Chapter 69: Sun-Stealing True Scripture

After Jing Wushuang left, Mu Feng kept himself very busy.

He bought medicine, brewed the medicine, and served it to his mother… By the time he could finally rest, it was already the beginning of the night. Considering that the powerful Chief Transmission Disciple Mu Tie could return from afar seeking revenge at any moment, he did not dare to take even a single breath of rest. He closed the courtyard gate and hurriedly left, heading for the dangerous Stone Mountain to keep his appointment.

“Gah gah gah, young man, you were a quarter of an hour late today. Have you learned a little skill and started becoming proud, no longer wishing to continue learning?”

Ghost Mother let out a cold, cackling laugh, her eyes staring straight at Mu Feng. Her chilling gaze made one’s hair stand on end. After one day apart, five bloody heads had appeared in front of her again. The five eerie holes on top of the heads made anyone who saw them shudder.

“No!”

Mu Feng denied it immediately, bowing as he saluted. “Today, my mother suddenly fell ill. I had to buy and brew medicine for her, so I was a little late. I beg for Granny’s forgiveness.”

“Oh, she’s sick? What illness? Does Granny need to leave the mountain to help you take a look?” Ghost Mother’s face was shifting between dark and bright, making it unclear what she was planning.

Although this old witch had superb medical skills, she was sinister and malicious. Mu Feng had almost fallen victim to her schemes himself, so how could he dare to let her near his mother? He quickly said, “No need, thank you, Granny. Shuang’er already came down the mountain to see her today. It’s just a common cold. She just needs to drink some medicine and rest for a few days, and she’ll be fine.”

“Oh, that’s good then. Time is short, let me see what progress you’ve made today!”

Seeing Mu Feng’s response, Ghost Mother did not press further.

At her signal, Mu Feng sat cross-legged on the ground and performed the Visualization Great Art.

Ascend high, gaze far, jump!

His Spiritual Soul immediately drilled out from the top of his head, hovering three feet above him, quietly awaiting Ghost Mother’s guidance. After the danger of the previous time, his Spiritual Soul no longer dared to fly high easily, staying close to his physical body.

Hu…

The mountain wind howled, but perhaps because he was prepared, or perhaps because his Spiritual Soul had grown stronger since last night, it no longer felt so bitingly cold. With a thought, his Spiritual Soul gently moved in the air. Although it couldn’t move as freely as when a stick of Sandalwood Incense was lit, it no longer had that frozen, immobile feeling.

From the distance, faint, mournful sobs could be heard. All around, faint, menacing apparitions of lonely ghosts began to appear. But unlike last time, none dared to immediately pounce fiercely, as if they were wary of something.

“Not bad, not bad. Your Spiritual Soul has grown to this level in just one day. Very good!”

Looking at the Spiritual Soul above Mu Feng’s head, Ghost Mother nodded repeatedly, surprised by his rapid progress. Her face remained expressionless, but secretly, her interest in his mysterious cultivation method grew stronger. After a pause, she continued, “A strong Life Soul allows the Spiritual Soul to grow strong as well. Cultivating the Life Soul is essentially about strengthening one’s own Yang Energy. With ample Yang Energy and full vitality, the Spiritual Soul naturally becomes filled with Yang Energy, impervious to all evils.”

“Granny, how can one strengthen one’s own Yang Energy?” Mu Feng quickly asked the key question about cultivation.

Strengthening one’s own Yang Energy would strengthen one’s Life Soul. This was not hard to understand.

The cultivation techniques of Mu Manor were all collected in the Scripture Library, which was usually closed. One could only enter once after passing the promotion assessment. However, ordinary books had no such restrictions. They covered a vast range of subjects, from astronomy to geography, with countless books of all kinds. Among them were many scattered records that touched upon ghosts, gods, and explanations of Yang Energy. Although these were often mentioned only briefly, they were enough to leave a deep impression.

Why were some people, especially the elderly, women, and children, particularly prone to fright or encounters with lonely ghosts?

It was because they lacked sufficient Yang Energy in their bodies, and their Life Souls were weak, making them especially susceptible to evil influences.

These principles were straightforward, and Mu Feng understood them after a little thought. But specifically how to strengthen his own Yang Energy, and thereby cultivate and strengthen his own Life Soul—that he did not know.

“There are two ways to strengthen one’s own Yang Energy.”

Ghost Mother’s face was sinister as she continued evilly, “One is to purify the heart and diminish desires, secluding oneself for quiet cultivation. The Yang Energy gained this way is pure, but the progress is often very slow. Often, before the Spiritual Soul can undergo a qualitative change, one’s lifespan reaches its end, and the body decays. The other method is Sun-Stealing, plundering the Yang Energy from others’ bodies. By killing and plundering, one rapidly strengthens their own Spiritual Soul. This is the choice of the vast majority of cultivators. Some cultivators from major sects consider themselves righteous, acting on heaven’s behalf to hunt down so-called evil heretics. Why? Claiming to act for heaven is just a hypocritical excuse. The fundamental goal is to cloak their own killing and plundering in a seemingly righteous wolf’s hide.”

Sun-Stealing?

Mu Feng’s heart shook, and he quickly understood the true meaning of these two words.

“Mu Feng, if you wish to cultivate slowly on your own, you can leave now. If you want to hold your head high, stand out from the crowd, refuse to live your whole life under someone else’s shadow, and rapidly increase your strength, then stay. I will teach you the Yinfeng Sect’s Sun-Stealing True Scripture. As long as you persevere, not only will your Spiritual Soul be able to travel at night as it wishes, but it will also quickly break through to the Late Mortal Realm, allowing your Spiritual Soul to leave your body and travel by day.”

Ghost Mother looked at Mu Feng with a half-smile, waiting for his choice.

Remembering that the Chief Transmission Disciple Mu Tie could return seeking his life at any moment, Mu Feng felt immense pressure. After a brief hesitation, he raised his head and said, “I’ll stay!”

“Gah gah gah, good, good! This is worthy of the successor that I, Li Feifei, have chosen. Gah gah gah!”

Ghost Mother cackled loudly. With a flip of her right hand, a Jade Pupil Tube shimmering with blue light suddenly appeared. She threw it to Mu Feng, passing on the Yinfeng Sect’s dreaded Sun-Stealing True Scripture.

“Under the heavens, aside from the most Yin Spirit Bodies and ghosts, all others carry Yang Energy within them. What is called Yang Energy is the essence of vital energy…”

Mu Feng sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly contemplating the Sun-Stealing True Scripture recorded in the Jade Pupil Tube. He read and cultivated on the spot, occasionally forming various mysterious hand seals. Slowly, small whirlwinds began to appear around him, swirling up and down like a tornado, lifting some gravel on the ground and even some eerie skulls.

After a long time, he suddenly opened his eyes and blew out a breath. Several vines not far away were enveloped in a faint black aura. Then, opening his mouth wide, he inhaled sharply. A wisp of red light seeped out from within the vines and vanished into his body. A mountain wind blew, dispersing the black aura. The several originally tough and sturdy vines were now all withered, their life force completely severed.

Sun-Stealing True Scripture!

With one breath, Mu Feng had absorbed the Yang Energy from several century-old vines. Focusing inward, he could see that after devouring this Yang Energy, his Spiritual Soul seemed to have grown stronger again. With a thought, it floated three feet above his head, carrying a strong murderous intent. Instantly, the lonely ghosts wandering around let out sharp cries, fleeing in panic into the boundless darkness, vanishing without a trace.