Chapter 126: Burning the Body, Forging the Soul, Codename: God-Favored

Chen Yushu took the "Method of Invoking Deities" directly from his storage bag.

"To invoke a deity, one must first worship the deity. Only by achieving resonance with a deity can one invite them to descend and possess the body, thereby causing one's power to surge..."

Chen Yushu read through the contents one by one. He discovered that the book did not provide much in the way of specific instructions for invoking deities; instead, it offered a detailed explanation of the various deity pantheons. For instance, there was the Dharma Bodhisattva of the South, the Subtle-Speech Guanyin of the North, the Sovereign of Tianchen in the Northern River region, the Compassionate Holy Mother of the Southwest, and the Sea God Prince of the East Sea...

These were the supreme figures of their respective pantheons. Below them were secondary deities, generals, military governors, attendants, and so on. The "spirit medium" that Qi Jichuan had invoked was simply one category within a pantheon. Above that were the Senior Generals, the Generals of Increase and Decrease, and finally, the Bodhisattva incarnation.

Those capable of invoking a Bodhisattva incarnation were top-tier "Walkers of the Yin," and entering the Dao was a simple matter for them. After all, even someone as strong as Qi Jichuan could only manage to invoke a spirit medium.

According to this "Method of Invoking Deities," there were several limitations to invoking a deity.

First, there was time. One could hold the deity for at most half an incense stick's duration. Once that time passed, regardless of whether the battle was resolved, the "deity" would depart. This was not because the deity was unable to remain, but rather a restriction. The "deities" were noble; how could they be ordered about at will? Even if you had received divine favor, it only allowed you to borrow their power briefly. Once time dragged on, the "deity," being of noble status, would naturally grow impatient.

Second, there was the consideration for the host. While a practitioner’s strength would surge with each divine descent, the essence of the process was the influx of external, ghostly power, which constantly amplified the physical body. For the invoker, this always resulted in immense trauma. The stronger the body, the more power it could withstand—but no matter how strong a human body was, how could it ever surpass a "deity"? It simply allowed for a greater manifestation of power. Therefore, after every invocation, the practitioner needed a period of recovery, in addition to offering incense, prayers, and the sacrifice of three types of livestock. This recovery period could last anywhere from ten days to a few months. Otherwise, it would leave behind lasting complications.

Just like Qi Jichuan; after his heroic display this time, he would inevitably remain weak for a long period. He would be unable to invoke a spirit medium or perform the invocation ritual again for at least ten to fifteen days.

"So, to practice this method, one must first choose a pantheon. One must decide which deity to worship. Only then can one practice with the corresponding deity. Of course, one could also invoke minor deities. For example, the Wind and Cloud General of Jianghuan Town, or the Grandmother of the River who dwells by the riverbank—these are minor deities. Among them, the Wind and Cloud General is at the late stage of an Evil Spirit, not yet reaching the level of a Calamity Spirit, while the River Grandmother is indeed a Calamity Spirit. However, they don't even qualify as part of these major pantheons. They are just minor deities; compared to those Bodhisattvas, Guanyins, Sovereigns, and Princes... they are naturally quite weak."

Chen Yushu pondered, feeling a headache coming on. He realized that this "Method of Invoking Deities" was not easy to master. The main reason was that, in the end, one had to deal with deities and, consequently, be subject to them. Although there was a principle of mutual benefit, the master-servant relationship was established from the very beginning.

"Of course, for me, this is nothing. As long as I can truly borrow power and unleash overwhelming strength to resolve difficult and formidable enemies, it is a small price to pay. However, the choice of pantheon must be carefully considered. Because there are grudges between different pantheons. Once you choose one, if you encounter the other in the future, they might kill you on sight."

Chen Yushu muttered to himself, planning to consult Qi Jichuan later. If he ran into Sister Qiao'er, he would certainly need to ask her as well. After all, in his eyes, Sister Qiao'er was more trustworthy and possessed a deeper understanding of the ways. Even though she was not much older than him, he instinctively felt she was stronger than the brothers Zhao Yufeng and Qi Jichuan.

"As for the 'Secret Record of Corpse Raising,' it focuses more on the selection of corpses."

Not every corpse was suitable for being refined into a corpse puppet. For instance, the corpse of a martial artist was naturally of higher quality than that of an ordinary person. And among martial artists, there were many factors to consider, such as the date and time of birth, the celestial timing, and the environment. A good corpse puppet requires not only a strong physique but also specific birth data and the precise timing of death; only then could it be cast into a "Yin Corpse Body," making it top-tier material. Then, by using the corresponding refining method to continuously nurture and nourish it, the final achievement and power would be greater.

Just like Zhao Yufeng's "Little Black." Although it wasn't a true Yin Corpse Body, it was born in a Yin year, Yin month, and Yin hour, and died at a Yin hour. Yet, in his hands, it had been cultivated to the level of an Evil Zombie in just three years. This was the importance of selecting the right corpse.

"Next, the method of entering the Dao..."

Chen Yushu turned his attention to the "Method of Entering the Dao." What was entering the Dao? The three incense sticks—the three lamps, the three fires—were things inherent to the human body. Walkers of the Yin simply used unique cultivation methods to manifest them and make them burn more vigorously. Entering the Dao meant merging these three lamps and three fires to enter a new level of cultivation. This level was called "Fire Burning the Body!"

"Fire Burning the Body? Using the three fires of Heaven, Earth, and Man to burn one's own body?"

Seeing this, Chen Yushu felt puzzled. He continued to read.

"Fire burns the body, building the Divine Soul. Once the Divine Soul is formed, it can leave the body, travel through the void by night, and roam the mountains and rivers by day..."

Chen Yushu’s eyes lit up as he read this. He suddenly understood. Only after "Fire Burning the Body" could one build a Divine Soul. Once the Divine Soul was formed, one could leave the body and travel freely. He knew that humans had three souls and seven spirits, but these were relatively loose. While unique to the human body, they were not tightly bound together. For example, when some children were frightened, their three souls would flee and their seven spirits would scatter, leaving them in a dazed, foolish state. This was because the three souls and seven spirits had been stimulated by a special environment and had dispersed. Often, it required a shaman or a Walker of the Yin to perform a soul-calling ritual to bring them back and restore the person.

But according to the "Method of Entering the Dao," after the three souls and seven spirits underwent the "Fire Burning the Body," they would become tightly bound. They would form a Divine Soul, becoming a unified whole that would not disperse due to fright or external stimuli. And as the Divine Soul grew stronger, it could exit the body to walk at night or roam during the day.

"So, entering the Dao is essentially building the Divine Soul. Once the Divine Soul is formed, one has entered the Dao. Without a Divine Soul, one can only stand outside the door; one cannot even cross the threshold."

Only then did Chen Yushu truly understand. Fire burning the body to build the Divine Soul was the act of entering the Dao. Only after the Divine Soul was formed could one perform the mysterious feats of exiting the body, roaming by night, and wandering by day. Thinking of this, he recalled the "Method of Exiting the Body" that the talisman master, Feng, had taken out at the assembly. According to the people there, that was a technique that could only be practiced after entering the Dao.

"So, exiting the body is not easy? It requires special techniques to practice?"

Chen Yushu muttered, his heart pounding with excitement. He had finally seen the path ahead. Before, he knew that the cultivation of a Walker of the Yin was divided into three incense sticks, and after those came entering the Dao. But he had been ignorant of when or how to enter the Dao. Now, through this "Hand Formula for Entering the Dao," he finally glimpsed the reality of the path forward.

***

Following this, the manual introduced the concept of "Fire Burning the Body" and how to practice it... The various formulas and profound theories were eye-opening for Chen Yushu.

"Unfortunately, I am only at the level of two incense sticks, and I haven't even finished that stage yet. Otherwise, I would really like to try the mystery of 'Fire Burning the Body' and building the Divine Soul."

Chen Yushu’s face showed a trace of regret. He also realized the extreme danger of this practice. "Fire Burning the Body"—the name alone was enough to suggest the peril. One had to use one's own three fires of Heaven, Earth, and Man to scorch the three souls and seven spirits, melting them into a single furnace. This required not only absolute safety but also a practitioner with a deep foundation and the mental fortitude to endure the agony of that burning.

"It is no wonder. Only a practitioner who has reached the level of 'Great Stillness' in meditation possesses the ability to practice entering the Dao. It is truly because only in the state of Great Stillness can a practitioner possess the fortitude to endure pain that is unbearable to ordinary people, and only then can they use the three fires to burn their three souls and seven spirits without collapsing and damaging their own soul..."

At this moment, Chen Yushu gained a deeper understanding of the requirements for meditation. Reaching Great Stillness allowed one to detach from that pain. It didn't mean it didn't hurt; rather, it meant one could endure the agony of the soul being scorched. Thinking that Sister Qiao'er was currently at the critical moment of "Fire Burning the Body," he felt a sense of relief. It was fortunate that he had abandoned the idea of asking Little Yin to send a message. If she had been disturbed, the consequences would have been dire.

He took a deep breath and turned his attention to the other manuals: "Detailed Explanation of Array Dao," "Illustrated Record of Mountains and Rivers," "Spirit-Attached Harvesting Technique," and "Yin-Pointing Sword."

The "Detailed Explanation of Array Dao" was a manual for practicing array formations, detailing many arrays and their underlying principles. Chen Yushu became immediately engrossed in it.

*Reading +5, Reading +7, Reading +6...*

A full hour passed before he finally snapped back to reality.

"This 'Detailed Explanation of Array Dao' is truly profound. The world between heaven and earth holds immense power. Countless people spend their entire lives trying to borrow that power to manifest strength. And arrays are definitely the ones among the countless systems that borrow the power of heaven and earth the most and to the greatest extent..."

Chen Yushu couldn't help but sigh with emotion. What surprised him even more was the increase in his reading experience. He knew that since he had raised his reading realm to the fifth level, the "True Perception Realm," his experience gain had become extremely slow. Even spending an entire afternoon at the Ningjing Academy would only net him three or four points. Compared to the sixteen hundred points needed for the next level, the efficiency was far too low. It would have taken him at least two years to reach the next level. The key was that there were no more books at the Ningjing Academy for him to study; he had read them all.

He had already planned to put off raising his reading level, as it seemed impossible. He never expected that by reading this "Detailed Explanation of Array Dao," his reading experience would start to grow rapidly. He felt a surge of excitement. He knew all too well the benefits of his reading level; it was directly linked to his meditation level. The third level, "Perception Enhancement," had raised his meditation to "Small Stillness." The fourth level, "Clear Heart," had raised it to "Great Stillness." The current fifth level, "True Perception," had brought his meditation to "Constant Stillness." It was by relying on this level of meditation that he was able to avoid the illusions of the corpse demon and escape from danger.

He truly looked forward to what level he would reach after hitting the sixth level, and what level of meditation it would bring him to. He didn't even know what came after "Constant Stillness." Perhaps even Sister Qiao'er didn't know, as she was only at the level of Great Stillness.

He put the "Detailed Explanation of Array Dao" away, not having finished it. Such complex array diagrams required significant effort even for him to understand, which was precisely why his reading experience grew so quickly. He had only understood a small portion in that hour; there was still more than half to ponder.

Then, he turned his focus to the other manuals. The "Illustrated Record of Mountains and Rivers" was a book introducing mountains and rivers, which broadened his horizons. It detailed which powerful entities or hidden sects were hidden in various mountains and marshes. For instance, in the Huangshan region, there were three martial arts sects, two Daoist cultivation sects, and four or five other factions. Moreover, besides human forces, it contained a special warning: "Suspected existence of a Calamity-level entity."

This left him deeply shaken. "Evil," "Spirit," "Calamity," and "Disaster" were the four levels of power for these terrifying entities. For Chen Yushu, "Evil" and "Spirit" were already incredibly difficult and terrifying. "Calamity" was absolutely invincible. And "Disaster"... if one encountered one, it was like an ordinary person meeting a tiger in the mountains; the only possibility of surviving was if the tiger wasn't hungry. Therefore, this "Illustrated Record of Mountains and Rivers" was of immense value, as it at least marked the territories of some of these horrors, allowing him to avoid them as much as possible.

"Good stuff!" Chen Yushu nodded silently.

As for the "Spirit-Attached Harvesting Technique," it was a genuine evil cultivation method. Chen Yushu flipped through it briefly and skipped it. He guessed that this was the very "technique" that the old beast Wei Mingyuan had used on his disciple, Qi Yuxiang—who was also Qi Jichuan's sister and Zhao Yufeng's fiancée. He shook his head and looked at the last manual: "Yin-Pointing Sword."

"Another offensive secret technique. And a powerful one capable of slaying ghostly spirits from a distance. While it may not compare to the Divine Descent Technique, it enriches my attack options. Not bad at all."

Chen Yushu felt relieved. He would never complain about having too many techniques.

"Right. Besides these gains, I have one more."

Recalling something, Chen Yushu felt a stir in his heart. With a surge of his mental power, a jade plate suddenly appeared in his palm. The "Sensing Plate!" He had been surprised by how it appeared earlier. Later, he had tentatively connected his mental power to it, and it was as if he had completed a binding; the jade plate had entered his body.

At that moment, it had made him quite flustered. Fortunately, through testing, he found that the plate was harmless and could be retrieved at will, which put his mind at ease. Now, after checking his other gains, he finally remembered this plate.

"This Sensing Plate. What exactly is its purpose?"

A trace of doubt surfaced in his mind. He had wondered if it was a magic treasure used by the legendary cultivators of the ancient era, but upon reflection, it didn't feel like one. He hadn't sensed any great power from it. Holding the jade plate now, he thought for a moment and couldn't resist channeling his mental power into it. Then, he controlled his internal Daoist cultivation to flow into it as well.

*Hum, hum, hum...*

The Sensing Plate vibrated, seemingly absorbing his Daoist power. But it was like a bottomless pit; he had poured in nearly half of his internal cultivation, yet it still wasn't full. Just as he was about to give up, he felt his mind lighten. The jade plate seemed to be filled and suddenly glowed with white light.

"Go!"

Chen Yushu tried pointing it toward the courtyard, wanting to see if it could be controlled for attacks like a magic treasure. But the jade plate remained motionless. He couldn't feel any control over it; it was as if it were a dead object. Even though it could absorb his incense-derived Daoist power, it remained beyond his command.

"Hmm? What's this?"

Chen Yushu whispered. Just as he was about to withdraw and study it further, a sudden voice rang out—directly inside his mind.

In an instant, Chen Yushu was shaken to his core. His body trembled.

What was this? Who was speaking? Chen Yushu was stunned. He quickly realized it was the Sensing Plate! A voice had come from it.

"Finally, someone is there. This place is too remote. I had already despaired... I finally waited for someone."

The voice came again. Chen Yushu remained silent, his face filled with vigilance. He was completely lost; he had no idea what the Sensing Plate actually did. However, one thing was certain: the Daoist power he had poured into the plate hadn't disappeared; it had connected to some mysterious existence. Was the other party talking to him right now? Was this a communication tool?

"Codename 'Divine Favored One,' calling out to fellow practitioners in Longjiang. Is anyone hearing me?"

The voice spoke again, filled with undisguised anxiety. "Fellow practitioner, are you still there?"

The voice grew more anxious. Chen Yushu weighed his options, but decided not to respond. He didn't know what kind of entity was on the other end of the connection. "Divine Favored One?" He couldn't infer much from the name. The unknown often held danger and could stir fear. Especially in a world as complex as this, any carelessness could lead to ruin. He didn't want to, and didn't dare to, take that step lightly.

So, he remained silent until the light on the Sensing Plate gradually dimmed, clearly indicating that the Daoist power he had poured into it was exhausted. He then felt a shift in his mind, and the Sensing Plate merged back into his body.

"Right, he just mentioned being in Longjiang? Longjiang... isn't that this very river? In other words, this 'Divine Favored One' shouldn't be too far from me. Dangerous! Dangerous! That’s all the more reason not to respond."

Chen Yushu carefully recalled the events and became even more convinced of his decision. The closer the distance, the more it meant the other party could come to Jianghuan Town at any moment to find him. That was not a good thing for him. Who knew what level of strength the other person had reached, or what intentions they harbored?

He stood up and returned to his room. He began to practice the "White Tiger Visualization Technique." Soon, the night passed. The voice did not sound again, which eased his mind slightly.

The next morning, Chen Yushu resumed his daily routine. He stoked the fire, cooked meals, and brewed herbal medicines—the Qi and Blood Soup, the Yuan-Nourishing Soup, and the Red Cloud Lingzhi Soup. It was worth noting that after brewing them once or twice a day, his supply of Red Cloud Lingzhi was almost exhausted; at most, it would last another two days.

"The Red Cloud Lingzhi is a truly potent tonic. It’s the reason my physical tempering has progressed so quickly. It’s a pity it's running out. My rate of improvement will slow down after this."

Chen Yushu sighed silently, drank the medicinal soups, and began practicing the "Medicine King Stake Technique." Of course, while practicing the stake technique, he silently circulated the "Medicine King Force-Locking Technique." After half an hour, he switched to the "Medicine King Thunder Sound" and then the "Tiger Roar and Dragon Chant Technique"...

Stake techniques, external tempering, internal refinement—he transitioned flexibly, practicing freely. This allowed his qi, blood, and strength to increase slowly but steadily.

*Boom!*

Suddenly, he felt his heart skip a beat.