"What kind of ghost are you? Is it you who took away my father's soul? And now you are trying to take away my brother's soul?"
In the chill wind, the young girl held her head high and shrilly questioned the ghost messenger Jie, who was as tall and thin as a withered pine tree. A pair of pigtails fluttered behind her head, and a lingering determination flickered on her childish face.
"Xiao Wei! Don't be rude!"
The old man quickly scolded him, "Ghost Messenger Ye Jie is my great benefactor. Thanks to him, I was able to come back from the underworld to see you for the last time. You can't speak to him like that!"
After listening to the old man's account of what happened, the girl lowered her head with a guilty look on her face: "My benefactor, I'm sorry, I wronged you..."
Ye Jie stared at her for a long time before he slowly spoke: "Xia Xianshou, your daughter is extraordinary."
"Master Ghost Messenger, what do you mean?" The old man was stunned and asked hurriedly.
Ye Jie looked at Xia Wei carefully and said, "If I'm not mistaken, your daughter is the reincarnation of an immortal."
"What!" The old man was delighted but also a little bit incredulous. "Master Ghost Messenger, could it be that you are seeing things? Don't I know what my daughter is like? She is just an ordinary peasant girl. How could she be related to the immortals in the sky?"
"Do you remember what I told you about the reincarnation grade?" Ye Jie changed the subject.
Seeing the old man nod, Ye Jie continued: "Ninth-grade reincarnation requires one hundred good karmas, and in the next life, you will be reborn into a poor family. Eighth-grade reincarnation requires one thousand good karmas, and you will be reborn into a homeless family. Seventh-grade reincarnation requires ten thousand good karmas, and you will be reborn into a poor family. Sixth-grade reincarnation requires one hundred thousand good karmas, and you will be reborn into a healthy family..."
Ye Jie paused. "From the sixth rank reincarnation onwards, one can gain additional innate magical powers at birth. Sixth rank reincarnations can only gain one innate magical power, while the legendary first rank reincarnations can gain nine innate magical powers at once. Your daughter possesses nine innate magical powers that are priceless."
At the end, even Ye Jie couldn't help but tremble slightly:
"First-grade reincarnation... that's not meant for mortals, or even ghost messengers. To achieve a first-grade reincarnation, one needs to consume 10 billion Yin De! Even if a mortal does good deeds for a hundred lifetimes, they can't accumulate even a fraction of that. Only the True Immortals in heaven can produce such Yin De!"
After hearing what Ye Jie said, the old man's soul could no longer suppress the joy in his heart, and danced like a child: "Great, my daughter is an immortal in heaven! She doesn't have to suffer like me anymore!"
Ye Jie didn't want to discourage him, but he still pointed out: "To be precise, she was once an immortal. Now, she has long forgotten all memories of her past life in reincarnation. Aside from her nine innate magical powers, she is no different from an ordinary person. If she still had one ten-thousandth of the cultivation level of the True Immortal Realm, how could she let the Hengshan bandit show off his power here?"
Hearing this, the old man's heart sank to the bottom, and he said with a sad face, "Master Ghost Messenger...what should she do then?"
Unlike the old man, Ye Jie looked at the girl with a gleam in his eyes, as if he had seen some rare treasure:
"For ordinary people, drawing a third-grade talent is already considered lucky, and they can use this talent to become famous in the cultivation world. Your daughter has nine talents, and none of them is lower than the third grade. Once she embarks on the path of cultivation, won't she soar to the sky? In time, she will surely become famous in the three realms. Now, all she lacks is an opportunity to help her embark on the path of cultivation."
As he spoke, Ye Jie slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of Xia Wei. Xia Wei raised her head, her bright eyes sparkling with hope.
"Miss Xia Wei, I want to establish a good relationship with you."
Ye Jie reached into his arms and pulled out two books with dark, sinister covers.
"The cultivation techniques practiced by mortals are divided into three levels, from high to low: Heaven, Earth, and Human. Each level is further divided into three grades: Upper, Middle, and Lower. Here are two techniques. One is a lower-grade human-level technique: the Soul-Breaking Arrow. It allows you to concentrate your soul power to form an arrow that strikes directly at the enemy's soul. The other is a mid-grade human-level technique: the Soul-Binding Rope. It allows you to use your soul power to form a rope that binds the enemy's soul, immobilizing it. I would like to teach you one of these techniques, but I must warn you that although the Soul-Binding Rope is of a higher grade, it is much more difficult to practice than the Soul-Binding Arrow. You should understand the principle of biting off more than you can chew. Which one do you prefer?"
Xia Wei stared at the two manuals, her youthful face filled with a hint of stubbornness, and she pouting, "My benefactor, I want to learn both of them."
"Xiao Wei, why are you so greedy? It's a blessing for you that the ghost master is willing to teach you the skills, but you don't know what's good for you. Oh... I'm really anxious to death!" The old man stomped his feet in anxiety.
"No problem."
Ye Jie waved his hand calmly, "These two books are about the soul cultivation techniques of the Netherworld. It would be extremely difficult for ordinary people to practice them. It is not uncommon for people to make no progress for decades. Since you have such ambition, I will teach you both of these techniques. As for how much you can comprehend, it depends on your own luck."
Ye Jie opened the book that recorded the Soul-Breaking Arrow and carefully explained the difficult parts to Xia Wei. Snowflakes fell on Xia Wei's long eyelashes, but she didn't even blink, trying hard to comprehend the mystery of the spell.
An hour later, Xia Wei stood up. She placed her palms together in front of her and slowly pushed them outward.
The pitch-black arrow gathered at the intersection of her palms, and then suddenly shot out as she pushed forward, drawing a long black line in the air, bringing up a fierce sound of breaking wind, and finally disappeared in the wind and snow.
Ye Jie nodded in praise: "In this way, your Soul Breaking Arrow has reached the entry level. Soul cultivation techniques are indeed vicious and treacherous, designed to destroy the enemy's soul. When sparring with others, do not use such moves."
At the end of his speech, Ye Jie sighed slightly: "Thinking back to the past, in order to practice this low-grade human-level Soul-Breaking Arrow, I spent a full ten years getting started, twenty years to master it, and thirty years to achieve minor success. Now, your one hour of practice is equivalent to my ten years of hard work. Can you say that you are worthy of being the reincarnation of a True Immortal..."
Xia Wei covered her mouth and exclaimed. Even though she had just embarked on the path of cultivation, she realized that she had extraordinary talent, but what followed was a deep sense of self-blame.
She was a very smart girl, and as if she had done something wrong, she lowered her head, pursed her lips and secretly glanced at Ye Jie. Logically speaking, if decades of hard training were surpassed by her in just one hour, anyone would be indignant about it, right?
Ye Jie simply smiled in relief. "I'm not someone who's jealous of others' talents. My own cultivation aptitude is already inferior, so how could I dare to compare myself to a reincarnated True Immortal? Miss Xia Wei, I'm sincerely happy for your progress."
"Next, I will teach you the cultivation method of the Soul Binding Rope..."
Ye Jie opened another book and explained the key points of it.
As Ye Jie continued to narrate, Xia Wei quickly abandoned her distracting thoughts and focused intently on comprehending the profound meaning of the spell. The snow fell silently, and everything in the world seemed to have drifted away from her. The only thing that could reach her ears was Ye Jie's unhurried words of clarification.
The preaching lasted from noon to dusk, and from dusk to midnight.
Until the moment Ye Jie closed the book, Xia Wei's eyes flashed with brilliance. She let out a cry, and the black noose tied with a thin rope flew around in her hand, causing a strong cold wind to blow nearby.
"In this way, you can be considered to have mastered the Soul Binding Rope." Ye Jie said with emotion, "It took me a full twenty years to master this Soul Binding Rope."
Xia Wei released the noose and stood in front of Ye Jie. Her slender figure, still not fully grown, made her look much shorter than the tall ghost messenger. Even if she stood on tiptoe, her height could only reach Ye Jie's chest.
"Can I call you Master?" Xia Wei blinked and suddenly asked.
Ye Jie laughed heartily, "I only know two techniques, and now you've learned them all. You're the reincarnation of a True Immortal. With your talent, I'm afraid in just a few months you'll surpass my cultivation level, which would take me sixty years. The land of China is vast, and there are many who are more capable than me. I'm just a lowly second-rank ghost messenger, not worthy of being your master."
Xia Wei didn't care what Ye Jie said. She knelt stubbornly in the snow, her eyes so persistent, as if she would not get up unless Ye Jie agreed.
"No matter what realm Xiaowei reaches in her future cultivation, she will never forget the grace of teaching today. In Xiaowei's heart, Ye Jie will always be my master."
Ye Jie really couldn't persuade her. He didn't expect that Xia Wei was young but as stubborn as a cow. No matter how he pulled her, he couldn't persuade her to change her mind. In the end, he had to agree to her request.
The snow had stopped, and a bright moon hung over the Milky Way. The moonlight seemed to drape Xia Wei with a light veil woven from white jade. Seeing that Ye Jie had finally accepted her as his disciple, Xia Wei's frosty face also showed an lingering smile. She opened her watery eyes and respectfully called out, "Master!"
Ye Jie scratched his head. He had only wanted to establish a good relationship with the reincarnation of the True Immortal, but he hadn't expected to be recognized as his master. He had gained a cheap disciple. He didn't hesitate, but fulfilled his duties as a master and made plans for Xia Wei:
"With your talent, all you need to do is find a deep mountain forest and live in seclusion there for ten or twenty years to cultivate. When you emerge, you will be invincible, with no one to rival you in the world. By then, won't the sea be wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky high enough for birds to fly?"
After a pause, Ye Jie continued, "Don't worry about the technique. Since you call me Master, I won't let you call me that in vain. I still have several thousand Yin De. If I borrow some from other ghost messengers and make up ten thousand, I should be able to buy you a good mid-grade human-level technique."
Xia Wei was stunned, her little head shaking restlessly. "Ten or twenty years? How can I avenge my father and brother against the bandit Hengshan?"
Ye Jie advised, "The Hengshan bandit is on the rise. His rise is unstoppable. The correct solution is to avoid his attack and bide your time."
Xia Wei's delicate eyes suddenly ignited with blazing hatred. She arched her back slightly and growled sharply, "Only by shredding the Hengshan bandit into pieces and scattering his bones to ashes can I relieve the hatred in my heart!"
Ye Jie sighed softly, "Cultivation is not about fighting and killing, and there's no need to rush for revenge. When you return to the True Immortal realm, you'll find that the so-called Hengshan Bandit is just a grain of sand beneath the waves. As the saying goes, those who do evil will eventually perish. The Hengshan Bandit killed people everywhere, and there's no need for you to do anything. There will be righteous knights who will deal with him. Perhaps one day, you'll hear the news of the Hengshan Bandit's death."
Xia Wei raised her head, unyielding in her words: "If I can't kill the bandit Hengshan, what good is it even if I reach a higher level of cultivation? I've made up my mind, Master, please don't try to persuade me anymore!"
"You...ah."
Ye Jie was helpless. He didn't expect that Xia Wei, despite her slim appearance, was so strong and resolute. Once she made up her mind about something, she would not listen to anyone and would go her own way to achieve her wish.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Ye Jie had to change his words: "I once caught a glimpse of the bandit Hengshan from afar. His cultivation has at least reached the late third stage of the Oxen and Horse Realm. With just his physical body, he can burst out with the strength of ten oxen and ten horses. You have just embarked on the path of cultivation. You are only at the first stage of the Qi Training Realm and have only learned two techniques. Even with your innate magical powers, you are far from being a match for the bandit Hengshan."
Xia Wei nodded thoughtfully, then listened to Ye Jie say, "To be honest, my cultivation level is only at the early stage of the second level of the Ghost Dao Soul Building Realm, which is still a long way from the third level of the Oxen and Horse Realm. There is a difference between yin and yang. If a ghost messenger maliciously harms someone, at the very least, he will be deducted from his time and merit and punished as a beast for three lifetimes. At the worst, he will be thrown into the Soul Devouring Abyss, never to be reincarnated. I'm afraid I can't help you in battle. If you want revenge, you can only rely on yourself."
"How can I improve my realm?" Xia Wei asked.
"Breathing in spiritual energy, taking spiritual pills, and devouring spiritual beasts—these three are the most mainstream methods of cultivation," Ye Jie said. "With your extraordinary talent, even if you do nothing else, just following the breathing method I taught you, you can advance to the second stage of the Body Building Realm within a few months, and to the third stage of the Oxen and Horse Realm within a few years. Only then will you be able to fight the bandit from Hengshan."
"I can't wait that long. Is there a faster way?" Xia Wei asked.
"Taking elixirs can elevate your realm, but that method is very far away from you. You need to find a remarkable individual known as an 'alchemist', offer him a large sum of money as a reward, and share precious natural treasures in exchange for an elixir that can significantly improve your cultivation and even break through bottlenecks."
After a pause, Ye Jie continued, "Spirit beasts, also known as demon beasts, refer to ferocious beasts that inhale and exhale the essence of the sun and moon and embark on the path of cultivation. Their bodies contain rich spiritual energy. By cooking them into delicacies and feasting on them, you can also slightly improve your own cultivation. It is important to note that if humans eat demon beasts, the demon beasts will also eat humans. Demon beasts are fearless and unruly, and are often more difficult to tame than cultivators of the same level."
Ye Jie gazed into the distance, "The world is divided into four regions. With your talent as the reincarnation of an immortal, if you were born in the Northern Continent of Julu, where there are many sects and many doors to immortality, and then became a disciple of a famous teacher, you would be treated like a treasure, given elixirs and magic pills, and you would be able to choose any heavenly cultivation technique you want. Unfortunately, you were born in the Southern Continent of Jambudvīpa, which is dominated by a dynasty and lacks resources. You need to fight for all the cultivation resources yourself. There are no shortcuts."
Xia Wei came to Ye Jie's side and stood beside her master: "Disciple is not afraid."
Ye Jie raised a withered finger and pointed into the distance. "Go south, past Qingshi Town, and you'll reach the Bone Burial Beach on the outskirts of the Jing River. Countless mortals stray into it and lose their lives every year. There are a large number of aquatic monsters lurking there, primarily first-level crayfish and second-level hairy crabs. If you can consume them regularly to aid your cultivation, within a few months, you'll be able to advance to the third-level Oxen and Horse Realm."
"I will accept your instruction, my disciple." Xia Wei bowed respectfully to Ye Jie.
"It's getting late. It's time to say goodbye to the souls of your father and brother so that I can lead them back to reincarnation." Ye Jie reminded.
Please recommend and collect the new book.
