Chapter 3, Spirit Communication

"How could I possibly eat at your home every day? I will cook for myself later!" Since his father's death, he has been in a bad mood, especially unable to comprehend the near-dreamlike return of the spirit that night. Thus, he began to study the Maoshan techniques, learning many unheard-of ghostly matters from the texts. According to the writings, his father indeed returned that night, and brought back the most precious thing he had in life from the underworld.

What Ye Jiannan aims to achieve is to break through the first level and become an entry-level sorcerer

A trace of confusion passed through Yang Su's eyes, but it soon settled into calm as he approached Ye Jiannan's side: "Brother Jiannan, come to my house for dinner quickly, or the food will get cold!"

Ye Jiannan followed Grandpa Yang's gaze and saw Yang Su shyly running away

Ye Jiannan smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth. This is the granddaughter of Grandpa Yang next door, named Yang Su. She is an ordinary-looking yet gentle, well-behaved woman who is also considerate of others: "I am here, please come in"

As for the abilities of fate perception and the ability to exhaust all attachments, they are not the supernatural powers that a medium at the novice stage is required to master

After the meal, Grandpa Yang mysteriously called Ye Jiannan to his room: "Jiannan, you are not young anymore. Since you are not returning to the army, I will find you a partner to get married and live a good life, alright?"

Most sorcerers possess average comprehension, and throughout their lives, they can only remain at the level of using yellow talismans. If they forcibly attempt to cast advanced talismans, in most cases, they are unable to do so due to insufficient magical power. Even if by chance they succeed in casting, they will often suffer from a violent backlash of the talisman's power. The lighter consequences include disordered meridians and partial paralysis, while the more severe outcomes can lead to bleeding from the seven orifices and instant death. Of course, if a sorcerer is wealthy, they can purchase expensive gemstones at a high price to enhance their magical power. However, most sorcerers, throughout their lives, become so engrossed in their craft that they live in poverty, with their homes bare and empty. Thus, they lack the financial means to buy expensive gemstones and high-grade talisman paper, which is why they can only use yellow talismans.

The yellow talismans in Ye Jiannan's hand are popular talismans. When it comes to his level of cultivation, he has just begun, so he can only use these popular talismans

The types of spells associated with talismans are largely consistent with the spells mastered by the practitioner, as the practitioner must use the corresponding talisman to cast the spell. However, there are also some spells that do not require a talisman or talismans that do not require a certain level of cultivation. Talismans that do not require cultivation can be used by the general public and are considered popular talismans

"Jian Nan Ge, our family has made braised pork, and Grandpa invites you over for dinner." Yang Su stepped in while speaking, but as soon as he entered the room, he blinked his eyes and asked curiously, "Jian Nan Ge, are you going to perform a ritual?"

The first level is known as spirit possession, which is referred to as the medium stage. In this stage, the body serves as a conduit for communication between the divine and humans, utilizing the power of the deities. Practitioners at this stage are limited by the abilities of the invited deity or spirit. Their supernatural powers are entirely derived from the divine. If a ghost is summoned, then it is the ghost's abilities that manifest.

Having completed these tasks, Ye Jiannan noticed that it was still early, and it was precisely the time when ghosts and monsters appeared. He then picked up a peach wood sword from the altar and took out some yellow talismans left behind by his father from a cloth bag

Ye Jiannan's father has been buried for forty-nine days, which is referred to as "Qiqi" in the Maoshan tradition. On this day, Ye Jiannan lit many spirit coins at the cemetery, and after kneeling in worship, he returned home

The ability to sense is particularly important, much like the intuition found in martial arts novels. When supernatural beings approach a person with spiritual sensitivity, they can discern the presence of such entities from the subtle changes in the environment.

Heavenly Eye! A purple light flickered in Ye Jiannan's eyes, granting him the superpower to see through the night as if it were day.

Children in our rural areas marry early. When your grandfather was your age, he already had two children!" Grandfather Yang said, casting a peculiar glance outside the door. "You are not in a hurry, but someone else is eager to talk!"

At the far west of the village lies a mass grave. According to the tales passed down by Grandpa Yang's generation, during the drought of the 1960s, countless people perished, and almost no one was buried properly; instead, they were discarded in the mass grave. This is the origin of the mass grave. Although decades have passed, many remains still lie in the mass grave. In spring, the grass grows thick, and little can be seen, but in winter, countless bones are visible, shocking to behold

"Jian Nan Ge, are you at home?" A gentle female voice came from the courtyard.

"Jian Nan Ge, you used to eat at my house every day when you were young, how can you not feel ashamed? Now you've become so effeminate?" Yang Su said, as he took Ye Jian Nan by the arm and added, "Let's go, let's go!"

I respectfully invite the Three Pure Ones, the Three Realms, and the Three Honored Ones: the Supreme Laozi, Zhang and Zhao Erlang, the Patriarch Li Gong, the Elder of Dongshan, the Young Sister of Nanshan, Guanyin of the South Sea, Fuxi and Shennong, Emperor Xuanyuan, the Great Emperor of Thunder, the Holy King Pangu, the Primordial Mother of Earth, the Jade Emperor, Qilao of Hengshan, Jiulang of Luoshan, the Three Heavens of the Opening of the Emperor, the Five Mountains and the Earth, the Divine Xiaowang Mansion, Marshal Zhao of the Dragon and Tiger Mysterious Altar, the True Lord of Sanmao, the Twenty-Eight Constellations of the Five Stars, and all the Immortals holding talismans and spells, to join Ye Jiannan in the wish to save all beings from suffering, to heal and revive, to subdue demons and eliminate evil, to avoid treachery and malice, and to wish for the protective power of the auspicious stars to manifest prominently, responding to every call, answering every invocation, and being self-responsive without calling... urgently, urgently, as per the law.

Ye Jiannan took a deep breath, the ritual had successfully concluded, and he had smoothly become a lowest-tier medium.

The hour of the tiger has arrived. Ye Jiannan, in a secluded and tranquil place, puts on clean clothes. Facing the east, he sets up an altar and lights three sticks of sandalwood incense, placing them in a bowl of rice. He then kneels on a mat, burns three sheets of yellow paper, bows three times, and uses the middle finger of his right hand to draw a "十" character on the ground, pressing his calves onto the "十" character, with his right leg over his left leg, adopting a single lotus position, sitting on the ground. He burns a spiritual talisman, then gently closes his eyes, aligns his body, keeps his head suspended, inhales through his nose and exhales through his mouth nine times. After that, he forms his hands into a ball shape and places them at the lower dantian, silently reciting the Qi Du Wen. He uses the middle finger of his right hand to draw a "十" character on the ground, presses his calves onto the "十" character, with his right leg over his left leg, adopting a single lotus position, sitting on the ground. He burns a spiritual talisman, then gently closes his eyes, aligns his body, keeps his head suspended, inhales through his nose and exhales through his mouth nine times. After that, he forms his hands into a ball shape and places them at the lower dantian, silently reciting the Qi Du Wen.

This action is indeed somewhat ambiguous, however, the two have grown up together as childhood sweethearts and do not feel that there is anything inappropriate about it

The connection of the heavenly feet cannot be lacking; without feet, a person cannot walk. A sorcerer without spiritual feet cannot catch up with the drifting ghosts

Hoo!

Yang Su saw this and involuntarily shuddered, a fear that came from the depths of his soul, and he hurriedly took a few steps back

"Grandfather, there is no rush; I am still young," Ye Jiannan replied hastily

Ye Jiannan chose the place for this trial to be the mass grave. The rumors have already become history, and he cannot be certain whether there will still be wandering souls or wild ghosts. However, a few years ago, there were still people who heard the cries of a woman. If the rumors are true, there should still be lonely souls and wild ghosts lingering in the mass grave

"Do not be afraid, I am just having some fun," Ye Jiannan said hurriedly

Talisman also comes in several grades, among which the types of materials include five categories: gold, silver, purple, blue, and yellow. Gold talismans possess the greatest power, and they also require the highest level of cultivation from the practitioner, with the greatest consumption. Silver is the next in line, followed by purple and blue, while yellow has the lowest power, making it the most common type of talisman

The so-called spiritual communication actually consists of three levels, which is quite similar to the practice of cultivation. The supernatural powers of a sorcerer are also subject to hierarchical limitations

Upon leaving, Ye Jiannan headed west, which is quite significant, as heading west leads to the Ghost Gate. At this time, it was already close to the crowing of the rooster, and the ghosts and monsters should have all moved westward.

Grandpa Yang is still as kind as he was back then, continuously serving dishes and meat to Ye Jiannan, which allowed Ye Jiannan to find a sense of warmth of home after his father's passing

Grandfather is merely giving you a reminder regarding this matter; you young people are all in free relationships, and we have no place to interfere... Thus, Grandfather Yang began to chat with Ye Jiannan.

Upon returning home, Ye Jiannan glanced at the time; it was already late. He hurriedly drew water and washed up. In his heart, he had gained a general understanding of spiritual communication and began to recall it carefully

... ...

Ye Jiannan was pushed out the door by Yang Su, and he no longer held back, smiling as he ran towards the neighboring villa

In fact, the Eye of Heaven is the most fundamental ability of a sorcerer, perceiving the night as if it were day, with the key aspect being the ability to see ghosts

Ye Jiannan prepared some peculiar items, including an altar (a table covered with yellow cloth), a ceramic bowl containing one-third of millet, a spirit communication talisman, three incense sticks, four sheets of yellow paper, and a mat.

The second item, the Heavenly Ear, is indispensable. Only by opening the Heavenly Ear can one hear the words of spirits and communicate with them

At the moment Yang Su stepped out, he could not help but turn back for a glance, and a chill ran through his entire body, with a strange red glimmer flashing in his eyes

It is said that during that era, the mass grave would echo with the cries of women and children at night, creating a very eerie atmosphere. As night fell, no one dared to approach that area.