Chapter 1533: Chapter 819: Water Prison Skill (2)

This inheritance, or rather the Taoist inheritance of the Taixu Gate, is obstructed at every turn, making it extremely difficult to pass down. So much so that the Taixu Gate, originally known for its “Sword Intent” and sharpness, has now become a sluggish ‘straggler’.

Yu Canghai, after commenting on the Taixu Gate, pondered:

“So, the Taixu Gate, you have the most orthodox inheritance from the Ancient Sect. The difficulty in transmitting it lies in its nature. You only need to focus on teaching your disciples, while we, in the Water Prison Sect, have too much to consider.”

Mo Hua: “…”

“What do you have to consider?” Mo Hua asked.

Yu Canghai sighed: “In our Water Prison Sect, our entire heritage is related to the Taoist Court, accustomed to scheming and intrigue, so we must guard against others as well as ourselves.”

“Even the founding ancestor of our Water Prison Sect, who established the Taoist inheritance, was a deeply calculating and scheming ancestor.”

“The ancestor didn’t trust anyone, not even his own clan or children, let alone the sect disciples.”

“So he established grades for the spells within the sect, with strict hierarchy.”

“The direct lineage learns the superior, the Inner Gate learns the intermediate, and the Outer Gate learns the inferior.”

“The inferior cultivation techniques are naturally restrained by the superior ones.”

“Inferior spells are naturally ineffective against superior spells.”

Mo Hua frowned, puzzled: “Even with such obvious ‘discrimination’ in inheritance, do disciples still wish to join your Water Prison Sect to learn?”

“Naturally,” Yu Canghai said, “human nature is like this: without benefit, they talk about self-respect and dignity. Once benefits are attainable, they will cast self-respect and dignity aside.”

“A mere discrimination in inheritance, what does it count for?”

“Moreover, in the realm of water system skills and Taoist skill inheritance, our Water Prison Sect is foremost within the Qianxue State boundary.”

“Even if it’s divided into levels, those inferior spells still perform powerfully against other cultivators.”

Mo Hua nodded.

The Water Prison Technique he learned was indeed like this.

So far, it has only been ineffective against the Water Yama and Elder Yu, but it’s very effective on other cultivators, almost hitting one with each bind.

“Such a powerful Water Prison Technique is only an inferior spell of the Water Prison Sect?” Mo Hua felt a bit sentimental.

Yu Canghai hesitated for a moment and said, “Actually, it’s not exactly.”

“Not exactly?”

Yu Canghai said, “Even the Water Prison Technique is graded into ‘levels’.”

Mo Hua was confused, “Levels? How come I didn’t know?”

Yu Canghai sighed, “You’re not a disciple of our Water Prison Sect, so you’ve only received some inheritance on paper, which is just a rough understanding.”

“The subtleties of spells lie in their application. Many internal intricacies are passed down orally and are not documented.”

Mo Hua was somewhat shocked, “The Water Prison Technique has other intricacies?”

Despite learning and using it for so long, he had not discovered any of them.

Yu Canghai didn’t want to say, but seeing Mo Hua’s eager eyes, and considering that he owed his life to Mo Hua, he felt he had to repay him in some way.

Moreover, these little intricacies on the Water Prison Technique shouldn’t have much impact if shared.

Even if mentioned, it’s unlikely that he could learn them.

Yu Canghai said, “When you perform the Water Prison Technique, you must have noticed the spell pattern condenses several water series spiritual power chains, right?”

Mo Hua nodded.

“How many?” Yu Canghai asked.

Mo Hua recalled, “It seems to be three.”

Yu Canghai said, “These spiritual locks form what is known as the grades.”

“Each spiritual lock is a small threshold. Every time you cross a small threshold, the consumption of spiritual power increases, but the ‘binding’ effect of the Water Prison Technique also becomes stronger.”

“And every three spiritual locks form a major threshold. Crossing a major threshold causes a quality change in the Water Prison Technique and elevates it by a level.”

“Three spiritual locks are just entry-level, six represent a moderate mastery, and nine signify great mastery.”

“With three spiritual locks, the Water Prison Technique can hardly restrain any disciple who has practiced the Water Prison Sect’s cultivation techniques.”

“Six spiritual locks are a notch higher, showing a clear restraining effect on some Outer Disciples.”

“A Water Prison Technique cultivated to the ultimate, with nine spiritual locks, poses a notable threat even to Inner Gate cultivators or less skilled direct lineage members of the Water Prison Sect.”

Mo Hua was amazed, “There are that many subtleties?”

“Indeed,” Yu Canghai replied with emotion, “the inheritance in the Cultivation World is inherently complex, and these matters are never recorded in the Secret Manual but are passed from person to person. Only those who are truly proficient in such spells understand the intricacies.”

“Oh…” Mo Hua nodded.

The Cultivation World has a long-standing heritage, and it seems that not just formations but also the inheritance of Taoist skills is far more complicated than he imagined.

Indeed, as long as one keeps learning, one will always discover something new.

“Then how are the three, six, nine spiritual locks in the Water Prison Technique cultivated?” Mo Hua asked.

“This…” Yu Canghai hesitated a bit.

“Can’t you tell?”

“It involves specific inheritance, and I can only briefly explain,” Yu Canghai sighed and then said, “When performing the Water Prison Technique, spiritual power is mobilized from the Qi Sea, merging into the forearm, flowing through acupoints such as the Chi Ze, Wai Guan, and the right palm–Fen Bai, Ling Gu, Zhong Bai, Zhong Zhu…Finally condensing into a skill pattern, flowing out from the Shang Yang acupoint at the forefinger, forming the spell.”

“These acupoints are the key.”

“Spiritual power travels through these acupoints to form a small circulation. Within the few breaths during which the skill pattern is formed, each additional pass through the circulation generates an extra spiritual lock.”

“It sounds simple, but performing it is extremely complicated, requiring years of practice. Not only must it be fast, but also precise, ensuring the spiritual power doesn’t become chaotic to…”