Chapter 50: The Substitute Paper Effigy

"Hmm, what is this?"

Inside the jade box lay a single bead, the size of a pigeon's egg, resting quietly. It was like a drop of clear, transparent water, reflecting a crystalline luster.

Song Changsheng picked it up using his thumb and index finger. It felt icy to the touch and incredibly light, as if it possessed no weight at all.

"It looks so familiar. Could it be... the [Water-Repelling Pearl]?" A flash of inspiration struck Song Changsheng's mind, and the words escaped his lips instantly.

The [Water-Repelling Pearl] was not a magical tool, but rather a pearl nurtured by a clam demon. It had no defined grade; one simply needed to hold it in one's mouth when entering the water to move freely underwater.

While of little use to high-level cultivators, it was quite practical for those below the Purple Mansion stage, making it a decent treasure.

This was a very good start. Song Changsheng proceeded to open the second white jade box, which contained a shriveled brown seed. Although Song Changsheng was not an expert in the Way of Spirit Plants, he could tell that the seed's vitality had been completely exhausted.

"Sigh, what a pity. A spirit seed capable of being carried by the owner of a grotto-heaven must not be an ordinary thing. I've missed a great opportunity."

Song Changsheng sighed with regret, but he still preserved it, intending to take it back for the Great Elder to examine. As a third-grade low-rank Spirit Plant Farmer, the Elder might have a way.

"Only this last one remains. I hope it doesn't disappoint me."

Song Changsheng opened the final vermilion jade box. With just one glance, his brow furrowed; inside was actually a piece of paper about half a foot long.

Picking it up, he found it to be a meticulously cut paper effigy, with simple facial features drawn on it in cinnabar, looking quite comical.

Turning it over, he saw a bright red character "Substitute" (替) written on the back.

Song Changsheng's eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed with joy, "Could this be the legendary [Substitute Death Paper Effigy]?"

The [Substitute Death Paper Effigy] was a treasure that could only be refined by Puppet Masters of the third grade or higher. As the name implied, a single paper effigy could allow a cultivator to substitute their death once. The one in his hand was first-grade, suitable for use by Qi Refinement cultivators.

This was a fine item that would be difficult to buy even with money. Even if he couldn't use it during his Qi Refinement stage, it would be an excellent choice to give to the clan's juniors or sell to the family.

"With this item, it's equivalent to having an extra life." Unable to hide his joy, Song Changsheng bit his index finger to squeeze out a drop of crystal-clear blood.

This was the essence blood condensed from his cultivation. By dripping this blood onto the paper effigy and keeping it close to his body, it would achieve the effect of substituting his death.

As the fresh blood dripped, the originally white paper effigy instantly turned a crimson red. He pressed the effigy against his chest, feeling a sudden sense of peace.

"I wonder what was in that jade box Fellow Daoist Zhuang exchanged from me back then; it likely wasn't an ordinary object either," Song Changsheng speculated privately, though he felt no regret.

After all, he had gained a massive advantage from Zhuang Yuechan.

Thinking of this, he took out the two jade slips. He had already made time to read the one in his left hand, which recorded a second-grade tool-refining inheritance. It had its own subtleties distinct from the Song clan's tool-refining inheritance; by taking the best of both, he had benefited greatly.

In particular, one chapter regarding the refinement of "Gourd" type magical tools had provided him with great inspiration, giving him a new refinement plan for his Treasure Gourd.

However, this was merely the icing on the cake; the true surprise lay in the formation inheritance recorded in the jade slip in his right hand.

Back then, he had decided to exchange for it after only a cursory glance, regardless of the cost!

Previously, he had been injured and needed to consolidate his formation cultivation, so he hadn't had the chance to study it properly. Now, the timing was ripe.

He pressed the jade slip to his forehead. Accompanied by a hazy shimmer of light, the contents recorded in the slip flooded into his sea of consciousness all at once.

The content consisted of text, drawings, and even sounds.

They surged into Song Changsheng's sea of consciousness like a deluge, eventually constructing a phantom image of a young man. Clad in flowing white robes with a green longsword strapped to his back, the figure looked at Song Changsheng with a smile.

In his soul state, Song Changsheng was somewhat dazed; he hadn't expected these fragments of inheritance to construct a human figure within his sea of consciousness.

Was it a phantom, or a remnant soul?

"Successor, do not be surprised. This is merely a small trick I left within the inheritance; it will not cause you any harm," the white-robed figure suddenly spoke.

"You are..."

Before Song Changsheng could finish, the figure continued on its own: "Let me introduce myself first. My name is He Yunxuan, from the Academy of Formation Dao.

At the age of thirty, I reached the realm of a second-grade peak Formation Master, but at that time, I encountered a bottleneck. To advance further, I left the Academy to wander the world, eventually making my way to the Great Qi cultivation realm.

Here, I finally broke through my bottleneck and became a third-grade low-rank Formation Master. Just as I was preparing to return, I accidentally encountered a heavily injured Purple Mansion stage demon.

I fought him for three days, and finally, with the help of formations and life-saving methods provided by my elders, I managed to slay him, but I was also heavily wounded in the process.

Feeling that my days were numbered, I opened a grotto-heaven, intending to leave my life's learning to a person of destiny..."

Hearing He Yunxuan's words, Song Changsheng's heart burned with excitement. The man actually came from the "Academy of Formation Dao"—the holy land that all formation masters aspired to reach.

Could the inheritance in this jade slip come from the Academy of Formation Dao?

Song Changsheng's gaze toward He Yunxuan instantly became fervent.

"However, the methods of the Academy cannot be passed on externally, so all I can leave behind are the inheritances I gained during my travels."

Song Changsheng's burning heart instantly turned "cold."

"However, by combining my life's learning, I have researched a brand-new path, which I have named 'Formations Carved Upon the Body.' I believe it will bring you some surprises.

If you achieve success in your cultivation in the future, please record a copy and send it to the Academy of Formation Dao, delivering it to someone named Gu Yiyi. This is my only wish before death.

Finally, regarding those three jade tokens: those were obtained from that Purple Mansion demon, and they seem to involve certain secrets of the Blood Demon Sect.

Unfortunately, my injuries were too severe, and I had no chance to unravel the mystery. I leave them to you now. They should be quite dangerous; do not go seeking death if your cultivation is too low.

Well, that is all I have to say verbally. The rest, see for yourself."

As he finished speaking, He Yunxuan's figure gradually became illusory, eventually reverting back into text, drawings, and sounds, swirling within the sea of consciousness.

Song Changsheng was stunned for a moment. He wondered how many years ago this senior had lived; only now had he truly passed away.

He silently cupped his hands in a salute, as a way of seeing the senior off.

After a long while, he began to comprehend the formation inheritance left behind by He Yunxuan.

Although He Yunxuan said these inheritances did not come from the Academy of Formation Dao, their level of sophistication far exceeded the Song clan's formation inheritance, providing him with immense inspiration.

And within it, he found the "surprise" He Yunxuan had left for him—"Formations Carved Upon the Body."

...

(End of Chapter)