Immortal Creation.

Chapter 734 What Soul Searching Techniques Do You Know?

"Boss, help me!" Ning Zhuo used the life-or-death gamble to send a message.

"They've arrived." Sun Lingtong had been hiding in Shuyu Zhai, painstakingly studying the water vortex formation, doing everything in her power to get her hands on the pages of the Luo Shu as soon as possible.

Upon hearing Ning Zhuo's plea for help, he responded immediately without hesitation, using his spiritual eye talent to penetrate the magic array and see the true form of the Luo Shu pages.

Despite being influenced by the Dao artifact countless times, Sun Lingtong couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "What a powerful Dao artifact this is!"

With his life hanging by a thread, Ning Zhuo's expression changed slightly as he realized he was also under the influence of the Luo Shu pages.

The bitter ink has been properly ground.

The jade slip containing the technique of burning boats to ferry souls was placed horizontally on the table.

Below the jade slip, a sheet of Xuan paper was laid out.

Ning Zhuo held a writing brush in his right hand and a wooden awl in his left.

Beside him lay a bundle of hemp rope.

Ning Zhuo mobilized his divine sense and infused his magic power, immediately causing the hemp rope to react, rising vertically, with one end wrapped around his hair and the other end winding around an infinite roof beam.

At the same time, Ning Zhuo slowly pierced the inside of his thigh with the wooden awl in his hand.

Hanging one's head from the rafters and pricking one's thigh with an awl!

With the pages of the Luoshu book, the brush of ideographic writing, the bitter ink, and the methods of hanging one's head from the beam and pricking one's thigh with an awl, and finally the literary style that lingers around him, Ning Zhuo officially entered a state of learning.

He began to imitate the technique of burning boats to ferry souls.

This spell was obtained from Tianshuang. The jade slip has an ancient style and should not be from this era.

The very first part is not the main text, but rather the admonitions and proverbs left by our predecessors.

"Burning another's soul, crossing the sea of ​​desire, one gains countless skills and steals the mysteries of creation. But the soul boat carries not only treasures, but also the lives of others who have fallen into ruin. When the boat burns out and the fire dies down, the one who burned the fuel is no longer me, nor is the one who gleaned from the ashes. To burn the boat to cross the soul is to set oneself on fire, to sacrifice oneself. Be careful! Be afraid! Only those who are willing to die and who are obsessed with madness should not touch this taboo!"

Ning Zhuo tried to copy this passage, and the result was a revelation.

Subtle and profound meanings flowed from his brushstrokes into his spiritual realm.

"This jade slip is indeed an ancient artifact, and it's even very likely that it belongs to the person who created this cultivation technique?"

Who can blame them when the Soul Devouring Sect is a super sect with a long history?
In short, this jade slip contains a wealth of meaning. Unlike the cultivation technique jade slip that Ning Zhuo made himself, which has almost no value for imitation.

Begin learning the true essence of the Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique.

This spell is divided into four parts.

The first part is the root of the calamity fire.

The opening line poses a question: "Those who offer their souls to the fires of calamity and their wisdom to the sea of ​​suffering, abandoning their rafts to reach the shore, do they know that the rafts are actually skeletons?"

The second part is about crossing the sea of ​​suffering.

After copying the entire piece, Ning Zhuo was most impressed by one line: "A thousand years of joys and sorrows are but a fleeting journey, the mortal world is but a series of tribulations. The primordial spirit enters the boat, and then falls into the endless illusion..."

The third part is titled "The Return of Ashes to Truth".

After Ning Zhuo finished copying the poem, his expression became solemn, his gaze fixed on one line: "Where the ships end, there is no other shore; only ashes of calamity remain, swallowed by the starry raft."

The fourth part is about the five calamities that entangle the truth.

However, it foreshadows five kinds of calamities. Anyone who cultivates or uses this Soul-Saving Technique of Burning Boats may suffer five serious aftereffects.

First, fame fades; second, knowledge is extinguished; third, traces of a boat remain; fourth, karma is consumed; fifth, one loses one's way.

Forgetting one's own name means forgetting others' names and ultimately losing all interpersonal connections.

The abyss of consciousness resides in the dantian of the sea of ​​consciousness. Whenever a divine consciousness arises, it will spontaneously combust without fire, burning itself to ashes.

Boat marks are the manifestation of the Burning Boat Soul Transference Technique corroding the physical body. Some scorch marks appear on the brow, while others are on the chest, back, and so on. Once the scorch marks intertwine and form the shape of a lone boat, the cultivator's soul will also be ignited, as if struck by the Burning Boat Soul Transference Technique, ultimately burning to ashes.

Karmic Burning is the burning of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, scorching the cultivator. In milder cases, the flames leap up like jade, burning the meridians and destroying the network; in more severe cases, the five internal organs flare up, cooking the cultivator into mincemeat!
It is clear that this spell violates taboos and is extremely harmful to the natural order.

The final form of getting lost is when a cultivator becomes completely immersed in the memories of others, unable to extricate themselves, with their self-awareness severely confused, irregular, and constantly changing.

Ning Zhuo studied it for the first time and saw that the Xuan paper was full of characters.

Every stroke is like a carving, as Ning Zhuo used all his strength to carve out the mystery.

His thigh was already a bloody mess, his scalp was tingling, and his energy and spirit were being rapidly depleted by Luo Shu.

Ning Zhuo, a novice, has already achieved considerable success, demonstrating the remarkable skill of this technique.

"Burning the soul as a vessel, forcefully seizing creation's fortune. Braving perilous paths and plunging into the abyss, draining away the life's cultivation of others!"

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

This spell is incredibly powerful and extreme, which greatly appealed to Ning Zhuo.

After catching his breath, Ning Zhuo began to study for the second time.

I'm still starting from scratch to copy it.

The hemp rope was pulled taut, making a creaking sound, and many broken hairs were scattered all over the ground.

A thin layer of blood had formed on the ground. The wooden stake had been moved to another spot, repeatedly stabbing into the other leg.

After learning it a second time, Ning Zhuo's understanding of the Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique deepened considerably.

His expression turned serious, and he began to focus on the Five Calamities Entangling Truth in the fourth part.

"The Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique is too extreme."

"I have the natural talent to stand against the dead and the lost. But how will I face the remaining ashes, the traces of the boat, and the burning of karma?"

"This requires careful consideration."

Having studied the matter to this extent, he increasingly realized that the Five Calamities were no small matter. Underestimating them would inevitably lead to a heavy price.

"Can the Buddha Heart Demon Seal withstand the Ashes of Consciousness? If divine consciousness cannot be generated for a period of time, that would be terrible."

For cultivators, the auxiliary role of divine sense is extremely significant!
Alchemy, weapon crafting, mechanism manipulation, and combat—which of these doesn't require divine sense?
"How does the calamity of the boat marks affect the physical body from the soul? This requires further research."

"The Red Lotus Karmic Fire is a calamity caused by the accumulation of sins, and demonic cultivators often encounter it more often. Once the Soul-Burning Boat Crossing Technique is used, it will burn the soul to ashes, which is indeed against the will of Heaven and will cause one's sins to soar."

"Therefore, the choice of which soul to use for the Soul-Cleaving Technique is very important."

"Furthermore, can the merits I possess offset this sin?"

Five Calamities Entangling Truth...

Ning Zhuo possesses innate talent that can offset two of the factors, but there are still three that he needs to face with caution.

"If there's still energy left, perhaps we can try studying it a third time."

Ning Zhuo carefully examined his own condition. His soul was weak, his mind was dull, and he was listless. The flesh on his two thighs was mangled and his hair was broken off. However, after some treatment, he was still able to persevere.

Ning Zhuo had previously learned the Pine Waves Qi Cultivation Exercise, which actually contained more content than the Burning Boat Soul Crossing Technique. However, it was significantly easier to learn than this one.

“The Pine Wave Nourishing Qi Gong is majestic and natural. Although it gathers qi and wind, it does not harm the essence of spiritual beings, which is in line with my nature.” “The Burning Boat Soul Crossing Technique is too extreme. It burns the soul for one’s own use, which is against the harmony of heaven and earth. It is indeed a demonic technique originating from the Heavenly Ghosts. It is not in line with my temperament.”

"Sigh... I only learned it out of necessity," Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.

Ning Zhuo persisted and studied it for the third time.

After his thigh was hastily treated, he was repeatedly stabbed with a wooden awl, bleeding profusely and in constant pain.

His hair was almost half gone, and it had become noticeably thinner.

His divine sea gradually dried up, and the speed at which thoughts arose became slower and slower. His writing style was passively triggered, rapidly consumed, and transformed into wisps of literary energy, becoming the key factor that ultimately allowed Ning Zhuo to persevere.

After struggling through the third time, Ning Zhuo's vision went black. He braced himself on the table with both hands, enduring the intense dizziness, and did not fall into a deep sleep.

The extremely dim brushstroke rolled across the tabletop and finally stopped beside the jade slip.

The countless characters copied on the Xuan paper were already soaked in bitter ink, staining the surrounding blank space black, and the ink stained the table, making it a mess.

Ning Zhuo frowned deeply, clinging tightly to his last insight, and exerted all his willpower, not letting up at this crucial moment.

This was the result of his third study. If he were to let himself fall into a coma, although it would be easier, most of his progress would be lost.

"So, the true meaning of the Burning Boat Soul-Crossing Technique is to bury me."

"By sacrificing oneself, tasting all the flavors of life, one will also vanish into nothingness, sinking into the abyss, becoming a rare soul material!"

"Using others as a stepping stone, you end up making a stepping stone for others."

"The Soul Boat is not a boat, but a vessel that summons souls and erodes the true self. The Soul-Crossing Vessel is not a vessel, but a grave-digging shovel, digging one's own grave!"

After understanding the truth, Ning Zhuo couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "The fire of calamity cooks up a hundred flavors of soul, and only after tasting them all can one know the dust that fed the cauldron."

When he first learned it, he felt that this Soul-Saving Technique was extremely powerful, like a sharp divine weapon. It could cut through shells and extract pearls without leaving blood, only the sharpness of the weapon.

The second time I studied it, I gained a moderate understanding, paying attention to the aftereffects of the Burning Boat Soul-Crossing Technique, focusing on the Five Calamities, and secretly becoming wary.

By the third time, having mastered the technique, he had gained a deep understanding of the Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique. He realized that this demonic art was created by a malicious creator who intended to spread it, deceiving others into practicing it and refining their own souls into soul materials. When the time was right, the creator could quietly reap the rewards with ease.

Therefore, the apparent drawback of this demonic art—the Five Calamities Entangling the True—is not actually a price that cultivators have to pay in pursuit of extreme power. Rather, it is a trap set by the creator specifically to exploit these drawbacks in order to refine the soul of another!
"A demonic cultivator is a demonic cultivator; they are too evil."

“One must be extremely careful and rigorously examined when practicing any kind of magic.”

"Fortunately, my learning ability has greatly improved. After three lessons, I achieved something and glimpsed the truth."

"In the future... we must be more careful and not fall into the trap of demonic cultivators. They are really insidious."

Ning Zhuo sighed for a moment, then, unable to hold on any longer, made some arrangements and fell into a deep sleep.

He was in the Green Stone Cave and within the array's space, so he was naturally safe.

When he woke up, he was refreshed and in perfect condition.

The profound foundation of the physical body and soul once again demonstrated its benefits.

It's important to understand that resorting to Confucian methods, such as self-mutilation for arduous study, makes the injuries themselves difficult to treat. Most treatments will become significantly less effective, or even ineffective.

Confucian scholars should have corresponding treatment methods, after all, they are from the same family.

For someone like Ning Zhuo, who relies on external cultivation, what he can truly depend on is his own recovery ability.

"What should we do now?"

Ning Zhuo learned the Soul Searching Technique because he wanted to harm the Spider Woman. Ban Ji's problem might not need to be addressed immediately.

Because Ning Zhuo put himself in Ban Ji's shoes, he knew he would do his best in every Xingyun trial.

However, Ning Zhuo must obtain sufficiently accurate information before making such a judgment. Otherwise, it would be irresponsible of him!

Among Tian Shuang's collection are numerous methods related to soul-searching techniques.

After all, the Twin Ghosts of Heaven and Earth came from the Soul Devouring Sect, a demonic sect that was the organization in the entire cultivation world that studied souls most deeply. Soul-searching techniques were precisely their specialty.

Ning Zhuo chose the Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique from among them, as its power was indeed the strongest!
However, after studying it three times, Ning Zhuo gained a deeper understanding of it and discovered that this spell was a trap. It was a conspiracy by the creators or subsequent disseminators to deliberately spread it and lure others into creating their own rare soul materials.

The plan is good, but in practice, all sorts of variables will always arise.

"I need to learn other soul-searching techniques to see if I can improve the Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique."

Ning Zhuo's study tasks had to be increased significantly at the last minute.

He wasn't particularly confident that he could improve it, after all, his level in this area was worlds apart from the Five Elements realm.

Ning Zhuo relied more on his own learning ability.

Tian Shuang's collection contains a wide variety of soul-searching spells.

Ning Zhuo has great patience and perseverance, and he learns everything one by one.

The Soul-Binding and Thread-Trapping Technique allows one's own soul to deform and be bound into threads, which then penetrate the acupoints of others, much like a fisherman reeling in his line. The victim's five senses are like being caught in a spider web, and all past memories leak out along with the soul threads.

The Three Souls Spinning Technique targets the target's three souls. The Fetal Light Soul is spun into brocade (revealing memories), the Refreshing Soul is twisted into blood thread (revealing privacy), and the Ghostly Essence Soul is drawn into poisonous gauze (tempting demons). The technique is primarily for creating soul materials; the extraction of memories is secondary.

The Soul Seed Spirit Embryo Technique allows one's soul to be extracted from the target and nurtured within one's own dantian, transforming into a ghost flower. Furthermore, by using the ghost flower to control the target, viewing memories is just one of its powers.

Soul Cicada Molting, Human Candle Offering, Soul Makeup Mirror View, Soul Tracing Scripture, Dream Soul Ointment, Nine Netherworld Bone Bell, Love-Tethering Puppet Guide, Soul-Marrow Ghost Firefly, Resentful Couple's Tribulation...

Ning Zhuo spent several days learning all the relevant soul-searching techniques.

"I never imagined that the first thing I would truly dedicate myself to learning would be the demonic cultivator's soul-searching technique."

Even someone as determined as Ning Zhuo felt exhausted.

His physical body and soul also showed signs of fatigue. The frequent and intense consumption and recovery had greatly reduced the speed and effectiveness of their recovery.

"Let's hold off for now."

Ning Zhuo deeply understood the principle of striking a balance between tension and relaxation.

With such a significant investment, Ning Zhuo's learning has yielded remarkable results. He now has more than a dozen directions for improving the Burning Boat Soul Transfer Technique.

However, limited by his insufficient understanding, Ning Zhuo could not clearly perceive which of these dozen or so directions were correct.

"By using the pages of the Luoshu book for deduction, we should be able to calculate the follow-up of more than a dozen improvement routes more quickly."

"But doing so will undoubtedly consume an enormous amount of time and energy, and it is difficult to predict."

"There's no rush to do this; I have a better order of practice."

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo released the Spider Woman who had been imprisoned for many days.

When the Spider Woman saw Ning Zhuo again, though she was so hungry that her eyes were blurry, she still sneered proudly: "What? Young Master Ning Zhuo is finally going to be honest with me? Trying to lie to me and say that you are good at soul searching?"

"Don't tell me you're from the righteous path. Even if you're from a demonic cultivation family, how old are you? What kind of skill in soul-searching techniques could you possibly have?"

Ning Zhuo paused for a moment, his tone and expression equally calm: "Since you put it that way, then let me show you the true strength of my righteous path."

(End of this chapter)