As the nameless immortal uttered the words "should be killed," the winds and clouds of the entire world seemed to freeze. Time and the years briefly halted, and as he breathed, faint wisps of green aura emanated from him.
Although Shangqing Daozi had never seen a complete Ascended cultivator, the Shangqing Sect had always had immortal ancestors in the Ascension Realm descend their forms and spirits in the Kunlun Cave. Naturally, he knew some secrets of the Ascension Realm.
At the peak of the Ascension Realm, they were called "Flying Immortals." Their blood transformed into green aura, completely shedding the concept of "human"!
If the Immortals could still be considered human, then the Flying Immortals were no longer human!
"Peak Ascension! Even if not, it's not far off. Just by breathing, green aura appears. I'm afraid his blood..."
Shangqing Daozi had initially thought this was an old ancestor of the Shangqing Sect. He never expected this person to be a madman who hunted Yuqing Heaven cultivators. If that were the case, he would have to stand on the same side as Ji Xiang, the crippled Ascended cultivator, once more.
After all, the methods of Yuqing Heaven cultivators were the source of Shangqing methods.
Taiqing was unique and did not share with external paths, while Yuqing and Shangqing originated from the same source.
"I must find a way to contact Daoist Ji. This immortal might bring great disaster to the world."
Based on simple deduction from the nameless immortal's earlier mention of the world being divided into four regions and a wandering Yuqing cultivator, Shangqing Daozi simply assumed that this wandering Yuqing cultivator was Ji Xiang.
After all, he had only ever seen Ji Xiang as a "Yuqing cultivator."
At this very moment, the nameless immortal suddenly frowned and let out an unintelligible cry, sounding like some sort of incantation. However, his expression was one of pain, and his gaze gradually turned cold as he looked at the Ghost Immortal.
The Ghost Immortal was utterly bewildered.
What's going on? What does this have to do with me? I'm just a passerby!
Shangqing Daozi saw the killing intent in the nameless immortal's eyes and sighed at the Ghost Immortal, "You can rest now. It seems he wants to kill you."
Ghost Immortal: "So... why? I don't even know him!"
Shangqing Daozi: "You were also going to be killed by Daoist Ji. Weren't you already prepared to face death calmly?"
The Ghost Immortal immediately became angry: "I was willing to be killed by that exalted Daoist because he had shown me kindness! He allowed me to have my revenge! Who is this person? Why does he want to kill me!"
Shangqing Daozi: "But even if you are unwilling, if he wants to kill you, you still have no power to resist."
The Ghost Immortal was furious: "Don't come any closer, or I won't let you off even in death!"
Although the nameless immortal had killing intent in his eyes, he heard this and reminded him expressionlessly, "What do you mean, 'won't let me off even in death'... You are a Ghost Immortal, you are already dead."
"You... are tainted with the aura of an evil spirit. You should be killed."
The Ghost Immortal immediately cursed: "Wait! Do you think I'm illiterate? When a person dies, they become a ghost. When a ghost dies, they become a 'Xian'. When a 'Xian' dies, they become a 'Xi', and when a 'Xi' dies, they become an 'Yi'! Even if I am a dead person now, you old fellow will have to kill me at least three more times! I won't let you off even when I become a 'Xian', a 'Xi', or an 'Yi'!"
The nameless immortal suddenly laughed: "I didn't expect you to be quite cultured. What, were you a scion of a noble family in life?"
"Come, where did you live? Did your ancestors have any great figures? Tell me?"
The Ghost Immortal desperately wanted to say "None of your business!" but the nameless immortal merely tapped the void with his finger. The Ghost Immortal immediately spoke, his thoughts no longer under his own control!
"My surname is Chen, my given name is Lai. I lived in Dingjia City. My family of five. In the seventh year of Zhengde, I was a Xiucai. I died from an evil affliction, and my entire family was buried. My ancestor... Immortal Chen Taichu."
After finishing, the Ghost Immortal was greatly alarmed: "Who is Chen Taichu??"
"No, what did you do to me? Why would I voluntarily say these things!"
Nameless Immortal: "The True Word Rectification Method. It's just a minor immortal technique."
"Do you know that to make someone speak the truth, you only need to mobilize the five spirits within your body, namely the Mouth God Danzhu, the Tongue God Zheng Lun, the Teeth God Luo Qian, the Throat God Huben, and the Heart God Dianyuan."
"Even if you are a dead person, if four of these five spirits are lost, the Heart God still exists. Ghost Immortals rely on this minor spirit to maintain their form in the world and open the gateway to cultivation."
The Ghost Immortal was terrified. This person could easily manipulate his heart and mind, making him voluntarily reveal hidden information. In fact, he himself couldn't clearly remember where he lived, having drifted as a ghost for decades and only recently regained his senses. He never expected his Dao heart and spirit to remember so clearly.
Shangqing Daozi was even more shocked!
A minor technique?
This was hardly a minor technique!
The spirits within a person's body, and the person's existence, shared prosperity and decline. The spirits within the body were all illusory images, only able to be mobilized by one's own wisdom and thoughts. How could an outsider make the minor spirits within a person betray the cultivator's own thoughts? This was equivalent to forcibly splitting a part of a person's will and spirit!
Was this the true power of the Ascension Realm!?
Or was this the unique immortal technique of this nameless immortal?
Shangqing Daozi's expression became reserved. He emptied his mind, unsure if the other party could read his thoughts.
He dared not show any abnormality on the outside, fearing that he too would be subjected to this immortal technique and thus directly expose Ji Xiang's existence.
Fortunately, the nameless immortal did not care about Shangqing Daozi's thoughts. Instead, he pondered the Ghost Immortal's words:
"Chen Taichu. Never heard of him, don't recognize him. But you said he was an immortal..."
The Ghost Immortal hurriedly said: "Wait! Esteemed Immortal! I don't know! I absolutely don't know about this ancestor!"
"It was you who cast the spell on me!"
Nameless Immortal: "Of course you don't know, but your Heart God Dianyuan does know of the existence of immortals. When you trace back to ancient ancestors, the similarity in your souls can span thousands of years."
"Therefore, even if you don't know if he is a god or an immortal, when you trace back to his name, if he is an immortal, you will automatically reveal his identity. This is a form of induction. Immortals are not allowed to be nameless in the world. As long as you can find their name, you can know if they are an immortal."
Ghost Immortal: "Why is that?"
Nameless Immortal: "Because, below the Heavenly Dao Sages, none can be nameless!"
"Have you memorized Zhuangzi's ancient texts?"
The Ghost Immortal shook his head. The nameless immortal then looked at Shangqing Daozi, who nodded, confirming it. This made the nameless immortal sigh:
"You scholar, in this era... what level would you be considered?"
The Ghost Immortal still didn't understand. Shangqing Daozi proactively said, "During the Han Dynasty, Xiucai were recommended by officials and feudal lords. Now, in the Ming Dynasty, Xiucai are merely ordinary scholars!"
The Ghost Immortal was immediately incensed!
Regardless of anything else, whether it was him, Feng Menglong, or all the Xiucai who had not passed the provincial examinations, they had to defend the dignity of the title "Xiucai"!
"What do you mean, ordinary scholars! A Xiucai must pass three examinations: the county, prefectural, and academy tests! Do you think it's easy to pass them!"
"How could you, a bull-headed fellow of the Daoist sect, understand the profound and extensive knowledge of our Confucian sect!"
He resolutely defended the dignity of a Xiucai. A Xiucai was not someone anyone could become. No matter how impoverished, they were still scholars. How could they lose face!
Life, after all, is not solely determined by passing the provincial examinations!
Nameless Immortal: "Ah, Xiucai... this level, it's so useless now?"
He said it casually, but the Ghost Immortal looked indignant. His greatest effort in his past life was looked down upon by these cultivators! How outrageous!
Ah, I am also a cultivator now, so it's fine. Is a Ghost Immortal also an immortal?
The nameless immortal stared at the Ghost Immortal: "Alright, you scholar. Now, I can tell you something. Your becoming a Ghost Immortal was not an accident, but the work of your ancestor. He wanted to use the soul of a descendant like you, but you escaped his control."
"What happened in that city before?"
The Ghost Immortal was about to say that a cultivator who suddenly caused trouble in Dingjia City had helped, but he was immediately fixed by Shangqing Daozi's gaze. He quickly changed his tune:
"I don't know what happened. At that time, I saw a gloomy world, with countless ghost hands reaching out to pull me in. Later..."
He omitted Ji Xiang's involvement, only stating that Biyou Palace and the Six Sects of Dingjia had a conflict. There was an internal traitor, and then they fought, leveling the entire Dingjia City and its surrounding areas.
The story was plausible, and Shangqing Daozi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the ability of these Xiucai was in weaving stories.
"Hmm... By capturing you, I should be able to find that evil spirit, or rather, your ancestor."
The nameless immortal stated his next task:
"You two, stay by my side. Do not stray too far. If you try to escape, I will not kill you, but I will make you experience torment far more painful than death."
Shangqing Daozi then asked, "This Ghost Immortal is useful to you. What use am I?"
"Am I a hostage? Of course not, right?"
Nameless Immortal: "Yes, you are not. This is meaningless to me, but you possess Dao nature. I can sense it."
"With you here, my recovery will be faster. You Shangqing are not important to me; I only kill the source of your lineage."
"Do you know your Shangqing Sect's Ancestral Scripture?"
Shangqing Daozi's pupils contracted. The nameless immortal said, "The Shangqing Ancestral Scripture is something planned by your Yuqing ancestor. When I was still alive, I met that person. He was trying to seize this thing. At that time, this thing appeared once. After that, I died and don't know what happened."
Shangqing Daozi exclaimed, "What? What are you talking about?"
"The Shangqing Ancestral Scripture and the Yuqing Ancestor? Even if what you say is true, my Shangqing Sect has two lineages, not one family. Moreover, according to ancient records, the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture was passed down by Ancestor Qingxu from the Tai Su San Yuan Jun..."
As he spoke, he suddenly fell silent, recalling what the Master of Maoshan, Qiankun Zi, had told him about the conflict between the two lineages. Qingxu and San Mao were both vying for the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture, thus each descending an immortal who needed two Daozi as vessels.
If the Ancestral Scripture was left by True Lord Qingxu, there would be no need to fight.
The nameless immortal said, "Qingxu... Who? Perhaps someone I knew, but with a different name. I don't remember."
"But you say the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture was left by Qingxu and Tai Su San Yuan Jun?"
"No, I remember. The Shangqing Ancestral Scripture was left by Lingbao Tianzun. This thing... only Yuqing cultivators can see it!"