Chapter Thirty-Two: Niu Ben

“Twenty-zero thirty-eight.” After suddenly discovering the description of the Mind Bewitching Technique, Lei Yan’s supernatural ability found a string of numbers marked beside it. “Could it be... could this be a catalog?” Lei Yan could not help wondering what the numbers meant.

He looked at the entry above it.

“Bewitching Technique. Uses spells to confuse the opponent, leaving them utterly spellbound and obedient to the caster’s commands. The duration depends on the caster’s cultivation. Because those affected by this technique cannot remain clear-minded after it is cast, it is somewhat inferior to the Mind Bewitching Technique. (Twenty-zero thirty-seven).”

Lei Yan looked at the entry above that one and discovered that every entry had a number beside it. Moreover, the numbers decreased in sequence. Since all the entries were descriptions, he finally understood.

“So that’s how it is. I thought I had been incredibly lucky. It turns out I only obtained a catalog.”

Earlier, he had chosen this particular jade slip because its color was darker than that of the others, making it especially conspicuous. He had never expected it to be a catalog.

Since this was a catalog, it meant that the artifact contained detailed records of the techniques listed within it. He immediately withdrew his supernatural ability from the jade slip and examined the five hundred jade slips inside the demonic artifact. He found that each jade slip had a number marked at the bottom.

Lei Yan smiled. It seemed that he would be able to learn something about how to use the Mind Bewitching Technique. He took out the jade slip marked with the number twenty, then sent his supernatural ability into it. He quickly found the thirty-eighth record.

“Mind Bewitching. Bewitch the mind and confuse one’s true nature.”

That was all the first line contained. Beneath it were several incantations and spells. Only at the end did it explain the precautions required when using the Mind Bewitching Technique.

“The Mind Bewitching Technique requires the caster to use powerful spiritual sense to leave a mark upon the victim’s true mind. There must be a vast disparity in strength between the two parties; otherwise, the caster will inevitably suffer backlash. Because spiritual sense is consumed, one’s perception will decline for a short period after using the technique. If it is used continuously, spiritual sense will never recover, and one’s cultivation will stagnate for the rest of one’s life. Take heed. Take heed.”

“A decline in spiritual perception... spiritual sense that cannot recover... cultivation that will stagnate.” Lei Yan could not help feeling puzzled. What connection did spiritual sense have with cultivation?

Through the catalog, Lei Yan found many descriptions concerning spiritual sense. Yet the explanations were either too superficial or too perfunctory. The one description that concerned him most was this:

“A cultivator’s spiritual sense forms naturally once the Golden Core is first condensed. Spiritual sense is the foundation for perceiving Heaven and Earth. As for why spiritual sense only forms during the Golden Core stage, and what spiritual sense truly is, that already lies beyond the realm accessible to cultivators such as ourselves...”

This description gave Lei Yan two pieces of information. First, spiritual sense formed only after the Golden Core was initially condensed. Second, possessing spiritual sense allowed one to comprehend the mysteries of Heaven and Earth more effectively.

When he considered his own circumstances, Lei Yan felt that the conclusion was almost absurd. He believed that he possessed at least six kinds of spiritual sense.

The first was the perception granted by his supernatural ability. This perception far surpassed that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators. He could tell because he was able to detect other people’s spiritual sense, while they could not detect his supernatural perception.

The second possibility involved the five-colored light within his body. Whenever he activated the red light, he could more clearly perceive the Dao of Fire in the outside world. If the red light was a form of spiritual sense, then the other four colors must be as well. The five-colored light would therefore represent five kinds of spiritual sense. Combined with the perception granted by his supernatural ability, that made six.

Without any reference to confirm his theory, these were all merely guesses. After pondering for a moment, Lei Yan cast aside his distracting thoughts. A look of determination flashed across his eyes.

“Whether it is spiritual sense or not doesn’t matter. All I need to know is that the five-colored light within my body allows me to perceive Heaven and Earth more clearly. The more profound mysteries of Heaven and Earth I comprehend, the stronger the attacks I can unleash by merging with the Dao.”

Looking at the jade slip containing the Mind Bewitching Technique, Lei Yan felt a twinge of emotion.

“This Flower Fairy really was willing to pay a heavy price. She would rather reduce her spiritual perception than give up controlling the people of Dragon Tyrant. Still, this Mind Bewitching Technique is truly formidable.”

Recalling the technique’s overwhelming power, Lei Yan once again sent his supernatural ability into the jade slip and memorized the incantations and spells.

He spent the entire night reading through the jade slips. As a result, he made up for a great deal of his ignorance concerning cultivation and even learned several minor techniques, such as the Voice Transmission Technique.

Early the next morning, Lei Yan stepped out of the small courtyard. After taking a deep breath at the entrance, he began wandering around Oxhorn Village.

The villagers of Oxhorn Village were extremely industrious. At dawn, smoke rose from the chimneys of every household. The fields south of the village were already filled with hardworking villagers, while in the training ground to the north, many young men and children were exercising.

The people of Oxhorn Village were hospitable. As Lei Yan strolled through the village, quite a few people greeted him. Suddenly, an aged voice came from behind him.

“Young brother, you arrived last night, didn’t you?”

Lei Yan turned and saw an old man walking toward him. His hair was streaked with white, and two white brows drooped over his face like willow branches. His complexion was slightly ruddy, and his breathing was steady. In his left hand, he held a tobacco pipe inlaid with gold wire. With a smile on his face, he approached Lei Yan.

“May I ask who you are?” Lei Yan asked.

The old man chuckled.

“I’m the village chief. I heard that you came to our village last night, so I thought I would come and see whether you needed anything.”

“I have nothing in particular to attend to. I may stay here for several days. If I cause any inconvenience, please forgive me, Chief. As for the lodging fee, you may name your price.”

“Young brother, there’s no need to be so courteous. If you like this place, you may stay as long as you wish. As for money, don’t mention it. Oxhorn Village isn’t so poor that we need to charge someone for lodging.”

The old man smiled as he spoke.

Lei Yan was about to thank the village chief when a young man came running over, panting heavily.

“Chief! Chief! Ox奔 has gotten into another fight! We couldn’t stop him!”

“Ox奔? Could he be the Ox奔 who possesses the treasure map?” Lei Yan wondered, his heart stirring.

“Lead the way.”

The old man frowned and was about to leave at once, but then he suddenly remembered something. Turning to Lei Yan, he said, “Young brother, I won’t be able to accompany you. You can look around the village on your own.”

“That’s all right. I’ll come and take a look as well.”

Lei Yan smiled and followed them.

After a short while, Lei Yan arrived with the young man at the training ground in the northern part of the village. A crowd of young men and children had gathered there.

Shouts and cries rang out continuously.

“The chief is here!” the young man who had led them suddenly shouted.

Many of the children and young men who had been cheering turned around. When they saw the village chief, they immediately scattered, still shouting as they ran:

“The chief is here! The chief is here!”

Once the crowd dispersed, Lei Yan immediately saw two young men wrestling on the ground.

One wore a blue-green cotton jacket and had a slender build. His hair was tied up neatly, giving him a clean and refreshing appearance. The other was heavily built, with disheveled hair. He wore a blue cloth shirt riddled with holes and patches. The wild-haired youth had pinned the other man to the ground and was punching him repeatedly in the face. His hands were already stained red with blood.

“Stop! Both of you, stop!”

The village chief had barely reached the training ground when he shouted. Yet the wild-haired youth paid him no attention and continued hammering his fists into the young man beneath him.

Seeing that the youth still refused to stop, the old village chief suddenly thrust out the tobacco pipe in his hand. Like a white snake darting from its hole, it struck the youth’s raised right hand.

The blow caused the youth’s hand to halt in midair. It then slowly descended, landing on the nose of the man beneath him.

“Ox奔, are you even refusing to listen to me now?” the old village chief asked with a frown.

The youth named Ox奔 did not answer. He abruptly rose and stamped one foot onto the abdomen of the man beneath him, then shouted angrily:

“Get lost!”

The young man who had been beaten had blood covering his face. His injuries looked severe, but in truth they were only superficial. Covering his nose, he glared furiously at Ox奔 and muttered curses under his breath.

“Second Dog, take him to the village entrance and have him treated,” the old village chief instructed the young man beside him.

Second Dog immediately dragged the still-cursing youth toward the village entrance.

Lei Yan stood at a distance, watching Ox奔 with interest. He had already examined Ox奔 from head to toe with his supernatural ability, but he had discovered nothing unusual.

“Everyone disperse. Move along.”

The old village chief waved at the children and young men, sending them away. Before long, only Lei Yan, the old village chief, and Ox奔 remained in the training ground.

“Tell me. What happened this time?” the old village chief asked Ox奔 sternly.

Ox奔 lowered his head and remained silent. The fists at his sides clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

“Alas... Didn’t I tell you to endure it?” the old village chief sighed when Ox奔 refused to speak.

“I can endure anything else, but I cannot endure them calling me a bastard!” Ox奔 roared angrily.

The old village chief understood him perfectly. He knew Ox奔’s character well; the young man would never deliberately cause trouble. As expected, this fight had once again begun for the same reason.

After thinking for a moment, the old man slowly said, “Ox奔, you’re no longer a child. A man must venture out into the world sooner or later...”

“Grandpa Chief, are you trying to drive me away?”

Tears began streaming uncontrollably down Ox奔’s face. His mother had died when he was young, and he had never even seen his father. If there was anything in the village that still tied him to it, it was the old man standing before him.

The old village chief knew that Ox奔 had remained in the village because of him. Seeing the expression on the young man’s face, he felt reluctant as well. But if Ox奔 continued living in the village, no one knew how much more humiliation he would have to endure. Thus, he slowly said:

“Ox奔, Grandpa has no intention of driving you away. A man’s ambitions should reach in all directions. Are you truly planning to hide in this village for the rest of your life? You’re really disappointing Grandpa...”

“Grandpa, I understand what you mean. I won’t disappoint you. One month. I’ll leave and venture into the world one month from now.”

Ox奔 clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth. He had considered leaving immediately, but because Yuan He had told him to wait for a month, he had decided to depart after that month passed.

“Good.”

The old village chief patted Ox奔 on the shoulder.

“I know you can’t bear to leave me. One month, then. Just one month.”

“Fortunately, I arrived now. If I had come a month later, this Ox奔 might have vanished to who-knows-where.”

Lei Yan secretly muttered to himself. At the same time, an idea came to him. He would take Ox奔 out of the village first and decide what to do afterward.

With that thought, Lei Yan slowly said, “Brother Ox奔, if you intend to venture into the world, why don’t we travel together? At least we can look out for each other.”