Greater Yin

[Duanmu and his teacher discuss the three ancient and modern witches].

That's a great name.

Li Chengxuan was very satisfied with it.

Anyone who sees him for the first time will think that Duanmu Ren is the protagonist.

However, the word "teacher" implicitly establishes a hierarchy of status and respect.

Duanmu Ren's wisdom was particularly astonishing.

The higher one's cultivation level, the higher the status and prestige of one's mentor will naturally be.

When future generations open this book and read its contents, they should feel even greater reverence for it.

Although the entire text is dominated by Duanmu Ren discussing the Daoist doctrines of [High Shaman], one is surprised to find upon finishing the text that Li Chengxuan, despite speaking very little, always speaks at crucial moments.

Whether it was enlightening Liu Zhijian who was caught in self-doubt, guiding the hesitant Duanmu Ren, or giving him final advice before he entered the Qi Ingestion, each of these was a stroke of genius.

Anyone who sees this will agree that it exemplifies the great teachers of all time.

We also need to come up with a low-key yet meaningful title.

After a moment's thought, Li Chengxuan wrote six large characters on the cover.

Miscellaneous Records of Supreme Mystery's Secret History.

The signature Master of Grotto Mystery, meaning the master of Supreme Mystery Grotto-Heaven.

Li Chengxuan was quite happy after finishing writing, but he didn't want to put it in the library, as it would be embarrassing if any disciple saw it. After thinking about it, he decided to hide it behind the incense burner on the altar in the Ancestral Hall.

The Ancestral Hall is, after all, a vital place for the sect.

Jiang Xiaoyu, who was always thinking about burning down the library, didn't dare to act recklessly in the Ancestral Hall.

Li Chengxuan stepped out of the Ancestral Hall, looking at the clear autumn sky. He wanted to compose a poem, but his limited knowledge left him unable to do so. He could only look up and exclaim, "Not bad, the sky... is so blue, and the clouds... um, so white!"

A gust of autumn wind blew by, causing Li Chengxuan's robes to flutter, the portrait in the Ancestral Master Hall to sway, and the Miscellaneous Records of Supreme Mystery's Secret History to rustle, stopping precisely at the first chapter.

Duanmu Ren searched for a place in Supreme Mystery Mountain to cultivate his inner Qi Ingestion and attain enlightenment.

Li Chengxuan Qi Ingestion in his mountain cave abode at the Supreme Mystery Mountain, which subtly aligned with his current position as sect leader.

Liu Zhijian loved fishing, and he Qi Ingestion by the White Dragon River, which aligned with the [Kan Water] water element.

Hua Chunning Qi Ingestion under the peach tree in the [Wu Earth Secret Realm], which also conformed to the [Yang Spring] Manifestation.

Therefore, there is no such thing as a good or bad location; it's just a matter of whether it's suitable or not.

It must correspond to one's own nature and, more importantly, conform to the established traditions.

As for how to find it, it's actually quite simple: find a place where you feel comfortable, and the so-called "fortuitous opportunity to enter the path" will naturally follow.

Duanmu Ren strolled around Supreme Mystery Mountain.

A mountaintop cave abode is too aloof and cold; it doesn't suit my personality.

Although he was a test-taker, he couldn't stand the tedium of academic work.

It's not appropriate for him to be merely a Registered Disciple in the Ancestral Hall now.

Although the position of the Department of General Affairs vaguely resonated with his own political experience, who would willingly engage in such laborious and mentally taxing work?

Having traveled to many places, Duanmu Ren did not encounter the fortuitous opportunity, nor did he have the thought that this was the place for him.

Duanmu Ren wasn't in a hurry, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the back mountain of Supreme Mystery.

Supreme Mystery Mountain covers a vast area, yet its disciples are pitifully few.

Several key areas were still relatively clean and presentable.

The back hill appeared dilapidated and desolate.

Duanmu Ren remained calm, and his steps even appeared somewhat light.

Growing up in a mountain village, I had to trek over mountains every day to get to school. Although I later became well-off, my instinct for walking mountain paths remained.

Duanmu Ren discovered a cave, and upon entering, he found it to be extremely deep and winding, extending downwards to an unknown depth.

The cave was narrow, cramped, dark, damp, and had a faint, putrid smell.

It's somewhat like the cave dwellings we lived in temporarily after our house was washed away by heavy rain when I was a child.

Some of them are like those basement rental rooms where mothers lock their children in for a final push before the college entrance exam.

This is it.

Duanmu Ren stopped in his tracks, a sudden realization dawning on him.

Opening the wooden box, Duanmu Ren took a deep breath upon seeing the eerily black and red [Resentment of the Myriad People], reached inside, and gently grasped it.

High Antiquity Shaman Dao were primitive and ancient; the practice of engraving Shaman Runes on the body was essentially equivalent to the "Meridian Opening Method" of Immortal Dao.

The [Resentment of the Myriad People] instantly spread throughout Duanmu Ren's body along the Shaman Runes, as if countless snakes and insects were burrowing and gnawing under his skin.

Duanmu Ren groaned in pain, his face showing signs of suffering.

It hurts so much!

It was almost like peeling off someone's skin alive.

Duanmu Ren gritted his teeth and held on for only a quarter of an hour before his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness.

The aura of [Resentment of the Myriad People] grew even stronger, enveloping Duanmu Ren's entire body, as if a phantom flame was burning within him, the firewood being Duanmu Ren's very Manifestation and flesh.

Moreover, the fire grew stronger and stronger, becoming uncontrollable.

Snap!

A whip cracked.

Duanmu Ren felt a burning pain in his back.

A fierce-looking bailiff shouted, "Zhang Erniu, get up quickly and pull the dragon boat for His Majesty!"

"Zhang Erniu..." Duanmu Ren had already inquired about the source of the [Resentment of the Myriad People] and knew about Deng Gang's affairs. Looking at the constables in front of him, the boatmen beside him, and the dragon boat in the distance, he couldn't help but chuckle, "It really is an illusion that tests the mind, how old-fashioned and boring."

The bailiff was furious and whipped the man again.

Duanmu Ren ignored him, silently repeating in his heart, "I am Duanmu Ren! I am the Stone Ridge County, and now the director of the Civil Affairs Bureau! I am not some boatman Zhang Erniu!"

The pain from being whipped was gradually weakening.

The roles of bailiffs, boatmen, and dragon boats gradually faded away.

Then, within the illusion, Duanmu Ren's identity kept changing; he became an old man, a child, a merchant, a village woman, a knight-errant, and a bandit.

They were all pitiful people who were tormented by Deng Gang's western tour, to the point that their families were destroyed, their wives and children were separated.

But what does all this have to do with me, Duanmu Ren?!

At this moment, if he were to ask himself who he was, the first thought in Duanmu Ren's mind would definitely be that he was Duanmu Ren, a mid-level cadre on Earth, or even Duanmu Ren, Registered Disciple Supreme Mystery Mountain!

If one thinks that one can sway one's true nature with simple illusions, then that's laughable.

A shrill voice suddenly rang out, demanding, "Who do you think you are!"

"I am Duanmu Ren!" Duanmu Ren replied coldly, already somewhat tired of this unoriginal illusion.

"No!" The shrill voice grew closer, close to Duanmu Ren's ear, and said viciously, "In my eyes, you're nothing but a dog!"

Duanmu Ren was shocked. He turned his head and saw that familiar yet unfamiliar, exquisite yet harsh face.

It was the cornerstone of his career advancement.

It's the most talked-about and ridiculed topic about me that's always number one.

She was a vicious, insane woman who tormented herself for half her life.

She is also his wife in name only!

Duanmu Ren blinked, then couldn't help but chuckle, "Things are starting to get interesting."

Supreme Mystery Mountain, Hall of General Affairs.

Hua Chunning finally returned from Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain.

However, Hua Chunning felt little joy at her triumphant return; instead, she was filled with unease.

Because Hua Chunning did not climb Supreme Mystery Mountain alone.

Instead, he brought someone back!

Hu Yueqiu knelt before the hall, head bowed, remaining silent.

Hua Chunning knelt beside her and whispered, "Master, please forgive me."

"I inquired with the Xue Household and confirmed that she has an innocent background. She was only bullied and had nowhere else to turn, which is why she risked everything to stop them and become their disciple."

"If I don't take her with me, she'll most likely not survive."

"I couldn't bear to do it, and seeing that she had a strong affinity for Tao, I brought her back."

Li Chengxuan glanced at the two kneeling on the ground and sneered, "You've only just Qi Ingestion and you're already thinking about taking on disciples?!"

"This disciple wouldn't dare!" Hua Chunning quickly explained, "Without the sect leader's permission, how could this disciple dare to act on my own?"

"This disciple was thinking that if she has some talent, I would ask Master to accept her into the sect as a Registered Disciple."

"If not, leave them with the Hua Household at the foot of the mountain; at least they'll live in peace for the rest of their lives."

"Alright, get up." Li Chengxuan shook his head helplessly. He could only blame Liu Zhijian for setting a bad example by bringing back Jiang Xiaoyu after going down the mountain to Qi Gathering. Now, Hua Chunning following suit, bringing someone back from her autumn outing to Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain as well. "What's your name?"

The slender, aloof girl knelt down once more. "Hu Yueqiu greets Senior!"

"Hu Yueqiu... the Manifestation looks like [Fu Water], but there seems to be something else, quite strange." Li Chengxuan frowned slightly as he used [Qi Observation Technique] to examine her, and asked, "What lineage did your ancestors cultivate?!"

"Reporting to Senior..." Hu Yueqiu paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It is [Greater Yin]."