultivators also said, "Senior Brother Feng, good."

The male looked around and then asked, "Have the people come?"

The gentle female wearing the Tai Xu Sect Daoist robe frowned slightly, "We said to gather here, but we haven't seen anyone yet..."

"They shouldn't break the appointment, right."

"Taking the task means establishing a spirit contract, they shouldn't..."

"How are that person's formations?"

"It's not clear yet, but they are at least a first-grade formation master. I saw them take many first-grade formation bounties, so I thought even if they weren't second-grade formations, they should be very proficient in first-grade formations..."

"Only first-grade, I'm afraid that's not enough..." the pretty female said.

The gentle female sighed and said:

"Formation masters generally only take formation tasks. This kind of task that requires going out, pursuing rogue cultivators, and is a bit dangerous, they usually don't take..."

"I waited several days, and only one first-grade formation master was willing to take the task."

"Moreover, we don't have many merit points to divide..."

The male was helpless, "Indeed, only a little over one hundred points..."

These few merit points, a second-grade formation master could earn by drawing a few formations. There was no need to go out, no need to rush around, and even less need to take risks...

"I just don't know if this person is reliable..."

"First-grade... probably hard to rely on..."

"Let's just make do, it's come to this, there's no other choice..."

"Then let's wait," the male wearing the gold and red Daoist robe sighed and said, then raised his head and looked at the sky, and said again:

"It's getting late, I don't know when that formation master will come..."

"I'm here!"

A clear voice suddenly rang out.

The three people were all stunned and turned their heads to look to the side, only to see a small cultivator with a stern face, saying unhappily:

"I came early!"

And I still heard you talking bad about me behind my back!

The three people all had astonished expressions. That gentle female said in surprise, "You, you are..."

Ink Painting said, "I am Ink Painting!"

The male was slightly stunned, "Ink Painting?"

The gentle female smiled bitterly and said, "That's the name of the formation master who took the task, but I didn't think..."

She didn't think it would be such a small Junior Brother.

Early Foundation Establishment stage, low cultivation, and a childish face. It looked like he had just entered not long ago...

The male's voice was gentle, and he asked:

"Little Brother, you are... just entered?"

Ink Painting nodded.

The male was a little surprised, and then asked the gentle female, "Did your Tai Xu Sect change the rules? Just entering can also take tasks?"

The gentle female said in confusion, "I haven't heard of any changes..."

"Then he..."

The three people all looked at Ink Painting.

Ink Painting said, "It was Elder Xun who told me to take the task."

Ink Painting brought out "Elder Xun" again.

But he didn't say that Elder Xun told him to take those entry-level tasks like "sweeping steps, looking at the mountain gate, drawing formations," and not to "mix in" with relatively dangerous tasks like "pursuing rogue cultivators."

"Elder Xun?"

The male was a little surprised, while the gentle female, who was originally from the Tai Xu Sect, suddenly understood.

"It's Elder Xun, unexpectedly..."

No wonder...

If Elder Xun was willing to help this little Junior Brother get in through the back door and obtain permission from the Tai Xu Order in advance, it meant that this child's background was definitely not simple.

At least, his relationship with Elder Xun was deep.

This matter was then not good to ask deeply.

But...

The gentle female was a little troubled.

Such a small Junior Brother, with low cultivation, thin foundation, and shallow experience, even if he knew a bit about formations... how could he be brought to do this kind of dangerous task?

Moreover, did he really know formations?

The gentle female then slowly asked, "Junior Brother, you... know formations?"

Ink Painting saw that they seemed unwilling to take him "playing," and knew that he had to rely on himself to display some skill and strive for an opportunity. He then corrected them and said:

"Not 'know', but 'skilled'!"

The other three people were all stunned.

How big of a cultivator did he have to be to dare say he was "skilled" in formations...

Ink Painting said, "If you don't believe me, why don't you test me?"

It would be best to test him with the kind of very difficult formations that he hadn't learned.

The male in the gold and red Daoist robe thought for a bit, nodded, "Okay, I'll test you a little."

"Mm-hmm."

Ink Painting was full of expectation, but then he was disappointed.

The gold and red Daoist robe male only tested him on some extremely simple first-grade formation knowledge, which was easy for Ink Painting. Occasionally, it involved second-grade formations, but only superficially. It fundamentally didn't show how powerful he was, nor did he "hitch a ride" to learn new formations.

Ink Painting answered the male's question effortlessly. Seeing that the male didn't speak, he asked again:

"Is there anything more difficult?"

"Or, you can find a very, very difficult formation to test me?"

The male was a little stunned, and said helplessly:

"I can only test you on these..."

He primarily cultivated sword arts. Formations were not his strong suit. He usually only learned some to cope with sect assessments and didn't spend too much effort on them.

But Ink Painting could pass his test, at least explaining that his formation foundation was relatively solid.

And they did need a formation master for this trip.

The male said, "Okay then, I'll take you to give it a try."

Ink Painting was happy in his heart, but before he could say anything, he heard that gentle-looking Senior Sister shake her head and say:

"No!"

Ink Painting was stunned.

"It's too dangerous," the gentle Senior Sister said to Ink Painting, "Although with our cultivation, pursuing this rogue cultivator is not too troublesome, the cultivation world is unpredictable, and variables are inevitable. If an accident occurs, we may not be able to protect you."

She softened her tone and advised Ink Painting:

"Junior Brother, listen to Senior Sister's words, go back to the sect and cultivate well. Wait until you're bigger, then go carry out these dangerous tasks..."

This Senior Sister was also a good person.

Ink Painting said silently in his heart.

But he definitely wanted to "mix in" with this task!

He had already spent over two hundred merit points to exchange for the method of the second-grade Shui Lao Technique. If he didn't get some "blood" back, he would really lose big!

This trip was only allowed to succeed, not fail!

Ink Painting thought for a bit, his eyes slightly brightened, and he said:

"If I don't go, won't you be short of a formation master?"

"I'll find others..." the gentle female said.

"Senior Sister, you just said no one took the task, I heard it all!"

The gentle female choked up.

"Don't worry," Ink Painting said, "I have a concealment technique and can protect myself."

"Concealment..."

The gentle female thought for a bit, still not completely at ease, her heart hesitating.

Just at this moment, another male walked over from afar, with an apologetic expression, "Sorry, I'm late..."

Then he greeted everyone one by one:

"Senior Brother Feng, Junior Sister Qian, Senior Sister Murong..."

Finally, he looked at Ink Painting, was stunned for a moment, and opened his mouth wide, "Ink Painting? Why are you here too?"

Ink Painting was also surprised.

Unexpectedly, there was an acquaintance in this team of five!

This person was exactly the Senior Brother who brought him into the mountain gate, Shangguan Xu.

At this moment, he didn't care why Shangguan Xu was here by such a coincidence, and hurriedly said, "Senior Brother Xu, take me along!"

After he finished speaking, he quickly gave Shangguan Xu a wink, meaning:

Help me say some good words, let them take me to play together!

Shangguan Xu smiled bitterly, "This... what's going on?"

The gentle female told them the matter, and said in surprise, "You know him?"

Shangguan Xu nodded, "Junior Brother Mo... has some connection with my Shangguan family."

He didn't say it too clearly. It wasn't good to tell outsiders about Young Master Yu's matter.

But subsequently, Shangguan Xu was also extremely troubled.

If he brought this little Junior Brother Ink Painting along, it would be a bit dangerous. If he didn't bring him, it would disappoint his aunt's instructions.

Finally, he could only say:

"Junior Brother Mo... acts appropriately, and is also clever. Senior Sister Murong, why don't you just take him along..."

The gentle female frowned and thought. Seeing that it was already late, if they delayed any longer, they were afraid they wouldn't have enough time. Finally, she sighed and said:

"Okay then, but you must be extremely careful. Junior Brother Shangguan, take good care of Junior Brother Mo..."

Shangguan Xu nodded.

Ink Painting then guaranteed, "Don't worry, my formations are very powerful, I won't drag you down!"

The gentle female was a little helpless.

Formations are very powerful?

How powerful could a small cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage, who had just entered, be...

However, this task originally didn't require too profound formations.

The gentle female nodded and said, "Let's set off."

Ink Painting nodded repeatedly.

So two Senior Brothers, two Senior Sisters, took him, a small follower, and set off from Tai Xu Mountain. They headed towards Qingzhou City and went to the second-grade Dian Cang Prefecture.

Along the way, Ink Painting indirectly learned the identities of several people.

The tall and handsome, gentle-looking Senior Brother wearing the gold and red Daoist robe was a disciple of the Tai E Sect, named Ouyang Feng.

The gentle female wearing the Tai Xu Sect Daoist robe was named Murong Caiyun, a Senior Sister of the Tai Xu Sect.

The female wearing the gold and pink brocade-clustered embroidered Daoist robe was named Hua Qianqian, a Senior Sister of the Bai Hua Sect.

The Bai Hua Sect was one of the twelve sects in the Qian Xue Prefecture. All the disciples in the sect were female cultivators, and their inheritance consisted of cultivation methods and Dao methods for female cultivators.

The ages of several people were all seven or eight years older than Ink Painting. Although they didn't all belong to the same sect, in the Qian Xue Prefecture, disciples from different sects exchanged frequently, so they all politely called each other "Senior Brother" or "Senior Sister".

As for why disciples from other sects participated in the Tai Xu Sect's task.

Ink Painting also asked.

The bounty for wanted rogue cultivators was generally released by the Dao Court Division. It was not only sent to the Tai Xu Sect, but also to some nearby sects.

After completing the task, the reward was given to the sect by the Dao Court Division.

The sect converted it into merit points and gave them to the disciples.

Along the way, Ink Painting secretly sized up the several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters and discovered that their cultivation was all very deep, their cultivation methods were necessarily of high quality, and they were experienced. They were obviously all "bounty" veterans.

Ink Painting nodded and secretly made up his mind that in this task, he must let them see his "power".

After they saw his power, they would bring him to "play" together in the future!

He could "mix in" with more tasks and earn more merit points!

To "mix in" with tasks, you had to "network".

Not only in the Tai Xu Sect, but also with Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters from the other eight great sects, twelve flows, and the hundred sects of Qianzhou.

Even to build a large formation, many cultivators were needed to help build it.

In this era, having connections made things easier.

As for the "four great sects"... he wouldn't think about that for now.

He probably couldn't climb up there.

The ten-day rest days for various sects were the same, both two days.

Time was a bit tight this time, so the group had to rush day and night and use their movement techniques. Even so, it took more than ten hours to reach the second-grade Dian Cang Prefecture.

Dian Cang Prefecture was a small prefecture in Qianzhou.

In the center of the prefecture was Dian Cang Mountain.

The rogue cultivator they wanted to apprehend was also hiding in Dian Cang Mountain.

Ink Painting asked and learned that this rogue cultivator's real name was unknown. His wanted nickname was "Diao Ying". He was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation, had good movement techniques, and decent formation attainments.

Diao Ying had committed numerous evil deeds and had a case file in the Dao Court Division.

He had forcibly dual cultivated with female disciples, killed people, and was also a human trafficker, selling young cultivators as "food" for demonic cultivators.

The Dao Court Division's order was:

If they could capture him, they should capture him and send him to the Dao Prison to be slowly tortured with formations.

If he was not easy to capture, execute him on the spot!

Thanks to Yu Zhan for the reward for cultivating together as immortals.

(End of this chapter)