Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 600 The Heart Sutra: The Highest Good is Like Water
The torrent did not last long, roaring for only seven or eight breaths.

The water map on the stone wall shone with blue light again, and the surging torrent stopped instantly as if a dam had been closed, leaving only a mess and a bone-chilling cold.

Although the water map no longer spewed forth torrents, the turbid waves that had previously surged forth still took quite a while to disperse in all directions—and this was only the result of the Chu shamans of the salvage advance team wielding their shamanic artifacts and chanting incantations.

Otherwise, the floodwaters gushing out from the water map would just stay here and wouldn't disperse elsewhere.

"Ptooey, ptooey... Damn it, I almost lost my life!"

The leader, a Mingxin Realm wizard, was not only the key figure in the formation but also the one directly adjusting the reverse flow of the Water Scripture Diagram. He was the first to be hit by the torrent just now.

Fortunately, he had been in the salvage team for many years and had seen all sorts of strange and bizarre things beneath Yunmengze, so he had made ample preparations in advance.

As soon as the Water Scripture erupted, the magical artifacts and talismans he carried came into play, protecting him and preventing him from being injured.

In contrast, the members of the other advance teams were not so lucky.

Either their cultivation level was too low, or they were not adequately prepared. Several people had their protective magical energy scattered by this sudden and strange torrent, and their physical bodies were severely injured by the turbulent current, which was comparable to a sharp weapon.

Seeing his men's skin torn open, festering and oozing pus, the leader, a Mingxinjing wizard, frowned, leaned closer to them, sniffed carefully, and cursed, "It's a bone-corroding, marrow-rotting water poison! What a ruthless method!"

He took out a porcelain bottle and tossed it to his wounded and poisoned subordinates, instructing them, "Sprinkle the Blazing Sun Purifying Powder on the wounds, activate the Blazing Sun Spell, purify the Yin Cold, and eliminate the water poison!"

He then turned back, his gaze turning cold as he looked at the water map on the stone wall, gritting his teeth as he said, "The person who set up this trap is truly cunning. They used a common water map to mislead us, but actually hid a secret!"

He turned his head and instructed his deputy beside him: "Remember! The reverse-flowing water map here cannot be broken by the old methods; we must find another way."

"Yes, sir!" The deputy nodded in agreement, took out a tortoise shell, and using witchcraft as a chisel, quickly carved words into the tortoise shell to make a record.

If they cannot find a way to decipher the Waterway Map, then this record can be left to their colleagues who come to this Water Palace later, so that they will not have to encounter obstacles again.

The leader, a Mingxinjing wizard, looked around and said in a deep voice, "There must be a mechanism or treasure nearby that can decipher the Water Scripture. Everyone search carefully. If you find anything, do not act rashly, and report to me immediately."

Several uninjured or lightly injured advance team members responded in unison, each conjuring up magical artifacts such as compasses and dragon-seeking rulers, and burning spirit-seeing talismans and barrier-breaking talismans, chanting incantations: "The earth's veins are open, the spiritual energy manifests..."

Although Shang Lu was hiding in the distance and had even used a concealment talisman, he still tried his best to hide his aura after seeing this scene, in order to avoid being exposed.

At the same time, he made the copper ants lie still and motionless.

The copper ant climbed to the top of the Water Mansion Cave. Even without moving, it could look down from above and take in everything, then report back to Shang Lu.

As long as the copper ant remains hidden, it will not emit any magical energy fluctuations. However, the Chu shamans in the advance team were not using spells or tools to find it, so they naturally missed it.

The advance team of Chu shamans were all very experienced. After searching for a while, they quickly found a stone pillar about seven or eight steps to the left and in front of the stone wall depicting the Water Classic.

At first glance, this stone pillar looks no different from an ordinary stalactite pillar. However, when the Chu shaman of the advance team made hand seals and chanted incantations, he summoned a bronze mirror-like shamanic artifact, which released a faint halo that was projected onto the stone pillar. Immediately, the mud and stones on its surface began to trickle down.

As the mud and rocks flowed away, the stone pillar revealed its true form—it was a stone toad.

The toad's mouth was slightly open, inside which was a stone bead the size of a plum, emitting a faint earthy aura.

The leader of the Mingxinjing Wizards walked over and took a look, then said, "It's a water-suppressing toad. The key to deciphering the water scripture on the stone wall lies in the water-repelling and abyss-stabilizing pearl inside its mouth."

Although they knew the beads were useful, the wizards in the advance salvage team did not rush to retrieve them.

This water palace is a secret realm. Even if it's not of a high level, it's still incredibly dangerous and treacherous inside. Not to mention, they just suffered a loss and got into trouble.

The leading Mingxinjing wizard took out a straw effigy and a talisman. He slapped the talisman onto the straw effigy and chanted, "Use straw as a substitute for form, to bear calamity and misfortune! Quickly!"

With a "boom," the talisman exploded in flames, transforming into a blood-red incantation that appeared on the straw man's body.

"go with!"

The leading wizard, Mingxinjing, formed a hand seal and waved it, and the straw man immediately and nimbly pounced on the stone toad.

At the same time, the rest of the salvage advance team retreated a distance and began to cast hand seals to prepare their weapons, ready for battle.

The leading Mingxinjing wizard also stepped back several steps, adopting a defensive stance to guard against any possible unpredictable changes.

Their caution was justified.

The moment the straw man touched the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl in the stone toad's mouth, a stream of filthy, foul-smelling black water gushed out from the stone toad's mouth, instantly corroding the straw man and turning it into a puddle of mud and ash.

"Humph!"

The leading Mingxinjing wizard let out a muffled groan, his brows immediately furrowing.

Clearly, the death of the straw man caused him some hidden loss.

But it wasn't all for naught; at least they learned that directly taking the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl from the Stone Toad's mouth was not an option.

As for destroying the stone toad, they are not considering it for the time being.

Even if they could destroy it, the price they would pay would be extraordinary, and that's not something their advance team should do.

But the advance team did not give up and immediately began to discuss the matter. Some said it was to be a sacrifice, while others said there should be other mechanisms nearby.

Next, they tried many things, but none of them worked.

Given the difficulty, the leading Mingxinjing Wizard could only have his deputy record their attempts again, so that when the large-scale dredging and mining team arrived later, they could avoid some detours.

"Let's leave this place behind and go check out other places first," the leading Mingxin Realm wizard called out. He was experienced and knew that there were many secret realms where one should not linger before understanding the rules.

If you stay there for too long, you may become polluted and assimilated, thus becoming part of the secret realm.

Therefore, these advance teams have time limits for each time they enter the secret realm.

Once the time limit is approaching, you must leave the secret realm and wait until the pollution in your body is purified before conducting a new exploration.

The advance team of Chu shamans left quickly.

Shang Lu originally intended to continue following them—these Chu witches, despite trying every possible method and means, had failed to extract the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl from the stone toad's mouth and had failed to restore the reversed Water Scripture to normal. He didn't think he could be more capable than these Chu witches.

But just as he was about to follow, Third Sister grabbed him.

"Go and light an incense stick," said Third Sister.

"Can offering incense really work?" Shang Lu asked in surprise.

He certainly didn't doubt the fragrance of the Third Sister; even the gods liked it, so it must be extraordinary.

What intrigued him was that this stone toad could also enjoy incense offerings.

Could it be that this thing is actually a "living creature"?
Considering the strangeness and mystery of the secret realm, such a thing is not impossible.

So, although Third Sister did not answer, Shang Lu still quietly approached the stone toad and, as Third Sister had instructed, lit an incense stick and placed it in front of the stone toad.

The wisps of smoke rose, but the stone toad showed no reaction whatsoever.

Shang Lu was unsure whether the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl in the stone toad's mouth could be retrieved. Just as he was about to turn to ask Third Sister, he heard her say, "Offer a blood sacrifice, drip it onto its eyeballs."

The Chu shamans in the advance team also performed sacrifices, even offering not only blood sacrifices but also living souls. But it was all in vain.

The stone toad didn't react at all, from head to tail.

Even so, the pokeweed did as instructed.

He channeled his inner energy to pierce his fingertip and dripped a drop of blood onto each of the stone toad's two eyeballs.

Two soft "sizzling" sounds came from the stone toad's eyes.

Immediately afterwards, the two stone-carved eyes actually moved, staring intently at Shang Lu with a cold and hostile look in their eyes.

Shang Lu was startled. With a soft "hum", the tortoise shell shield rapidly expanded, protecting San Niang.

At the same time, Shang Lu gripped the beast whip tightly in one hand and the witch knife tightly in the other, and the ferocious Tu Bo Nuo mask appeared on his face.

The stone toad did not make a move, because it smelled the incense and quickly went from sniffing to taking a big gulp. The fierce light projected from its stone eyes gradually subsided.

Seeing the change in the stone toad, Shang Lu breathed a sigh of relief, but did not let his guard down.

The incense burned quickly under the toad's sucking, and was completely consumed in just a dozen breaths.

After finishing the incense, the stone toad didn't greedily ask Shang Lu to light another one. Instead, it opened its mouth and spat out the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl.

The pokeweed released its essence and used it to control objects, catching the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl.

The blood that dripped onto the stone toad's eyeballs vanished into thin air at that moment.

The light in its eyeballs vanished instantly, and it stopped moving, reverting to its stone form.

Before Shang Lu could ask any questions, San Niang instructed again: "Place the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl on the Water Classic Map."

Shang Lu immediately complied, but instead of placing it himself, he continued to use his qi-controlling technique to send the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl onto the Water Classic Map.

A blue light immediately shone from the water map.

The pokeweed was prepared to retreat immediately and move out of the flood zone should there be any signs of a gushing flood on the map.

However, none of the things he feared happened.

The blue light and water vapor emitted by the Water Scripture Map this time directly absorbed the Water-Avoiding and Abyss-Stabilizing Pearl into the map.

Immediately afterward, Shang Lu saw that the rivers that were originally flowing against the current had all changed their direction of flow in an instant, turning from flowing against the current to flowing with the current.

At the same time, the blue light and water vapor emanating from the Water Classic suddenly surged, enveloping the pokeweed and instantly drawing it into the Water Classic.

Shang Lu sensed that the light and shadow around him were constantly changing, but it quickly stabilized.

Looking around, he seemed to have transformed into a fish, swimming in a turbulent river.

Through the "fish eye," Shang Lu saw that the river was filled with countless water spirits of various sizes and shapes.

Each water crystal exudes an incredibly pure water vapor.

They gather or scatter, are gentle or strong, flow slowly like a stream or rush like thunder, colliding, merging, pulling, and propelling each other... forming this mysterious and ever-evolving water world!
With the appearance of pokeweed, the water spirits in the river seemed to have discovered "intruders" and immediately attacked the pokeweed from all directions.

Shang Lu discovered that he was unable to use the beast whip and the witch knife, and at the same time, his limbs had all turned into fish fins.

Fortunately, they all obeyed commands, and their vital energy could still be activated.

Pokeweed calmed his mind and immediately activated his essence to form a bell-shaped shield to protect himself. At the same time, he moved his fins to try to avoid the water spirits attacking from all directions.

But soon, the pokeweed realized something was wrong.

These water spirits can control the water flow, making the pokeweed swim and dodge, which is much less effective and less efficient.

At the same time, the essence bell shield erected by the pokeweed blocked the water spirits that came down like a torrential rain. However, the water spirits quickly changed their attack method. Instead of raindrops relentlessly hitting the essence bell shield, they gathered together and turned into a torrent, crashing heavily against it.

"boom--"

The energy shield was instantly breached, leaving a crack.

The water crystal changed again, seeping directly into the crack. Before the pokeweed could do anything to fix it, it burst open with a "boom".

The surging torrent immediately rushed into the Qi Bell Shield, crashing heavily into Shang Lu and instantly sending him flying.

Pokeweed was in excruciating pain all over his body, feeling as if his bones were about to be broken.

He instinctively tried to channel his vital energy to block it, but suddenly heard the voice of the Third Sister in his ear: "Observe water for its ever-changing form, and understand its virtue of yielding. Extreme softness leads to strength, and following the trend brings prosperity."

Shang Lu was taken aback upon hearing this.

Observe the changes in water? Comprehend the rhythm of water?
Could this endless, ever-changing attack of water spirits... actually be a trial where life and death are staked, to impart profound water techniques?!
With a sudden thought, Shang Lu immediately tried to activate his spiritual insight.

Fortunately, although he "turned" into a fish, he could still use his keen senses and insight.

In an instant, this world became incredibly clear in his eyes!
Those billions of water spirits are no longer simply attackers. Every movement, every collision, and every transformation of their form contains the ultimate principle of water—softness can overcome hardness, resilience can bear weight, flexibility is unimpeded, and water can nourish all things!

Their trajectory is no longer a chaotic attack, but a flowing, profound scripture full of life rhythm!

Blocking is not as good as guiding, and guiding is not as good as leading!
Turn hardened steel into supple silk! harness immense power for your own use!
Shang Lu's mind calmed down instantly.

He stopped trying to resist and instead immersed himself in the water, feeling every subtle pulse of the current, adjusting his breathing, heartbeat, the rhythm of his vital energy flow, and even the fluctuations of his thoughts, striving to match the rhythm of the vast water essence.

Try to approach and guide these water spirits with a non-confrontational, inclusive, flexible, and adaptable attitude.

At first, he was clumsy and awkward, and the water spirit continued to violently impact him, each impact bringing excruciating pain. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, his mind as firm as a rock, focusing solely on "integration" and "guidance".

Gradually, a wonderful change occurred.

When another torrent of water surged forth, the pokeweed no longer blocked it head-on, but instead used its fins to gently nudge it with a special rhythm.

His vital energy was no longer a shield; instead, it transformed into a gentle guiding force, causing the raging torrent to brush past him without harming him further…

Once, twice, ten times...

Shanglu's movements became increasingly fluid and natural.

He guided the streams of water, swirling around him and dissipating their force, even attempting to use the power of the water essence's impact to propel himself through the raging spiritual river!

Just as he successfully guided a powerful spiral of water, causing it to flow obediently around him and dissipate all its killing intent—

The surging, rushing water crystals suddenly stopped moving!

The entire Spirit River fell into an eerie silence.

The next moment!
All the water spirits, like rivers flowing into the sea, frantically converged towards a single point in the center of the river!
They collided, merged... and transformed into an ancient scripture formed from flowing water ripples!
At the very top of the text, the six ancient characters of the Heart Sutra, "The highest good is like water," shimmered with ripples.

(End of this chapter)