"Ah, Shopkeeper, what are you doing? Get up, get up…" Yuan Ming feigned surprise, hurrying forward to help him up.

However, Old Smoke Bag stubbornly refused to rise.

"Immortal Master, I saw everything earlier. That gold lump was turned from a stone in the courtyard by your Immortal Magic," Old Smoke Bag said, prostrating on the ground without daring to lift his head.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming stiffened while holding Old Smoke Bag's arm.

Old Smoke Bag immediately sensed his slight change and thought he had shocked Yuan Ming by revealing the secret.

"Immortal Master, please do not blame me. I did not intend to offend. It was an unintentional glimpse. Heaven and Earth are my witnesses; I dare not let a third person know even the slightest bit." He quickly added another apology, bowing even lower, his face now touching the ground.

At that moment, Yuan Ming let go of the hand supporting him and stood up straight but did not speak.

The courtyard suddenly fell silent, and as Old Smoke Bag couldn't see Yuan Ming's facial expressions, nor gauge his reaction, he began to regret his actions and felt annoyed. Sweat formed on his forehead and started trickling down, creating a small damp circle around his head.

Seeing the tension was enough, Yuan Ming at last let out a long sigh.

"Alas, I thought I had avoided the eyes of others, yet you still saw me. It appears it was fated. Well then, consider this piece of gold as payment for your lodging. I'll give it to you, and we can conclude this connection between us."

With those words from Yuan Ming, the image of a transcendent hermit was instantly established.

Old Smoke Bag's heart trembled violently, now fully convinced.

"Immortal Master, I am not greedy for wealth and dare not accept your gold, but I have longed for Immortal Skills since childhood. I only ask that you bestow kindness and teach me the Stone to Gold Technique, and I shall have no regrets in this life." He did not rise but kowtowed persistently, earnestly pleading.

"You wish for…" Yuan Ming appeared to be in great difficulty.

"Immortal Master, I beg you to teach me the way of the Immortals!" Old Smoke Bag's head struck the ground with a "thud, thud" as he spoke.

"To tell you the truth, the old Immortal Master who taught me the Magic once said that the Stone to Gold Technique must never be performed in front of outsiders. If it were to be inadvertently witnessed, a generous reward must be given to settle the karma. If you truly wish to learn, it's not that I can't teach you, but…" Yuan Ming started speaking when he felt the time was right.

"Immortal Master, if you have any conditions, just tell me." Old Smoke Bag saw an opportunity and eagerly moved a few steps closer to Yuan Ming on his knees, head raised, and spoke.

"It's not that I have any conditions. To learn the Stone to Gold Technique, one must be penniless and in dire straits. Only in such a state of mind can one truly comprehend the essence. Hence the saying: the law must not be casually transmitted, but to help the destitute is to do so." Yuan Ming, with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the void in front of him, spoke slowly.

Old Smoke Bag was initially startled by these words but, upon reflecting on them, he felt there was some truth to it. Yet, the thought of all his hard-earned wealth made him hesitant and anxious.

"About a year ago, I woke up completely destitute in a graveyard. If it were not for the old Immortal Master who came to my rescue, I would probably have lost my life by now." Yuan Ming continued fabricating his story, somewhat sentimentally.

Old Smoke Bag, lying on the ground, heard this and his heart trembled again.

But then he heard Yuan Ming continue, "The old Immortal Master saw my plight and my empty pockets, my utter despair, fitting the criteria for learning the Stone to Gold Technique. Out of pity for my circumstances, he taught me this Magic. But now, you live a life of comfort, unable to experience these emotions; naturally, you won't be able to learn it."

Old Smoke Bag, relieved that Yuan Ming didn't elaborate further on the graveyard, soon got up to his old tricks.

"Immortal Master, if I were to give away all my property and become penniless, would I then be able to learn it?" Old Smoke Bag lifted his head, craning his neck to look at Yuan Ming, and asked.

"Indeed," Yuan Ming nodded.

Old Smoke Bag was overjoyed. If he possessed such a technique, what would his current wealth matter? Wouldn't it be easy to earn it all back with a flick of his fingers?

"Then Immortal Master, after learning the Stone to Gold Technique, one doesn't have to remain penniless, right?" Old Smoke Bag cautiously asked.

"Of course not, do I look like someone without a penny to my name?" Yuan Ming chuckled lightly as he responded.

"No, not at all," Old Smoke Bag said repeatedly.

He was already calculating in his heart, planning to pass all his property to his son and then learn the Magic, a perfect solution without fail.

"However, I must remind you, if you really want to learn the Stone to Gold Technique, not only must you be bereft of any property, but your relatives must also be devoid of any assets. You must truly be in a state of destitution, otherwise, without a firm dao heart, it will all be in vain." Yuan Ming saw through his scheming and spoke up right away.

Upon hearing this, Old Smoke Bag furrowed his brow and hesitated again, his expression changing between hope and doubt.

But soon, he made up his mind, willing to make a sacrifice for the greater gain.

"Immortal Master passing on the Immortal Technique to me is no small matter. Since I cannot have even a penny to my name, I will simply transfer all my wealth to you, in exchange for you teaching me the Stone to Gold Technique." Old Smoke Bag kowtowed again.

"Though I have no interest in money, your heartfelt sincerity shows we indeed have a destiny. Once I have taught you this technique, remember that you must not perform it where others can see. If somebody does see it, their wishes must be fulfilled as well." Yuan Ming nodded slightly, giving his caution.

"I will definitely bear that in mind, definitely bear that in mind," Old Smoke Bag said over and over, heart swelling with joy as he kowtowed repeatedly.

"Rise. Since I have promised you, I shall rest here half a day more. Go and make the necessary preparations, and when you return, I will teach you the mnemonic and the key points of the casting." Yuan Ming spoke.

"Immortal Master, please wait inside the room for a moment," Old Smoke Bag kowtowed once, stood up, and hurriedly went to the front courtyard.

It wasn't long before Old Smoke Bag returned, clutching a deep purple wooden chest in his arms.

Upon entering the room, he immediately closed the door behind him and placed the rather heavy chest on Yuan Ming's table.

"Immortal Master, this is my entire wealth. I haven't withheld a single penny; it's all yours," Old Smoke Bag explained, slightly out of breath from his rush.

Yuan Ming didn't open it but simply waved his hand over it, and the chest vanished into thin air.

Old Smoke Bag's pupils involuntarily dilated at this sight.

What is this? This is truly the ability of an immortal!

Yuan Ming's expression remained unchanged, and he took on even more the air of a transcendent hermit.

"For your first attempt, you must not have any gold, silver, or jade items on your person, as these will lead to the failure of the magic," Yuan Ming said, glancing meaningfully at the pipe in Old Smoke Bag's hand.

"Had the Immortal Master not reminded me, I would have forgotten about this," the latter said, startled at first, then realizing his oversight.

With that, he removed the White Jade Ring that was hanging on his pipe, untied the red string wrapped around it, and placed it on the table.

Yuan Ming waved his hand again, and the Jade Ring also disappeared.

"The spell incantation can only be memorized by heart, not copied by pen. You must remember it well," Yuan Ming instructed with a glance.

Old Smoke Bag nodded rapidly upon hearing this.

After a moment of reflection, Yuan Ming concocted a few mnemonic phrases similar to "Heavenly Spirit, Earth Spirit" and taught them to Old Smoke Bag.

Though Old Smoke Bag was old, his memory was surprisingly sharp when it came to this matter.

Yuan Ming only taught it twice, and he had firmly memorized it.

"You must remember, when casting this spell, it must be done at sunrise each day. Find a spacious spot in the courtyard, step the Gang Step with sincerity, and recite the mnemonic while paying respect to the heavens and earth," Yuan Ming reminded.

Recalling how Yuan Ming had circled the courtyard that morning while chanting under his breath, Old Smoke Bag had a moment of realization and nodded energetically, like pounding garlic.

"The first casting is extremely important. You must fast and bathe the day before, ensuring you are penniless and have sincere thoughts. If the first attempt fails, it will go against the Way of Heaven, and you'll never succeed thereafter," Yuan Ming demonstrated the Gang Step once, then continued.

Old Smoke Bag repeatedly nodded, restraining his excitement and eagerness.

Casting such Immortal Skills should indeed come with such complex rituals; otherwise, it would be too frivolous.

"From now on, abstain from meat and fish, prepare hot water, and bathe tonight to cleanse yourself. Wait for the first light of tomorrow. Time is almost due, our karmic ties are settled, and I must be on my way. Take care," said Yuan Ming, standing up to leave.

"Why doesn't the Immortal Master stay for one more night so I can host you properly?" Old Smoke Bag hastily suggested upon hearing this.

Yuan Ming's face suddenly hardened.

"I have spent half a day instructing you at the expense of my own time. What, do you not believe me?" he said, feigning indignation.

"Not at all, not at all," Old Smoke Bag quickly kowtowed. Having witnessed Yuan Ming's immortal methods, he truly did not dare to doubt him, though there was still a hint of unease in his heart.

Yuan Ming had long seen through Old Smoke Bag's thoughts and casually waved his hand, causing the purple chest to appear in front of Old Smoke Bag.

"If you don't trust me, feel free to keep these possessions. I've already fulfilled your wish and settled my karma without any burden left. Let us part ways now," Yuan Ming said, then got up and walked out.

"Immortal Master..."

He had barely touched the door when a call came from Old Smoke Bag.

In an urgent tone, he said, "I dare not distrust the Immortal Master. Since you wish to leave, I shall not insist you stay. Please take these worldly belongings with you."

Yuan Ming chuckled inwardly, but his expression had to maintain the stillness of a sage.

"Those who desire, covet; those who envy, resent; only those who trust will achieve enlightenment..." he chanted softly, picked up the chest off the ground, opened the door, and left with a flourish of his sleeve.

"Farewell, Immortal Master..." Old Smoke Bag promptly got up to see him off. Now, the last bit of worry in his heart had completely disappeared.

After Yuan Ming's departure, Old Smoke Bag did as told, bathing and cleansing himself, making sure he was squeaky clean, and to be on the safe side, he even decided to skip dinner. Lying in bed, he turned restlessly, too excited to sleep. If possible, he wished he could just pull the sun out right now.

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