Blade - Unbound

Chapter 22: A Glimpse Into The Mystic Path

The moment Li Yan brought up the Cold Altar Soldier, Wang Daoxuan’s expression changed drastically. Li Yan had been watching him the entire time. Seeing this reaction, he finally relaxed.

Bringing it up had been a test.

Wang Daoxuan had made a decent first impression, but he was clearly down on his luck. If he hadn’t even heard of something like a Cold Altar Soldier, then there would be no point discussing anything further.

“To be honest, I’ve run into some trouble.” Now that he was certain the man was knowledgeable, Li Yan stopped beating around the bush and recounted the incident with the Cold Altar Soldier.

Of course, the jianghu was dangerous. One only revealed part of the truth to others, so he left out several crucial details. For instance, he described Widow Wang merely as a village spirit medium who had mysteriously disappeared, omitting her true situation to avoid bringing trouble upon her. After all, she was hiding from enemies. Repaying kindness with harm was not his way.

He also concealed the curse in the plaque that had been hung on his residence for the longest time. That matter involved family grudges and had to be handled with utmost caution, especially since the mastermind might well be someone within the mystic path. As for the substitute statue, he would never reveal it to anyone. He only explained his heightened sense of smell, his spiritual sense, in full.

Wang Daoxuan listened carefully. At first he looked puzzled, then started frowning in thought, and finally stared at Li Yan in disbelief. He sputtered, “The four pillars of destiny of your life must be extremely resilient.”

Resilient? With the statue, of course he could live through anything.

Li Yan quickly cupped his fists and bowed. “Daoist, please enlighten me.”

Wang Daoxuan pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “Very well. Since you’ve awakened a spiritual sense, you have a connection to the mystic path. Besides, this isn’t exactly a secret, anyone who asks around long enough will learn of it. I might as well tell you.

“To speak of Cold Altar Soldiers, one must first speak of the troops of the mystic path. Whether orthodox sects, local lineages, or even heterodox paths, whenever a ritual altar is raised, they all maintain spiritual troops. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

“These troops come in many forms. The orthodox sects have registered talisman soldiers. The City God and Earth God temples command their own troops. Local lineages have the Five Directions and Five Camps of yin soldiers. The spirit medium traditions command five routes of immortal troops. Even certain folk cults have their own forces...

“These troops are formless and invisible. Ordinary people cannot perceive them. But ritual masters can use them to search mountains, break shrines, drive out demons, battle in sorcery, and even take lives.

“As for Cold Altar Soldiers, their origins are varied and complex, but they share one trait, they are fierce and difficult to control, though their power is considerable. They are created when certain ritual lineages die out, leaving no disciples to continue offerings. Their shrines then become abandoned. They become cold altars, broken temples.

“Many cultivate spiritual soldiers, but there’s a problem. Once offerings cease, they lose control. They then attach themselves to beasts or humans, roaming in search of blood.”

He paused, then added thoughtfully, “In the Guanzhong Plains, the orthodox sect regularly clears abandoned shrines at fixed times. Cold altars are rare here. That Cold Altar Soldier you encountered likely came from the Qinling Mountains.

“That Cold Altar Soldier is comparable to a vicious ghost. You may have awakened a divine ability and received guidance on how to deal with it, but the fact that you survived proves your fate is truly strong.”

Li Yan considered this. “Are there many such troops in the mystic path?”

Wang Daoxuan nodded. “The orthodox sect alone commands countless talisman soldiers. They are said to be akin to heavenly troops. Without such strength, how could they stand as the foremost sect, supported by the imperial court for generations? And that’s not even counting the various local lineages. Some ancient traditions have hundreds of thousands of ancestral troops. Add in the countless minor folk sects and the total number of such forces in the world is beyond calculation.”

Li Yan was deeply shaken. A single Cold Altar Soldier had nearly killed him. If there were thousands... just imagining it sent chills down his spine.

He couldn’t help but ask, “If the mystic path holds such power, wouldn’t it be easy to control the world?”

“It’s not so simple.” Wang Daoxuan scoffed and shook his head. “There may be many troops, but only those with sufficient cultivation can command them. Controlling tens of thousands of them requires numerous high-level masters working together, often preparing grand ceremonies for days.

“Besides, the Great Dao maintains balance. These troops are not invincible. If you hide within a temple rich in incense offerings, even small groups of these spiritual soldiers cannot enter.

“The mystic path has many methods, using spiritual soldiers is just one among them. There is plenty of innate vital energy in sacred mountains and blessed lands. Take Mount Tai, the strongest of the Five Sacred Peaks. Who would dare summon troops to besiege it? Their altar would collapse, the troops would fight back, and even the resident deities might be stirred...”

Li Yan blurted out, “There are truly gods?”

Wang Daoxuan nodded. “Of course. But they are not as described in folk tales. Their nature is complex. Even the highest orthodox masters may not fully understand them, let alone a half-trained Daoist like me.”

Curiosity lit up in Li Yan’s eyes. “Then, what about immortals?”

Wang Daoxuan sighed. “Longevity is but an illusion. The immortal path is distant and uncertain. Though there are legends of immortals, most are only heard of, never seen. I dare not speak recklessly.”

Li Yan pressed further. “After cultivating, can one fly through the skies, chase the moon, or live for centuries?”

Wang Daoxuan looked speechless. “Even the leaders of the orthodox sect lack such abilities. When it’s time to die, they still go to meet the Dao Ancestor.”

When he was done speaking, he lifted a cup of cold tea and drank, clearly parched.

Li Yan fell silent for a moment. Though disappointed, he still asked, “Daoist Wang, since I’ve awakened a spiritual sense, could you give me a recommendation to enter the Taixuan Sect?”

Wang Daoxuan nearly spat out his tea, coughing violently before shaking his head. “You have a tough fate, but that doesn’t mean you should dream of everything going your way.

“Those who want to enter the mystic path must practice visualization and focus. The older one gets, the more scattered the mind becomes, so it’s far harder to begin. That’s why both orthodox sects and local lineages recruit children for training.

“Even folk lineages, when they encounter a child who has awakened a spiritual sense, will try to take them in. The orthodox sects have their own systems. They do not lack disciples.”

A bitter smile formed on his face as he finally explained, “There are many who awaken late, like me. Unwilling to accept fate, I forced my way into the path. Ten years later, I’ve exhausted my wealth and gone from Shopkeeper Wang to Old Mute Wang. After all that effort, though I call myself Daoxuan, I’m still a joke among my peers. I will never be fit to step onto the grand stage.

“If you want to solve your problem, there is an easier way. I know the local City God Temple priest. I can arrange a ritual to seal your spiritual sense. You’ll become an ordinary person, no longer noticed by evil things. If you insist on joining the orthodox sect, they’ll likely seal your ability as well. You’ll end up as a temple servant, burning incense, sweeping floors, chanting scriptures, and leaving the mortal world behind.”

Li Yan was silent for a moment, then looked up. “I do not wish to accept fate.”

“Not accepting fate is good,” Wang Daoxuan said, stroking his beard. “If everyone accepted fate, the world would stagnate. Dynasties would never change, and the human path would wither. I have a method of visualization. It’s not from the Taixuan Sect, but it’s from an ancient lineage over a thousand years old. If you succeed, you’ll be able to control your ability freely, and even learn some basic techniques.”

Gratitude surged in Li Yan’s heart. “How much does this method cost?”

He could tell. Though Wang Daoxuan was down on his luck, he possessed integrity. He would not cheat others with false teachings.

“Cost?” Wang Daoxuan sighed. “I spent everything I had, seeking true methods, only to be deceived time and again. When I had nearly given up, a wandering Daoist on his deathbed passed me the true method, asking only that the lineage continue.

“This is that same lineage. How could I charge money for it? Whether it will bring you fortune or disaster is uncertain. If you fail to stabilize your mind and are targeted by evil, would that not harm you?

“I dare not take such money.”

He retrieved a booklet from a shelf behind him and sighed. “This is a secret manual. I’ve copied several versions and cross-checked them carefully. There are no errors. If you have questions, you may ask. I will answer truthfully.”

Li Yan was still in disbelief. “Daoist, what if I’m a bad person? What if I use this to commit evil?”

Wang Daoxuan chuckled, “You’re from the jianghu. Even ordinary martial arts can kill. Do you kill at will? The mystic path has its own rules. The enforcement hall of the orthodox sect is no joke. The laws of the Great Xuan Dynasty apply to cultivators as well.”

Relieved, Li Yan accepted the manual. On the cover were the words: Scripture of the Profound Darkness of the Western Mystery.

Opening it, he saw dense text.

In the method of preserving the spirit, avoid unworthy company, seek solitude, guard essence and emptiness, focus the mind and vision. When the soul is still and form is steady, all harm is repelled, ghosts scatter, demons dare not approach...

The book continued, but Li Yan could no longer read further. His head spun just reading it.

He closed the book for the time being and changed the topic. “I came for another matter. Daoist, do you remember Sha Lifei?”

“Sha Lifei?” Wang Daoxuan frowned, thinking hard.

That bastard really was bluffing.

Li Yan wasn’t surprised and described him. “That fellow has a bald head, a fierce expression, a full beard, and loves bragging and spouting nonsense...”

“Oh!” Wang Daoxuan suddenly remembered. “Yes, yes. I met that man once, years ago. We had a delightful conversation. I remember it was spring. He said he’d treat me to drinks at Drunken Flower Tavern in Chang’an. We went and he even called in several ladies. But after I got drunk, he slipped away alone. I nearly got beaten up. Luckily, there was a spirit disturbance in the brothel. I performed a ritual to drive it away and that settled the bill.

“So, is he finally here to repay his debt?”