Su Che ran the "Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue" through his mind once, feeling both joy and worry.
What delighted him was this.
This "Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue" was one of the few Ghost Cultivator methods within the Yellow Heaven Sect. It was divided into thirteen realms. Upon entry, one first had to form a Mystic Talisman within the mud-pellet palace of the sea of consciousness. Thereafter, the more Mystic Talismans one possessed, the more methods one could wield.
Upon cultivating seven Mystic Talismans, one could combine them into black cords, battle-axes, ritual seals, and more, each with its own spells and divine abilities.
Upon cultivating thirty-six Mystic Talismans, one could manifest Outer Dao ghost deities and send one's Yin Spirit Night Roaming.
Upon cultivating one hundred and eight Mystic Talismans, one could evolve into Great Sage of the Northern Canopy, one of the Nine Celestial Sovereigns of the Big Dipper: red-haired, feet washed, with three heads and six arms, wielding six objects—a battle-axe, bow and arrows, sword, bell, halberd, and cord—each possessing its own divine abilities and wondrous uses.
At an exceedingly high realm of cultivation, it held boundless might. One could Seize Spirits and Command Ghosts, transform into a deity, and be deemed the Ghost King of a region, as though the Nether Lord had descended into the world.
What worried him was that this art had originally been created by Ghost Cultivators. Its cultivation relied heavily on Taiyin Moonlight and Ninefold Netherworld Aura, requiring the slow grinding of water against stone and gradual nurturing.
He truly lacked the corresponding resources. To cultivate thirty-six Talismans within twenty-one days would be harder than scaling the heavens.
Becoming this True Person's registered disciple would likely prove full of difficulties as well.
On one hand, True Person Yulizi was indeed righteous. By passing this method on to him, he was most likely ensuring that Su Che would bear the status of an outer disciple of the Yellow Heaven Sect in the future, and would not fear pressure from White Deer Grotto.
On the other hand, he was giving him a complete inheritance. Compared to the Heaven-Supporting Jun Sword and the benefits Zhongyuan had provided, this cultivation method was as far apart as heaven and earth.
That was why famous sects were famous sects, while underground organizations that could not bear the light were merely underground organizations.
Yulizi pressed down the cloudlight, landing directly within the county yamen.
"The Buddhist School has a saying: sentient beings fear effects, Bodhisattvas fear causes. Among all the paths of cultivation beneath heaven, there are countless methods that rely on Karmic Cause and Effect. Yet we of the Daoist School must remain unstained by Karmic Cause and Effect from the very beginning of cultivation. Once one accepts the word 'master,' countless future karmic threads will follow its trail. Thus, taking disciples must be done with caution."
Yulizi looked at Su Che. "I have only one personal disciple and two registered disciples. With you included today, there will be only four in total. Cultivate diligently. I will first go to White Deer Grotto and have a bout with them, seeking justice. When I return, I shall naturally assess your cultivation."
Su Che was delighted to hear this.
This True Person was truly a good man. Whether he could crush White Deer Grotto's arrogance aside, this trip alone would be enough to put the people of White Deer Grotto on alert.
Repay peaches with plums.
"Master, a few days ago, this disciple learned something. It is said that within Mystic Mountain in Shanyin County, there seems to be..."
"It is where Lion Azure Lotus Perfected Tathagata fell in those years."
Yulizi did not care in the slightest.
"This happened several centuries ago. If the major sects had wished to investigate, they could have mapped it all out even by feeling their way with closed eyes. That demon cultivated both Buddhism and Daoism, and was quite a figure in his day. His prestige even surpassed that of several Preceptors in our sect."
The Yellow Heaven Sect True Person seemed utterly unconcerned with that Old Lion.
"You must understand that cultivation most fears four words: following in another's footsteps. So-called cultivation, at its root, is a battle between man and heaven. How can one raise the shadow of those who came before and use it to battle Azure Heaven? Be it a leftover shell or a cultivation method, let it possess a thousand transformations and ten thousand benefits—I seek only my own Dao. Anything not upon the road I seek is a fetter."
"Step outside the Three Realms to view the Three Realms; stand within the Five Elements to observe the Five Elements. That is the true meaning of cultivating the Dao."
Yulizi glanced at Su Che before him.
Many years ago, before he had sought the Dao, he had already been friends with Su Family elders. Among them were comrades who had faced Life and Death together, as well as red-faced confidantes.
Over so many years, the two sides had supported one another, giving papayas and receiving jeweled pendants in return.
Taking one person from the Su Family as a disciple had always been one of his intentions. Now that it had fallen upon this young man, it could be considered the Su Family reaping melons from the melons they had planted, beans from the beans they had sown.
Once a thought arose, ten thousand thoughts wound around his heart like silken threads.
Wei Zhisheng flicked his sleeve, tossing Little Fox to the ground. He chanted verses and rose upon the clouds.
"Why does the moon-soul drift so lightly? A white colt flashes through a crack in the wall; red makeup turns to hoary visage, all in the flick of a finger. Passionate comrades in life and death, hot blood rolling upon the blade; stubborn-necked before sovereigns and kings, yet bowing one's head at a child's single call. Once there were Yue maidens and Wu beauties, gold cups, pearls, and crimson gauze to boast of; now whose old mother speaks of mulberry and hemp? Life's first regret is water flowing east. This Daoist—when Qingyun returns, to whose home will he return? Let him contend beyond the nine heavens for what comes sooner and later!"
Yellow clouds raised the rosy mists, and Yulizi vanished from this stretch of heaven and earth in an instant.
"Mother of mine, today I finally met a true master of the Daoist School."
Little Fox turned to look at Su Che.
"Say, was that truly Yulizi just now? They all say he is the one among the Yellow Heaven Sect's next generation most likely to attain the rank of Immortal True Person. The law is not passed to six ears—does he intend to take you as his disciple?"
"Let me introduce myself again. Su Che, registered disciple under Immortal Master Wei of the Yellow Heaven Sect."
"Good heavens, the society is full of lonely ghosts and wild spirits, and now there is actually a disciple of a famous sect among us. In the future, I'll have to ask Daoist Su to take good care of me."
Little Fox held up her umbrella and laughed merrily, utterly unconcerned by what had just happened. Su Che suspected that she had been stuffed into someone's sleeve by similar means more than once.
Su Che cupped his hands. "Miss Mo, of course. Of course."
The moment Little Fox heard the word "Mo," her face immediately fell.
"Ah, if my aunt finds out that I have an unclear relationship with a human, I'm afraid something will happen."
"Hmm?"
A fox maiden paired with a scholar—what a classic combination. What could possibly happen?
"Speaking of which, Miss Qing."
Su Che reverted to his original form of address. "I have a few small matters for which I would like to ask for your help."
The various wondrous arts recorded in the "Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue" had truly set Su Che's heart racing. He could hardly wait to begin cultivating at once.
This secret inheritance had been established within the Yellow Heaven Sect specifically for disciples who, through countless twists and errors, had fallen into ghostly bodies. Over the years, however, there had been no shortage who cultivated it while still in human bodies.
It was only that, at the start of cultivation, one had to begin with yin objects.
To form the first Talisman, one needed Taiyin Moonlight to begin, along with many yin objects to aid cultivation.
If he wished to achieve results within twenty-one days, he would inevitably need Little Fox's assistance.
"Ever since I met you, I've always been helping you. When have you ever helped me?" Little Fox sighed mournfully. "This little servant girl has met the wrong sort of person. All I can do is toil like an ox and work like a horse."
"Tonight, I wish to cultivate a Daoist art. I ask Miss Qing to guard the Dharma for me."
At the beginning of cultivating the "Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue," there were three trials.
The first trial came at the very foundation of cultivation: one had to send the Yin Spirit out of the body and use Taiyin Moonlight to condense the talismanic script.
At such a time, all manner of Heart Demon transformations could arise. A single moment of carelessness could bring extraordinary calamity.
The second trial came when the secret register had accumulated to a certain extent. One had to temper the spirit with Yin Fire and refine a spark of true yang from within pure yin.
The third trial came upon reaching the Fifth Grade of cultivation, when one had to form a Reverted Elixir amid the transformations of Yin-Yang.
Only after passing these three trials could the "Secret Register of the Yin Heaven of Zhoujue" be considered to have crossed the threshold and entered the hall.