Chapter 28: Life and Death Reincarnation, Enlightenment Immortal Light!
The surface of this mask seemed as tender and delicate as a girl's skin, while the inside was a mass of jelly-like red flesh.
It occasionally pulsated slightly, as if it were a living thing weirdly breathing on its own.
If you listened carefully, just as when he first encountered the "Corpse Account Scripture" and the "Owl God Tomb," you could faintly hear what sounded like the sprouting of grass and trees in your ears—the soft sound of chanting.
It corresponded to the "West Queen Holy Mother Divine Transformation Scripture," documented on the first page of the Taoist book from the Wild Dog Taoist that Wang Yuan held in his hands.
Without a doubt, this mask, which combined "Dao Foundation" and "Human Face Painting," had become a genuine "Deceit Object."
"Hmm, a Deceit Object that can chant scriptures."
Over the past few days, Wang Yuan had not only preliminarily mastered two Daoist Skills, but he had also thoroughly studied the Taoist book left by the Wild Dog Taoist, greatly broadening his horizons.
As a Magician born from a sect, even though the Wild Dog Taoist had not achieved enlightenment, his knowledge and experience were far superior to that of the small, secluded Wang Family of the Yin Gate.
After reading through the Taoist book, his understanding of "Weird" and "Deceit Objects" had gone beyond mere superficial knowledge.
The Taoist book stated that the biggest difference between "Deceit Objects" and the magic artifacts used by cultivators was their characteristic of being "alive"!
This "living" was most commonly manifested not by their ability to move, walk, or kill, but by their ability to chant scriptures.
They could actively spread all sorts of weird, evil, or dreadfully heard knowledge and also unconsciously attract those who possessed similar knowledge, be they "Weird" entities or humans, to encounter them.
For instance, Master Ge had once used the "Corpse Account Scripture" to attract deceit.
Even the origins of "Weird" and "Deceit Objects," Wang Yuan had found some clues in the Taoist book.
He guessed that this might be the root cause behind the vastly different development directions of the two parallel worlds of past and present lives.
"Now, this Great Yan Dynasty, although it is not any dynasty from my memory, yet it continues the ancient civilization of a previous life.
It too has the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and it has Xia, Shang, and Zhou.
Just like in a previous life, in those ancient times, whether it was writing, knowledge, or various health and cultivation techniques were tightly monopolized by the upper echelons.
Let alone knowledge for governing the world, just the literacy rate was so low that among a hundred people, perhaps only two or three could read.
But everything drastically changed during the 'Hundred Schools of Thought' era when culture flourished and literacy rates greatly improved.
Overnight, Daoist Skill manifested divinely, demons sprung into existence, and weirdness roamed rampant.
Because on that day, all sorts of hidden 'knowledge' in this world suddenly came alive, transforming into Daoist Skills that could call the wind, call the rain, allow one to fly or burrow, and even achieve immortality!"
At this moment, recalling these texts from the Taoist book, Wang Yuan still couldn't help but feel his emotions churn and found it unbelievable.
The Daoist Skills cultivated by Magicians were actually alive!
At the same time, this was the source of the Wild Dog Taoist's final delirious utterance before his death: "I have often heard, it is not the non-human who diligently seeks knowledge, rather it is knowledge that diligently seeks the person."
Tracing back to the source, many ancient texts shared a phrase whose authorship was unknown:
"I've heard that it's not people who are constantly pursuing knowledge, but rather knowledge that is constantly pursuing people.
But I know, this saying is not accurate.
Knowledge is not 'pursuing' people, it's 'hunting' people.
Its pursuit is ruthless and unemotional, just like falcons and hunting dogs catching rabbits.
The flourishing of the Hundred Schools wasn't because the scholars of that time were incredibly brilliant, but because we just happened to be caught by those ferocious 'knowledge'!
From then on, mortals who obtained these hidden pieces of knowledge could cultivate divine power skills and even gradually elevate themselves to roam the heavens and earth, achieving immortality.
And while gaining power, mortals must inevitably bear the consequences.
These 'living' pieces of knowledge would not only bring power to beings but would also, inadvertently, chew people slowly, turning them into henchmen or even food.
Combining the mutated example of the Wild Dog Taoist and fragments from the Taoist book.
Wang Yuan felt that all beings who could cultivate Daoist Skills: Magicians, demons, spirits, ghosts, monsters... once they violated precepts and taboos or suffered severe injuries, could possibly fall into demonic mutation and become man-eating "Weird".
In principle: "Knowledge" attracts similar "Knowledge" to continually aggregate, thereby birthing new "Knowledge". The more one knows, the higher the realm, and the more susceptible one is to misfortune.
As for why "knowledge" was first activated, Wild Dog Taoist didn't have the level to know at all.
By now, Wang Yuan had gradually gained a clear understanding of this weird cultivation system.
He wouldn't ignore the risks for the sake of a tempting future, being fearless out of ignorance; nor would he shrink back because of potential dire consequences and be stuck in place.
"If others can achieve the status of Corpse Dissection Immortal and obtain an Immortality Dao Fruit, naturally, with the assistance of the Small Book of Life and Death, so can I," he said.
Wang Yuan refocused his attention on the Deceit Object, Human Face Painting, in front of him.
The precepts and taboos of the Human Face Painting Skill emerged in his mind.
[ One, each time you hunt a Painting Spirit, you must help them fulfill their deepest obsession without them realizing that they are already dead. ]
[ Two, the interval between changing painted skins must be longer than six two-hour periods, as too frequent mask switching will cause self-recognition confusion;
one-time use should not exceed three days. ]
[ Three, the base of the Human Face Painting is a unique Human-Faced Peach garment, exclusive to the Peach God Tao, only those with the Wood Destiny can cultivate it. ]
Weird and Deceit Objects, once mutated, are likely to retain some of the original precepts and taboos.
Wang Yuan speculated that if Wild Dog Taoist finally turned into Weird, he would probably disguise himself as a former victim and return to live normally in their home.
Once recognized, he would burst out and murder someone.
To think that one's familiar family members could be indiscernibly replaced by some inexplicable Deceit Creature, and to live under one roof night and day, was downright creepy.
And a Deceit Object, a kind of "living" object, might be slightly better than Weird, but its reckless use would inevitably make the user take tremendous risks.
"Fortunately, I still have the Small Book of Life and Death. Fate Book of Life and Death, summon and dispatch Yama!" he asserted.
With a thought, the 419 points of Yin Morality he had just accumulated suddenly burned away 300 points.
Immediately, a sharp divine light shot out from his brow center, completely enveloping the mask.
Life and Death Reincarnation, Enlightenment Immortal Light!
The Deceit Object, Human Face Painting, writhed like a cornered wild cat trying to dodge the light, but to no avail.
First, there were countless malign voices swearing loudly, then one by one they ceased their resistance, and finally, they began to praise and extol virtues.
A few breaths later, a new scripture suddenly inserted itself into the ongoing chant of the West Queen Holy Mother Divine Transformation Scripture, originally continuously recited by this Deceit Object:
"...By the supreme imperial decree, transcend your lonely souls, all ghosts and demons, shared in grace..."
Touched by fortune, Wang Yuan understood that this came from the Rebirth Scripture in the Small Book of Life and Death.
After reciting this scripture three times.
Clang!
A piece of brilliant golden bone was spat out by the Human Face Painting.
Afterward, the Deceit Object finally completely calmed down.
On the outside, there was not much change, but it had become more lustrous, and faintly glimmered like jade, clearly not a common object.
In Wang Yuan's opinion, it was still alive.
It had transformed from a haughty cat owner into a completely tamed loyal dog, without any of the original aggressiveness.
Although the Small Book of Life and Death has the diminutive 'small' in its name, with this Enlightenment Immortal Light, which is tasked with transcending and enlightening, it already somewhat assumed the role of an agent of the Underworld's rules.
Of course, forced "enlightenment" was essentially "taming."
The one that died was the unruly Great Sage Equalling Heaven; the one that lived was the submissive Victorious Fighting Buddha, essentially the same principle.
"One day, posing as an Underworld Judge shouldn't be too difficult."
"I just don't know what the Underworld in this world is actually like; I've been mingling in Wangren Town for so long and have never seen any Underworld Yin Soldiers."
While idly fantasizing, Wang Yuan put the transformed mask on his own face.