Chapter 81: The Law of the Laurel, the Solar Golden Crow, and the Art of Commanding Spirits

The Yin Spirit is the embodiment of ultimate yin, while vital energy is the embodiment of ultimate yang; both are corporeal aspects of the body and thus subject to the laws of nature. When kept at a distance, the Yin Spirit need not fear those who cultivate their bodies—indeed, it can even torment them. However, if it draws near and is specifically targeted, it courts disaster.

At close range, a fourth-tier Yin Spirit confronted by a fourth-turn body cultivator’s powerful vital energy is like a drop of oil falling into a raging fire. In an instant, Yun Shuang was nearly obliterated, her soul almost scattered on the spot. As she turned to flee, Jiang Ming’s Yin Spirit leaped forth, manifesting a crescent moon and a blazing sun. Though these visions were somewhat ethereal and not yet fully realized as Dharma Forms, their soul force was terrifying. Spinning together, they formed a domain of sun and moon, merging yin and yang, and trapped Yun Shuang’s remnant soul within.

Whether materialized or made visible, these phenomena could be seen clearly by ordinary people. This scene left Yan Hongyi utterly astonished.

“He’s a Dao cultivator as well?”
“How is that possible?”
“He looks so young—he’s even younger than I am. Could he be some ancient monster who’s rejuvenated himself, or perhaps cultivated some sinister method to remain youthful?”

Thinking of these unsettling possibilities, Yan Hongyi shuddered involuntarily.

Yun Shuang’s desperate voice echoed, “Who are you? Why do you target me? Do you know who I am? I am an elder of the Palace of Supreme Yin. Let me go, or the Palace will see you annihilated, your soul destroyed beyond redemption.”

“Weren’t you eager to get close to me? See, now we’ve gone beyond mere flesh, reaching the level of soul intimacy. Bare souls, face to face—is there any closeness greater than this?” Jiang Ming’s tone was tinged with mockery.

The sun and moon rotated, trapping Yun Shuang’s diminutive Yin Spirit at their center. No matter how she struggled or what spells she cast, she could not break free from the confinement.

“Without permission, you forcibly merge souls—you’re shameless, despicable, filthy, evil! May you die a miserable death!” Yun Shuang cursed loudly, but then her tone shifted to a coquettish plea. “Dear young master, now that we’re so intimately entwined, could you not release me? My hands are soft, my lips are sweet.”

“You’d make a fine madam in a brothel,” Jiang Ming sighed, then spoke coldly. “Reveal the Supreme Yin Purity Sutra you cultivate, or I’ll let you dissolve piece by piece in the essence of yang.”

“You dare!” Yun Shuang struggled.

Jiang Ming paid her no heed, drawing threads of vital energy from his body and injecting them, causing Yun Shuang to scream in agony.

Below, Yan Hongyi trembled. Liuli shuddered, tugging at her companion’s sleeve, wanting to speak but remaining silent. Yan Hongyi merely gave a slight shake of her head. At this moment, both were frightened by Jiang Ming.

Interrogating the soul?
Asking about the Palace of Supreme Yin’s second divine method? This could not help but make them anxious.

Yun Shuang’s form was now bound; they could not see her. Even the flickering lights concealed her presence. For some reason, Yan Hongyi felt deeply uneasy, an urge to flee rising within her.

Yun Shuang finally gave in. If she did not, her soul would be destroyed; she did not wish to die.

She recited the Supreme Yin Purity Sutra word for word, even conjuring the visualization diagram and some minor spell techniques. Once her mouth was opened, she no longer bothered to hide anything.

“Do you wish to live or die?”
“Of course I wish to live. I’ve told you everything—everything! Dear young lord, please release me. You are a man of virtue, upright and honorable, brimming with righteous energy, walking the grand path of humanity.”

“Ha, such honeyed words—sweet indeed! But you are of the Palace of Supreme Yin, an elder no less. Do you think I’ll let you go?”

“No, please don’t kill me, I beg you! See, I’ve bared my soul to you, without reservation. Can you truly bear to harm me? Boo hoo, I am still pure, my body untouched, I’ve not yet tasted the joys of life. I don’t want to die.”

“You’re already well past your youth—don’t you find that revolting?”

“You’re the one who’s old, your whole family is old.”

“Women! Impossible to reason with. If you want to live, tell me a method to enslave souls, or you’ll have no way out.”

Jiang Ming’s soul fluctuations radiated utter coldness. Yun Shuang sensed this very clearly.

If she refused, she would die horribly.

This was a ruthless man—heart of stone, swift and decisive, untempted by women or seduction. Heaven ought to strike such people down with thunder.

After much hesitation, she finally revealed a secret technique: the Supreme Yin Soul Enslavement Art, a closely guarded secret of the Palace, unknown to most outsiders.

“A truly exquisite method,” Jiang Ming mused after some consideration, “You cultivate a soul mark, implant it in your target, thereby controlling their life and death. But it’s flawed—seriously so. It cannot enslave those whose soul is stronger than your own, or you risk backlash; nor can it enslave body cultivators with powerful vital energy, as their blood essence will destroy the mark; nor can it enslave those with unwavering will and fierce resistance.”

“Furthermore, the soul mark fades over time, eventually disappearing. Its greatest flaw is that it cannot alter will. And you’ve added your own twist—even if I succeed and mark you, you could easily break free and escape enslavement.”

“This trap was surely devised long ago, as a precaution, but alas, not clever enough.”

“If it were a true trap, it should enable the enslaved to counteract the master upon marking. That would be perfect.”

Jiang Ming continued listing strengths and weaknesses.

Yun Shuang’s soul quaked with fear. “Are you human or ghost? How do you know all this?”

“This flawed method is difficult to comprehend. To cultivate a soul mark successfully takes a long time—an opportunity to escape. Unfortunately for you, you encountered me and dared attack me, sealing your fate. From now on, you serve me.”

His tone was light, almost cheerful.

In Yun Shuang’s astonished gaze, Jiang Ming had already condensed a soul mark—not a flawed version, but the complete Supreme Yin Soul Enslavement Art.

No, this mark was even more profound, more perfect.

Had it transcended the original? Unbelievable!

Yun Shuang was utterly shocked, a chill crawling over her.

“Still not perfect!” Jiang Ming chuckled, beckoning forth a strand of pure yang vital energy from his body, merging it into the soul mark, then embedding it in Yun Shuang’s Yin Spirit, fusing with her soul core.

“You—what kind of old monster are you, how can you—” Before she could finish, soul-searing pain wracked her, eliciting screams.

This pain truly pierced the soul.

“From now on, I am your master. You may try to have the mark removed,” Jiang Ming’s smile was demonic. “There are two layers of restriction: one, a soul mark more advanced than the original—if you fail to break it and trigger the core prohibition, your soul will be annihilated; even if you succeed, the blood essence within will destroy your Yin Spirit. Oh, and don’t think of plotting against me—if you harbor any malice, you’ll suffer worse than death.”

“You—” Yun Shuang trembled in terror, wanting to curse but swiftly banishing the thought, sorrow flooding her heart. “Boo hoo, how miserable is my fate! In the sect, I’m oppressed by my senior sisters, and only just received a chance from the vice palace master to acquire the Supreme Yin Undying Sutra, blocking the path to Bright Moon City. And then—I encountered you, the great fiend. No, my master.”

“Exactly. But outside, remember, call me ‘Young Lord,’” Jiang Ming chuckled, his Yin Spirit returning to his mind.

He twisted his neck, feeling no discomfort.

He called up to the dim Yun Shuang above, “When you return, consolidate yourself, then wait for me.”

“Yes, Young Lord!” Yun Shuang answered in low spirits, ignoring Yan Hongyi and Liuli, vanishing into the rainy night.

Yan Hongyi was stunned.

Calling him ‘Young Lord’? Moments ago it was life and death—what happened?

Could it be...

She suddenly recalled the sect’s Supreme Yin Soul Enslavement Art. Did he possess something similar? Then...

With this thought, Yan Hongyi shivered.

“Brother Jiang, are you truly alright?” Her voice trembled, though she forced herself to remain calm.

“No worries. Rest assured, she won’t trouble you again.” Jiang Ming nodded, offering no further explanation.

Elsewhere.

Yun Shuang entered a county town, her Yin Spirit rejoining her body in an inn. Sitting cross-legged, she opened her eyes, her aura weak, her face ghastly pale.

She sat in a daze, cursing Jiang Ming in her heart. Immediately, soul-tearing pain returned, making her stifle a cry and clutch the blanket, hurriedly banishing the thought.

“Why am I so unlucky, boo hoo…”

This time, she truly wept.

In the ruined temple, Yan Hongyi recited the first half of the Supreme Yin Undying Sutra word for word, also sketching out the visualization diagram. She admitted awkwardly, “I’m not a Daoist, so my diagram lacks divine essence.”

“This is enough,” Jiang Ming replied, unconcerned.

With the content—even just half, plus the general diagram—he could deduce most of it. And he now had the Supreme Yin Purity Sutra as well.

“The Undying Sutra is our Palace’s strongest foundational method, and one of the world’s greatest Daoist texts. Once cultivated successfully, under moonlight, especially a full moon, power surges. At high levels, even if the Yin Spirit is destroyed, it can be reconstituted under the full moon. It’s said: ‘Under the full moon, undying and indestructible.’” Yan Hongyi spoke solemnly. “Were it not for upheaval in the sect, the vengeance for my master, and Liuli’s sake, I would never divulge it. Brother Jiang, please do not spread it.”

“Don’t worry, I have some integrity!” Jiang Ming nodded, then began studying.

The visualization for the Supreme Yin Purity Sutra was simply a bright moon; for the Undying Sutra, a laurel tree appeared within the moon—this was the difference.

At that moment, Yan Hongyi noticed two phenomena above Jiang Ming’s head: a crescent moon and a great sun.

The moon was cold and clear; the sun blazing hot. One cold, one hot, yet perfectly fused.

“What kind of visualization is this? How can it manifest such phenomena?” Yan Hongyi could not help but marvel.

“If he completes a true Dharma Form, with yin and yang intertwined, he could suppress other Daoists.”

Yan Hongyi pursed her lips.

Recalling his formidable martial cultivation, his powerful physique, and his Daoist realm, she felt truly overwhelmed.

Is he human? Ghost? God?

She shook her head, hypnotizing herself: He’s just my Brother Jiang, good Jiang Ming, truly a wonderful brother.

She watched as the crescent moon rapidly rounded out, becoming full, and a laurel tree appeared within. The Moon Laurel Diagram.

The sun vision was somewhat suppressed.

The full moon reverted to a crescent, but the laurel within remained, its branches swaying with spirit.

Within the sun, a golden crow appeared.

“Laurel in the moon, crow in the sun!”

Jiang Ming was immersed in cultivation, continuously refining his Yin-Yang Spirit Method.

Clearly, he had merged the essence of the Supreme Yin Purity Sutra and Undying Sutra into his practice. The interplay of sun and moon gave him greater insight.

“The sun contains the three-legged golden crow. Then, the moon should have the jade rabbit or golden toad; the moon with laurel, the sun with a fusang tree.”

“That would be truly perfect, truly harmonious.”

“Yin and yang complement, oppose and generate, perfectly aligned, infinite yin-yang.”

Jiang Ming’s mind flashed with enlightenment.

Within the crescent moon, the laurel branches swayed, seeming to bloom; within the sun, the golden crow raised its head, as if crying out to the heavens.

He kept circulating these phenomena.

Yan Hongyi and Liuli watched quietly.

The surrounding atmosphere shifted constantly—now tranquil, soothing restless hearts, containing suppressive force, making movement difficult; now blazing, uncomfortably hot, pores opening, agitating the mind.

Finally, Jiang Ming withdrew the phenomena.

The night was deep, flames crackling.

Outside, heavy rain fell, drumming against the earth.

Yan Hongyi and Liuli, their eyelids drooping, could not resist but cuddle together by the fire, falling asleep.

“How pitiful,” Jiang Ming glanced at them, adding wood to the fire.

He had no desire for sleep, pondering the information gained and planning his path for the coming years.

Collect martial arts, strengthen his foundation, perfect the Yin-Yang Spirit Method; improve his cultivation, strive to reach the fifth level of martial grandmaster quickly—only strength guarantees safety.

Body cultivation must not be neglected.

“Must seek achievements as well.”

The Supreme Yin Undying Sutra could wait; he would acquire the complete text eventually. As for the Realm of Calm Spirit, the Imperial Sword, and Golden Crow visualization, he’d find ways to obtain them later.

He must not focus solely on one achievement—he must also seek to slay a ghost king and a demon king.

As he pondered, Liuli began to cry softly for her mother. Yan Hongyi trembled occasionally.

Next morning.

The wind had stopped, rain ceased, sunlight emerged.

Jiang Ming stepped outside, stretching lazily.

Breathing the fresh, earthy air, he felt invigorated.

“Good morning, Brother Jiang!” Yan Hongyi also emerged, looking far better than yesterday, full of energy. She swept her long hair aside and said, “I’ll go hunt some game. After breakfast, shall we set out?”

“Of course,” Jiang Ming nodded.

Yan Hongyi smiled with genuine joy.

Truthfully, her feelings were conflicted—she wanted Jiang Ming to accompany them, given his strength, but also wished him gone, fearing he might turn malicious.

Jiang Ming ignored everything else, gazing at the morning sun, unmoving for a long time.

Observing the sun, comprehending its essence—this too was cultivation.

Yan Hongyi returned, roasted meat.

After eating, the three set out.

“Brother Jiang, I don’t know if my grandmaster has the latter half of the Sutra. Will you…do you wish to go? There’s a grand event happening there—all the young talents will attend.”

“I have nothing better to do—let’s go!” Jiang Ming had already decided; of course he would go.

Moreover, Bright Moon City was a fine place.

After some time, a county town appeared ahead.

From afar, they saw a large carriage pulled by two horses, a coachman atop, and beside him a stunning woman.

“Young Lord!” Yun Shuang spotted Jiang Ming and ran over, cheering.

Jiang Ming’s mouth twitched.

From a two-thousand-word chapter to a four-thousand-word one—he was not used to it.

Especially at night, he wished to continue writing, but with exhaustion and dizziness, he had no choice.

Here’s a chapter.

It’s Monday, a beautiful start to the week—please support!

(End of chapter)