Chapter 156: Digital Shade Recipe, Flower Wine mystery

第一百五十六节：照影秘方，花酒迷离

Translator: Skyfarrow Editor: Skyfarrow

“Lord Fang Yuan, this way towards the secret room, please enter.” In the dark eerie tunnel, a Rank two old Gu Master walked in front, leading the way for Fang Yuan.

“方源大人，这边就是密室了，您请进。”幽暗的地下甬道中，一位二转蛊师老者，在前面走着，为方源领路。

The secret room that held all the Gu worm combination recipes of the clan, was not far ahead.

收藏着家族中蛊虫合炼秘方的密室，就在前方不远处。

Fang Yuan advanced to Rank three, thus his status had a 180 degree change. All the fusion recipes kept in the clan – as long as they were not Rank four or five recipes, he had the authority to look through.

方源晋升家老，身份地位就有了翻天覆地的改变。家族中收藏的合炼秘方，只要不是四转、五转，他都有权利可以尽情查看。

If it was a Rank one or two Gu Master, to look through the recipes, they would need to pay primeval stones or exchange using merit points.

若是普通的一转、二转蛊师，要阅览秘方，就必须利用元石以及战功换取。

This secret room was in the basement of the village, at a very hidden location. Even if the village was eradicated, this secret room would still remain.

这密室位处山寨地下，十分隐秘。即便是山寨都被抹平了，这处密室还会存在着。

Back then, the Gu Yue clan’s creator, the first generation clan leader, found a primeval essence spring inside this underground cave, thus deciding to build his village here.

当初，古月山寨的创始者，一代族长，就是在此地下溶洞中发现了元气灵泉，才下定决心，在此立寨。

Through the generations of development and growth by the clan leaders, Gu Yue clan’s underground cave had become the Gu Yue clan secret base.

经过历代族长的经营和发展，古月山寨的地下溶洞已经成为古月一族的秘密基地。

Normally, ordinary Gu Masters did not have the rights to appear at this location. Only clan elders, the clan leader, and the Dark Hall’s Gu Masters in charge of protecting the place had such authority.

平日里，寻常蛊师都没有资格出入这里，只有家老和族长，以及负责把守这里的暗堂蛊师才能有这样的权利。

Many Gu Masters had only been there once in their lives.

很多蛊师终其一生，也只来过一次。

That is during the awakening ceremony, where the youngsters would come to the primeval spring sea, hoping to awaken their aperture.

那就是资质大典，少年们都会来到元泉花海处，通过希望蛊开启空窍。

Other than this, unless there is a special reason, entry to this underground cave is prohibited for all people. Even the Gu Master guarding the place is picked after careful consideration.

除此之外，若非特殊原因，地下溶洞是绝对禁止闲杂人等进入。就连把守这里的蛊师，都是经过严格甄选。

After all, the primeval spring in this underground cave is the entire foundation of the Gu Yue village. From the spring center, large amounts of primeval stones are produced, and that sustains the Gu Master cultivation of the entire clan.

毕竟地下溶洞中的元泉，是整个古月山寨的根基。从它泉眼中凝结而出的大量元石，支撑着古月一族所有蛊师的修行。

In the tunnel, two sets of footsteps could be heard.

走在甬道中。两人的脚步声不断地在回响。

Far away, the sound of river water flowing sounded — that is the underground river in the cave.

依稀传来河水流淌的潺潺之音——那是溶洞中的地下河。

A moment later, the Gu Master leading the way brought Fang Yuan to a rock door.

片刻后，蛊师领着方源来到一处石门。

He patted his belly, and a Gu worm flew out of his aperture. As sparks flied, it knocked onto the rock door.

他一拍肚皮，从空窍中飞出一只蛊，电光火石之间，就撞上石门。

The rock door’s surface rippled, like a rock thrown into the water. Soon after, the rock wall blinked and gradually faded away, showing the secret room behind.

石门表面波荡了一下，如水面投入一颗石子。紧接着，石门表面光影变幻了一番后。渐渐消失，露出里面的密室。

The secret room’s size was rather small, being only 666 ⅔ m². Every few steps, there would be a rock table half the height of a person. Tens of rock tables had a white jade plate on them, and on the plate there was a Gu worm silently resting.

密室面积并不小，有一亩大小。每隔几步。就有一座半人高的石桌。数十张石桌上摆着白玉盘子，盘子中往往静静地栖息着一只蛊虫。

These Gu worms had all sorts of colours, being around the size of a fist; they had very similar appearances, like silkworms. On its head, there were two compound eyes like bees or dragonflies, it was colourful and looked like shiny glass. However the surface was not soft, but covered in a layer of insect shell, and the shell even had golden lustre.

这些蛊虫，各种颜色都有。约有一个拳头大小，外形也很相似，仿佛是蚕。头部上长有两只蜜蜂蜻蜓似的复眼。复眼色彩斑斓，如珐琅琉璃。只是表面并不柔软，披着一层幽亮的甲壳，甲壳上还泛着金属光泽。

“Lord Fang Yuan, this is your first time to the secret room, so let me explain. These are Rank two Digital Shade Gu, all have recipes recorded in them. In the green Digital Shade Gu worms, almost all the Rank one recipes can be found in them. As for the red-black coloured Gu, there are Rank two recipes. White contains the Rank three recipes, and orange has the Rank four recipes. As for Rank five, it is contained in the most central purple Digital Shade Gu worms.”

“方源大人，您是第一次来这密室。我就给您介绍一下。这些二转的照影蛊中，都记载着秘方。青绿颜色的照影蛊中，是家族中几乎所有的一转秘方。红黑颜色的照影蛊中，则是二转秘方。白色的蛊里是三转秘方。橘黄色的照影蛊中。则是四转秘方。至于五转秘方，当然就在最中央石台中的那只紫色照影蛊中了。”

Beside him, the old Gu Master introduced appropriately.

一旁，蛊师老者适时地介绍道。

Digital Shade Gu was a recording type of Gu worm. Just one step further in advancement, and it would be the Rank three Photo-audio Gu.

照影蛊是一种能记录影像的蛊虫，再进一步，就是三转的留影存声蛊了。

After the Photo-audio Gu is refined, it not only can store a recording, but can also record the voices as well. In the rock crack secret cave, the Flower Wine Monk used a Photo-audio Gu to inform Fang Yuan of the inheritance details.

合炼成留影存声蛊之后。不仅能回溯影像，更能听得响动。在石缝秘洞中，花酒行者就用一只留影存声蛊，给方源留下了关于传承的遗言。

But to record down recipes, voices are not necessary, thus the Digital Shade Gu is enough.

但记录秘方，并不需要声音，因此照影蛊也就足够了。

Fusion recipes, these were very precious. Using normal bamboo paper to record them, if they were stolen, not only can they refine the Gu Yue clan’s specialty Gu worms, it is also a huge leak of the clan’s information.

合炼秘方这种东西。十分珍贵。用寻常的竹纸记载的话，被人偷盗去，不仅能合炼出古月一族的特有蛊虫，而且对家族的情报是一种严重的泄露。

Knowing the enemy leads to easier battles, and experienced Gu Masters can learn about the strengths and weaknesses of a Gu worm from the refinement recipe.

知己知彼百战不殆，经验丰富的蛊师从一个秘方中，就能看出合炼出来的蛊虫的优劣长短。

Once it is leaked, towards a clan the loss would be severe. In future when they battle, the Gu Masters from that clan may also be disadvantaged in Gu worms.

秘方若是被泄露，对于一个家族来讲，损失是重大的。将来蛊师作战，本族的蛊师很有可能就被敌方针对克制。

Thus, recipes were strictly controlled, and as classified by ranks, stored appropriately.

所以秘方向来严格控制，分级控制，并且特殊保存。

Digital Shade Gu was easier to refine and had a low cost, thus it was a common method to contain recipes.

照影蛊比较容易炼制，成本不高，是最常见的一种保存秘方的方式。

“Lord Fang Yuan, these Digital Shade Gu all belong to the Secret Hall clan elder. But it would not impede you from using primeval essence and browsing through. Just that with your current identity, you cannot browse the Rank four and five recipes. There’s also two more things — the secret room is the clan’s red zone, your every action here is observed fully in secret. Everyday, you can only stay here for fifteen minutes. Once the time is up, you must leave,” the Gu Master continued speaking.

“方源大人，这些照影蛊都是秘堂家老所有，但并不妨碍你催动真元，进行阅览。只是以您如今的身份，却还不能阅览四转、五转的秘方。还有两点：密室是家族重地，您在这里的一举一动，都受到暗中的监视。您每天每次在这密室，只能待上一刻钟。时间耗尽之后，您就得出来了。”蛊师老者这时又道。

“Mm, I understand.” Fang Yuan nodded.

“嗯，我明白了。”方源点头。

“Lord Fang Yuan, this subordinate has no authority to enter, thus I will wait at the door. Once the time is up, I will bring you out,” the old man bowed.

“方源大人，属下没有权利进去，就站在门口。时间一到，就会唤您出来的。”老者躬身道。

Fang Yuan walked into the secret room. Once he entered, the rock door turned from virtual to solid, trapping him in the room alone.

方源举步迈进密室，刚走进去，背后的石门就由虚转实，将他一个人关在了密室当中。

Walking in the secret room, it was peaceful. The echoes of his footsteps could be heard bouncing off the walls as the surrounding walls had Water Light Gu in them.

走在密室中，一片沉静。脚步声在耳边回响，四周墙壁上，镶嵌着几只水光蛊。

Their bodies emitted a light, wavering like water, interchanging between light and shadow, with layers after layers shining indefinitely.

从它们身上散发的光，波荡如水，光影变幻间，层层澜澜，明晦不定。

Fang Yuan took a red-black coloured Gu worm and injected his white silver primeval essence inside. Immediately two beams of light shot out from the Digital Shade Gu’s compound eyes.

方源信手取出一只红黑色的蛊虫，白银真元灌注进去，顿时从照影蛊的两只复眼中照射出两柱彩光。

He raised the Gu up, and pointed the eyes at the white jade plate on the table.

他稍稍高举照影蛊，将复眼对准石台上的白玉盘。

Two beams of light hit the white jade plate, and after some fluctuations, words started to appear.

两道彩光在白玉盘上交汇，一阵变幻之后，显现出文字来。

This was the recipe on how to refine the Moonscar Gu.

这是一篇如何合炼出月痕蛊的秘方。

First it listed the Moonscar Gu’s strengths, which was the increase in attack distance, twice of the Moonlight Gu. The weakness was the subpar attack.

首先是名列出月痕蛊的优劣，月痕蛊的优点在于攻击距离，是月光蛊的一倍。缺点在于攻击力并不出众。

Next was the refinement recipe — Moonscar Gu is refined from fusing the Moonlight Gu and Scar Rock Gu.

然后是合炼秘方的内容——月痕蛊是月光蛊和痕石蛊合炼而出。

Next is the important points for refining this Gu, the crux was — if during the refinement, some jade rock is added in, or done during a night when there is abundant moonlight and exposed to it, there would be a higher chance of success.

其次是合炼的注意事项，合炼时的窍门——若在合炼中途，增添一些玉石。或者在月光充足的夜晚，露天合炼，将有更高的成功率。

Lastly, it is the experiences of the Gu Masters who had attempted to fuse this Gu. This had the greatest content, almost up to ten thousand words.

最后是历代合炼者的心得体会。这处内容最多，洋洋洒洒，上万余字。

Fang Yuan took a look and memorised some things to heart.

方源看了，将一些东西暗记在心。

It was after all countless people’s experiments and tries, and the experienced gathered from numerous attempts. Some information, even Fang Yuan did not know.

到底是经过无数人的经营和实践，得出来的经验结晶。一些内容，就算是方源也不知道。

After all, Moonlight Gu is a unique Gu to the Gu Yue clan. In his previous life, he had never become a clan elder or came here to browse the recipes.

毕竟，月光蛊是古月一族的特有蛊虫。在他前世，也从未得到过家老之位，来到这里阅览。

Time was limited, so Fang Yuan quickly took a look and placed the Digital Shade Gu back to its spot, then picked up a white coloured Gu to observe.

时间有限，方源匆匆一瞥，就把手中的照影蛊放回原处，然后专挑白色的照影蛊观看。

In the white Digital Shade Gu, there was the Rank three fusion recipes.

白色的照影蛊中，记载的都是三转蛊虫的合炼秘方。

Most of the recipes did not suit Fang Yuan, as they needed Gu worms like Moonwhirl or Moonscar Gu as the base.

大部分并不适合方源，所需的蛊虫都是以月旋蛊，月痕蛊等等为底子。

Fang Yuan did not look through closely; to save time, he skimmed through.

方源没有细看，为了节省时间，匆匆一览。

He first used the Moonlight Gu to fuse with the Little Light Gu to form Moonglow Gu. On that basis, there was only three refinement recipes worth using.

他先前月光蛊配合小光蛊，合炼成月芒蛊。在月芒蛊的基础上，真正让方源看得入眼的合炼秘方，只有三个。

First was the Rank three Golden moon, with the same ten steps of shooting distance, but the attack power is increased once again. Once shot out, the golden coloured crescent moon would nearly be half a man tall, and had a strong imposing aura.

第一个是三转蛊虫黄金月，射程仍旧是十步不变，但是攻击威力再度增强。一经射出，金黄色的月牙，足有半人高，透着一丝威武霸气。

Second was the Frost Moon Gu. The moonblade becomes eerie white and icy, having an element of ice to it. Whoever it hurts will be invaded by the coldness, moving slowly.

第二个是霜霖月蛊，月刃幽白冰冷，透着一股寒霜之气。中者将冰寒入体，行动缓慢。

The third is the Illusory Moon Gu. This Gu was more unique — it is not used to attack, but once activated, it can allow the Gu Master to create a shadow clone to attract attacks and confuse the enemy.

第三个是幻影月蛊。这蛊比较特殊，不是用来进攻，一经催动，就能令蛊师化出一道幻影，起到分散火力，迷惑敌人的作用。

Especially when this Illusory moon Gu, once refined, can be used as the basis for the Rank four Moonshadow Gu.

尤其是这幻影月蛊，若是合炼出来，以此为晋升基础，再往上就是四转的月影蛊。

“Moonshadow Gu can be implanted into a Gu Master’s aperture and suppress them from using primeval essence.” In the information on the Illusory Moon Gu, there was only some vaguely explained information about the Moonshadow Gu, as reference.

“月影蛊，能种入蛊师空窍，压制住蛊师真元的使用。”在关于幻影蛊的记载中，也稍稍透露了一些月影蛊的信息，提供一种参考。

“Moonshadow Gu… isn’t that the Gu worm used by the fourth generation clan leader to sneak an attack on the Flower Wine Monk?” Fang Yuan seeing this, frowned deeply.

“月影蛊……不就是四转族长暗算了花酒行者，使用的蛊虫么？”方源看到这里，心中暗动，眉头则微皱起来。

In this world, there are countless Gu worms, and even with his five hundred years of experience, he only knew less than 0.001% of all the Gu worms in this world.

这世界蛊虫繁多芜杂，就算是他有五百年经历，真正所知的蛊虫也只是万千之一。

He originally had a rough idea of the Moonshadow Gu, but now that he knew the Gu worm’s effect, suspicion rose in his heart.

他原先对月影蛊一知半解，如今知道这蛊的作用，心中疑惑顿生。

Moonshadow Gu had a unique use. It was able to suppress 30% of the primeval essence in a Rank four Gu Master’s aperture, 15% of a Rank five, and 60% of a Rank three Gu Master. That means, with a C grade talent like Fang Yuan, only having 40~50%, if they were hit by this Moonshadow Gu, they would be unable to deploy a single ounce of primeval essence, losing all their battle strength and were as good as crippled.

月影蛊作用特殊，能压制四转蛊师三成真元，五转蛊师一成半，三转蛊师六成真元。也就是说，类似方源的丙等资质，只有四五成真元的蛊师，若是中了这月影蛊，一点真元都动用不了，战斗力暴降，等若直接被废。

Of course, if it were Fang Yuan, if the Moonshadow Gu was used on him, it would be ‘throwing a meatbun at the dog’ – what’s gone can never come back.

当然，若是方源本人，月影蛊对付他，就是肉包子打狗有去无回。

That is because once the Moonshadow Gu enters his aperture, the Spring Autumn Cicada will demonstrate its dominance, and under its aura, the Moonshadow Gu would be instantly refined by him, and become his.

皆因月影蛊一旦进入他的空窍当中，春秋蝉就会发威，气势压迫之下，月影蛊反而被方源瞬间炼化，成为他手中之物。

What puzzled Fang Yuan, was not the Moonshadow Gu’s effect, but the Flower Wine Monk.

让方源疑惑的是，不是月影蛊的作用，而是花酒行者。

“I remember that on the shadow wall, the Flower Wine Monk was bathed in blood, full of injuries. Firstly, his battle with the fourth generation clan leader and elders only gave him mild injuries. I thought those severe injuries were caused by this Moonshadow Gu, but to think that this Moonshadow Gu is only used to suppress primeval essence, crippling the Gu Master. Then where did the Flower Wine Monk get his severe injuries from?”

“我记得那影壁上，花酒行者的形象是浑身浴血，伤口满布。先前他和四代以及家老激战，都是些轻伤。那些重伤，原本以为是这月影蛊造成的，没有想到月影蛊的作用只是压制真元，令蛊师不能动用。那么花酒行者那严重伤势究竟是怎么来的？”

Fang Yuan’s thoughts were meticulous, thus becoming more suspicious. Back then, when the Flower Wine Monk lost to the clan elders and escaped, what actually happened?

方源心思谨慎，越想越疑惑。花酒行者当年战败家老，暂时撤离后，到底发生了什么事情？

Moonshadow Gu was not the cause of his death. So then, what was?

月影蛊不是致他死亡的主要原因，那么究竟是什么原因呢？

At once, the originally clear Flower Wine Monk inheritance, became a complete mystery to Fang Yuan again.

一下子，原本清晰的花酒行者遗藏，又在方源眼中，显得扑朔迷离起来。

“Lord Fang Yuan, it has been fifteen minutes, I believe you have had some gains. No matter what, please come again tomorrow.” At this point, the door turned into an astral state again, as the old Gu Master stood outside and said respectfully.

“方源大人，已经一刻钟了，相信您定有一些收获。不管如何，请明天再来罢。”就在这时，石门又幻化为虚无，蛊师老者站在门口恭谨地说道。

“Okay.” Fang Yuan’s gaze shone as he put down the Digital Shadow Gu, leaving the secret room.

“好。”方源目光闪了闪，放下了手中的照影蛊，就出了密室。

Regardless of whether it is the Golden moon, Frost moon, or Illusory moon, these refinement recipes were not what he wanted. That is because they all consumed large amounts of moon orchid flower petals.

不管是黄金月，还是霜霖月、幻影月，这些合炼配方都不是他想要的。皆因这些蛊虫，食用的都是大量的月兰花瓣。

Moon orchid flower petals were hard to store, only able to live for a few days. In Fang Yuan’s plans, he wanted to leave the Gu Yue clan and roam the world. If he refined these Gu, without any food they would die in half a year. He might as well not refine them.

月兰花瓣极难存储，只能保质数天。方源的计划中，他要离开古月山寨，闯荡世间的。要是合炼了这些蛊，没有食物喂养它们，大半年之后就死了。还不如不炼制呢。

However, there were still Rank three recipes that he did not manage to see.

不过，还有些三转秘方，他没有观看。

“I’ll come again tomorrow, I guess.” Such a thought flashed across his mind.

“明天再来罢。”这样的念头在他心中闪过。

《蛊真人》中英文对照版 第一百五十六节：照影秘方，花酒迷离

《蛊真人》中英文对照版第一百五十六节：照影秘方，花酒迷离