Chapter 54

I collapsed on the ground, my limbs twitching uncontrollably; it wasn't that someone had beaten me, but my body was freezing cold.

No named entities.

"Damn it, I have to release Yin now." I cursed inwardly and struggled to get up.

No named entities.

Releasing Yin is a secret technique of the Yin Mountain Sect, but it is not used to attack others; it is a life‑saving method for the Daoist himself. Members of the Yin Mountain Sect cultivate for years in places of heavy Yin energy like graveyards, and being known for spirit‑control in Daoism, they naturally accumulate Yin energy. Whenever the Yin energy reaches a certain level, we must release it; if we don't, the Daoist will be overwhelmed by the Yin energy and his body will explode.

Named: Yin Mountain Sect (meaning Yin Mountain Sect). According to the rules, sect names are translated by meaning, so Yin Mountain Sect is the translation. Daoist Sect is given as Daoist Sect in the glossary. spirit controlling is a skill, not a named entity.

However, when Yin energy overwhelms the body, there are usually warning signs; it has never been as sudden as today.

No named.

"Hehe, Yin Mountain kid, you'd better look after yourself first; that Cat Immortal Grandma has taken her away."

Named: Yin Mountain kid (a nickname describing a person from the Yin Mountain sect; not a proper name). Cat Immortal Grandma (a title for a named immortal cat; translate meaning).

At that moment, the Fox Immortal clinging to the Yellow‑Robed Kid laughed loudly, scooped up the unconscious Cat Immortal from the ground, leapt up, and quickly disappeared from my sight.

Named: Yellow Robe kid (maybe a nickname; not a personal name). Fox Immortal (a title; translate meaning).

Damn, don't scare me, Hai Sheng! Pangzi didn't even notice the fleeing cat immortal; he crouched on the ground, anxiously asking me.

Named: Hai Sheng (given glossary). Pangzi (given). Cat Immortal again.

"Get out, don't worry about me..." I clenched my teeth, desperately enduring the yin energy on my body; even though I felt as if I were in an ice cave, I still managed to force out a sentence.

No named.

Pangzi swore, his eyes red as he shouted at me: "What the hell are you spouting, Wang Weiqiang? Am I the kind of guy who abandons his brothers?" He then fumbled to help me up, saying: "Tell me what the hell is going on!"

Named: Pangzi. Also Wang Weiqiang is a personal name; romanize as Wang Weiqiang.

I had no strength to reply; I could only, while still conscious, urge him to flee as far as possible.

No named.

When the Yin Mountain Daoist releases yin, all trees and livestock within a ten-meter radius will have their lives taken by the yin energy. Although Pangzi had heard that I, the Yin Mountain Daoist, was going to release yin, he had no idea what that entailed, so he didn't realize how dangerous it was.

Named: Yin Mountain Daoist. Pangzi again.

"Are you going to leave or not, damn it?" I was so anxious I burst out swearing.

No named.

Pangzi stubbornly shook his head, saying: "I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving. Damn it, if something happens to you, who will I bully? If you die, who will look after my future son as a babysitter?"

Named: Pangzi.

... The yin energy hadn't yet burst within me, but Pangzi's words almost made me die of anger.

Named: Pangzi.

Finally, I could only glance at him, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear, and said: "If you're not leaving, then later remember to use the Golden Light Mantra to protect yourself; make sure you don't get hit by the yin energy when I release yin, or you'll be done for."

Named: Golden Light Mantra.

After I said that, Pangzi finally relaxed: "Oh, so it's just releasing yin, right? Go ahead and release it; I'll guard you here." He made it sound like releasing yin was no big deal, like farting.

Named: Pangzi.

My body grew colder and colder, almost to the point where my skin was frosting over; if I kept going, I feared I would be struck by the yin energy and my body would explode.

No named.

I quickly crawled to a tree, sat cross-legged, bit my finger to draw a talisman on the ground, and began chanting the incantation for releasing yin.

No named.

In the hurry, I glanced at Pangzi. I saw him also sitting cross-legged with the White Crane Finger gesture, apparently having listened to my words and using the Golden Light Method to protect himself. Seeing this, my heart steadied a bit; the Golden Light Mantra, though an introductory Daoist practice, is also an unsurpassed method for protecting the body and warding off evil. Even ordinary people who regularly recite the Golden Light Mantra can ward off evil and keep demons at bay.

Named: Pangzi, White Crane Finger. Golden Light Mantra again. Daoist Sect.

Damn Pangzi, if you don't listen to me now, you'll regret it later.

Named: Pangzi (as Damn Pangzi).

The icy feeling on my body intensified, nearly reaching my head; I hurriedly held my breath and carefully released the yin energy, not daring to be the slightest bit careless.

No named.

Having closed off my six senses, I could see nothing outside my body, only slowly sensing the yin energy rising within. Each release of yin is, for a Yin Mountain Daoist, equivalent to making a trip through the Gate of Ghosts. The success or failure of releasing yin determines the life or death of a Yin Mountain Daoist; it is the utmost importance in their cultivation.

Named: Yin Mountain Daoist.

Normally, when a Daoist is about to release yin, their body shows signs beforehand. Yin Mountain Daoists usually first find a secluded spot, set up a ritual array, and then release yin. But this time the yin energy came so suddenly; it seems to be an aftereffect of last night's summoning.

Named: Yin Mountain Daoists.

I don't know how long passed, but I felt a sudden emptiness in my body, a shudder, and felt as relieved as after urinating.

No named.

I opened my eyes, and the sight before me made me gasp in cold air.

No named.

All the trees, flowers, and grass around me had withered, as if sprayed with deadly pesticide. The leaves were coated in a dark black hue, completely withered, devoid of any vitality.

No named.

"Right, how's Pangzi? Is he okay?" Seeing the wilted plants, I instinctively thought of Pangzi; although he's also a Daoist, with such strong yin energy, surely it wouldn't harm him, would it?

Named: Pangzi.

"Holy shit, it's so... cold." A voice came from behind—Pangzi gritting his teeth and shivering; I looked back and couldn't help but laugh.

Named: Pangzi.

Pangzi crossed his arms over his chest, his fatty flesh trembling rhythmically, even his teeth chattering.

Named: Pangzi.

"Damn it, this is freezing my ass off." Pangzi couldn't help but shiver twice.

Named: Pangzi.

I burst out laughing: "Damn Pangzi, you said releasing yin was no big deal, right? Now you know you were wrong—see if you dare to mess around again next time." Although I was teasing him, I couldn't help but feel relieved inside. Pangzi is my brother; I absolutely cannot just stand by and let him come to harm.

Named: Pangzi.

"Damn, if I knew releasing yin was this weird, I wouldn't accompany you even if you paid me." Pangzi cursed, stood up, and assumed a Form-Intent Fist stance.

Named: Pangzi, Form-Intent Fist.

"Right, the cat immortal has been taken away by someone; what should we do, just go back?" Pangzi asked, shaking his stiff fists.

Named: Pangzi, Cat Immortal.

I gritted my teeth and said sternly: "Of course not; that cat immortal killed Qingqing. No matter if I have to chase him to the ends of the earth, I must kill him. Even if he has the protection of the Shaman Sect, I must seek justice for the deceased Qingqing."

Named: Cat Immortal, Qingqing, Shaman Sect.

Pangzi wondered: "Haven't you only just met Qingqing? How could she be dead, yet you're grieving even more than if your mother had died? That makes no sense."

Named: Pangzi, Qingqing.

I sighed, waited a long time, then thought of Xiaomeng and Qingqing—they're so alike, I can't fathom how there could be two people so similar in this world.

Named: Xiaomeng, Qingqing.

When the images of the two overlapped in my mind, I told Pangzi everything that had happened.

Named: Pangzi.

After hearing me out, Pangzi also couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder you're determined to kill that cat immortal; it turns out there's a reason."

Named: Pangzi, Cat Immortal.

I nodded glumly; heaven gave me a chance, letting the second dream appear before my eyes, but I couldn't properly protect her—I could only watch helplessly as the Wild Immortal stole her vitality. I hate my own inadequacy, and I wish I could tear the cat immortal who killed Qingqing into pieces.

Named: the second dream, Wild Immortal, Qingqing.

By now, Pangzi stopped urging me, knowing that if I couldn't kill the cat immortal to honor Qingqing, I'd spend my life in guilt; this would become a heart obstacle on my cultivation path, accompanying me forever.

Named: Pangzi, Cat Immortal, Qingqing, heart obstacle.

Put simply, a heart obstacle is a cultivator's inner demon—an attachment they can't let go of. Not every Daoist can achieve desirelessness; even after their father's death, they might feel it's none of their business and just carry on. But once they have something they can't let go of, or a grudge, it will inevitably follow them for life. If they can't see through it, they risk being disturbed by the heart obstacle and falling into the demonic path.

Named: heart obstacle, Demonic Path.

The best approach is either to have someone else guide you to let go of this demonic obstacle, or to completely eradicate it so it disappears entirely.

Named: demonic obstacle.

I believe I did nothing wrong; the cat immortal killed Qingqing, and she is a Wild Immortal who cultivates by absorbing human vitality. My action is also carrying out heaven's will, eradicating a monster.

Named: Cat Immortal, Qingqing, Wild Immortal, monster.

Pangzi pondered for a while, then weakly asked: "Now this wild cat has been taken by that Fang Xin, a Spirit-Inviting Disciple. The world is vast—where should we look for him? Do we really have to kick down his northeastern lair?"

Named: Pangzi, Wild Cat, Fang Xin, Spirit-Inviting Disciple, Northeast, old lair.

I shook my head and said firmly: "Fang Xin must have set up a spirit hall nearby; otherwise he couldn't have just invited immortals to possess him."

Named: Fang Xin, spirit hall, invite immortals to possess.

Pangzi wondered: "How so?"

Named: Pangzi.

I'm so certain because I know that Spirit-Inviting Immortals, like Yin-Passing Grannies, cannot stray far. If they go far, the immortals cannot possess their disciples; a disciple using magic far away is nowhere near as effective as when they're near the spirit hall.

Named: Spirit-Inviting Immortal, Yin-Passing Granny, spirit hall.

Now our location is deep in Anhui, far from the Northeast, yet Fang Xin can summon immortals to possess him at will; being able to do so means he must have set up a spirit hall nearby.

Named: Anhui, Northeast, Fang Xin, spirit hall.

After hearing my explanation, Pangzi weakly sighed: "Alright, then when do you say we go find him?"

Named: Pangzi.

I replied without hesitation: "Right away."

No named.

Pangzi jumped up as if stepped on his tail: "Right away, you're not joking, are you?"

Named: Pangzi.

I again replied without hesitation: "Right away, we must find him immediately; otherwise, if he flees back to the Northeast, it will be hard for us to seek retribution."

Named: Northeast.

Pangzi slumped, resigned: "Alright, right away then."

Named: Pangzi.

After saying that, he helped me up and we prepared to go down the mountain.

No named.

"Ring, ring, ring"—suddenly a bell-like sound rang out, startling me; I thought some monster had come. But… damn, my soul-chasing bell is already broken—where's the ringing coming from?

Named: Soul-Chasing Bell.

"Hey hey hey, don't overreact—this is my phone's sound." Pangzi pursed his lips and pulled out his heavy brick phone from his bag.

Named: Pangzi, brick phone.

"How did you even bring this thing?" I said, speechless, taking the brick phone he pulled out.

Named: brick phone.

This brick phone was given to QingSongShu by a Hong Kong boss the year before last; Pangzi liked it and asked QingSongShu for it. I never imagined he'd bring this heavy brick phone all the way to Anhui—damn, doesn't carrying such a heavy thing tire him out?

Named: Hong Kong boss, QingSongShu, Anhui.

"This number seems a bit unfamiliar—could it be some pretty girl wanting to chat?" Pangzi gave a lecherous smile and pressed the answer button.

Named: Pangzi.

However, before Pangzi could say anything, a flustered voice came from the other end of the phone.

Brother, where are you, hurry back, there's a ghost in this house, Zheng Yang died, Huang Sheng died, Zhou Tian also died, so many people died, we can't get out now, where are you, hurry back.

The voice carried hesitation and helplessness; I and Pangzi both recognized it as Mengxue's voice.

Mengxue, don't panic, slowly tell Brother clearly what's going on? Pangzi, upon hearing Mengxue cry, also became anxious.

Spirit writing, it's spirit writing, wuu wuu.

"Beep beep" When Mengxue finished saying this, the sound of a hang-up came from the other end of the phone. No matter how Pangzi shouted, there was no echo on the other end.

After hanging up the phone, I and Pangzi exchanged a glance and, in unison, said a sentence.

Something happened at the ancient castle.