[Is this the thing your sister left behind?]
Sitting cross-legged on the dais, Li Boyang nodded towards Xiluo on the mud statue.
Beside him, the Big Girl sat quietly, holding an exquisite silk tapestry that seemed out of place with the era's productivity.
Upon that tapestry, words were densely engraved.
"That's right, this is what my sister left behind, and it is also the only current way to break the predicament."
Gently licking her paws, Xiluo spoke lazily.
[Is this a secret martial arts manual? Or some divine technique?]
Scratching his head, Li Boyang asked curiously.
"Secret martial arts manual? Divine technique?"
This time, it was Xiluo's turn to be a bit surprised as she lowered her head to look at Li Boyang below.
"Though I don't know what secret martial arts manual you're talking about..."
"But divine techniques are usually intrinsic, while spells are exclusive secrets, how could they be documented in words?"
Hearing this, Li Boyang opened his mouth in silence, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Because Xiluo's explanation completely overturned his understanding of divine techniques.
Fortunately, Xiluo didn't mind Li Boyang's nonsense and continued to explain.
"My sister was the Huai River Witch from over a thousand years ago, born with the ability to perceive celestial destinies."
"This volume, 'Nine Chapters of Divination', is what she used daily to record various worldly phenomena, timing, weather, mountain formation, earth vein, life reading, face, auspicious omens, and evil spirits."
"Those dark mists spreading from Black Cloud Marsh, to disregard their source for a moment..."
"Since the mists can spread outside Black Cloud Marsh, they must be harnessing the power of timing, mountain formation, earth veins, and even weather."
"If you can understand this 'Nine Chapters of Divination', you can naturally dispel those mists."
While saying this, Xiluo's voice was full of confidence.
Full of unconditional trust in her sister – the Huai River Witch from a millennium ago.
"And the curse issue on you..."
"That Nai Fu was sealed personally by my sister, and naturally, all its information is documented."
"If you want to resolve the evil qi threat, this booklet is your only clue."
Hearing this, Li Boyang reluctantly gave up on the idea of getting a free secret martial arts manual.
However, with that, a new question inevitably emerged in Li Boyang's mind.
[I can't read!]
[I can't understand a single word written here.]
Li Boyang was telling the truth.
Though he was exceptionally talented, it didn't mean he could instantly understand an entirely unfamiliar language.
However, when Li Boyang looked at Xiluo again.
He was startled to discover that she seemed to be avoiding his gaze intentionally or unintentionally.
[Wait, don't tell me you can't read either?]
With a sudden insight, Li Boyang gaped in surprise.
"What's strange if I can't read!?"
After a brief silence, Xiluo, embarrassed from being stared at by Li Boyang, shouted angrily.
"I'm an Elf of the mountain!"
"Why should I know human writing?"
"In any case, I've given you the thing. Whether you understand it or not is none of my business!"
Before she finished speaking, Xiluo turned and disappeared from Li Boyang's sight, as if she had never appeared.
[So... She really is illiterate?]
After a long time, Li Boyang finally sighed speechlessly.
"Well..."
Right at that moment, the Big Girl, who had been sitting obediently to one side, raised her hand.
"Well... Actually... I can read..."
Seeing the eager expression on the Big Girl's face, Li Boyang realized what he had just overlooked.
...........................
The Big Girl indeed could read because her father was once the only literate person in the village.
Before abandoning his wife and daughter, he had taught the Big Girl to read and write.
Unfortunately, after he left the village, he never returned, leaving the mother and daughter to live alone in the village.
Although the Big Girl didn't know many characters.
By guessing and piecing things together, she helped Li Boyang understand some of the 'Nine Chapters of Divination.'
However, whether due to a millennium of language evolution or the Big Girl's high error rate.
Li Boyang could only barely comprehend the outline of the 'Nine Chapters of Divination.'
To truly understand this booklet, he still had a long way to go.
The 'Nine Chapters of Divination' essentially represented a method of understanding the world summarized by the Huai River Witch a millennium ago, based on her celestial abilities.
Astray from those mysterious sayings about ghosts and gods, invented for self-consistency.
The 'Nine Chapters of Divination' generally categorized all things into nine types: worldly phenomena, timing, weather, mountain formation, earth vein, life reading, face, auspicious omens, and evil spirits.
The 'All Things Chapter' served as the summary of the 'Nine Chapters of Divination.'
Based on Li Boyang's personal understanding, the concept of "All Things," though abstract-sounding.
In essence, it was akin to the "Dao" mentioned at the beginning of Laozi's 'Tao Te Ching.'
Of course, the Huai River Witch did not have the same intrinsic understanding as the Tao Ancestor.
Hence her interpretation of "All Things" was relatively straightforward, without high comprehension barriers.
At least, Li Boyang, who had studied dialectical materialism, easily analyzed and understood the concept of "All Things."
However, in this world where supernatural powers truly exist.
The fact that the Huai River Witch dared to place the 'All Things Chapter' before the other eight chapters must have its reasons.
After briefly introducing her understanding of the world.
The Huai River Witch, on the last page of the 'All Things Chapter,' left twelve ghost-talisman-like patterns.
According to the witch's explanation and Xiluo's occasional input, Li Boyang discerned the essence of these twelve ghost-talisman patterns.
They weren't unknown characters but rather aphorisms imbued with mysterious powers.
Written in a specific manner on specific materials, these aphorisms could replicate powers similar to that of a Divine Ability User, achieving exorcising results.
Only by comprehending these aphorisms could Li Boyang further study the subsequent eight chapters of the 'Nine Chapters of Divination.'
Otherwise, even if Li Boyang fully understood the content of 'Timing,' 'Weather,' 'Mountain Formation,' 'Earth Vein,' 'Life Reading,' 'Face,' 'Auspicious Omens,' and 'Evil Spirits.'
There would merely be one more human aware of celestial destinies in this world, yet unable to defy the heavens.
Through this, Li Boyang finally understood the true identity of the Huai River Witch—she was a naturally born Prophet and divination expert.
The "Divination" in 'Nine Chapters of Divination' was indeed the "Divination" as understood by the world.
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