Chapter 600: Pei Jun Fakes an Imperial Edict

"I am..." The old man looked at him in a daze, and after a long while, he said softly, "I am searching for Luo Shen... Driver, do you have a glimpse of her?"

He slowly raised his head, his gaze looking toward some unknown distance, muttering like a dream: "Her form is like a startled swan, graceful like a swimming dragon, glorious like an autumn chrysanthemum, lush like a spring pine..."

Pei Ye watched him quietly. The first thing he thought of was the stories Li Xizhou told. The dream-talking Jiang Yan, the lonely and silent Liu Gong, they might occasionally reveal some words that people couldn't understand, but whether from stories or personal experience, entering the Spirit Realm might make people unforgettable, but it wouldn't make people dazed and crazy.

Pei Ye glanced at the black cat, and the black cat shook its head.

"No intervention of mind-spirit power felt."

Pei Ye pondered for a while, wanted to stand up, but almost pulled Guo You into a stagger. Only then did he realize that the old man's grip was so powerful, his thin fingers like a hoop. He tried to pull his forearm, but the young man who had just unloaded ten carts of cloth like a "brute" was motionless in the old man's hand.

Guo You still stared blankly at the empty space, and shed two lines of hot tears that soon cooled: "The world and the immortal family are different, why meet in the middle of the journey... It's better not to see, better not to see..."

The sun really fell gradually, and a layer of darkness covered the street. Guo You seemed to have forgotten the driver beside him, and returned to the way he came in a daze.

Pei Ye followed him silently one foot behind, watching him stagger through the streets and alleys, entering the place where "palace people live together," and kept going deeper, finally arriving at an extremely remote, dark, and old courtyard.

It was probably the person with the lowest status in this Ye Court who lived here.

The cramped courtyard was messy with wood leaves, the ground was pitted, Guo You pushed the door and walked in, lowering his head. At this time, he didn't mutter any words anymore, but obviously he was not awake, as if he had fallen into a kind of dim ignorance.

It seemed that he didn't care at all that someone was following behind. He walked into the dirty and decaying hall, lifted the cupboard curtain, took out half a cold and hard steamed bun, and then sat down here, holding it in his arms and biting hard.

Pei Ye was silent for a while, and tried to ask again: "Guo You, do you still remember the Yusan Garden twenty-three years ago?"

Guo You paused, raised his head and looked at him blankly, and after a long while, handed the cold bun in his hand to him.

Pei Ye continued: "Twenty-four years ago, the Great Ming Palace began to build Yusan Garden. The participants were Xu Fang, Zhao Wen, Li Shui, Qu Chang, and perhaps Yu Sicheng. After the garden was built, they introduced a water canal from Jing Pool, which went straight to Taiye Pool. This garden was completed at the end of winter in the third year of Suolin. In the early spring of the fourth year, an assassination case occurred in the Mingyue Palace, and the late Empress Wei Qingju died because of it."

Guo You's action of biting the bun suddenly stiffened slightly.

Pei Ye looked at him seriously: "Since then, this garden has been abandoned. In the document, you conducted a review of it. That must have been after the completion, but I don't know if it was before the Mingyue assassination?"

Guo You looked at him blankly this time, opened his mouth, wanted to say something, but seemed to have forgotten everything. His pair of clear eyes were confused for a while, and then lowered his head to bite the cold bun in his hand.

"Why did you go to review it?" Pei Ye asked.

But there was no response. He lowered his head and bit a dozen times, probably full, then put it back in the cupboard, wrapped himself in broken clothes, and lowered his head.

"The heart barrier is already thick, I'm afraid words won't work." The black cat said.

Pei Ye frowned, looked around, and the scattered furniture was either rotten or covered with wood mold, broken doors and windows, full of dirty dust. There were three rooms in total. Except for the current one, there was one on each side. The right one was probably the bedroom, although he suspected that the old man didn't need to go to bed before sleeping. The left door was tightly closed, and a small lock was hung, which was also covered with rust.

"If Piaoqing were here, it would be great." Pei Ye took back his gaze, "She carries the 【Candle of Transmitting Heart】, which can easily enter the mind-spirit realm and read his thoughts and memories."

The black cat said: "If you have something, Zhong Wuyan."

"?"

"It's better not to tire Sect Leader Li to run over." The black cat stared at the old man with dim eyes, and said calmly, "He is ignorant in mind and spirit, we can try to intervene in mind and spirit."

"What do you mean?"

"I think you should not have secretly read any mind-spirit secret books behind my back."

"You can rest assured."

"Very good, then I will teach you." The black cat said, "Let's try a technique... well, let's call it 'Small Fake Edict'."

"How does it sound like you just invented it."

"Not bad, now you try to learn it." The black cat said calmly, "A genius Immortal Hunt and a genius master are indispensable."

"..."

"You first enter the mind-spirit realm."

Pei Ye followed suit, closed his eyes, sank into his own mind-spirit, and when he opened his eyes, he was already under the snowy mountains and secluded sky, in the purple forest and white mist.

"Simply put, the interaction between two mind-spirit realms always has three stages." The black cat's voice slowly narrated, "The first is 'entering the door'. Everyone's mind-spirit realm is first a closed whole. If you want to enter someone else's mind-spirit realm, it's like entering someone else's house. And whether you break the door or climb over the courtyard wall, or politely knock on the door, and whether you enter to treat illness, be a guest, or steal, you must first cross this door wall."

"This is also why everything related to mind and spirit is a high-level means—the mind-spirit realm is originally formless and quality

"Isn't all kinds of means forbidden in the palace?"

"That is why there is only you." The black cat said in a low voice, "【Quanshou】 and the Immortal Edict can still pass through somewhat."

"Hmm."

The black cat turned its head: "Otherwise, do you intend to take him to the Immortal Platform? I'm afraid he won't go with you."

This old man indeed seemed to have his own trajectory of movement; the Embroidery Workshop said he walked along the canal every dusk... Winning against a Body-Knitting expert within the forbidden Spirit-Mystic realm was already a difficult task, and forcibly taking him away would be too much of a hardship for Young Master Pei.

"Then what should be done?" Pei Ye sat down cross-legged in front of Guo You earnestly.

Even though his Mind-Spirit Realm had been visited more than once by many methods that vied for the world's peak, this was indeed the first time Pei Ye had attempted to actively control this power.

"I think you probably haven't secretly read any Mind-Spirit manuals behind my back."

"You can rest assured."

"Very well, then I will teach you." The black cat said, "Let's try a technique... hmm, let's call it 'Little Correcting Edict'."

"How does it sound like you just invented it?"

"Not bad, now you try to learn it." The black cat said calmly, "A genius Immortal Hunter and a genius Master are both indispensable."

"..."

"You first enter the Mind-Spirit Realm."

Pei Ye closed his eyes as instructed and sank into his own mind and spirit. When he opened his eyes, he was already under the vast, dim sky of the snowy mountains, amidst the purple forest and white mist.

"Simply put, any interaction between two Mind-Spirit Realms always has three stages." The black cat's voice slowly narrated, "The first is 'entering the door.' Everyone's Mind-Spirit Realm is first a closed whole. If you want to enter someone else's Mind-Spirit Realm, it is like entering someone else's house. And whether you break open the door, climb over the courtyard wall, or politely knock, and whether you enter to practice medicine, be a guest, or commit theft, you must first cross this door and wall."

"This is also the reason why everything related to the mind and spirit is a profound method—the Mind-Spirit Realm is inherently formless and qualityless. Ordinary people want to feel it but cannot, let alone touch or enter someone else's Mind-Spirit Realm." The black cat said, "Ordinary people who want to pass this step often practice mental methods for years. Only after they can enter their own mind and spirit and give birth to a 'self' within the realm can they go to feel the realm of others, and then further seek the means to enter. A practitioner can only truly exert influence on the mind and spirit of others after passing this step; it counts as stepping into the threshold."

Pei Ye nodded.

"But you have the convenience of 【Quanshou】, and you haven't experienced any of these difficulties. The first time you entered the Mind-Spirit Realm, you perceived your own Mind-Spirit Realm as clearly as a micro-detail, and you mobilized the power of your mind and spirit as if it were your own arm. If one day you illuminate the realm of others, it will be just as clear. What you lack is just a means to 'enter the door'."

"Can't 【Quanshou】 enter the door?"

"Theoretically, 【Quanshou】 can accomplish everything." The black cat said, "It is the collection and highest authority of the minds and spirits of all living beings in the world, so naturally it can do anything. But in reality, except for the Immortal Lord, no one can operate it so casually. Just like throwing your soul into the body of the Immortal Lord that day, you couldn't restore it to that forest and those living beings."

Pei Ye understood. The Immortal Lord could use 【Quanshou】 to divide the self, modify the consciousness of any living being, and knead and play with the mind and spirit like soft mud... That came from His incomparably vast will. But he could only passively enjoy its protection and the most basic enhancements.

"So you don't yet have the ability to hold 【Quanshou】 as a weapon. To you, it is like the vast sea behind you. You can perform some more concrete Mind-Spirit methods, and 【Quanshou】 will support your every action with its extremely high status." The black cat said, "'Transmitting Candle' has a means to 'enter the door,' 'Heart Pool Raising Serpent Method' has a means to 'enter the door,' and the 【Heart-Severing】 of Glaze has no door that can block it... and you, likewise, have one too."

"What?"

"'Purple Bamboo Forest Dragon Immortal Secret Edict'."

"..." Pei Ye subconsciously looked up. The vast, dim sky was so immense, and the purple bamboo was boundless.

"Bearing a treasure mountain, one must find a way to use it. Quanshou is your crown, and the Secret Edict is your weapon." The black cat said slowly, "The Edict Map became the most dangerous thing in the world because of the path 'Human World—Host—Secret Edict—Immortal Lord,' but after the Western Court Heart cut off the last link, we might as well make use of its irresistible power of invasion into the mind and spirit."

Pei Ye did not fully understand for a moment.

"Before, you lacked control over it yourself. Although you wandered through it at will, if the enemy didn't foolishly rush into your Mind-Spirit Realm, you couldn't drive the Secret Edict to attack the enemy." The black cat said, "The Edict Child was not originally the owner of the Edict Map. Your own Mind-Spirit Realm is like a grain of rice among the mountains. Unless you assimilate with it, how can you use a mantis to block a chariot? And now..."

Pei Ye looked at the purple bamboo in front of him and suddenly understood. He raised his hand and stroked it gently, and a comfortable coolness entered his palm: "Now, I have the 【Heart Slip】."

"Not bad. Carving characters on bamboo is like inscribing one's own heart. The purple bamboo within the range of the 【Heart Slip】 both possesses the divine power of the Secret Edict and is under your control; it is the best material." The black cat looked at him and said, "Now, try to pluck a bamboo leaf."

This was Pei Ye's first attempt to do something to this bamboo forest. The process was unexpectedly easy. The purple bamboo carved by the 【Heart Slip】 was at his disposal, and he plucked one with a slight lift of his hand.

"The second stage is to do what you want to the target's Mind-Spirit Realm. The Mind-Spirit techniques of the world are varied, and the differences mostly lie in this step. Some bury hints, some gently deceive, some impose ignorance, some brutally destroy... and our means at this stage is to command."

"Command?"

"Not bad." The black cat said, "Use the Immortal Lord's bamboo leaf to carve your decree and cast it into the other party's mind and spirit... although it is only one-trillionth of the power of the Secret Edict, the status of the Immortal Lord is genuine."

Pei Ye was slightly stunned: "... So that's what 'Correcting Edict' means."

"Not bad."

Pei Ye was quiet for a while, lowered his eyes, and looked at the leaf in his hand.

The black cat became more serious: "This technique has an extremely high ceiling, but it is not easy to control. Who you are facing, what their current state of mind is, what goal you want to achieve, what kind of edict you should carve... every time you must consider it carefully. This person happens to be ignorant, which is just right for the first application."

Pei Ye nodded silently. He raised his head slightly. Guo You was still huddled in front of him, dazed, looking at the bleak sky outside the hall, muttering: "The spirit shifts and the soul is terrified, suddenly the thoughts scatter. Looking down, I haven't perceived it, looking up, I see a different view. Seeing... seeing... seeing..."

"Seeing but not perceiving..." he said sorrowfully.

"Guo You." Pei Ye suddenly said in a flat voice. This voice had no emotion, as if it had descended from the nine heavens.

The old man was startled, his gaze shifted toward him unconsciously, and then stiffened.

A pair of high, indifferent, beautiful dark golden pupils captured him so thoroughly, piercing straight into the deepest part of his mind and spirit. For an instant, he felt as if his whole person was convulsing with pain.

But nothing happened. He was still fixed in place. A light purple bamboo leaf fell into his chaotic mind and spirit, and then a high, formless voice descended, as if stirring up a hurricane: "Guo You, what is the matter with the Luo Goddess? What is the fault of the Lin Lin Yuxian?"

Pei Ye watched as the expression of the old man in front of him underwent such a violent change for the first time, as if his ear canals, which had been blocked for many years, were suddenly pierced open. The rushing wind and voices brought unbearable stinging pain.

"Luo Goddess... Luo Goddess... Luo Goddess, she is already dead!!" Guo You held his head and fell to the ground, crying out in heart-wrenching pain. Saliva connected his trembling lips, and for an instant, he looked like a helpless infant.

This posture was enough to move one. Pei Ye looked at him earnestly, not wanting to miss a single detail.

"Lin Lin Yuxian Garden... that's right, Lin Lin Yuxian Garden, I must hurry to investigate Lin Lin Yuxian Garden..." Guo You seemed to have regained his senses. His thin arms trembled as he propped himself up from the ground. He raised his head to look at the young man in front of him. A pair of eyes were filled with scarlet bloodshot veins, and he breathed in a panic, "Go, go! We must hurry to investigate Lin Lin Yuxian Garden! Cannot, cannot... that water canal!"

Pei Ye's eyes condensed slightly, and the old man had already stood up hunched over. To the young man's complete surprise, he suddenly stumbled and slammed hard toward the door on the left. Both his posture and his screaming were extremely like a wild beast: "Ziliang! Hurry! Go investigate Lin Lin Yuxian Garden!"

The already crooked and rotten wooden door broke open with a bang, and dust flew all over the hall under the cold moon.