Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 271 [Iron Spear Mountain, Pili River] (6000)

Chapter 265 [Iron Spear Mountain, Pili River] (6000)

One thing is certain: "Fire-Separated Copper" does not exist in this world!

This item is considered quite rare even in the realm of the mortals.

There is a type of copper ore in the realm called Fire Essence Copper. As the name suggests, it must be a metal ore with fire attributes. After mining, Fire Essence Copper can be refined and then used to forge various fire-attribute magical artifacts.

As all things in the universe are interconnected and mutually restraining, in rare circumstances, the mining area of ​​Fire Essence Copper may occasionally produce a rare mineral, namely Fire-Separated Copper.

Although the Fire Copper contains the character for "fire," its properties are actually the opposite of fire; it is an extremely yin substance, and is particularly compatible with divine sense and spiritual perception.

But this thing is very rare.

It is one of the raw materials specially supplied to high-level cultivators for refining artifacts—what was the name of that prospective disciple who asked him for a favor when Chen Yan was in the Heavenly Demon Yin Yang Joyful Union Sect...

Yes, that's right, her name is Nan Qiao.

That guy came from a small cultivation family, backed by a powerful cultivation clan. His family controlled a fire essence copper mine for their livelihood, and later asked me to recommend him to Nangong Sheng.

One of the conditions that guy offered was that if the recommendation was successful, he would give ten catties of Fire Copper as a reward.

Ten catties of copper!

Actually, there's not much. If you were to put it out, ten pounds of copper would probably only be slightly larger than an adult man's fist—and that's solid, of course.

But even this small amount was considered to have used up the family's resources for Nan Qiao's small cultivation family, which was already doing quite well.

This shows how valuable this thing is.

The weapon-refining section of the manuals Chen Yan learned contained records of these materials.

So-called "fire-free copper" is actually copper ore containing an element called "fire-free" within the copper composition.

This kind of fire is an extremely yin substance.

Chen Yan actually has many of these things—the [Li Huo Zhu] left behind by the old lady!
I don't know what kind of supernatural power the venerable old lady used to refine the element of fire into a candle.

This substance is extremely yin, and it is the finest item for nourishing the soul and spirits.

·
Chen Yan subconsciously picked up the Soul-Suppressing Lamp and examined it carefully, then used his Qi Observation Technique to infuse it with his own vital energy.

A moment later, he put down the Soul-Suppressing Lamp without changing his expression.

This thing... is actually mostly made of ordinary copper ingots.

However, a small amount of copper was added—into the crucial parts of the lamp—and it was only used to coat the lamp with a single layer.

In terms of the entire Soul-Suppressing Lamp, the content of the Fire-Burning Copper is far less than one-tenth of the total material.

·
Shen Shiqi slowly said, "This thing was left behind by the old Taoist priest. It is the treasure passed down from his lineage."

The so-called Soul-Suppressing Lamp has a certain array pattern engraved inside. After performing the ritual, the person casting the spell can leave a trace of their divine consciousness inside the Soul-Suppressing Lamp and then light it.

If the person who holds the lamp is to leave it in the sect, and if they encounter an accident and die while traveling, the lamp will be activated.

The soul and consciousness of a deceased person can return to the lamp by following the clue left in the lamp, and finally return to the lamp.

With the help of the Soul-Suppressing Lamp, that wisp of soul and consciousness can be suppressed by the lamp, placed within the lamp, and condensed and not dispersed! If a great opportunity comes in the future, there may be a chance to reshape the physical body, a one in ten thousand chance of survival.

However... this is what the old Taoist priest told me, the original purpose of this soul-suppressing lamp.

But he also told me that the idea of ​​a soul hidden in a lamp, waiting for a glimmer of hope to reshape its physical body, was too far-fetched; there was no such supernatural power in the world.

So this lamp can only serve as a way to preserve a wisp of a soul after death—it can't do much else, but it's quite suitable for calmly leaving behind some legacy or last words.

Chen Yan smiled, but his gaze toward the Soul-Suppressing Lamp became more serious.

Without a doubt, he immediately determined that this Soul-Suppressing Lamp was definitely a magical artifact that originated from the realm!
There is absolutely no way that something called "fire-corroded copper" could exist in this world.

While preserving a soul's essence and consciousness with a soul-suppressing lamp to await the reconstruction of the physical body is impossible in this world, it may be possible in other realms.

That old Taoist priest has quite an impressive background!
However, according to Shen Shiqi, the old Taoist priest may have only received the inheritance in this world, and he himself did not come from the other realm.

It's estimated that... his lineage originated from ancestors who escaped from the outer realms, bringing with them some cultivation techniques and this magical artifact.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan glanced at Shen Shiqi: "How did this treasure of the old Taoist end up in your hands?"

Shen Shiqi hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Before the old Taoist priest went to kill that evil cultivator, he left behind a Soul-Suppressing Lamp according to the tradition of his sect, and left his own spiritual guidance for the ritual in the Soul-Suppressing Lamp."

After his death, his soul and consciousness returned to the Soul-Suppressing Lamp, guided by its instructions.

But... although he managed to retain his soul, he encountered another problem.

His soul was attached to the Soul-Suppressing Lamp, but he was unable to communicate with the outside world. Occasionally, someone would light the lamp, and the old Taoist's soul could only emerge after the lamp was lit. However, because mortals do not have the third eye, they cannot see the soul, let alone sense its divine consciousness.

It was only after the director of the orphanage sent someone to collect the old Taoist priest's belongings and later sent this soul-suppressing lamp to the orphanage for safekeeping that I had the opportunity to come into contact with it.

Hearing this, Chen Yan narrowed his eyes.

We've reached the crucial point!

Sure enough, Shen Shiqi slowly said, "I... am naturally different from others. Just like you cultivators who open your Heavenly Eye, I was born with a Heavenly Eye, which allows me to see souls and sense divine consciousness."

The old Taoist's remnant soul could not stray too far from the Soul-Suppressing Lamp. He had already been inside the lamp for a long time. Several times before, when mortals accidentally lit the lamp, he came out and tried to communicate with them, but to no avail.

Other ordinary people, upon seeing the old Taoist's soul and spirit, were like blind and deaf people, unable to see or hear it.

But after finally meeting me...

When I saw this thing, I knew it was extraordinary, so when no one was around, I secretly took it back to my room, lit it, and released the old Taoist's soul.

I can see the old Taoist priest and hear his words, so…”

Chen Yan looked at the Soul-Suppressing Lamp: "So, the old Taoist's last vestige of soul and consciousness is still inside the lamp?"

"...I guess he's still around." Shen Shiqi scratched his head and said, "That's right... This Soul-Suppressing Lamp has been passed down for too long, and it has been used by generations of people. The magic power inside is almost exhausted. The old Taoist told me that the flame in the Soul-Suppressing Lamp has been completely consumed. The little bit left is only enough for him to maintain his hiding place. If this little bit is also exhausted, he will vanish into thin air."

The lamp now contains only enough energy to light it just once more. Once lit, it will rapidly deplete the remaining fire, allowing the old Taoist priest to appear once—but this should be the last time!

Is this the last time?

Chen Yan had originally intended to light the Soul-Suppressing Lamp to release the old Taoist's soul for a look, but upon hearing this, he simply gave up the idea.

Although Chen Yan still had a Li Huo candle in his hand, which could allow the old Taoist priest to "extend his life" and continue to hide.

However, Chen Yan would not reveal his true intentions to strangers who were not related to him.

"So, all of this was told to you by the old Taoist priest's spirit?"

"Yes."

Chen Yan frowned and said, "Hearing is believing. You believe everything a ghost hiding in a soul-suppressing lamp says?"

Shen Shiqi shook his head: "I'm not that trusting of people."

He paused, then said, "I was only eight years old when I got this. After talking with the old Taoist priest, I learned about what had happened before, that the evil cultivator was not dead, and that once he woke up, the headmistress would definitely not survive..."

So after I had a detailed conversation with the old Taoist priest, I asked him about the matter many times and wrote it all down.

For the past three years, I haven't been idle. I always sneak out during my free time to search and investigate, finding many clues and evidence. Finally, I was convinced that the old Taoist priest hadn't lied to me, and that what he said was true.

Chen Yan smiled and asked, "What have you found out?"

"Fellow Daoist, don't assume I can't find anything useful just because I'm young... After all, the old Daoist was a participant in that great battle, and the details he told me personally are very important."

For example… I know exactly where that evil cultivator hid after he was seriously injured and fled!

As he spoke, Shen Shiqi stood up and bowed deeply to Chen Yan: "This evil cultivator has caused a great deal of harm. Back then, in order to take revenge on the Sun family, he burned down the factory, burning and injuring innocent people. He even murdered my father, the dean."

He's barely clinging to life now, but once he wakes up, he'll surely make a comeback. Even someone as kind as the headmistress will fall victim to his cruelty!
"I implore you, fellow Daoist, to act for the sake of righteousness and eliminate this evil!"

Watching the little figure bow to him, Chen Yan remained calm, simply gazing at Shen Shiqi.

After a while, Chen Yan finally spoke slowly under Shen Shiqi's expectant gaze.

"This person has done many evil deeds, but he was able to fight to the death against an old Taoist priest—an old Taoist priest who possessed a magical artifact like the Soul-Suppressing Lamp. He must have been quite powerful."

This suggests that the practitioner's abilities were quite remarkable.

As for me, you say a few nice words and expect me to risk my life for you? What kind of logic is that?
Do you think I'm a kind-hearted person who donates money and supplies to your welfare home, and that I'm the kind of good-natured person who can be persuaded to risk my life for you with just a few words?
Dean Shen is a good person, and I don't want to see her die either, but not wanting to see her die and risking my life for her are two different things.

Besides… Shen Shiqi!

Chen Yan suddenly leaned forward slightly and said coldly, "Your identity is peculiar and unclear! Since you have the ability to see the heavens and perceive qi, yet you call me a fellow Daoist..."

Don't say you're just an ordinary person—since you have these abilities, you must be no ordinary person!

Since you value your hospital director mother and have feelings for her, why don't you save her yourself?

"I don't have that ability," Shen Shiqi said frankly. "If I could cultivate and knew magic, I would have gone to that evil cultivator long ago and fought him to the death."

Even if it costs me my life, as long as I can kill him and save the headmistress, I won't even flinch!
Fellow Daoist, I truly have no other choice but to ask you for help!

As for my curiosity about your secrets... actually, my own secrets have nothing to do with you or this matter.

Moreover, I'm telling you, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but that I can't!

"It's not that I'm deliberately hiding it or don't want to tell you, it's that I can't tell you." Chen Yan looked at the little boy. Shen Shiqi's eyes were full of sincerity, his gaze fixed on Chen Yan, showing his firm mind, without the slightest wavering or guilt.

Although it cannot be proven, Chen Yan had a vague feeling in his divine sense: Shen Shiqi was not lying!
"What level of cultivation does that heretical cultivator possess?"

Upon hearing Chen Yan suddenly ask this question, Shen Shiqi's face lit up with joy: "Fellow Daoist! What is this...?"

"I'm asking you what his cultivation level is."

"According to the old Taoist priest, he was at the peak of the second realm at that time, and had already completed the cultivation of the Returning Origin Realm."

Chen Yan sneered.

Don't take that too seriously.

It's not like he hasn't seen similar stories and legends before.

In any such case, when a demon or monster is severely injured and goes into seclusion to recuperate, the righteous people come to kill it, thus awakening the demon.

The demon's cultivation level is often stronger than before.

and so……

If it was previously at the peak of the Returning Origin Realm...

Then we have to assume that after he wakes up, he will be a cultivator at the third realm.

As for the Three Realms, I'm not afraid.

Chen Yan himself is the third realm.

Moreover, they have a trump card up their sleeve; dealing with a third-realm cultivator in this world should be a piece of cake.

Actually, Chen Yan wasn't too worried about this world.

Because the ceiling of this world is the Celestial Realm.

In other words, the third realm is the pinnacle.

Chen Yan has now reached the third realm and has various trump cards and killer moves at his disposal.

In this world, Chen Yan considers himself basically invincible.

Even if Gu Qingyi came...

Well, at worst, I can just kneel down and call her "Mom"!

Are Gu Qingyi's three realms ordinary three realms?
However, the cultivators in this world are all independent cultivators compared to those in other realms!
A low-level, unaffiliated cultivator!

He is a low-level rogue cultivator whose lineage is incomplete!

“Fellow Daoist, if you wish to go and slay this fiend, I am willing to go with you! After all, I have remembered everything the old Daoist left behind. I can point out to you, one by one, the cultivation level of this evil cultivator, some of his weaknesses, and the location of his hiding place. And also…”

Chen Yan sighed: "One last question."

"Ok?"

“You need to give me a reason to take action—don’t say it’s about exorcising demons or monsters. I’m not some great philanthropist, and I have no interest in risking my life for strangers.”

Shen Shiqi was stunned.

The child slumped onto the sofa, his face stiff and his eyes vacant.

After a moment, he scratched his head and cheeks for a while, and finally a resolute look flashed in his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist..." Shen Shiqi spoke in a deep voice, his voice even sounding somewhat hoarse. After calling out to Chen Yan, he slowly uttered a few strange sentences.

"The spirit is the void, the void is split into a valley, branches and vines separate, the valley is the abode of the spirit. If the branches nourish the vines, the vines will grow strong; if the vines divide the branches, the branches will grow strong. Separate and separate, unite and merge, this is called the method of long-term vision. If the branches and vines grow strong, the void and valley will be full; if the void and valley are full, the spirit will be strong..."

When he uttered his first sentence, Chen Yan was only taken aback for a moment, but then he immediately realized what was happening and his expression suddenly changed!

Chen Yan's eyes widened instantly as he stared at Shen Shiqi, but he also pricked up his ears, carefully memorizing those few sentences, afraid of missing a single word!

This is a...

An extremely sophisticated cultivation technique!
Even though what Chen Yan learned was the Venerable's inheritance left by the old lady, the old lady did not leave behind any cultivation method for cultivating the primordial spirit. The primordial spirit cultivation method that Chen Yan later obtained from Lin Qingquan was obviously much worse than the few sentences that Shen Shiqi casually recited!

This technique is not the kind of technique that involves pitfalls in training the primordial spirit, but rather a technique used to temper and strengthen the divine consciousness!
It's similar to "sharpening a knife," but it's so much more sophisticated!
Unfortunately, after reading a few sentences, Shen Shiqi suddenly shut his mouth and stopped talking.

Seeing Chen Yan's eyes flicker as he listened, Shen Shiqi spoke slowly with a complicated tone: "Fellow Daoist, this 'Spirit Transfer Chapter' is a cultivation technique."

"If you are willing to help me, I will offer you the entire contents of this cultivation technique as your reward after the matter is accomplished!"

Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat!
When Chen Yan looked at Shen Shiqi again, a hint of fear involuntarily showed in his eyes!
How could Shen Shiqi possess such a sophisticated technique for strengthening one's divine sense?!

This kind of cultivation technique is something that even in the entire realm, let alone in this world, it's something that those scattered rogue cultivators could only dream of!
Even for powerful sects, obtaining such a technique would make it a sect-protecting technique!
"You... just who are you?!" Chen Yan gasped.

“I told you, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t.” Shen Shiqi’s expression was calm, then he sighed: “I will definitely do what I promised you. As long as you help me kill that evil cultivator and save the headmistress’s life, I will give you this cultivation technique.”

But... you must make a vow, a vow to the heavens!

This manual, once spoken by me, is now in your ears. You must never reveal it to a third person in any way!
If you disobey, no matter where you are in the world, someone will surely kill you and grind your bones to dust!

Chen Yan stared intently at Shen Shiqi: "You...you're not from this world, are you!"

"..." Shen Shiqi looked at Chen Yan with a complicated expression: "Fellow Daoist, these are none of your business, so don't ask anymore."

·
Iron Spear Mountain!
This place is hundreds of kilometers away from the prefecture where Hengdian is located, and it's even outside the province where Hengdian is located.

This area is covered with mountains, with very few flat plains.

Throughout the province, mountains crisscross the landscape.

It has always been a place of poverty and hardship.

The main peak of Tieshuo Mountain stretches for nearly a hundred miles, and with the nearby auxiliary peaks, the mountain range covers an area of ​​several hundred miles.

This place has been sparsely populated since ancient times, with only a few mountain dwellers living here.

In addition, a large river, which the locals call the "Pili River," meanders through the mountains here, resulting in a landscape of continuous mountains and rivers that blends together, making it a truly infamous place.

It is said that when the Japanese invaders came, the local mountain people and resistance forces took advantage of the terrain and hid in the mountains of Tieshuo Mountain, causing the Japanese to fail in their several raids and even get lost in the mountains.

In the afternoon, a ferry slowly sailed across the not-so-wide Pili River.

The boatman wore a fisherman's hat, which covered his thinning hair. His old face, like a dried orange peel, was full of the marks of time. He shouted into the cabin in heavily accented Mandarin.

"Guests, we're almost there!"

Inside the cabin, Chen Yan sat there with his arms crossed. Hearing this, he opened his eyes and first glanced at the little person beside him.

Shen Shiqi's face was pale. He tried to open his eyes wide and forced a smile, saying, "Fellow Daoist, I..."

After saying that, his expression changed, and he suddenly turned his head, stuck his head out of the cabin window, and began to vomit violently into the water.

Chen Yan sighed: "Didn't you say you'd been to this place before... how come you still get seasick on the boat?"

Shen Shiqi vomited for a while, then shrank back, her eyes brimming with tears. She exhaled and said, "Last summer vacation, I lied to the headmistress and told her I was working a temporary job at a factory and only went out for a week. I took the opportunity to come here once."

I don't usually travel by boat.

Last time I came here, I was so nauseous I could barely walk.

Chen Yan sighed, gently patted Shen Shiqi's back, and injected a stream of vital energy to help him gather his scattered energy and unbalanced blood and qi, which immediately made Shen Shiqi feel more comfortable.

With a bang, the boat docked at the shore.

Chen Yan took Shen Shiqi's hand and walked out of the cabin, jumped over the sampan, and arrived at the dock.

The bluestone dock wasn't very big, and the ground was slippery and covered in moss.

After Shen Shiqi finally put his feet on solid ground, he still felt a soft, yielding sensation under his feet. He staggered a few times before regaining his balance, then looked up at the top of the dock.

The pier is built against the mountain, with bluestone steps leading all the way up, as if it were going to be built all the way to the back of the hillside.

At the end of the mountain range, there are towering, verdant peaks.

"This is the only inhabited village at the foot of the mountain, and it is only because of the Pili River that this village has been able to survive."

Further away, in the mountains, the villages had long been relocated by the authorities.

There's no arable land in the mountains, and the roads are difficult to travel on, so there's really no value in people living there. The government has done the math; it's not worth the huge expense of building roads and installing electricity.

It would be better to relocate the entire mountain village.

Today, villages are a rare sight in these mountains.

Shen Shiqi said in a low voice.

Chen Yan nodded: "You've certainly done your research."

Shen Shiqi gave a wry smile: "We'll stay in this village tonight. It's the last place we can rest before heading into the mountains. Last time I came here, I was almost kidnapped, but luckily I met some good people in this village."

However, this village is isolated from the outside world. There are no hotels or similar places in the village. The only business is a general store. The owner of the general store does business with the outside world all year round, and he has to transport goods from the outside world by boat to get them.

With this business relationship, he could actually provide accommodation in his shop. He prepared two rooms for boatmen who transported goods to stay temporarily; they could rent beds for a fee.

(End of this chapter)