Chapter Thirty-Eight: Transformation
Things changed quickly, and I didn't have much time to think of a countermeasure. While I was still in the midst of those eerie spirits, the water surface began to ripple with layer upon layer of waves, like fish scales, but that wasn't the main thing - what was important was that suddenly there was a surge upwards, but it wasn't a one-time effort, rather a continuous and unrelenting gushing. Only after a few times did the golden light emitted by the Bagua mirror start to dim, I'm afraid it wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer. Even if I were bleeding profusely, it wouldn't be enough to sustain it. Before I could even figure out what to do, the Bagua mirror shook violently, and the golden light went out in an instant. It had already flipped over and fallen somewhere, but I couldn't find where for a moment. However, I felt like my chest was heavily pounded, and involuntarily spat out blood, taking two steps back before finally collapsing onto the ground, unable to hold on any longer.
A dark energy burst forth from the water's surface, as if a door had been opened in the void. The dense, gloomy air caused the surrounding temperature to plummet rapidly, creating a suffocating sensation. Just then, I saw that the seal had been broken, and the yin spirits that had been lurking on the side suddenly surged forward again, shrouded in dark mist, suppressing the yin energy once more.
It seems I really overestimated myself, after all, I don't understand anything. These vengeful spirits may look like they want to eat the pear, but they can suppress their dark energy and it doesn't seem like the first time they've done this kind of thing. Who knows how long they've been suppressing it? Maybe they didn't need my help after all. But I was wrong again, as soon as this thought occurred to me, a surge of dark energy burst out from under the water, like a long sword, instantly piercing through the black mist of the vengeful spirits and causing several of them to scatter and disappear.
The scene in front of me made me realize that things are not as simple as they seemed, or perhaps they were never complicated to begin with. The thing that was suppressing the water droplet may have passed some time ago, but it's clear that something has changed tonight, and it's likely related to that little person. Now that I think about it, when the little person punched the copper coffin, it wasn't without reason. It probably enraged the thing inside, so it's trying to burst out, but apparently, it's not as simple as just being suppressed by a vengeful spirit.
With a mind full of miscellaneous thoughts, it seemed like I had become the culprit again. However, none of the gossip mirrors were useful now, and the five-element spirit symbols on my body had long been scrapped. The Five Thunder Symbol was also completely ruined, leaving only the Spirit Gathering Symbol that I drew myself, but what use could it be?
Looking again, a dark energy took shape and burst out, several vengeful spirits were already annihilated. Perhaps if this continues, it's likely that they will all be exterminated. As for me, I couldn't just leave, after all, I was the main culprit. So, there was only one option left - to use the Nine-Character True Words Spell. Struggling to get up from the ground, I took out my only talisman. At least it's better than nothing, and it can gather some spiritual energy for me.
"The nine-character mantra was unfolding, and my heart felt a sense of clarity. The talisman paper in my hand began to emanate spiritual energy, which grew stronger with each passing moment. Finally, the last character of the incantation unfolded, and the spiritual energy poured into the Spirit-Gathering Talisman. Just as it was about to explode, I thought to myself that this should be enough to make something at the bottom drink a potful... but I didn't have any malicious intentions. With a swift motion, I threw the talisman outwards, directly smashing it onto the water's surface. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred - the Spirit-Gathering Talisman did not ignite on the water's surface as I had hoped, instead floating in mid-air somewhere to the north. But that wasn't the most important thing; what was crucial was that the talisman began to emit a suction force, automatically absorbing the vengeful energy from this place, causing some malevolent spirits to linger around."
The pure spiritual energy of the heavens and earth is within the Ling symbol, and the spiritual energy in the heavens and earth only has yin and yang divisions. However, this yin and yang are not what people usually refer to as yin and yang, but rather a concept. Whether it's humans or ghosts, as long as they cultivate, they must absorb this spiritual energy. Therefore, this spiritual energy also has a certain attraction to evil spirits. Originally, the Ling symbol would absorb all the spiritual power and explode, naturally not allowing vengeful spirits and evil spirits to have any interest. But this time it seems like an accident occurred, could it be that I drew it incorrectly?
Things have reached this point, completely beyond my imagination. No matter how I urge the spell, the talisman has no reaction at all and is completely out of my control. At this time, not only does it start to attract evil spirits and vengeful souls, but also many evil spirits pounce on it, once they pounce in, they will be sucked into the talisman, however, there are still many evil spirits and vengeful souls pouncing on it, the resentment in the talisman is growing continuously.
I've lost control, just staring blankly at everything, thinking back to the day I drew the talisman, it seems like my subconscious was following the last page of Chen Xiang's handwritten notes, a gathering spirit symbol that seemed to be slightly different from the secret recipe passed down by Master, or maybe there's a thought in my subconscious mind that wants to break the rules.
Chen Yingming finally came up with something, now thinking back, when I was drawing the symbol, I had an irresistible urge, I couldn't control myself, just that little change became what it is today, the key is that there is a hint of cursed power in the symbol paper, at that time I was still jokingly thinking, the person who received the symbol would be struck by lightning, could it be that the cursed power caused this situation, and made so many resentful spirits and evil ghosts come together.
The situation began to change, perhaps due to the absorption of the Linggathering charm. The vengeful spirits and evil ghosts that had originally appeared began to want to disperse, but at this time, the sharpness of the Linggathering charm increased, pulling those vengeful spirits and evil ghosts so that they couldn't escape, all rushing towards the Linggathering charm. However, ordinary wandering ghosts and wild ghosts didn't react, even if they passed by from the side, they wouldn't be attracted. This charm was only interested in vengeful spirits and evil ghosts, it had truly become a spirit.
At this time, the water surface changed again. A virtual shadow floated up from the water, which was three corpses carrying a copper coffin, floating on the water surface. The yin soul above had been squeezed to stand still since it rose from that thing, although it didn't want to give up, but obviously it wasn't its opponent. However, this is not a physical object. What I saw was the real copper coffin, which was just an illusion created by the power of that thing.
Ever since that thing appeared, its eyes seemed to be searching around restlessly, but finally fell on me, and then let out a strange laugh. Perhaps it discovered that I was the source of that little guy. This is bad, it's coming towards me with big strides. I wanted to run away, but I couldn't move, and could only stare blankly as that thing approached.
At this moment, the Spirit Gathering Symbol suddenly moved and violently crashed into that thing, but was caught by it with a casual grab. The Spirit Gathering Symbol ignited and turned to ashes, releasing the spiritual energy within, which exploded on Zhang Xin. Unfortunately, it had no effect on that thing, whose laughter didn't even stop, and its face still showed a hint of enjoyment. Just as I was lost in thought, that thing suddenly froze, let out a furious roar, and its hand flung back as if scalded, but there was nothing there.
I don't know what happened, but the roar of that thing made the dark clouds churn, and for a moment, the gloomy sky was filled with an ominous aura. Just then, out of nowhere, a loud clap of thunder boomed, and since it wasn't a cloudy day, this sudden thunderclap seemed particularly jarring, making people involuntarily look up at the sky. As they did, a bolt of lightning split the sky, like a silver snake shooting down from above. In an instant, it struck that thing with a deafening crash. No matter how formidable that thing was, wherever this lightning bolt passed, the dark clouds were torn apart, and any wandering spirits or ghosts that couldn't escape in time were reduced to nothing but flying ash and smoke. As for that thing, it too couldn't withstand the attack, letting out a blood-curdling scream as its dark energy dissipated, the temperature rising sharply. It almost got incinerated into nothing but smoldering leather and smoke, but fortunately, that thing was incredibly resilient, managing to survive even after such a brutal strike, still able to let out one last anguished wail before fleeing back in retreat.
As the thunder struck, those yin souls also became afraid and fled underground. For a time, all the wandering ghosts and wild demons disappeared. The yin energy in the pool also shrank back, and even the surface of the water seemed to have deepened a lot. Everything seemed to have returned to normal, but everything that happened was so sudden, and it's not clear what exactly happened?
I couldn't see any ghosts or supernatural things anymore, as if everything before was just an illusion. I sat on the ground in a daze, still trying to understand what had happened. That lightning bolt really did come from the sky, not some Daoist's magic trick. But how could there be lightning at that time? It seemed like something in my heart had been triggered - maybe it was the power of the curse. Just as Chen Xiang said, the power of the curse is actually borrowed from the heavens and the earth. Thinking about this got me excited all of a sudden. I didn't know if it was really what I thought, but I could try again.
Just thinking about this gets me excited, if I can attract thunder, what else is there to fear? Isn't this the highest state of Taoism? The Golden Elixir Great Way records that after mastering the Golden Elixir Great Way, one can fly through the sky and escape into the earth, summoning wind and rain. I originally thought it was nonsense, but now it seems that maybe it's not impossible to achieve. It's just that my thoughts were too good, unfortunately, later on, I almost never succeeded again, and what I thought about also didn't get verified.
Everything has passed, and I'm almost exhausted, causing me to disperse, the temperature has also returned to normal. Although it's still a bit chilly on this early autumn night, I really don't want to move anymore. Lying on the ground, my mind is wandering aimlessly, unaware that the sky has already brightened up. The morning glow has lit up half of the sky, and today's sun seems much brighter than yesterday's.
I just lay there, until I saw Sun Chuanming's head appear in my line of sight. Seeing me lying on the ground, Sun Chuanming's voice was shaking: "Gao Ren, are you okay? Don't scare me."
"I'm fine, just feeling weak all over," I said with a wry smile. Last night's ordeal had exhausted my spiritual energy and willpower, leaving me unable to recover: "Help me out and find a place for me to get some good sleep."
Sun Chuanming finally breathed a sigh of relief, glad that nothing was wrong. He quickly helped me up and insisted on carrying me out, eventually finding an inn where he settled me in. I fell into a deep sleep, and when I woke up again it was already the evening of the second day. Unexpectedly, Master had arrived, accompanied by Zhang Jianchen.
