Chapter 346
Witchcraft Secrets
"Nuo?"
Zhou Sheng flipped through the ancient book, looking at the text. He noticed that many of the characters were written in oracle bone script, which seemed to be records that the author of the book had seen in ruins and ancient tombs during his travels around the world.
He couldn't understand most of it, but he could vaguely recognize words like "witch" and "nuo".
Below is the analysis and reflections of that senior colleague.
"Nuo, also known as Wu Nuo, is mentioned in many ancient books. The Zhou Li·Xia Guan records that Fang Xiang Shi is in charge of wearing a bear skin, with four golden eyes, wearing a black robe and a red skirt, holding a spear and a shield, leading a hundred servants to perform Nuo to search the house and drive away plague..."
"The Book of Rites states in the Monthly Ordinances: In the third month of spring... the state is ordered to perform the Nuo ritual, and the nine gates are cleansed to ward off evil spirits and complete the spring season."
The Book of Later Han Dynasty records that on the day before the Laba Festival, a grand exorcism was performed, which was called "expelling the plague".
The book lists many records of Nuo from ancient books, but Zhou Sheng keenly discovered that most of these records are just rituals or sacrifices, and are seriously incomplete.
“Since the Zhou Dynasty, shamanism has become a kind of ritual. Nuo masks and Nuo dances have been passed down from the palace. Over time, Nuo masks have evolved into facial makeup, and many movements in Nuo dances have evolved into the movements in Yinxi (a type of folk opera), which is called Nuoxi by the people.”
Upon seeing this, Zhou Sheng was startled.
Therefore, the further development and evolution of Nuo Opera should be the Yin Opera he is now learning.
"But from shamanism to Yinxi (a type of folk opera), is it a development or a regression? How much of the core tradition has been lost in the process?"
The senior in the book asked a very pointed question, which made Zhou Sheng think deeply.
"I entered the great tomb and searched through ancient books. Finally, I found something. In the bronze tomb of the gods, I saw half of a heavenly book. It recorded that in ancient times, there was a Nuo priest who commanded himself to become a Vajra body, knocked his teeth thirty-six times, and summoned the Duty Officer and the Five Directions Thunder Messengers to descend. Then he held a halberd and brandished a spear. His steps were in the shape of the Big Dipper, and all the gods gathered."
Upon seeing this, Zhou Sheng was suddenly shocked and finally understood why his master and Senior Yu were so excited.
Because the witchcraft techniques recorded in it are somewhat similar to the "Spirit Binding and Commanding Generals" supernatural power he created.
Master and Senior Yu probably initially thought that he had used Yinxi secret techniques to trace back to the source and comprehend a trace of the secrets of ancient witchcraft.
If the records in this book are true, then Yinxi (a type of shamanic performance) is not just about borrowing a little divine power. In ancient times, it was possible to summon gods and generals, drive away spirits and call immortals through incantations, dances and other means. Its supernatural powers were so great that they were unparalleled in the world.
However, due to some unknown accident, the tradition was interrupted and gradually became a symbolic sacrificial ritual. Eventually, it spread to the common people and gradually formed Yinxi (a type of folk opera).
As grandmasters of the Yin Opera lineage, Yu Zhensheng and Yu Tianheng were so excited because they could both see where the highest level of Yin Opera was.
The path of Yin Xi (a type of martial arts performance) has reached its peak, and even Yu Zhensheng at his most illustrious period could not stand atop the mountain and look down upon the world.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have had his cultivation destroyed by Yama, and countless Yinxi disciples over the years wouldn't have knowingly faced the perilous path of graduation, yet still had no choice but to go.
Ultimately, it's because we are weaker than others, so we can only abide by contracts and be subject to their control.
However, if the inheritance of "Witchcraft" can be found, then Yinxi Mountain will undergo an unimaginable and tremendous rise, and may even have the opportunity to become the tallest mountain in the world.
At that time, the status of the Yin-Yang Master will naturally rise accordingly.
That's why Yu Tianheng risked his life to help Zhou Sheng withstand the tribulation, because the profound skills Zhou Sheng had comprehended gave them hope.
"Master, senior, I'm sorry, I've disappointed you again."
Zhou Sheng sighed softly. He knew in his heart that the unique skill he had comprehended was fundamentally different from the magic of witchcraft.
He relied mainly on those three Nine Dragon Veins to transform the fake into the real.
When he unleashed his supernatural powers, his three meridians merged into one, resulting in a strange and mysterious transformation. It seemed as if he had become one with the entire world, and he could vaguely glimpse the long river of time and space, seeing the traces and imprints left by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Only in this way could he briefly imbue his Dharma form with a true body and intelligence.
"It's alright, it's just a guess. Besides, even if it's true, how easy is it to comprehend the art of witchcraft? If you can create this art, given time, you will definitely be able to reach a higher level and see scenery that no previous generations of Yin-Yang Masters have ever seen."
Yu Tianheng spoke up to comfort him.
Yu Zhensheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Although you cannot pass on this supernatural ability to others, it has unlimited potential. If you could obtain more dragon veins, or even gather all nine sons of the dragon veins, would there be even greater changes?"
This is a very insightful and incisive question.
Zhou Sheng said admiringly, "Master, you guessed correctly. For example, this time I summoned Guan Yu, the guardian deity of the Garan Temple. His divine power is far from its peak. If I had more dragon energy, perhaps I could have summoned that one..."
"The Great Emperor Who Subdues Demons of the Three Realms, whose divine might shakes far and wide, is the Heavenly Venerable Guan Sheng Di Jun!"
Many deities gradually rise to power. The most typical example is Guan Yu, who initially appeared as a deity on Yuquan Mountain after his death and was then appointed as a guardian deity of Buddhist temples.
But as time went on, Guan Yu's divine status rose higher and higher.
Lord Zhonghui, True Lord Chongning, King Wu'an, True Lord Dangmo, Great Emperor Fumo, Emperor Guan Sheng...
With the blessing of the three dragon energies, the highest form Zhou Sheng could summon was Guan Yu, the newly conferred deity and guardian of the temple.
Simply put, if he wants to perfect and improve this unique skill in the future, besides cultivation, the most important thing is to collect more of the Nine Dragon Veins.
"This book mentions the Bronze Tomb and half of the Heavenly Book. Why not go and find the tomb? Perhaps the second half of the Heavenly Book contains the secrets of witchcraft?"
At this moment, Zhou Sheng, who had just finished reading the ancient book, suddenly asked a question.
Yu Zhensheng shook his head and sighed, "The successors of the Yin Opera masters of all generations have searched for the location recorded in this book countless times, but to no avail. There wasn't even a grave, let alone a divine tomb. So this book was eventually thrown into a corner."
"It is generally believed that the content about witchcraft was fabricated by this senior, in order to add some glory to the Yin Opera lineage. This is common in many sects."
"If it weren't for the fact that the supernatural powers you created resembled the shamanistic magic recorded in the book, we wouldn't have remembered this book."
Zhou Sheng nodded; that explanation did make sense.
Many cultivators, in order to make their own lineage seem more prestigious, often fabricate a very impressive story to increase the pride of their disciples.
The Li family of the Tang Dynasty even included Laozi in their family genealogy.
Silence slowly fell over the room.
The art of summoning spirits and commanding generals is not an ancient shamanistic secret technique. Moreover, it is based on the Nine Dragon Veins and cannot be taught. Only Zhou Sheng can use it.
This means that this supernatural power cannot become the inheritance and foundation of Yin Opera.
“Brother Zhou, I don’t care about the secret techniques passed down in your Yinxi lineage, but there is one thing I really want to ask.”
Seeing that the three of them had stopped talking, Bao Ying, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
He stared intently at Zhou Sheng, a rare hint of... tension appearing in his eyes?
"Brother Zhou, is it possible for your newly created supernatural power to summon our ancestor, Bao Gong?"
...(End of this chapter)