The black manuscript is called the [Four Seas Strange Scripture], not the original, but a handwritten copy.
Moreover, it is preserved very poorly, with traces of water stains and insect bites.
Opening the first page, one can see extremely scrawled writings recording some fragmented and deplorable scriptures. Some are interspersed with local slang, with disjointed sentences, missing parts, making reading it a painful endeavor.
As you turn the pages further, an increasing sense of madness arises, causing the reader's reason to diminish and gradually go insane.
However, this naturally has no effect on Zhong Shenxiu.
Besides, he was mentally prepared for it.
After all, this is a world influenced by True Gods, so various forms of pollution naturally exist.
And these True Gods, Outer Gods... seem not as kind-hearted as he is, having deduced a harmless Heavenly Immortal Dao to pass on to the Seven Luminaries Heaven's natives.
'That's not right... The Heavenly Immortal Dao is fine up to the Mahayana Realm, but when reaching the Unity stage, regardless of which Innate Dao Seed they merge with, there is inevitably the negative influence of pollution and madness in the sole divinity!'
'And without prior experiences to understand madness and suppress pollution... when abruptly facing the difficulty of merging, those Great Mahayana Independent Immortals are likely to go insane!'
Zhong Shenxiu had a flash of insight, thinking of other aspects.
After a long time, he closed the [Four Seas Strange Scripture], lost in thought.
This [Four Seas Strange Scripture] was originally a True Inheritor of a side path, comprehensive, containing over three hundred Secret Techniques.
But in this copy, there are only two.
One is called the [Sea Soul Body Technique], a body modification art requiring the spellcaster to seek out eggs of a demonic sea creature, a Primeval Hydra, and on the night of a full moon at the hour of the son, to perform a ritual, using talisman water to harmonize the demon egg, and implant it into one's own bones.
This Primeval Hydra is as soft as boneless, yet it clings like a maggot to the bone, continuously devouring marrow, gnawing the skeleton, and then replacing all the bones with it.
This process is excruciating, and anyone who can't endure it will painfully die.
But once completed, one can refine into a Sea Soul Body, able to dive deep into the ocean like a fish without needing to surface for air, and even gain some control over water.
That ship master Uncle Hai learned this path and wreaked havoc at sea for a time.
As for Old Mai, he learned another technique called [Parasite Dragon Divine Skill], which involves swallowing a sea fish known as the Seven-gilled Demon Eel, nurturing it in the stomach with fresh blood and human flesh to form a symbiotic relationship, and then being able to command it at will, spraying it out to harm others.
This type of Seven-gilled Eel can not only change length but also spit corrosive poison, and is quite sturdy itself. The only flaw is that after forming a symbiosis, their lives are bound together, and if the Seven-gilled Eel dies, the cultivator will inevitably perish too.
Then it encountered Zhong Shenxiu.
Even if it's a makeshift version of Taiyin Refining, the power of the Corpselight-Transforming Immortal is not something a mere fish can resist, thus Old Mai's death was quite unjust.
"These two pirates, full of evil deeds, were captured by Sea Mystic, deservedly so, I suppose I just helped them find relief..."
Zhong Shenxiu closed his eyes in thought.
"This world's path to the extraordinary seems to lean towards the bizarre, terrifying, and insane... Quite familiar to me."
"Moreover, the price is quite hefty."
"Those two techniques, once fully cultivated, have further concerns. For example, Old Mai must feed the Seven-gilled Eel with human flesh and blood regularly, or it would backfire and devour his own organs... And the ship master is even worse, becoming neither human nor ghost, unable to leave the sea, and moreover... needs to soak in seawater for a sufficient time daily, or he would immediately go insane..."
Yet what attracted Zhong Shenxiu more were some descriptions interspersed in the [Four Seas Strange Scripture].
For instance, in this handwritten copy, the author repeatedly mentioned a supreme manuscript called [Heavenly Elder's Note], also known as [Heavenly Mother Scripture]!
The other party believed that this [Heavenly Mother Scripture] is the true method for becoming an immortal, and once obtained, one can cultivate to immortality!
But what Zhong Shenxiu valued, is the name 'Heavenly Elder'!
"This Sea Lord cultivates [Four Seas Strange Scripture], worshiping [Da Gun], and according to legend, [Da Gun] is also a mighty sea monster... When I descended upon this place before, [Da Gun] came... So, it's a familiar of the 'Heavenly Elder'?"
Zhong Shenxiu also thought of the Outer Gods wandering outside the Crystal Wall system.
Among them, the [Heavenly Elder], due to being the first confronted, provided the most information.
"[Heavenly Elder]..."
Zhong Shenxiu pondered: "This is the most essential title, and in actual translation, it contains numerous imagery... like 'Heavenly Mother', 'Ocean's Mother', 'Life's Grandmother', 'Shadow Mother' and such."
"Linking it to its authority, that ocean capable of submerging a world, teeming with life... It seems very likely that [Da Gun] is its offspring."
"Moreover, the sea monsters within the ocean are not limited to [Da Gun] alone. In Fang Lang's memory, there's the widely spread tale in Minhai County of the [Nine-headed Infant Snake], and similarly strong sea monsters exist in the West as well... These marine mythical creatures might originate from the same lineage, the same continuum, all being familiars of the 'Heavenly Elder'?"
"And the [Heavenly Elder] continually tries to pollute and infiltrate this world. For instance, the scriptures circulated among cultivators... Those cultivating [Four Seas Strange Scripture] are most likely summoned by [Da Gun], and those cultivating [Heavenly Mother Scripture] are even more at risk, at any moment potentially dying suddenly, and even if they survive, becoming frenzied believers of the 'Heavenly Mother'!"
"It seems Time's Ouroboros and Gate Master are in a precarious position, and probably can't muster much power either; they didn't come for me... Or perhaps, this is our understanding, letting me handle matters myself?" The most update n0vels are published on novel⚑fire.net
Zhong Shenxiu stood up: "In summary... the sea is too dangerous, it's best to get ashore as soon as possible."
He stepped out of the captain's room, only to see Ah Bao hopping over: "Shipmaster!"
"What did you call me?"
Suddenly, Zhong Shenxiu heard the heartbeat of Sea Mystic, this sea vessel like a gigantic living being, even attempting to alter his cognition, making him think he was the shipmaster of this vessel.
No wonder those two pirates fell for it before.
However, Zhong Shenxiu's rank is high enough, this level of cognitive confusion is entirely ineffective, even if the 'Heavenly Elder' came, it would probably not work.
He smiled and accepted the title, after all, it surely has its uses: "Go tell the sailors, we're changing course, heading to the nearest port!"
Ah Bao cheerfully agreed, hopping away again.
Given her currently lively and adorable appearance, you wouldn't think she was a ghost at all.
Seeing this scene, Zhong Shenxiu couldn't help but sigh.