Faced with Lin Yan's unabashed demand, Zhang Zhiwei responded with equal magnanimity.
He gave a light beckoning gesture to Lin Yan.
When Lin Yan drew near, Zhang Zhiwei extended his index finger and gently tapped it on Lin Yan's forehead.
Immediately, a stream of golden light flowed from his fingertip into Lin Yan's body, circulating through his meridians along the Grand Heavenly Orbit.
At the same time, Zhang Zhiwei's serene and desireless voice rose from the bottom of Lin Yan's heart.
The Golden Light Mantra was not just about circulating Qi in a specific way; it also needed to be practiced in coordination with its incantation. That was the true Golden Light Mantra.
[Contact made with 'Golden Light Mantra'] [Golden Light Mantra: One of the Eight Great Divine Mantras of Taoism, originating from the orthodox Taoist cultivation system, traceable back to the era when Ancestral Celestial Master Zhang Daoling founded the religion. Its incantation contains the core Taoist ideology of "dual cultivation of nature and life-force." It is both a protective technique and a foundation for internal cultivation of the mind. Minor mastery allows one to have a golden light around the body and regulate one's temperament. Major mastery allows the golden light to take form, which can be withdrawn into the body to protect the meridians and organs, and one's seven emotions will not be moved by ordinary forces.]
['Golden Light Mantra' can be empowered via Primal Empowerment for 100 Empowerment Points, or via Chaotic Empowerment for 50 Empowerment Points.] [After spending 100 points on Primal Empowerment, you will instantly possess the 'Golden Light Mantra' at the Minor Mastery stage, and it will not be forgotten. After spending 1,000 points on Primal Empowerment, you will instantly possess the 'Golden Light Mantra' at the Major Mastery stage, and it will not be forgotten. Note 1: After Primal Empowerment, Chaotic Empowerment can be performed subsequently. The two can coexist, but the negative/positive traits will directly affect the overall result.] [After Chaotic Empowerment, a random positive or negative trait will appear. If you are unsatisfied with the added trait, you can spend more Empowerment Points to re-empower (the cost will increase exponentially).]
'So, it's not just items that can be empowered, but even techniques?'
'One hundred Empowerment Points is my entire fortune right now. If I spend fifty on Chaotic Empowerment and get a negative trait… I won't even have the capital to re-empower.'
After a moment of deliberation, Lin Yan quietly made his decision.
'Perform Primal Empowerment on the 'Golden Light Mantra'.'
The moment he thought it, the Empowerment Points on his panel were instantly cleared.
At the same time, the golden light circulating in his body grew from a mere thread into a torrent!
In the blink of an eye, the golden light took form! The Qi flowed and circulated!
Zhang Zhiwei, who was helping Lin Yan learn the Golden Light Mantra, naturally sensed the anomaly within Lin Yan's body!
A peculiar look flashed through his aged eyes.
Once the Golden Light Mantra reached Minor Mastery, Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes.
'So this is Qi? It feels good…'
'I wonder what it will feel like after cultivating the so-called Thunder Method.'
Thinking of this, Lin Yan looked at Zhang Zhiwei and spoke again, "Old Celestial Master, how about I reveal another future secret to you, and in return, you teach me half of the Thunder Method?"
"Oh? You want the Thunder Method now?" Zhang Zhiwei lifted his drooping eyelids and sized Lin Yan up. "Since you know my identity, and you know about the Thunder Method, you should also understand that it is meant for those qualified to inherit the Celestial Master's title, correct?"
"I know that, of course. That's why I'm proposing this trade with you," Lin Yan said with a smile. "But you can rest assured, this is a trade you definitely won't lose out on."
"After all... this concerns the life of your junior martial brother, Tian Jinzhong..."
"!!!"
Hearing this, Zhang Zhiwei's eyes flew wide open.
Something is going to happen to Junior Brother Tian in the future?
After a simple cost-benefit analysis, Zhang Zhiwei spat out two words: "Speak."
Seeing that Lin Yan didn't answer, he spoke again, "Rest assured. I agree to your terms."
Only after hearing Zhang Zhiwei's personal promise did Lin Yan finally speak. "In the future, Tian Jinzhong will die on the last day of the Ratian Grand Rite in 2015. The one who kills him will be the acting head of the Quánxìng Sect, Gong Qing, using the alias 'Little Yu'!"
After Lin Yan finished speaking, Zhang Zhiwei narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
He looked up at Lin Yan, who was staring intently at him, and lightly raised his palm, pointing a finger once more.
The Qi circulation route for the Thunder Method flowed into Lin Yan's mind.
Soon, Lin Yan had finished digesting the circulation route.
Once the transmission was complete, Zhang Zhiwei extended a finger and lightly flicked Lin Yan's forehead. "Young man, I still don't know your name."
"Ha! I was so focused on telling you all this that I forgot! Old Celestial Master, my name is Lin Yan. I'm also from China," Lin Yan said with a grin, introducing himself.
"Since you are from China and have learned both the Golden Light and the Thunder Method, we should become much closer in the days to come..."
"Definitely, definitely! I hope to ask for more guidance on matters of cultivation in the future," Lin Yan once again displayed his thick-skinned nature.
Seeing that Lin Yan was not resistant, Zhang Zhiwei exchanged a few more pleasantries. When he found he couldn't get any more information about the future, he waved goodbye and reverted to being a figurine.
Hitori no Shita: The Outcast World.
"Rongshan," Zhang Zhiwei called out softly, sitting cross-legged in his meditation room.
Before long, a Taoist with rugged features, dressed in a blue robe, entered the room.
"Master, you were looking for me?" Rongshan bowed to Zhang Zhiwei.
Zhang Zhiwei did not answer Rongshan's question directly, but instead gave him an order. "Take Huanjin with you and make a trip to Z City. While you're there, contact the local branch of Nădōu Tōng and find a child named Zhang Chulan. Once you find him, bring him to me."
"Yes!" Rongshan acknowledged the order and withdrew.
And then...
"Lingyu!" Zhang Zhiwei called towards the door. Zhang Lingyu, who had been eavesdropping at the doorway, pushed the door open and entered.
"Master," Zhang Lingyu bowed in greeting.
"Lingyu, the matter of you descending the mountain for training that we discussed a while ago is to be postponed for now. I have observed that your mind has been restless lately, and you have become somewhat lax in your training!"
"Let's do this! You will first quiet your mind and cultivate on the mountain for a period. We will discuss the matter of you descending the mountain after your junior-nephew arrives." Zhang Zhiwei arranged casually.
Although the nearby Zhang Lingyu did not understand his meaning, he nodded obediently in agreement, not even asking when he had gained a junior-nephew.
After Zhang Lingyu left, Zhang Zhiwei stood up and took out the registers of the inner and outer gate disciples from a drawer. After a thorough search, he found no mention of 'Gong Qing' or 'Little Yu'.
"Not here... has the future not developed to that point yet?"
...
...
Back in his room, just as Lin Yan finished receiving the circulation route for the Thunder Method, several notifications popped up on the panel before his eyes.
[Contact made with 'Five Thunder Orthodox Method' (First Half)] ['Five Thunder Orthodox Method · First Half': The Five Thunder Orthodox Method is divided into a first half and a second half. Before learning the second half, it is further divided into Yang Five Thunders and Yin Five Thunders. It is the core inheritance technique of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, originating from the orthodox Taoist Thunder Method system. Its essence is to mobilize the Qi of the five viscera, and based on "Yin-Yang and the Five Elements," evolve the ultimate ability to control lightning. Minor mastery of the first half allows for the simple release of lightning and changing its form. Major mastery allows one to invoke the true heavenly thunder.]
[Can be empowered via Primal Empowerment for 800 Empowerment Points, or via Chaotic Empowerment for 400 Empowerment Points.] [After spending 800 points on Primal Empowerment, you will instantly possess the 'Five Thunder Orthodox Method' at the Minor Mastery stage, and it will not be forgotten. After spending 8,000 points on Primal Empowerment, you will instantly possess the 'Five Thunder Orthodox Method' at the Major Mastery stage, and it will not be forgotten. Spending 10,000 Empowerment Points can perfect the first half, making the Five Thunder Orthodox Method even more complete.]
[Moderately altered the plot of 'Hitori no Shita'.] [Empowerment Points +300]
[Slightly altered the plot of 'Hitori no Shita'.] [Empowerment Points +100]
[Moderately altered the plot of 'Hitori no Shita'.] [Empowerment Points +300]
"This..." Staring at the several notifications that had suddenly popped up on the panel, the flow of Qi maintaining the Golden Light in Lin Yan's body even stagnated for a moment. But he quickly understood why the system prompts had appeared.
"After learning about future events, the Old Celestial Master has also altered the future, hasn't he?"
Finding Zhang Chulan early and inducting him into Dragon Tiger Mountain while he was still in middle school—this change was enough to moderately alter the timeline of The Outcast.
Without those years of being adrift, and with Zhang Zhiwei's guidance, Zhang Chulan might not become the "Unshakable Green Lotus,"*** and his own strength would be greatly enhanced.
Without Xia He's interference with Zhang Lingyu, his inner demon would naturally disappear, and his path of cultivation would become much smoother.
And after learning that Tian Jinzhong would be killed, Zhang Zhiwei would certainly take precautions against Gong Qing.
If Tian Jinzhong didn't die, the scene where the Celestial Master descends the mountain to annihilate the Quánxìng Sect and beat up Lu Jin would not happen, and Zhang Zhiwei would not be placed under house arrest by the company later on.
Looking at it this way, the sudden appearance of all these Empowerment Points made perfect sense.
T/n:The nickname "Unshakable Green Lotus" (不摇碧莲, bù yáo bìlián) is a famous pun in the original series. It is a homophone for 不要逼脸 (bú yào bī liǎn), which means "shameless." This nickname defines Zhang Chulan's personality for much of the original story.