Ascension Day

Xu Ying felt quite uneasy, but without Yuan Rushi around, he could finally quiet his restless mind and focus on deciphering the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture*.

Half a day later, Xu Ying completed the deciphering and took it to show Yuan Weiyang. After looking it over, Yuan Weiyang said doubtfully, "This is a Magic Skill for Soul Refining and Refining the Primordial Spirit, but it seems to be missing something."

Xu Ying clapped and smiled. "I noticed that too. I followed the scriptures, making deductions and pondering for a long time. The subsequent Cultivation Technique must be the most crucial part—the Magic Skill for overcoming tribulations! I’ve thought of a way to patch it up. What do you think of this?"

He picked up a brush and wrote a new passage, compensating for the deficiencies in the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture*. Yuan Weiyang pondered it for a while before saying, "There are still some flaws. With this change, one’s Primordial Spirit can overcome tribulations and avoid disasters."

He picked up his brush and modified a section. Xu Ying leaned in for a closer look, nodding repeatedly. "I’ll try activating the Cultivation Technique first!" he said with a smile.

The two then tried activating the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture* themselves, and whenever they felt something was off, they would make further corrections.

Once they had finished supplementing the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture*, they each tested it out. In no time, they were able to begin Soul Refining. As for avoiding disasters, that was a matter for after one’s Primordial Spirit was fully formed.

Nuo Masters lack Cultivation Techniques for the soul, so their souls are never particularly strong. Xu Ying and Yuan Weiyang had completed this *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture*, and while they both felt it was a minor feat, they had no idea just how significant this Cultivation Technique truly was!

Xu Ying smiled. "I’ll go deliver the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture* to Prime Minister Pei. He must have been waiting for a while."

Yuan Weiyang hesitated. "You must be careful when you go this time," he said. "Prime Minister Pei may be magnanimous, but the Pei Family is vast. I’m worried others might try to harm you. I’ll have Uncle Xiao go with you."

Xu Ying agreed. He called for Da Zhong and Yuan Qi, then set off for the Pei Mansion with Uncle Xiao.

Before long, a Pei Family steward came to receive them, ushering Xu Ying into the study where Pei Du was already waiting.

Xu Ying studied him. Pei Du’s hair was newly streaked with gray, making him look as if he had aged several years in just a few days. "Is something troubling you, Prime Minister Pei?" he asked.

Pei Du smiled. "You saw right through me. I’ve been pondering a great matter these past few days and find myself hesitating."

Xu Ying presented his deciphered version of the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture* and also returned the original Scriptures. "Prime Minister Pei, please take a look."

Pei Du calmly began to read. A long while passed before he fully comprehended the *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture*. "Thank you, Xu Friend," he said. "You are indeed worthy of being the one who helped Elder Bai Mei with his Tribulation Crossing. My Pei Family gathered its most talented disciples to study this *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture* for decades, yet the version they deciphered is not nearly as thorough as yours."

Xu Ying smiled. "That scripture is incomplete."

Pei Du’s Heart Spirit was shaken, and he cried out, "Incomplete?"

Xu Ying took another text from his sleeve and smiled. "After I finished deciphering it, I realized the scripture on the gold paper was incomplete, so I finished it for you."

He didn’t mention Yuan Weiyang, worried that if others learned of his friend’s extraordinary intelligence, they might move against him.

"The original *Primordial Spirit Tribulation Scripture* only covered Soul Refining and tempering the Primordial Spirit. It lacked the Magic Skill needed to overcome calamities and cross tribulations. So, I filled in the gaps for you."

Xu Ying handed him the completed scripture, stretched, and said with a smile, "If you follow the Cultivation method in the original text, your soul would certainly become powerful and your Primordial Spirit exceptional, but you would still find it difficult to overcome the final calamity. However, if you follow my revised version, you should be fine."

Pei Du hurriedly began reading. Xu Ying’s revised text was indeed filled with far more profundities than the original version!

He was stunned. After a moment, he smiled. "Xu Friend, please come this way."

He led Xu Ying into an inner chamber, where scrolls of Ancient Texts were unrolled and on display.

Pei Du smiled. "For the past few days, I’ve been struggling to make a decision about one thing—whether or not I should have you killed, Xu Friend."

Xu Ying jumped in fright. In his mind, Lord Zhong said in a panic, ’Stay calm! The worst that can happen is we get seriously injured again. I’ll risk everything to get you out of the Pei Mansion! But Ying, you can’t just let him steal your Qi Blood on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I want Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!’

Pei Du said, "Xu Friend, first, look at these books."

Xu Ying calmed himself and stepped forward to examine them one by one. His expression grew more and more astonished. He couldn’t help but think of Xu Family’s Field, and his mind suddenly grew foggy and his head heavy.

Seeing this, Pei Du formed a seal with his fingers, tapped Xu Ying between the eyebrows, and shouted, "HUP—"

His sharp cry instantly gathered Xu Ying’s scattered Divine Sense, pulling it back from the brink of collapse.

Pei Du’s sleeves flew. Each time his arms paused, the Seal Technique formed by his ten fingers would change. "Xu Friend," he said, "I will teach you the Heart Returning Seal Technique. If you ever find yourself in this situation again, you can heal yourself!"

Xu Ying began learning the Heart Returning Seal Technique from him and immediately felt his senses sharpen. The feeling of his Divine Sense being in chaos lessened considerably.

Xu Ying hurriedly expressed his thanks. Pei Du said with a serious expression, "I have been in Cultivation for half my life, yet a few days ago I was nearly overcome by greed, which almost destroyed my Dao Practice in an instant. I am the one who should be thanking you. The Heart Returning Seal Technique is a minor skill, not worth mentioning. Xu Fri..."

He frowned slightly, feeling that addressing Xu Ying as "Friend" was no longer appropriate. He corrected himself, "Brother Xu, finish reading first. We can discuss this in detail afterward."

Xu Ying continued reading, going through all the marked sections of the books. He stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Prime Minister Pei, you don’t actually think these immortal youths in the books are me, do you? Hahaha!"

He roared with laughter.

Pei Du also laughed heartily and shook his head. "I also think it’s not you. It’s too absurd, after all. And yet, I also think it is. For Brother Xu, at such a young age, to be able to guide Elder Bai Mei in Crossing the Tribulation... that is also just as absurd."

Xu Ying laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face. He wiped them from the corners of his eyes and, still smiling, said, "I don’t know if my memories from before I was six are real. I only know that my memories from after I turned six are real. So, I don’t know if I really am the boy from these books!"