Human-Beast Secret Arts

The temple of the Witch Sect is not located within the city, but built upon the mountain to the south of the county seat.

The temple's incense is thick and flourishing; before dawn breaks each day, believers arrive one after another to climb the mountain, offering pious prayers and burning incense before the main hall.

Early the next morning, Lu Chen followed a scattering of believers up the South Mountain.

The mountain path consists of bluestone steps, slick and damp, shrouded in morning mist.

Those coming to offer incense walk in silence, mostly dark-complexioned folk with rough hands and feet—hunters, woodcutters, and traveling peddlers—carrying simple offerings in their baskets.

The Witch Sect's temple is built into the mountainside, a massive hall constructed of dark green stone. Its architecture is rugged, with grotesque, featureless stone beasts crouching on the eaves.

The interior of the hall is dim.

Upon the altar.

Eighteen divine statues are enshrined at varying heights.

All possess human bodies, yet each is topped with a ferocious beast's head.

Under the gaze of these eighteen deities, the believers file in, kneeling on the prayer mats before the altar to present their humble offerings.

Perhaps it is only a bowl of coarse grain, a few wild fruits, or a strip of dried meat.

They kowtow and whisper, praying for the safety of their families, a good harvest, smooth travels on the mountain roads, or to be spared the harassment of the "Mountain God."

The Mountain God is the term used by Witch Sect believers to refer to the strange beasts in the mountains.

The swirling incense smoke shrouds those faces—whether pious or fearful—alongside the cold, beastly visages on the altar, blurring the boundaries between them.

Lu Chen stands empty-handed, not offering incense, merely wandering aimlessly through the temple, peering here and touching there.

Such a leisurely demeanor appears exceptionally abrupt within the temple.

Before long, a thin-faced witch priest in a grey robe approaches, eyeing him as he asks, "This friend, you look quite unfamiliar. Judging by your conduct, you are not a devotee here to offer incense?"

Lu Chen replies candidly, "I am indeed not here specifically to offer incense. I have always had an interest in the Witch Sect, and hearing that this is a major sect of the North, I thought I would come to see it for myself."

Upon hearing this, a flash of understanding crosses the witch priest's eyes, and his guardedness diminishes slightly.

He has traveled to many places and seen many such people.

Whether out of curiosity or seeking something, they feel an interest in the Witch Sect.

Such people are often exactly the kind of believers the sect can win over and absorb, especially this one before him—wearing a blade at his waist, his gait steady; he is clearly a man of martial arts.

"I see."

A hint of a kindly smile appears on the witch priest's face:

"It is rare for you to possess such a spirit of inquiry. Our sect's gates are wide open, welcoming all who have an affinity. The Witch Sect reveres the spirit in all things, observes the nature of heaven and earth, and emphasizes the path of harmonious coexistence with the wild beasts, wind, rain, and thunder of these mountains. Joining our sect not only grants the protection of the mountain spirits but also ensures safe travels and successful hunts."

His gaze sweeps over the blade at Lu Chen's waist again as he asks, "Judging by your physique and bearing, you are a martial artist?"

"That is correct," Lu Chen nods.

"May I ask what realm your cultivation has reached?"

"I have touched the threshold, but have yet to truly break through."

Lu Chen speaks vaguely, yet implies that he is already approaching the External Strength realm.

"Oh?" The thin-faced witch priest's eyes light up, and he feels a secret joy.

An expert nearing the External Strength realm is already a rarity in these parts of Wen'an County.

If he can bring him into the sect, it will not only add strength to the sect but also count as a personal merit for himself.

The enthusiasm on his face immediately intensifies: "Come, come, let me take you around the temple and provide some explanation of our sect. Although this place may appear crude and simple, it is filled with the wisdom of our predecessors who understood nature and communicated with all spirits."

The witch priest leads Lu Chen toward the side hall corridors, explaining the temple's furnishings and the legends of the Witch Sect along the way, intending to showcase the sect's foundation and entice him to join.

Lu Chen follows behind, nodding and responding occasionally, though his mind is long gone from this place.

He came on this trip hoping to see if he could trigger a new card pool, but after waiting and waiting, there has been no movement.

With no card pool in sight, he loses interest in the idea of joining the Witch Sect.

The thin-faced witch priest notices Lu Chen's lack of enthusiasm, knowing that ordinary rhetoric is unlikely to move him.

His eyes flash, and he suddenly lowers his voice: "I will not hide it from you, friend; our sect has an ancient heritage and a deep foundation. We even possess secret techniques hidden within the sect specifically prepared for martial artists."

Lu Chen pauses in his tracks and turns his head to look: "What kind of techniques?"

Seeing that he has finally piqued the other's interest, the witch priest stops elaborating, only waving his hand mysteriously: "This is not the place for a detailed discussion. Please, follow me."

He leads Lu Chen through a small door in the side hall and onto a narrow path in the woods.

Ancient trees tower overhead, the air is damp and gloomy, the mountain path grows steeper, and the surroundings become deep and secluded.

The two walk one after the other for about a quarter of an hour through the silent mountain forest, when the view suddenly opens up.

In a clearing among the trees, a spacious courtyard sits unexpectedly, built from rough timber and stone, its form archaic and simple.

"This is the place. Some fellow disciples who devote themselves to cultivation and dislike the clamor of the world below often meditate here. The techniques you are interested in—here, you might just catch a glimpse of their true form."

The thin-faced witch priest stops outside the courtyard gate and introduces it to Lu Chen.

The two entered the courtyard. Several men in grey tunics spotted the thin-faced sorcerer and asked curiously, "Senior Brother Chen, what brings you here?"

"This friend here has some interest in our Witch Sect's Man-Beast Secret Art, so I brought him to see it for himself."

"Man-Beast?" Lu Chen's expression shifted slightly.

"Precisely," the thin-faced sorcerer said with a chuckle.

A round-faced sorcerer grinned and leaned in: "Brother, are you a martial artist? What a coincidence, so am I. This Man-Beast Secret Art of our sect is incredibly powerful. Want to give it a try? I won't lie to you, it was only after I tried it myself that I made up my mind to join the sect."

Lu Chen's expression turned somewhat strange: "This Man-Beast Secret Art... what exactly is it?"

"Heh, I'll show you and you'll understand."

The round-faced sorcerer clapped his hands, and a sturdy wild boar came trotting out from the room, snorting as it rubbed against his leg. "There, this is my Witch Beast."

After his explanation, Lu Chen finally understood.

The so-called Man-Beast Secret Art was actually a secret ritual of the Witch Sect used to tame and communicate with specific "Witch Beasts."

Through this method, one could establish a bond with a Witch Beast and borrow a portion of its strength or special abilities.

The round-faced sorcerer patted the boar proudly:

"Look, obedient, isn't it? The two of us are practically one now. I can borrow its strength three times a day, for the duration of an incense stick each time. My punching power increases significantly when facing enemies, and it can also follow my will to pounce and assist in battle—it's like having an extra helper who doesn't fear death."

Lu Chen asked, "This is just an ordinary wild boar, right?"

"That's right. The truly powerful ones are those fellow disciples who can subdue exotic beasts. In the wilderness outside the city, there are plenty of monsters with strange bloodlines that absorb baleful energy. If you can subdue one, the benefits are immeasurable—be it infinite strength, skin like bronze and bones like iron, or speed like a ghost. You might even gain some of the innate special abilities of those exotic species! For martial artists like us, such an opportunity is no less than a peerless cultivation manual!"

After hearing this, Lu Chen felt a flicker of interest in his heart.

This thing sounded decent, like raising a powerful assistant.

But the greater the benefits, the deeper the pit usually was. If it were truly that simple, this courtyard should have been packed with people long ago.

"This method, I'm afraid it's not that easy to practice, is it?" He stared at the round-faced sorcerer and asked directly.

The round-faced sorcerer's smile faded, and he sighed:

"Sigh, you're not wrong. Back when I joined the sect, there were at least fifty or sixty brothers learning this secret art with me. Look at us now—of those who can still stand here in one piece, only a few of us remain. As for the others, they either didn't make it through, or..."

He shook his head and did not continue.