Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng’an held iron staffs, imposing and awe-inspiring, shouting loudly, “Spears, form a line!”
"Staffs sweep an entire area!"
Inside the house, the seven or eight men who had been clamoring to divide the money just moments before now all lay on the ground, crying out "Aiyou, aiyou" in agony, like harvested wheat.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an were shrewd indeed.
From the moment they heard Lu Yuan say he would help the yellow weasel summon its soul back to life, the two had quietly slipped over to the wooden box.
Each pulled out two sections of iron staff and skillfully screwed them together to form a single dark, heavy long staff.
As Daoists who traveled far and wide, especially in this region beyond the pass where mountains were plentiful, forests were dense, and bandits occasionally emerged, they needed to know more than just how to subdue demons and eliminate evil, they also had to know how to fight people.
In fact, newly initiated Daoists didn't learn Daoist arts first, but rather staff techniques.
"You!! You you you!! You're a Daoist of True Dragon Temple, yet you don't help people, you help evil spirits, and you even rob our spirit meat!!"
"Just you wait, we're going to report you in Fengtian City!!"
"We'll ruin True Dragon Temple's reputation!!"
Wang Youde, who had been struck across the face with a staff by Wang Cheng'an, lay on the ground, trembling with rage as he pointed at Lu Yuan and shouted.
Looking at Wang Youde's behavior, Lu Yuan finally couldn't hold back. He raised an eyebrow and stared at Wang Youde, saying, "Go to hell!"
"Is this pink spirit meat yours?!"
"You want to report me in Fengtian City? That's perfect!"
"Let everyone know what kind of beast Wang Youde is, someone who would abandon his own grandson's life for money!"
Having said this, Lu Yuan looked toward Wang Cheng'an who was still inside the house, "Cheng'an, hit him!"
Wang Cheng'an had been waiting for exactly this command. Excitement flashed in his eyes as his long staff whistled through the air once more!
This strike knocked out several of Wang Youde's old teeth, causing him to howl in pain.
Lu Yuan stood in the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the groaning wretches scattered across the floor inside, his brow furrowed.
"Where did you throw that Yellow Immortal's body?"
The people inside clutched their wounds, grimacing in pain, but not one of them spoke up.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an exchanged a glance and silently planted their iron staffs on the ground.
"Thud!"
The dull sound made the man nearest to them shudder, and he immediately shrieked, "We threw it in the river ditch at the village entrance..."
Having gotten his answer, Lu Yuan said nothing more and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an efficiently packed up the wooden box and shouldered it. Before leaving, they didn't forget to turn back and spit out a curse, "Cheap bastards, you don't know pain until you're beaten!"
As they spoke, they casually gave the men at the door a couple more strikes, and the house immediately filled with wails and howls once more.
Lu Yuan walked out of the Wang family's gate. Outside, crowds had already gathered three layers deep, countless curious yet awed eyes staring directly at him.
Lu Yuan pulled out two coins from his chest and handed them to the nearest elderly man.
"Infinite Blessings of the Celestial Venerable."
Lu Yuan's voice had returned to calm.
"Please help find a barefoot doctor. Wang Youde's wife is in bad condition."
Having said this, he paid no more attention to the crowd's reaction and pushed directly through them, heading toward the entrance of Donglin Village.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an jogged to catch up.
...
The technique of summoning souls back to life wasn't something an ordinary Daoist could perform.
Only those of Celestial Master rank or above could do it.
What the yellow weasel had said earlier was absolutely correct. However, Lu Yuan could do it too.
This wasn't a matter of talent, though Lu Yuan did indeed have exceptional gifts in the Daoist profession, having reached the threshold of Celestial Master at only nineteen years old but summoning souls back to life truly required one to be a Celestial Master.
The reason Lu Yuan could do it was because of a reward from the [Subdue Demons and Eliminate Evil] system, a cultivation manual called "The Dao."
This could be said to be one of the top-tier rewards Lu Yuan had obtained from the [Subdue Demons and Eliminate Evil] system in the year since he had transmigrated.
With this supreme cultivation manual "The Dao," Lu Yuan could perform soul summoning and resurrection even before reaching Celestial Master rank.
"Brother Lu, are we really going to help that yellow weasel?"
Xu Erxiao, who had jogged up alongside him, asked somewhat curiously.
Wang Cheng'an beside him also nodded repeatedly, "That's right, Brother Lu, it's an evil spirit. We're going to help an evil spirit?"
Regarding these two fellows' inquiry, Lu Yuan merely shook his head slightly, "It's a spirit creature, not an evil spirit. If it hasn't harmed anyone, it doesn't count as evil."
Wang Cheng'an blinked, "But it just harmed people."
Lu Yuan shook his head again slightly, "First there's cause, then there's effect. Without the Wang Youde family's actions, how would it have harmed anyone?"
"So naturally it doesn't count."
If someone tries to kill you and you kill them in self-defense, can that be called a crime, or excessive defense?
There's no such logic under heaven.
Moreover, Wang Youde and his family had already killed the Yellow Immortal.
Speaking of this, Lu Yuan paused briefly, then continued, "But... I can't say for certain whether this counts as incurring karmic debt."
"In any case, you two stay far away later. I'll do it myself. Even if there's karmic debt, it'll be mine alone and won't involve you two."
As soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an immediately frowned, pouting with dissatisfied expressions, "What kind of talk is that, Brother Lu!"
"What do you take us for! That's way too disloyal!"
"If there's trouble, we'll face it together!"
Looking at these two's serious expressions, Lu Yuan couldn't help but grin and said nothing more.
Lu Yuan definitely wouldn't let these two incur karmic debt. After all, the soul summoning and resurrection didn't require their help at all, it would be entirely Lu Yuan's doing.
Soon, the three arrived at the river ditch at the entrance of Donglin Village.
Soul summoning and resurrection required the original body. Of course, even if they couldn't find it, Lu Yuan had ways to use substitutes. However, the original body was still best, as long as the death wasn't too gruesome and the head remained attached to the body, it could be used.
After searching for a while, they finally found the Yellow Immortal's body in a corner nook.
Lu Yuan picked it up and examined it carefully.
Hmm...
It had been flattened somewhat by an iron shovel...
But fortunately, it was still usable...
Having obtained the Yellow Immortal's body, Lu Yuan looked around and pointed toward a small hillside not far away, "Over there!"
...
The timing for soul summoning and resurrection was strict. It had to be performed during the zi hour each day.
That is, between eleven at night and one in the morning. During other hours, the gates between heaven and earth would not open.
Fortunately, it was only nine-thirty at night now, leaving an hour and a half for preparation.
Reaching the shady side of the small hill, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an quickly set up an altar.
Lu Yuan arranged three lamps on the altar.
On the left was a blue soul-guiding lamp, on the right was a red barrier-breaking lamp, and in the center was a yellow spirit-stabilizing lamp.
With this, the basic preparations were complete. However, there were now two problems. First, what was the Yellow Immortal's name? He would need to write a petition on the "Blue Word Golden Talisman" later.
The second problem was that there must be a direct blood relative of the Yellow Immortal present holding the lamp. Without a blood relation, the ritual could easily attract wandering ghosts to take its place.
These questions could only be answered by releasing the yellow weasel to ask.
Lu Yuan untied the matte black clay gourd from his waist, lightly chanted an incantation, and a wisp of phantom remnant soul was released.
The Yellow Immortal had just manifested when it instinctively wanted to curse but when it saw the arrangement of the three-lamp altar before it, all its fury instantly froze.
As a spirit creature that had cultivated for nearly a hundred years, how could it not recognize this legendary advanced technique that only Celestial Masters could perform?
Seeing this three-lamp altar, the Yellow Immortal naturally understood that Lu Yuan truly intended to help it summon its soul back to life.
For a moment, the yellow weasel couldn't utter a single word.
At this time, Lu Yuan pulled out the old brass pocket watch from his chest and glanced at it. There was still half an hour until eleven o'clock.
"What's your name?"
Lu Yuan asked directly.
The yellow weasel was startled, then shook its head in bewilderment, "No name or surname..."
No name?
This was easy to handle. Lu Yuan thought for a moment, "Then I'll just give you a random name, let's call you..."
"Hmm... Yellow Braised Chicken, how about that?"
The Yellow Immortal: "?"
This name felt strange somehow but... the Yellow Immortal only paused briefly before responding indifferently, "Whatever."
Lu Yuan nodded, then continued, "Soul summoning and resurrection requires a direct blood relative present to hold the lamp. Otherwise, during the process, wandering ghosts could easily impersonate you."
"Do you have any?"
Yellow Braised Chicken stood in place thinking for a while, then shook its head, "No..."
Lu Yuan looked at Yellow Braised Chicken with a strange expression, "You've cultivated for decades and don't have even a litter of young weasels?"
The weasel, feeling somewhat offended, bristled slightly, "No!"
"Even if I did, where would I find them now?"
Lu Yuan thought this made sense too.
In that case, he would just have to go through more trouble himself and set up an additional formation around the area to keep wandering ghosts from entering.
Having asked both questions, Lu Yuan had Yellow Braised Chicken wait to the side.
Good grief, both problems ended up being Lu Yuan's to solve himself.
...
At eleven o'clock at night, the zi hour had arrived.
Lu Yuan began the ritual!
During the zi hour, in the pitch-black night, only the flames of three oil lamps flickered on the offering table on the shady side of the hill.
Lu Yuan first wrote the invocation.
[Respectfully request the Eastern Azure Flower Palace of Eternal Life, under the seat of the Great Unity Salvation Celestial Worthy, Soul-Guiding Children and Calamity-Crossing Jade Maidens, to temporarily release bright light and illuminate the dark path.]
After Lu Yuan finished writing these words elegantly on the "Blue Word Golden Talisman," he prepared another "Blue Word Golden Talisman" to write the petition.
[Now there is the deceased "Yellow Braised Chicken" whose spirit scattered between yin and yang, neither entering reincarnation nor returning to the grave. Friends and relatives grieve, yang connections remain. We specially set up fragrant lamps and sincerely invite]
After finishing both "Blue Word Golden Talismans," Lu Yuan stepped back seven paces, positioned himself at the Big Dipper position, swept his right hand, and said in a low voice, "Rise!"
The two "Blue Word Golden Talismans" immediately flew up.
The invocation landed on the red barrier-breaking lamp, the petition landed on the blue soul-guiding lamp!
As the two "Blue Word Golden Talismans" ignited and floated into the air, Lu Yuan stepped in the Big Dipper Seven Stars pattern, forming the soul-guiding seal with his left hand.
"Soul oh soul, do not linger at North Mang!"
"There is light in the East, follow the light and return to yang!"
As these words finished, the blue lamp flame "whooshed" and extended three inches.
"Spirit oh spirit, do not be trapped in the Yellow Springs!"
"There is a path in the South, tread the fire and return!"
Suddenly a cold wind arose, and blood-red light flowed through the character "break" in the red barrier-breaking lamp.
"The spirit platform has a dwelling, bone and blood serve as guide"
"When three lamps are lit, return to position and stabilize form"
"Urgent as law and command!"
As Lu Yuan's urgent command rang out, his right hand's two fingers suddenly pointed toward the Yellow Braised Chicken's body in the center of the offering table!
Success or failure, this was the decisive moment!
If successful, the three lamp flames would simultaneously tilt toward the center, merging into a white column of smoke, with sandalwood fragrance filling the air.
However... the flames of the three oil lamps suddenly turned a strange jade-green color, flared intensely for an instant, then with a "poof," all extinguished simultaneously!
Great misfortune!
Cold sweat instantly seeped from Lu Yuan's temples.
What?!
How could this be??!!
In the pitch-black night, Lu Yuan seemed to hear the sound of his own pounding heartbeat.
Not far away, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an, who were maintaining the protective formation to keep other wandering ghosts out, looked with bewildered expressions at the altar where all the lamps had gone out.
They had no idea what had happened.
At this moment, Lu Yuan's scalp tingled. He had no idea where the problem lay.
Lu Yuan had performed this soul summoning and resurrection technique three times before and had never made an error, yet this time it turned out like this, something Lu Yuan had never anticipated.
Was it because there was no blood relative to guide the way?
Or was it because the name he'd given on the spot didn't work?
Or was it some other problem?
Lu Yuan didn't know, but for now he could only steel himself and try once more.
"Request again!!"
Lu Yuan shouted loudly, stepped the Big Dipper Seven Stars pattern again, and the three oil lamps reignited!
However, this time Lu Yuan didn't dare act rashly.
Yellow Braised Chicken only had a wisp of remnant soul left and couldn't withstand a second attempt.
If it failed one more time, its soul would completely scatter and it would never be reborn!
Just as Lu Yuan was caught in this dilemma, Yellow Braised Chicken behind him suddenly spoke, its voice carrying a forced casualness, "Kid, do your thing! If we can't pass this trial, it's Yellow Immortal's fated tribulation, not your fault!"
Hearing Yellow Braised Chicken's forced lightheartedness behind him, Lu Yuan couldn't help but purse his lips, saying nothing more.
Now that the soul summoning and resurrection had begun, there was no turning back.
No matter what, he had to try again!!
But this was the last chance!
Then, going through the entire process again, they reached the most critical moment.
"Urgent as law and command!!"
Accompanied by the final loud shout, Lu Yuan's two fingers pointed once more toward Yellow Braised Chicken's body on the offering table.
And once again, the three oil lamps fell silent for half a second, then with a "poof," flared up again!!
It's over!
When this scene appeared, Lu Yuan's cold sweat immediately came down!
And behind him, despair filled Yellow Braised Chicken's two large rolling eyes, its remnant soul beginning to fluctuate violently, becoming unstable and phantom-like.
It's over...
All over!!
However, at this critical moment, a somewhat slender, pale jade hand unexpectedly passed by Lu Yuan's ear without warning and pointed toward the three oil lamps.
A strange scene occurred.
The three oil lamps that had been flaring suddenly stabilized after this somewhat slender pale jade hand pointed at them.
Immediately after, the three lamp flames suddenly tilted toward the center, twisting together above the offering table into a milky-white column of smoke, with rich sandalwood fragrance permeating the air.
It succeeded!
Great fortune!
But... Lu Yuan was stunned.
Looking at the pale jade hand almost pressed against his own cheek, Lu Yuan's face was full of question marks.
Wait... wait a moment...
This... this is??
When Lu Yuan suddenly turned his head to look, he saw behind him, at some unknown time, a blood-red figure was floating.
It was a woman, dressed in a wedding gown, red as dripping blood.
She floated there quietly, her face covered with a red veil, her features unclear but merely standing there, an indescribable terrifying aura came crashing down like an overwhelming tide, causing even the surrounding cold wind to freeze.
Oh my mother!
Scared me to death!!!