Chapter 42: Speaking and Listening to the Spirits
Zhou Yi, who had been keeping an eye on Chen Xuanli, was overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing this.
The moment Chen Xuanlin returned from Carrion Island and stepped onto the beach of Sanyin Island, he had already understood Chen Xuanlin's condition.
This was something he hadn't anticipated when he had originally bestowed the Soul Summoning Technique. While he knew it was unusual and would consume lifespan, he hadn't expected Chen Xuanlin's lifespan to be nearly exhausted in just a few months
. It was now late at night.
The scattered lights in Chen Village had gradually dimmed, and Sanyin Island gradually fell silent.
The entire village was shrouded in the moonlit stillness, and the boundless gray fog in the distance made the scene resemble a painting.
Only the whistling sea breeze and the occasional crash of the waves proved that this world was not a painting.
Chen Xuanlin sat before the altar, gazing at Chen Village under the moonlight, and sighed,
"Time passes, seasons flow, who can claim eternity in this sea of death?"
Chen Xuanlin turned his head to look at the stone sacrificial spirit and said,
"Master sacrificial spirit, please don't find me annoying. Since I was a child, whenever I feel depressed, I will come to this altar to talk. It has become a habit."
"Today, before the deadline comes, I just want to tell the sacrificial spirit some of my inner thoughts."
Although Zhou Yi no longer has a human body, his human emotions are still there. He can feel the sincerity in Chen Xuanlin's words.
(Please remember the website 101𝙠𝙖𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 to watch the fastest chapter updates)
Chen Xuanlin said in a trance:
"Master Ji Ling was born from the beliefs of the ancestors of the Chen family. When the Chen family was prosperous, their belief was to hope that "the Chen family would become a prominent family." "
"They succeeded, but they also fell to this point. As the world changes, the beliefs of the clan members have also experienced many ups and downs. I want to know that after so many years, Master Ji Ling, you have awakened again. Have your beliefs changed..."
At this point, Chen Xuanlin's eyelids drooped, and his hands trembled uncontrollably, as if these were words he had mustered up a lot of courage to say.
Zhou Yi could recall this being the only time Chen Xuanlin had privately addressed him about such matters. In
the past, even when he came alone to worship, it was either for his usual morning worship, seeking peace of mind, or for spiritual practice and the purpose of connecting to the shore.
Now, with his life fading, he finally asked about the doubts he had long harbored.
Zhou Yi sighed inwardly. He daily absorbed the power of faith from the Chen clan, and naturally felt the heartfelt affections of each one.
Living in Sanyin Island, spending every day among the Chen clan, he had long since grown accustomed to the atmosphere of Sanyin Island. Moreover, to clarify his doubts, he needed to collaborate with the Chen clan.
Unconsciously, he and the Chen clan had become inseparable.
Thus, Zhou Yi, with a thought, manipulated the Dead Sea Message Stele, revealing a line of golden words.
"May our Chen clan prosper and shine."
The golden writing wasn't dazzling, but it was enough to shake Chen Xuanlin's heart.
The moment he recognized the words, Chen Xuanlin finally let out the breath he had been holding in his chest, as if a worry had been resolved.
In short, knowing that the sacrificial spirit was still the Chen family's unwavering faith, he finally let go of the worry that had been hanging over his heart.
He then smiled and, under the moonlight, knelt before the stone sacrificial spirit.
After the ceremony, Chen Xuanlin sat down before the altar once again. His expression was no longer solemn, and his tone was relaxed, as if he was talking to himself, or to an old friend, or even more like a younger generation confiding in an elder, talking about the past, family matters, and the future.
"When Xuanlin was young, our clan still numbered over a hundred. I knew every one of them, even by name. They treated me with great respect, and the elders expressed their hope that I would prosper the Chen family." "
Today, with only a few dozen members, they still treat me with great respect and hope that I will continue to prosper."
"But the difference is that in the past, they always spoke of the Chen family's past glory, but now the remaining members of the Chen family only hope that their relatives and friends can survive. Too many have died over the years from coastal conflicts, hunger, and disease."
"Xuanlin has lived for more than thirty years and has always been thinking about how to revive the Chen family, but where to start? With the dozens of harpoons in the clan, or those few hoes?"
When he said this, Chen Xuanlin's turbid eyes became a little blurred.
"Born in a land without spirits, born as a mortal, sooner or later we will perish in the repeated transitions between the fog and the shore. The Chen family has also been declining with each passing day."
"Only by becoming a practicing immortal can the Chen family have a chance to break through this predicament. However, this choice will inevitably lead to too many crises. This is why I felt uneasy after Master Ji Ling bestowed the magic that day."
Chen Xuanlin looked up at the sky and muttered to himself again:
"Master Ji Ling, Xuanlin hates this world with all his heart. The gray fog is terrifying and strange. The bottom of the Dead Sea is filled with corpses and undead. There are dangers everywhere. Humans are like trapped beasts. For the sake of food and resources, we are forced to lose our conscience and rationality in the repeated transitions between the fog and the shore." "
But I love this place so much. My wife, children, relatives and friends, and Master Ji Ling are all in this world."
Zhou Yi listened quietly, unsure how to respond to Chen Xuanlin. His current situation was, in fact, the same as that of the Chen clan: trapped beasts.
Chen Xuanlin sighed again,
"Master Jiling, tell me, is there a place in this world where we don't have to worry about food, where we're not plagued by the gray fog, where we can live in peace and security?"
Zhou Yi remained silent.
Chen Xuanlin continued to mutter to himself, recounting his childhood anxieties, how he met Wu He and resolutely followed him
to Sanyin Island, the excitement of meeting Chen Xingye, and the decisions he made when he arrived at Carrion Island.
Chen Xuanlin's words seemed to be filled with nostalgia.
After an unsettling moment, Chen Xuanlin's body, exhausted from the effort, uttered,
"I've spoken so much nonsense today. I'm sorry to bother Master Jiling. Perhaps I'll leave the Chen family's past to Jiling."
With that, he slowly walked away.
Zhou Yi said nothing from beginning to end except for the phrase "May the Chen family prosper and prosper," and simply listened silently.
But this sentence seemed to make Chen Xuanlin make an important decision.
...
The next day, Chen Xuanlin found Chen Gan'er, who was still cultivating in the lava cave.
Seeing Chen Xuanlin come in person, Chen Gan'er was very puzzled and said hurriedly:
"Brother, if there is something, just send someone to call me, why bother coming here in person." Chen Xuanlin
smiled and said:
"Gan'er will be the pillar of the clan in the future. Every moment of cultivation is precious and cannot be wasted. That's why I came."
"How is Gan'er's injury?"
Chen Gan'er waved his arm and said:
"Brother, look, he is full of energy! It's just a minor injury. Use spiritual energy to clear the blood stasis, and he will be back to normal in two days."
"Brother, are you here for something important?"
Chen Xuanlin said with a smile.
"Nothing serious. I just wanted to discuss cultivation with you, Gan Er, and share some of my humble opinions."
Chen Gan Er was also a little surprised.
"Brother, you never discuss cultivation with me. Why are you suddenly bringing it up today?"
Chen Xuanlin smiled.
"That's because you are the prodigy who cultivates the true path. I'm just someone who takes a shortcut."
"In the next few days, I want to take the children and younger members of the village to the sacrificial spirit to test their cultivation aptitude. Since we have this lava cave and the spiritual spring in the village, I want to see if we can cultivate more cultivators."
"If there are those with the aptitude for cultivation, I will need your guidance."
Chen Gan Er shook his head, then nodded.
"Although I don't know what technique you practice, you have only been practicing for a few months, and yet you have been able to summon Foundation Establishment stage undead spirits. Even though I have seen very few cultivators, I think this is a rare achievement."
"As for testing the aptitude of our clan members, the sooner the better."
Chen Xuanlin was less serious and composed today, like a man in his seventies casually chatting with a younger generation. He smiled and said,
"Gan Er, haven't you always been curious about my cultivation method? Today, we can learn a little bit."
Chen Gan Er asked curiously,
"Brother, why are you saying this suddenly? You've always kept us in the dark."
Chen Xuanlin said,
"Gan Er is a great cultivator. From now on, you will be responsible for guiding the cultivation of the clan members. Knowing more about cultivation will help you teach better."
With that, he began to explain the Soul Summoning method he practiced.
"My method is called Soul Summoning. It is not taught privately. Only those who have been granted this method by the sacrifice spirit may practice it. Practitioners must swear an oath before the sacrifice spirit not to reveal it to others."
"Remember, after practicing this method, you cannot switch to other methods. However, those without the aptitude for cultivation but with a strong character can also practice it."
Without waiting for Chen Gan'er to say anything, Chen Xuanlin went on:
"As Gan'er has seen, this method will shorten one's lifespan. People with weak willpower will find it difficult to practice it, and the stronger the will, the stronger the undead spirits summoned. This method has the ability to calm the mind, gather the soul, and explore the soul."
"Let me tell Gan'er another unusual thing. This method can give us a glimpse into the truth of heaven and earth."
"For example, there are dense corpses under the Sea of Death. We are always curious about where the bodies that sank into the Sea of Death went after being hidden in the Sea of Death..."
When he said this, the sea breeze suddenly blew outside the cave. Chen Xuanlin seemed to realize something. With a smile on his face, he no longer talked about this matter, but went on to talk about some other insights about the summoning of souls