Chapter 24: The Zombie Who Follows the Celestial Master Sect

Ba Lie said, "Niu Tunan told me that this cultivation method originated from an ancient cultivator who, by a stroke of luck, stumbled into a mysterious dream realm. He observed a mysterious swarm of spiders that fed on the dreams of all living beings and could refine the false into the real. Inspired, he created this method by observing the spiderlings."

"But I think that ancient cultivator was just bragging. After all, his own cultivation method couldn't achieve that level. If one could truly refine the false into the real... it would at least have to be connected to those great immortals and gods."

"But I digress. Back to the point: cultivators need to experience ten thousand lifetimes within the dream realm, experiencing various different lives. They can practice spells, battle powerful enemies to hone combat experience, and even the 'Sickness Domains' that descend are mostly related to dreams."

"It sounds quite nice, but the dream world is even more twisted and illogical than reality. Dream creatures have bizarre abilities, and the damage suffered inside is reflected back onto one's physical body."

"If you experience too many lives in a dream, it becomes easy to lose track of which side is reality, eventually leading to a mental breakdown or fragmentation. Therefore, he must be made to wake up frequently to work and create anchors in the real world."

Jiang Yan agreed with this; after all, a person's perception of self comes largely from memory.

Many transmigrators in novels anchor themselves with memories of their past lives, and reincarnated immortals also awaken the 'mystery of the womb.'

Otherwise, if the soul remains unchanged but that memory is lost, are you still you?

This is a philosophical question.

Experiencing too many lives will eventually blur one's own memories, making it impossible to recognize one's true self.

"Actually, with his strength—nearly at the Dharma Seed realm—staying at the Jiangnan Provincial Headquarters would have been enough. But because he frequently enters dreams regardless of the occasion, his superiors, out of consideration for him, specifically assigned him to the quieter Pan'an Branch. Although the file says 'Grade B-Upper,' I'd be a fool to believe that."

Ba Lie grumbled a few times, then said to Jiang Yan in a serious tone:

"This is also what I want to remind you of: History Walkers can trace back to ancient times, but they must leave enough anchors for themselves in the real world."

"For example, do what you love and pursue what you want to do. Buy the things you like, and don't care if others think you're a lunatic. For a History Walker, the most dangerous thing is to have no desires or pursuits, as it becomes easy to get lost in the past."

Jiang Yan nodded, thinking of his parents, grandparents, and others; his family was his anchor in the real world.

He didn't consider his family a burden; on the contrary, they were the valves that maintained his humanity and sanity, preventing him from becoming twisted in the past.

Otherwise,

As the host of a Demon God embryo, the long river of history would be the most suitable place for him.

"If I have the chance, I should look for some life-extending treasures," Jiang Yan thought to himself.

However, he suddenly realized a problem.

He had only met three people in the branch, including Ba Lie, and none of them seemed like normal people.

Ba Lie, whose back grew invisible arms to weave clothes with strange abilities.

Niu Tunan, who had the innate temperament of a beast of burden, slept anytime and anywhere, and experienced ten thousand lifetimes in his dreams.

Zhao Yinman, who was like an automaton and lacked human nature.

Moreover, each of them had good strength and potential, but all had problems, whether large or small. If the remaining few were the same,

Then is this a club for geniuses?

Or a daycare for troubled children?

Although there were still three people he hadn't met, Jiang Yan already had an ominous premonition.

'Could it be that I'm the only normal person here?'

Jiang Yan felt his future was bleak, so he turned to ask: "Is the talisman cultivation Zhao Yinman practices a legacy of the Celestial Master Sect? Why does she feel... a bit strange?"

Could the talismans of this world turn people into automatons?

"This, I can only tell you that what she practices isn't just talismans, it's just... auxiliary. As for the specific details, you'd better ask her yourself."

"However, while it's harmless to ask among colleagues, never ask outsiders. A History Walker's path of cultivation is a very private matter."

Ba Lie's expression was strange, and as he spoke, his peripheral vision darted around, as if he were looking for something.

"Alright, this is the room you'll be staying in. All daily necessities are inside; they are specially supplied by a production line bought by the military factory, much better than the big brands outside."

"I'll add you on WeChat later. If you need anything, just send a message, and I'll bring it and leave it at the door. It's getting late, so get some rest."

Ba Lie brought Jiang Yan to a door and, without giving him a chance to speak, handed him a key card and turned to leave, as if afraid of being targeted by some demon or ghost.

"What's going on?"

Jiang Yan was a bit confused, but since he had already joined the History Correction Bureau, he would have plenty of opportunities to learn about transcendent knowledge; there was no need to rush.

Beep!

Opening the door with the key card, he realized just how understated Ba Lie's description of "making do for the night" had been.

The size and configuration of the room far exceeded top-tier suites outside. A projector, a small refrigerator, and other facilities were all available, and there was a built-in small room as a lounge with a huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Pan'an.

Compared to this, the room at the Golden Brick Hotel was like a thatched hut.

Knock! Knock!

Just as he was preparing to rest, there was another knock at the door.

"Again?"

Jiang Yan opened the door speechlessly, only to find Zhao Yinman standing outside. However, she had changed from her red-and-white Ming-style Hanfu into a white nightgown with an orange cat on the chest, wearing a pair of little zombie slippers with talismans stuck to them, revealing her fair, jade-like feet.

Jiang Yan glanced at them and finally understood why the ancients always said "the orange cat is heavy"—it was indeed very... heavy!

She tilted her head, her crimson eyes staring at him:

"Don't you want to know about my cultivation path?"

Are you an automaton or Skynet?

Where exactly are you hiding? How do you know everything?

Jiang Yan complained in his heart, his peripheral vision catching the door to his adjacent room standing wide open.

He suddenly realized,

No wonder Ba Lie looked so guilty; it turned out Zhao Yinman lived right next door!

This was being caught red-handed while gossiping behind someone's back!

"Listen to my sophistry—oh no, explanation..."

To maintain relations with his new colleague, Jiang Yan was just about to try to brush it off, but a chain woven from talismans wrapped around his arm and dragged him directly into the room next door.

This is it... my life is over!

Jiang Yan frowned, just about to urge her not to be impulsive, but when he looked up, the scene that met his eyes truly shocked him.

It wasn't that it was overly luxurious, but rather,

"So... simple."

Zhao Yinman's room had no decoration at all, just a pure cement aesthetic and a huge floor-to-ceiling window through which the bright moon could be seen.

All sides, including the ceiling, were covered in yellow paper talismans, the cinnabar-colored patterns shining with a faint glow that provided light.

It was dim and silent, like a tomb chamber, yet it was cleaned so thoroughly that not a speck of dust could be seen.

Hanging on the walls were various Dharma artifacts such as peach wood swords, emperor bells, copper coin swords, and compasses.

And in the center of the room sat a special coffin made of black jade, wrapped in chains of yellow paper talismans. At a glance, it looked like he had stumbled into some ancient sealed land.

The only modern electrical appliance was the 65-inch television in front of the coffin.

"This is my path of cultivation."

Zhao Yinman said seriously: "Seeing is believing; I won't lie to you."

Sister, you're too honest!

Jiang Yan looked at the coffin and realized:

"I see, you're following the path of corpse refining?"

No wonder Ba Lie was embarrassed to say it; it turned out Zhao Yinman's ability wasn't suitable for public display and could easily be mistaken for an evil force.

"Sort of, but that is my bed."

Zhao Yinman shook her head, her expression cold as she said:

"I am a zombie."

"Oh, you are..."

Jiang Yan was stunned, his brain falling into a storm of thought, nearly crashing.

A zombie who follows the Celestial Master Sect and practices talismans???

PS: Extra update, please vote for monthly tickets!

I owe quite a few extra updates from the last book, especially to the big boss 'Guangdong Buy-Buyer.' I'm making up one first. Black-haired bird is working so hard to type, please vote for monthly tickets!

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(End of chapter)