Eight Divine Incantations

"Yongzi, why don't you go ask?"

"I'm not going. It's so late—we shouldn't disturb the Daoist's rest."

After they had settled down, Zhang Zhe kept urging Tian Yong to seek guidance from Daoist Wenxi.

A figure like the Daoist could command thunder, take things from afar, and easily fend off attacks from both Tian Yong and Li Dezhang.

In the past, they had heard others talk about people like him, but they had never witnessed it for themselves.

Now that they had, they naturally wanted to get closer to him. After all, even if he didn't take them as disciples, just teaching them a couple of spells or offering a few pointers on martial arts would be a tremendous gain.

"The Daoist's been sitting there the whole time. He doesn't look like he's about to rest.

Go ask him. Maybe he won't mind."

"It's too late. Let's wait until tomorrow."

"Aw, fine."

"Lay practitioners, young friends, do come in." Just as Zhang Zhe was about to give up, Daoist Wenxi's refined voice rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"Sorry to disturb you, Daoist."

Delighted, everyone filed into the room and stood properly in a neat line.

"Please, don't stand on ceremony. Sit."

Seeing them quietly pick up cushions piled in the corner, sit obediently, and gaze at him with eager faces, Daoist Wenxi smiled.

"You and I are not fated to share a master-disciple bond, so I cannot take you as disciples. Nor would it be appropriate for me to pass on this temple's Taoist teachings to you."

Just as everyone felt a little disappointed, the Daoist continued.

"Even so, our Taoist Gate opens its doors wide to all who seek the Way. Any living being with affinity may ask about the Dao.

And you all have chivalrous hearts and open minds.

So I can teach you the Eight Divine Incantations commonly passed down in our Taoist Gate. Reciting them with devotion day and night will bring you some wondrous benefits.

As for how many you learn, and how far you master them, that depends entirely on your own affinity."

"Thank you, Daoist." Everyone bowed in gratitude, their faces lighting up with joy.

The Eight Divine Incantations of the Taoist Gate were part of a Taoist's daily practice. They were used to cleanse the heart of sin, guard the spirit, summon deities for protection, and open the scriptures to expound the Way.

They were essential incantations for anyone beginning to study and practice the Dao.

They were the Incantation of Mouth Purification, Incantation of Body Purification, Incantation of Mind Purification, Incantation of Heaven and Earth Purification, Golden Light Incantation, Mysterious Essence Incantation, Incantation of Land God Pacification, and Incantation of Incense Offering.

The first four incantations cleared the mind and dispelled karmic burdens, purified the body and expelled impurities, and upheld righteousness while driving out evil.

The latter two were used to command spirits and summon deities, protect the Dharma, and defend the Way.

The Mysterious Essence Incantation, also known as the Mysterious Essence Incantation for Opening the Scriptures, was recited before reading the scriptures. It could resolve doubts, dispel confusion, and open the way to understanding the mysteries of the Dao.

Put simply, it helped people better understand the thoughts and profound principles of the Dao contained in the scriptures.

The Golden Light Incantation had a wide range of uses. It was a wondrous cultivation method of the Mystic Sect, and its power was beyond comprehension.

It could control ghosts, drive out evil, punish wickedness, and protect the body. With time and deep practice, it could ward off all evil and keep all malice at bay.

The Taoist incantations involved spells, methods, talismans, and hand signs: one had to recite the incantations, practice the methods, visualize the talismans, and form the hand signs.

But since everyone was not part of the Taoist Gate, Daoist Wenxi did not teach them any overly profound principles. He only passed on the method of reciting the incantations.

Then he copied out the incantations for them to memorize.

Everyone gathered around the few sheets of paper, passing them from hand to hand as they read and memorized, occasionally asking the Daoist to clarify something they didn't understand.

Half a month ago, Ling Qing would never have been able to memorize these long incantations in such a short time, especially since they had to be recited in a special cadence.

But he had been tempered by the Druid inheritance and washed clean by the Natural Force. On top of that, Daoist Wenxi kept pointing out the tricks of the trade.

By the time the Morning Star hung high in the sky, Ling Qing had memorized all eight incantations.

But aside from the Incantation of Heaven and Earth Purification, which had granted him an insight and appeared on his information panel as a recognized skill, the others had shown no progress at all.

"Character completed relevant behavioral training. Your understanding of [Eight Divine Incantations—Incantation of Heaven and Earth Purification] has deepened further (1/5)."

The moment the incantation took effect, a clear, righteous, and lucid energy emanated from his body, cleansing every form of foreign energy within a one-foot radius.

It gathered the positive energy around him, making him feel as if he were deep in an ancient forest, wrapped in the breath of nature.

This positive energy wasn't bright or grand. It felt clear and pure, without a trace of impurity.

"Ling Qing, you have a fair understanding of the Way of Nature. It's only natural that you were able to grasp this divine incantation.

"It's a pity that you and I are not fated to be master and disciple. I can only hope that you'll embrace the Dao and cherish virtue, restrain yourself, and cultivate the truth."

Daoist Wenxi offered Ling Qing a few words of encouragement, then addressed Tian Yong and the others, who watched with envy.

"Don't be impatient. Let nature take its course. What is meant for you will come to you.

"Now I'll lead you through a morning lesson. How much you understand will depend entirely on your own insight."

"Thank you, Daoist!" Even Ling Qing couldn't help feeling delighted. Not worrying whether it was proper, he bowed along with everyone else.

Then they began following Daoist Wenxi through the morning lesson.

By the time the sky was bright, the morning lesson had ended amid the echoing chant of scriptures, rich with profound resonance. Everyone slowly came back to themselves.

"Character listened to instruction. Your understanding of [Eight Divine Incantations—Incantation of Mind Purification] has deepened further (1/5)."

"...Your understanding of [Eight Divine Incantations—Incantation of Mouth Purification] has deepened further (1/5)."

"...Your understanding of [Eight Divine Incantations—Incantation of Body Purification] has deepened further (1/5)."

"...Your understanding of [Eight Divine Incantations—Incantation of Heaven and Earth Purification] has deepened further (2/5)."

When Ling Qing came back to himself, a series of messages flashed before his eyes, filling him with delight.

He hadn't expected to gain so much insight just by following the Daoist through one morning lesson. If he did this for a few more days, wouldn't he be able to learn all eight incantations before leaving the instance?

This was much faster than when he had spent half a month figuring things out before finally getting started with the Five Animal Frolics.

While Ling Qing checked his progress, the others had gained something too.

They didn't have attribute panels like his, but it was like learning a song: they could now sing it through from beginning to end.

As long as they remembered the tune and practiced more, they would naturally be able to sing it all the way through whenever they wanted.

"Lay practitioners, young friends, our connection through the Dharma has run its course. I hope you'll continue to recite the incantations diligently from now on."

After seeing everyone come back down from their excitement, Daoist Wenxi first offered them a few words of encouragement.

Before they could feel disappointed, he continued with a solemn expression. "However, there's something I'd like you all to help with."

"Just tell us what you need, Daoist."

Hearing the seriousness in his voice, they didn't get a chance to plead with him. They could only clasp their hands respectfully and answer in earnest.

"I left in a hurry and didn't put the affairs of the temple in order, so I must return there.

"But the old grave site is steeped in yin and murky energy. If left alone, it may bring disaster again in the future. Since you've learned these incantations, why not go there and purify the place?

"That way, you'll spare the residents of the town a calamity, and gain some further insight in the process.

"What do you think?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist. We'll do as you command."

"Good!"