Ti rewound to a mont earlier.
After Wang Xiu had left, Jiang Ling’er ca alone to the Orchid Courtyard on the left side of the Hall of Heroic Spirits.
This courtyard looked as though it had been uninhabited for a long ti, but the rooms were cleaned thoroughly, with not much dust on the furniture. Even the hanging orchids by the carved railings were thriving, clearly tended to regularly.
JINGLE!
Jiang Ling’er shook the Jade Bell in her hand, casting a spell. Instantly, a beam of light shot out from the bell, enveloping the west wing and blocking any divine sense from probing. Subsequently, clouds of white mist rose from the Jade Bell, slowly coalescing into a figure.
It was a woman.
She was remarkably tall, standing well over seven feet, with long, full, snowy-white legs, a waist so slim it seed graspable with a single hand, and a top stretched so tight it looked ready to split. A single glance was enough to stir one’s fighting spirit.
Her attire, in particular, did not resemble that of the Central Plains people; it was many tis bolder. A golden leopard-skin miniskirt enveloped her beautiful hips and half her thighs, while her upper body was draped in a snow-white mink robe that exuded a regal and luxurious aura. As the robe fluttered, large expanses of pale skin were occasionally exposed, a display of countless charms that left onlookers breathless.
Jiang Yourong.
The last Saintess of the Jiuli Immortal Sect, the most stunning and brilliant prodigy of her ti eight hundred years ago. She was revered as a goddess of the Southern Border, the kind seen only once in four thousand years.
Unfortunately, in that war, the entire Jiuli Immortal Sect was annihilated by the Demon Race’s great army. Jiang Yourong herself was besieged by over a dozen Ergence Stage old demons and ultimately perished, her path and soul extinguished. Only a wisp of her remnant spirit managed to escape, slumbering within the Soul-Nurturing Bell for hundreds of years. It wasn’t until a few years ago that she was found and awakened by Jiang Ling’er, who had been foraging for wild vegetables in the mountains to stave off hunger. Discovering that the girl possessed an exceedingly pure Jiuli bloodline, Jiang Yourong took her in as a disciple.
However, with only half a wisp of her spirit remaining, she was appallingly weak, possessing not even one ten-thousandth of her peak strength. Even at full power, she could only kill cultivators at the Foundation Establishnt Stage. Therefore, to ensure that Jiang Ling’er, the sole surviving descendant of the Jiuli Immortal Sect, could grow up safely, she resolutely decided to bring her to the Sanqing Immortal Sect.
"Ling’er," Jiang Yourong said, floating in midair with a dignified and majestic air. "I was worried about the entrance exam before, so I only taught you basic breathing techniques and not any advanced cultivation thods."
"However, now that you have passed the entrance test and successfully joined the Divination Sect, we no longer need to be so cautious here on the deserted Spirit Turtle Peak."
With that said, an expression of world-conquering pride appeared on Jiang Yourong’s face. "Today, I will impart to you the legacy that defines the Jiuli Immortal Sect, the strongest Ghost Path cultivation thod: the *Jiuli Soul Refining Scripture*!"
"As everyone knows, most Ghost Path cultivators in the world refine Human Souls, consuming them to advance their cultivation or using them to forge Magic Artifacts. While this thod is twice as effective, it also causes one to accumulate a large amount of Demonic Qi."
"Moreover, consuming Human Souls inevitably ans absorbing the resentnts of others. The stronger you beco, the more impure your spirit becos, which eventually leads to a ntal collapse."
"Our *Jiuli Soul Refining Scripture* is different. It emphasizes the refinent of Devil Souls, nurturing them into your bonded Soul Pets. You then command your Soul Pets to consu other Devil Souls to grow stronger, while simultaneously extracting pure origin mana to nourish yourself."
"Not only is there no need to consu Human Souls and be tainted by Demonic Qi, but there is also no risk of a ntal breakdown. It is, without a doubt, the ultimate Ghost Path inheritance!"
Refine Devil Souls?
Jiang Ling’er paused for a mont, scratching her head. "Master, doesn’t refining Devil Souls also require consuming the spirits of the Devil Race?" she asked. "Why is consuming Human Souls considered an evil and heretical path, while consuming Devil Souls is the Righteous Path?"
Jiang Yourong rolled her eyes. "Because you are human."
"Those not of our race are bound to have different hearts. The Heavenly Dao divides all beings into the Myriad Clans and establishes the Heavenly Order. Those who abide by the order are rewarded, and those who violate it are punished."
"Killing one’s own kind goes against the Heavenly Order, and cannibalism is even more intolerable. Defying the Heavenly Order is what generates Demonic Qi, and that is the origin of Demon Cultivators."
Jiang Ling’er pondered this. "So you an to say," she began, "if a mber of the Devil Race kills a human and refines their soul into a Puppet Magic Artifact, that isn’t considered a violation of the Heavenly Order?"
Jiang Yourong nodded slightly. "Yes."
"Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all beings as straw dogs. The law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, is the natural order. Not only will the Devil Race not be tainted with Demonic Qi for consuming humans, but they can also absorb the essence of their blood and spirit to increase their cultivation level."
"Therefore, since ancient tis, there have been wicked devils that devour humans. In so parts of the Savage Wilderness, there are even Great Devils that rear humans as food."
A fierce killing intent flashed in Jiang Yourong’s eyes. "Of course, although the Devil Race isn’t tainted by eating humans, humans who slay and consu devils are similarly untainted by Demonic Qi. In fact, if the devils you kill are harmful to the Human Race, the Heavenly Dao will even reward you with what is known as virtue."
"Virtue has many uses. It can offset Demonic Qi, increase your cultivation level, and improve your aptitude. It is even said that people with imnse virtue receive the blessing of the Heavenly Dao, which greatly increases their luck."
"Otherwise, why do you think all the Great Immortal Gates constantly call for upholding righteousness, dispelling evil, slaying devils, and exterminating demons?"
Slaying devils! That’s killing an external threat!
Exterminating demons! That’s removing an internal threat!
As for sa-species cannibalism among the Devil Race, which generates Demonic Qi—for example, a demon tiger that devours another tiger, or a demon dragon that consus a flood dragon—the Immortal Sects of the Human Race kill them without hesitation. After all, if you would consu your own kind, how could you be expected to show rcy to humans? It is better to kill by mistake than to let one go. In any case, there is virtue in exterminating demons, and the corpses of devils can be used for alchemy and artifact refining. Every kill is a profit.
"In short," Jiang Yourong said, looking at Jiang Ling’er solemnly, "do not empathize with devils, demons, and other evils. More importantly, do not entertain the notion that the Human Race might be more evil than devils and demons. In the chaotic tis eight hundred years ago, our Human Race would have killed those who harbored such thoughts first!"
Seeing Jiang Yourong’s murderous expression, Jiang Ling’er nodded earnestly. "Those not of my race are bound to have different hearts. Refine devil souls, protect the human race. Ling’er understands now!"
Mm. Seeing Jiang Ling’er’s honest and earnest deanor, Jiang Yourong nodded with satisfaction.
In chaotic tis, it’s true that the bleeding-hearts are the first to be killed. However, the kind of confusion Jiang Ling’er felt was common among young people. Even Jiang Yourong herself had experienced similar doubts as a child. As long as they were corrected, it was fine.
"Alright," Jiang Yourong smiled. "Enough idle talk. I will now pass on to you the initial Chapter of the *Jiuli Soul Refining Scripture*—the Soul Summoning Curse!"
...
The so-called Soul Summoning Curse was a spell used to summon nearby Devil Souls, from which one could choose a suitable candidate to beco their Soul Pet.
Soon, Jiang Yourong had conveyed all the essentials of the Soul Summoning Curse to Jiang Ling’er. However, this incantation was not as simple as it sounded.
"Soul, return to ...!"
"Soul, return to ...!"
"Soul, return to ...!"
Jiang Ling’er chanted the incantation several tis, her forehead already beading with sweat, yet she had not summoned a single Devil Soul.
"Don’t be anxious," Jiang Yourong said with a smile. "The Soul Summoning Curse may only be the initial Chapter of the *Jiuli Soul Refining Scripture*, but it is vast and profound. It’s normal for ordinary cultivators to spend years without even grasping the basics."
"Your talent for soul cultivation is exceptional, comparable to my own back in the day. Barring any surprises, you should be able to master the basics within three days."
"Maintain your equanimity. Don’t rush."
...
However, the very second she finished speaking these comforting words, the aura around Spirit Turtle Peak changed.
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