Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds-Chapter 76, Plan to resolve with soldiers (seek to follow up on readings)

Chapter 76: 76, Plan to resolve with soldiers (seek to follow up on readings)

Instance World.

The 24th year of Guangxu.

Jingzhao Prefecture, Chang’an.

"Newspaper for sale, newspaper for sale..."

"Empress Dowager Cixi cleanses the Imperial Court, abolishes the new policies! Reformists executed at the vegetable market in the Capital!"

"Main reformists Kang and Liang flee to the East!"

On this day in early October, as dawn was just breaking, Xu Xing had barely stepped out of his home on his way to the Qin Province Martial Arts School when he heard a young newsboy hawking morning papers on the street.

Is it time already? Xu Xing looked up at the sky.

It was already late autumn, and the weather was turning cold. A light rain had fallen the previous night, stopping by early morning. However, an additional layer of thin fog now lingered, blanketing the streets and alleys.

"One copy of the Widespread News, the All Nations Gazette, the Sino-Foreign Chronicles, and the Current Affairs News..."

Reaching the corner of the alley, Xu Xing retrieved a double-cornered silver coin from his robes and handed it to the newsboy. Double-cornered silver coins were a subsidiary currency to Dragon Dollars. A single newspaper cost roughly three to four copper pennies.

"Sir..." the newsboy began, handing the folded newspapers to Xu Xing. "I’ll get your change, please wait a moment," he said, fumbling in his pockets.

The total for the papers was less than a single jiao.

"No need," Xu Xing said, patting the boy’s shiny head. "Consider it a tip." He tucked the newspapers under his arm and walked away.

「A little while later, he arrived at the Qin Province Martial Arts School.」

"Today, we will study Western Warfare Strategies," Manager Ding announced. "You students should understand that our country’s repeated defeats at the hands of Western nations are not solely due to their firearms being sharper than ours; their methods of warfare are also a significant reason for their victories. We must innovate our battle formations..."

Xu Xing had just entered the lecture hall and had barely begun to read his papers when Manager Ding, the school’s supervisor, personally strode onto the dais and began his lesson. Today’s lecture diverged from the old staples of cavalry, infantry, firearms, cannons, sabers, and shields, focusing instead on Western Warfare Strategies. This immediately piqued the interest of the assembled students, who began to listen intently.

"Xu Xing," Manager Ding called out soon after, pausing his fervent lecture. He looked at Xu Xing, who sat below the dais, a hint of hopeful expectation and encouragement in his eyes. "When the lecture is finished, you will repeat it for everyone."

Students at the Martial Arts School were divided into three grades. Those who were highly literate, articulate, and capable of learning surveying and mathematics formed the top grade, admitted to the main course. Those unlettered but quick-witted, exceptionally strong, and proficient with firearms and cannons were in the second grade, admitted to the auxiliary course. The lowest grade consisted of the sons of officials eager to serve, designated as external students.

Among these three grades, Xu Xing, who hailed from the Weijing Academy renowned for its practical knowledge, had excelled in the Day New Studio, and had also achieved a ranking in the Imperial Examination, was a government-subsidized student of the highest caliber. It could be said that among all the students, Xu Xing was the cream of the crop.

Were it not for this, Qin Fengshan would not have resorted to such underhanded means to compel Xu Xing to enroll in the Qin Province Martial Arts School. After all, a government-subsidized student had boundless prospects. While attending the Martial Arts School was a decent path, it paled in comparison to the prestige and future afforded by his academic achievements. Studying abroad, however, remained an uncertainty. To study abroad via the Martial Arts School, one had to be dispatched by either the Military Training Office or the Ministry of the Army.

Officially funded overseas study in the late Qing Dynasty primarily included: provincial dispatches, Grand College dispatches, Imperial Academy scholar dispatches, study tours for nobility, Military Training Office dispatches, and Ministry dispatches. The Imperial Academy scholar dispatches were specifically for newly-minted Scholars to study practical subjects, and only those with the rank of Scholar were eligible. Study tours for nobility were for the scions of the Eight Banners. Ministry dispatches were assignments from the central government ministries.

"Yes, Manager," Xu Xing replied. He put away his textbook, walked to the lectern, and reiterated Manager Ding’s lecture, incorporating some of his own insights.

Upon hearing him, Manager Ding clapped in approval. "It is good that you are dedicated to military affairs. The nation needs scholars like you to devote yourselves to the army. The Governor has instructed me to select a few academically gifted students to meet him. I believe you should accompany me." He deliberately raised his voice towards the end of his statement.

The faces of the students below the dais filled with envy. The Governor was, in essence, the local emperor of Qin Province. To gain his favor meant a swift rise through the ranks was practically assured.

"Thank you, Manager Ding!" Xu Xing’s eyes glinted. As expected, he thought. He then clasped his hands in a brief salute, expressing his gratitude.

Unlike the other students at the Qin Province Martial Arts School, he had met Fang Yun, the Governor of Qin Province, before. During the Academy Exam, Governor Fang Yun had been one of the chief examiners. However, this meeting would be different from their first encounter; this time, he intended to assassinate Fang Yun.

「After Daoist Ming Cang taught him the art of Corpse Liberation Immortal.」

Although he possessed the cultivation method for the Corpse Liberation Immortal, he had struggled to make any initial headway. Simply put, while the art of Corpse Liberation Immortal was a lesser path to immortality, it was not a technique that just anyone could master. Its cultivation difficulty far surpassed that of Martial Dao techniques.

There were two primary difficulties.

First, one had to cultivate their Daoist practice to the point where their soul could dimly separate from the body. Only then would one be qualified to attempt Corpse Liberation.

Second, there were numerous methods of Corpse Liberation—such as Fire Resolution, Water Resolution, Sword Resolution, and Staff Resolution. Each, with the exception of resolving with soldiers, required specific incantations and magical artifacts.

Take Water Resolution, for example. According to the "Supreme Three Rejections and Five Resolutions Secret Method," at the auspicious Ren-Gui hour, one must set up an incense burner in a quiet chamber, click one’s teeth thirty-six times, chant the incantation, imbue one’s three hun souls into one’s shoes, and then perform Yu’s Step at a rapid pace. If Corpse Liberation is to occur on that day, the right shoe is then submerged in water. These shoes were not ordinary; they had to be capable of housing a person’s three hun souls.

Staff Resolution involved three steps. The first step was to communicate with divine spirits through methods like talismans, purification rituals, and meditative visualization, thereby gaining the qualification for immortality. The second step was to entrust one’s soul to a magical artifact in the form of a bamboo cane. The third step was for the soul to ascend to immortality, using the bamboo cane as a stairway to heaven.

...

Methods like Water Resolution, Fire Resolution, and Staff Resolution were too arduous and time-consuming. He favored the method of resolving with soldiers.

Compared to other Corpse Liberation methods, resolving with soldiers was far more accessible. Even if one’s Daoist cultivation was incomplete, or if one lacked assistive magical artifacts, as long as a weapon struck the body, in that instant of breaking through the shell of the mortal body and seizing the elusive spiritual insight, one could immediately transform into a Third-class underground master, thereby mastering the Corpse Liberation method.

Of course, this was not to say that other Corpse Liberation methods were inferior to resolving with soldiers. Successfully performing methods like Water Resolution or Sword Resolution would result in becoming at least a second-class Underground Lord. A second-class Underground Lord would immediately obtain an official post of control in the Netherworld. An official post of control was equivalent to a Scattered Official in the Netherworld.

However, if one failed to grasp that elusive spiritual insight during the process of resolving with soldiers, their fate would be immediate death and the dissolution of their Dao. Resolving with soldiers was a cultivator’s last resort when facing the calamity of weapons.

But—

Xu Xing was different.

He had opportunities for trial and error.

Moreover, he could use his Taoist Fruits to solidify the state, achieving eternal verification once proven.

Engraved upon his Taoist Fruits was already the Emperor Purple Fate as an Underground Lord. As long as he died now, there was a very high probability he would instantly transform into a Third-class underground master.

Beyond this, according to Xu Xing’s judgment, the elusive spiritual insight experienced during Corpse Liberation was likely related to the Heaven and Earth Bridge of the Innate realm in the Martial Dao.

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