My Ability Pool is Superior-Chapter 139 - 138: The Method of Bearing Incense

The dense wild grass beneath swallowed the path, the view extending far, towering trees with lush branches, even though traveling at noon, a sense of suffocating oppression was inevitable.

The apprentice named Mr. Liu mentioned that the wilderness is always like this, as long as no one walks, even in places with rugged rocks, it won’t take long to become overgrown.

It seems to be all due to the influence of the Four Major Immortal Sects.

It’s worth noting that, following the usual procedure, after the Incense Master views the matter, the host has to arrange a feast.

Yet when Lv Bai relayed Master Bai the Fourteenth’s words to Master Tao, this old Incense Master immediately decided to take Lv Bai and a few apprentices back to the county town, without lingering in the village.

Lv Bai initially had no opinions, as he held no sentiment towards that village.

However, while traveling, he learned from Master Tao about Master Bai the Fourteenth’s prominence, and vaguely felt that what happened last night was a bit peculiar.

Having two Hu Sect Immortals suddenly causing trouble might be tolerable, but wouldn’t those two fox spirits know this is Master Bai the Fourteenth’s domain?

Moreover, seeing Master Tao summon Master Bai the Fourteenth with Divine Communication, yet they still dared to fight back without fleeing.

This seems recklessly oblivious to death.

Unfortunately, the information he could access was still too limited, so Lv Bai pondered and couldn’t find a reasonable explanation, opting to assume those two fox spirits had gone mad.

As the group ventured deeper into the forest, they noticed an increasing silence around, bird calls and insect sounds became faint.

Lv Bai inexplicably felt some watchful eyes growing in the dark woods.

Master Tao led ahead without speaking much, quietly took out a stick of incense and lit it from his pack.

He bowed in four directions: "Enemies, lifting our heads we won’t see, lowering heads we might, let’s show each other some respect."

Upon these words, there was a rustling sound around.

Moments later, the feeling of being watched indeed vanished.

Master Tao glanced at Lv Bai, waved a gesture signaling everyone to follow him, explaining in a low voice: "Don’t be fooled by us Incense Masters looking imposing among villagers, mainly relying on Master Bai the Fourteenth’s power, avoid provoking evil spirits easily, if encountered, still better talk about etiquette first."

Lv Bai nodded, then felt something was off.

Why tell me this?

Master Tao, being an Incense Master for so many years, discerned immediately Lv Bai’s confusion.

He laughed and said, "I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about Master Bai the Fourteenth, yet never seen him so eager to meet someone, in a short time, we will surely become colleagues."

It’s actually quite understandable.

Since Master Bai the Fourteenth didn’t harm Lv Bai on site and was so kind, besides Lv Bai not knowing him prior.

Thus, the intent behind meeting Lv Bai became clear.

"Doesn’t Master Bai the Fourteenth already have you as an Incense Master?" Lv Bai mused.

"Having just me isn’t enough."

Master Tao chuckled.

In fact, most highly skilled immortals have more than one Incense Master.

In this region, Master Tao indeed acts as steward for several villages.

Yet Master Bai the Fourteenth’s domain far exceeds these few villages.

His establishment is in the county, encompassing dozens of villages large and small.

Therefore, Master Bai the Fourteenth currently has over twenty Incense Masters under him.

Gaining or losing one doesn’t affect other Incense Masters much.

Ultimately, they inherently lacked the ability to harness all of Master Bai the Fourteenth’s mana, at most encountering conflicts in Divine Communication.

Yet the issue remains, most Incense Masters are prone to seeing Incense than supporting Incense, seldom serving as Oblivious Masters.

Lv Bai nodded thoughtfully.

He recognized his talent should be quite good, though he somewhat resisted being possessed by an immortal.

Even knowing Master Bai the Fourteenth’s good nature, protecting a territory in turbulent times, he still couldn’t accept his body getting taken over by an immortal.

...

Walking in the dark forest, the perception of time and space becomes blurred.

When Lv Bai followed Master Tao and three apprentices out of the woods, it was nearing evening.

No need to worry about traveling by night, as a medium-sized county town was already in sight.

"There it is ahead."

Master Tao waved his hand, signaling everybody to speed up.

Along the road extending from the county town gates, Lv Bai briskly followed.

It must be said, Lv Bai felt Master Tao hadn’t taught the three apprentices genuine skills, except for outstanding stamina training.

Having stayed awake all night and traveled long, those three apprentices still looked spirited.

The gate guard obviously recognized Master Tao, nodding in acknowledgment, too lazy to inspect, allowing them into the town directly.

Under Master Tao’s guidance, they headed straight for Master Bai the Fourteenth’s domain at the town center.

Probably because Master Bai the Fourteenth was stationed here, the town’s commerce was quite prosperous, various calls along the way seldom encountering lifeless passersby.

These rare signs of earthly life significantly relaxed Lv Bai, who traveled long in the woods.

Master Bai the Fourteenth’s domain was a mansion, the vermillion door quite reminiscent of wealthy family grandeur.

Thud~ Thud~ Thud~

Master Tao picked up the ring on the door knocker and tapped rhythmically.

Immediately, the door opened on its own.

Master Tao promptly led his three apprentices to respectfully bow.

Then turned to Lv Bai and said, "Master Bai the Fourteenth is inside, follow me."

The three apprentices stayed outside the door, partly because they weren’t qualified to meet Master Bai the Fourteenth yet.

Also to prevent passive "detachment."

On the way, Master Tao roughly explained to Lv Bai the process of becoming an Incense Master.

This involves three steps: Grasp Technique, Initiation, Open Top.

Simply, it’s to first conduct a separation ritual to detach from original groups or environments.

This detachment process is called "Grasp Technique," people at this stage may suffer acute illnesses, usually manifesting as unconsciousness, fever, delusions, seeing anomalies, or behaving oddly.

The problem is, frequent contact with immortals can easily lead to these symptoms, which belongs to passive detachment.

Most people can’t withstand this stage, either die or go mad, best to minimize contact.

Of course, the better the talent, the milder the manifestation.

Like Master Tao, who just recovered after three days of vomiting and diarrhea, belongs to the type with very good talent.

The courtyard was serene, empty yet spotlessly clean.

They proceeded one after the other, heading into the main hall.

The incense altar was placed centrally in the main hall, the shrine adorned with fruits, vegetables, and three sticks of incense with rising wisps of blue smoke.

Lv Bai’s attention quickly focused on a painting in colorful style.

This painting hung above the shrine, depicting a middle-aged man seated cross-legged on a mat, with a round face and a silly smile, akin to a Maitreya Buddha.