Returning to the sect's main hall, Meng Zhang began to sort through his gains. Nearly twenty ghosts had provided him with a wealth of valuable knowledge, including many aspects of cultivation and the hundred arts.
The last two soldiers had given Meng Zhang two very practical skills. One skill was about how to operate the power of the soul and extract soul power. For the soul, soul power is like the true qi that a cultivator's body possesses.
The soul absorbs the yin qi of the Netherworld and refines it into soul power. Soul power can condense yin qi and refine various weapons and armor for the soul to use. Soul power can also drive yin qi and cast ghost-specific spells - soul techniques.
The other skill was a very simple soul technique - Wayfinding Technique. The rules of the Netherworld are very different from those of the Yang world, and it is difficult to cast spells from the Yang world in the Netherworld.
Although Meng Zhang was at the mid-stage of Refining Qi, he was completely lost in the Netherworld and had no trace of a cultivator's appearance.
Now, with the two practical skills he had mastered, Meng Zhang had the initial power to survive in the Netherworld. He rested well for the remaining time that night.
The next morning, after finishing his morning class, Meng Zhang recorded all the knowledge and put the recorded book in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
In the morning, Meng Zhang and Tian Zhen continued to tame three wind chasing horses and practiced riding. In the afternoon, they went to the spirit field to help.
Taiyi Sect had suddenly lost so many people, which was good for the burden of the spirit vein, but the work had not decreased. Especially Taiyi Sect's biggest source of wealth - the nineteen-acre spirit field - needed careful management and care.
Fortunately, the heavy work such as plowing and planting had already been done, and only the relatively easy daily maintenance work was left. When it was time to harvest the spirit field, these few people in Taiyi Sect would be too busy.
Tian Zhen also suggested to Meng Zhang whether they should recruit some loose cultivators to join and supplement Taiyi Sect's manpower.
Taiyi Sect had always been conservative in the issue of recruiting loose cultivators. The main reason was that Taiyi Sect was a small sect with too few people. If a large number of loose cultivators were recruited, they might turn the tables and take over the sect.
Meng Zhang, who had experienced the betrayal of Zhen Ling (True Spirit) old Dao, had no confidence in the loyalty of loose cultivators. Even those loose cultivators who had a good reputation might not be reliable in critical moments.
Of course, if Taiyi Sect wanted to develop and grow, it must have more disciples. If it relied solely on the mortal villages and towns under Taiyi Sect's jurisdiction to provide disciples, the speed would be too slow.
Although Meng Zhang did not immediately agree to Tian Zhen's proposal, he still kept the matter of recruiting manpower in mind.
In the evening, Meng Zhang once again entered the Trial Ground. This time, he did not rush to hunt ghosts. Instead, he began to operate his soul, absorbing the ubiquitous yin qi in the Netherworld and refining it into soul power. Meng Zhang had a high level of comprehension and quickly mastered this skill.
Although Meng Zhang's soul strength has been supplemented by the ghosts, his current capacity for soul power is still limited. With insufficient soul power, he relies on his skills. Using soul power to condense yin qi, he refines a long knife.
After becoming proficient with the knife, Meng Zhang embarks on a hunting journey. With his greatly increased strength, he effortlessly slays ghosts, even daring to actively charge at large groups of them.
Previously, Meng Zhang's soul was like that of an ordinary person, only capable of using brute force in battle. Now, with the ability to utilize soul power, his soul is akin to that of a cultivator, with a rich array of techniques at his disposal. On this night, Meng Zhang slays nearly a hundred ghosts before being forced to leave the Trial Ground.
Upon returning to his physical body, Meng Zhang is overwhelmed by the influx of information in his mind. The strength of his soul has greatly increased, and he can feel the difference. After refining soul power and returning to his body, a chilling aura emanates from his soul, spreading throughout his physical form.
Yin qi is essential for ghosts in the Netherworld, much like how humans need air, but it poses a great hindrance to living beings. If an ordinary person accidentally comes into contact with yin qi, they may fall seriously ill or even die. Even cultivators, if exposed to yin qi for an extended period, will experience physical stiffness and a gradual loss of vitality.
The yin qi absorbed by Meng Zhang's soul from the Netherworld directly affects his physical body upon Divine Soul Return to the Body. Worried, Meng Zhang quickly activates his true qi to expel the yin qi. Fortunately, the Lesser Yang True Qi he cultivates is forged by repeatedly absorbing the Yang He qi of the rising sun. As soon as the vigorous and fiery Lesser Yang True Qi is activated, the yin qi that has contaminated his body quickly melts away like snow in the sunlight.
After dispelling the yin qi, Meng Zhang begins to reflect. The cultivation methods of Netherworld ghosts are not suitable for living beings. Ghosts do not possess physical bodies, so they have no need to worry about yin qi contaminating their bodies.
However, as a living person, Meng Zhang must consider the issue of yin qi invasion after his soul returns to his body. Currently, his soul is not strong enough, and the amount of yin qi he absorbs is not significant.
Moreover, the Lesser Yang Qi Art he cultivates happens to be the nemesis of yin qi. In the short term, there should be no problems. However, in the long run, he should seek a permanent solution. Of course, Meng Zhang's immediate priority is to obtain sufficient benefits from the Trial Ground. As for potential future troubles, he can't afford to worry about them at the moment.
During the daytime, Meng Zhang increases the time spent cultivating the Lesser Yang Qi Art. Under the sunlight, he repeatedly uses Lesser Yang True Qi to cleanse and refine his physical body, completely avoiding the harm of yin qi.
In the evening, Meng Zhang continues to enter the Trial Ground. He discovers that as his soul strength increases, his time spent in the Trial Ground gradually lengthens. With the Wayfinding Technique mastered, Meng Zhang can navigate in the Netherworld without fear of getting lost. Instead of wandering aimlessly, he slowly clears the ghosts around him, using his appearance as the center.
As his strength grows, the threat these ghosts pose to him diminishes, and they become his prey. During the process of clearing the ghosts, he occasionally encounters the soldiers. Meng Zhang now knows that these soldiers are yin soldiers of the Netherworld, stronger than the ghosts in terms of individual strength and organization.
Compared to the disorganized ghosts, yin soldiers are clearly more difficult to deal with. However, hunting yin soldiers brings greater benefits to his soul and allows him to acquire more skills. Even though hunting yin soldiers is highly dangerous, it cannot dampen Meng Zhang's enthusiasm.
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