Discussing Souls

"My name is Xu Yi. I hope Head Gu will look out for me in the future!"

Ever since he annihilated the Zhou Family, Xu Yi had planned to go into hiding.

It would have been best to stay away, but being able to blend into the government also fit the principle of the greatest hiding place being in plain sight.

Moreover, continuing to stay in Guang'an aligned with the theory that the most dangerous place is the safest.

Gu Jianming laughed heartily, "That's easy to say. How about this, Brother Yi, after lunch, head to the Patrol Division east of town to collect your uniform and equipment. For now, I suggest Brother Yi go to Jianlan Wine House west of town and buy a gourd of the finest Bamboo Leaf Green!"

"What does Head Gu mean by this?" Xu Yi vaguely guessed the answer.

Gu Jianming said, "I heard about what happened in class. Brother Yi, you have a strategic mind but haven't met a renowned teacher. Today, you've encountered Master Zhou, which must be like finding rain in a drought. However, the hall was crowded and noisy, making it difficult to speak freely, so you must have regrets. Although Master Zhou isn't from Furong Town, he has taught at our Martial Arts Hall several times over the past twenty years. I understand his temperament somewhat; he loves Bamboo Leaf Green wine the most and always buys a gourd whenever he comes to Furong Town. He's likely drinking alone at Canglang Pavilion by the Dragon Whisker River right now. If Brother Yi has any unresolved questions, you can buy a pot of Bamboo Leaf Green and take it there."

So thoughtful, incredibly thoughtful!

With a whoosh, Xu Yi's legs moved rapidly, and he darted out the door.

The Dragon Whisker River, a branch of the Nielong River, got its name from occupying the dragon's whisker position of the Nielong River.

The river water was clear and cold, winding its way through the landscape. With good water, beautiful scenery naturally formed. On both sides of the embankment, fine trees grew in abundance, their green shadows dancing.

Xu Yi, carrying two large gourds, ran at full speed along the riverbank.

"This way!"

As Xu Yi was looking around for the pavilion, a voice suddenly called out.

Following the sound, he saw Master Zhou sitting on a rock by the river, waving vigorously at him.

Xu Yi was stunned for a moment. He quickened his pace and walked over. Before he even got close, Master Zhou lunged forward, snatched the two wine gourds from his hands, pulled out the stoppers, took a large gulp, and said with a smile, "Good wine, good wine! It truly is exquisite Bamboo Leaf Green. It's been tickling my nose from afar. With the meager salary I earn each month, I could never afford such a fine wine. Today, I'm truly indulging." As he spoke, he took another large gulp, even wetting his beard.

Xu Yi remained silent, quietly watching him drink heartily.

After emptying more than half of one gourd, Master Zhou finally remembered that there was someone standing beside him who had brought the wine. Even with his thick skin, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. He pointed to a nearby rock and invited Xu Yi to sit down.

"I know why you're here. I noticed you in the hall earlier; you're a thoughtful young man. Now, you've rushed over here like your pants are on fire, carrying my favorite Bamboo Leaf Green. You must have been guided by a master. Fine, who am I to resist the wine bug in my belly? Two gourds of wine, two questions!"

The old man was straightforward; he took the gift and fulfilled his promise.

This was exactly what Xu Yi wanted, so he didn't stand on ceremony. He said, "You said something in class that I remember very clearly: 'One can move the soul with sincerity.' This means that when one cultivates to the Qi Sea Realm, the physical body reaches its limit, and a connection between heaven and man begins. So, I'd like to ask, do people really have souls? When do souls appear? What is the effect of a strong soul on a martial artist?"

The question of the soul had been weighing on his mind for a long time.

He could see Liao Chen's Yin Soul with his own eyes!

His eyes could see through darkness!

His perception was astonishing; he knew what beasts were lurking in the mountains from a great distance!

Most incredibly, he could overcome fatigue far better than ordinary people!

When it came to cultivation, unless his body was so sore that he couldn't bear it any longer, he could cultivate for days and nights without sleep, and after just a few hours of sleep, all his fatigue would disappear.

It was precisely because of this "extraordinary talent" that he could endure training that others couldn't, leading to his current achievements.

For a long time, Xu Yi had no definitive answer as to why his body had undergone such a change.

But he had a guess! In his opinion, the reason for this change was not this body, but likely his own soul that had crossed through time and space.

Of course, all of this was just speculation. Now that he had met a master, if he didn't solve this mystery, he would be tormented.

"Your questions are very unusual. Why did you think of this question?"

Master Zhou's cloudy eyes instantly cleared as he stared at Xu Yi and asked.

This young man before him had once again exceeded his expectations.

"I'm just someone who likes to overthink things. The more I think, the more doubts I have. Please, Master, enlighten me."

Xu Yi calmly met Master Zhou's gaze and replied.

Master Zhou stroked his messy, ram's-horn-like beard and said, "Fine, I won't ask so many questions. Since I've drunk your wine, I'll keep my promise! You asked three questions just now, and I won't quibble with you about it. I'll answer them all."

"The first question: Do people have souls? The answer is yes, people naturally have souls. Without a soul, they are merely walking corpses!"

"The second question: When do souls appear? I think what you mean is, when can a soul detach from the body and exist independently? The answer to this question should be divided into two situations. First, when a person dies, the soul naturally appears. Second, when one cultivates to an extremely high realm, the soul is tempered to be strong, and perhaps it can detach from the body and achieve great freedom. The Divine Beings of legend should all possess this ability."

He hadn't expected the old man to be so cunning, trying to fob him off with superficial answers. He quickly interjected, "When a person dies, the soul appears. Why can ordinary people rarely see it? But I've heard that some sorcerers with Yin Eyes can see the souls of martial arts experts. Why is that?"

This was one of his most pressing concerns. He had seen Liao Chen's Yin Soul. He had originally thought that souls would appear after death, but when he killed Elder Feng and Young Master Zhou, none of them revealed their souls.

"We agreed on two gourds of wine for two questions! Why are you asking more?" Master Zhou's goatee trembled, but a hint of slyness flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"How about one more question for another gourd of wine?" Xu Yi knew what the old man was scheming, but he didn't care about the cost of a few gourds of wine.

"Deal!"

Master Zhou was overjoyed. His aged, thin face crinkled into a smile. He sighed, "If I had been as persistent as you back then, I probably wouldn't have suffered the misfortune I did. Enough of that, let's get back to the point. The reason souls are difficult to see is because souls are spiritual entities. How can the naked eye see them? As for those with Yin Eyes, it's different, but even they cannot see all souls."

"For example, ordinary people who haven't reached the Qi Sea Realm have weak bodies and souls. When they die, their souls haven't even formed a complete shape before they are scattered by the wind and return to the underworld. However, those who cultivate to the Qi Sea Realm have relatively strong souls. Even after death, their souls can form a shape. Furthermore, those who have practiced the Soul Nurturing Secret Method can have their Yin Souls remain in the mortal world for years after death without dissipating. One must admit, this is a marvel of creation!"