Yinshan Record

Chapter 496 The Four Laws of Donghua Rage from the Heart
The Taiyi Donghua Jade Book is the fundamental legacy left by the ancient Qingdi Lingwei Yang. As a classic text from the era of the Five Emperors, it has a distinct personal style and the cultivation style of the ancient times.

The specific cultivation methods included are divided into four different methods: "contemplation", "spiritual travel", "cultivating the spirit", and "refining sainthood".

The so-called visualization practice is the method of visualizing deities. It is also the most common method of cultivation in the Xuanmen school. It involves visualizing various deities within oneself, using their emptiness to make oneself real, and refining extraordinary power from the emptiness of the deities.

The divine travel goes a step further, using one's own divine soul to absorb the essence of heaven and earth, observe the various changes in the laws, and develop all sorts of supernatural powers and spells.

The path to sainthood requires communicating with heaven and earth, following profound principles, and finding a buffer between oneself and the universe. The traditional concept of "the struggle between heaven and man" in cultivation transforms at this level into a process where the cultivator actively compromises and reciprocates by merging with heaven and earth. However, the purpose of this merging is to achieve liberation. From connecting with heaven and earth to returning to oneness with the self, the mysteries of this process remain somewhat enigmatic even to Su Che today.

Perhaps only by seeing the traces of Ling Weiyang's image left in Xuandu Palace can one truly understand the changes involved.

The last one is the Spirit Seed. According to the information left by Lingwei Yang in the jade pendant, the method of the Spirit Seed seems to be a variant of some kind of divine method.

In the process of planting a spirit, the first step is to condense one's own magical power into a seed according to some mysterious principle, and then plant this seed in the "believer." The seed grows with the believer's faith. In this process, the believer will gain many magical powers, while the cultivator can gain even more benefits.

In Su Che's view, this was almost a divine means in some sense.

Perhaps in ancient times, the cultivation path of the Xuanmen was not as clear as it is now. Divine methods were a fundamental part of the Xuanmen system, or perhaps this was a masterpiece created by Ling Weiyang by chance.

However, this spiritual method underwent another change for Su Che.

Su Che did not intend to plant this "spirit seed" in his own believers. Firstly, the Third Young Master Su had no interest in divine methods. Secondly, the Third Young Master Su, who inherited the legacy of both the Black Emperor and Yellow Heaven families, had a better idea.

What if what you plant is not a "blessing from the gods" but a "curse from evil spirits"?

Within the Yinshan Cave Netherworld Treasure Record, there are many rudimentary forms of ghosts. If they are controlled using the Black Emperor's methods, they would be the perfect poison.

These ghosts devour the vital energy of living beings as sustenance for their own growth, and they are also connected to the Yinshan Cave Netherworld Treasure Register.

In a broad sense, it can also be considered part of one's own magical power.

Within the palace of Huang Tiandao, Su Che consulted many methods and, under the guidance of Yu Lizi, finally transformed this supernatural power, creating a new prototype.

This is the prototype of the curse that severely injured Li Yizhen today.

Using the spirit of the soldier as a vessel and magical power as fuel, it absorbs and erodes the blood, flesh, and essence of the enemy. Even experts like Yu Lizi would say that such a method of killing is "promising".

If it were simplified and improved, for example, by removing the black emperor's color of the Moon Serpent Shadow Imprint, simplifying the Nine Netherworld Reincarnation Method, and weakening the prerequisite comprehension of the Virtue of the Earth, it might become a new killing method in the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect.

I tried it today, and it really worked wonders.

In particular, once this method is used, it is equivalent to transforming the enemy's fundamental energy into a killing move against him, using the enemy's spear to attack the enemy's shield. With this balance of power, even a Core Formation cultivator like Li Yizhen would find it difficult to escape his fate.

However, there are still drawbacks. It can only be carried out when Su Che has direct contact with the other party, which is a bit troublesome.

After all, the higher the cultivation level of a cultivator, the greater the distance between them when fighting, and the more dangerous direct physical contact becomes.

These can be improved gradually in the future.

Su Che strode forward, his body radiating a magnetic aurora that condensed into sword energy, flowing endlessly around him. Any eunuch in blue robes or members of the Censorate who stood in his way didn't even have a chance to utter a word before being instantly reduced to charred corpses.

Finally, Su Che led the little fox to the prison of the Imperial Guards. It was a dark little room that looked like an inconspicuous woodshed in a wealthy family, but there was a different world underneath.

There are five levels below, all of which are prisons from which the soul cannot escape.

“Punishment”.

A pale-faced centurion knelt before Su Che, wearing a clean centurion's robe, his face showing a hint of fear and endless regret.

"Yang Chixin".

Su Che kept repeating the name of this centurion.

Needless to say, the imperial guards from Cizhou were all thrown into prison, and the person who was able to greet him here unharmed must have already surrendered to Li Yizhen.

As for whether he was originally a spy planted by Jiankang or simply a coward, Su Che had no interest in finding out the truth behind it.

"This humble servant is ashamed before the law enforcement and before all my brothers. Li Yizhen's methods are far too ruthless, and they have orders from the king to carry out. This humble servant... this humble servant is truly..."

"Are Zhu Yi and Lu Bai both downstairs?"

"Yes, all the brothers of the Imperial Guard are in prison. Commander Shi, Brother Lu Bai, and Brother Zhu Yi are all on the lowest level, but I have no authority to go down there. They are all being looked after by people from the palace..."

"Go down."

Su Che looked at the entrance to the dungeon; the low eaves reeked of blood.

The imperial guards in Cizhou must not have had a very pleasant time while I was away.

Inside the cell, the instruments of torture were stained with the blood of their former owners.

Without Su Che saying anything more, Yang Chixin immediately unshackled the imprisoned guards one by one, constantly apologizing. However, after exchanging glances, the guards remained silent.

Su Che didn't say anything.

The ranks of the Imperial Guards are passed down from father to son; they are all founding members of the Great Liang Dynasty and have long been integrated with the court. Now, faced with such a change, they naturally harbor resentment and anger, but they also have the habits and understanding formed over many years.

The guards, freed from their shackles, were all pale-faced and absent-minded, like walking corpses. They merely straightened their clothes subconsciously as they walked out of the prison.

His energy and spirit had been completely exhausted in this prison.

However, Su Che continued forward, letting Yang Chixin lead him to the lowest level. The surrounding yin energy and bloody stench grew heavier, and Su Che frowned slightly in displeasure.

I never expected that these people sent by the imperial court would be so ruthless.

Shi Chibao, Lu Bai, and Zhu Yi were all imperial guards, yet they were able to resort to such ruthless methods.

The lowest level of the prison was right in front of them, a cage made of black steel as thick as a wrist. When this steel was forged, it was mixed with the secret techniques of the Xuanmen sect, so that even a Yin spirit could not escape.

"This servant, Ye Si, from the Imperial Seal Office, pays respects to Marquis Changxin."

A young eunuch in blue robes stood behind the prison with a smile on his face. He took out a key from his sleeve, carefully reached into the lock, and tried to open the cell door.

"My lord, please don't take offense. That scoundrel Li Yizhen was desperate and tried to kill our brothers, so I locked the prison door. His little skills are nothing but..."

Su Che flicked his hand, and a beam of magnetic aurora shot into his forehead, instantly turning his brain into a charred mess.

His left hand gently cupped together, as if caressing an invisible sword. With a single slash, a sharp sword aura leaped from between his fingers and palm, cleaving the prison door in two.

Yang Chixin, who was following behind Su Che, swallowed hard.

Throughout the journey, Su Che showed no interest in questioning any of the palace eunuchs, regardless of their manner of persuasion or force, and instead dealt with them ruthlessly.

The implications behind this left Yang Chixin uneasy. If the Su family of Duling were to break with the court like this, where would the entire Imperial Guard find refuge?

Tick, tick.

Water droplets rolled down the surrounding walls and fell onto the bluestone floor, while a few dim oil lamps illuminated the innermost cells.

Su Che's boots slammed on the wet flagstones as he lightly touched his fingers in the air.

Through a sudden realization, Lu Bai and Zhu Yi were still alive, but Shi Chibao's condition was somewhat precarious.

"Instead of dealing with the punishment, why don't I go find a few brothers to bring these guys out and discipline them, and then..."

"Shut up."

Su Che gave a simple instruction.

A bright light flashed in the little fox's hand, and a dark blue light rose from Kongzhu's fingertips, condensing into a small ball in the air, illuminating the underground cage.

In the two cells on the left, two blood-soaked figures dressed in white lay.

"Lao Lu."

Su Che saw Lu Bai's face clearly. The man who used to follow him closely was now unrecognizable. His eyelids had been peeled off, his eyeballs had been removed, his skin had been peeled off inch by inch, and there was hardly any flesh left on his arms, only stark white bones.

The palm had been plucked into a bare piece of flesh, with eight fingers nowhere to be seen, leaving only two thumbs.

Although it seemed someone had hurriedly tidied Lu Bai's appearance, a lot of filth could still be seen in his hair.

"I do not know anything."

Lu Bai said in a hoarse voice.

"All I know is that Su Lixing is loyal to the court."

"Even if you ask me a thousand times, this is all I know."

Su Che reached out and touched Lu Bai's forehead.

"Old Lu, it's alright, I'm back."

"I know nothing. Su Lixing has rendered great service to the court."

Lu Bai said in a low voice, "Li Yizhen, you useless piece of trash who has ruined the country and harmed the people, you...you are nothing..."

"Old Lu, it's me, Su Che."

Even though Su Che had made preparations before his trip, seeing Lu Bai's miserable state still made him feel as if a ball of embers was burning inside him.

"Don't try to fool me. I've been a con artist for over a decade; these kinds of sound tricks won't fool me. You'll get nothing from me. Just cripple my ears, and I'll have some peace and quiet. Cut off my tongue too, because I have no confession here. Chop off both thumbs as well; I won't sign anything, so you can keep them to sign for me..."

Anger scorched Su Che's internal organs and tormented his mind.

A wisp of yang energy flowed from Su Che's fingertips and slowly entered Lu Bai's heart meridian. This life-giving energy allowed Lu Bai's breathing to become steady again.

"He...they..."

The little fox looked at Lu Bai's mangled body and didn't know what to say.

She was born into the demon clan of the East Sea. Today she saw Lu Bai's figure, but she didn't know who the real demon was.

Su Che turned his head to look in the other direction.

Zhu Yi's situation was not much better than Lu Bai's. He too had his scalp peeled off and his abdomen cut open, with his intestines pulled out and wrapped around his neck. If they hadn't both been accomplished martial arts practitioners, they would have long since died and become ghosts in the underworld.

"The accounts must be settled one by one."

Su Che shook his head.

It was also a ray of warm, yang energy that protected Zhu Yi's life force.

Su Che continued forward.

In the innermost cell, Shi Chibao, dressed in white, had no visible injuries despite being the leader of the Cizhou Imperial Guards.

However, Su Che knew that the man in front of him, Commander Shi, was actually in the worst situation among the three.

"Li Xing, please don't blame me."

Shi Chibao breathed heavily, his lungs groaning painfully like a broken bellows.

The leader of the Imperial Guards, who had reached the sixth rank in martial arts cultivation, was now completely devoid of life, his eyes filled with the will to die.

"Blame you?"

"Not long after you accompanied Master Wei to the outer realms, an imperial envoy came to deliver a decree."

Shi Chibao was nearing the end of his life, and his voice became very low and weak. Su Che immediately sent a wisp of Yang energy into him to prevent him from dying before he could finish speaking.

“I didn’t think about it carefully at the time. Who knew that not long after the angel arrived, Li Yizhen came by royal orders to interrogate the missing Prince of Wuling. The entire Cizhou Thousand Household Office was imprisoned. It’s all my fault for being so self-centered and wanting the court to punish me as soon as possible, which caused my brothers to fall into the trap.”

“Lu Bai and Zhu Yi are both tough men. I was indeed wrong about them. This disaster at Cizhou Thousand Household Garrison is all my fault for being too selfish. Please, Judge, do not take your anger out on others.” Shi Chibao looked at Su Che: “And do not do anything unwise. The brothers in the garrison, their fathers, grandfathers… their whole families have served the court. Lackeys, lackeys, hehe, after being these lackeys for so long, they have long lost the courage to speak against their masters. Please, Brother Su, do not make things difficult for them.”

"Li Yizhen is just a prelude."

Shi Chibao gasped for breath: "These people, they were all sent by the palace. They definitely have a backup plan. Brother, you've come down here with a bloody stench, you must make plans as soon as possible."

"I know. But please rest assured, I am now Huang Tiandao's agent. If they dare to touch me, then let's see how capable they are."

"That's good, then I can... rest assured."

The light in Shi Chibao's eyes gradually faded, and the chief clerk of the Cizhou Thousand-Household Garrison stopped breathing.

"Keep a low profile for Commander Shi. Kongzhu, help me take Old Zhu and Old Lu back to my residence. I still have some things to do."

Su Che took something out of his sleeve and gently tossed it into Yang Chixin's hand.

Yang Chixin looked at the heavy object in his hand, which was cold to the touch and had several bold characters drawn on it.

It was the waist badge of the Deputy Commander of the Cizhou Thousand-Household Office of the Imperial Guard.

(End of this chapter)