17: Chapter 17 Gently Awakening the Sleeping Soul

In the room.

Mo Zixing pulled up a chair and sat down, reading the fragment of the Spirit Induction Scripture on the table word by word.

"The mysterious Sect of heaven and earth, the root of all Qi, inducting spirit into the body."

"Follow the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin downwards, pass through Shanzhong, enter the Qi Sea, and condense in the Dantian. Cycle it repeatedly; this is Spirit Induction..."

The logic of Inducting Qi into the Body in the opening chapter was largely similar to the Sect's basic Breathing Technique.

Regarding the path of meridian circulation, however, there were several places different from conventional Qi Refining Mind-Cultivation Techniques.

Mo Zixing wasn't sure if the Remnant Soul would play tricks, so he felt suspicious.

Previously, for objects like Spirit Stones and Jade Pendants, the System could scan a panel.

He didn't know if a Mind-Cultivation Technique written with Divine Soul mental power could be checked for issues.

Mo Zixing took the initiative to activate the System and issued a scan command for the Spirit Induction Scripture fragment in front of him.

A moment later, the System panel popped up directly in his consciousness:

[Item: Spirit Induction Scripture]

[Rank: High Grade Qi Refinement Stage Mind-Cultivation Technique]

[Status Entries:

1. Incomplete: Only contains the first three layers, less than one-third of the Complete Manual.

2. Tampered: Portions of the content have been modified. Cultivating according to this Mind-Cultivation Technique will lead to unpredictable consequences.]

Looking at the description on the panel, Mo Zixing couldn't help but click his tongue.

This old geezer is truly sinister.

Not only is he full of lies, but he even tampered with the Mind-Cultivation Technique used as bait.

Fortunately, he wasn't careless and used the System to take a look beforehand, which revealed the clues.

Any ordinary Cultivator would have fallen into this trap today.

Since this guy likes playing dirty so much, why not beat him at his own game and see how many more tricks he has up his sleeve?

Mo Zixing reached out and grabbed the cord, dangling the Jade Pendant in the air and shaking it twice, deliberately feigning urgency as he called out:

"Senior?"

"Are you there? Can you hear me?"

The Jade Pendant remained quiet, without any reaction.

The Remnant Soul inside hadn't actually fallen into a deep sleep; it was just holding its breath and not responding.

Does this kid have the memory of a goldfish?

He had clearly just said that to summon him, one must wear the Jade Pendant close to the body and then input Spiritual Qi to wake him up. How could he have forgotten already?

The Remnant Soul had made up its mind: as long as Mo Zixing didn't wear the Jade Pendant close to his body as requested, he would absolutely not make a sound.

Mo Zixing called out three or four times, but there was still no reaction from the Jade Pendant.

He had also guessed what the guy in the Jade Pendant was thinking.

Playing dead, are we?

He didn't waste any more words, casually placing the Jade Pendant on an empty spot on the table and pulling a hard, large Brick from the corner.

Mo Zixing weighed it in his hand.

The Brick was very heavy.

If he really smashed it down, it would definitely crush the Jade Pendant into nothingness.

"Senior, are you still sleeping?"

He raised the Brick, aiming it at the Jade Pendant on the ground, and muttered to himself:

"It seems Senior is sleeping too soundly. I'll have to think of another way to wake you up."

As he spoke, he made a motion as if he were about to slam the Brick down.

Finally, an extremely weak voice came from the Jade Pendant, sounding as if it had just been forcibly dragged awake, unable to even catch its breath:

"Don't, don't smash it!"

"Young man, show some mercy!"

The Brick slammed down right next to the edge of the Jade Pendant.

It smashed a small pit into the ground.

The Remnant Soul in the Jade Pendant was chilled to the bone with fear, but there was nothing it could do. It could only complain about Lin Fan while feeling lingering fear.

That kid Lin Fan—how could he hand the Jade Pendant over to someone with a screw loose like this?

If the Jade Pendant really got smashed by accident, he would be truly finished.

Mo Zixing feigned a look of surprise:

"Senior is finally awake?"

"I called you for so long just now without any reaction. I thought you had fallen into a deep sleep again."

The Remnant Soul cursed him up and down in its heart, but its voice still maintained that weak, exhausted tone as it defended itself:

"I have just awakened, and my Divine Soul is naturally weak. Writing down that Cultivation Technique just now exhausted my strength, and I fell into a deep sleep again. I truly didn't hear your call."

"Young man, what are you doing? Why did it seem like you were going to smash the Jade Pendant?"

Mo Zixing casually tossed the Brick aside, frowning and putting on a distressed and annoyed look:

"What else could it be?"

"Senior, this Spirit Induction Scripture you gave me—I can't even begin to Cultivate it."

"I tried to induct Qi according to the opening Mind-Cultivation Technique, but I can't even achieve the most basic Spirit Induction."

"I thought there was a problem with the Cultivation Technique and wanted to ask Senior about it."

Hearing this, the Remnant Soul in the Jade Pendant instantly fell silent.

It was also full of doubt.

This isn't right?

Although it had made reverse modifications in the middle of the fragment, which would cause a Cultivator's Spiritual Qi to leak and be absorbed by the Jade Pendant upon reaching that stage...

...it hadn't touched the general principles of Qi induction in the opening chapter!

That was the foundation of the Spirit Induction Scripture.

As long as a Cultivator had a Spiritual Root, they should be able to smoothly induct Qi into their body following the opening chapter. How could they not even be able to start?

Although it didn't understand, its mind raced.

In just a few seconds, it thought of a way to kill two birds with one stone.

The Remnant Soul in the Jade Pendant sighed heavily, its tone full of apology:

"So that's how it is. It was my lack of consideration."

It paused, putting on the air of an experienced veteran, and fabricated:

"Young man, this Spirit Induction Scripture is a Cultivation Technique passed down from ancient times."

"It is completely different from the common Mind-Cultivation Techniques in your current Sects. It has extremely high requirements for the compatibility between a Cultivator's Physique and Spiritual Root."

"Your inability to induct Qi into your body is not a problem with the Cultivation Technique, but rather that the technique does not match your Physique."

"Currently, through the Jade Pendant, I can't even perceive your Spiritual Qi fluctuations, let alone accurately grasp your Spiritual Root attributes."

"Naturally, I cannot help you adjust the Mind-Cultivation Technique's path to specifically adapt it to your body."

Its tone was earnest as it tried once again to mislead him:

"How about this: hold the Jade Pendant in your hand and input some Spiritual Qi into it."

"I will perceive your Physique and Spiritual Qi circulation from a close distance. Then I can immediately find the problem and help you adjust the Mind-Cultivation Technique to the state most suitable for you."

"At that time, you will naturally be able to Cultivate normally."

Mo Zixing almost choked on his own saliva upon hearing this. He coughed violently, looking at the Jade Pendant as if he were looking at an idiot.

No way.

He can even make up such a ridiculous reason?

It's one thing for Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques to be picky about Physique and Spiritual Roots, but for a basic Mind-Cultivation Technique used to absorb Spiritual Qi, at most, the level of compatibility would only affect the speed of Cultivate.

Anyone who has spent a couple of years in a Sect would know this common knowledge. Does this old geezer really take him for a Qi Refining newcomer who just entered the mountain and knows nothing?

Mo Zixing feigned an indignant look, placed the Jade Pendant on the table, and crossed his arms:

"Senior, there's no point in saying that. I am, after all, sincerely wanting to learn from you."

"As a Nascent Soul expert, if you can't even produce a decent, suitable Cultivation Technique, then I don't think there's any need to discuss this apprenticeship further."