Chapter 85: Number One in the World, Three Corpses Illuminating Fate (5k Chapter)

The red candle flame does not go out, Profound Yin refines the soul.

In the East Suburb Cemetery, turbid Yin Qi gathered from all directions, lighting the white candles around Xiong Ba. At the same time, the red candle in front of him burned even brighter.

This red candle represents his original soul.

The Yinshan lineage collects Yin Qi from all directions to refine the soul. Yin extreme produces Yang, which is an alternative mysterious cultivation.

Because of this, this lineage is often stained with the souls of the dead and wandering ghosts, seeing life and death, sensing fortune and misfortune, and forming a mysterious path.

"Profound Yin refines true Yang... the Yinshan Sect really has its unique features."

Zhang Fan hid in the dark to observe, and with his current cultivation, he was able to see some clues.

At this time, wisps of Yin Qi merged into Xiong Ba's abdomen. His clothes bulged suddenly, and scorching hot air radiated from his back, even his sweat was steamed into mist.

This is the appearance of 【Refining Yin into Yang】.

One must know that the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" records that the abdomen is Yin, the back is Yang. Yang strong means longevity, Yang weak means premature death.

Modern people, because of their lifestyle and dietary habits, have accumulated a large amount of dampness and cold in their bodies, leading to insufficient Yang Qi, thereby causing various health problems. For example, girls have palace cold and spleen deficiency, insomnia and acne; boys have hair loss and cannot last long, etc.

This is the manifestation of insufficient Yang Qi.

Within the Daoist sects, there is a health-preserving method. If Yang Qi is insufficient, one can borrow it from heaven, which is to take off clothes and expose the back in summer, especially during the dog days, to borrow energy from heaven through sunning the back, accumulating Yang Qi, and forcing out the dampness and cold accumulated in the body. The body will naturally be light and healthy, and the face will become rosy and transparent. (Control time and intensity, beware of sunburn)

This is like adding firewood to a flame, which can make the fire flourish and burn away all the evil dampness and cold in the body.

Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine also pays attention to "nourishing Yang in spring and summer, and long summer wins winter." If Yang Qi is sufficient in summer, it is not easy to get sick in winter. This is the reason for treating winter diseases in summer.

Hum...

Just then, the flames of the white candles around Xiong Ba flickered violently, and the red candle flame in front of him also became dim. The Yang Qi radiated from his back was difficult to sustain, scattered and not condensed.

"Huh? He can't gather Yin Qi?"

Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment and saw the clue.

Although the kid was practicing the orthodox Yinshan method, whether it was a problem of talent or a problem of his body, he couldn't persistently gather Yin Qi, and even the small amount of Yin Qi he gathered had an extremely low conversion efficiency.

But regardless of the reason, this kind of person, to put it bluntly, has no talent for cultivation, at least no talent for cultivation in the Yinshan method, unlike Zhang Fan, who can break through even while sleeping and make progress.

"Sigh, it really doesn't work."

Xiong Ba stopped practicing. He looked at the dim red candle flame in front of him and let out a long sigh, looking extremely frustrated.

He was born into the Yinshan Xiong family, but because he had no talent or ability for cultivation, he could only apprentice to an elder of the Gu family, which was Gu Yuming.

One must know that although the Gu family and the Ming family are also of the Yinshan lineage, they are subsidiaries of the Xiong family.

In this way, Xiong Ba's situation is self-evident. He cannot practice the core methods of the Xiong family.

The key is that even Gu Yuming couldn't train him, and instead, he had an accident a few days ago and had completely become a vegetable, and hadn't woken up to this day.

Otherwise, Xiong Ba wouldn't have run to the cemetery he feared most, alone, early in the morning, to secretly practice hard.

However, success lies in technique, not in hard work.

Some things are destined by heaven; it's not that hard work is useful.

"I really am the disgrace of the Xiong family..." Xiong Ba was dejected.

As a disciple of the Yinshan Sect, he had no talent for cultivation in this sect. Not to mention carrying forward the ancestral Dharma lineage, he couldn't even make progress. Calling him a disgrace didn't seem inappropriate.

"Even if they come from the same ancestor, there are individual differences," Zhang Fan sighed to himself.

This kid in front of him was far worse than the Xiong Qianshan he met last night. Although the latter wasn't much, by comparison, he seemed to be an elite.

Goods are compared to goods, and people are compared to people.

Seeing this, Zhang Fan lost interest and turned to leave.

"Talisman destiny and communication, grace light illuminates the nine springs. Three souls face the Emperor, seven spirits listen to the spiritual chapter..."

Just then, a faint chanting sound came from somewhere.

"Huh!?"

Zhang Fan stopped and looked. He saw Xiong Ba muttering words, as if he had changed to a different Dharma lineage, forming seals with both hands, gripping nine and holding one—it was clearly the 【Lion Seal】.

"This is not a Yinshan technique!" Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed, and he couldn't help but re-examine the young man in front of him.

This kid was born into the Yinshan family, yet he was secretly practicing other sects' techniques!?

"Three paths leave the long night, five sufferings exhaust all transgressions. The sea of sins all calms its waves, hearing the Dharma to reach the human heaven..."

As the faint chanting sound echoed, the white candlelight jumped suddenly, and the Yin Qi from all directions surged and gathered, actually purifying around Xiong Ba, turning into light and spiritual Qi, merging into his body.

At the same time, the sound of chanting seemed to echo around him. In a trance, it seemed as if countless wandering souls appeared, worshiping piously and listening to the teachings.

"This is..."

"【Taiyi Crossing the Dead】, the nemesis of the Yinshan Sect!?" Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed to a line; he simply couldn't believe it.

One must know that sentient beings in the world cannot escape the suffering of life and death, but once they pass away, they desire to be reborn in the Western Paradise.

The Buddhist sect belongs to the Western Geng-Xin Metal teaching, specifically emphasizing the Western Paradise. Our Daoist sect belongs to the Eastern Jia-Yi Wood teaching, so we specifically emphasize the Eastern Longevity Paradise.

The "Three Officials Scripture" says that there is a Long-Joy World in the Eastern Extreme Heaven Realm's Salvation Gate. There is only heaven and no hell. It is a good place for cultivation, which can make people leave hell, avoid the reincarnation of life and death in the four births and six paths, forever leave suffering, go straight to the human heaven, be reborn in the Pure Land, and be happy without measure, going and coming without obstruction.

This is the Eastern Long-Joy Pure Land mentioned by the Daoist sect—the Eastern Extreme Marvelous Palace.

This is also the dojo of the 【Taiyi Salvation Yuanshi Tianzun】, which is the master of the Nine-Headed Divine Lion.

The Taiyi Method, the technique of crossing the dead, takes the 【Taiyi Salvation Yuanshi Tianzun】 as the Dharma master. It can eliminate sinful karma, calm Yin turbidity, cross the souls of the dead, and suppress evil spirits...

This lineage is exactly the nemesis of the Yinshan Sect.

Zhang Fan never expected that this young man, born into the Yinshan Sect and having no talent, was secretly practicing the technique of crossing the dead in the 【Taiyi Method】.

Among the thousands of Dharma lineages in the Daoist sect, the prestige of the Taiyi Method is not inferior to the North Emperor Method.

However, similarly, in the long river of time, this lineage also appears mysterious and unpredictable, gradually fading away. There are only three or five people in the world who have received the true teachings.

"Where did this kid learn it?" Zhang Fan muttered to himself.

He found this Taiyi Crossing the Dead technique extremely familiar, but he himself definitely... shouldn't have seen it before.

Previously, he had only seen relevant records in the 【Daoist Secret Record】, which said that once the crossing was successful, one could transform thousands of ghosts and monsters, with vast supernatural powers and unfathomable might.

For this kind of secret transmission method, Zhang Fan could only covet it.

He knew that such techniques, without opportunity, simply could not be touched, and one might not even be able to see them.

Clearly, the young man in front of him was a person of opportunity, having received the true teachings in the dark.

Even Zhang Fan being able to see it with his own eyes today was a great blessing.

"Ahem..."

Just then, Zhang Fan's heart moved, he coughed twice, and walked out from behind a tombstone.

"Who... ghost or human?"

Xiong Ba was like a frightened bird, immediately waking up from his cultivation state. His eyes widened like copper bells, shooting out lightning-like sharpness, his ears pricked up like antennas, following the suspicious sound, staring dead at Zhang Fan.

"You... who are you?" Xiong Ba said with extreme vigilance, his panicked appearance revealing the words "guilty conscience."

"Are you a disciple of the Yinshan Sect?" Zhang Fan narrowed his eyes, looking Xiong Ba up and down.

"Nonsense... I am not." Xiong Ba blushed.

"Not only do I know you are a disciple of the Yinshan Sect, I also know your surname." Zhang Fan laughed.

"Surname... surname what?"

Xiong Ba said in a panic, the implication being that he had already admitted the fact that he was a disciple of the Yinshan Sect.

"Either Ming or Gu."

"Hahaha, you don't even make a draft when you brag, do you?" Xiong Ba couldn't help but laugh when he heard Zhang Fan's guess.

"So your surname is Xiong."

"..."

"You... how did you know?" Xiong Ba stammered, a look of shock and suspicion in his eyes.

"Tsk tsk... a disciple of the Yinshan Xiong family, practicing the Taiyi Crossing the Dead technique, you've got something."

"You... don't talk nonsense." A look of panic flashed in Xiong Ba's eyes.

"Don't admit it? Should I find your family's elders to recognize it?" Zhang Fan threatened.

"Don't... don't..." Xiong Ba stood up abruptly and hurriedly waved his hand.

"Hehe, I'll eat this secret for a lifetime."

Zhang Fan looked at Xiong Ba's panicked expression and couldn't help but laugh, a voice seeming to ring in his heart.

"Where did you learn this Taiyi Crossing the Dead technique?" Zhang Fan changed the subject and asked.

"This..." Xiong Ba hesitated, his face showing difficulty. "Your family's elders..."

"I'll tell you..." Xiong Ba's face changed slightly, and he hurriedly interrupted Zhang Fan's words.

"I... I learned it in the family ancestral hall when I was a child, when I was worshiping the ancestors..." Xiong Ba gritted his teeth.

"Ah? Your family's ancestral hall?" Zhang Fan showed a strange expression.

"There is a ghost suppressed under our family's ancestral hall... a very fierce ghost... he secretly taught me the method..." Xiong Ba lowered his voice.

"A very fierce ghost?" Zhang Fan was lost in thought.

The Yinshan Sect's technique of refining Yin and controlling ghosts is unique in the world. It is said that they can use the technique of transportation, borrow ghosts to form momentum, seek fortune and avoid misfortune, and seize life and escape death.

"That ghost... secretly taught me this method, saying that practicing this method, there will be a great opportunity waiting for me in the future..."

"He also said..." Xiong Ba stammered, hesitating.

"Said what?" Zhang Fan couldn't help but ask.

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"He also said... after practicing this method, the Xiong family will be mine in the future."

"Huh!?" Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment.

"It's all ghost talk... ghost talk cannot be believed..." Xiong Ba shook his head.

His status in the Xiong family could be seen from his name.

The Yinshan Xiong family, all direct descendants are named according to the generation, and the direct descendants of this generation are all of the "Qian" generation, such as Xiong Qianxing, Xiong Qianshan.

But he was outside the direct line, and even his master was an elder chosen from the Gu family. From this, it can be seen how marginal his status in the Xiong family was, not to mention that he had no talent or ability in the Yinshan lineage's techniques.

Such an existence, according to convention, usually goes out to establish his own sect not long after becoming an adult, and after two or three generations, he has no great relationship with the Xiong family.

In fact, Ming Yunxia's grandfather, Ming Chengjun, was also like this back then, but he had extraordinary opportunities. After leaving the Ming family, he had other achievements, actually realizing the Ming family's unique skill, the Ghost Gate Divine Needles.

"You... you must not tell anyone, otherwise if the family finds out, I'll be dead." Xiong Ba couldn't help but look at Zhang Fan, almost begging.

He always felt that this man who suddenly appeared didn't look like a good person; he was simply not a good person.

"Don't be afraid... I also know some Taiyi Crossing the Dead technique. It's just that I saw you practicing it without the right method, so I couldn't help but want to give you some pointers." Zhang Fan changed the subject and showed a kind smile.

"You also know it?" Xiong Ba was stunned for a moment, then suspiciously looked Zhang Fan up and down.

"You don't believe me?" Zhang Fan squinted: "If you don't believe me, you can state the Taiyi Crossing the Dead technique you practice one by one, and I will verify it with you."

"Good."

Xiong Ba nodded, feeling that this was indeed a good way, and immediately sat cross-legged, facing Zhang Fan to discuss the Dao.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the sun rose, and it was already past eight in the morning.

Rumble...

Above the East Suburb Cemetery, a piece of turbid Yin Qi surged, actually turning into light and spiritual Qi in the sound of mysterious chanting, floating in the air like clouds, dissipating like illusions.

"He... he really knows it... and he practices it much better than me..."

At this time, Xiong Ba stood in the distance, staring blankly at Zhang Fan, who had already entered meditation, a look of disbelief in his eyes. This man really didn't lie to him.

"Could it be that I am really a genius, and I have such miraculous skills on my first practice?"

At this moment, there was also a voice shouting in Zhang Fan's heart. He was just borrowing the few methods revealed by Xiong Ba and trying them slightly, and he actually entered the door.

One must know that the Taiyi Method is famous, and its difficulty is not inferior to the North Emperor Method.

At first, Zhang Fan spent a lot of effort to practice the North Emperor Method, but today, upon first contact with the Taiyi Method, he actually entered the door directly. The speed was so fast that he felt it was somewhat unreal.

"Could it be that I was really born to practice the Dao!!?"

As soon as a thought arose, Zhang Fan hurriedly calmed his mind, discarded distracting thoughts, and silently digested the part of the method Xiong Ba had just taught him.

"Eastern Extreme Green Flower Marvelous Palace, Purple Mist and Rosy Light penetrate the vast space. A thousand lotus flowers reflect the precious throne, the nine-headed lion comes out of the clouds..."

The mysterious sound was faint, as if coming from the void. Zhang Fan formed seals with both hands, motionless. Strange fragrance surged around his body, the true Yang in his body surged, and there was a lion roaring, shaking all directions.

"Taiyi Salvation, solving difficulties and crossing the dead... he is too good..." Xiong Ba's eyes widened, and he no longer regarded Zhang Fan as a bad person, a look of awe and worship even appearing in his eyes.

Only those who have great compassion in their hearts can practice this method and save the souls of the dead.

At the same time, the Xiong family ancestral hall.

An old man with gray hair was originally burning incense to worship the ancestors...

Suddenly, an ancient jar at the very top of the shrine vibrated violently. It was covered with strips of talismans and imprisoned by chains, connected to the ancestors' spirit tablets.

Hum...

Just then, the candle flame in front of the ancient jar jumped up, the flame light became bright, shining brilliantly.

"What's going on?" The gray-haired old man stood up abruptly, staring dead at the jumping flame, a look of horror flashing in his turbid eyes.

But after a moment, the ancient jar returned to calm, the fire light gradually fell, and it became the usual scene.

"Father..."

At this time, a man wearing Daoist casual clothes walked out from outside the ancestral hall, his brows solemn. He walked up to the old man and bowed.

"Ten years... that Fierce God actually has movement?" Xiong Guanchen's old brows almost knitted into a "chuan" shape.

"Ten years of great fortune... Xiong Sanqi said back then that this Fierce God could bring ten years of great fortune to my Xiong family. Could it be that a change will happen now!?" Xiong Baoping stroked his old man and couldn't help but say.

Xiong Sanqi was a fellow disciple of his generation. Although not a direct descendant, he was undoubtedly the strongest among the three generations of the Xiong family.

It's just that in his early years, after he left this Fierce God in the Xiong family, there was no news of him.

Back then, Xiong Sanqi had said that keeping this Fierce God could help the Xiong family have ten years of great fortune. If anyone moved it rashly, they would inevitably suffer heavenly condemnation, and the clan would be defeated and people would die, right before their eyes.

His move was equivalent to repaying the Xiong family's kindness of raising him, and from then on, he cut off the feelings of incense.

"Xiong Sanqi... he is indeed a monster, not a direct descendant but became the strongest..."

"Within a hundred years of my Xiong family, no one can surpass him... unfortunately, he cannot be used by my Xiong family," Xiong Guanchen couldn't help but sigh.

Speaking of which, he was Xiong Sanqi's own uncle. Unfortunately, this nephew had been troublesome since he was a child, wandering outside in his early years and getting to know many people he shouldn't have.

"Back then, he followed that man, dominating the Southeast, pushing across seven provinces, with no rivals... how much trouble did he cause?"

Xiong Baoping subconsciously looked at the ancient jar at the highest point of the shrine.

"Father, if he were still in our Xiong family today, trouble would follow one after another."

At this point, Xiong Baoping's lips moved, but he still said: "There have always been rumors in the outside world that that man came from the Wu Wei Sect and was the successor of the Three Corpses Daoist."

As soon as these words were spoken, the quiet ancestral hall instantly fell into a dead silence, like a ten-thousand-foot cold pool, without half a ripple.

After a while, Xiong Guanchen let out a long sigh and shook his gray head.

"No..."

"Why?" Xiong Baoping couldn't help but ask.

"That man practiced the world's most fierce, Divine Demon Holy Fetus... but the Three Corpses Daoist was not..."

"Do you know why the Three Corpses Daoist was able to become the number one expert in the world eighty years ago?" Xiong Guanchen changed the subject and told a secret of the past.

"Why?" Xiong Baoping couldn't help but ask.

"Because he practiced the world's number one miraculous skill..."

"Three Corpses Illuminating Fate!!!"

"If that man is the successor of the Three Corpses Daoist, he must practice this method..." Xiong Guanchen sighed faintly.

The Divine Demon Holy Fetus and Three Corpses Illuminating Fate are both legendary internal alchemy methods.

However, Three Corpses Illuminating Fate is known as the world's number one miraculous skill.

Back then, during the Jiazi Demon-Slaying, the Three Corpses Daoist and Chu Chaoran fought at the peak of Mount Dongyue, and he died in battle. From then on, this method became an echo, and the world was vast, never to be seen again.

"Is this method so powerful!?"

Such secrets, even as the head of the Xiong family, Xiong Baoping heard for the first time.

"Number one in the world, is it a joke? His number one is not only in his strength, but also related to fate..."

"Related to fate?"

"Not bad... the world is vast, and those who can practice this method in the world are destined to be only one person..."

"That person must be the number one in the world!"

"Number one in the world, Three Corpses Illuminating Fate!?" Xiong Baoping's gaze scattered, murmuring and chewing on this name.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 86 =====