Journey to the West: Reincarnation as a Woman in the Cleansing Spring (Limited Time)

Chapter 16 Photographic Techniques

Seeing the Yangquan Taoist's avatar dissipate, leaving only a blue-gold mark floating in the air, Tiegu subconsciously looked at his wife.

Teng San Niang kept her eyes down, seemingly oblivious to Tie Gu's gaze, kneeling motionless.

Iron Bones understood immediately, rubbed his pig nose with a huff, and waited quietly for something.

After about three or four breaths, the cleansing spring water suddenly began to surge and churn.

The spring water seems to be drawn by an invisible force, slowly swirling around the springhead in a counter-clockwise direction.

The water flowed in layers, swirling and turning, the eddies becoming increasingly rapid, the water carrying fine mist, swirling and gathering, condensing into a powerful current.

The water flow continued to swirl and rise, each circle higher than the last, its force becoming increasingly violent. It rose from the spring, surging higher and higher, transforming into a towering column of water tens of feet high.

The powerful flow of water surged and trembled high in the sky, water vapor filled the air, and an immense pressure spread outwards.

The Iron Bone couple and the seven little spiders were all stunned, and the little spiders trembled under the oppressive force.

The next moment, the water column trembled violently, the water flow shaped itself, the shoulders and back stretched out, the limbs solidified, the water flow intertwined and condensed, and the outline gradually became clear.

The surging water transformed into a majestic water giant, with water flowing and churning around its body, its form resembling Lu Changgeng's previous water-form incarnation.

"I am ashamed, I am ashamed. I did not expect this method to consume so much of my magical power. I have no choice but to go all out." The water rippled, and his voice boomed like a bell.

Tie Gu snapped out of his daze and subconsciously asked, "Immortal Master, what is your cultivation level? And your background? I've cultivated for thousands of years and still can't figure it out..."

"Husband, please don't ask such a question," Teng San Niang interrupted in a deep voice.

Iron Bone grunted and shut his pig mouth.

The water giant remained silent, seemingly deep in thought, before finally speaking: "This humble Taoist is about to take human form. As for my origins, you will all find out in the future."

Lu Changgeng did not choose to reveal his identity directly. All told, he had been in this Journey to the West world for less than a hundred years, far less than these two demons in front of him. Who knew what risks there would be in exposing himself? Therefore, it was better to play it safe.

Even if they guess right, it doesn't matter, they'll be on our side soon.

"Iron Bones, calm your mind and focus your spirit," the Water Giant whispered.

Iron Bones did as he was told.

As soon as Lu Changgeng had a thought, the cyan-gold mark immediately shone brightly, and illusory chains appeared around his body.

"go."

With a hand gesture, the mark crashed down on Tie Gu. Tie Gu's eyes suddenly went blank, and then a layer of blue light appeared on his body, and the mark disappeared.

Meanwhile, in the Iron Bone Sea of ​​Consciousness, a miniature pig demon looked up at the sea of ​​consciousness with great alarm.

This boar demon was covered in iron-gray bristles and had protruding tusks; it was a miniature version of Ironbone.

At this moment, a blue-gold Xuan character mark suddenly appeared above the sea of ​​consciousness, and the miniature pig demon trembled as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

Just as he was about to make a move, a voice suddenly rang out: "Do not resist."

Iron Bones felt a chill run down his spine and obediently remained still.

The mark slowly drifted down, and strands of cyan chains appeared, binding the miniature pig demon tightly in the blink of an eye. Then, to the pig demon's horrified gaze, it slowly disappeared from its body.

Tie Gu only felt that something had entered his head, and then he felt nothing more.

Outside, Tie Gu rotated his wrist and tried to circulate his magic power; everything was normal.

"My dear husband," Teng San Niang said, looking at her husband with concern.

"I...I'm fine." Tie Gu grinned.

"Of course nothing will happen. This seal only restrains evil intentions and does not interfere with cultivation. Madam Teng, it's your turn." Lu Changgeng said indifferently.

Teng San Niang nodded: "I am ready, please have mercy on me, Immortal Master."

Lu Changgeng remained silent and once again used the Profound Origin Locking God Seal.

A few breaths later, Teng San Niang was also branded.

"Alright, from now on you are all under my command. I won't be stingy and let you work for free," Lu Changgeng said. "Madam can come and soak in this spring anytime. If your two maids want to soak, they can come too, as long as it doesn't interfere with teaching my seven junior sisters."

Teng San Niang was overjoyed and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Immortal Master."

"And you, Iron Bone." Lu Changgeng looked at Iron Bone King, who was about to speak, "Your metal and earth demonic energy clashes with this spring, so you can't soak in it. But I can use the spring water to refine a True Fire Pill for you every month to help you temper your body, remove the yin and turbid energy in your demonic energy, and help you reach the peak of the Condensation Realm within a hundred years."

To put it bluntly, this True Fire Pill is just a pill that condenses the true fire energy of the sun in the spring. It is far from being a elixir; it is just a name that Lu Changgeng came up with on the spur of the moment.

The so-called clash between metal and earth, demons and evil spirits, is just a way to prevent Iron Bones from soaking in the spring.

Iron-Bone King's eyes lit up, his gloom vanished, and he grinned widely: "Really?"

"I never speak recklessly."

"That's great!" Iron Bone King slapped his thigh. "Immortal Master, if you had said so earlier, I would have agreed to the seal myself without my wife having to say anything."

Teng San Niang rolled her eyes at him.

Iron Bone King grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.

"There is one more thing." Lu Changgeng changed the subject. He had now reverted to his eight-foot-tall youthful appearance and looked at Teng Sanniang. "This humble Taoist has a question that I would like to ask you, Madam."

"Please speak freely, Immortal Master."

"Madam, at the early stage of the Spirit Condensation realm, you can already transform into human form, and the degree of transformation is extremely high; it's a complete human body, not just a change of form. Your two maids, whose cultivation is only at the Form Refinement stage, are also in human form. How did you manage to do this?"

Teng San Niang was slightly taken aback, then understood his doubts.

Ordinary spirits cultivate by sensing energy, refining their form, concentrating their spirit, and transforming into a new form, progressing step by step.

Before transforming into human form, one must either maintain the original form or condense a phantom with divine thought. At most, one can cultivate a half-human, half-demon form, such as a snake spirit dragging its tail or a tiger spirit with a tiger's head, which are all common occurrences.

It is indeed illogical for someone like her to be able to walk in a complete human form at the initial stage of spiritual concentration.

"Immortal, your insight is truly remarkable." Teng San Niang smiled slightly, raised a finger, and a wisp of pale green light condensed at the fingertip. "This is a secret technique I obtained in my early years in Thorn Ridge, the Body Capture Technique."

"The method of photographic imaging?" Lu Changgeng's voice carried a hint of interest.

"That's right," Teng San Niang explained. "An old senior on Thorn Ridge has figured out a clever method. Instead of reshaping the bones and muscles or turning the demon core into human form, he uses his magic to capture a temporary human-shaped shell."

The green light at her fingertips flickered, and the human figure blurred for a moment.

Its arms transformed into emerald green vines, its fingers into curly tendrils, and vein-like patterns appeared on its face. A few tender green leaves sprouted from its temples. It wasn't exactly ugly, but it was clearly not human.

"It's like... wearing a garment." She flicked the green light again, and her human form returned to normal. "It can be used at the peak of the Refinement stage, and it can be stabilized at the Concentration stage, but it is ultimately temporary. If an immortal sees through it, or if the magic power is exhausted, it will revert to its original form."

She withdrew the green light: "To truly transform and solidify into human form, one must still pass the Heavenly Tribulation of Transformation. The Transformation Technique is merely a trick; it may fool the eyes of mortals, but it cannot fool the scrutiny of the Heavenly Dao."

Lu Changgeng nodded. In that case, it was just a trick. He himself didn't need it, but he could let the seven spiders learn it.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Teng San Niang hesitate and say, "Immortal Master, do you want this Body-Capturing Technique? This technique is excellent, but it has a drawback..."

"Hmm? What's the drawback?"