MTLNOVEL Chapter 296 Wandering Soul Technique
After arriving in Cloud City, Tian Lin and the group quickly located the clerks of the merchant family's coffin shop.
Upon learning the identities of Tian Lin and Ju Yunhai, the clerk urgently informed the shopkeeper.
Soon, the shopkeeper from the coffin shop led Tian Lin and the others to the merchant family's old house.
The old house was not on the streets of Wind City but was built in a mountain valley outside the city.
When Tian Lin and the others arrived, although many people in the valley had dispersed, there were still hundreds of guests wearing mourning clothes remaining there.
The shopkeeper from the coffin shop, who led Tian Lin's group, reported to the merchant family's elder. Tian Lin and the others quickly met the current family head of the merchant family, as well as the few Xiangxi Sect disciples who were paid spirit stones to come and help.
In no time, eight people gathered in the hall. Apart from the merchant family's elder and clan leader, the remaining five were outer disciples of the Xiangxi Sect.
The five outer disciples of the Xiangxi Sect, like the merchant elder and clan leader, all had late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
While the merchant elder and clan leader were polite to Tian Lin's trio, the five outer disciples of the Xiangxi Sect were not as courteous.
The lead outer disciple couldn't help but mock the merchant clan leader with a laugh, "Even if we brothers aren't strong enough, there's no need for the merchant clan leader to invite such strange people over."
Another Xiangxi Sect outer disciple followed the lead disciple's cue, saying, "Corpse Senior Brother and Old Third and Fourth, you'd better hide your own coffins to prevent them from being stolen."
Upon hearing this, how could Ju Yunhai not understand the implication of their words?
Back then, when Elder Gao and the disciples of the Dingwu Class went to steal coffins in the territory of the Xiangxi Sect, although Ju Yunhai didn't participate, who in the sect didn't know?
Afterwards, thousands perished in the Yu Family Village on the land of mass burial; the sect of Inquiry couldn't deny it related to Elder Gao.
On both occasions, Elder Gao's actions offended the Xiangxi Sect. Although the elders between the two sects didn't care about these minor matters, the disciples certainly weren't so forgiving, and there were inevitably some Xiangxi Sect disciples dissatisfied with the sect of Inquiry.
"So it's the five brothers of the Shi Family. I was wondering why the Xiangxi Sect's outer disciples weren't staying at the land of mass burial and had come out for some side money,"
Although Ju Yunhai knew he was at fault, he couldn't endure the insult to his sect, so he retorted:
"I've long heard that even though several senior brothers are outer disciples of the Xiangxi Sect, they're so poor that they use their own undead to settle debts. I wonder if there's any truth to that."
Corpse Elder Brother's face flushed with anger upon hearing this. He stepped forward and pointed at Ju Yunhai, saying, "What do you mean by that, Ju?"
Ju Yunhai said, "I meant well—if several senior brothers don't like what I said, then I won't speak anymore."
"Looking for death!"
All five Xiangxi Sect disciples surrounded Ju Yunhai, forcing Tian Lin to step forward and stand with Ju Yunhai.
Meanwhile, the merchant clan leader quickly separated the two sides, almost pleading:
"Fellow Daoists, now that the Evil Spirit hasn't been removed, we're all immortal disciples, why are we still getting into conflicts? For the sake of Merchant's honor, it's better if everyone sits down and talks."
The merchant clan leader arranged a banquet while calming both parties.
In the end, the five brothers of the Shi Family were hired by the merchant clan leader with spirit stones. For the sake of the spirit stones, the five brothers reluctantly backed down.
Ju Yunhai didn't intend to escalate matters either. He still hoped to complete the task and didn't want a real fight with the five brothers of the Shi Family.
Soon, a table of dishes was prepared, but the five brothers of the Shi Family and Tian Lin's group sat distinctly on different sides, separated by the merchant elder and clan leader.
Ju Yunhai took a sip of wine and asked the merchant clan leader, "As far as I know, the five brothers of the Shi Family have been here for several days, right? In theory, exorcising evil spirits shouldn't take so long, so why is there a need for assistance?"
Corpse Elder Brother thought Ju Yunhai was mocking them for being inept, and stood up, "We five brothers are incompetent, so let's see what good methods your Sect of Inquiry has for exorcising."
The merchant clan leader quickly stood up and took a lot of effort to calm Corpse Elder Brother to sit down.
After Corpse Elder Brother sat down, the merchant clan leader said:
"If it were merely exorcising, it would be simple. But trying not to harm my son while extracting the Divine Soul of the ancestor from my son's body is not easy to achieve."
To prevent further disputes during the discussion, the merchant clan leader simply told Tian Lin and the others:
"The fellow Daoists of the Shi Family have a unique technique called the 'Wandering Soul Technique', which can temporarily separate a person's soul from their body, almost like a Nascent Soul expert.
Our plan is to have the fellow Daoists of the Shi Family set up an array and then invite protectors to guard it. After the soul detaches from the body, they'll enter my son's Sea of Consciousness together to expel the Evil Spirit."
According to the merchant clan leader, his ancestor's Divine Soul is trapped within his son's Sea of Consciousness.
What they need to do now is enter the Sea of Consciousness with the detached souls to locate the ancestor's Divine Soul and extract it.
"You also know that separating the Divine Soul is something only Nascent Soul experts can accomplish. We're only at the Foundation Establishment Realm; once the soul is separated, there's a great risk of it dissipating."
Tian Lin could not help but say, "Isn't this risk too great?"
The merchant clan leader replied, "You're immortal disciples of the Sect of Inquiry, your Divine Souls are far superior—others might not succeed, but surely you can."
Mei Xiangu snorted, "So you mean to say, you've asked us here to risk soul dissipation to save your son?"
The merchant clan leader was momentarily silent. He knew there was risk, otherwise, he wouldn't have paid a hefty price for help from the Sect of Inquiry.
"According to our Wandering Soul Technique, as long as the oil lamp remains lit and the sky is not yet clear, your Divine Souls will not be in any danger."
Corpse Elder Brother Three stated, "With our Shi Family's brothers using the Wandering Soul Technique, what are you afraid of?"
Mei Xiangu said, "Precisely because it's you few who will be casting the spell, that's why we're afraid."
These words made the brothers restless again, "We've long mastered the Divine Soul Technique; are you doubting our ability?"
Ju Yunhai straightforwardly said to the merchant clan leader, "The clan leader knows these five brothers of the Shi Family hold grudges against us. They don't trust us, and we can't trust them either. The best course of action for now is to think of another way."
The merchant clan leader remained silent, and the merchant elder spoke up:
"Daoist Ju, you may not know, but we've already considered all possible methods. If there were other feasible solutions, we wouldn't have asked for your help."
"How many Divine Souls can the Sea of Consciousness of your esteemed son accommodate?"
Tian Lin suddenly asked the merchant clan leader, "Which people do you intend to send into your esteemed son's Sea of Consciousness using the Wandering Soul Technique?"
The merchant clan leader replied, "The more people using the Wandering Soul Technique, the safer the wandering souls. So, none of the fellow Daoists of the Shi Family will enter the Sea of Consciousness. Those who will enter are Elder Merchant, Daoist Ju, and Daoist Mei."