Chapter 191: Ghost Dao Secret Art (II)

"Allow me to repeat myself. You may read through the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual when you have free time, but never attempt to cultivate it. This art contains fatal flaws, and it is not meant for the living. For over a dozen generations of the Liang Family, not a single person has succeeded in cultivating it. Records from our ancestral archives say that only the first ancestor succeeded. Apparently, he transformed himself into a living corpse yet retained his intellect." Liang Song gave his warning with utmost seriousness.

In the Liang Family's entire history, apart from that first ancestor, every person who had cultivated the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual without exception became a mindless, slaughter-driven living corpse.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu accepted the four manuals and stared at the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual, his curiosity piqued. He had witnessed the power of a living corpse before and understood how eerie and terrifying Yin force could be.

Before confirming a technique's safety, he would never attempt to cultivate it. He was simply fascinated by a method capable of refining one's body into something demonic. Seeing the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual reminded him of those corpse-refining arts in cultivation novels, where corpses were turned into puppets.

"Though you must not cultivate it, some of its knowledge, such as formation techniques and Ghost Dao Secret Arts, can broaden your perspective and are of great reference value. If there comes a time when you reach the Transforming Force stage, what's written there will prove quite useful," said Liang Song.

That was why, despite knowing how dangerous the manual was, he had still decided to pass the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual on to Lin Zheyu. The knowledge contained within Ghost Dao Secret Arts was profoundly intricate and offered valuable insights.

"Thank you, Master. I will remember your words," Lin Zheyu said solemnly.

"Alright, I'll be going now. You should also pack up and leave Bafang City for a while to lay low, or stay close to Senior Ye Liangchen. Don't act alone. I fear that if the Forest Net Temple can't find me, they may take you hostage instead," Liang Song instructed earnestly.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

After speaking, he quickly disappeared into the narrow alleyway. Lin Zheyu silently watched Liang Song's departing figure and whispered a farewell in his heart. It was possible that they would never meet again. Since arriving in this world more than a year ago, Liang Song had been his greatest benefactor.

As they parted for good, a quiet sadness welled up within him.

Once Liang Song's figure disappeared completely from sight, Lin Zheyu turned back into the courtyard and closed the gate. He changed into a fitted outfit, and under his control, his facial features subtly shifted until he took on the familiar appearance of a middle-aged hunter. From now on, this would be the face he showed in Bafang City, at least while out in the open.

With a light motion, Lin Zheyu leapt from the backyard. Seeing no one around, he slipped into the alleyways and made his way toward the Dayang District.

The Dayang District was not as bustling as the Xingluan District; it lay on the outskirts, where houses were sparse and the environment more suitable for quiet living.

Lin Zheyu rented a quiet courtyard and settled down. He only rented it for a month, intending to leave Bafang City once he had cultivated the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual to perfection.

Once perfected, the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual would grant him a defense comparable to that of a Marrow Refining Realm beast, greatly improving his chances of survival on the journey to the Central Plains.

After securing the rental, Lin Zheyu returned to his original lodging. Once he restored his true appearance, he knocked on Han Tianmin's door.

***

"So soon? Uncle, why don't you stay one more day and let us host a farewell banquet for you?"

Han Mo's wife, upon hearing that Lin Zheyu was leaving, tried to persuade him to stay. She had known he would eventually depart, but hadn't expected it to be this sudden.

"Yes, Uncle Lin! Stay one more day so we can properly see you off," Han Tianmin said as well. A faint reluctance stirred within him.

Lin Zheyu could be considered half his teacher. After studying the Toxicology Codex for so long, Han Tianmin knew well how precious it was, yet Uncle Lin had passed it to him freely and guided him with patience.

"No need. I've already enjoyed enough of your meals during my time in Bafang City, so there's no need to see me off. Once I finish packing, I'll leave right away. We'll meet again if fate allows.

Oh

, and take these techniques. Cultivate them well, now. Don’t let your natural talent or your father's hopes go to waste," Lin Zheyu said with a warm smile.

He handed over the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual and the Raging Wind Slash manual to Han Tianmin and the others. As for the four manuals given by his master, they weren't his to give. Senior Brother Han Mo was also Liang Song's disciple. If his master wished to give them to them, he would do so himself.

Not long after Lin Zheyu returned to his courtyard, under his mother's instruction, Han Tianmin came to deliver a farewell gift. Lin Zheyu accepted the gift and began preparing for his departure.

He donned his weighted armor beneath a wide robe and slung his travel bundle over his back. Then, with a subtle change of his features, his face shifted into the fierce visage of a middle-aged man.

With a light tap of his foot, his blood qi surged, and his figure soared gracefully over the courtyard wall. Though burdened with over five hundred kilograms, he still moved as lightly as a swallow, landing without the faintest sound.

After leaping out of the courtyard, Lin Zheyu scanned his surroundings. Seeing no one lurking in the shadows, he turned and slipped into the narrow alley with his bundle on his back. As he emerged from the alley, his aura grew stronger with every step.

Soon, Lin Zheyu released the suppression of the Tortoise Breath Grand Method, allowing the fierce aura of the Blood Qi Realm to surge forth.

***

Creak.

Lin Zheyu pushed open the gate and was surprised to see that the courtyard was clean and tidy. But then again, it was nearly a tael of silver per month. The courtyard he rented was quite secluded, with few people living nearby.

After setting down his luggage, he removed the heavy armor from his body. The first thing he did upon arriving was prepare a hidden chamber to store the armor safely. It was worth over 2000 taels of silver, so if it were stolen, he would be heartbroken. As for his remaining silver, he kept it on his person. After converting it into gold, it was much easier to carry.

As dusk deepened, night slowly descended. Lin Zheyu finished digging out a concealed chamber, placed the armor inside, and, once he was sure it would not be easily discovered, felt completely at ease.

Lin Zheyu then sat down beside the stone table in the courtyard. Lighting an oil lamp, he brewed a pot of tea and neatly arranged four manuals on the table. Taking a sip of tea, he opened one of the manuals and began to read.

These four manuals had been given to him that morning by his master, Liang Song. Each one contained a rather solid cultivation method. Besides the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual, there was also the Phantom Shadow Step, the Boiling Blood Secret Art, and the Wave-Sundering Saber Technique.

The Phantom Shadow Step was a lightness technique. Similar to the Ten Thousand Troop Steps, it emphasized agility, but unlike it, Phantom Shadow Step leaned toward the ghostly and illusory; its movements carried a dreamlike quality, making one appear as an elusive phantom shadow.

The Wave-Sundering Saber Technique, on the other hand, focused on sheer ferocity. Like the Phantom Shadow Step, it was a Blood Qi Realm technique that could be cultivated up to the third transformation of blood qi.

As for saber techniques, Lin Zheyu already had the Raging Wind Slash, which was more than sufficient. Though the Wave-Sundering Saber Technique was powerful, it differed greatly from the Raging Wind Slash and could only serve as a reference. However, the Phantom Shadow Step could be integrated into his Golden Goose Technique.

When he perfected the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual, his blood qi would become stronger and more violent. At that point, he could try merging the Phantom Shadow Step into the tenth stage of the Golden Goose Technique.

"This Boiling Blood Secret Art is interesting. It stimulates one's latent potential by burning essence, qi, and spirit to greatly enhance strength for a short time. It looks like the side effects are severe, however. After using it, one remains weakened for over a month. But the effect is remarkable, being able to increase power fivefold for three minutes. This secret art is dangerous, so it can only be used as a last resort."

If the art was used for more than three minutes, the burning of essence, qi, and spirit would exceed safe limits, damaging one’s foundation and consuming lifespan. According to the text, every extra minute would burn ten years of lifespan. If one continued for over six minutes, it would no longer be a matter of lifespan—the body's essence, qi, and spirit would be utterly drained, leading to death.

Lin Zheyu flipped through the Boiling Blood Secret Art once more, then set it aside.

Once he perfected the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual, he could learn the Boiling Blood Secret Art first, then advance the Golden Goose Technique to its tenth stage.

Ghost Dao Secret Arts... Could this be the kind of secret art cultivated by ghost immortals in the cultivation world?

He opened the Seven Fiend Ghost Manual and began reading intently. After spending so long in this world, he had finally come into contact with a manual truly related to cultivation.