Chapter 43: Chanting the Incantation, Practicing the Astral Step

In the dark room, several flickering candle flames swayed gracefully—now to the east, now to the west, now standing still in unison. The candlelight cast a gentle halo, projecting a many-legged shadow onto the surrounding walls, forming mottled patterns of light and darkness. These shifting shadows twisted and changed, following the dance of the candlelight and the movements of the creature within; their terrifying aspect exceeded the limits of ordinary tolerance.

Yu Xiao collapsed in a corner, his eyes fixed desperately on the undulating shadow on the wall. His pupils unconsciously dilated, and his eyelids trembled uncontrollably. On the wall, the many-legged shadow stretched its limbs. Its upper body remained still, while the lower body swayed left and right, the leg shadows flickering incessantly, each segment writhing across the wall like a serpent.

Such a dreadful scene—it felt as if Yu Xiao’s skull had been pried open, and incomprehensible, unwanted things were being forcibly stuffed inside. Ji Ming was not intentionally performing actions that could cause spiritual contamination; he was practicing a Daoist ritual step used in the sacrificial rites.

What is the ritual step? It is a movement meant to summon and sense the gods.

To perform the rite, besides setting up the altar, one must walk the ritual steps, recite the incantations, and invite the holy spirits. These four actions are the core of the sacrificial method.

Ji Ming understood that the birth of any method never comes from mere whim—it has origins and a history of development. Even today, each step remains significant, refined through time, and should not be dismissed for being arcane or complicated. Accumulate now, bit by bit, like carving and polishing; eventually, the path will be achieved.

“How is my ritual step? Did I misstep?” Ji Ming asked.

Standing only on the illusionary long legs of a centipede was already tremendously difficult for him, and to walk according to precise directions made it even harder. After one round, the segmented shell of his body nearly twisted apart.

“The principle of walking the ritual step lies in focused intent. As long as the mind holds the star chart, the feet naturally follow. This step and incantation are the fundamental skills of the sacrificial method; with persistent practice, one will master them.”

Yu Xiao, dazed as a living corpse, never dared to look directly at the centipede spirit, only answering when questioned. He had been in this state for many days.

Meanwhile, Ji Ming sometimes hid within Yu Xiao and ventured outside to gather information. The wider world was now turbulent and chaotic, and even if he could remain detached, he had to be vigilant.

Within the medicine house, disciples were anxious, huddling together and refusing to disperse. They had also taken in vagrant practitioners from the Thirteen Villages, gathering in a lively, noisy throng.

Ji Ming could tell that the air in the house was growing foul and oppressive. With the two major branches of Taiping Mountain crisscrossing south of Lan Shade and north of Li Ridge, seeking to isolate the area, all the shaman disciples and vagrant followers were dispirited, their nerves taut and hypersensitive.

If the Taiping Mountain plan succeeded, a siege would be inevitable.

“Senior brother!” In the main hall, Yu Xiao sat at the head, but even when called, he showed no response.

“There’s nothing unusual in the Thirteen Villages, and no outsiders have visited. It seems that Four Sorrow Cloud Monastery and Crane Temple have committed all their strength to Guancai Cave,” reported a shaman disciple.

This was good news, but it brought no comfort to the assembled. Ji Ming paid little mind; if true Daoist practitioners came, he’d fight if possible, flee if not. This place was a treasure—if nothing unexpected happened, he would happily remain forever.

After listening to various reports, Ji Ming instructed Yu Xiao to return to the dark chamber for seclusion, ordering him to have shaman disciples deliver poisonous food.

In the second chest, he had gradually mastered the sacrificial rituals: altar regulations, ritual steps, incantations, and more. Delving deeper, he discovered the underlying principle was to borrow the power of the divine, thereby glimpsing the magic of talismanic diagrams.

Ji Ming was now refining the two fundamental skills: ritual steps and incantations. The steps must follow the distribution of stars; after memorizing the star charts, practice was key. Incantations were simpler—praising and extolling a particular deity.

Among vagrant practitioners, the most widespread incantation was the “Incantation of the Savior of Suffering.” This manifest power was known to respond to all requests, regardless of good or evil, treating all equally—one of the foremost deities in the Three Heavens.

Every wanderer carried a booklet of praises for this deity. Ji Ming used this incantation often in practice, and in the mysterious depths, indeed felt spiritual resonance—wondrous beyond words.

Apart from the Three Heavens’ Savior, the orthodox Three Sects each had responsive deities who supported their disciples during sacrificial rites.

Beyond these, there were many deities with special requirements—mainly the manifest powers of major heterodox sects. Faith was rewarded, but always with a price—for example, “Pan” of Panhu Mountain.

Ji Ming felt that the heterodox paths prized short-term gains and neglected long-term plans, their root lying with their sect’s deity.

These deities were generally founding patriarchs, creators of methods, each having transcended mortality, gone beyond the Three Realms and Five Elements, yet remaining present in the world. Their thoughts, legends, and traces profoundly influenced every disciple thereafter.

From Yu Xiao, Ji Ming had obtained the “Scorpion Heart Rite,” which invoked Pan. The price for Pan’s response was significant pain, illness, or spiritual shock.

Yu Xiao had performed the rite three times. Each time Pan was summoned and the talismanic diagram resolved, poison immediately arose within his body. Having refined poisons for years, Yu Xiao had developed resistance, barely surviving three times.

Had Ji Ming not awakened the bloodline of the Flying Centipede, with its even stronger venom, that day he might not have succeeded in poisoning Yu Xiao.

The Savior required no repayment, always responded, but the cultivation methods gained from deciphering talismanic diagrams varied with individual talent, often yielding uneven results.

Pan demanded repayment, but the diagrams offered extraordinary powers.

Each had strengths and weaknesses; but now, having become a Flying Centipede demon, Ji Ming’s resistance to poison far surpassed Yu Xiao’s. The “Scorpion Heart Rite” seemed tailor-made for him.

The only concern was... would Pan respond to him?

Ji Ming put the question to Yu Xiao.

“Your Majesty need not worry! Among the thirty-six domains of the world, only the Three Sects demand requirements of those performing rites. For the deities of the heterodox paths, those who invoke them—human or demon—are always welcome.”

“Always welcome?” Ji Ming found it amusing. “If that’s the case, why not emulate the Three Heavens’ Savior and forego demanding repayment? As one’s cultivation deepens, the more profound the diagrams, the greater the price required.”

“Your Majesty!” Yu Xiao had no heart to argue, replying in tears, “My cultivation is shallow; in terms of mastery, I am no match for a shape-shifting demon like you. I only hope Your Majesty will spare my humble life for my loyal cooperation.”

By the end, he was sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face—but Ji Ming felt no pity. Earlier, Yu Xiao, seeking favor from Lady Zhang, had set fire to the village by the pond, destroying everything. Though there were criminals, the majority were women and children. Such cruel intent could not be tolerated.

“Don’t be afraid!” Ji Ming extended a long hand, stroking Yu Xiao’s head. “I hear there are seven bushels of jewels hidden in the house, meant for future temple building.”

“Yes!”

“Go, bring them to me. This time, I won’t hide within you—you’ll do it yourself. Don’t disappoint me.”

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“Incantation of the Savior of Suffering”:

“Holy Threefold Savior of the Heavens, unfathomable in virtue, clad in celestial stars and cultivating the Three Heavens. Five-colored auspicious clouds rise beneath your feet, nine-colored divine salamanders swim before your path. Sweet dew rains from your palace, wielding the wish-fulfilling scepter uncounted autumns. All who seek your law are answered, the sea of suffering ever ferried by your boat to salvation.”