"Greetings, Daoist Mingzhang!"
"Greetings, Young Master Lu." Though Daoist Mingzhang acknowledged Lu Zheng verbally, his eyes were fixed on the bundle Lu Zheng was carrying.
"Daoist, may I have a word with you privately?"
Daoist Mingzhang led Lu Zheng to his meditation chamber.
"Young Master Lu has quite the skill, to have actually slain the Corpse Ghost." Daoist Mingzhang praised.
"Can Daoist perceive it?"
"The bundle still faintly exudes ghost qi. As you’re not a cultivator, you can’t sense it, but for me, it’s like a beacon in the night."
"As the Daoist mentioned, the Corpse Ghost has indeed been vanquished." Lu Zheng nodded, recounting yesterday’s encounter to Daoist Mingzhang.
Of course, he referred to the Net-Shooting Gun and Brocade Spring Saber simply as a fishing net and long saber.
"Young Master stayed calm in the face of danger and achieved victory through cunning; I admire that." Daoist Mingzhang nodded with a smile, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.
The Corpse Ghost was as strong as an ox and as swift as the wind. Even though Lu Zheng used trickery, his mind and physical prowess must be exceptional.
"However, I’ve seemed to have poked a hornet’s nest, and must seek help from the Daoist once more."
Daoist Mingzhang was already curious why Lu Zheng had returned. He initially thought Lu Zheng was here to boast about slaying the Corpse Ghost, but now realized otherwise?
"Daoist, please have a look."
Lu Zheng didn’t hold back and placed the leather piece, booklet, and copper token in front of Daoist Mingzhang, neatly lined up.
Daoist Mingzhang’s eyes immediately landed on the copper token.
Lu Zheng’s heart skipped a beat, realizing it was indeed the case.
"I didn’t expect this Corpse Ghost to be under Ye Lan King’s command." Daoist Mingzhang raised an eyebrow.
"This Ye Lan King...?"
"A minor ghost king in the Netherworld of Tonglin County." Daoist Mingzhang said.
Lu Zheng blinked; that was all?
"It also has a ghost cultivation technique and the Skin Painting Technique? This individual seems to hold a significant position; could she be Ye Lan King’s favored concubine?"
Daoist Mingzhang chuckled, "From what Young Master said, this Corpse Ghost adorned itself with various painted skins, each with a different charm. Seems like it’s indeed Ye Lan King’s favored concubine. He enjoys that style."
Lu Zheng nearly teared up upon hearing this; the enmity was deep indeed...
Perhaps noticing Lu Zheng’s expression, Daoist Mingzhang reassured him, "No need to worry, with Tonglin County’s City God as a barrier, Ye Lan King can’t reach the mortal world. Rest assured."
"Please resolve my confusion, Daoist!" Lu Zheng seized the opportunity to voice his concerns, "Even if Ye Lan King can’t come, what if other ghosts do? Now that I’ve crossed paths with Ye Lan King, you ought to enlighten me, right? In case of any aftermath..."
"Don’t worry, just leave the copper token with me, and Ye Lan King won’t be able to find you." Daoist Mingzhang waved his hand.
Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly, much preferring this arrangement.
"Besides, you mentioned this ’Taiyin Supreme Grade Soul-Washing Scripture’, it’s a ghost cultivation technique, meaning that the living cannot cultivate it?"
Daoist Mingzhang laughed, "This scripture discusses refining the divine soul using Nether Ghost Qi. Why, you want to cultivate?"
Lu Zheng shook his head vehemently, "I wouldn’t dare!"
"And regarding this Skin Painting Technique..." Daoist Mingzhang picked up the leather, rubbing it gently, "It really is human skin."
"Painting skin to create creatures is purely the work of evil sects." Daoist Mingzhang shook his head, "It’s not a path for people like us."
After some contemplation, Daoist Mingzhang said to Lu Zheng, "Are you looking to cultivate?"
"I’ve pondered it deeply and genuinely wish to!"
Daoist Mingzhang nodded, "These scriptures and techniques aren’t good arts; retaining them won’t benefit you. I’ll take them."
Lu Zheng agreed completely, especially since he had already photographed their contents with his phone.
"Since Young Master killed the Corpse Ghost, these items are yours by right, so I must offer something in return for taking them." Daoist Mingzhang paused, "Young Master earnestly seeks cultivation; I have a breathing technique here that you can practice regularly to achieve qi sensitivity and enhance your Dao practice."
Lu Zheng’s eyes lit up, "Excellent, thank you, Daoist!"
He quickly followed up, "Besides the Breathing Technique, are there any other exorcising methods?"
Daoist Mingzhang rolled his eyes, "No."
Before Lu Zheng could speak again, Daoist Mingzhang retrieved a thin scripture from a small cabinet beside him.
"Let me recite the scripture for you."
Half a day later, Lu Zheng had no choice but to sigh at how cultivation truly requires a master to guide one through the doorway.
Daoist Mingzhang patiently explained each technique from the scripture, interpreting various cultivation terminologies and their meanings.
Then, he demonstrated how to breathe, clear the mind, and sense the flow of qi, physically guiding him.
Simultaneously, Daoist Mingzhang used his True Qi to probe into Lu Zheng’s body, allowing him to experience the feeling of qi flow.
For two full hours, Daoist Mingzhang meticulously explained all aspects of this Breathing Technique.
Although the time was short, Lu Zheng hadn’t yet developed qi sensitivity, but he truly understood how to cultivate.
"Have you memorized it?"
"Good, I’ll gift you this scripture. Study it carefully and cultivate diligently; eventually, you’ll achieve something."
Lu Zheng took the scripture and finally saw the name on its cover.
"Meridian Breathing Method."
"Daoist, could you tell me about the City God and Ye Lan King?"
"Now that I’ve started on the cultivation path, it should be alright to know about these things, right?"
Daoist Mingzhang couldn’t help but retort, "You count as a cultivator now...?"
Well, having accepted his items and passed on a Breathing Technique, it’s true Lu Zheng has entered the cultivation gate, so speaking about these things should be fine.
"The grand matters of the realm are too distant for us, and I don’t even comprehend their depths. Nothing much to discuss with you. I’ll just tell you about Great Jing Dynasty and the cultivation matters of our Tonglin County."
Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly, ready to glimpse a corner of the cultivation world.
"Many cultivators exist in the world. Our White Cloud Temple is a Daoist sect, and there are also Buddhist Sect practitioners, Sword Cultivators, Martial Dao, all considered righteous paths."
"Besides, there are numerous demons, devils, and ghosts. Yet, around our Tonglin County, there’s only Ye Lan King lurking in the Netherworld and a few scattered demons."
"It’s well known that besides the mortal world where we live daily, many Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands and Yin Netherworlds exist."
Lu Zheng: Renowned to whom?
"You needn’t delve deeply into specifics; just regard them as other realms, albeit not as vast as the mortal world’s, and these realms are also attached to the mortal world."
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow; this world also has subspaces and little worlds?
"Those suffused with spiritual qi are the Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands, paradises for cultivators. Those filled with Nether Qi are Yin Netherworlds, havens for ghosts."
"By rights, life’s end should be like a snuffed candle; souls return to heaven and earth, reverting to origin."
"Yet... the existence of Yin Netherworlds gives rise to the root of ghost existence."