"The old ghost of the Capital..."
Watching the figure leave, Li Yan pondered intently.
Although the old beggar was deeply hidden, he could vaguely feel that there was a problem with the other's spells.
The Qi was sluggish and obscure, indicating he had suffered a serious injury.
Being so adept at entering the "Nine Gates Yin Ruins," could he be related to the Imperial Family...
The thought flickered by, and Li Yan couldn't afford to think further; he imdiately turned around and returned to the small courtyard.
In the courtyard, the magic platform had long been arranged.
Following the Four Symbols' directions, he set up the four-color order flags, symbolizing the Four Divine Beasts guarding the platform...
The magic platform was covered with a yellow and white Cloud Brocade, the Ancestor's image before offering the "Five Offerings," a Peach Wood Magic Sword at the front of the platform, its hilt tied with a Yansheng Money bound by red rope, connected to the four-color flags, encapsulating the entire platform.
Additionally, the Three Pure Ones Bell hung on the wooden fra to the east, its sound able to deter wandering souls and ghosts.
Eight Eight Trigrams Mirrors hung around the courtyard walls, reflecting moonlight, forming a "Heavenly Net" with the Red String Copper Coins, preventing external evils from invading.
The ground in front of the platform was paved with glutinous rice and incense ashes to form the Tai Chi Diagram.
Seven copper lamps arranged in the Beidou Seven Stars pattern, symbolizing the power of stars protecting the soul.
Even in the incense burner beside it, the "Returning Soul Incense" made from sandalwood, frankincense, and myrrh burned.
To ensure Li Yan's safety, Wang Daoxuan took out his most guarded asures.
"Brother Yan."
Wang Daoxuan spoke gravely: "Brother Yan, although you are at the Daoist Four Realms, you are unable to control your divine soul. Later, I will light the Soul Lamp to protect your body, use the Yin Talisman to open your mind, and guide you with the Soul Summoning Incense to aid your Yin Soul travel."
"But this matter is perilous, and there are a few points to pay special attention to."
"Your Yin Soul can only travel for 23:45; now the yin energy is at its peak. Borrowing the power of moonlight can alleviate soul exhaustion when leaving the body. Ti passes, at midnight the yang energy rises, increasing soul exhaustion, leaving you drowsy, unable to find your way ho..."
"I've buried Hidden Breath Talisman Jade around the platform, which can evade City God patrols, but only supports three tis..."
"After the soul leaves the body, I will set up the Soul-thread; after three quarters, I will shake the soul-guiding banner. If you haven't returned by then, I will use the peach wood sword to sever the Soul-thread, ignite the straw man, and forcibly summon your soul back to your body."
"Therefore, the Soul-thread must not break!"
"Rest assured, Daoist, I understand."
Li Yan nodded solemnly, then under Wang Daoxuan's guidance, sat cross-legged within the Yin Yang Fish on the platform.
Long Yan'er imdiately stepped forward, lighting the Seven Star Lamp one by one, cautioning: "Brother Yan, be extrely careful. If things beco impossible, return imdiately. We have plenty of ti and opportunities."
"Don't worry, I know."
Li Yan reassured once more, then perford the mantra with both hands and began ditating.
Wang Daoxuan signaled Long Yan'er to follow Wu Ba as protectors, then shook his Daoist robe, dipped a willow branch in rootless water (rainwater), treaded the Astral Step, sprinkled around the platform, and chanted: "Heaven and Earth naturally, dispersing impure Qi... Deep cave mysteries, radiant primordial!"
This is the "Purifying Heaven and Earth Spell," used to cleanse the platform from interference.
Only for important spells would it be invoked.
With the willow branch sprinkling water, the surrounding air seed to freshen.
Wang Daoxuan spun back to the platform, left hand forming a mantra, right hand using the vermillion pen with dragon flourish, writing on yellow paper: "By decree, divine generals Ding Mao and Sima Qing protect the soul, Jia Xu divine generals Zhan Zijiang guard the spirit..." then burned it.
This is the burning talisman to summon the Six Ding and Six Jia protectors.
As the yellow paper burned, its ashes twisted into twelve whirlwinds, dispersed around.
The current Wang Daoxuan was no longer the struggling Daoist of old.
Not only was his Dao profound, he had completed the legacy and mastered the "Five-Headed Divine Technique," capable of multitasking.
Such a magic platform usually required three people; he could easily complete it alone.
With everything prepared, Wang Daoxuan's expression turned solemn, taking out a piece of yellow paper from the platform.
On it, a "Soul Separation Talisman" mixed with vermillion and gecko blood was made.
He placed the "Soul Separation Talisman" on Li Yan's forehead, the spiritual platform point, thumb pressing against the base of the ring finger, other three fingers together, chanting:
"Nine Netherworld opens, soul exits the gate of mystery... Command!"
The sword finger thrust forward, Li Yan seated at the Yin Fish eye position suddenly trembled slightly.
At this mont, he relaxed wholly, shoulders slightly drooped, breathing slowed, as if transforming into a clay figure.
And Li Yan himself only felt his body growing heavier, the surroundings plunged into darkness, as if being enveloped by a blanket.
He focused intensely, then suddenly leaped.
Instantly, the surroundings felt entirely different.
His whole being was light and floating, feet unable to touch the ground, the world around lost color, only gray and white remained.
Yet all sorts of subtle sounds, scents, and even heat flows beca a hundredfold clearer.
Looking up, the atmosphere was heavy, like rcury, cold.
That was the moonlight power summoned by the Seven Star Lamp.
Turning to look around, everything beca murky, seemingly shrouded in a veil of mist.
He could see within the courtyard, Long Yan'er and Wu Ba with grave expressions, watching his physical form at the platform.
Yet to his soul, they turned a blind eye.
Ring ring ring~
The red string Copper Coins on Wang Daoxuan's Magic Sword hilt slightly trembled.
Li Yan felt like a balloon, being pulled and directed.
Looking at his wrist, similarly a Copper Coin with red string appeared, its end vanishing into the void, seemingly connected to Wang Daoxuan's sword hilt.
Li Yan sensed it and shook his wrist.
The red string Copper Coins on the peach wood sword hilt imdiately trembled in response.
"Start!"
Wang Daoxuan suddenly opened his eyes, forming a mantra pointing toward the incense burner.
From the incense burner, streams of blue smoke rose, spiraling around Li Yan.
Then, a trail of blue smoke drifted toward the dark outside the courtyard.
Li Yan knew, this was the Soul Summoning Incense.
Ti was pressing; he dared not delay, imdiately following the Soul Summoning Incense onward.
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