Chapter 51: The Soul Temple

The Soul Temple of the Shi family has a total of five floors.

Each floor corresponds to different realms, storing different level manuals.

On the first and second floors, there are Mortal-level martial techniques. Generally, martial artists at the Later Heaven realm choose suitable martial techniques from the first floor for cultivation, while those at the Innate realm choose from the second floor.

The third and fourth floors store Mystic-level martial techniques. Martial artists at the Human Rank realm choose Mystic-level martial techniques from the third floor, while those at the Hundred Tribulations realm can choose from the fourth floor.

It is said that on the fifth floor of the Soul Temple, the Shi family's only Spirit-level martial technique is stored.

Unfortunately, that floor is not open to anyone. Only the family head, Shi Jian, occasionally goes up there.

Spirit-level martial techniques are extraordinary. Even some of the Shi family's retainers do not have the qualifications to view them. Only the direct descendants of the Shi family, who can reach the Status realm, have the right to cultivate them.

However, among the current descendants of the Shi family, even the one with the deepest cultivation, Shi Tang, is only at the Third Stage of the Hundred Tribulations realm, still one step away from the Status realm.

...

Shi Jian led Shi Yan to the Soul Temple.

At the entrance of the Soul Temple, an old woman with deep wrinkles on her face bowed as she saw Shi Jian approach and said, "Family Head."

The old woman's name is Yun Luo, a long-serving retainer of the Shi family. Like Han Feng, she is at the First Stage of the Nirvana realm. It is said that she is even older than Shi Jian and has been a retainer of the Shi family since Shi Jian was a child.

Because of her long service to the Shi family, she has earned Shi Jian's trust, and the task of guarding the Soul Temple has been entrusted to her.

"I am bringing Shi Yan to choose a martial technique," Shi Jian said as he walked up to the entrance, then turned to Han Feng and Yang Hai, "You two wait outside."

Han Feng and Yang Hai nodded together.

Yun Luo stepped aside, bowing to let Shi Jian and Shi Yan enter. After the two entered the Soul Temple, she stood at the entrance, nodding to Han Feng with a somewhat strange expression.

After Shi Yan returned to the Shi family, he was under Shi Jian's full protection, confined in the gravity room without any chance to come out.

Not only Yun Luo, but even some of the direct descendants of the Shi family were not very clear about Shi Yan's situation.

Now, Shi Jian himself was personally bringing him to the Soul Temple to choose a martial technique. What did this mean? It meant that Shi Yan should be a martial artist now!

Yun Luo had some understanding of Shi Yan, knowing that this young master had no soul spirit and had never been enthusiastic about martial arts. Now, at the age of seventeen, he had become a martial artist, which was quite unusual.

Yun Luo couldn't help but be puzzled.

Yun Luo, unable to figure out the details, looked at Han Feng with doubt, but Han Feng shook his head, indicating that he couldn't say.

Yun Luo became even more puzzled but didn't ask further. She stood at the entrance of the Soul Temple, pondering.

Under normal circumstances, she would lower the iron gate and enter the Soul Temple to supervise those who came to choose martial techniques, preventing them from entering floors that did not match their realms.

However, since Shi Jian was personally bringing Shi Yan, she didn't need to be so cautious.

...

"The first and second floors each have eighteen Mortal-level martial techniques. The third floor has eight Mystic-level martial techniques, and the fourth floor has four Mystic-level martial techniques. You are currently at the Third Stage of the Innate realm, so you can directly go to the second floor to choose a martial technique."

Shi Jian briefly introduced the layout and then led Shi Yan to the second floor of the Soul Temple.

On each floor of the Soul Temple, the walls have stone niches, each containing a martial technique manual.

Outside the niches, there is a dark green crystal cover, with a small keyhole in the center. Below the keyhole is a piece of paper with a brief introduction to the martial technique in the niche.

Shi Yan circled the second floor and found that at least ten of the eighteen martial techniques here were very common, known to many mercenaries and martial artists outside, such as the "Chaotic Star Fist" used by Jin Mo, which was among these Mortal-level martial techniques.

Only eight martial techniques were rarely seen outside, but in Shi Yan's view, the power and cultivation methods of these eight techniques did not seem particularly challenging or exciting.

Shi Yan, by nature, enjoyed challenges and liked the process of overcoming difficulties.

Therefore, after circling the second floor, Shi Yan shook his head and said, "Grandfather, the martial techniques on the second floor are not interesting. Take me to the upper floors to see."

In the past, Shi Yan would not have spoken to Shi Jian like this.

But now, Shi Yan deliberately revealed his Undying Soul Spirit, openly declaring his dual soul spirit identity to achieve this purpose.

In his view, only the mysterious soul spirit was his true foundation, and he kept all its secrets tightly, never revealing them to anyone, keeping them deep in his heart.

However, the Undying Soul Spirit was not something he needed to hide. By revealing his recovery ability, he could gain more privileges within the Shi family and have Shi Jian arrange a better cultivation path for him.

A dual soul spirit was enough to make Shi Jian tolerate all his whims.

Indeed, Shi Jian showed no displeasure on his face, only some hesitation. He grunted, "You are only at the Innate realm. Rashly cultivating Mystic-level martial techniques may not be a good thing."

"Am I just like everyone else? You've seen that although I am only at the Innate realm, my body's petrification is already at the second stage. Additionally, I have a recovery ability that others don't have. Perhaps I can cultivate Mystic-level martial techniques that others cannot."

Shi Jian was taken aback by this and then nodded, "That's true. Let's go to the third and fourth floors to see."

Various strange martial techniques were displayed in the niches. Shi Jian stood beside Shi Yan, and whenever he showed interest in a technique, Shi Jian would patiently explain its characteristics and cultivation methods.

"Indeed, the martial techniques on the third floor are much more interesting," Shi Yan nodded repeatedly, quickly memorizing all the Mystic-level martial techniques on the third floor. After a while, he said, "Let's go to the fourth floor to see."

"Alright, I will explain the four techniques on the fourth floor in detail. You are different from others, so you can know in advance."

Shi Jian led Shi Yan to the fourth floor.

On the fourth floor, Shi Jian walked straight to a niche and said, "This is the 'Shattered Star Net.' It can condense the essence in the body into light points, weaving a net of star points. It can directly bind the essence in the opponent's body, making them unable to muster strength."

"Interesting."

"Don't even think about it. To cultivate the 'Shattered Star Net,' you need a very deep essence and a very proficient control of it. You are far from that now!"

Shi Jian was not polite, grunted, and then moved to another niche, "This is the 'Eight Directions Seal.' When used, it creates hand seals in all directions, sealing off all the opponent's paths, forcing them to engage in a direct confrontation. Because of our soul spirit's characteristics, close combat can maximize our advantages, so the 'Eight Directions Seal' is very suitable for us with the Petrification Soul Spirit!"

"That's also good."

"Don't even think about it. You can't cultivate it until you reach the Hundred Tribulations realm. The reason is the same as for the 'Shattered Star Net'—you need a deep essence to support it. If you can't even release one hand seal, how can you trap someone from all directions?"

"What about the next one?"

"Dark Moon Shadow Follow. This is a movement technique. When used to its fullest, the body becomes an elusive shadow. Yes, this is also quite difficult, requiring a very high realm. You need to sense the aura at the Hundred Tribulations realm to use it. Don't even think about it."

"What about the last niche?"

"Point Gun Technique!"

Shi Jian exclaimed, as if suddenly remembering something. His eyes lit up, but he hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Point Gun Technique is a martial technique for cultivating the ten fingers. Once mastered, the fingers are like steel spears, capable of piercing through an enemy's body with a single finger. With all ten fingers as spears, it's easy to grab the heart and lungs. In close combat, combined with our Petrification Soul Spirit, the damage is extremely terrifying!"

"I'm interested in this!" Shi Yan's expression changed, "Are there any special requirements?"

"There are special requirements, but you are suitable." Shi Jian hesitated for a moment, "Before cultivating the Point Gun Technique, you must reach the second stage of the Petrification Soul Spirit, with a black light appearing after petrification. Only then can you ensure that your fingers won't break during cultivation. Yes, you are qualified."

"Then I'll choose this one." Shi Yan said decisively.

Shi Jian's expression was strange, staring at Shi Yan, lost in thought.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Shi Yan sensed something was amiss.

"Kid, you really want to cultivate the Point Gun Technique?" Shi Jian took a deep breath, his expression becoming even stranger.

"What's wrong with it?"

"You can indeed cultivate the Point Gun Technique and achieve it quickly. Your Undying Soul Spirit can also be useful." After a pause, Shi Jian continued, "However, the cultivation of the Point Gun Technique is extremely painful! It's almost inhuman torture, even more painful than your daily thousand strikes with the wolf-tooth club! Do you really want to cultivate the Point Gun Technique instead of the easier Mortal-level techniques on the second floor?"

"Um!"

"Alright, I'll explain the cultivation method of the Point Gun Technique. Once mastered, your ten fingers will be incredibly sharp, capable of piercing through an enemy's body with a single strike, extremely vicious. However, the cultivation method is quite unbearable..."

...

One day later, in the gravity room.

Seven gravity pillars, six of which were wrapped in the skin of a fifth-level silver python, which can shield gravity. Therefore, the gravity in the gravity room is only twice the normal gravity.

Beside the only gravity pillar not wrapped in silver python skin, Shi Yan was inverted, supporting himself with only the tip of his left index finger.

A slender index finger supported his entire body weight, and with the gravity doubled, his body's weight was doubled!

His index finger trembled slightly, as if it might break at any moment.

Shi Yan's face was flushed, the muscles in his left arm twitching, and the veins on his skin looked like snakes, giving a sense of wanting to burst through the skin.

The pain from the index finger supporting his body was bone-deep!

It felt as if countless needles were constantly pricking his finger, the pain like waves, continuously assaulting his nerves, almost driving him to the brink of collapse.

Endure!

Shi Yan gritted his teeth, his face so red it seemed blood might seep out. In the inverted position, the blood rushed to his head, making the experience very uncomfortable.

Five minutes.

He barely managed to hold on for five minutes, his spirit almost collapsing.

The pain from the supporting finger almost made him want to give up. If the finger wasn't already petrified, the joints would have broken long ago.

Persist!

Six minutes! Seven minutes!

By the eighth minute, Shi Yan's spirit was on the verge of collapse, feeling faint, and his senses were gradually numbing...

At that moment!

The negative forces in the acupoints on his head suddenly erupted!

Strands of negative energy flooded his mind!

This was the sign of a "Rage" trigger.