From a paper-making apprentice to a celestial master

As the father and son walked back, they saw Liu Quan standing under the old locust tree at the village entrance, with his hands behind his back, seemingly having been waiting for a while.

"Master."

Qin Shuang quickly stepped forward and called out.

Liu Quan looked him up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on the peach wood beads on his wrist, then at his ankle, and nodded: "It disappeared overnight. It seems you're in good health and recover quickly."

Qin Shuang knew this was due to the attribute panel, but he naturally wouldn't say it aloud, only giving a shy smile.

"Alright, this matter of yours is basically settled."

Next, you should rest at home for a while and take the opportunity to read the book a couple more times to familiarize yourself with it.

There just happened that something went wrong during an old man's burial in Huangyan Village, and they asked me to go and check on him. I have to go.

Seeing this, Liu Quan felt much relieved, then gave some instructions and prepared to leave.

"Master, wait a minute."

"I'll go with you."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shuang quickly spoke up.

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Quan paused in his steps.

Qin Shuang quickly said, "It's better to become an apprentice sooner rather than later. I happen to have some questions I'd like to ask you, Master."

Besides, I'm perfectly healthy now, and there's nothing seriously wrong with me.

As she spoke, she even jumped around a couple of times, and she did feel a sense of relief.

"That's fine too."

Upon hearing this, Liu Quan nodded, looked at Qin Zheng beside him, and said, "Then I'll take your child with me."

Don't worry, he won't lose any limbs.

Qin Zheng nodded quickly and said, "Uncle Liu, you're joking. It's Xiao Shuang's good fortune to be with you."

"Alright, you can go back now."

Liu Quan waved his hand, signaling Qin Zheng to go first, and then led Qin Shuang out of the village.

The morning mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight shone through the thin fog, warming my skin.

"Master, what are we called in our line of work?"

On the way, Qin Shuang took the opportunity to ask a question.

You should have read that book, right?

There is a term above called "walking in the underworld".

In general terms, we are practitioners of Yin-Yang practices.

of course.

Outsiders usually have other names for us. For example, I am called "Paper-Making Liu" because I have a skill in making paper. And Old Man Li from Gangkou Village is called "Half-Immortal Li" because he has the ability to tell fortunes.

In folk tradition, there are also sorceresses, shamans, and spirit mediums, each relying on their own special abilities.

In reality, everything we learn boils down to the path of entering the underworld and achieving deity through offerings of incense.

Liu Quan began to explain.

"Entering the underworld through spirit mediumship? Becoming a deity through incense offerings?"

Qin Shuang was taken aback.

"right.

In our Yin Master cultivation, the first thing we cultivate is the "spirit".

Many techniques require a sufficiently strong mind and spirit to be used.

The first stage is called "walking in the underworld".

One needs to be full of energy and have a calm and peaceful mind.

Only in this way can one cast spells and control the spirit, entering the realm of the dead, which is to say, entering a state of walking in the underworld.

Only then can one communicate and converse with spirits and ghosts, and only then can one properly handle matters involving spirits and ghosts.

The second realm of the Yin Master is the realm of incense offerings.

What is incense?

The three fires of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

As long as the spirit of the Yin Master is strong enough and vigorous to the extreme, then he can ignite his own "Heaven, Earth and Man" three fires.

First light the 'heavenly fire,' then the 'earthly fire,' and finally the 'human fire,' because the three fires correspond to the three incense sticks. Therefore, in the lineage of Yin Masters, there is also the practice of burning incense.

It is divided into Heavenly Fragrance, Earthly Fragrance, and Human Fragrance.

Lighting one incense stick is called "one stick of incense practice," and lighting two incense sticks is called "two sticks of incense practice."

However, if a spirit medium lights an incense stick, they will have the ability to fight ghosts bare-handed. They can use the power of the incense to cast spells and "burn" the ghosts to death, so they are not helpless.

Liu Quan did not keep anything to himself and shared his understanding in its entirety.

"Walking into the underworld? The incense-burning realm?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Shuang paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something.

The act of "walking through the realm of the dead" indicates that the Yin Master possesses the ability to communicate with "ghosts".

The Incense Realm indicates that the Yin Master possesses the ability to fight and battle with "ghosts".

But soon, he realized something.

This realm division is completely different from the guiding techniques he cultivates.

Even the direction of their studies is quite different.

The path of the spirit medium clearly cultivates the "spirit," the mind.

Whether one can enter the "walking in the underworld" state also depends on the "spirit".

His guiding technique cultivates "qi".

Only by drawing energy into the eyes can one see ghosts.

The two are clearly different approaches.

"Then I wonder what realm you are at, Master?"

And what methods are used to cultivate one's "spirit"?

Many questions arose in Qin Shuang's mind, and she quickly began to ask them.

"You're quite the curious kid."

Upon hearing this, Liu Quan chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "I started learning my craft at the age of fifteen. At first, I only learned paper crafting. It wasn't until I had been an apprentice for ten years that I had cultivated enough skill and caught my master's eye, who then led me into the Dao."

All told, he had been practicing for about twenty years. Fortunately, he had made steady progress and finally lit the last incense stick last year.

As for the method of cultivating "divine".

Each school of thought has its own version.

Some people meditate, while others chant scriptures and mantras.

As for the teacher, paper-making is the medium.

As he spoke, he pulled a piece of yellow paper from his sleeve, and with a few quick flicks of his fingers, a paper figure took shape.

"The craft of paper making may seem simple, but it is actually the best way to hone one's character."

Every stroke, every fold, every fold requires a high degree of concentration. Over time, the mind naturally becomes focused and less prone to distraction.

As Liu Quan spoke, he quickly sighed and said, "However, using skills to nourish the spirit is ultimately not as good as the true method of cultivating the 'spirit'."

Speaking of which...

I have indeed wasted quite a few years on this step.

As he spoke, he glanced at Qin Shuang with a complicated expression and said, "You should also learn the craft of paper making."

However, if your performance satisfies me in the future,

I do have a genuine method for cultivating divinity.

It's not that I can't send it to you.

As he spoke, he quickened his pace.

Upon hearing this, Qin Shuang's heart stirred, and she quickly understood.

The master intends to test him with his paper-making skills.

If he achieves something, then pass on to him the true method of cultivating the spirit, so that he won't end up like his master back then, only able to nourish his spirit with skills and wasting ten years of his life.

He was immediately overjoyed and quickly followed.

Perhaps because he had already mastered the art of guiding, his physical strength had indeed improved a lot. Now, he could walk with his master for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn without feeling tired.

They caught up with him in no time.

Half an hour later, they saw a village of moderate size nestled in a mountain stream in the distance.

Along the way, some farmers were working, and when they saw Liu Quan, they all stood up to greet him.

"Master Liu, you've arrived!"

"Master Liu, the matter concerning Old Huang's family is quite bizarre; you'd better be careful."

Liu Quan nodded in response, his face expressionless, but he slowed his pace slightly and asked one of the older men, "Old Zhou, what's the situation with the Huang family?"