From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

"What is a Law Enforcer?"

The question Zhang Zhixuan suddenly posed startled Pei Shouzhen, as if such words shouldn't have come from the mouth of an ordinary person like Zhang Zhixuan, who was constantly worried about making a living.

How did the layperson come to know about the concept of the "Dharma Master"?

"On my way from Wuliu Town to Jincheng today, I was attacked by a group of soldiers and bandits. I only found out about it by chance from one of them."

At that moment, Zhang Zhixuan recounted the whole story, and then directly summoned two paper puppet soldiers.

"I thought that Layman Zhang had accidentally witnessed the methods of the Dharma Master, but I never expected that Layman Zhang was actually the Dharma Master himself." Pei Shouzhen said, both amused and exasperated.

"Therefore, since Layman Zhang has no guidance and has not entered the path of cultivation, yet he is able to communicate with paper figures and command them to protect their master and kill people on their own, I would like to ask if your ancestors passed down any extraordinary or special skills?"

"My grandfather passed away early, and my parents also passed away unexpectedly a few years ago. I don't know if they knew how to manipulate paper figures, but this paper craft is indeed passed down from our ancestors. Our family's paper crafts can only be replicated by three generations of inheritors. Perhaps, there is some connection..."

Zhang Zhixuan took a roundabout approach, avoiding any mention of the book on various trades, and made up some random excuses to brush it off.

Seeing that Zhang Zhixuan was indeed completely ignorant and confused, Pei Shouzhen smiled and shook his head, saying, "This is not something that can be done with ordinary skills."

"Regardless, I must first congratulate Layman Zhang. Layman Zhang's talent and understanding are truly exceptional." Pei Shouzhen suddenly exclaimed, his words revealing a hint of envy.

"Why do you say that, Master Pei?"

"The layperson is unaware that he has already awakened to his true nature."

"I... have awakened my innate destiny..."

Finally, they got to the point, and Zhang Zhixuan immediately perked up and asked, "Please enlighten me, Master Pei, what is 'Benming' (natal destiny)?"

Pei Shouzhen raised his finger and tapped his chest, explaining, "Everyone is born with a wisp of innate spiritual light, hidden deep within their soul. This innate spiritual light can communicate with the laws of heaven and earth. By using this innate spiritual light to control the laws of heaven and earth, one becomes a law controller."

"One's innate spiritual light is born at birth and varies from person to person. There are many types, but most people can only cultivate one innate spiritual light in their lifetime."

"Martial artists are skilled in martial arts and weapons. Once awakened, their bodies will be stronger and their recovery ability will be greater than that of ordinary people. Sorcerers are naturally drawn to talismans, spells, and formations. Craftsmen are skilled in craftsmanship and can use creation for their own purposes. Master Zhang must be someone who has awakened the craftsman's destiny."

The various things Pei Shouzhen mentioned suddenly made Zhang Zhixuan realize something, and he thought to himself, "With the Book of a Hundred Trades, I won't be limited to just one destiny..."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, there are those with a refined destiny who cultivate their spiritual path through art, such as painting, playing musical instruments, or singing opera; and those with a mundane destiny who become cooks, gardeners, or night watchmen, for they too can cultivate their spiritual path amidst the everyday realities of life."

"Doesn't that mean that all professions and social classes, regardless of what they do, have their own destiny and can awaken it?" Zhang Zhixuan asked hurriedly.

Pei Shouzhen shook his head in denial: "Theoretically speaking, that is indeed the case, but unfortunately, most people can never see or touch their own innate spiritual light in their entire lives. They eat and sleep while they are alive, and when they die, everything ends, and their innate spiritual light naturally dissipates. Only a few people can find and awaken that innate spiritual light through years of cultivation and when a certain opportunity arrives, so that it can be fully perceived by themselves from being unknowable and undetectable."

After listening to Pei Shouzhen's explanation, Zhang Zhixuan benefited greatly. Applying this to the Book of Trades, [Trade: Paper Craftsman LV2] has already awakened its innate talent. So what level would it be if it were upgraded to the next level?

Zhang Zhixuan quickly asked, "What Master Pei said has left me confused again. After awakening my innate destiny, how should I continue to progress?"

"Layman Zhang, you might understand it this way: Awakening your true nature is like planting a seed. You reap what you sow. The seed will inevitably take root, sprout, blossom, and bear fruit. We call the final 'fruit' 'supernatural powers.' Different true natures result in different supernatural powers. If you can cultivate to that level, you will naturally understand it all."

"Innate...supernatural power..." After Pei Shouzhen said this, Zhang Zhixuan had a vague guess about the ultimate direction of the Book of a Hundred Trades.

"Zhang Jushi awakened the true nature of a craftsman through paper-making, which is just what I need to do to help this humble Taoist."

"If there's anything you can do to help me, Master Pei, please don't hesitate to ask."

Pei Shouzhen stood up, took a map from the wall, and spread it on the table. The map marked the location of Panlong Mountain, with many red circles drawn around it.

"Over the past month, a number of people have gone missing in and around Tianjin, from the children of two high-ranking officials to a tofu vendor in the east of the city, a vegetable farmer in the west suburbs, a traveling peddler, and three dockworkers carrying loads yesterday. None of these people have been found alive or dead. After investigating them one by one, I found that they had all received a wooden doll before they went missing."

Pei Shouzhen pulled a cloth bag from under the bed. When he opened it, he found more than a dozen wooden dolls of different sizes inside.

These wooden puppets are crudely made, dark red in color, and have several scribbles on them, emitting an unpleasant, strange, and sweet-smelling odor.

Pei Shouzhen pointed to these strange wooden puppets and explained, "These wooden puppets are called 'Witch Ghosts,' which are from the witchcraft lineage of the Southern Frontier. The witch who performs the spell uses any part of the target's hair, nails, skin, etc., as a medium to imprison the target's soul. Without a soul, a person is like a puppet on strings in the witch's hands, completely at the witch's mercy."

"I suspect that this sorcerer who controls the evil spirits is inextricably linked to the evil spirits of Panlong Mountain. If we can find this sorcerer before going to Panlong Mountain, it will definitely reduce a lot of obstacles on the trip, and we may even be able to find out the origin of the evil spirits on the mountain."

"Zhang Jushi's paper puppets are soulless, which is directly incompatible with the sorcerer's soul-binding ghosts..."

Zhang Zhixuan stared at the map, his gaze settling on the location of Panlong Mountain.

After a long silence, Zhang Zhixuan suddenly asked, "Master Pei mentioned earlier that he was commissioned by the Tianjin Municipal Government and has now discovered that many clues in the missing persons cases ultimately point to Panlong Mountain. Could you apply to the government to access the local gazetteer of Panlong Mountain?"

"The evil spirit explicitly told me to go to an abandoned village in Panlong Mountain and find a dry well. Since there is a village and a well, it must have been inhabited before..."

Reminded by Zhang Zhixuan, Pei Shouzhen felt as if he had been enlightened, clapped his hands and laughed, "Master Zhang is very thoughtful. I am used to being alone and have never thought of consulting the county annals."

After Pei Shouzhen finished speaking, he looked up at the dim sunlight outside the window: "There is no time to lose. I shall set off immediately. Tonight, I must find out the whole story of Panlong Mountain."