Chapter 602: Pei Ye Forges the Edict

"I am… " The old man stared at him, dazed; after a long while, he whispered softly, "I am searching for the Goddess of the Luo… Driver, have you seen her?"

He slowly lifted his head, his gaze lost somewhere in the distant horizon, murmuring like a dreamer: "Her form, light as a startled swan, graceful as a wandering dragon; her radiance rivals the autumn chrysanthemum, her splendor flourishes like the spring pine…"

Pei Ye quietly watched him; at once he thought of the stories Li Xizhou had told—the dreaming Jiang Yan, the solitary Liu Gong—both had occasionally uttered words no one could understand, yet whether from tales or personal experience, entering the Spirit Realm might leave one haunted, but never driven mad.

Pei Ye glanced at the black cat; the black cat shook its head.

"No interference from mental power detected."

Pei Ye pondered a moment, trying to rise—only to nearly yank Guo You off balance. Only then did he realize how fiercely the old man gripped him, his bony fingers like iron bands; he tugged at his forearm, yet the boy who had once unloaded ten carts of cloth moved not an inch in the old man's grasp.

Guo You still gazed blankly into empty air, two fresh trails of warm tears quickly turning cold: "Mortal and immortal realms are inherently apart—why meet halfway? Not seeing her is better… not seeing her is best…"

The sun indeed sank gradually; the street darkened, and Guo You seemed to forget the coachman beside him, once more wandering aimlessly back along the path he had come.

Pei Ye followed silently a pace behind, watching him stumble through alleys and lanes until he entered the "Servants' Quarters," pressing deeper and deeper until finally reaching a remote, dark, ancient courtyard.

Only the lowest-ranking person in the palace would dwell here.

The cramped yard was cluttered with tangled leaves and uneven ground; Guo You pushed open the door, swaying as he entered, head bowed, no longer mumbling anything—but clearly not awake, as if fallen into a dazed stupor.

As if utterly indifferent to someone trailing him, he shuffled into the filthy, rotting hall, pulled back a curtain, and fished out half a cold, hard bun, then collapsed onto the floor, clutching it tightly as he bit down hard.

Pei Ye fell silent a moment, then asked again: "Guo You, do you remember the Jade Frost Garden from twenty-three years ago?"

Guo You paused, lifting his head slowly to stare at him; after a long while, he extended the cold bun toward him.

Pei Ye continued: "Twenty-four years ago, the Great Ming Palace began constructing the Jade Frost Garden; participants included Xu Fang, Zhao Wen, Li Shui, Qu Chang, and perhaps Yu Sicong. After completion, they diverted a canal from Jing Pool straight to Taiye Pond. The garden was finished in the late winter of Suolin Year Three, and in the early spring of Year Four, an assassination occurred in Mingyue Palace—leading to the death of the former Empress Wei Wei Qingju."

Guo You's chewing suddenly stiffened.

Pei Ye studied the eyes beneath his white hair: "Since then, the garden lay abandoned. Records show you conducted a re-inspection of it—surely after completion, but was it before or after the Mingyue assassination?"

Guo You gazed at him, bewildered; he opened his mouth as if to speak, then forgot everything. His clear eyes clouded over, then sank again to bite the cold bun.

"Why did you re-inspect it?" Pei Ye asked.

But no further reaction came. The old man chewed a dozen more bites, apparently satisfied, then returned the bun to the cabinet, wrapped his tattered robe tighter, and curled up, head bowed.

"His mental barrier is too thick—words alone won't work," said the black cat.

Pei Ye glanced over; the cold bun was already spotted with mold. In this bitter winter, surviving on a ragged robe, a ruined courtyard, and uncertain food and drink was remarkably rare.

He cautiously reached out and grasped the old man's wrist, probing with Chihuo… Indeed, a Spirit Body.

This mad, dazed old man was at least a Tuan Shen cultivator.

Pei Ye released his grip, frowning slightly: "He reacts to the names and events I mention—he must know something."

Along the way, Pei Ye had tried many questions, but this former Shenzhou Army Chief Clerk from over twenty years ago seemed utterly insane, his mind damaged beyond communication.

He sighed softly, scanning the surroundings: scattered furniture was either rotted or covered in mold; crooked doors, broken windows, filth everywhere. The small house had three rooms: besides this one, two others flanked it. The right was likely the sleeping chamber, though he doubted the old man still needed a bed. The left door was tightly shut, locked with a small rusted padlock.

"If Li Piaoqing were here, it would be better," Pei Ye murmured, withdrawing his gaze. "She carries the 【Heart-Candle Transmission】—she could effortlessly enter his mind and read his memories."

The black cat said: "There's Zhong Li Wuyan."

"?"

"No need to trouble Master Li to come over," the black cat said calmly, watching the old man's dim eyes. "Since his mind is clouded, we can attempt mental intervention."

"What do you mean?"

"Li Piaoqing entering directly to observe is ideal, but most mental arts lack such power. Generally, breaking through the mental barrier so he can speak outwardly is already a solution."

Pei Ye frowned: "Then who do you mean?"

"You."

"... Me?"

"Of course. We can try."

"Isn't all such technique forbidden in the palace?"

"Precisely why only you can." The black cat whispered, "The 【Chunshou】 and the Immortal Edict still have some leeway."

"Hmm."

The black cat turned back: "Shall we take him to the Immortal Platform? He won't follow you."

This old man clearly had his own routine—the Embroidery Bureau said he walked along the canal every dusk… Winning a Tuan Shen in the Spirit Abyss was already difficult; forcibly dragging him away would be too much for Young Master Pei Ye.

"Then how?" Pei Ye sat cross-legged before Guo You, serious.

Though his Spirit Realm had been visited countless times by world-shaking techniques, this was Pei Ye's first attempt to actively wield such power.

"I assume you haven't secretly studied any heart-mind scripture behind my back."

"You may rest assured."

"Good. Then I'll teach you," said the black cat. "Let's try a technique… hmm, let's call it 'Minor Edict Forging.'"

"Sounds like you just invented it."

"Precisely. Now, learn it," the black cat said calmly. "A genius Immortal Hunter and a genius Driver are both indispensable."

"..."

"First, enter your Spirit Realm."

Pei Ye obeyed, closing his eyes, sinking into his own mind; when he opened them, he stood beneath a snowy sky and violet mist, amid boundless purple bamboo.

"Simply put, interaction between two Spirit Realms always has three stages," the black cat's voice intoned. "The first is 'entering the gate.' Each person's Spirit Realm is a sealed whole. To enter another's is like entering a stranger's home. Whether you break down the door, scale the wall, or politely knock—whether you come as doctor, guest, or thief—you must first cross that threshold."

"This is why all heart-mind arts are so profound—Spirit Realms are formless and intangible; ordinary people cannot even perceive them, let alone touch or enter another's. To pass this step, one typically spends years cultivating heart methods, learning to enter one's own realm and manifesting a 'self' within it, before sensing others' realms and seeking entry. Only then can a sorcerer truly influence another's mind—this is the threshold."

Pei Ye nodded.

"But you have the advantage of 【Chunshou】—you've never faced these barriers. Your first entry into the Spirit Realm gave you crystal-clear insight into your own, and you manipulate its power as easily as your limbs. Should you ever illuminate another's realm, you'll perceive it just as clearly. What you lack is merely a method to 'enter.'"

"Can't 【Chunshou】 enter?"

"Theoretically, 【Chunshou】 can accomplish anything," the black cat said. "It is the collective and supreme authority of all living beings' minds—naturally, it can do all things. But practically, no one but an Immortal Lord can wield it so freely. Imagine placing your soul into the body of that Immortal Lord—you still couldn't restore it to the forest and life it once contained."

Pei Ye understood: the Immortal Lord could use 【Chunshou】 to split his self, alter any being's consciousness, mold minds like clay—derived from His immense will. But Pei Ye could only passively enjoy its protection and basic benefits.

"So you cannot yet wield 【Chunshou】 as a weapon. To you, it is like the ocean behind your back—you may wield specific heart-mind techniques, and 【Chunshou】 will support every action with its supreme rank," the black cat said. "The 【Heart-Candle Transmission】 has an 'entry' method; the 【Heart Pond Raising the Dragon Method】 has one; the Glass 【Heart-Slice】 has no gate to block… and you, too, have one."

"What?"

"The 【Purple Bamboo Grove Immortal Edict】."

"..." Pei Ye instinctively looked up—the vast, distant sky stretched endlessly, the purple bamboo boundless.

"You carry a treasure mountain—you must learn to use it. 【Chunshou】 is your crown; the Edict is your weapon," the black cat said slowly. "The Edict Chart became the most dangerous thing in the world due to the path: 'Mortal—Host—Edict—Immortal Lord.' But since the Western Court severed the final link, we may exploit its unstoppable intrusion into Spirit Realms."

Pei Ye didn't fully grasp it yet.

"Before, you lacked control over it. Though you wandered freely within, unless an enemy foolishly charged into your Spirit Realm, you couldn't use the Edict to attack. The Edict was never meant to be the master's tool—your own Spirit Realm among the mountains was like a grain of rice; unless you merged with it, how could a mantis drive a cart? But now…"

Pei Ye stared at the purple bamboo, suddenly understanding. He reached out, gently stroking it—the cool comfort flowed into his palm: "Now, I have the 【Heart Slab】."

"Precisely. Carving characters on bamboo is like engraving your heart. The purple bamboo within the 【Heart Slab】 possesses the Edict's divine power yet obeys your command—perfect material." The black cat watched him. "Now, try plucking a leaf."

For the first time, Pei Ye attempted to act upon this bamboo grove—the process was surprisingly effortless; the bamboo carved by the 【Heart Slab】 obeyed him. He raised his hand slightly and plucked a leaf.

"The second stage is doing what you wish to the target's Spirit Realm. Heart-mind techniques vary wildly in this step—some plant subtle suggestions, some gently deceive, some induce confusion, some brutally destroy… Our method here is command."

"Command?"

"Precisely," the black cat said. "With the Immortal Lord's bamboo leaf, carve your decree, and cast it into the other's Spirit Realm… Though it's only a billionth of the Immortal Lord's power, His rank is genuine."

Pei Ye blinked: "So this is how 'forged edict' works…"

"Precisely."

Pei Ye fell silent, lowering his gaze to the leaf in his hand.

The black cat grew more serious: "This technique has immense potential, but is not easy to master. Who you face, their current mental state, your goal, the exact wording of the decree—all must be carefully considered. This man is perfectly clouded—ideal for a first attempt."

Pei Ye nodded silently, raising his head. Guo You still sat dazed before him, gazing at the bleak sky outside, murmuring: "Soul displaced, spirit startled, thoughts suddenly scattered. Gazing down, nothing seen; looking up, a different sight. I see… I see… I see…"

"I see… but do not see…" he mourned.

"Guo You," Pei Ye said suddenly, his voice emotionless, as if descending from the ninth heavens.

The old man startled, his gaze unconsciously shifting to him, then freezing rigid.

A pair of lofty, beautiful deep golden eyes seized him utterly, piercing straight into the deepest core of his mind—instantly, he felt his entire body convulse in agony.

But nothing happened. He remained frozen. A single light purple bamboo leaf drifted into his chaotic Spirit Realm, and then a lofty, formless voice descended, like a hurricane rising: "Guo You—what of the Luo Goddess? What sin did the Jade Frost Garden commit?"

Pei Ye watched the old man's expression change violently for the first time—as if blocked ear canals had been suddenly pierced, the rush of wind and voices flooding in, painfully clear.

"The Luo Goddess… the Luo Goddess… she's already dead!!" Guo You collapsed to the ground, clutching his head, wailing in heart-wrenching grief, saliva strung between his trembling lips—he looked like a helpless infant.

The sight was moving enough to stir pity, but Pei Ye watched him intently, not missing a single detail.

"The Jade Frost Garden… yes, the Jade Frost Garden—I must hurry to inspect the Jade Frost Garden…" Guo You seemed to regain awareness, trembling arms pushing himself up. He stared at the boy before him, his eyes now streaked with crimson, gasping frantically: "Go! Go! We must hurry to inspect the Jade Frost Garden! Not… not… that canal!"

Pei Ye's gaze sharpened. Before the boy could react, the old man hunched and lurched to his feet, suddenly slamming his body against the left door with a roar like a beast: "Zi Liang! Hurry! Inspect the Jade Frost Garden!"

The already rotten wooden door burst open—dust flew wildly under the cold moonlight.