Chapter 132: Invoking and Binding Spirits, Breakthrough, Three Sticks of Incense

"Who is it?" Chen Yushu stopped what he was doing and asked.

"It's me, Old Qi!" Qi Jichuan’s voice immediately drifted in from outside the courtyard.

Only then did Chen Yushu open the gate.

"How is Senior Qi’s recovery coming along?" Chen Yushu asked naturally.

"It's just about fully recovered." Qi Jichuan nodded and walked inside, saying, "I’ve come today to bid you farewell."

"Farewell?" Chen Yushu was taken aback, though not entirely surprised.

The man had come under the invitation of Chen Yushu's senior brother to exhume the corpse of that old beast, Wei Mingyuan, and disrupt his schemes. Now that the task was accomplished and his injuries had healed, it was only natural for him to leave.

"I am the temple keeper of the General's Temple in Qianyang County. With the New Year approaching, our temple is always filled with many sacrificial activities. I’ve already been delayed for quite some time, so it is time for me to return," Qi Jichuan explained.

"I understand," Chen Yushu nodded.

Qianyang County was even more prosperous than Qinghe County, largely because it was close to the prefecture city and served as a major transportation artery connecting two provinces; it could almost be considered a small prefecture city itself. The General's Temple where he served honored the Mighty General; while not exactly bustling with incense, it was home to a genuine "Specter-level" deity. It was precisely because of this that he could draw upon its power to perform the "Inviting the Gods" ritual, summoning a spirit medium to bolster his own strength.

"I mentioned previously that I would teach you the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill. Since my senior brother is also leaving, I likely won't be back here for some time. I’ve decided to take this opportunity to teach you the technique while I’m still here. Given your potential, learning this skill shouldn't be difficult. Once you cultivate internal energy, this technique will become even more effective, allowing you to scale even the steepest thousand-foot cliffs."

"Many thanks, Senior Qi. However, there is no rush for the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill. There is something I would like to ask you regarding the 'Inviting the Gods' ritual," Chen Yushu said, bowing in thanks before immediately bringing up the concerns that had been weighing on him.

"Go ahead," Qi Jichuan nodded.

"Besides the fact that inviting gods affects the practitioner’s body through Yin energy—requiring potent tonics to recover—are there other dangers? For instance, regarding a practitioner's future cultivation? Or, will one be shackled by the gods they invite in the future?"

Although Chen Yushu had obtained the manual for the ritual, it only covered the various pantheons and the techniques for casting; it mentioned the dangers only in terms of Yin energy damaging the body and exhausting the practitioner's vitality. It said nothing of other influences, and he remained wary.

"This involves certain secrets. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't bother. But Brother Chen, you not only helped us exact revenge but also saved my life, so I cannot hide the truth from you. The influence, in fact, does exist," Qi Jichuan’s expression turned solemn. "To invite a god, one must first worship it. From that first bow, a relationship of subordination is established. Then, to have the god possess your body, you must sign a 'Divine Pact,' opening your mind and allowing the entity to enter. While this pact offers you some protection, it benefits them far more, as the initiative rests with them. Once the time stipulated in the pact expires, they depart immediately, regardless of whether the evil spirits or specters we face have been vanquished. Once they leave, practitioners like us are left in a state of extreme weakness. Facing evil spirits in that condition is almost certain death. That is why, despite the many schools and pantheons within the sect, its members are relatively scarce—because deaths occur very frequently."

Qi Jichuan shook his head, which was the very reason he had turned to martial arts. It wasn't just fear of death; it was the realization that when martial arts are honed to their peak, one can truly fear no ghost or god, and can slay specters with a blade. Martial arts served as an alternative solution for those who practiced Yin-walking and body tempering to invite gods—a vision of breaking free from the shackles of deities. He hadn't succeeded yet, as his combat effectiveness was still higher when inviting a god, but by relying on martial arts, he could minimize his use of the ritual, greatly increasing his chances of survival.

"Is there any other way to borrow the power of the gods while avoiding such consequences?" Chen Yushu asked.

"There is, but only large Yin-walking clans, major Taoist temples, or sects can achieve it: the 'Spirit-Binding Technique.' You bind a ghost or god to serve you. Yet, most people, even if they know the method and can perform it, dare not use it. Once discovered, one faces the wrath of the gods and becomes an object of divine hatred, naturally cast out," Qi Jichuan whispered.

"The Spirit-Binding Technique?" A flicker of light crossed Chen Yushu’s eyes. He thought of the altar-opening methods he had learned, which included incantations for binding ghosts. In reality, these "pseudo-gods" were, at their core, merely evil spirits and specters. They were only able to openly set up altars and temples in towns to absorb incense and grow stronger because they had been granted titles by the Wuguo imperial court. But if one knew their true names, they could indeed be bound using the Spirit-Binding Technique to perform tasks. Of course, the risks were immense. To bind them, one had to possess the strength to suppress them; otherwise, the backlash would be no joke. They would not only flip the altar but directly attack the caster, leading to an uncertain fate. Afterward, it would likely trigger a "Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts," leaving the area in chaos as a warning to the world.

Chen Yushu thought carefully, sensing he had grasped a thread of logic, but he felt there were still many obstacles to ponder and examine before attempting it. Fortunately, he was in no hurry. For now, he just needed to accumulate strength. There was no need to take the risk of binding a god to his service; without sufficient power, it was nothing but a pipe dream.

Afterward, Chen Yushu asked a few more questions. Once he was satisfied, Qi Jichuan kept his promise and began teaching him the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill.

This was a light-foot skill—a technique that used internal energy and focused exertion to accomplish feats that defied common sense. For example, a simple leap of two or three zhang was impossible for an average person, even a martial artist who had tempered their body, but with light-foot skills, it became easy, especially when applied to walls.

"The core of the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill is the use of internal energy. Once activated, it automatically creates a suction force between your limbs, allowing you to cling firmly to the wall without falling. Of course, at first, the suction will be weak. But as your cultivation level and internal energy grow, you could easily sleep on a vertical wall." Qi Jichuan explained the key points and the flow of internal energy in detail.

"Can this be done by relying on 'Jing' (force) instead?" Chen Yushu asked. Jing was, in a sense, the predecessor to internal energy—the raw, formless power of a martial artist's body, whereas internal energy was tangible and could circulate throughout the body automatically.

As he spoke, Chen Yushu couldn't help but try. He channeled his Jing, pressed his hands against the wall, and moved his feet, applying the principles of the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill. Immediately, he felt a suction force in his hands, pinning his body firmly to the wall. The suction in his feet was weaker, and since his Jing was not as potent as internal energy, he was only barely managing it using the superior strength of his "Jing-Silk." After three breaths, his grip slipped, and he fell.

"Impossible... you mastered it?" Qi Jichuan instinctively shook his head, but then he saw Chen Yushu stuck firmly to the wall, his fingers flat and outstretched, and his face filled with shock. He had actually mastered it? And without internal energy, using only Jing? It was the first time he had ever seen such a thing; it was truly incredible.

"Yes," Chen Yushu looked at his status panel, which clearly displayed "Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill: Novice," and nodded.

Qi Jichuan fell silent, feeling the gap between them. When he had learned this skill, it had taken him a full half-month to even reach the novice level. The key was that Chen Yushu hadn't even cultivated internal energy yet... Soon after, he asked to leave, fearing that if he stayed any longer, the jealousy rising in his heart would distort his features.

***

Qi Jichuan left quickly, and Zhao Yufeng followed two days later. He had stayed behind because his corpse-puppet had been severely damaged and needed time to recover. When Chen Yushu saw him off, he noticed the corpse-puppet had improved significantly. It was much smaller than before, having lost its hulking, door-god-like stature, but it appeared far more solid and dense. Its movement was also vastly different, nearly indistinguishable from a normal person. Aside from its pale face and lifeless eyes, a casual observer would hardly notice anything odd. Most importantly, it was no longer afraid of the light; while it couldn't fully ignore direct sunlight, it could now move about in the daytime for short distances.

"It seems those five corpse pills provided a massive boost, evolving it almost to the level of an Armored Corpse," Chen Yushu thought. He had read the secret arts of corpse-raising; an Armored Corpse was a high-level rank, divided into Iron, Copper, Silver, and Gold. Zhao Yufeng’s puppet was at least an Iron Armored Corpse. While its combat level was still that of an Evil Zombie, its actual strength far exceeded that of a standard one.

***

"The examiners have all left. Before he went, Physician Liu Xiang asked me to give you a message: he looks forward to your performance in next year's genius assessment," Qian Chen said with a smile in the cafeteria at noon.

Chen Yushu’s heart stirred. Liu Xiang was from the Great House. Did this mean Qian Chen was also part of the Great House? Yet, from the state of the apothecary, Qian Chen didn't seem to have much conflict with his master, Manager Su Ming.

"Is it strange?" Qian Chen explained, "Actually, while the Great House and the Third House compete, it is more of a cooperative relationship. The Second House is the one that truly dominates the Liu Family Apothecary. Not only is the Second House master the strongest, but they also control the martial arts division and most of the herb fields. Plus, the Second House grandmother is still alive, and her family is the Wu family, one of the three great clans in Qinghe Town."

"I see," Chen Yushu nodded.

"As for me, I received support from the Great House to stand out. When you first showed your talent, I considered recommending you to them, but I kept my mouth shut. Later, when I heard you had apprenticed under Manager Su, I gave up on that idea. Of course, because of you, Liu Xiang of the Great House finally noticed me, which in a way fulfilled my request," Qian Chen smiled, his eyes full of joy.

"It seems you have good news?"

"With only ten days left until the New Year, Physician Liu Xiang told me to report to Qinghe County next year. I’ll be given a management position," Qian Chen didn't hide his excitement.

"Congratulations, Master Qian!"

***

"It's almost New Year," Chen Yushu thought. When he first arrived in this world, he had been terrified by a minor ghost. Now, not only had his martial arts progressed, but he had also embarked on the path of the Yin-walker. Two sticks of incense! In just over a hundred days, he had changed so much that even he felt a sense of pride. The thought of home stirred within him—especially since he had heard his mother, Zhao Hehua, was pregnant again. He had plenty of "Fetal Protection Charms" in his storage bag that he had crafted himself. He would definitely pick the best ones to bring home.

"Three days from now," Manager Su said when Chen Yushu asked about the New Year holiday. "Most people will be off. You can go home then. It's been a long time; you should go see your parents. I would go myself, but as the manager, I have to report to Qinghe County for year-end audits."

"Thank you, Master!" Chen Yushu was overjoyed.

***

Immortal Cultivation: Two sticks of incense (97/100).

"The incense path is nearing the completion of two sticks of incense," Chen Yushu sat on his bed at night, excitement rising within him. After days of cultivation and absorbing the essence of evil spirits, his incense path had improved rapidly.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the last of the evil spirit essence. He maintained a steady rhythm—one day of absorption, one day of refinement—to ensure quality. This was the third time. He focused his mental energy, and a small stream of spiritual particles flowed into him.

*Boom!*

Countless negative emotions erupted, assaulting his mind, trying to bewilder his heart and bewitch his soul. But Chen Yushu remained as firm as a rock. His stable mental core swept those emotions away in an instant. The pure spiritual particles were absorbed, transformed, and through his "White Tiger Visualization Technique," became his own incense path.

*Incense Path +1*
*Incense Path +1*
*Incense Path +1*

As the final prompt appeared, Chen Yushu felt a sense of fullness. His internal "Heavenly Fire" and "Earthly Fire" burned fiercely, radiating heat around him.

"Now. Use the Heavenly and Earthly Fires to ignite the Human Fire."

He controlled his path energy and surged it toward his right shoulder.

*Boom!*

A flame formed instantly. It was formless and colorless, invisible to the naked eye, even to other Yin-walkers. Only those who used "Qi-Gazing" or "Spirit-Eye" spells could glimpse it. But Chen Yushu had cultivated the "Hidden Incense Technique" to the minor completion stage, meaning only those with similarly high-level spirit-vision spells could potentially see through his disguise. Otherwise, he would appear as nothing more than a mist or a normal person.

"It's done. The Human Fire is ignited. My cultivation has broken through. My path has officially reached the level of three sticks of incense."

Chen Yushu was delighted. He felt his mental energy grow more robust, and the quality of his path had improved. He looked at his status panel, his heart filled with anticipation.