Chapter 50: Qi Gong, Willow Leaf Golden Blade, Blood Curse Art

The six techniques were displayed one by one, and he looked at them in order.

Folk Methods: Basin Exorcism Method, Swallowing Wealth Technique, Chopstick-Clamping Method

Strange Arts: Qi Gong·Grain-Fasting Qi Guidance Chart, Willow Leaf Golden Blade Art, Blood Curse Art

First were the Folk Methods.

① The Basin Exorcism Method originated from ancient folk customs. People believed that a fire basin represented a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, symbolizing difficulties and obstacles. By crossing over it, one could exorcise evil spirits and bad luck from their body. In many places, people even cross a fire basin when getting married.

This method is correct, but its effect is not strong; it can only exorcise minor ghosts and some slight bad luck.

Note: Mugwort must be burned.

② Swallowing Wealth Technique: This is a slightly evil technique for harming others' wealth. Its specific origin is unknown. One raises a toad that grew up in a dark place, eating human bones and drinking corpse oil, and then feeds the target's hair, fingernails, and other items to the toad. The toad will die instantly, and for the next three days, the target will lose a sum of money that is huge for them.

In ancient times, it was a means used by some folk sorcerers to punish and intimidate those who did not believe in them.

Note: This method will also cause a loss of one's own wealth luck; it harms others without benefiting oneself.

③ Chopstick-Clamping Method: The full name is Red Chopstick Finger-Clamping Ghost Exorcism Method. Ancient people believed that fingers were closely related to various parts of the human body and heaven and earth, especially the middle finger, which is the connection between man and heaven and earth. Red chopsticks, being red, square at the bottom and round at the top, are in meaning a representation of heaven and earth, yin and yang. Therefore, by clamping the second joint of the middle finger, one can break the connection and clamp ghosts, evil spirits, etc., out of the body.

This belongs to a common folk method used by Taoists and folk practitioners alike, with no distinction between good and evil.

Note: If the dirty thing is too fierce and has precautions, forcing it out can easily cause harm to the possessed object.

After reading the three Folk Methods, Louis stroked his chin and pondered.

He felt these three Folk Methods were quite good, especially the Basin Exorcism Method and the Chopstick-Clamping Method, which could actually drive away a possession state. He remembered that in many foreign horror movies, once possessed, it was very difficult to deal with; now that he had this, it was quite useful.

As for the Swallowing Wealth Technique, it was actually a good means to harm people in the shadows, but it was of no use to him. He had his own money, and if he wanted to harm someone, he wouldn't go so far as to lose his own wealth luck; it was slightly tasteless.

However, these were originally just appetizers anyway.

Now, let's look at the "main course" that followed.

① Qi Gong·Grain-Fasting Qi Guidance Chart

Qi Gong is a traditional exercise and health preservation method, but its origin is actually the ancient Inner Alchemy Dao and the ancient Qi-practicing path, which was later modified, combined, and simplified into an excellent Foundation Establishment method.

Because it is widely circulated and useful regardless of good or evil, it is included in the Folk Canon.

In modern times, it has undergone further reform, with numerous classifications, mixed quality, and varying requirements for aptitude. Some lean towards external martial arts, capable of being impervious to blades and having immense strength; some lean towards Foundation Establishment, capable of extending life and suitable for practicing the Dao...

And this Qi Gong is the initially created cultivation method, a pure Foundation Establishment method, with even better effects!

Entry-level can strengthen the body; proficiency can prevent all diseases and greatly increase strength; mastery can give birth to internal Qi, from then on stepping onto a path different from the common masses.

Looking at the detailed description, Louis's eyes lit up. This is... a fundamental method?

No, just a tiny bit of a fundamental method.

A true fundamental method is far more powerful than this.

But even so, the corners of Louis's mouth couldn't help but rise.

Finally, finally!

Finally, there was something to strengthen his own body!

The Folk Methods given all along were things with little effect; either scaring ghosts or picking locks, and if he really encountered someone powerful, he was afraid he could only run away.

Oh no, that's not right, fire arts and the like were still quite useful, but using them too much or too strongly would consume Yang Qi and even lifespan!

Now it was good; with this, he didn't need to worry about the side effects of consuming lifespan.

"Phew~ finally touched something core."

Louis carefully read through this Qi Gong again before turning his attention to the other two Strange Arts.

② Willow Leaf Golden Blade Art

This is an art for killing ghosts!

Willow branches have had the ability to beat ghosts since ancient times, and willow leaves, when used in a special way, can directly kill ghosts.

Take fresh, tender willow leaves from a shaded place, place them in your hand, draw a character command, and blow three breaths. When blowing, you must concentrate your intent. Only when you can blow the willow leaf out of your hand on the third breath does it mean your intent is strong enough. At this time, the willow leaf will fly out, wounding the ghost or human soul you want to kill.

This art also has distinctions of entry-level, proficiency, and mastery.

Entry-level can be used by a mortal, and the effect is relatively weak.

After proficiency, the power increases, but the consumption of essence, Qi, and spirit increases. Using it too many times at once will cause a splitting headache and even affect one's sanity.

Mastery can only be achieved after formally stepping into cultivation and practicing the Yin Spirit, exerting the full power of this art.

③ Blood Curse Art

A terrifying, cruel, and evil curse art.

It also originated from the folk, but unlike folk lineages, this art was initially closely related to heretical sects like the White Lotus Sect, and later combined with the Demoncraft of the Lingnan region, finally forming this Blood Curse Art.

This art is both a curse art and a curse treasure.

It requires collecting a large amount of blood to refine blood essence, then using a human body as an insect nest—living people are best, corpses are secondary, and the stronger the physical body, the better. Then, cover the corpse with talisman paper filled with curse words, seal the seven orifices of the face, and let countless corpse insects inside the corpse absorb the blood essence to grow, bite, and kill each other. The corpse turns into an empty skin, and the final corpse insect will turn into a blood-colored sphere like jade.

This blood sphere is the Blood Curse Art, which can curse and kill the object in front of it. The stronger the individual, the more it consumes, until it is completely exhausted.

Note 1: This blood sphere cannot be replenished and can only be re-refined; because the process is truly cruel, the user has the worry of being disturbed by inner demons and the danger of being hunted by the righteous path!

Note 2: The advanced method of this art is stored in the Left Path Chapter.

……

Looking at these two techniques, Louis fell silent.

The killing... is a bit heavy!

One is an art for killing ghosts and destroying souls, and the other is a bloody curse-killing art.

Neither is easy to deal with.

Just by reading the introduction, Louis could imagine how terrifying the people who use these techniques are.

It can be called killing without a trace.

These two techniques also revealed to Louis some of the dangers of the true Left Path.

Is this the Left Path?

No wonder it walks close to demons and heretics; some of the techniques inside are indeed a bit ruthless and cruel.

However, I like it.

The corners of Louis's mouth curled slightly.

In this land where drug lords, serial killers, and perverts run rampant, isn't it very suitable?

Besides, there won't be any righteous people popping out to sanction me in this place, right?

Then what else is there to worry about?

"Folk Methods and Strange Arts are just different. One is a Foundation Establishment method, one is a ghost-killing art, and one is a curse-killing art; they are much stronger than Folk Methods."

"It's just that I don't know how long it will take to practice them."

Looking at these three Strange Arts, Louis felt that he would have to focus his energy on this for a long time to come.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 51 =====