Lin Yu's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
From the village chief's description, the 'guǐyì' were clearly soul-like creatures, similar to demons.
Did Izumo Country's methods of subduing 'guǐyì' target souls?
Lin Yu became excited at this thought.
He possessed the Soul Dome talent, making him highly sensitive to soul-related techniques and quick to grasp them.
He had been contemplating the abilities of Soul Dome all along, hoping to awaken a talent skill from it.
He already had some ideas, but they weren't mature yet. If he could obtain the cultivation techniques of this world, it might allow his talent abilities to develop more functions.
However, Soul Dome could currently only protect his own soul, and he didn't know how to deal with enemies.
"In my youth, I left the village and went to Izumo Country to learn a technique. Unfortunately, my comprehension was too poor, and in the end, I only brought back a method called Soul Snatching Technique. I intended to pass it on to my sons, but their comprehension was even worse; they couldn't learn it."
"Today, a distinguished guest has arrived; I presume your skills are extraordinary."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu wanted to examine the Soul Snatching Technique and quickly said, "The Soul Snatching Technique, you say? We can certainly help you take a look, perhaps there's an oversight in the cultivation method."
His statement was a clear invitation for the other party to produce the cultivation technique.
Cultivation techniques were personal secrets, but for the village chief, it wasn't a particularly valuable item.
After all, no one could learn it. To him, despite its potential value, an unlearnable technique was just waste paper.
Slightly tipsy, he stood up and went to retrieve the cultivation method.
Upon his return, he placed the technique on the table and said:
"Guest, this is the cultivation technique. When I went to Izumo Country back then, I was helping out in a Daoist temple. When I left, the temple master gave me the Soul Snatching Technique, saying that if I could learn it, I could join the temple as a disciple. Alas, it was too difficult, and I couldn't learn it at all."
Lin Yu took the cultivation method and began to read it.
The so-called Soul Snatching Technique was just a single sheet of paper, with only a few hundred characters in total.
After reading for a while, Lin Yu suddenly felt a strange sensation.
Soul Snatching Technique?
This wasn't right!
This wasn't the Soul Snatching Technique!
Lin Yu felt his head spin, as if standing at the precipice of death.
He quickly put the cultivation method down, glancing at it one more time as if seeing a man-eating demon.
Lin Fan noticed the commotion and quickly asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"
Lin Yu shook his head and said, "I'm fine."
He looked at the village chief and asked, "Are you sure this is the Soul Snatching Technique?"
At this moment, Lin Yu's gaze was filled with caution.
This cultivation technique was too sinister. As he studied it, it felt as if he was throwing himself into a gaping maw.
He had a feeling that the moment he successfully learned it, he would be completely consumed.
Either the village chief was problematic, or the Daoist temple he mentioned was.
The village chief looked confused and said, "Guest, what's wrong? This is the Soul Snatching Technique the temple master gave me back then. He said that by learning this art, one could deter the 'guǐyì' and prevent them from approaching."
Lin Yu was silent for a moment.
Based on his experience, he couldn't discern any issues with the village chief. He nudged Bai Xiaosa with his elbow.
Bai Xiaosa's eyes flickered with starlight, and he shook his head.
Lin Yu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Thank you, Village Chief, for letting us see this method. However, this Soul Snatching Technique is a bit peculiar, and it's probably best not to practice it."
Lin Yu returned the Soul Snatching Technique to the village chief.
The village chief looked perplexed and carefully put away the technique.
This was his treasure, which he rarely showed to others.
The two chatted for a long time, and Lin Yu gained a deeper understanding of this world.
The place they were in was called the Great Wilderness Mountains.
It was a region of undulating peaks, dense forests, and rampant ferocious beasts.
Within the mountains, villages were scattered like stars, built in various locations. These villages had Soul Suppressing Steles, which allowed them to survive here.
The villages were connected, forming a route akin to a Silk Road, stretching from Willow Village all the way to Izumo Country.
Villagers wishing to travel to Izumo Country could rest in villages along the way at night, and depart again during the day, ensuring they wouldn't be caught in the wilderness after dark.
Outside the Great Wilderness Mountains lay a country called Izumo Country.
This country was vast and populous, seemingly the only nation in this world.
To the east of Izumo Country was a great ocean, to the north was an ice plain, and to the west was a grassland. Only to the south were the mountains.
Lin Yu noted down this information, and his perception of this secret realm began to shift.
It seemed this secret realm was immense, no less than a small world.
A world that could hide so many things—divine artifacts, 'guǐyì', soul-suppressing techniques—the secrets here made Lin Yu's heart stir.
As dusk gradually fell, everyone grew tired. The village chief was about to lead the three to the guest rooms to rest when someone suddenly pushed open the courtyard gate.
"It's bad, Village Chief! Sancai has been invaded by a 'guǐyì'!"
As the words fell, the village chief swayed, as if he might collapse at any moment.
"Where is my son? Hurry and fetch the witch doctor!"
The witch doctor was the only one in Willow Village who had survived an encounter with a 'guǐyì'. They possessed some medical knowledge and minor skills, holding a high status in the village. When a 'guǐyì' invasion occurred, they were often called upon to diagnose.
"Village Chief, the witch doctor has already gone. Please hurry, or it will be too late."
The messenger urged him on, and the village chief, abandoning all else, rushed out.
Lin Yu said, "Let's go too."
Bai Xiaosa nodded and replied, "Yes!"
Lin Fan's mind stirred slightly, and his puppet insects infiltrated every corner, thoroughly scouting the surroundings.
On the way, Lin Yu asked, "Is the village chief compromised?"
Bai Xiaosa shook his head. "There are no energy traces within him. His expression is normal, and his demeanor is as expected."
Lin Fan chimed in, "Brother, my puppet insects have already investigated everything. I've searched up to a hundred meters underground. This is just an ordinary village."
Lin Yu was relieved and nodded.
This was indeed an ordinary village, but the Soul Snatching Technique from Izumo Country was not.
It seemed the person who gave the village chief the Soul Snatching Technique had ulterior motives.
The group arrived at the village entrance.
At that moment, a young man around twenty years old lay on the ground.
Beside him, an elder was examining the young man's condition.
After a long while, he stood up and shook his head, "The 'guǐyì' has entered the brain. There's no hope!"
"What?" The village chief, walking over with a sorrowful expression, heard this dire news.
The witch doctor, seeing it was the village chief, still said, "Based on my experience, it's basically hopeless, unless... a Night Walker intervenes!"
Night Walker!
Everyone despaired.
That was a Night Walker!
However, those three words sparked a realization in the village chief.
He immediately turned to Lin Yu and, with a thud, knelt on the ground.
"Benefactor, I implore you to save my son! I will kowtow to you!"
Lin Fan saw this and quickly helped him up, saying, "Hey, why are you kneeling so readily? Please get up, let's discuss this properly."
However, the elder continued to kowtow incessantly, and Lin Fan couldn't stop him.
At this point, Bai Xiaosa said, "Brother Lin, I can see the location of the 'guǐyì'. It has already invaded the sea of consciousness. In a few more minutes, the soul will be devoured."
Lin Yu nodded, acknowledging the information. A stream of azure energy appeared in his hand, and with a gentle lift, the village chief was raised, unable to kneel any further.
"I can save him, but I have one condition!"
"Benefactor, please, name your request. We will agree to anything!"
"I want to study the Soul Suppressing Stele!"
The Soul Suppressing Stele was the foundation of the village's survival.
The village chief hesitated.
Lin Yu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will not take the stele. This will not affect you in any way. Besides, if I wanted to take the Soul Suppressing Stele, you truly wouldn't be able to stop me."
As he spoke, a flame appeared in his palm. Initially small, only about a dozen centimeters high, it suddenly shot up dozens of meters, like a pillar of fire, illuminating the entire village in an instant.
Seeing this, everyone present looked on in shock!