Entering the Dao

In the dilapidated temple, Zheng Que sat with his eyes tightly shut, focusing his mind and calming his breath, guiding that slender stream of energy to inch forward through his meridians according to the patterns described in the cultivation method.

As that chill deepened, he felt a mass of cold, condensed Yin Qi forming within his body, as if even his own temperature had dropped significantly.

At the same time, his emotions were greatly affected. A sudden surge of violent, murderous, ferocious thoughts arose, making him want to leap up immediately, shouting and destroying something.

He understood in his heart that this was due to absorbing the Yin Qi mixed within the Spiritual Qi.

Zheng Que immediately steadied his mind, directing that chill to strike at his Qi Sea.

In his perception, the Qi Sea was like a dam spanning a river, while the Spiritual Qi drawn into his body resembled carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, repeatedly crashing against an invisible barrier.

Thump, thump, thump.

Muffled sounds, both real and illusory, echoed in his ears. He had no idea how much time had passed when, as if from the depths of the void, a resonant bell tolled, shaking heaven and earth. At the same time he seemed to “see” the location of his Qi Sea burst open, revealing a chaotic void.

Success!

A surge of joy welled up in Zheng Que’s heart. In that instant the scene before his eyes suddenly changed, and he found himself standing in a vast, dilapidated hall. The hall was collapsed in many places, with gaping holes in the ceiling and walls. Cold wind whistled through, making it appear even more desolate.

He was seated on a rickety armchair, facing a long table with peeling lacquer, upon which lay an aged Book of Life and Death.

Zheng Que was momentarily stunned. Before he could process what had happened, a stream of sinister black energy surged from between his eyebrows, swiftly disappearing into the Book of Life and Death like birds returning to the forest!

Simultaneously, the mass of cold Yin Qi within his body began to dissipate rapidly.

His previously agitated and violent emotions gradually returned to normal.

After a brief moment of shock, Zheng Que realized: this was the Yin Qi he had absorbed into his body while guiding the energy earlier.

The yellowed Book of Life and Death before him could draw away his Yin Qi.

The Book of Life and Death!

This was an object from the Underworld!

But in this world, the Underworld had long ceased to exist.

Moreover, when he had dreamed of this Book of Life and Death before, he had no conscious awareness. Now, after absorbing Yin Qi, could he remain lucid within this dream?

Thinking this, Zheng Que immediately reached out, intending to open the Book of Life and Death.

But at that moment, all the black energy from between his eyebrows had already completely vanished into the Book of Life and Death.

In the next instant the scene before his eyes changed once again. The Book of Life and Death disappeared without a trace, along with the long table, the armchair, and the vast hall, all vanishing like smoke. In their place was the familiar dilapidated temple. The cushion beneath the shrine was empty, and it seemed he had been cultivating for a long time, as his master was no longer in the temple.

Zheng Que remained dazed for a moment before snapping back to reality.

Had the Yin Qi within his body been completely absorbed by the Book of Life and Death, causing him to withdraw from that dark, decaying hall?

As he pondered, he stood up and immediately felt a profound transformation in his body. Surging strength coursed through him, vitality flourished, and his spirit became exceptionally vigorous. His senses sharpened, and his gaze flashed like lightning as he looked around. He could effortlessly hear the faint footsteps of termites crawling across the beams.

Zheng Que clenched his fist, glanced around and suddenly punched the ground.

Boom!!

With a deafening crash, the bluestone-paved ground was instantly smashed into a pit one foot square.

Amidst the flying sand and rolling stones, Zheng Que retracted his fist and nodded in satisfaction.

He had successfully entered the Dao!

With his current strength, if he encountered ordinary lions, tigers, or fierce beasts, he should be able to kill them with a single punch.

According to the 【Life Seed Art】, he was now a cultivator at the first level of the Qi Refining Stage.

However, he wasn’t sure if he could deal with the Calling Ghost tonight.

At that moment Zheng Que heard faint noises coming from the courtyard. He immediately composed himself and walked toward the door.

The sun was now setting in the west. The shadow of the withered old tree by the wall had already crept over the threshold. The female hanged ghost in the shadow was still there, but instead of swaying in the wind she hung motionless and obediently.

The weeds that had once overgrown the courtyard were now flattened by rows of dark, heavy coffins.

Daoist Qu stood beside one of the open coffins, his back to Zheng Que, seemingly fiddling with something inside. The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.

Zheng Que immediately stepped forward and bowed. “Master, this disciple has entered the Dao.”

Daoist Qu turned and looked at Zheng Que. Sensing the change in his aura, he nodded slightly. “Well done.”

“Although the 【Life Seed Art】 is a fast-track cultivation method, being able to enter the Dao within a few hours shows remarkable talent.”

“However, this is after all a shortcut method, not a balanced and harmonious one. It has its drawbacks. Every time you absorb Spiritual Qi, you will also absorb a large amount of Yin Qi.”

“If you wish to live a long life, you must pace yourself and not immerse yourself in relentless cultivation.”

Hearing this, Zheng Que’s expression remained unchanged. He simply nodded respectfully. “Yes!”

For ordinary cultivators, absorbing too much Yin Qi would not only shorten their lifespan but also affect their state of mind.

However, he now had the Book of Life and Death in the dilapidated hall, which could absorb the lingering Yin Qi in his body. He had no need to worry about the side effects of this cultivation method.

At that moment Daoist Qu continued, “Now that you have entered the Dao, you may return for today.”

“Come back tomorrow, and I will teach you some techniques.”

Zheng Que bowed. “This disciple obeys.”

Seeing Daoist Qu turn back to busy himself with the coffin, Zheng Que maintained a respectful posture, retreating step by step through the courtyard gate before quickly heading toward his residence.

Perhaps because he returned earlier today, he didn’t encounter anything strange on the way. Instead, he ran into a few familiar townspeople.

Everyone was in a hurry, walking with heads slightly lowered, constantly observing their surroundings from the corners of their eyes, ready to avoid any suspicious anomaly at a moment’s notice.

Even when they occasionally recognized an acquaintance, they showed no intention of greeting them. Instead they turned their faces away and quickened their pace.

As Zheng Que neared home, he suddenly heard an argument coming from the neighboring courtyard.

”…You good-for-nothing! I went through so much trouble to arrange a wife for you, and you managed to drive her away first thing in the morning!”

“Mother, keep your voice down! That wife of mine… she might not be human. I don’t even dare to sleep at night now!”

“Stop talking nonsense! If she weren’t human, why hasn’t she eaten our whole family after being here for two days? It’s not easy to find a wife these days. Look at Zheng Que next door: only two years younger than you, and always alone, coming and going…”

Hearing his own name, Zheng Que instinctively paused and glanced in the direction of the voices.

Behind the familiar courtyard wall, several clusters of treetops peeked out. The couplets pasted on either side of the gate had faded. This was the home of Old Zhao, his neighbor. Judging by the voices, the two currently arguing were likely Zhao Lao’er, the second son of the Zhao family, and his mother, commonly known in town as Old Madam Zhao.

It seemed the issue had something to do with the wife Zhao Lao’er had married.

Creak!

At that moment the gate of Old Zhao’s courtyard suddenly swung open.