The Strange Grudge Book

"I'll reach the second level of Qi Refining tomorrow, but I still only have a vague understanding of so-called cultivation and Daoist magic. It's all a blur, and there's so much I need to learn!"

Li Qingyun knew his own situation. This body originally had no Dao Bone or Spiritual Root whatsoever, not even comparable to He Xiao.

Furthermore, due to his lack of knowledge about the Daoist magic of this world, his comprehension of the Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art was also mediocre.

The so-called Daoist scriptures and spells he read online in his previous life were vastly different from this world, incompatible and impossible to force together.

Lu Liqian's guidance on the Precious Furnace Art was on a completely different level from his!

Therefore, on the path of cultivation, he still had to work diligently.

To think that having that mysterious Daoist effigy phantom in his mind would allow him to slack off and be idle would be to hinder himself!

"Huh? The content in this Compendium of Daoist Magic is clearly edited everywhere, missing bits and pieces. It's so awkward to read!"

Li Qingyun opened the Compendium of Daoist Magic, only to be greatly disappointed.

"I thought this was a comprehensive basic text, but I didn't expect to even be unable to find out how many major realms there are. All the words related to the Dao Foundation and above have been deleted..."

Over the past three years, he had used the background of the Marquis Qinghe's Estate to collect as much information about supernatural phenomena circulating among the populace as possible. He had also made an effort to befriend some unorthodox cultivators. He knew that the top two realms of the orthodox supernatural power system in this world were definitely Qi Refining and Dao Foundation, but he was unclear about what came after.

Unorthodox paths rooted in the mortal world, it was said, reached their limit upon cultivating to the Dao Foundation realm. Therefore, he considered these methods to be emasculated versions of supernatural power.

What was even more surprising was when he had asked the retainers of the Marquis's Estate if there were Immortals in this world.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the word "Immortal" left his lips, he had touched a major taboo. Those retainers instantly lost their composure, their faces turned ashen, and they looked terrified, as if they had heard something forbidden. They immediately fell silent and even kicked him, the third young master, out.

After that, the retainers of the Marquis's Estate were unwilling to discuss cultivation with him anymore, avoiding him like the plague.

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 a powerful senior from the Lingbao Sect."

Li Qingyun picked up the Lingbao Dao Lord's Solutions again.

The Daoist book introduced and described a lot of cultivation knowledge in a question-and-answer format. However, about half of the content was about the Lingbao Sect's own affairs, boasting about their Daoist magic. The text was filled with a certain "air," suggesting that as long as one cultivated the true Lingbao methods, they could easily defeat demons and monsters, sit and forget to achieve longevity, and so on, as if they were omnipotent.

However, a large portion of important content was still missing, and there were still no explanations related to the Dao Foundation or above.

"The Daoist opportunities I bought with money are so worthless!"

Since they were all abridged versions, he began to speed up his reading.

Browsing quickly and grasping the main points online in his previous life had become an instinct.

He flipped through the scriptures one by one, the pages rustling loudly, often drawing sidelong glances from the two formal disciples.

However, the two quickly chose their spells and left.

Growing more disappointed, Li Qingyun's gaze fell upon the bookshelf in front of him, and he casually reached out to pull one out.

In an instant, he felt something strange.

In his vision, the space in front of him seemed to distort and ripple slightly!

Something was wrong with the one he pulled out; he hadn't chosen this one!

"Maple Mountain Grudge Book? What a strange name, and it's made of leather?"

The Daoist book in his hand emitted a dark red glow, as if foreshadowing some ill omen.

The pages were not made of paper but some kind of strange hide, tough yet thin as paper. He rubbed it a couple of times and felt a chill spread from his fingertips.

It was as if a malevolent resentment was emanating from the Grudge Book.

"I am no longer the me of yesterday. Disperse!"

He circulated his mana, his yang energy surged, instantly repelling the chilling sensation.

The Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art was a method of refining yang and absorbing qi within a precious furnace. The mana cultivated possessed the power of yang fire, making it easiest to deal with chillingly eerie entities.

Li Qingyun, with surprise and curiosity, and a sense of inner vigilance, slowly opened the first page of the Grudge Book.

The scriptures on the first floor of the Scripture Repository were all abridged versions. He actually hoped that this strange Maple Mountain Grudge Book might contain some genuine information.

As soon as he opened it, the dark red page was blank.

But immediately, a line of blood-red characters appeared, as if flowing blood.

"I originally followed ancient methods, cultivating the Corpse Liberation Dao, and was buried secretly in Yun Mountain, hoping for longevity and immortality..."

"Unexpectedly, the evil Dao of Lingbao lurked nearby, cutting off my path to immortality at a critical moment. Later, they used my fate to create a blessed land and set up a Daoist temple... I curse all the thieving Daoists of the Lingbao Sect to die horrible deaths, not enter reincarnation, and fall into eternal damnation..."

"Die die die die die!"

The twisted blood characters flashed rapidly in a state of madness, and the text was filled with overwhelming resentment!

The final string of "die" curses suddenly transformed into a beam of blood-red light and shot into Li Qingyun's left eye like lightning!

Li Qingyun turned pale with shock, his hands loosened, and the Grudge Book fell to the ground.

He only felt a surge of mad, twisted resentment in his mind, trying to devour his soul and possess his body!

For a moment, he was filled with indescribable horror and regret!

What should he do?

"Right, isn't there a mysterious... residing in my mind?"

His thoughts flashed like lightning, and he immediately sat down, cross-legged.

In his mind, the phantom Daoist effigy appeared instantly.

The phantom wore ancient robes and a jade crown, its eyes still lowered, its features indistinct, like a statue dormant for eons.

"Hmph!"

Then, from the depths of his mind, a faint, almost imperceptible cold reprimand echoed.

Ah!

The dark red resentment that had just invaded his mind, in its shock, had no time to react. It was extinguished like the end of a cigarette by an invisible force, instantly snuffed out!

Without leaving a trace!

In his mind, the phantom Daoist effigy's face remained blurred, its back shrouded in darkness, as if nothing had happened. A wisp of clear energy even rose from its head.

Although "it" appeared indifferent, Li Qingyun knew that it was this mysterious Daoist effigy that had acted.

His meridians tingled slightly, and Li Qingyun quickly withdrew from his meditative posture, standing up again, breaking out in a cold sweat.

His heart was still filled with trepidation!

"I was careless. No wonder they say curiosity killed the cat! Hmm, where's that grudge book..."

He looked at the ground. The [Maple Mountain Grudge Book] that had fallen earlier had disappeared without a trace.

It wasn't on the bookshelf either.

It was as if it had never appeared!

He turned to look at the old Daoist priest guarding the building on the first floor. He saw the old man dozing in his rattan chair, completely unaware of the commotion here.

Forget it. Since nothing happened, it's best not to look for trouble, otherwise, it would be hard to explain...

Li Qingyun made his decision in an instant.

He suspected that this strange [Maple Mountain Grudge Book] and whatever was behind it were likely high-level secrets of the Lingbao Temple, possibly even touching upon the fundamental nature of this world.

"Corpse Liberation? Immortal? Revival?"

"I never imagined that unintentionally, I'd uncover some incredible secrets in this peculiar grudge book!"

"According to that wisp of resentment, Maple Mountain was originally its dojo for Corpse Liberation, attempting to achieve immortal and eternal life through it. What arrogance! However, it was discovered by a Daoist priest of the Lingbao Sect long ago. At the critical moment, they killed the 'immortal' that was attempting to revive, crushing all its hopes. Then, that expert from the Lingbao Sect wasn't thorough enough and left a small loose end!"

"But are the immortals in this world this weak? According to my past life's understanding, achieving the Dao through Corpse Liberation is considered a Ghost Immortal..."

He mused aimlessly, somewhat absent-minded.