Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 66: Unorthodox Sorcerers, Heretical Methods and Deceptive Techniques
Night had fallen, the rain had finally stopped, most of the town's lights had been turned off, and people had drifted off to sleep.

Second floor of Yuelai Inn, room number 7 (甲字七).

The room's doors were tightly shut, and the lights were on inside.

A small white lantern floated up into the air.

The lantern's light was rather strange, a bright red, too vivid, casting a red glow over the entire room's furnishings, which was quite frightening.

Mr. Gu sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands resting flat on his knees. He had washed up, changed into clean clothes, and was meditating with his eyes closed.

He was a sorcerer.

In a sense, they are also what ordinary people call "immortal cultivators".

The various titles often differ greatly and are neither standardized nor formal. Broadly speaking, it refers to "spiritual practitioners".

The concept of a practitioner is very broad, mainly divided into two categories: orthodox Taoist practices and unorthodox practices.

There are different interpretations of unorthodox and unorthodox methods, but as times have changed, the distinctions have become less detailed.

Mr. Gu belongs to the unorthodox school and knows some unorthodox techniques.

This is what is called a "heretical practitioner".

The universe has been turned upside down, and the stars have shifted. The immortal path in this world has come to an end, and it has long lost the supernatural powers and might of ancient times.

Instead, the divine way flourished and the human way prospered.

A century ago, the Great Qian Dynasty rose to power. Its founding emperor, Emperor Jiang Shen, was a man of great talent and ambition, and was known as "the greatest man in a thousand years in terms of both civil and military achievements".

He led a million-strong army to conquer the south and the north. Wherever his ironclad troops went, mountains were felled and temples were destroyed. No one dared to confront him; all knelt down, bowed their heads, and submitted to the court.

From then on, the imperial power stood proudly above all under heaven, and all nations came to pay tribute.

Unfortunately, Emperor Taizu had unfinished business and passed away suddenly.

Now, the Great Qian Dynasty has been ruled by three generations of emperors, and it is still a prosperous and flourishing era.

Under humane rule, the status of cultivators and sorcerers has declined significantly. In order to obtain resources for cultivation, sorcerers lacking proper backgrounds have chosen to attach themselves to certain prestigious families, willingly serving the government.

This is all because those aristocratic families and prominent clans have enormous power and abundant resources, making them no different from sects.

Of course, there are many other sects that exist in the mountains and rivers. However, most of them operate in a low-key manner and choose to remain hidden. Moreover, orthodox sects accept very few disciples, have very high requirements, and emphasize factors such as innate talent and destiny, selecting only one in ten thousand.

Ordinary cultivators and hermits, whether for wealth and status or for better advancement, had no choice but to rely on powerful clans and families.

Those who received good treatment were called "offers"; those of slightly lesser status were called retainers.

Mr. Gu is indeed a retainer of the Zhao family. It's not that he lacks cultivation, but rather that he hasn't been with them for long and is currently in the stage of doing things and making contributions.

Killing Chen Jin would be a great achievement.

……

"Time is up!"

Mr. Gu opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, and then pulled out a dusty gray cloth bag.

With a swift movement, a reddish-brown scroll appeared in his hand.

It turns out that the paper with Chen Jinren's portrait was hidden in a small cloth bag, indicating that it contained something extraordinary.

He unfolded the scroll before his eyes, then began to examine it intently:
First look at the chin of the portrait, then the mouth, nose, ears...

Look at it carefully, paying attention to every detail.

Finally, it's the eyes.

They stared into each other's eyes for a long time without moving.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Mr. Gu had a sudden inspiration. He caught a glimpse of a flash of inspiration in the right eye of the portrait, so he reached out and pushed, as if opening a window.

His thoughts leaped forward, and he burst inside.

……

Chen Jin has never been used to going to bed early.

Because he practiced his Qi cultivation every day at night, when it was quiet and still, it was the most suitable time. After breaking through and entering the second realm, he could now practice the "Six Qi in the Correct Position Method" twice a day.

Each repetition doubles the effect, greatly improving the efficiency of cultivation.

Unfortunately, due to dietary restrictions, his stomach was often empty after one round of practice, leaving him with no energy to refine.

I can't keep up at all.

In the current situation, not only is a large amount of money needed, but also excellent medicinal diet recipes are required to keep up with the pace of cultivation.

Otherwise, we can only stand still and worry helplessly.

Through the introduction of his sixth uncle, Chen Shounian, Chen Jin realized that returning to his ancestral home and rejoining the Chen family was the best way out.

The Chen family of Gaozhou is one of the eight most famous families in the world.

This was not unfamiliar to him, because from childhood, he was instilled with the idea that he should take the imperial examinations and return to his ancestral home.

Previously, the four characters "Gaozhou Chen Clan" mainly gave people a lofty and grand impression, but lacked detailed understanding, which made them seem vague and unclear.

It wasn't until after he began his spiritual practice and witnessed the power and prestige of Magistrate Zhao that Chen Jin truly understood the weight of the words "prestigious family".

If you want to improve and reach a higher level, you have to go back and rely on the resources and strength of your family.

There's nothing to be ashamed of or aloof about.

Moreover, I have a good impression of Chen Shounian; he is by no means the kind of old man who acts arrogantly or domineeringly.

However, recognizing one's ancestors and re-entering the family genealogy is no easy task.

The path before us is to pass the provincial examination and obtain the title of Juren (a degree in the imperial examination system).

Therefore, he angrily resisted the suppression by Magistrate Zhao, left Mao County, and went to the prefectural city to take the examination.

This isn't a road of no return, but rather a path for the common man.

With the courage of a common man, what is there to fear in exchanging one for one?
After finishing my homework tonight, I felt unusually tired, which is unusual since I usually practice Qigong to restore my energy.

Therefore, it can be seen that the encounter with the ghost realm also had a certain impact on Chen Jin.

This influence is primarily on the spiritual aspect.

For a cultivator like him who has attained enlightenment and developed the power of spiritual vision, it's like having an extra "eye".

This is certainly a good thing, but it also has considerable side effects.

Eyes are like windows; when you open them to see the outside world, the outside world also enters your world through the window.

This is a reciprocal relationship.

The outside world represents mystery and the unknown, and is often full of danger and chaos.

At this time, you must concentrate your mind and strengthen your beliefs in order to withstand external shocks.

Otherwise, external shocks, like a raging flood, will overwhelm you, and you will no longer be yourself, but become something else entirely.

Therefore, Chen Jin has always been very careful in applying his clairvoyance, always keeping in mind the sage's words, "Do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper."

"Li" not only refers to "propriety and prevention", but also has the meaning of "rules".

However, when you're out and about, unexpected events can happen unexpectedly, and often you're not in control of your own destiny. Even if you don't want to see them, those things will always appear before you, whether directly, through sounds or noises, or even through hearsay descriptions...

No one can completely isolate themselves from the world; otherwise, they would go insane.

In the midst of the storm, when he realized something was wrong, Chen Jin became vigilant and used the magic lantern as cover to try to avoid the impact, but in the end, he was still affected.

That haunted place has clearly become quite powerful.

Feeling tired, he lay down fully clothed and fell asleep quickly.

I don't know how much time passed, but in a daze, as if in a dream, my right eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably...

　Some readers say that if you write with attitude, you don't need to ask for support. But these days, if you don't ask for votes, you really won't get any. I don't even dare to write a separate chapter...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)