Chapter 671: 671
Time passed by . In the blink of an eye, it had been more than a month .
Before the Moon Prince returned, Lu Sheng applied to enter the crane-herding program at the mountain base, a process which every disciple would have to undergo .
The Clear Crane Sect was a Taoist Sect that reared red-crown cranes . Naturally, their cultivation methods revolved around rearing red-crown cranes .
After the disciples joined the sect, they would be required to live with a flock of cranes alone among the mountains . That was what crane-rearing was all about .
To put it bluntly, the disciples would be used to rear the large numbers of white cranes in the sect as free labor .
The normal disciples were not too willing to do this . However, Lu Sheng’s actions puzzled the sect master Long Hezhi . He had voluntarily applied to go crane-rearing .
“After some painstaking cultivation, I realize that I share some connection with cranes . Every time I see a crane flying past me, I’ll feel some unexplainable and deep joy . ” Lu Sheng stood respectfully before Long Hezhi and explained the reason why he applied to go rear cranes . “Take Little Yun, for example . I’ve only had him for a month, but we’re close as can be right now . I can’t even find the words for it . ”
Lu Sheng willed the little white crane to come over and snuggle up to himself .
“Look at this, Esteemed Teacher . Ever since I cultivated the Clear Crane Enlightened Method, I suddenly and completely realized that I have an indescribable affinity with cranes . ”
Long Hezhi looked at the white crane Little Yun with a frown . He had played a part in picking this crane . How did it grow to the size of a three-year-old in a month? Was it fed with high-quality food?
He was aware that the Crane-controlling Method of the Clear Crane Enlightened Skill or the White Feather Mantra could make a white crane become close to the cultivator . However, he did not know that such an exaggerated degree of it was possible .
“Looks like you’ve done a good job taking care of it . ” Master uncle Bo Ruqing offered his praise as he nodded .
Long Hezhi mused for a while .
“It’s not as if you can’t go and rear cranes . However, there’s only one free crane flock nearby . That flock is quite huge, and I’m not sure if you’ll be able to handle it . ”
Lu Sheng’s heart leapt in joy . That was just what he wanted . He hastily replied, “Don’t worry, Esteemed Teacher . I’ll go and give it a try . If I can’t rise up to the occasion, it won’t be too late to make a switch, either . ”
“Mm-hmm… Alright . ” Long Hezhi nodded slowly .
Lu Sheng’s objective was achieved . He wore a faint smile .
He had learned about the Crane-controlling Method contained within the original Clear Crane Enlightened Method and White Feather Mantra from Wu Youzi . He found out that their Crane-controlling Methods were not the same thing as his Crane-controlling Method .
Their Crane-controlling Methods were more like a passive ability which increased the intimacy between the cultivator and the crane . They did not have to activate it voluntarily .
However, the Crane-controlling Method contained within Lu Sheng’s derived and perfected Great Clear Crane Enlightened Method was much more domineering . He could directly control the little white crane’s body . Also, he perfectly inherited the properties of increasing the intimacy between cultivator and crane .
Lu Sheng noticed another phenomenon as well . As his Great Clear Crane Enlightened Method’s competence improved, the little white crane Little Yun grew bigger .
Now that a month had passed, his Great Clear Crane Enlightened Method had accumulated more than 600 years of competence .
His Pure Qi was so dense that it was now a semi-liquid thick fog which rolled and flowed slowly within his body .
With such a competence, the activated Crane-controlling Method’s might was shockingly formidable .
Although the little white crane grew bigger, it had no power to resist Lu Sheng’s control .
Lu Sheng could even make it unleash its potential to expend its life force and strengthen its constitution .
This was not merely controlling its will . This was a manifestation of his control over the cells in the animal’s body .
Lu Sheng could feel that many of his profound psychological guidance art’s techniques and experience were incorporated into the derived and perfected Great Clear Crane Enlightened Skill . That was why its effects were this powerful .
Long Hezhi frowned and considered it . He looked at the current Lu Sheng . He was clearly filled with a chilly air akin to a red-crown crane now compared to a month ago .
This was a sign that would only show if one was accomplished in the cultivation of the Clear Crane Enlightened Skill . However, Lu Sheng had only been cultivating for a month, yet he was already showing such great signs…
Long Hezhi suddenly felt that this disciple’s talents seemed to have exceeded his own imagination . His mood improved greatly .
“Very well . Give it a try, then . If it doesn’t work out, I’ll make some adjustments for you . ”
“Thank you, Esteemed Teacher!” Lu Sheng immediately cupped his fists and bowed .
Currently, his competence was extremely profound . After applying some simple trick of concealing his cultivation base, the two so-called elites of the Clear Crane Sect were incapable of gauging his actual might .
However, Lu Sheng could gauge the level of competence of the two individuals before himself .
Long Hezhi’s competence was about half of his own . Bo Ruqing’s, on the other hand, was not even one-third of his .
The two of them were old men at least 200 years old . However, they did not look their age . This was especially true of Bo Ruqing . He looked no different from an ordinary middle-aged man .
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“By the way, 100 li northwest from where we are is where our senior Taoist, the hermit Yuhong, stays in seclusion . Little Jing, be careful not to disturb his peaceful cultivation while you rear the cranes there,” Bo Ruqing reminded him carefully .
“Hermit Yuhong? I understand . ” Lu Sheng was still fretting about not being able to locate an actual Taoist elite . He now had a candidate to check out .
“Come to think of it, we have yet to come up with a Taoist title for Little Jing since he joined the sect,” Longhe Zhi suddenly said to Bo Ruqing .
“I’m Longhe, while you’re Ruqing . As for Little Jing, since he’s the crown prince of the Moon Prince and he gets along well with the cranes, why don’t we call him Taoist Tianlong?” Longhe Zhi suggested .
“Uh… Senior Apprentice Brother, where did this Tianlong come from? How did you come up with Tianlong with the Moon Prince’s crown prince and cranes?” Bo Ruqing retorted, speechless . “The way I see it, he should be called Taoist Guilong!”
Lu Sheng was speechless .
He did not even know where to start to comment on the competence of these two men in coming up with names . How did Bo Ruqing even come up with the name Guilong? He had the face to comment on the name Tianlong?
“Let’s go with Tianlong . When my esteemed teacher was coming up with a Taoist title for me, I had wanted this name . Alas…” Longhe Zhi said with a straight face .
“Guilong’s better! The ‘gui’ comes from ‘living as long as the tortoise and the crane’ . Top that off with being a ‘dragon among cranes’ and a ‘dragon among men’, don’t they conform well with each other? Isn’t this more wonderful!?” Bo Ruqing countered his argument with equal harshness . He was not giving him any ground .
“Tianlong! It has a more far-reaching imagery!”
“Guilong sounds more extravagant!”
“Tianlong agrees well with the crown prince’s status!”
“Guilong is more reserved and refined!”
‘What part of it is refined?’ Lu Sheng was speechless .
The two of them argued for a long time and none of them could convince the other . They simply decided on another name .
Tiangui!
Lu Sheng almost had a mental breakdown right there and then .
He could have done without this Taoist title .
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The first thing another person would ask him was his name . A f*cking Taoist title such as the Taoist Tiangui[1 . ED/N: I think it’d mean heavenly turtle or sth, and since turtle tends to be used as part of an insult, well… you get the drill . ] would make a person fall in love at first sight, cringe at the second, and have the urge to cut him down at the third .
Hence, Lu Sheng threw courtesy to the winds and joined in the selection process of his Taoist title .
After arguing for half a day, the three of time finally settled on the title Hezhen .
Taoist Hezhen . At the very least, it sounded official and serious .
A relieved Lu Sheng quickly took up the bamboo box which contained the items needed to rear cranes, and left the Taoist tower under the guidance of an ordinary Taoist .
The two of them circled the mountain forest twice, and finally found the flock of white pine cranes drinking by a small lake .
On the side of the irregular-shaped mirrorlike lake, the cranes extended their long legs and strolled along the shallows .
Occasionally, the cranes would stab their sharp beaks into the water beneath their feet and precisely catch a small fish, which would be immediately swallowed .
The other animals would come close for a drink as well . However, they would immediately be chased away by the despotic flock of cranes .
The leader of the flock which chased away the other animals was a big and tall male white crane which was nearly three meters in height .
The Taoist guide brought Lu Sheng to a stop 100 meters away . He pointed at the flock, and explained, “That’s Bai Songzi . The alpha crane here . If you get along with him, you won’t have a problem with the other cranes . ”
“Understood . ” Lu Sheng shoved some silver pieces into his hands . “Thank you for showing me the way, Senior Apprentice Brother . ”
“You’re welcome . ” The Taoist was immediately delighted . Because of the silver pieces, he added another reminder . “This Bai Songzi is quite talented . He was nearly turned into a mount for an elite from another sect . However, he suddenly suffered from some defects in his wing, was unintentionally rescued by our sect leader, and has stayed here ever since . Junior Brother, you must be careful . Don’t provoke Bai Songzi . It won’t do to have yourself injured by his pecks . ”
“Thank you . ” Lu Sheng kept thanking him . If it were not for this ordinary Taoist, he would not have known where he should learn about these things and background stories .
“Alright, it’s up to you now . I’ll be taking my leave . There can only be one shepherd around the crane flock . If there were more people staying for too long, the crane flock would become anxious and aggressive . This place isn’t far from the Taoist tower . However, there are formations around the Taoist tower and this place . So, they’re isolated from each other . There are food supplies in the wooden hut nearby . Feel free to help yourself . I’ll be back in 10 days . If you can successfully mingle with the crane flock, they’ll be yours to look after . ”
After the Taoist finished, he turned around and swiftly hurried toward the Taoist tower . He vanished among the dark mountain forest in less than 10 breaths .
Lu Sheng snapped back to the present . He looked at the 100 or so white cranes around the lake .
“Little Yun!” he shouted in a deep voice . “Come here and make friends with everyone . ”
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A snow-white red-crown crane close to two meters in height immediately emerged from the mountain forest in the distance .
The red-crown crane glanced at Lu Sheng, and quickly joined the crane flock . It lowered its head to drink from the lake and strolled in the shallows .
Lu Sheng nodded slightly . It was best if Little Yun could mingle with them . He could already tell that Bai Songzi was the same as the red-crown crane which gave him a feather before . They were both spirit cranes with high intelligence . Hence, if he tried to force things, he might expose himself or achieve the opposite effect . After all, the Crane-controlling Method could only control the crane’s physical body . He would need time to subdue the heart as well .
Lu Sheng spent the whole day observing the cranes . He ranked up his Great Clear Crane Enlightened Skill’s as he made detailed plans for the future .
A day later…
Little Yun, who was now taller than a man, cheered . He caught a fish out of the water, raised his head, and swallowed it . He gave a clear whistle .
Bai Songzi looked down at him, but showed no other reaction .
Two days later…
Little Yun, who was now taller than two men, cheered . He caught a fish out of the water, raised his head, and swallowed it . He gave a clear whistle .
Bai Songzi was drinking from the lake with his head lowered .
Three days later…
Little Yun, who was now taller than three men, cheered . He caught a fish out of the water, raised his head, and swallowed it . He gave a clear whistle .
Bai Songzi was speechless . He looked up at the big-sized crane beside himself . He felt that something was off .
Four days later…
Little Yun threw the other cranes off balance with swift kicks . He caught a fish out of the water, raised his head, and swallowed it . He gave a clear whistle .
Bai Songzi looked up at the giant white crane which was nearly 10 meters tall now . He stared blankly, not knowing how to react .
At this moment, Lu Sheng stepped forward . “See that? Little Yun’s aptitude is actually inferior compared to yours . However, as the Moon Prince’s son, I’ve collected some legendary treasures for him . I fed him a mysterious pill that could allow the white cranes to be reborn . The results are presented right before your eyes . ”
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