Yinshan Record

Chapter 65 True Spirit Position
hold head high.

The two-headed bear roared and brandished its two axes, parrying the seven human-skin lanterns that were linked together.

Chu Yuan brandished his longsword, revealing his sword intent. The Senluo Sword Qi struck the back of the two-headed bear monster, and the "Returning Wind and Withered Snow Sword Qi" passed down for many years in Yuyang Mountain pierced into the demon's body, striking metal with a resounding clang.

Lin Jiugong silently recited the incantation, lightly stepping on the Yu cloth. A magic sword made of thirteen copper coins burst out from his sleeve, shattering in mid-air, with the thirteen copper coins embedding themselves into the two-headed bear monster's body.

"Haha, not bad."

The black bear monster let out a wild laugh, holding an axe in both hands to support the seven human-skin lanterns. His joints cracked, his thick black mane stood up like iron spikes, and his figure gradually grew taller.

Chu Yuan calmed his mind, his left index finger tracing the cold, angular blade of the ancient, eight-sided sword. This monstrous physical body was incredibly resilient; even the sword cultivator's most prized method of slaughter was proving difficult to apply for the time being.

Sword cultivation combines one's own vital energy with the sword's killing aura, resulting in unparalleled sharpness. No matter what demons, monsters, or tribulations lie ahead, a single sword strike can shatter them all.

But this monstrous creature before them could not be cut down.

The black bear monster's four dim yellow eyes turned red, and he silently chanted a spell.

Amidst the eerie and miasma, faint chanting of Buddhist hymns could be heard.

The two-headed bear monster's body grew taller and more muscular, with four large black hands extending from its body. Its muscles were bulging, and its body was as black as jade. A long, fanged beast-face emerged from between its two bear heads.

Six dark, twisted runes appeared behind the two-headed bear monster's head. These six runes seemed to be the embodiment of all hatred in the human world, and just one glance could ignite boundless rage in people's hearts.

"The Dharma of the Buddha's Incarnation as a Wise King!"

As the two-headed monster revealed its supernatural powers, Chu Yuan immediately recognized that the method it practiced was a fundamental supernatural power of Buddhism.

The Dharma of the Descent of the Wise King.

In Buddhism, there is a practice called the Vidyaraja Dharma, which is similar to the Taoist art of preserving the spirit. Both involve visualizing a Vidyaraja who embodies the principles of Dharma within one's mind and spirit, and then using incantations to transform the visualized Vidyaraja into one's own power.

Once mastered, one will possess immeasurable supernatural powers. In particular, one's physical body will be extremely strong, and one will have immense strength, thus earning the title of Vajra Warrior.

Because the Vidyarajas (wisdom kings) being visualized are different, the Vidyaraja practices also have different classifications. The ascetic Qin Ben, who was injured by the bear monster, practiced the "Great Power Demon Yaksha Killing Method," which allowed him to transform into a great power yaksha, rampage through the air, and devour hordes of demons.

The two-headed bear monster before them displayed such supernatural power, with layers of black flames clinging to each of its six large hands. The vengeful ghost inside the human-skin lantern was burned by these black flames, letting out mournful howls.

The evil spirit inside the lantern trembled incessantly and suddenly broke free from Song Qi's control.

"You've done your best, now prepare to die."

The two-headed bear monster let out a long howl from its hideous face in the middle, and with a movement that brought with it the sound of wind and thunder, it aimed directly at Chu Yuan, the swordsman who posed the greatest threat to it.

"Nine Palaces, True Spirit Position Chart!"

Song Qi spat out a mouthful of blood. The vengeful ghost he had been raising broke free of his control. Old Song, the coffin shop owner, was already injured as his blood and qi surged.

"May you be blessed with boundless happiness. Lin Jiugong, a disciple of Shangqing, bows before the Xuandu Palace in the Pure Void Heaven beyond the Clouds..."

Lin Jiugong and Song Qi formed a hand seal together, silently reciting incantations. Their spiritual essence connected, and sparks of light emanated from the acupoints throughout their bodies.

This is a fundamental supernatural power of the Shangqing School of Taoism, called the "True Spirit Position Chart," which is an ancestral source of Taoist methods for preserving the spirit.

In practicing this method, one must visualize the spirits in every part of the body, including the spirits in the heart, lungs, and brain, and then visualize and refine each of these spirits.

By condensing a deity, one can possess a supernatural power.

If one can visualize all 129,600 deities around one's body, one can achieve the second-grade level of Taoist cultivation.

The lineage of Song Qi and Lin Jiugong is no longer complete, and it is unknown when they will be able to cultivate the "True Spirit Position Chart".

However, the two were indeed able to use this technique as a starting point to connect their energy and develop some aspects of this supernatural power.

Around Lin Jiugong, twenty-seven miniature images of deities appeared, while around Song Qi, there were thirty-four divine images, each no bigger than a fist, some riding flying dragons, others riding fierce tigers, each emitting rays of light as they soared out.

Their magical powers are intertwined, like mountains.

Lin Jiugong's fingers flew out in a series of hand seals, and a yellow talisman flew out from his left sleeve.

"Please, Lord of the Southern Mountain, grace this place with your presence."

Within the radiant light, a faint phantom image of a deity appeared, only to vanish into nothingness in an instant. Only immeasurable power descended from above, pressing down on the two-headed bear monster.

"Ow!"

The two-headed bear monster raised its six arms to withstand the immense pressure coming down from above.

Chu Yuan gripped the sword with both hands, his mind immersed in the longsword in his hands, and a chilling sword aura descended once more. The Returning Wind and Withered Snow sword aura solidified into a tangible substance, transforming into a white rainbow that slashed down overhead.

The bear-like monster's three-headed, six-armed, three-zhang-tall body was immediately cleaved open by the condensed sword energy, and specks of black fire dripped from the crack like blood plasma.

The swordsman drew his longsword again, and the chilling sword energy once more entered the bear monster's avatar.

The sword strikes were repeated seven times, cleaving the bear monster's body so severely that it resembled a rotten tree being destroyed by an autumn wind, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Chu Yuan focused his energy and opened his mouth to exhale.

A white light flashed, this was the sword aura that Chu Yuan had cultivated with his life, the very foundation of his swordsmanship. Once he cultivated it to the fifth rank of swordsmanship, he could refine it into a sword embryo like the Daoist elixir, which was the basis for achieving the Dao.

This item is extremely precious to sword cultivators. If it is damaged, it may cut off their path to enlightenment. Chu Yuan's use of it to defend against enemies shows that he has already reached the point of no return.

As the sword slashed, the two-headed bear monster's body shattered, but a black light emerged from its chest, breaking free from the protective power of Lin Jiugong and Song Qi's True Spirit Position Karma Diagrams, and heading straight towards Xuan Mountain.

"What a monster! If even one of the demon generals under the Black Mountain Monster is this powerful, I wonder how terrifying the old monster himself must be."

Chu Yuan's face was ashen, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

With his seventh-grade swordsmanship, his reckless use of sword energy has shaken the foundation of his cultivation, and he needs to recuperate properly.

"Thank you, senior brother. If we hadn't met you, we wouldn't have been able to defeat this bear monster."

Lin Jiugong breathed a sigh of relief. They had been scattered by this two-headed bear monster leading a group of demons, and the monk Qin Ben had also been injured.

If it weren't for Song Qi, a seventh-grade Night Wanderer, being present today, Chu Yuan and his opponent would have only managed a stalemate against the bear monster.

"Was that bear-like monster using Buddhist Vidyaraja techniques just now?"

Song Qi frowned.

He had lived in Shanyin County for decades and knew the monsters in Xuanshan Mountain inside and out.

I never imagined there would be a demon who practices Buddhist supernatural powers.

“That black fire just now looked like the Kundali fire of Buddhism. This fire has the power to purify and harm ghosts.”

Chu Yuan comes from the prestigious Yuyang Mountain sect, so he has considerable knowledge and experience.

"That fire is evil; it seems to ignite from the heart. Buddhism shouldn't have such methods."

After a stroke of luck, color gradually returned to Song Qi's pale face.

"Junior brothers, what brings you to Shanyin County?"

"Oh, we noticed something changed at Xuanshan, so we came to check it out. Where's Senior Brother?"

"Me? Just doing this business."

Song Qi and Lin Jiugong exchanged a glance. There were some things that were understood between the two brothers, and there was no need to say them too explicitly.

"Senior brother, let's go back to the ancestral hall to rest for a while. I've already set up an array there..."

Song Qi glanced at the walking corpses behind him.

"Alright, I have arranged to meet someone at the ancestral hall. Once they arrive, I won't bother them any longer."

The two retreated to the ancestral hall, while Su Che led Wen Cai and the other two to search for the direction of Niushou Village amidst the demonic miasma.

Su Che held the long sword formed from the magic talisman in his hand, occasionally making feints with the sword.

Each strike of the longsword conjured by this magic talisman carried the faint cries of demons and ghosts, and the sword energy generated by its use contained wisps of yin energy, giving it a unique and mysterious quality.

Upon careful sensing, the sword energy caused subtle changes in nine places along the sword's body, which should be the location of the blessing from the Zhou Jue Yin Tian Secret Manual.

Having cultivated nine Yin Heaven Secret Talismans, the magical sword he conjured possessed nine subtle variations.

The talisman of this "Zhou Jue Yin Tian Mi Lu" can evolve into different supernatural powers depending on its usage.

There are definitely some interesting aspects to it.

According to Yu Lizi's explanation, these changes should contain the profound principles of fighting against the heavens and earth for a sliver of life.

(End of this chapter)