The Rite of Apprenticeship
Ling Yun was visibly shaken, his voice trembling as he unconsciously repeated, "Corpse puppets? Necromancy?"
"Yes." Yu Xiujie nodded. "It is a sinister and forbidden art. As the name suggests, corpse puppetry involves refining cadavers into obedient constructs, while necromancy is said to be a powerful technique capable of communing with the underworld. However, based on what you described, that corpse puppet was of the lowest tier—crude and rudimentary, unable even to alter the body's form. True high-level corpse puppets are indistinguishable from living beings. They speak, move, and even think like ordinary people. Without special abilities, one would never discern the difference."
Ling Yun felt his throat dry up. The memory of that grotesque corpse sent a shudder down his spine. He swallowed hard and murmured, "I never imagined such terrifying things existed in this world. How did I end up encountering something like this? Just my luck."
Yu Xiujie cast him an amused glance. "Is this fear already settling in? Heh, you've yet to witness the true battles of those with supernatural abilities. There exist techniques far more dreadful than corpse puppetry and necromancy."
Ling Yun stuck out his tongue in a sheepish gesture. "Master Yu, I'm just a fresh high school graduate. I've never even heard of things like this before. Please don't scare me."
Yu Xiujie's expression turned solemn. "The moment you stepped into the realm of the supernatural, you ceased to be an ordinary person. Now I understand why there are wandering spirits in the area. If someone has indeed employed necromancy, then it's entirely plausible that they've been amassing Yin energy from hundreds of miles around to fuel a grand Yin Spirit Formation. The spirits must have been tainted by the corrupt aura of necromancy, which drove them to instinctively abduct people from the city."
"Wandering spirits are extremely sensitive to Yin energy. Humans, being part of nature, also possess this energy—men carry Yang, while women bear Yin. Virgins, in particular, hold an innate essence of pure Yin, and draining their lifeforce is far more effective than the slow condensation of Yin energy through the formation. Had you not intervened in time, this could have led to utter catastrophe. Sigh… This was never my original intention when I laid down the Yin Spirit Formation. However, meeting you because of it is a rare fortune." A trace of excitement flickered in his voice as he spoke.
"I see…" Ling Yun murmured in realization, but then hesitated before asking, "Master Yu, I still don't understand—why did you construct the Yin Spirit Formation in the first place?"
"You would have asked sooner or later, so I might as well tell you. Frankly, I no longer have much time left. I can feel the barrier weakening," Yu Xiujie sighed. "As I've told you before, supernatural abilities are inborn. Those of us with such gifts are taken under the care of specialists from birth, trained in a multitude of mystical arts until we rise as formidable beings. But you… you are an anomaly—the only known case of someone awakening abilities through mutation, yet possessing stable powers. You are like an unpolished gem, brimming with untapped potential. You are, without a doubt, the most suitable heir to my legacy."
He continued, "I constructed the grand Yin Spirit Formation long ago for one purpose…"
Over a hundred years ago, Yu Xiujie was a renowned prodigy in the realm of supernatural abilities. His comprehension of mystical arts was unparalleled—he grasped their essence the moment he learned them, and with diligent study, he achieved complete mastery. His innate talent was beyond extraordinary, and before he reached the age of thirty, he had already ascended to the pinnacle of power, an unrivaled supreme being of his era.
But Yu Xiujie was not content with mere supremacy in a single lifetime. He sought something far greater—something beyond the limits of mortal strength. After reaching the summit of power, he yearned to break through to the elusive, transcendent path known as the Heavenly Dao. Yet, no matter how he trained, it seemed as if supernatural cultivation had reached its ultimate boundary, with no further road ahead.
Thus, he turned to the wisdom of the ancients. He delved into philosophy, politics, economics, history, and all manner of scholarly disciplines, hoping to unearth deeper truths from the knowledge of the world. He traveled across distant lands, studying the civilizations of powerful European nations, seeking to expand his understanding beyond the confines of his own culture. He traversed mountains and rivers, contemplating the mysteries of nature, immersing himself in the essence of the universe. In his relentless pursuit, he read ten thousand books and walked ten thousand miles, absorbing the collective wisdom of countless brilliant minds. Finally, at the age of fifty, he experienced a moment of enlightenment—an ephemeral glimpse into the unfathomable principles governing all existence.
Upon returning to China, he withdrew from the turbulent world, secluding himself deep in the mountains. There, he dedicated himself to the study of ancient Daoist teachings—the I Ching, the Eight Trigrams, Yin-Yang theory, and the arcane arts of divination. Simultaneously, he refined his supernatural abilities, his power growing ever more pure and formidable. He reached a stage where he stood on the precipice of the Heavenly Dao, needing only a single step to transcend the mortal realm.
But that step was like a mirage—forever out of reach. No matter how mighty he became, he could not defy the erosion of time. As his lifespan dwindled, he faced the inevitable truth: a lifetime of pursuit would end in dust and bones, his dreams vanishing like a fleeting sigh.
Unwilling to accept this fate, Yu Xiujie devised an audacious plan. Drawing upon the culmination of his life's knowledge, he constructed the Yin Spirit Formation—a masterpiece combining the principles of geomancy, the I Ching, and the mystical arts of divination. The formation required 360 identical graves, arranged meticulously according to the positions of the stars. This external array would harness the celestial forces to bind the Yin energy within, while at its heart lay a colossal burial chamber, where an ornate coffin housed a sacred lotus lantern—the core artifact of the formation, imbued with an unparalleled power to condense Yin energy.
The outer array would steadily absorb the natural Yin energy of the world, purifying and refining it through the synergy of starlight and grave essence. This refined Yin energy would then crystallize within the lotus lantern, eventually birthing Yin spirits—natural entities akin to mountain specters and river phantoms. Though possessing awareness, these spirits lacked true intellect.
By the time the formation was completed, Yu Xiujie's life was at its twilight. Thus, he channeled his entire being—his body, his supernatural energy, and his nearly tangible spiritual force—into a final act, sealing himself within a powerful barrier. His very essence was infused into the formation, manifesting as the ancient tome that Ling Yun had acquired.
His plan was simple yet audacious: when the Yin spirits finally took form, his consciousness would merge with them, granting him a new body—one that, while not truly human, was virtually indestructible. Though he had failed to attain the Heavenly Dao in his previous life, so long as his mind remained intact and he wielded the vast power of the Yin spirits, he believed he would one day break through. It was only a matter of time.
Among all supernatural beings, only Yu Xiujie dared to conceive such a heaven-defying gamble. Others would not have even dared to dream of it.
However, fate was cruel. Only after sealing himself within the formation did he realize its fatal flaw—the process of condensing Yin spirits was excruciatingly slow. At its current pace, it would take over a millennium for a single spirit to form, while his barrier, even in dormancy, could last no longer than a hundred years before dissipating entirely.
It was a bitter twist of destiny—a reminder that mortals could never truly defy the heavens. With no choice but to accept his fate, Yu Xiujie succumbed to an unwilling slumber.
A century later, an impulsive young man named Ling Yun, driven by the desire to save his classmate, unknowingly shattered the ancient seal—awakening the long-lost legend of a supreme being.
Ling Yun listened, utterly enthralled, as if hearing a myth come to life. The old man before him was once the greatest power in the world, and even now, he defied fate in another form.
He could almost picture it—a lone figure standing atop the world, roaring defiantly at the heavens, determined to step beyond mortal limits. Ling Yun's blood surged with excitement.
Yu Xiujie finished his tale, his expression tinged with melancholy. "A heart unwavering, roaring at the heavens—yet in the end, a century passes like dust in the wind. It seems even I cannot defy fate. In the end, all shall return to dust."
"Lingyun," he called gently, his expression gradually calming.
"Ah, Master Yu..." Lingyun was still lost in the legend, his mind adrift in the past, where he envisioned that solitary yet unyielding figure standing against the heavens.
"Master Yu, I will help you realize this dream. I will never yield to fate!" In the young man's eyes, a fire blazed fiercely.
Yu Xiujie was momentarily stunned, then let out a knowing smile. This boy—how much he resembled his younger self. That same stubbornness, that same defiance. A sense of admiration and warmth welled up within him.
Yet, to become truly strong, willpower and determination alone are far from enough…
"Lingyun, you now know my origins. In a few years, this barrier of mine may fade entirely. So tell me, would I have the honor of becoming your teacher?" Yu Xiujie's eyes, weathered by time yet still sharp as ever, locked onto Lingyun's gaze.
Lingyun, caught between astonishment and exhilaration, felt an inexplicable sense of clarity rise within him. He stood from the grand armchair and solemnly bowed. "Teacher, your student, Lingyun, greets you with the utmost respect."
He could not explain why, but from the moment he met Yu Xiujie, he had felt nothing but reverence and familiarity, as though he had reunited with an old friend long unseen. There was no hesitation, no wariness—only an innate sense of kinship. And upon hearing Yu Xiujie's legendary past, a deep admiration had taken root within him. Every man harbors dreams of heroes, and Lingyun was no exception. Now, this once-supreme figure had personally offered to mentor him—how could he refuse?
"Good, very good," Yu Xiujie said with a satisfied smile, reaching out to ruffle Lingyun's hair. "We need not concern ourselves with outdated and cumbersome rites. What matters is what is in our hearts. Without sincerity, all the kneeling and bowing in the world would be meaningless. Besides, in this era, formal apprenticeships are not what they once were."
Lingyun extended his hand. "Master Yu, handshakes are the custom now."
Yu Xiujie chuckled. "Very well, then. A handshake it is." He clasped Lingyun's hand in his own. Though both were mere projections, the sensation felt strikingly real.
"Master Yu, will you begin teaching me now?" Lingyun asked eagerly, the thought of those extraordinary abilities filling him with anticipation.
"There is no need for haste," Yu Xiujie said with a smile. "You have only just begun to develop your mental force field. Though your eyes can now perceive the essence of power, your strength remains weak. The first step is to fortify your mental force and refine your control over it—only then can we discuss further training."
"Oh," Lingyun nodded in understanding, then suddenly thought of something. "Wait, Master Yu, I've been inside the barrier for so long. Can people outside see me? Am I still at home?"
"No one can see you from the outside. My barrier consists of seven layers, just as the yellow book you found has seven pages—each page represents a different level of the barrier. Right now, we are only in the first layer, where time flows almost identically to the outside world. Judging by how long we've spoken, a considerable amount of time has already passed. I will send you back for now. Return tonight when you are free."
"Tonight? But won't I need to sleep?" Lingyun asked.
Yu Xiujie smirked. "You really are clueless, aren't you? Ordinary people need sleep to recover from exhaustion, but true espers, possessing mental force fields, have no such need."
"So that's how it is!" Lingyun exclaimed in excitement, suddenly realizing that despite having stayed awake the entire night, he felt no fatigue.
"One more thing," Yu Xiujie added. "That young girl possessed by the Yin spirit—I need to see her with my own eyes. I will embed the barrier into your being and leave you with a mental imprint. Whenever you activate it, you will be able to communicate with me within your consciousness, unseen by others."
"Embed the barrier into me? Master Yu, do I just carry the yellow book in my pocket after I leave?" Lingyun asked, puzzled.
Yu Xiujie chuckled. "You will soon find out." With a flick of his sleeve, Lingyun felt the world around him spin. The golden-hued realm vanished in an instant, and he found himself seated comfortably in his bedroom once more.
Before him, the yellow book still floated in midair, radiating a soft golden glow.
Just as he reached out to grasp it, the book suddenly soared higher, its light growing ever more intense until it became dazzlingly brilliant. Then, in a flash, the golden light condensed into a singular beam and shot directly into Lingyun's chest before vanishing completely.
Lingyun hastily unbuttoned his shirt, and there, upon his chest, was the unmistakable imprint of a small golden book—lifelike, as though inked into his very skin.