Chapter 106: Be a Big Brother for Once (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Everyone stared at the oracle poem, gradually sinking into thought.

The oracle spirit seemed to speak vaguely, yet had already pointed them toward several directions; most importantly, none of these directions appeared to be trivial matters.

If it concerned matters in the capital or the mortal realm, it might involve covert court struggles, dynastic upheavals, or even a great calamity for the world. If it concerned alchemy—whether ordinary pill-making or Second Brother’s “Silver-Eating Ghost”—involving an entire prefecture and such vast quantities of silver, it must be no small matter.

If the oracle spirit’s divination was correct, then this oracle spirit truly possessed broad knowledge and profound predictive ability.

And he was bold enough to speak it.

Everyone turned to look at the old Daoist.

“Why are you looking at me? No matter how great the matter, it won’t happen within these few years—I’ll be immortal long before the storm arrives,” said Yunhe Daoist, waving his hand wearily.

People grow sleepy as they age.

Eating full also makes one sleepy.

Eating rice or flour makes one even sleepier.

At this moment, he looked as if overwhelmed by drowsiness; the energy he’d gained from eating had faded again, his eyes barely able to stay open.

After a brief pause, he added:

“But this matter affects the entire Huizhou Prefecture—it’s no longer confined to the city below. If something truly goes wrong, Yishan may be affected. Such a matter shouldn’t be reported only to Qiyun Mountain.”

“Master is saying…”

Lin Jue looked at his master, Yunhe Daoist, puzzled.

“We should notify the Yishan Mountain God.”

“The Mountain God…”

Lin Jue knew this Mountain God was no ordinary being—

Yishan was no small mountain; it covered vast land and teemed with spiritual energy, naturally imbued with mystery. The Mountain God had reigned here for countless years; in terms of cultivation and status, among all mountains under heaven, only the legendary Three Immortal Mountains and the Five Sacred Peaks’ deities could rival him.

All the Daoist temples within Yishan, along with the myriad mountain spirits and wild monsters, were under his protection.

Perhaps even the faint spiritual resonance many spirits and Daoists caught during morning cultivation on some peak originated from him.

“I’ll first send word to my old friend. If the Mountain God approves and selects a day, the three of you may go to report.”

“Understood.”

Yunhe Daoist rose and returned to his room.

“You all go rest. I’ll clean up after I finish eating,” said the little sister, still holding her bowl, sitting on the wooden bench beside them for a long while.

Though she said so, the other senior brothers still gathered their bowls and chopsticks, taking them to the kitchen to wash.

Only Lin Jue returned to his room without hesitation.

…

Beings like the Yishan Mountain God cannot be approached on a whim—that would be too impolite. One must first send word to request permission; only after his approval may one proceed.

Lin Jue wasn’t in a hurry—

He had already experienced the inefficiency of heavenly immortals last time; he suspected that even within months, the deities worshipped by Qiyun Mountain’s Daoists wouldn’t uncover anything substantial.

So he sought out Fourth Brother to learn the technique “Gathering Beasts and Summoning Birds.”

Fourth Brother sat cross-legged in the outer courtyard, carving a bamboo flute. Yun Bao lay quietly beside him, head resting on his thighs, while several wild wolves played behind him, and three smaller Yun Bao watched them intently, alert and wary.

Lin Jue had been on the mountain for a year and a half; the original Yun Bao had found a mate and given birth to three cubs.

Hearing his request, Fourth Brother showed no hesitation, simply telling Lin Jue to bring another mat and sit opposite him.

The fox lay curled behind Lin Jue, a soft white blanket sprawled out, its impossibly fluffy tail swaying playfully left and right, its head and chin pressed to the ground, eyes darting everywhere.

“Learning this technique has its advantages—at least once you master it, you’ll understand what Fuyao means,” Fourth Brother glanced at the white fox behind him. “But then again, after spending enough time together, don’t you sometimes know each other’s intentions without spells or words?”

“Yes.”

Lin Jue turned to look at the fox.

The fox was looking back at him.

“People are the same,” Fourth Brother said, drilling holes in the bamboo with the carving knife Lin Jue had used for his wooden sculpture. “Animals are the same.”

“Indeed.”

“Good—”

Fourth Brother said to him: “That’s one of the essential principles of this technique.”

“Is that so?”

“The most basic level,” Fourth Brother said. “This technique is very useful—even if you never use it in combat, it can dispel loneliness. Later, when you travel to unfamiliar places with no one to turn to, you might ask nearby beasts for directions, water, or food.”

“How do you practice it?”

“You know some techniques require more than mere practice—you must cultivate your heart, attune yourself to heaven and earth,” Fourth Brother said. “This technique is much the same. It can be divided into two parts: one is the technique and the use of spiritual power; the other is the state of mind.”

Here he paused his work and spoke solemnly to Lin Jue:

“The latter is far more important.”

“Understood.”

Lin Jue nodded.

Wasn’t his own Wood Passage technique the same?

Practicing the skill is minor; cultivating the heart is paramount.

“Especially in this technique,” Fourth Brother shook his head. “The technical aspects are remarkably simple, but achieving the right state of mind is difficult—it requires an inherently pure and kind heart, plus sincere effort, deep insight, and long-term practice.”

“How so?”

“Have you ever heard this saying? ‘The sea traveler, without intent, may play with white gulls.’”

“I haven’t.”

“It means: if a fisherman has no intention to harm seagulls, he can play freely with them. You often interact with spirits and monsters on the mountain and below—you know that if your heart is open, free of malice or disrespect, many spirits will speak naturally with you.”

Fourth Brother said:

“This technique works the same way: all animals possess spirit. If you wish to befriend or summon them, the most important thing is to have a heart that does no harm.”

“Is that all?”

“Of course not.”

Fourth Brother smiled, picked up the finished bamboo flute, held it to the light, and continued: “You must also be free of guilt. That depends on your personal mindset and character.”

“Mindset and character?”

“Some who practice this technique must never eat meat; others must never place these creatures in danger, or the technique won’t work; some need only show basic respect to all living beings—even if they eat meat; others need only avoid harming the animals they’ve befriended—they may still hunt, fish, kill chickens, or cook ducks,” Fourth Brother paused. “The last two are the most common.”

“So it is…”

“Of course, some are born evil,” Fourth Brother said. “Theoretically, such people could practice this technique and still cruelly harm these creatures. But all living things have spirit—they can discern good and evil. Such people are already blocked at the very first step: befriending them, cultivating pure kindness. They cannot even enter the path.”

“Understood.”

Lin Jue looked at Fourth Brother: “Then, what kind do you think I am?”

“The third or fourth kind.”

“I see…”

“Even before you’ve fully entered this technique, merely learning it can make fierce mountain beasts lose their urge to hunt you. If you can understand the meaning of mountain birds and beasts, you’ve entered the path. Further study allows you to cast the spell—to summon unfamiliar birds and beasts from a strange land. That’s ‘gathering and summoning.’ With sincerity, you can make them aid you.”

“Noted.”

“I’ll teach you the ‘technique’ first. Use Fuyao as your practice subject—she’s been raised by you since she was young, you share deep affection and familiarity; she’s the perfect candidate.”

Fourth Brother explained in detail.

Unnoticed, the little sister, who should have been diligently practicing the Stone Transformation technique to impress Senior Brother, had also brought a mat over and sat listening intently.

But her talent lay in the Five Elements; this kind of art leaned toward Yin-Yang mysteries, and she found it hard to follow.

As she listened, she scratched her head, watching her brother absorb it effortlessly—her expression grew more serious—until she turned and met the fox’s gaze, which brought her comfort.

She stood up and went off to practice Stone Transformation.

Hours passed.

“Little brother, learning Fourth Brother’s Gathering Beasts and Summoning Birds technique again? I think we should just make you the eldest brother.”

Third Brother’s voice came from beside them.

“Little brother, look at a man like this—he’ll never learn this technique,” Fourth Brother sat cross-legged, holding the finished flute, smiling. “Even the dumbest mountain creature would find him repulsive and refuse to befriend him, let alone obey him.”

“Exactly right.”

Lin Jue agreed, turning around.

Several senior brothers had come out.

“That’s enough for today, Fourth Brother. We just obtained a new incantation from the Mingchao Mountain Grand Rite—you should learn it too.”

Lin Jue knew each senior brother specialized in one technique; some learned others—like Wind Summoning—some learned techniques related to their main art, such as Second Brother’s fire techniques and ingestion methods; some learned only incantations, since they were simple.

Some senior brothers had little desire for combat—Second Brother and Fifth Brother, for instance—devoting themselves entirely to alchemy and medicine.

Second Brother was better off—he needed fire techniques for alchemy, and his mastery far surpassed Lin Jue’s. He’d been on the mountain longer too; if he encountered bandits or demons outside, he needed no sword or incantation—just a palm of flame could burn an entire boat to ash, and no temple demon could withstand it.

Fifth Brother had the weakest combat ability.

But Dao cultivation and techniques aren’t solely about combat; Daoists aren’t judged by fighting power alone—even heavenly immortals include many who never cultivate combat arts.

Whether a person or immortal deserves respect isn’t determined by strength alone.

“Fear” might be a better word.

Especially after learning the fates of past Fuxiu Monastery disciples who descended the mountain, Lin Jue had come to understand—

If Fifth Brother descended, he’d likely settle in a Daoist temple near Licheng or even within a great city, becoming a famed Daoist physician, so remarkable he’d be written into books. Many might revere him as a true master; if fortune favored him, legends of him might spread through the land.

If he wished, emperors and generals would hold him in esteem—even as the world changed hands, no matter who ruled, they’d treat him with courtesy.

His value wasn’t derived from strength.

Add to that differing preferences and talents—no one can master every technique, so naturally, one doesn’t learn them all.

But the world is about to fall into chaos.

Spells like the Binding Charm can be learned in a single day—simple and effective; what reason is there to refuse?

It does have its drawbacks.

Aside from being harmless to humans, its maximum power is limited.

The Binding Charm uses incantations to command spirits; ordinary folk masters and wandering sorcerers who have only learned Qi-nourishing methods can wield it. Those with true cultivation naturally unleash greater power, yet no matter how strong, it cannot be used against great demons or great ghosts, let alone demon kings or ghost kings. But then again, if you are already fighting great demons, great ghosts, demon kings, or ghost kings, you would no longer need this Binding Charm.

So today, little brother shall play the role of elder brother.

The elder brother transmits the Sword-Binding Charm by night.

After transmitting this technique, the Mountain God sent word, instructing the Daoists of Fuqiu Pavilion to report the great matter below the mountain tomorrow morning.