An Evil Ghost Bears a Sarira in the Night

Night fell, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Chu Tianshu and his group were staying in the second floor of the west building. At this time of day, the moon should not be visible.

But after Chu Tianshu switched to a different viewpoint...

The pale roof of the East Building, lacking vitality, appeared much less impressive to him and could no longer obstruct his view.

The light of the crescent moon on the eastern horizon became incredibly conspicuous, dazzling and colorful.

The moon's surface has many irregular spots of light, varying in size and color, including red, orange, and white.

Staring at the hazy moonlight for too long gives the impression of seeing colorful mist flowing through it.

Chu Tianshu rubbed his eyes, switching back to a normal perspective.

"It felt like I was seeing some kind of extremely radioactive material..."

He shook his head, closed the window, and looked back into the room.

A lamp was lit on the table, casting a warm yellow light throughout the room.

Next to the lamp was an empty wine jar, a packet of medicinal herbs, a large pot of water, and a pair of long chopsticks.

Although Chu Tianshu brought some gold, it was actually limited.

In the afternoon, he only picked one of the prescriptions, got one dose, and came back to try it.

First, pour in water and heat it until fine bubbles appear when a bamboo chopstick is inserted into it.

Chu Tianshu poured some water into the empty wine jar, placed his left palm on the jar, used his internal energy to heat it up, and then inserted chopsticks into it with his right hand. It quickly reached the right temperature.

According to the prescription, the next step should be to soak the medicinal herbs.

But Chu Tianshu didn't need to go through all that trouble; he simply placed one hand on the medicine packet and grabbed it out.

He extracted all the vital energy from the medicinal herbs and infused it into the hot water in the jar.

Based on his current understanding of the Nanhua Origin Canon, the extracted vital energy is enough to fully extract all the medicinal properties.

However, precisely because vital energy represents all medicinal properties, while a prescription only needs to utilize one aspect of the medicinal ingredients.

Therefore, the subsequent procedures must follow the prescription's process, allowing the medicinal properties to be screened and combined.

The liquid medicine is stirred at high speed, cooled using internal force, pressurized, and then stirred in reverse at twice the speed of before...

Chu Tianshu skipped the most time-consuming boiling step, and soon the medicinal liquid became viscous through reverse stirring.

The green medicinal mud was stirred into a ball. Chu Tianshu pressed his right hand against the mouth of the jar, grabbed the bottom of the jar with his left palm, and applied pressure again by channeling his internal energy.

Lululu hum!!

Soon, a churning, buzzing sound came from inside the jar, the echo growing increasingly dry and harsh.

As Chu Tianshu gradually withdrew his power, scorching white steam immediately shot out from between his right fingers.

After the white vapor had completely dissipated, the medicine he had dug up from the bottom of the jar had become a thin layer, like a dry, hard pancake.

The prescription already recorded that this medicine could not be rolled into pills, but could only be made into medicine rolls.

There's a term called "Cloud-Rolling Sleeve".

"It smells alright."

After Chu Tianshu finished rolling it up, he smelled it and found it to be only slightly bitter, but still within an acceptable range.

The method of using this medicine is also special. It is not swallowed directly, but one end is lit and pressed on several acupoints on the right forearm to allow the medicinal power to penetrate.

The name "Cloud-Rolling Sleeve" actually hints at the medicine's usage and is not a random name.

Chu Tianshu rolled up his right sleeve, took the medicine in his left hand, and channeled his inner energy, causing one end of the medicine scroll to ignite immediately.

Fearing that his physical defenses were too strong and the medicine wouldn't penetrate his skin, he deliberately bent and stretched his fingers to loosen his skin and flesh, and opened the corresponding pores on his forearm.

Upon contact with the corresponding acupoints, the burning speed of the medicine roll noticeably increased.

The smoke didn't escape much, and the medicinal effects naturally flowed into the body.

Chu Tianshu's brows, which had been furrowed slightly since entering this realm, completely Matsushita.

The Drifting Tumbleweed Sun-Chasing True Art can purify the body of pollutants even under normal circumstances.

However, he has excellent spiritual senses, and even without deliberately using his internal energy, he can clearly perceive the essence of heaven and earth outside his body.

Although my body is clean, it feels like there are invisible little ants crawling around my eyes, ears, and nose, which is very unpleasant.

This was also the reason why he didn't really taste the dishes he ordered at the tavern during the day.

Once the medicinal effects have spread throughout his body, any contamination that comes into contact with his skin will be naturally neutralized.

It felt like I'd finally taken a shower; the fatigue and irritability had lessened considerably.

Even the sounds of the wind and the waves in the river seemed to be appreciated anew.

After the medicine roll burned out, Chu Tianshu wiped the remaining soot off his skin, strode to the bedside, and lay down on it.

"Oh, that feels so good!"

Chu Tianshu rolled over and lay diagonally on the bed with his arms outstretched, his right leg draped over the bed, and his left calf hanging off the edge of the bed.

He closed his eyes peacefully, listening to the sounds of the wind and water, his mind immersing itself in a state of deep meditation, even more tranquil than deep sleep.

Tranquility brings peace of mind, and wisdom arises from deep meditation, bringing joy through spiritual insight.

The young man, with his eyes closed, naturally revealed a slight smile. His internal energy flowed smoothly, and his qi and blood were balanced and vigorous.

He slept for more than two hours, and it was already midnight outside the window.

The moon passed its zenith and began to set in the west.

To the average person, it was still a white crescent moon with a slight yellow tinge.

It's just that the wind is chilly tonight, making the moonlight seem even colder.

But then a human-shaped phantom, dressed like a scholar, with green eyes, floated up from a distance.

Fallen leaves drifted through his frail body, but he remained unaffected.

Once he rose to about ten zhang above the ground, he floated and swayed in the wind, drifting three or four li to the west.

The houses near the dock are neat and compact.

Most of the people who live here are residents who moved to Denglai Mountain Market early on and have saved up some money.

Among them, those with skills were even more well-off, building walls with blue bricks and renovating their houses.

The roofs are made of good timber, covered with black tiles.

Although the house is not large, often only a small portion is used for sleeping, while the other half is used for the living room and kitchen, with the floor being rammed earth.

However, being able to sleep in such a house at night already makes one feel very safe and secure, much more comfortable than the old thatched huts.

Carpenter Zhou lived in such a house. He was in his forties, had a wife and children, and his life was often the envy of his neighbors.

His wife has regular features and was a well-known pretty girl in the neighborhood when she was young. Although she has gained some weight now, she is still cheerful, speaks clearly, and is quick and efficient. She manages the house perfectly, does laundry, and helps supplement the family income.

The couple has a good relationship, which is heartwarming to see.

Their son was even sent to a clothing Zhuangzi as an apprentice, Shangdu.

But recently, the neighbors have been saying that Carpenter Zhou has gone astray, often drinking outside and beating his wife when he comes home.

Tonight, he lay alone in bed, reeking of alcohol, staring blankly at the ceiling, growing angrier the more he looked.

"After all these years of hardship, I live in this tiny little house, surrounded by an old, haggard wife, and my son is such a disappointment..."

Carpenter Zhou knew this when he was young.

If a person can endure hardship, then they can endure the hardest of hardships.

He endured countless hardships to learn the craft of carpentry. In the sweltering summer, he would be drenched in sweat while chopping wood, and in the winter, the sweat would quickly cool and stick to his body. The hardships were indescribable.

His master, who was so imposing in front of his apprentices, had such trembling hands at the age of fifty that he couldn't even hold chopsticks.

Therefore, he didn't want his son to suffer, and he didn't want his son to learn carpentry.

Apprentices in clothing Zhuangzi, once they master the craft, will find it easier to earn money. If they can become skilled, their business can be much better than that of carpenters.

He himself is a very persevering person, and he has always been satisfied with his son's diligence and filial piety, feeling that he is very much like himself.

But lately, he's been increasingly wondering why his son can't make a fortune, become a big businessman, and let him enjoy a life of luxury.

Why can't my wife be more obedient and prettier? Why can't I have several wives?

This made him increasingly frustrated, so he could only drown his sorrows in alcohol. But even after drinking a little, he would be persuaded and hit by his wife, who was always haggard and tired, and he would cry and whine.

"Waaaaah..."

The old woman with the sallow complexion is huddled behind the stove, crying, covering her mouth as if afraid people won't find it annoying enough.

Carpenter Zhou slammed his fist on the bed board, but he was too drunk to beat the man up again.

The scholar's illusory figure drifted to the roof of the carpenter's house, lay down between the tiles, and buried his head in the ground.

His head pierced through the roof and emerged inside the house, smiling at the carpenter.

Carpenter Zhou was completely unaware.

The Confucian scholar is invisible to the naked eye, and worldly things cannot hinder him, just like a legendary evil spirit.

But instead of acting like a demon and taking lives, he turned his head back outside, took out a crystal bead, and blew a breath into the house as if to give it as a gift.

A wisp of warm yellow air blew from the crystal bead, entered the room, and landed on Carpenter Zhou.

Carpenter Zhou was taken aback. Several old yellow lines appeared from his neck down, and as the new yellow aura settled, all the patterns shone brightly.

"Cry, cry, cry! Stop crying!"

The carpenter suddenly felt a surge of energy, flipped himself up, and strode over to the kitchen stove.

A woman with a bluish-purple face huddled behind the stove, sitting on a small stool.

The low stool was specially made by Carpenter Zhou for his wife, using materials he selected himself. It was low enough to make it easier to start a fire, but the seat was made wide and long so that his wife would be more comfortable sitting on it.

The carpenter kicked the stool aside, grabbed his wife by the collar, and shoved her against the wall.

The wife saw that her husband's eyes were bloodshot and his pupils were unusually wide open. She cried out in alarm, "Don't hit me..."

"You're still shouting?!"

Enraged, Carpenter Zhou grabbed his wife by the neck with both hands.

He was now as strong as an ox; with a single pinch, his wife's back slid against the wall, and her feet immediately left the ground, trembling weakly.

The scholar on the rooftop beamed with joy. "Quick, quick, quick!"

Carpenter Zhou exerted his strength again, and suddenly, with a hiss, he discovered that there was a silver needle in each of his elbows.

A yellow stream of air shot out from where the needle landed.

Carpenter Zhou felt a sudden emptiness in his heart, realizing he was choking his wife, and he retreated in horror.

The woman fell to the ground, but there was another needle in her throat near her collarbone, allowing her to breathe loudly and preventing her from suffocating.

"My child's mother!"

Still shaken, Carpenter Zhou rushed to his wife, tears streaming down his face. "How could I have strangled you? I... I..."

He wanted to slap himself, but he couldn't lift his hand.

On the rooftop, the illusory figure of the Confucian scholar stared in astonishment, his lips trembling.

The phantom was being grabbed by the neck and lifted up, its feet leaving the roof.

This person was a wandering spirit, an ethereal being unafraid of solid objects. The hand gripping him showed no sign of channeling internal energy or magical power.

With only flesh and blood, the man choked the scholar's neck so hard that even though he tried to pry it off with both hands and kick his legs, he couldn't break free, as if he had become an ordinary mortal.

"The ability to separate the soul from the body while maintaining clear consciousness and free movement, though taken advantage of the moonlit night, still demonstrates some skill."

Chu Tianshu lightly tapped his toes on the roof tile, gripping the wandering soul in his hand, and coldly stared at it.

"This couple has no cultivation whatsoever. What grudge do they hold against you that you would harm them like this?"

As he lay in bed, he noticed a wandering spirit drifting past within a hundred feet, so he glanced at it a couple more times.

Then they discovered that the scholar had landed on the roof of an ordinary person's house, which seemed suspicious, so they simply got up and came over.

"Explain!"

A blue light flashed in Chu Tianshu's eyes, then suddenly changed color, solidifying into a crimson mark.

Though the word was spoken lightly, the scholar felt as if struck by lightning, his eyes reflecting a red hue, and he became dazed.

"I... I want to use the relic to practice the secret techniques of the Demonic Dao."

Chu Tianshu: "Are you Demonic Dao?"

During the day, he heard Lu Yuande say that many people called the "Primordial Heart Transmission" lineage a Demonic Dao path, but the Demonic Dao itself did not acknowledge it.

If this person understands secret techniques, why does he claim to practice Demonic Dao?

"I am not a member of the Demonic Dao. I... I only obtained this relic by chance."

"Ha! Ha! Demonic Dao techniques are really useful..."

Although the Confucian scholar was bewitched, he even smiled when the secret method was mentioned as effective.

"My cultivation has made no progress in four years. It's truly frustrating that I've been working so hard to improve my quality."

"Since obtaining the relic, I've selected a few Human Furnace, and they've made great progress."

"After the carpenter kills his wife, I will suppress my evil thoughts and wait until he is in extreme pain and remorse. At that time, my two minds will be in harmony, and I can draw them out together, thus advancing my skills once again."

Chu Tianshu never expected that after hearing about the Demonic Dao path during the day, he would encounter someone who practiced Demonic Dao secret techniques that very night.

However, in the Primordial Heart Transmission, after passing on the meaning of the Moon Turbidity to disciples or outsiders, one must wait for the right opportunity to retrieve it.

He originally thought that this disciple, an outsider, should at least possess a high level of cultivation, otherwise he wouldn't be able to sustain it for long before it dissipated automatically.

But the scholar's soul before me is clearly a third-rate piece of trash, yet it can still manipulate the power of the Moon Turbidity.

The carpenter below was just an ordinary person.

This greatly surprised Chu Tianshu.

"You bastard..."

Chu Tianshu examined it carefully.

"You seem to be turning yourself into Evil Spirit."

(End of this chapter)