C8 Black Juice

I was relieved that Wang Dali had used the restroom earlier, sparing us the sight of him wetting himself in terror. Yet, the spectacle before us was still overwhelmingly shocking.

Once the white smoke cleared, the sight that emerged was visible to all. The forest was no longer a forest, but an Eight Trigrams Formation swarming with ghosts. At a glance, I could see starving ghosts, hanging ghosts, and those missing limbs, along with a few dangerous spirits in dark red, drifting about. These were the kind that could turn into malevolent red ghosts with the slightest provocation.

It was almost impossible to believe that this once barren pine forest could hide such horrors beneath its veil. It's no wonder that being in the woods felt so unsettling.

"Wang Xu, these... these ghosts, where did they all come from? How did so many appear so suddenly?"

Wang Dali might have been a bit naive and overly bold. Initially, the sight of so many ghosts intimidated him, but he quickly regained his composure and was able to speak clearly. I was thankful for his courage; otherwise, he might have been a real liability to me.

I instructed Wang Dali to stand still behind the talisman I had placed and not to move. I scooped up two handfuls of earth and sprinkled it over my head and shoulders. This was to use the all-encompassing earth to mask the three Yang Fire Lamps on my body, making me less noticeable to the spirits.

However, simply using earth wasn't enough. I also had to employ another technique that Zhou had taught me before his passing. Only by combining these methods could I become completely invisible to the ghosts.

The technique, frankly, was quite simple: holding one's breath. Humans have nine orifices, seven on the head and two below. The seven orifices on the head are the portals of purity, inhaling and exhaling the essence of the universe, while the two lower orifices are the conduits of impurity, expelling foul and unlucky airs.

Although we typically breathe through our noses and mouths, in reality, any of the nine orifices can be used for respiration, similar to how some can inflate a balloon with their eyes. What I was doing was sealing all nine orifices, holding in my breath completely.

Achieving this feat was only possible thanks to the rigorous training I received from Zhou a few years back. I doubt anyone else has ever been pushed to the brink of not opening their eyes, speaking, or using the restroom for a grueling seventy-two hours straight.

Once I concealed my life force, I stealthily made my way to the outskirts where the ghosts lingered. The spirits in the woods appeared quite lax, engaging in what looked like casual conversation. Yet, their faces remained void of emotion, and their speech was a rapid, indecipherable chatter that could only be understood with specific techniques.

But eavesdropping wasn't my purpose there. I was on a mission to retrieve an item, and I was brimming with confidence, having rehearsed the necessary steps countless times before.

In the distance, I spotted a little girl weeping against a tree—the source of the sobs we had heard earlier. Her spiritual prowess seemed limited, which likely explained why her cries were so poorly concealed. I resisted the urge to comfort her; she wasn't the one I was after.

I surveyed the area and eventually set my sights on a target—a gaunt little ghost cowering in a secluded corner.

While the other spirits were huddled together, chattering and partaking in activities beyond the understanding of the living, this frail outcast was leaning against a pine tree, all alone.

I crept up to the little ghost and discovered it was drawing Yin Qi from the tree. It appeared that the trees, once arranged into the Eight Trigrams formation, had acquired additional properties.

But such details were not my immediate concern. I moved behind it and deftly drew a talisman on my hand with special ink, then firmly grasped the little ghost's ear.

The ghost emitted a green glow as I tugged, and in moments, it transformed into a small green orb cradled in my palm. I pressed the captured spirit against my chest, further suppressing my Yang Fire, and made my way back undetected.

Upon my return, Wang Dali was visibly relieved, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Wang Xu, you're back at last. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were watching me..."

I spared him the lengthy explanation and reached into my bag, pulling out a large bowl with a layer of blackened residue at the bottom, likely from something that had been burnt.

I pulled out another red talisman from my bag and slipped it under the bowl, silently reciting the spell in my mind.

Wang Dali looked on with curiosity, asking what I was up to, but I didn't respond; this was one of my most crucial spells. Zhou had been torn when he taught it to me, cautioning that it could damage one's spiritual virtue and curse one's descendants. Yet, he also insisted that without it, I wouldn't survive. Despite his warnings, he eventually passed it on to me, emphasizing that it should not be used recklessly.

I've used it countless times since then, and so far, I haven't faced the consequences Zhou warned me about.

Once I finished the chant, a misty flame ignited on the red talisman at the bottom of the bowl, its appearance almost ethereal. Wang Dali gaped, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. I instructed him to stand in front of me to shield both myself and the bowl from the gaze of any lurking spirits, then placed the captured ghost inside the bowl.

Ghosts have no mass and thus no fixed size; they can expand or contract at will. The little ghost fit perfectly inside the bowl.

As soon as the green glow of the ghost entered the bowl, a piercing scream echoed, followed by the mysterious emergence of a black, sticky substance. To the average person, this liquid is colorless and tasteless, but to me, it carried a sweet fragrance that belied its unsightly appearance. Each time I smelled it, I couldn't help but salivate.

With the ghost and the talisman gone, the dark liquid just covered the bottom of the bowl, its murkiness causing me to furrow my brow.

Wang Dali realized the process was complete. He turned back, glanced at the bowl's contents, and grimaced, "Wang Xu, where on earth did you find this revolting stuff? It's nauseating just to look at it..."

Before he could retch, I quickly dabbed a bit of the substance on his forehead, eyelids, and lips. Wang Dali nearly gagged, reaching to wipe it off, but I stopped him.

"If you wipe that off, you won't be able to save your sister."

With that warning, Wang Dali complied.

I smeared some of the substance on my own face and poured the rest into a small bottle I always carry with me—never know when it might come in handy.

Lastly, I dabbed a bit more of the black liquid and sniffed it, fighting the impulse to lick the bowl clean.

"Wang Xu, what is this stuff? After applying it, I feel like the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end!" Wang Dali remarked, clearly uneasy.

As I removed the spell I had placed on the ground to block out human presence, I explained to him:

"Truth be told, Dali, you're better off not knowing what this is...

However, I can tell you it's used for opening the Yin Eye and Yin Mouth, for impersonating ghosts. Humans have their language, and ghosts have theirs. While the Yin Eye allows us to see spirits, they don't make themselves fully visible. We usually see them as if they were just wooden stakes.

To truly see what they're up to, or even to communicate with them, you first need to make yourself appear and speak just like them. Once you've applied this, you'll blend right in..."

Wang Dali appeared dubious, but as I led him into the midst of the spirits, his eyes bulged with astonishment.