"The day after tomorrow, I'll reach the second layer of Qi Refining, but I'm still only half-informed and lost in the clouds when it comes to cultivation and Daoist magic. There's far too much I need to learn!"
Li Qingyun knew his own situation. This body originally did not possess the slightest Dao Bone Spiritual Root; he could not even compare to He Xiao.
Moreover, limited by his lack of knowledge about the Daoist arts of this world, his understanding and comprehension of the Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art were merely average.
Those so-called Daoist scriptures and incantations he had read online in his previous life were vastly different from this world's, utterly incompatible, impossible to force together.
Lu Liqian's guidance in the Precious Furnace Art was several levels above his own!
Thus, he still needed to be diligent on the path of cultivation.
If he thought that having the mysterious Daoist effigy's phantom in his mind meant he could slack off and idle away his days, then he would only be holding himself back!
"Eh? The contents of this Compendium of Daoist Magic have clearly been cut up everywhere. It's missing this and that, and it feels awkward to read!"
Li Qingyun opened the Compendium of Daoist Magic, only to be greatly disappointed.
"I thought this was some comprehensive basic guide. Who would have thought I couldn't even learn how many major realms there were? Everything concerning realms above Dao Foundation has been deleted..."
Over the past three years, he had relied on Marquis Qinghe's Estate's connections to gather as much information on folk supernatural matters as possible, while doing his utmost to befriend unorthodox cultivators. He knew that the orthodox supernatural power system of this world definitely began with the two major realms of Qi Refining and Dao Foundation, but beyond that, he knew very little.
The unorthodox paths rooted among mortals were said to reach their peak at the Dao Foundation Realm. That was why he considered such methods to be castrated versions of supernatural power.
What especially surprised him was that he had once asked the Estate's Attendants whether immortals existed in this world.
Unexpectedly, the moment the word "immortal" left his lips, he touched upon a grave taboo. Those Attendants instantly lost their composure, their faces turning deathly pale and their expressions filled with terror, as though they had heard some forbidden subject. They immediately fell silent and even swept him, the Third Young Master, straight out the door.
After that, the Estate's several Attendants had refused to discuss cultivation with him again, avoiding it like snakes and scorpions.
Thus, a question had always troubled him: why was "immortal" a taboo in this world?
"Let's look at this one. This Daoist book should have been written by some mighty senior of the Lingbao Sect."
Li Qingyun picked up Lingbao Dao Lord's Answers to Doubts.
The Daoist book used a question-and-answer format to introduce and describe much cultivation knowledge, but roughly half its contents concerned the Lingbao Sect's own affairs. It bragged shamelessly about its own Daoist arts, revealing a certain air between every line—so long as one mastered the Lingbao True Dharma, one could easily subdue demons and vanquish devils, sit in oblivion and attain longevity, as though nothing were beyond one's power.
However, large portions of important content had also been cut away. There was still no explanation of the Dao Foundation Realm or anything above it.
"Is the Dao affinity I paid for really this worthless?"
Since they were all castrated editions, he simply sped up his reading.
In his previous life, surfing the internet, skimming quickly, and picking out the key points had already become instinctive.
One scripture after another rustled in his hands, occasionally drawing cold glances from the two formal disciples.
However, the two soon chose their spells and left.
Growing increasingly disappointed, Li Qingyun's gaze fell upon the bookshelf before him again. He casually reached out and pulled out a book.
In an instant, something felt strange in his heart.
The space before his eyes seemed to twist and ripple slightly!
Something was wrong with the book he had pulled out. This was not the one he had chosen!
"Maple Mountain Grudge Book? What a strange name. And it's leather-bound?"
The Daoist book in his hand gleamed dark red, as though foretelling something ominous.
Its pages were not made of paper, but some kind of strange hide—tough, yet thin as paper. He rubbed it twice, only to feel a trace of chill spreading from his fingertips.
It was as though some kind of grudge-filled force truly emanated from the Grudge Book.
"I'm no longer the man I was yesterday. Disperse!"
His mana surged, stirring his yang energy, and immediately forced back that trace of icy chill.
The Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art was originally a method of refining yang and absorbing qi through the Precious Furnace. The mana it cultivated carried the power of yang fire, making it particularly effective against cold, eerie things.
With surprise, curiosity, and inward vigilance, Li Qingyun slowly opened the Grudge Book's first page.
The scriptures on the first floor of the Scripture Repository were all castrated editions. He instead hoped that this strange, ghostly Maple Mountain Grudge Book might contain something genuine.
The moment he opened it, however, the dark-red page was entirely blank.
But immediately afterward, a line of blood-colored writing emerged, like flowing blood.
"I followed an ancient method, cultivated the Corpse Liberation Dao, and secretly buried myself amid the Cloud Mountains, hoping to attain immortality and become an immortal..."
"Yet the vile Daoists of Lingbao lay in wait nearby, severing my immortal path at the crucial moment. Later, they used my fate and fortune to evolve a blessed land and establish a Daoist grounds... I curse all thieving Daoists of the Lingbao Sect: may they die miserable deaths, never enter reincarnation, and fall forever into perdition..."
"Die die die die die!"
The twisted bloody words flashed rapidly in a frenzied state, with soaring resentment filling every line!
The final string of "die" curses suddenly transformed into a streak of bloody light and burrowed into Li Qingyun's left eye like lightning!
Li Qingyun's face changed drastically. His hands loosened, and the Grudge Book fell to the floor.
He felt a crazed, twisted resentment appear in his mind, seeking to devour his soul and seize this body!
For a moment, he was horrified beyond measure, while regret surged within him!
What should he do?
"Right, doesn't a mysterious... reside in my mind?"
His thoughts flashed like lightning, and he immediately sat down cross-legged to meditate.
In his mind, the phantom of that Daoist effigy also emerged at once.
The phantom wore an ancient robe and jade crown. Its eyes remained lowered, its features impossible to discern, like a statue that had lain silent for countless ages.
"Begone!"
Then, from the depths of his mind came a faint, indistinct cold rebuke.
Ah!
The dark-red resentment that had just invaded his mind was so shocked that, before it could do anything, it was instantly snuffed out by an invisible force like a cigarette butt being crushed!
It left behind no trace whatsoever!
Within his mind, the Daoist effigy's phantom remained vague-faced, with nothing but dimness behind it. It seemed as though nothing had happened; there was even a wisp of clear qi rising above its head.
Although "he" appeared wholly unconcerned, Li Qingyun knew that this mysterious Daoist effigy was the one who had acted.
A faint stabbing pain ran through his meridians. Li Qingyun hurriedly stopped meditating and stood up again, cold sweat seeping densely over his body.
His heart was still filled with lingering terror!
"I was careless. No wonder they say curiosity killed the cat! Eh, where is that Grudge Book...?"
He looked down at the floor, but the Maple Mountain Grudge Book he had dropped had vanished at some point.
He looked at the bookshelf again, but it was nowhere to be found there either.
It was as though it had never appeared at all!
He turned to look at the old Daoist guarding the first floor, only to see him dozing in a rattan chair, completely unaware of the disturbance here.
Forget it. Since nothing had happened, he should not go looking for trouble, or he would never be able to explain it clearly...
Li Qingyun made his choice in an instant.
He guessed that the eerie Maple Mountain Grudge Book and whatever lay behind it were likely secrets held by Lingbao Temple's upper ranks, perhaps even involving certain fundamental truths of this world.
"Corpse Liberation? Immortals? Revival?"
"Who would have thought that by chance, I'd glimpse some astonishing secrets in this bizarre Grudge Book!"
"Judging by that wisp of resentment, Maple Mountain was originally its Daoist grounds for Corpse Liberation. It wanted to use Corpse Liberation to become an immortal and achieve indestructibility—what lofty ambition! But the Daoists of the Lingbao Sect discovered it long ago and killed the 'immortal' that was about to revive at the crucial moment, cutting off all its hopes. Then that expert of the Lingbao Sect had not been thorough enough in his work and left behind a small loose end!"
"But are the immortals of this world really so weak? By the standards of my previous life, wouldn't achieving the Dao through Corpse Liberation count as becoming a Ghost Immortal...?"
He thought wildly, utterly distracted.
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