Chapter 46: What Did the Sage Say Again?

The fox tribe's inherently licentious nature is reflected in their writings. They frequently produce illicit literature, and if someone were to engage in 'unspeakable acts' related to these books, the author could collect a wisp of yang energy. As a result, most of the illicit books circulating in the Central Continent are penned by the fox tribe. Despite official efforts to publicize their harmfulness and periodic campaigns to destroy them, these books persistently circulate in the black market, proving impossible to eradicate.

As a child, Meng Jingzhou was quite fascinated by these books. However, he didn't understand what 'unspeakable acts' meant at the time; he simply found the books captivating. To read them in their original form, he specifically learned the demon script.

"You're that studious?" Lu Yang and Man Gu were surprised. Cultivating immortality could indeed enhance memory, so learning a language wouldn't take much time for them. However, the remarkable part was that Meng Jingzhou had learned the demon script *before* he began cultivating immortality.

Meng Jingzhou was reluctant to elaborate on the reasons, merely stating that he had a certain interest in demon culture.

Man Gu thought, 'Brother Meng truly lives up to his reputation. He studies diligently but dislikes showing off, displaying humble conduct and noble character, making him worthy of emulation.'

"What's written on the tiger skin?"

"Let me see... 'Ghostly entities, yin movement avoiding yang'... This is a method for controlling ghost servants." Meng Jingzhou quickly skimmed the text, performed a brief mental calculation, and swiftly deduced the manual's purpose.

"The old hunter must have been refined using this method."

"There are also requirements for the ghost entities being refined: their cultivation must differ by two major levels. This excludes refining mortals; after reaching the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, one can refine mortal souls."

The art of controlling ghost servants was quite impractical. Only individuals two cultivation realms below oneself could be refined into one, and even then, what good would a ghost servant be in battle? For instance, in their recent fight with the tiger demon, a ghost servant would have been less effective than mere cannon fodder, posing no threat whatsoever.

"Do you need me to translate the whole thing for you? This technique doesn't seem to be restricted by race; humans can also cultivate it, though tiger demons achieve the best results."

Man Gu was about to ask what use there would be in learning such a technique, but then he heard Lu Yang's analysis: "Since we've joined the Demonic Sect, demonic methods are essential. This art of controlling ghost servants would be perfect as a show of force. Conveniently, there are existing *changgui* at the hunter's dwelling. Please translate the ghost servant control technique from the tiger skin, and the three of us can study it together."

Initially, Lu Yang had planned to eradicate the remaining *changgui*. However, circumstances had changed; it wouldn't be too late to disperse their souls after utilizing them. According to the tiger demon, these *changgui* had willingly become servants after death, driven as ghosts to torment travelers. They all deserved to die.

"All right," Meng Jingzhou readily agreed. He unrolled paper, ground ink, and with a swift, fluid motion of his brush, quickly transcribed the art of controlling ghost servants.

"I won't cultivate it myself. I have a pure Yang spiritual root, and ghosts encountering me would melt away as quickly as snow in the sun. I simply cannot practice this type of pure Yin-attributed magic."

Lu Yang and Man Gu said nothing more and began cultivating together.

Soon after, an ominous wind swept through the cave, accompanied by faint, ethereal wails of ghosts. It brought an endless, bone-chilling cold that penetrated to the marrow.

Lu Yang suddenly felt his body lighten; his feet lifted from the ground, and he floated in the air, much like a ghost.

He felt his mind clearer than ever, his five senses extraordinarily sharp, enabling him to perceive every minute detail around him. He also sensed Meng Jingzhou as a fiercely burning blaze, radiating intense heat!

"Hmm? What's happening?" Lu Yang wondered. He looked down and saw his physical body sitting perfectly still, cross-legged on the ground.

"No, that's wrong. I'm not flying; my soul has left my body!"

Meng Jingzhou noticed Lu Yang's anomaly and cried out in alarm, "Only Nascent Soul stage cultivators can have their Yin soul leave their body and wander for thousands of miles! How are you out now? Get back quickly! You're only at the Foundation Establishment stage and haven't cultivated your soul yet. Your soul can easily be damaged, and once damaged, it's incredibly difficult to repair!"

Lu Yang also realized the problem. He recited the incantation for controlling ghost servants, causing his soul to return to his body.

"How did you do that?" Meng Jingzhou had never heard of anyone at the Foundation Establishment stage daring to let their Yin soul depart their body. Such a technique simply didn't exist.

Lu Yang was equally bewildered. "I just cultivated it according to the ghost servant control technique you wrote. I felt I understood it completely, with no issues, so I decided to try activating it to see what would happen, and then... this happened."

Meng Jingzhou looked at Lu Yang with a strange expression. "Could it be that you treated your own soul as a ghost servant and were controlling yourself?" He had never heard of such a cultivation method, but given the current circumstances, it was the only plausible explanation.

Lu Yang thought about it but couldn't conceive of any other possibilities.

Lu Yang asked Meng Jingzhou to keep his distance, then tried several more times. Each attempt yielded the same result: his Yin soul would depart his body.

"What is going on with my spiritual talent?"

The two were at a loss. They could only wait for Man Gu to wake up and inquire if he had experienced a similar phenomenon.

When Man Gu awoke, he found Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou looking at him expectantly, which utterly bewildered him.

"Have you learned the art of controlling ghost servants?"

"I've gained some insight; I should be able to control eight mortal souls."

"Can you control yourself, making your Yin soul leave your body?" Lu Yang looked at Man Gu expectantly, hoping for an affirmative answer that would prove he hadn't misinterpreted the technique.

Man Gu was even more confused. "How is that possible? This is a technique for controlling ghost servants. Could you possibly treat your own soul as a ghost servant and command it?"

Meng Jingzhou glanced at Lu Yang and then recounted Lu Yang's cultivation experience, which left Man Gu deeply impressed.

Brother Lu possessed a quick mind and an unparalleled talent for learning spells, while Brother Meng was exceptionally gifted, knowledgeable, and learned.

Throughout this journey, he had learned so much, almost as if he were quoting a sage.

What did the sage say, again? Oh, right, the sage said: "Among three people walking together, I find my teacher."

"We should go find the *changgui* now." Seeing there was nothing else worth scavenging in the cave, Meng Jingzhou gestured for his companions to leave.

"You two go on ahead. I have something to take care of, then I'll follow." Lu Yang instructed Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu to depart first.

Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu didn't dwell on it and exited the tiger's den.

Once he was certain the two had left, Lu Yang's smile vanished, and his expression gradually settled into one of calm.

He walked deeper into the cave, where he saw a small mound of bones, and quietly sighed.

"As expected, it's here."

Upon seeing the various scattered items, Lu Yang had surmised that a cautious tiger demon, after devouring humans, wouldn't simply discard the bones outside, as that would too easily expose itself. The prudent course of action would be to keep the remains within the cave.

Reality confirmed his theory.

These unfortunate individuals, hailing from various places and passing through Mount Song for diverse reasons, had been deceived and devoured, their final resting place within this small cave.

Lu Yang remained silent. His Green Phoenix Sword, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud, effortlessly carved a large chunk of rock from the cave wall.

He flattened the rock slab, silently recited the Rebirth Incantation, and erected a tombstone for these unfortunate souls. He stood in silence for a moment, lost in thought, before turning and departing.

"Sorry for the wait. Let's go." Lu Yang beckoned his two companions to leave the unpleasant place.