Realm of the Night God - Chapter 132: Two Worn-Out Books

As Yang Haoran tightened the chain, Master Zhou let out another agonizing scream, even more piercing than before.

His soul was becoming unstable, flickering like a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.

With a cold expression, Yang Haoran had intended to lash Master Zhou a few more times to vent his inner fury. But seeing Master Zhou’s soul dissipating rapidly, he restrained himself.

He didn’t want to let Master Zhou’s soul scatter so easily, so despite his urge to continue lashing out, he forced himself to hold back.

Master Zhou’s anger grew stronger at this moment, mingled with an escalating fear. He couldn’t comprehend Yang Haoran’s actions, why he seemed to be going mad, repeatedly striking him. This behavior infuriated him deeply.

His fear stemmed from the possibility of Yang Haoran striking him again. Even without increasing the force, just like the last strike, it would be enough to scatter his soul.

Yang Haoran’s instantaneous outburst of murderous intent was prompted by the contents written on the paper before him.

The characters on the paper weren’t in demonic script but were readable to Yang Haoran. Yet, the contents were related to corpse refining.

The Corpse Control Sect, a secretive faction specializing in corpse refining, their primary method of attack being the manipulation of various zombies against enemies.

The paper detailed the methods of refining corpse fiends within the Corpse Control Sect and provided introductions to zombies. Both sides of the paper were filled with text.

The reason Yangjia Bay had turned into its current state, the tragic deaths of his parents, all of it was caused by Master Zhou, who employed zombies as his means.

So, upon seeing the contents of the paper, Yang Haoran’s anger flared, leading him to uncontrollably desire to strike Master Zhou.

In his view, Master Zhou’s knowledge of corpse refining likely came from this paper. If he hadn’t learned the techniques on it, perhaps the tragedy in Yangjia Bay wouldn’t have occurred.

Hence, his reaction to the paper was so intense.

He harbored no affection for zombies or those who controlled them.

However, this lack of affection didn’t translate into hatred for the entire group. His animosity was directed solely towards Master Zhou, not all practitioners of corpse refining and zombies.

Individuals like Master Zhou, even if they hadn’t obtained this paper or learned the art of corpse refining, would still commit heinous acts for their own gain.

Each crime had its perpetrator; Yang Haoran wouldn’t hate an entire group because of one person.

Looking at the yellowed paper, Yang Haoran felt an urge to tear it apart. However, after hesitating for a moment, he refrained from doing so. Instead, he gritted his teeth and carefully read through the contents.

His purpose wasn’t to learn corpse refining. Though he didn’t harbor hatred towards the practitioners, he had no fondness for them either. Thus, he would never delve into that art.

His meticulous reading aimed to gain a better understanding of zombies. In case he encountered such opponents in the future, he wouldn’t be left ignorant and vulnerable.

Suppressing his discomfort, Yang Haoran spent some time memorizing the information on the paper. Then, without hesitation, he set it ablaze.

He didn’t immediately touch the other two worn-out books. Instead, he reclined on the chair, massaging his slightly dizzy head, taking a breather. Then, he straightened up, picking up one of the two books.

It was a book on exorcism and ghost-catching, containing numerous folk methods accompanied by illustrations.

Although this book had limited utility for Yang Haoran, he wasn’t entirely disinterested. Some of the folk methods intrigued him.

He didn’t destroy the book but set it aside for future perusal. Perhaps, in his spare time, he could gain some insights from it.

Next, Yang Haoran picked up the other book, equally tattered and lacking a cover. Yet, as he flipped through its pages, the content piqued his interest.

This book seemed to be related to talismans.

With a hint of anticipation on his face, Yang Haoran skimmed through the entire book. As expected, it was indeed about talismans, detailing how to become a talisman master and various talismans along with their corresponding incantations.

Yang Haoran felt a sense of satisfaction. Among Master Zhou’s possessions, he finally found something valuable. At least for now, he deemed this book the most valuable.

He didn’t immediately delve into mastering talismans. His first task was to search for the lock yin talisman within the book.

According to Yang Haoran’s speculation, Master Zhou’s knowledge of talismanic arts likely came from this book. If his guess was correct, then this book must contain the lost lock yin talisman!

The lock yin talisman, in Yang Haoran’s eyes, was crucial. Whether for future development or personal safety, he believed this talisman would play a vital role.

The book contained numerous talismans, although unfamiliar to him, each accompanied by annotations in readable text, making it convenient for him to search.

After only a short while, Yang Haoran’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“The lock yin talisman, a talisman specifically for ghosts and Underworld Envoys. It can lock Yin Qi for ghosts and Yin spirit power for Underworld Envoys.”

Reading the annotation for the lock yin talisman, Yang Haoran knew he had found his target. Without hesitation, he gathered all the talismans placed aside and began comparing them one by one.

As the number of talismans in his hand diminished, Yang Haoran’s smile faded. Despite his thorough search, he couldn’t find the lock yin talisman.

When he placed down the last talisman, Yang Haoran had to accept a harsh reality: among Master Zhou’s remaining talismans, there was no lock yin talisman.

Feeling disappointed and frustrated, Yang Haoran resisted the urge to lash out at Master Zhou. Though he desired the lock yin talisman, he couldn’t find it among Master Zhou’s remaining possessions.

Not only the lock yin talisman, but Yang Haoran also sought the miraculous escape talisman. While searching for the lock yin talisman, he had noticed the existence of the escape talisman in the book. It was a life-saving item; having one would provide a measure of safety in dangerous situations.

Yet, like the lock yin talisman, Yang Haoran couldn’t find the escape talisman among Master Zhou’s remaining talismans.

After a moment of thought, Yang Haoran’s gaze hardened, as if he had made a decision.

“If there are none available, then I’ll try to become a talisman master myself. Once I become a talisman master, I can have as many as I want, and I won’t have to worry about such matters anymore!”

Becoming a talisman master without systematic learning or guidance from a mentor was extremely difficult, unlike becoming a Night Watch.

To become a Night Watch, one simply needed approval from a burial master and consent to implant the Death Mark Seal. However, becoming a talisman master required cultivating a unique form of spiritual power, known as symbol spirit power, within oneself. This power was essential for drawing talismans.

Even with symbol spirit power, drawing talismans required skill. It wasn’t as simple as drawing lines; it required a solid foundation and practice to accurately and swiftly draw each talisman.

To establish this foundation, there was only one method: continuous practice and learning from failures. Having a mentor’s guidance and experience could significantly reduce the trial and error process.

However, without a mentor, one had to rely solely on personal exploration, which often led to numerous detours and uncertain outcomes.

Yang Haoran had considered asking Wang Yiming for guidance. Although Wang Yiming’s abilities were limited, he was a genuine talisman master of the Fu Sect and must have had his own experiences in drawing talismans. If Wang Yiming were willing to share his knowledge and guide him, it would be of great help.

Yet, Yang Haoran quickly dismissed this idea.

Each profession had its rules, and the Fu Sect strictly prohibited disciples from disclosing their knowledge to outsiders. The consequences of such actions were severe, not only for Wang Yiming but also for himself. Moreover, the Fu Sect worshipped the Fu ancestor, while the Yin Division worshipped the Death God. Each considered the other as heretics. If news spread that a Yin Division Night Watch was learning talismanic arts, it could lead to trouble.

So, asking Wang Yiming for guidance was impossible. Even if Wang Yiming agreed, Yang Haoran wouldn’t do it.

With this in mind, Yang Haoran turned his gaze to Master Zhou, a cold smile playing on his lips, as he inquired, “Master Zhou, where did you learn your talismanic arts?”

Sensing the coldness in Yang Haoran’s tone, Master Zhou’s soul trembled slightly, and he hurriedly replied, “I… I learned them by myself.”

His voice was extremely weak, lacking vigor, as if he could collapse at any moment.

Though weak, his words caught Yang Haoran’s attention.

“Is it because of this book in my hand?” Yang Haoran asked.

[Heartfelt thankyou for the support! BokuBoku]