Yan Shouyi's personality was quite simple; he always preferred to let things take their natural course, not striving or competing, a principle his grandfather had taught him.
Thus, even when the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu appeared before him multiple times, he felt no curiosity about its contents.
Since obtaining the Lu Ban Shu from Chenjia Village, Yan Shouyi had never expressed any desire to his father, Yan Chou, to see the content of the lower volume.
However, the situation was different now.
The lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu was somehow related to his mother.
Yan Shouyi had never been so eager to learn the contents of the Lu Ban Shu's lower volume.
*Gulp!*
He swallowed and asked, "Dad, does the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu really record the secret to eternal life?"
"There are too many ways to achieve eternal life. If the Lu Ban Shu merely recorded methods for eternal life, then it would have no reason to exist," Yan Chou said with a smile.
The lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu has nothing to do with eternal life?
Yan Chou said, "If you want to know its contents, you can open it and take a look now."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi's gaze locked onto the Lu Ban Shu.
He didn't rush to look but tried to prepare himself mentally. Big Wind Novel
Judging by his father's words, the content of the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu seemed more extraordinary than the secret to eternal life.
But how could it be related to his mother?
Regardless, with the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu, he would undoubtedly become more powerful, perhaps even able to reshape the current landscape of the Daoist sects...
He wanted to... possess the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu...
Suddenly, Yan Shouyi's body recoiled by half a meter. He put some distance between himself and the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu, his face showing a hint of panic.
Seeing this, Yan Chou frowned and asked, "Has your inner demon acted up again?"
Yan Shouyi nodded with a bitter smile, "Yes. The inner demon just ignited my greed and wanted me to possess the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu."
Over these past three months, Yan Shouyi had been tormented by his inner demon, often losing control of his emotions. Fortunately, he would always regain his senses in time, preventing him from harming those around him.
The inner demon was continuously growing stronger, yet so far, no one had found a good way to deal with it.
Three months ago, Yan Shouyi had gone on a killing spree, which was also influenced by his inner demon. However, he didn't regret that impulsive act.
Yan Shouyi rubbed his remaining eye and said in a low voice,
"The black sarira left by Master Miaohui is said to suppress the growth of the inner demon, but I still haven't dared to use it."
Monk Miaojiu clasped his hands together, "Amitabha, the black sarira can indeed suppress the growth of the inner demon, but it is also a inner demon in another sense. It's best not to use it unless absolutely necessary."
Sarira were formed from the merit, compassion, and wisdom of eminent monks during their lives, while black sarira were formed from negative thoughts, greed, and resentment.
Yan Shouyi had previously understood that the method of the black sarira suppressing inner demons actually involved competing for negative emotions with the inner demon.
If Yan Shouyi were to implant the black sarira, the inner demon would be suppressed, but at the same time, another potential threat would be cultivated within his body.
The dog Taoist lit a cigarette and said leisurely, "It's not bad to have an inner demon. You were too benevolent before. I think it's important for people to maintain anger; it's called having a lion in their heart."
"I... I'd better not look at the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu then?" To control his inner demon, Yan Shouyi intended to ignore the Lu Ban Shu that was within reach.
Unexpectedly, Yan Chou said, "No, you must read the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu. Perhaps it can even help you suppress your inner demon."
"Ah?"
"Don't hesitate, listen to me!" Yan Chou's tone was firm.
Yan Shouyi no longer resisted. He sat down at the table from the heart and carefully opened the ancient text that might fall apart at any moment.
"The Ancestor said: Misfortune and fortune have no fixed abode, they are summoned by man himself; the reward of good and evil follows like a shadow."
"Therefore, the gods of Heaven and Earth, who hold jurisdiction over offenses, deprive man of his lifespan according to the severity of his transgressions. When lifespan is reduced, poverty and hardship ensue; people shun him, calamities follow him, good fortune avoids him, malevolent stars plague him, and when his lifespan is exhausted, he dies."
"There are also the Lords of the Three Platforms and the Big Dipper, who are above men's heads, recording their sins and taking away their lifespan. There are also the Three Corpses gods, within the human body, who report man's transgressions to the Heavenly Court every Gengshen day. On the last day of the lunar month, the Stove God does the same."
"If a person commits an offense, a major one results in the deprivation of a complete life cycle, a minor one in the deprivation of a year. The severity of these offenses ranges from minor to major, numbering in the hundreds. Those who seek longevity must first avoid them."
Just the opening few passages astounded Yan Shouyi.
The content of the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu was not some method of eternal life, nor was it some forbidden secret art, but an ancient text written by someone unknown.
Judging by its content, it seemed to be an admonishment to cultivate goodness.
Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue would bless one's descendants, while committing evil would lead to punishment and affect one's descendants.
However, although it was not a method for eternal life, after Yan Shouyi read it through, he felt refreshed, his inner demon was suppressed, his seven emotions and six desires were pacified, and his heart was solely focused on pursuing good.
"How can the content of the lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu be a scripture?" Yan Shouyi could not understand.
Yan Chou smiled, "Why can't it be a scripture?"
"But so many people fought bloody battles for it, and even Lu Ban's descendants lost their lives protecting it. If it's just a scripture, why not just hand it over?"
Yan Chou dropped a bombshell, "It's not that simple. On the surface, it's a scripture, but in reality, it's the key to solving the 'five handicaps and three deficiencies' and the 'death tribulations' of folk sects."
"What!?"
Yan Shouyi was so surprised that he even stood up.
He couldn't help but reread the scripture several times, but he still couldn't find any method recorded for breaking the five handicaps and three deficiencies and the death tribulations.
Could it be hidden in a fold?
Or perhaps a hidden acrostic poem?
Did it require a special method to view?
Yan Shouyi wanted to try, but he was afraid of damaging the Lu Ban Shu.
He could only turn to Yan Chou for help.
"Stop looking. The book doesn't directly record the method; this method is your grandfather's conjecture," Yan Chou said indifferently.
"Dad, don't play coy, just explain it quickly!" Yan Shouyi said in frustration.
Yan Chou finally decided to reveal the truth:
"Have you ever thought about why the famous sects are famous sects? They also learn various magical techniques and slay demons and subdue monsters. In essence, they should be no different from folk sects... But you should also know that the difference lies in the fact that disciples of famous sects need to chant scriptures, meditate, eat vegetarian meals, and adhere to various precepts. Furthermore, they spend far more time on cultivating their minds than on practicing their skills."
"Based on this difference, your grandfather boldly deduced that for the inheritors of folk sects to avoid the five handicaps and three deficiencies and the death tribulations, they must, like the Daoist and Buddhist schools, possess their own scriptures. This way, the inheritors of folk sects can also cultivate their minds and virtues before practicing their skills... In this manner, folk sects would no longer be considered lesser arts but true famous sects!"
"The lower volume of the Lu Ban Shu is a scripture compiled by successive generations of Lu Ban's descendants. It admonishes people to do good, emphasizes cause and effect, and is a combination of the philosophical concepts of the Daoist and Buddhist systems. If it can be perfected and disseminated, and all inheritors of folk sects use it to cultivate their minds—then folk sects will be freed from the curse of the five handicaps and three deficiencies and life tribulations!!!"