Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 293 [The Ghost Clan] (6600)

Chapter 287 [The Ghost Clan] (6600)

The so-called Ghost Clan is neither a different race nor any other kind of race.

To be precise, the Ghost Clan is actually a "nation".

The Ghost Clan is also a branch of humanity, but because of their beliefs, culture, and most importantly, their cultivation path, which is very different from the mainstream cultivation path of the human race in the realm, they have formed their own clan.

In his own world, Chen Yan had already learned a lot about the Ghost Clan from the old fox Su Yi. After coming to the Realm several times, he also conducted many investigations and inquired from the sidelines, and basically figured out the origin and background of the so-called "Ghost Clan".

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The Ghost Clan is a very special race among the human races of the Realm, so special that it is almost naturally assumed by many to be a separate existence independent of the human race.

But ultimately, the people of the Ghost Clan are still human, not true ghosts.

Ghosts like those in myths and legends don't exist in this world. Even if there are similar ones, like the red-clothed vengeful ghost Chen Yan encountered, it's merely the lingering obsession left by Li Xin, not Li Xin's actual ghost—there are no ghosts after death. It's just some residual obsession, a kind of spiritual force that hasn't dissipated.

Unable to survive independently, they will not form any civilization or system.

The demon race are human, but their existence is rather unique.

·
The Ghost Clan originated in the southern border region of the realm, and their lineage can be traced back to the mountain peoples of the southern border region 100,000 years ago. The local customs, climate, and beliefs of the mountain people here are very different from those of other parts of the realm.

But at that time, the Ghost Clan did not exist, and the mountain people of southern Xinjiang were still just "mountain people".

Later, the phenomenon of "Sui" appeared and began to invade the territory of the domain on a large scale.

In the beginning, the realm paid a heavy price in the fight against the evil spirits, and later gradually built a defense system of three platforms, eight passes, and sixteen towns.

However, during the long-term war against the evil forces that lasted for 100,000 years, the bloodshed and sacrifices, and the emergence of generations of elites and geniuses from the realms, on the one hand, they were stuck below the limited number of sainthoods. For 100,000 years, countless outstanding cultivators have lived their lives in frustration, stuck outside the threshold of the sainthood.

On the other hand, during the war between the 100,000-year-old demon and the demon, countless outstanding talents and elites fought bravely and died in the fierce war between the demon and the demon.

The southeastern border area of ​​southern Xinjiang is the edge of the territory. Further out lies the endless sea where black waters churn and surge year-round.

And not far from the coastline on the southeastern border, there is another important place.

Prison Suppression Platform!
One of the three platforms, eight passes, and sixteen towns in the realm, the Prison Suppression Platform!
To the sides and rear of the prison tower, there are two more passes, forming the boundary defense system on the southern border.

Therefore, for hundreds of thousands of years, the creatures of the southern border, in order to help guard the prison and the pass, have sent countless outstanding talents to the battlefield to resist the outbreak of the red tide time and time again.

Back when the mountain people were just mountain people, no one knew how many people had shed blood and sacrificed their lives.

until……

Among the native cultivators of Southern Xinjiang, an outstanding powerhouse has emerged!

Originally, the mountain people of Southern Xinjiang differed from the humans of other regions in terms of culture and customs. Most of the cultivators among the mountain people of Southern Xinjiang followed the two most orthodox and authentic cultivation paths of the humans in the region: primordial spirit cultivation or body cultivation.

But this outstanding and powerful person came from a tribe of mountain people in southern Xinjiang. From a young age, he witnessed his people fighting bravely against the evil forces to resist the red tide and protect their homeland. From ancient times to the present, from ancestors to peers, generation after generation rushed to the front line to guard the gates and fight against the evil forces.

Having witnessed too many sacrifices, I am deeply saddened by the sacrifices and contributions of the mountain tribes.

It is even more lamentable that the mountain people of Southern Xinjiang face such difficult cultivation conditions. Due to its remote location, the cultivation traditions they receive are far less abundant than those in the central regions of the realm. Furthermore, they must compete with the local demon race for cultivation resources. As a result, the human race is weak in Southern Xinjiang, and the mountain people often do not have a good environment for cultivation.

This great man truly possesses extraordinary talent.

Later, he made a grand vow to save the mountain people of southern Xinjiang, setting an unparalleled ambition.

A powerful being peered into the secrets of heaven and painstakingly studied cultivation. In the end, he discovered an extremely unique path to cultivation.

This route can be said to be different from the two mainstream paths of primordial spirit/body cultivation that existed in the original realm!
The cultivation path created by this great being is mysterious and profound, but in plain terms, it is actually quite simple and straightforward.

The original cultivation system of the realm consists of three stages: entering the inner chamber, returning to the origin, and ascending the stage.

These three realms represent the first stage, where one cultivates the primordial spirit and the body. Before the second realm, cultivators can balance both. However, upon reaching the third realm, one must choose one as the primary cultivation path.

If one cultivates one of these to a sufficient level, one can transcend tribulations and break through to become a Celestial Being, thus completing the first major stage of the cultivation path.

The second stage, which is after breaking through to the Celestial Realm: Celestial Realm, Golden Body Realm, Primordial Spirit Realm—this second major stage is actually when one begins to glimpse the Heavenly Dao and slowly comprehend it.

The second major stage is essentially about comprehending the Dao of Heaven.

Theoretically speaking, at this point, one's primordial spirit or physical skills will become stronger and stronger as one comprehends the Dao of Heaven.

Only after comprehending the Dao of Heaven to a sufficient degree, and achieving a perfect understanding and integration with it, can one undergo another tribulation, enter the next major stage, and directly ascend to the position of a sage.

Of course, this is just theory. After all, there are only so many Saintly positions. Although the theory is wonderful, if there are vacancies in the Saintly positions, even if one comprehends the Heavenly Dao to death, there is no way to break through to the Saintly realm.

However, this was the mainstream cultivation path for the human race in the previous realm.

But that mountain dweller had a brilliant idea.

The second stage, that is, cultivators who have broken through to the Celestial Realm, are far, far stronger than cultivators below the Celestial Realm, such as those in the Third Realm Ascending Stage!

Because once one breaks through to the Celestial Realm, one can begin to glimpse and comprehend the Heavenly Dao, so one's understanding of the rules of the Heavenly Dao, the use of power, and the mobilization of the might of heaven and earth are already incomparable to the first major stage.

In terms of combat power, if a Celestial Realm cultivator wants to deal with a cultivator at the Third Realm Ascending Stage, it would be an effortless crushing and massacre!

Although the Celestial Realm is only the fourth realm in terms of sequence, it is only one realm higher than the Ascending Realm.

Below the heavens and the earth, all are ants!
A cultivator who understands the rules of the Heavenly Dao is far stronger than a cultivator who has never comprehended the Heavenly Dao, even if it is only a fourth-realm versus a third-realm cultivator.

Theoretically speaking, a cultivator at the second level can still put up a fight against a cultivator at the third level. Although they may not be able to defeat him, they can at least hold their own for a while.

If several people at the second level were gathered together, they could work together to kill a third-level enemy.

but……

When a third-realm cultivator fights a fourth-realm cultivator, it's a completely different story.

If a Celestial Realm cultivator were to kill a Stage-Ascending Realm cultivator, even though it's only a four-realm versus three-realm fight, it would be like a strong, burly man wielding a sharp blade to kill a kindergarten child.

Even gathering a dozen or so third-realm cultivators wouldn't be enough! A fourth-realm Celestial Realm cultivator has already grasped the basic rules of the Heavenly Dao and can mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao. Compared to third-realm cultivators, their strength increases exponentially, allowing them to effortlessly crush a group of third-realm opponents!
Before reaching the Celestial Realm, a cultivator's realm level distinguished their strength.

However, this difference is far from a qualitative distinction.

That powerful figure believed that the mountain people of southern Xinjiang lacked strong cultivation and combat power.

But how difficult it is to cultivate to the Celestial Realm!
Although the territory of the mountain people in the southern border is vast, their resources for cultivation are not abundant, and it is extremely difficult to cultivate to the Celestial Realm.

The difference between second-tier cultivators and first-tier cultivators lies in—the Heavenly Dao!
Only after breaking through to the Celestial Realm and becoming a second-tier cultivator can one begin to glimpse and comprehend the Heavenly Dao and mobilize its power.

Cultivation in the Realm of Qi has always begun with comprehending primordial energy. First-stage cultivators begin with the introduction to primordial energy, then cultivate their primordial spirit or pursue the path of physical cultivation. Only after reaching the second stage, breaking through to the Celestial Realm, can one comprehend the Heavenly Dao.

The path pioneered by that great being is the complete opposite!
The first step in spiritual practice is to comprehend the Way of Heaven!

What is vital energy, what is primordial spirit, what is body cultivation?

I launched myself into the air and headed straight for the Heavenly Dao!
This approach is not only absurd, but is almost considered nonsense.

Because comprehending the Way of Heaven isn't something you can simply do whenever you want, or something you can just peek into whenever you want.

There is a reason why the original cultivation process only allowed one to glimpse the Heavenly Dao after reaching the Celestial Realm.

Before reaching the Celestial Realm, cultivators have already established a foundation in cultivating their primordial spirit. With a strong divine sense, they have enough spiritual power to explore and comprehend the Dao of Heaven.

At the same time, when one breaks through to the Celestial Realm, there will be a great Heavenly Tribulation. The process of passing through this Heavenly Tribulation not only tempers the cultivator's physical body and cultivation, but also allows the cultivator to comprehend the great power of heaven and earth during the tribulation. In the midst of life and death, the cultivator can come into contact with that mysterious and profound rule of the Heavenly Dao.

These are all indispensable conditions.

Before this, it was generally believed in the realm that without these conditions, it was impossible to comprehend the Heavenly Dao—peeping? You could stare until your eyes bleed and still not see it!

Since this great being possesses extraordinary talent, how could he not know this basic principle?
But he came up with a unique idea, a method that was almost demonic!
·
This powerful being once made a statement that was condemned by almost everyone in the entire realm, a statement that was heretical and contrary to the Heavenly Gang!
What he said is:

The Way of Heaven is like a will between heaven and earth. In the past, cultivation was a test posed by the Way of Heaven. If it asked us to cultivate primordial energy, we would cultivate primordial energy; if it asked us to cultivate primordial spirit, we would cultivate primordial spirit; if it asked us to cultivate physical techniques, we would cultivate physical techniques.

Once you've completed each question, passed, and earned enough points, the veil of Heaven is lifted, allowing us to glimpse the rules of the universe and thus comprehend its principles.

Just like when you go to a master to learn a skill, you have to pass the master's test in order to learn the secrets.

but……

I don't want to go through the step-by-step assessments, but I still want this mentor to teach me my most valuable skills directly. What should I do?

The answer is simple.

This great man's answer consisted of only three words:
[Give me a reward!]

·
To undermine the Heavenly Dao, it couldn't have been done by giving money. But the meaning is easy to understand: it was bribery.

Take something out and offer it as a sacrifice to the heavens.

The method this great being came up with was:
To sacrifice one's own soul!
·
He created a secret technique that allows people to directly enter a state of spiritual travel—it is extremely dangerous for mortals to enter a state of spiritual travel! Because mortals have no cultivation and no spiritual sense, the state of spiritual travel consumes a person's spirit. Once it is exhausted, even if they are saved, they will be mentally impaired—just like the folk saying of loss of soul.

However, this dangerous state, which comes at the cost of burning one's spiritual power, allows mortals to enter a state in which they can barely comprehend the rules of heaven and earth!
At the same time, under these circumstances, a ritual is performed to pray to the heavens.

The principle is somewhat similar to making a vow to Heaven, but the ritual is more complicated.

In this ritual, one sacrifices their soul to the Heavenly Dao!

He would sacrifice half of his soul to the Heavenly Way, merging with it.

This integration with the Way of Heaven is somewhat similar to how venerable saints and sages entrust their divine power to the Way of Heaven, but the essence is still different.

The sages' integration with the Way of Heaven is similar to saying, "I am the Way of Heaven, and the Way of Heaven is also me."

The cultivation method created by the powerful beings, in which mortals sacrifice a part of their soul to merge with the Heavenly Dao as the first step in their cultivation, means: I belong to the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao is my father!
This is a bit difficult to handle!
Originally, everyone's cultivation is like going to find a master. Facing the teacher, one difficult test after another, one must strive to complete them one by one, and finally break through to the realm of the Celestial Being, only then will one be qualified to comprehend the Dao of Heaven and be granted the true teachings by the teacher.

Now……

Everyone went to find a master, and everyone was working hard on the difficult problems.

You walk in and do nothing but kneel down on the ground with a thud, then kowtow to the teacher and ask him to be your godfather!
He's practically a godfather now, what kind of tests are needed! He's family now, fine, fine, no more tests, let's just start learning!

That's just...unreasonable!
·
When this secret technique was first created, the entire realm initially scoffed at it.

Are you kidding me?! That's the will of Heaven!
It is the supreme Heavenly Dao!!
Only by cultivating oneself to the level of a venerable saint can one entrust one's spirit to the Heavenly Way, and only then will the Heavenly Way accept one's divine soul!

You, a mere mortal, dare to expect the Heavenly Dao to accept your soul?
How could Heaven possibly take it away?!
·
The result was that all the cultivators from all realms were once again shattered by this shock.

Heaven's will... it really did take it!

·
That powerful being traveled among the mountain tribes of southern Xinjiang, taking on many disciples and spreading his teachings. More than ten years later, when his first group of disciples emerged from the mountains, cultivators throughout the entire realm nearly went mad!

real……

It's actually done!!!
When the first cultivator from the southern mountains who followed an unorthodox path unleashed his magic using the power of the Heavenly Dao and the rules of heaven and earth to drive his spell during a battle, in full view of everyone.

Beat a demon cultivator to death!
All the cultivators watching felt like they were going crazy!

This cultivator is only at the first realm!

A realm indeed!
He unleashed the power of the Heavenly Dao at the first level?!
Although very weak, it is far inferior to cultivators at the Celestial Realm who can use the power of the Heavenly Dao.

But that was truly the genuine power of Heaven!
It is universally acknowledged in the realm that a spell driven by the power of Heaven is like pouring boiling water on snow when it is used to fight a spell driven by primordial energy!
On that occasion, a cultivator from the mountains of southern Xinjiang who followed an unorthodox path killed a demon cultivator of the second realm on the spot with his first-realm cultivation!

In this way, he declared to the realm that he was a godson of the Heavenly Dao!

After the news spread throughout the realm, all the sects, families, and clans could no longer sit still.

All the independent cultivators were also eager to move—no, not just eager to move, but rushing to the Southern Frontier at all costs!

Soon, more and more information came in.

Among the mountain people of southern Xinjiang, cultivators who follow unorthodox methods are emerging one after another.

These people have not been cultivating for long; they are the first batch of disciples after that great master passed down the extraordinary method.

The strongest one was only at the peak of the third realm—there wasn't even a Celestial Realm cultivator among them!

But this group of cultivators at the first, second, and third realms fought more than ten battles against the demon race cultivators in the Southern Border.

Complete victory!

Finally, after the demon race was overwhelmed, a powerful demon from one of the tribes made his move.

The cultivation system of the demon race is basically the same as that of the human race in the realm.

A Great Demon is equivalent to the Celestial Realm. Above that are Demon Kings (Golden Body Realm) and Demon Emperors (Primordial Spirit Realm).

Above that are the Venerable Saints.

There's no need for terms like "king" or "emperor".

They've already transcended the mundane world, becoming one with the Dao, practically immortal. Calling them kings, emperors, or so-called rulers is just too cliché.

A powerful demon, equivalent to the Celestial Realm, personally intervened.

And the result is...

In that duel, a cultivator at the third realm using unorthodox methods accepted the great demon's challenge in a one-on-one duel, and in the end...

Both sides suffer!

If the previous news was shocking...

So, a cultivator at the third realm actually managed to fight a powerful demon at the Celestial Realm to the point of mutual destruction, leaving both of them severely injured.

This result is not surprising.

Instead, it terrified all the major sects and families in the realm!
Under normal circumstances, although a cultivator at the Celestial Realm is only one level higher than a cultivator at the Ascending Stage Realm, the difference between them is like heaven and earth!
A cultivator at the Celestial Realm (Fourth Realm) fighting a cultivator at the Ascending Platform Realm (Third Realm) is like a strong man wielding a large cleaver to beat a toddler.

Let alone one toddler, what if you send ten or a hundred? They'll all be slaughtered by strong men wielding large machetes, leaving rivers of blood! Unless they run away.

But they used that strange method that reversed the celestial order...

How could a third-realm cultivator and a fourth-realm cultivator fight to a standstill?!

Ok……

Although the demon race has always had crude cultivation techniques.

Although the demon race has always relied too much on its own talents, it has serious weaknesses in combat.

but……

That's still a fourth realm! A great demon, a Celestial Realm cultivator, a cultivator who has entered the second stage!!

After that, no one mentioned "heretical methods" anymore!

What kind of supernatural power is this!
That was clearly divine magic!
·
This time, all the major sects and families in the realm had already sent their capable subordinates to the Southern Frontier.

But now it seems that it's far from enough!
Almost all the major sects and families mobilized, including sect leaders, clan heads, and so on. Anyone who was able to move, no matter how important their business was, unanimously headed to the Southern Frontier.

Except for a few who were in seclusion and unable to leave, everyone else who could come came.

Even the top cultivators and leaders of the sects on the Immortal Platform have come to the Southern Frontier.

Back then, almost all the big shots in the secular world of the realm gathered here...

The gathering place is this "City of No Return"!
The great master who created the technique finally sent his disciples to issue a widespread announcement.

We've set a date for something to do in southern Xinjiang...

Clan founding!

From then on, all the mountain tribes in the southern border who practiced the divine methods he created were considered a new race!
The new clan name is: Ghost!

·
On the day of the clan assembly, all 6,400 tribes of the mountain people of southern Xinjiang came. Almost every tribal chief and elder came to perform the sacrifices.

Then, as the leaders and patriarchs of the major sects and families, the new clan of the Southern Frontier was established amidst such a grand and rare event in the realm!

The original 6,400 mountain tribes were largely merged, leaving only 18 tribes as members of the new tribe.

This refers to the later Eighteen Tribes of the Ghost Clan.

All the ghosts now revere the great creator of the laws, and the leaders of the eighteen tribes are no longer called clan chiefs, but rather "Lord Yama".

That powerful being also appeared at the creation ceremony and was worshipped by the eighteen tribes as the common lord of the Ghost Clan, and also the god of the Ghost Clan.

No one thought this approach was wrong. Even the major sects and families from various realms who attended the Clan Creation Conference considered it perfectly reasonable.

Moreover, having created such a divine technique, one can directly comprehend the Heavenly Dao from the very beginning...

Who wouldn't be envious of such miraculous powers?
However, none of the sects and families dared to harbor any evil intentions, nor did anyone dare to attempt to steal the cultivation techniques.

First of all, this technique has restrictions on bloodline. Only those of the Southern Xinjiang mountain people bloodline can practice this technique—the great master who created this technique from within came from the Southern Xinjiang mountain people clan.

Secondly, the first step of mortals traveling in spirit to sense the Heavenly Dao and offering sacrifices to the Heavenly Dao must be personally performed by that great being!

In other words, without this powerful being personally casting the spell, the first step cannot be initiated; even if you seize the technique, it will be useless.

No one dared to harbor any wicked thoughts towards that powerful figure.

Actually, Chen Yan was also puzzled by this when he first learned about the history of the Ghost Clan.

He knew very well how cruel and greedy powerful clans could be, whether in ancient or modern times, in China or abroad!
Faced with enormous profits, powerful clans will never hesitate to display the most ruthless and greedy methods!

Bloodline restrictions are no problem! We just need to plunder some people from the southern mountain peoples, then have them intermarry and have children, thus integrating the bloodline of the southern mountain peoples into our own tribe!

They didn't even need to intermarry and have children; they simply kidnapped a group of mountain women, imprisoned them, and used them as breeding tools!

As for that powerful figure... can't we just kidnap him?

He is a powerful figure, but do aristocratic families and sects lack experts or powerful cultivators?

They could either bind him and control him using secret methods, or interrogate him to uncover the secrets of the spell used to perform the spirit journey ritual, or simply control him and use him as a tool for casting spells!

Given enough benefits, those powerful families and sects will tear off their veneer of kindness and reveal their cruel and greedy true colors.

Even if condemned by thousands, even if they trample on all principles and morals, they are capable of doing the most despicable and cruel things!
Why didn't the sects and aristocratic families take action against that powerful figure and the mountain people of the Southern Frontier?

Later, after Chen Yan found out the truth, he said... It's okay, consider my question pointless!
because……

That powerful being was originally a Venerable Saint from the realm!
·
However, on the day of the founding ceremony, something shocking happened to everyone present.

Suddenly, auspicious clouds rose in the sky that day, and golden light shone brightly!
More than ten Venerable Saints have appeared all at once!

What's even more unbelievable is that a great celestial being who hasn't been on the mortal path for tens of thousands of years has also descended.

It wasn't a clone, but the real person who descended directly!
On that day, the Great Celestial Venerable issued a decree announcing the establishment of the new race, which was recognized by the Realm Immortal Platform and protected by the Heavenly Dao.

After that, the mountain peoples of southern Xinjiang were collectively called the Ghost Clan, and there was no longer a separate mountain peoples clan.

Furthermore, they designated the southern border region as their territory, placing it under the rule of the Ghost Clan, clearly separating it from the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Demon Clan.

After the Great Celestial Venerable made these decisions, all the leaders of the aristocratic families and sects knelt down to acknowledge them.

Even the dozen or so Venerable Saints who had descended to the scene all bowed and agreed.

Of course, this kind of treatment comes in exchange.

That powerful ghost clan elder knew that, under these circumstances, although the aristocratic families and sects couldn't do anything to him, so many elders had descended today, and even a Great Heavenly Venerable had come in person.

My secret techniques are definitely what they are most curious about and want to know, so under these circumstances, I can no longer keep anything to myself.

Then, that great being publicly announced the secret method he had created.

This greatly excited all the aristocratic families and sects!

He felt that as long as he obtained this secret method, his clan and sect could become friendly with the ghost clan, intermarry more, and absorb their bloodline.

Then, by cultivating a good relationship with the Ghost Clan, one can always send a few people to help out when the Ghost Clan holds a ritual to start their cultivation and pay respects to their souls.

Over time, their strength will naturally increase.

but……

When that powerful being revealed the secret method, everyone's enthusiasm cooled down.

·
(End of this chapter)