Chapter 1157: Lü Mountain Has Secret Treasures, Thirty-Six Heavenly Methods, Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel!

Lu Ding walked toward the light, stepping out of the secluded cultivation chamber. At this moment, he was already at the Deification Fifth Level, and once the Great Han stabilized for a period of favorable weather and smooth sailing, Lu Ding would be able to step into the Deification Sixth Level!!

When that time came, it would be an endless snowball effect.

The Great Han grows stronger, he becomes more powerful, mutually beneficial, no one would run into trouble, no one would suffer losses. But aside from Lu Ding, the Great Han, and Lü Mountain, the remaining powers of this world should, all of them, suffer losses.

Riding the wind.

He arrived at the Qianxuan Palace that the Ancestral Master's Wife had mentioned before.

Not grand, not divine, just an ordinary palace with a moderate flow of people coming and going, but all of them extraordinary, every single one at the Deification Ninth Level.

They showed no excessive enthusiasm toward Lu Ding, no swarming around him, nor were they cold. As they passed by, each nodded and smiled, calm and composed, radiating goodwill, their eyes filled with appreciation.

Although Lü Mountain's style of conduct was domineering, and their spells and Divine Abilities were formidable, they were ultimately a Taoist sect, emphasizing naturalness wherever possible, following the Tao and complying with karma.

This was also the reason Lu Ding's apprenticeship was not made into a grand spectacle.

So there wouldn't be any chaotic scenes either.

This kind of atmosphere made Lu Ding feel quite comfortable.

Entering the Qianxuan Palace.

A Junior Uncle who was sweeping the floor looked at Lu Ding: "You must be Xiao Lu?"

Lu Ding bowed in greeting: "Greetings, Senior. Lu Ding has just arrived and doesn't recognize anyone here. I'm still unfamiliar with Lü Mountain's rules, so I hope Senior will forgive Lu Ding if I don't know the proper form of address."

The Junior Uncle put away his broom, his demeanor very gentle, his robe spotless: "I'm of the same generation as your master. Just call me Uncle Kong."

Lu Ding performed a proper formal bow this time: "Greetings, Uncle Kong."

Uncle Kong set down his broom and returned the bow: "Nephew Lu."

"Have you come this time to look at tasks? Or would you like to browse the scripture treasury, spells, and Divine Abilities?"

Lu Ding replied: "If Uncle Kong doesn't mind, I'd like to see both."

Uncle Kong turned around, his broom still sweeping the floor by itself where it stood. He said, "Come with me."

Lu Ding took just one step forward.

The scenery around him shifted.

It was only then that he understood: it wasn't that Lü Mountain didn't decorate their interiors, it was just that everything was hidden inside, requiring certain special steps to access.

He stepped down and landed.

Standing atop the peaks of a mountain range, overlooking the world below.

Watching the surrounding heavens surge with qi, extraordinary phenomena sinking and rising.

Uncle Kong raised his hand and beckoned.

"I've heard you have extraordinary talent. These Divine Abilities and secret methods are the best Lü Mountain has to offer. You may take a look."

Lu Ding looked toward the sky, and one by one, insights came to him unbidden, sweeping through his mind.

[Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel: With a casual point of the finger, one can transform the earth of an entire region into steel.]

This one Lu Ding knew well!!!

Earth Traveler Sun was completely countered by this very thing.

It was one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Methods. He never expected Lü Mountain to actually possess something like this.

Of course, although it might seem useless at first glance, only serving against earth escape techniques and terrain manipulation, the actual function of [Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel] was the decomposition and alteration of matter.

Compared to Lu Ding's [Touch of Gold Turns to Stone], [Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel] interpreted the decomposition and alteration of matter from a different track.

It was like how [Touch of Gold Turns to Stone] was a luxury sports car, focused on handling, speed, and extravagance.

While [Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel] was an off-road SUV, with different priorities.

But he had to learn it. The two complemented each other, and Lu Ding felt they should have a remarkable combined effect.

He noted it down for now.

Then he looked at the others.

[Demon-Sealing Golden Bell: Cultivated with demonic energy, the golden bell inverted in three layers. The first layer, the Demon Bell, grants immunity to all spells. The second layer, the Blood Bell, can reflect spells. The third layer, the Golden Bell, coats the body's surface and can reflect Divine Abilities. Requires time to temper, and when cultivated to great completion, uses demon to counter the Tao.]

Although being able to reflect Divine Abilities was a solid effect, the first, second, and third layers required gradual cultivation and time to temper. Lu Ding was used to the high-speed highway provided by his Golden Finger. It wasn't that he couldn't walk the gravel path of self-cultivation.

If possible, he'd still prefer to use his Golden Finger.

But if that wasn't an option, he could come back to cultivate it later.

He noted it down for now.

Then he looked at the others.

[Ten Thousand Demons Gathering into the Body: Using one's own body as an aperture, devour demonic creatures, seal them within, transform them into one's own power, available for use at any time. However, one must be cautious: although this Divine Ability has a high ceiling, if one absorbs too many demonic creatures, there is a risk of being assimilated and becoming a demon oneself.]

If the description actually stated the ceiling was high, then it should be extraordinary.

But this conflicted with Lu Ding's methods. His Golden Finger required killing, while [Ten Thousand Demons Gathering into the Body] required absorption and sealing within the body.

This would be like discarding a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed.

Not learning it.

Lu Ding looked at the rest.

How should he put it... After reviewing everything, basically all of Lü Mountain's Divine Abilities were related to demonic creatures. It was a local specialty.

Something like [Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel] was the exception.

But these Divine Abilities more or less conflicted with Lu Ding in some way.

So after going through them all, in the end, he still only chose [Finger Pointing Turns Ground to Steel].

Uncle Kong couldn't help but ask: "You're choosing just this one?"

Lu Ding nodded, using the same line those seniors in novels always used to advise protagonists: "To answer Uncle, one who tries to chew too much at once gets nothing. You walk the road step by step, and eat your rice one mouthful at a time."

He couldn't very well say, "I look down on these Divine Abilities, they're not good, and some of them conflict with me."

How tactless would that be?

Uncle Kong was momentarily rendered speechless.

Although the logic was sound, with your talent, there was no need for it.

But since Lu Ding had already explained himself this way, he couldn't say much more.

In his heart, he just felt that Lu Ding was an excellent child, humble too. What wonderful qualities.

He nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Having such a mindset is truly commendable. Well then, learn this one first, and when you're ready later, you can come back and choose more."

Lu Ding bowed: "Thank you, Uncle."

Uncle Kong waved his hand, changing the scenery around them. This time, the two of them seemed to have arrived in some kind of hell torture chamber.

He explained to Lu Ding: "When the Centennial Demon-Feeding isn't due, except for when the Demon Continent has particularly severe demonic disasters and we of Lü Mountain go out to deal with them, we rarely venture outside at other times."

"This is to maintain the natural balance of the outside world!"

"Considering your current cultivation and combat strength, my suggestion is to start small."

"It just so happens they've developed enough by now."

"Take a look at this one. I think it would be especially suitable for you."

Uncle Kong took down one of the many jade plaques hanging on the torture rack.

Lu Ding received it and saw the information within.

[Tiange Great Mountain, demons running rampant, intending to oppose Lü Mountain during the Centennial Demon-Feeding. Niuxin Village, located at the outer perimeter of Tiange Great Mountain, where humans and demons live together. Although the village demons do not harm the villagers, they leave the village to prey on people. Over the past few decades, nearly half a dozen towns, numerous villages, and thousands of people have fallen victim to their cruelty.]

Lu Ding couldn't help but ask: "Uncle Kong, the demons of Niuxin Village have harmed so many people. Haven't we dealt with them?"

Uncle Kong said earnestly: "The situation is complicated. Most of these victims brought it upon themselves, and the demons of Niuxin Village were forced to fight back in self-defense."