Cultivation

Uncle-Master went on, "Other people use their cultivation and Yin energy to shape a horse soul.

Yours has a real horse soul sealed inside it. In other words, as long as there is enough Yin energy, you can keep using it.

And a Yin Horse with a real horse soul sealed inside can even be used under the sun.

It just consumes Yin energy rather quickly, and its speed will be a little slower.

Because it contains a real horse soul, it can generally run for four or five hours.

Of course, as long as the Yin energy is sufficient, it could theoretically run forever.

But Yin Horses shaped from cultivation and Yin energy alone are far less effective.

No, I should say they are worlds apart. Under the sun, they can run for ten-odd minutes at most before they give out."

I asked Uncle-Master, "What is a horse soul?"

"A horse soul is the soul left behind by a dead horse, and it has to be an ownerless horse soul.

Only then can the soul be sealed inside. Horse souls are far harder to obtain than Yin soldiers.

If your luck is bad, you might not encounter even one in your entire life. You brat really are fortunate.

Remember to keep it somewhere heavy with Yin energy, and don't let it touch water, or it'll be ruined."

After hearing Uncle-Master's words, I silently committed them all to memory.

Thinking of the assorted odds and ends in my bag, I wanted to ask Uncle-Master what they were for.

So I asked, "By the way, Uncle-Master, can you help me see what all these things are used for?"

As I spoke, I poured everything from my bag onto the ground...

Uncle-Master glanced at them and said, "They're all tools for warding off evil and performing rituals, but there are many you can't use."

I asked Uncle-Master why I couldn't use them.

Uncle-Master smacked his lips. "To use these things, you need cultivation."

I asked him what cultivation was.

Uncle-Master raised his eyes at me. "What, you want to learn?"

I nodded like a chick pecking at grain, then looked at Uncle-Master with anticipation.

"Cultivation is also cultivation—absorbing the energy between Heaven and Earth and making it your own.

Humans have human cultivation, ghosts have ghost cultivation, and corpses have corpse cultivation."

I was completely lost, so I asked Uncle-Master, "Ghosts and corpses can cultivate too?"

"Of course," Uncle-Master said. "They simply absorb different kinds of energy."

Curious, I asked, "Uncle-Master, could you tell me how humans, ghosts, and corpses cultivate?"

Uncle-Master nodded. "Sure. There's nothing going on right now, so I'll have a chat with you about it."

As he spoke, he lit a cigarette and tossed one to me as well. After taking a few puffs, he paused and said:

"When humans cultivate, they absorb Spiritual Energy. Ghosts absorb Yin energy, and corpses absorb blood."

"Blood can be used for cultivation too?"

"That's right. Especially cultivators' blood—it's a great tonic for Corpse Cultivators."

"Actually, whether it's humans, ghosts, or corpses, their cultivation paths are much the same.

They all absorb outside energy and then release it. The only difference is what each stage is called."

"Then, Uncle-Master, could you tell me what these stages are called?"

Uncle-Master nodded and said, "Let's talk about humans first."

"Human cultivation is divided into 'Gathering Qi,' 'Seeking the Way,' 'Upholding the Way,' 'Merging with the Way,' 'Nourishing the Spirit,' and 'Returning to the Void.' Each stage is further divided into early, middle, and late stages.

Let's start with Gathering Qi. Gathering Qi means first learning to absorb the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth around you into your body, then opening the blocked acupoints in your body.

This allows Spiritual Energy to flow through your body, enabling you to use cultivation techniques and magical artifacts. It is the foundation of all later realms.

Next is 'Seeking the Way.' Once you reach this realm, you can sense the fluctuations of certain elements around your body.

For example, the six attributes of water, fire, earth, wood, wind, and lightning.

Among these six attributes, you determine which one belongs to you and try to master it.

Then comes 'Upholding the Way.' Once you reach this realm, you can freely control one of the six attributes that you possess.

'Merging with the Way' greatly increases spiritual power. You can also create techniques of your own and gain domain-type techniques.

'Nourishing the Spirit.' Once you reach this realm, you are nearly at the pinnacle of Underworld Practices cultivators.

Your strength is formidable, and you possess divine sense and external incarnations.

Even in today's world, such people are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Very few can reach this level.

People at this realm are generally either the heads of Yin Yang Families or the leaders of sects."

After listening to Uncle-Master, I asked, "What about the final Returning to the Void realm?"

"That is only a legend. I'm afraid no one in today's world has reached that realm. Maybe someone has, but I've never seen one.

Someone at the Returning to the Void level can rely on their immense cultivation to tear open space and travel to another world.

No, they can no longer be called human. As for what they are, I don't know either."

Curious about Uncle-Master's realm, I asked, "What about you? What realm are you in?

And among the attributes you mentioned, which one are you?"

The moment the words left my mouth, Uncle-Master raised his hand. As his hand rose, stalk after stalk of bamboo sprang from the ground. No... not stalks, but groves upon groves of bamboo.

Then he smiled and said that he was of the wood attribute and was at the late stage Merging with the Way.

Uncle-Master smacked his lips again. "Alright, alright. I saw two books in your bag. Read them when you have time.

Your grandfather recorded some of the things he saw and heard while traveling everywhere in his youth. Read them more, and you'll understand everything."

After Uncle-Master finished speaking, he got up and returned to the wooden cabin.

I stood there in a daze for a long while. When I finally came back to myself, I thought, Th-this can't be possible, right?

Ever since I was little, I had been taught materialism. Everything had to be explained through science.

You could say that I was an atheist, but how was I supposed to explain what I had just seen?

I hurriedly took the two books from my bag, opened them, and began reading carefully.

As far as I could remember, I had never read those two books so seriously before.

The pages were still yellowed as before. The book had no title, only the words "Volume One" written on the first page.

It first described how to use certain objects, followed by all sorts of ghosts.

How they formed and how to deal with them were all explained clearly. The same went for zombies, and there were even illustrations now and then.

I kept flipping through several more pages, wanting to find records about cultivation. Yet even after finishing Volume One, I found nothing.

Then I picked up Volume Two and flipped through it. Sure enough, it was there, and I immediately began reading closely.

Human cultivation had already been discussed, so it would not be repeated here. After I opened it, this was what it said.

Ghost Section; Source of Power: Yin Energy

Rank Classification

'Wandering Soul': A beginner ghost, glowing with white light. It cannot see sunlight and cannot travel during the day.

It can only hide in dark places or emerge at night. Its main methods of attack are possession and creating illusions to frighten opponents. Its combat power is low.

'Malevolent Ghost': A further evolution of a Wandering Soul, glowing with green light. By absorbing Yin energy, it gains a small amount of cultivation. By using most of its cultivation to resist sunlight, it can briefly appear during the day.

Its attacks are rather simple, using parts of its own body as weapons, such as "claws and biting." Its combat power is average.

'Fierce Ghost': A further evolution of a Malevolent Ghost, glowing with blue light. It can remain active during the day for longer periods, and its speed and illusion abilities are slightly enhanced.

Some Fierce Ghosts can even refine low-grade Soul Artifacts, such as burial objects from their former lives or items heavy with Yin energy. Their combat power is middling.

'Ghost Spirit': A further evolution of a Fierce Ghost. Besides possessing all the abilities of the ghosts above, it can command some low-level ghosts to do its bidding. It is rather troublesome in combat.

'Ghost King': It can refine a bonded Soul Artifact to strengthen itself. Only one may emerge among tens of millions of ghosts.

It possesses extremely powerful cultivation and strength, and can usually rule over a region.

It commands countless lesser ghosts and possesses its own ultimate killing move. It may even have Ghost Spirits and Fierce Ghosts as subordinates.

'Ghost Emperor': An unquestionable titan of the underworld. Besides possessing incredibly powerful cultivation, it can command the entire underworld.

For example, the "Nether Emperor" of the underworld was also called King Yama in the human realm.

At the end, it added that Ghost Kings and Ghost Emperors both possessed their own 'Ghost Techniques,' also called 'Ghost Senses.'

Next were the records concerning corpse cultivation. They were written as follows.

"Corpse Section"; Source of Power: Killing Intent, blood

Rank Classification

'Walking Corpse': Usually a corpse that has not been dead for long, which has absorbed some living creatures' Yang energy and thus gained the ability to move.

Other than being stronger than ordinary people, it poses little threat.

A bowl of black dog blood or a puddle of virgin boy's urine can subdue it.

'Flying Corpse': It is faster than a Walking Corpse and cannot see sunlight.

It moves rather nimbly and can fly short distances. It feeds on blood, but its own defenses are weak.

'Spiritual Corpse': It possesses some intelligence, though not much. It is extremely fast and has skin of bronze and bones of iron.

Ordinary magical artifacts and methods can hardly break through its defenses. It can act during the day for a short time.

'Corpse Cultivator': A zombie that has awakened its intelligence and can cultivate. Because it can think like a human,

and possesses cultivation, it is exceedingly difficult to deal with and fears no sunlight. If you encounter one, turn around and run.

'Corpse King': A zombie whose cultivation has reached great completion. Besides awakening its intelligence, its defenses are as solid as a fortress, and it can suck blood through the air from several miles away.

'Corpse Venerable': Its appearance is no different from that of an ordinary human, its face unchanged for ten thousand years.

Besides possessing all the abilities of the zombies above, it has even more terrifying cultivation and defenses. It feeds on the essence of the sun and moon, as well as blood.

When it moves, a thousand miles turn crimson. It neither ages nor dies, and possesses an extremely rapid ability to heal its own injuries.

In the world today, no person or thing can completely kill a Corpse Venerable.

At the end, it added that there were two best ways to deal with zombies.

One was Maoshan's "talismans," and the other was the Ma Family's "Yin Dragon."

My heart surged like the tides after reading it, and I developed the desire to cultivate. My interest was incredibly intense.

I acted the moment I decided. Crossing my legs, I sat up with my back ramrod straight.

But after trying to sense it for ages, I was almost dozing off, yet I still failed to sense the so-called "spiritual power."

Just as I stood up to leave, a voice suddenly came from a jar nearby. "Damn idiot..."

My face darkened. I wanted to kick it twice, but I was also a little scared.

I gave the jar the middle finger and walked away in frustration.

I entered the little wooden cabin and asked Uncle-Master whether he could teach me cultivation.

Uncle-Master raised his eyes to look at me. He was a little surprised, then seemed to understand.

He continued, "Your grandfather was astonishingly gifted. As his grandson, you cannot be inferior to him.

Even if you cannot reach his height, you cannot bring shame upon him."

Then he looked at me seriously and said, "Do you really want to learn? This road is difficult, and once you start, there is no turning back."

"Yes, I want to learn. I'm not afraid of anything you said, especially because of my current situation.

Without ability, it is difficult to go anywhere. And my father's whereabouts are unknown. I need strength."

Hearing that, Uncle-Master hesitated for a moment before saying:

"I can teach you, but I belong to Maoshan, and Maoshan has rules. Its techniques cannot be passed outside."

I thought, It's over! Am I going to have to join Maoshan?

Could it be that this old man will casually teach me a few three-legged-cat tricks?

Then he'll kick me into Maoshan, and I'll spend the rest of my life sweeping its floors.

I looked at Uncle-Master timidly. "Then do you have any other way?"

Uncle-Master froze and stared steadily at me. "Forget about ways for now. I want to know why you're looking at me like that."

I did not hide anything and told him what I had imagined. Uncle-Master's mouth twitched nonstop.

Then he sighed. "Sigh! Forget it, forget it. I was going to teach you anyway. There's no harm in telling you."

He continued, "Actually, your grandfather came to find me many years ago.

He told me that if one day you no longer wanted to live an ordinary life, I should teach you these skills.

The Underworld Practices are filled with all manner of demons and monsters, and anything can happen.

If you have some skill, you will have some ability to protect yourself no matter where you go.

In truth, he wanted you to live an ordinary life. He did not want you to experience all those storms and hardships.

Because ordinary people are always much happier than people like us."

I was a little moved, and scattered images surfaced in my mind.

A skinny little old man with a small wooden box on his back would leave for ten days or more at a time. When he returned home, he would smilingly pick me up.

He would happily say, "Come, my big grandson, let Grandpa hold you," then poke me with his stubble until I laughed out loud.

Uncle-Master hesitated before saying, "You are already past the age for cultivation. If you want to cultivate, I need to make some preparations.

How about this? Stay here with me first. Tonight, I'll go out and find some materials."

I looked at the jars and pots all around us, swallowed hard, and said, "Will I be staying here alone tonight?"

Uncle-Master saw through my thoughts. "Yes. As for these things, you don't need to worry.

I have already sent the truly vicious ones on their way. The remaining ones simply have not reached that time yet.

They are all pitiful people, really. If I do not take them in,

before long, their souls will scatter and vanish. So you need not worry.

Besides, you will enter the Underworld Practices in the future. Building up your courage now is a good thing.

Don't worry, they won't kill you. You came out alive from the Cave of a Hundred Ghosts in the village—are you still afraid of a few lone souls and wild ghosts?"

My legs trembled, and they felt a little weak. "Can I go find the materials with you?"

"No. You'd be too slow. Just stay home."

Perhaps seeing how utterly weak and pathetic I looked, Uncle-Master sighed and said:

"Sigh! Don't worry. Those things cannot enter the wooden cabin.

As long as you don't go outside, they will never be able to get in."

Hearing that put my mind much more at ease. Then I said to Martial Uncle, "All right, then. Go early and come back early. Don't forget I'm still at home."

Martial Uncle replied, "You're so naggy," then vanished in a flash.

My jaw nearly hit the floor as I stared in disbelief at the spot where Martial Uncle had been standing.

Then I called out a few times, "Martial Uncle... Martial Uncle..." No one answered. The surroundings were deathly quiet.

My stomach was a little hungry, so I rummaged around and found something to eat, just enough to stave off the hunger.

Little by little, night fell. I built up the fire, and afraid it would go out during the night, I added several large logs.

Then I shut the door and curled up inside, thinking I would just grit my teeth and endure the night.

It was only one night, after all. Martial Uncle had said those things couldn't get in, so I felt a little reassured.

With those thoughts running through my mind, I fell asleep beside the fire.

It was already the middle of the night, and I was sleeping in a daze.

Then a series of "scratch... scratch..." sounds woke me up.

It felt as though someone were dragging their fingernails across wood.

I snapped awake and began searching all around for the source of the noise.

After looking for a while, I realized the sound was coming from outside the little wooden cabin.

Since the whole house was made of wood, the sound came through especially clearly.