Absolute Death Game-Chapter 347 - 2: Three Dharma Methods

"What you’re talking about must be your Heart Demon. We cultivators, due to long periods of Mind Cultivation and Spirit Refinement, constantly strive to improve our Taoist Heart. This involves repeatedly putting ourselves into different mental states to mimic various mindsets under different circumstances. These different mental states, when they coalesce, often give rise to a Heart Demon within our consciousness. A Heart Demon is part of you, born from the fragments of your consciousness. It’s neither the result of a spell’s effect nor an Undead spirit taking possession, which is why neither dispersing spells nor Exorcism Skills can eliminate it. However, it’s not entirely impossible to resolve. Our predecessors, experts in their own right, have devised numerous Dharma Methods to combat the Heart Demon. Just among those I know of, there are three methods to resist the Heart Demon,"

Xiao Buli was instantly both startled and delighted. He thought to himself, good gracious, this is some real sorcery—indeed, when an accomplished immortal farts, it sounds unlike any other. He had previously thought that Soul Departure Syndrome was incurable, and here were three methods presented to him, which was simply too fantastic. He quickly lowered his gaze, bowed deeply, and did his best to assume a humble appearance.

"Please enlighten me, Master."

The first one is called the Consciousness Integrating Skills, which merges these fragmented pieces of consciousness with your main consciousness into one, reconstituting a whole. This way, you will no longer be troubled by the Heart Demon. The side effect is that your personality will change, because with the addition of many consciousnesses, you will no longer be like your former self.

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Upon hearing this, Xiao Buli immediately shook his head. This old man—this method would hardly be different from being under its control. It sounded just like a play on words and too risky. To change and no longer be like his former self, he’d rather endure its nagging.

"May I know what the other two methods are?"

Xuanxu Zi stroked his beard and flicked his horsetail whisk, nodding his head.

The second one is called the Corpse-Slaying Reincarnation Skills. First, you accumulate enough Merit Points, and then, once you have enough for resurrection, commit suicide. Use the Merit Points to reshape your body, and then have a accomplished cultivator bring your original body back to life. If done correctly, your Heart Demon will be resurrected within your original body, while you obtain a new body. However, this method is quite difficult to execute. It not only requires someone with immense Divine Abilities capable of Resurrection Skills, but the resurrection process itself is very dangerous. One small misstep could lead to a grave mistake, with unforeseen consequences.

Xiao Buli thought to himself, this one is even less reliable than the first. He didn’t have any Merit Points to speak of, let alone someone with immense Divine Abilities. Speaking of Divine Skills, he glanced at Xuanxu Zi. "Master, do you happen to know Resurrection Skills?" When discussing matters of life and death, Xiao Buli’s form of address naturally changed, shifting from ’you’ to the more respectful ’you’.

"Hehe, of course I know Resurrection Skills. If you really wish to use the Corpse-Slaying Reincarnation Skills to combat your Heart Demon, I will certainly support you wholeheartedly. How about giving you a 20 percent discount?" Xuanxu Zi’s expression was mischievously sly as he said with a somewhat cunning smile.

"Twenty percent discount? What discount?"

Xuanxu Zi said, "Eh~, using Resurrection Skills requires the expenditure of one’s Primordial Spirit. With such Divine Skills at my disposal, you surely didn’t think I would perform them for free, did you? Ordinary people who seek my Resurrection Skills are charged 3000 Sect Contribution Value. But since you’re my disciple, let’s say 2400 Contribution Value for you."

After listening, Xiao Buli truly regretted using the respectful form of ’you’. This sly old fox was clearly not one to soften his heart over a few kind words. Too steep, too steep—this method seemed out of the question as well.

"Then, Master, what is the third Dharma Method?" Though his mind was filled with thoughts, Xiao Buli still bowed respectfully as he continued to inquire.

Xuanxu Zi’s demeanor changed from the slickness of negotiating a deal to one of solemnity. He fell silent for a moment, seemingly reluctant to speak. Fortunately, due to Xiao Buli’s high favorability, he could not leave it unsaid. After a moment of contemplation, he began, "The third Dharma Method is known as the Soul Division Shadow Technique. It is an extremely dangerous method. One misstep could lead to the scattering of soul and spirit. However, if executed properly, it can be the most thorough method in combating the Heart Demon.

"This method requires you to scatter your soul, creating many Avatar Shadows through Immortal Techniques. Each avatar possesses a small part of the original self’s consciousness. Among these avatars, the Heart Demon is one. Then, you make these avatars fight and kill each other. Each time an avatar dies, fragments of your consciousness will transfer from the deceased to the victor, whose memories will thus become more numerous. Through continuous battle and consolidation, when only one avatar remains, your soul will be restored to its original state, and the Heart Demon will most likely have died at the hands of your avatars. However, there is one particularly dangerous aspect—if it is your Heart Demon that survives to the end, then the memories of your soul will essentially belong to it, and you will cease to exist in this world."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Buli was stunned. This method seemed dubious yet felt like it touched on something crucial. He revisited his past experiences in his mind and suddenly had an epiphany. He had always been puzzled why, after he killed Xuan Zhenzi, though the name was Xuan Zhenzi, the master still claimed it wasn’t and insisted he continue the pursuit. There was also the player whom Xuan Zhenzi had pulled into the game; he too encountered Xuan Zhenzi. Could there be so many Xuan Zhenzis in the world because they were the Avatar Shadows of Xuan Zhenzi?

However, if they were the Avatar Shadows of Xuan Zhenzi, why then would Xuanxu Zi want to kill them? Could it be that Xuanxu Zi himself was one of Xuan Zhenzi’s Avatar Shadows, yet his name clearly was not Xuan Zhenzi? What was going on here? Xiao Buli pondered, unwittingly becoming lost in thought.

"Which method do you wish to use, my disciple?" Xuanxu Zi, unaware of what was going through Xiao Buli’s mind on the other side of the screen, asked.

"How does one practice the Avatar Shadow Transformation?" Xiao Buli, snapping back to reality upon hearing Xuanxu Zi’s question, asked in turn.

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"I have a text on the ’Soul Division Shadow Technique’. You only need to study it. However, your contribution to our sect is still too minor, and your qualifications are insufficient; I cannot teach it to you yet."

Xiao Buli thought to himself, always needing Contribution Value, always needing qualifications—these probably referred to favorability. He had always deeply detested the Prestige System in online games, and here he was, subjected to its tyranny yet again. He wondered which scoundrel had come up with such a system.

"Nevertheless, I do recall something. There happens to be a task here requiring someone’s attention. If you can accomplish it, I might make an exception just this once." Xuanxu Zi was indeed adept at negotiation, deftly managing to send Xiao Buli’s emotions on a roller coaster ride.

Upon hearing there was a solution, Xiao Buli quickly said, "Please tell me, Master."

"Recently, the Demon Clan launched a major invasion, and though they were defeated and repelled by Nine Dragons City, there were countless dead in the chaos of war. Now, the Taiyin Sect is becoming active, taking advantage of these unpassed Undead and greatly expanding their forces. They have gathered a massive army of Corpse Soldiers at Wangliang Mountain and seem poised to make a move. I want you to gather information on their activities. If they truly harbor any schemes, it would be best if you could eliminate them."

System Notification: Triggered quest ’The Taiyin Sect’s Conspiracy,’ do you accept? (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)