Chapter 4, Green Willow Mountain Villa, The New Ghost of the Old House
The profound nature of the "Three Yuan Fetal Breath Observation and Spiritual Method" far exceeds the imagination of ordinary individuals, representing one of the rare pathways for establishing a foundational practice in the world. However, this method emphasizes the unity of divine intention, being exceedingly mysterious; even those with exceptional talents face numerous challenges in their cultivation, often lacking the necessary opportunities to gain entry into its deeper realms.
Those who linger for a hundred days as restless spirits absorb the malevolent energy of the world, potentially becoming vengeful ghosts. Vengeful ghosts move like the wind, adept at drawing the yang energy from human bodies to strengthen themselves
Butler Zhang, in his sixties, wore finely crafted silk brocade garments, adorned with a string of jade beads around his neck. His voice was resonant, and he walked with a vigorous stride.
Once a decision is made in one's heart, actions will naturally be swift and resolute
However, when Jing Younan arrived at the back mountain and saw the scene in the old residence, he was immediately taken aback, his expression changing for the first time.
As the second-in-command of Green Willow Villa, Steward Zhang personally came out to welcome, which was quite a show of respect for Jing Younan
The grass sprouts around Green Willow Mountain Villa gradually take on a lush green hue, while the rows of willow branches along the riverbank droop low. In the distance, a hillside is adorned with blooming peach blossoms, resembling a sea of delicate flowers, each one enchanting. Additionally, a half-stream of misty water meanders around the hill, resembling a belt of jade.
Jing Younan held the dragon and tiger jade pendant in his hand, his voice clear and bright, exuding an air of confidence and assurance.
All those who went to inspect the old house were engulfed by the black clouds, and in the end, they turned into piles of white bones
However, after three years of relentless practice of the "Sanhe Book Yuan Tai Xiang Guang Ling Fa," Jing Younan has established a solid foundation and is a rare vessel for cultivating the Dao
Among the elite of the vengeful spirits, some are born with extraordinary talents, while others possess great opportunities. After receiving the nourishment of a particular yin cave, there is a significant chance for them to advance to the realm of spiritual ghosts. Spiritual ghosts absorb the pure yin energy from the yin cave, continuously growing stronger, much like cultivators drawing energy into their bodies. It is only upon reaching this stage that spiritual ghosts can be considered to have officially embarked on the path of cultivation
The ferocity and tenacity of the spirit are enough to make one shudder at the mere mention of it
Jing Younan donned a robe adorned with the Bagua symbols, with a belt featuring a dragon and tiger jade pendant, and held a peach wood talisman sword in hand as she ascended the steps
Even more terrifying is that the dark clouds spread at a visibly rapid pace each day, and the old residence behind the Green Willow Villa has almost turned into a hellish realm. Even during the day, the winds remain ominous, and the demon wreaks havoc.
Upon arriving at the villa, Jing Younan dismounted from the cloud couch and paused to observe. The scenery before him, in comparison to the White Cloud Temple, presented a uniquely tranquil and serene pastoral charm.
After the new rain, a hundred flowers compete in their brilliance, as swallows fly overhead, carrying mud in their beaks. The mountain scenery is ethereal, as if one is immersed in a painting by Wang Wei, unaware of the way back.
The method of fetal breathing emphasizes the importance of the breath, cultivating a tranquil heart and mind, inhaling pure energy, and exhaling impure energy, ultimately allowing the body to reach a state of perfection, as if it were made of jade, clear and translucent.
"Daoist Jing, originally my family elder was to intervene regarding the library, but due to the disturbances caused by the malevolent spirit at home, the elder has been worried day and night, unable to sleep, losing appetite for tea and food, and ultimately has caught a cold, rendering him bedridden. This time, I implore you to exert your great powers to subdue the demons and restore tranquility to our Green Willow Villa"
A month ago, a sudden storm broke out at the old residence on the back mountain of Green Willow Villa. The sky was filled with dark clouds, hanging low and thick as ink, and amidst the chaos, the faint sound of howling wolves could be heard, echoing from afar.
Jing Younan sat gracefully on the cloud couch, her eyes slightly closed, with a white jade necklace hanging down and golden bells at the corners, producing a clear and melodious sound. Four tall and robust warriors carried the cloud couch, moving swiftly and steadily.
On a day in early spring, the beauty of nature is in harmony, and the Big Dipper points towards the east.
In the void, dark clouds loom thickly, and turbulent waves surge through the air. A terrifying and grotesque ghostly face can be faintly seen, constantly shifting into various forms. Hundreds of mysterious and eerie incantations hang down around the ghostly visage, each character the size of a jade plate, shimmering with brilliance, narrating the path of spirits
Indeed, the spring scenery in the mountains is late, and the spring water merges with the sky.
The ominous aura before him required even the Feiyu Daoist to proceed with caution. However, as he channeled his incantation, the ominous aura was immediately expelled from his body.
Protective warriors, follow me to set up the altar. The demons are extremely malevolent; today I shall ascend the altar to perform the ritual, subduing demons and eliminating evil.
In the center of the altar, there is an ancient incense table, an incense burner, candles, and a book stand, all arranged neatly with tokens placed upon them. Nine incense lamps are positioned in the formation of the Nine Palaces, their flames flickering and dancing in the wind, shining brightly and crystal clear. Four guardian warriors, some holding command arrows, some carrying jade seals, some wielding scepters, and some shaking bells, all display solemn expressions with their eyes shining brightly.
Zhang Daguanjia has accompanied Master Zhang for decades, and his skills in handling people and affairs are exceptionally refined. On the road, he subtly flatters Jing Younan while clearly explaining the disturbances caused by demons at Lvyang Villa.
After spending a month in the temple refining the internal energy to a delicate state, and achieving a continuous flow, he still could not open the Dan cavity to draw out the innate essence and enter the realm of Chengyuan. Just at this moment, the temple received a letter from Elder Zhang seeking assistance. Jing Younan decided to come, to meet the demon and also hoped to find an opportunity to break through to the Chengyuan realm.
Adjusting the cloud crown atop his head, and with utmost respect, he performed three grand bows before the image of the Daoist deity on the incense altar. After that, Jing Younan straightened up, his eyes gleaming like lightning, and raised his hand to unleash a series of palm strikes resembling thunder.
Half an hour later, a nine-tiered altar, three zhang high, appeared outside the old residence on the back mountain
Jing Younan's expression changed several times, yet he could not let go of the temptation in his heart and decided to take action
Not long after, the sound of bamboo music echoed from the villa. The silver-haired and sprightly Steward Zhang, holding a dragon-headed staff, led ten young servants and maidservants as they stepped out slowly: "Is it the esteemed Daoist Jing in person? I am the chief steward of Green Willow Villa, and I have been waiting here for quite some time."
Like pouring a pot of oil onto a hot pan, the dark clouds above the old house suddenly boiled over, and the terrifying ghostly faces swelled up, blocking out the sun.
Such dense negative energy, such strong malevolent aura
Although the spirit demon is fierce and bloodthirsty, instilling fear in those who hear its name, it is also a treasure that is hard to come by for cultivators. Once captured, whether for refining magical artifacts or for subduing as a spiritual servant, one's strength will greatly increase
Jing Younan swung his long sleeves, exuding an air of righteousness
It must be said that after the Daoist Baiyun went out to travel, Jing Younan, as the only disciple in charge of the alchemy room, truly held considerable power, and the other Daoists had to show him some respect
The natural grimace, the void condensing words, it seems that there are ghostly entities seeking to ascend to spiritual ghosts
In great risks lie great opportunities, it would be a pity to let them pass by
The gathering and dispersing of spirits is as one wishes, inherently cunning and ruthless; once provoked, it becomes a matter of life and death, with no end until one is vanquished.
Jing Younan squinted slightly, feeling quite uncomfortable due to the intense malevolent aura in the old residence
The demons are so rampant, truly audacious beyond measure
It is precisely because Elder Zhang holds significant prestige that the Green Willow Villa has not descended into chaos; had it been another family, the entire clan would likely have already fallen apart. Even so, the atmosphere at Green Willow Villa is one of unease, with undercurrents of tension. If the situation is not resolved soon, it is feared that a major incident may occur
Before even approaching, a bone-chilling coldness rushed towards them, causing even the four guardian warriors beside Jing Younan to shiver uncontrollably, nearly turning into ice sculptures in an instant
The Heart Thunder Method is most adept at subduing demons and dispelling evil spirits
Jing Younan flicked the dust away with a sweep of his hand, forcing back the sinister aura beside him. His expression was grave, and a glimmer of seriousness mixed with surprise flashed in the depths of his eyes
Jing Younan is quite confident about whether he can subdue the demons. For this demon-slaying mission, he has gathered quite a few valuable items from the temple, including a full two dozen talismans.
Every year, the Green Willow Mountain Villa offers a substantial amount of incense money to the Baiyun Temple. The head of the Zhang family, Elder Zhang, and Daoist Feiyu often engage in discussions about philosophy and chess under the pines, debating classical texts, and their relationship is very close
It was also by a stroke of luck that Jing Younan first caught a glimpse of the path, and for the past three years, he has diligently practiced without interruption, subtly opening up a new realm.
If it were truly a spirit, Jing Younan would definitely run as far away as possible, no matter how far it was, even if his senior brother, the Daoist Feiyu, came. However, the ghostly entity before him clearly had not yet succeeded in advancing to a spirit, so it was possible to take a risk and try to make a move.
Wuwuwu
The Zhang family of Lvyang Mountain Villa is a leading prominent family in the area, possessing over ten thousand acres of fertile land and thousands of servants, with hundreds of family members serving as officials or engaging in business.