Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 35 The Realm of a Grandmaster, Nine Phases of Soul Guiding

The three-day period passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three days, Gu Yan's paper-making shop has been kept tightly closed, and even the windows have been covered with black cloth.

Occasionally, passersby could faintly hear strange wind emanating from inside the house, like countless people whispering, or like the evening bell of an ancient temple deep in the mountains.

The room was not as messy as I had imagined.

Gu Yan sat cross-legged in front of the worktable, surrounded by a pile of snow-white scraps of paper.

These scraps of paper did not fall randomly, but rather, according to some mysterious pattern, they formed a natural array.

In front of him floated eight paper lanterns that had already taken shape.

Only one lamp is left.

Gu Yan's eyes were bloodshot, but his gaze was surprisingly bright, like two burning will-o'-the-wisps.

The scissors in his hand were no longer ordinary iron; infused with spiritual power, they gleamed with a jade-like luster.

"Paper making comes from the heart, paper cutting connects with the divine. This last 'fairy' lamp is the most precious."

Gu Yan took a deep breath, adjusting the rhythm of his breathing until his heartbeat aligned with the fluctuations of spiritual energy in this world.

He picked up the most precious "snow silk paper".

The scissors fell.

This time, there was no rustling sound; instead, the scissors made a clear whistling sound, similar to the wind whistling through a bamboo forest, as they sliced ​​across the paper.

If a master were here at this moment, they would be surprised to find that Gu Yan was not cutting paper, but "qi".

With each stroke of his knife, he extracted a wisp of free-floating spiritual energy from the world and sealed it within the veins of the paper.

That is a depiction of the "Tao".

As the paper fluttered, the last of the nine lamps slowly took shape.

Unlike ordinary lanterns, it is a budding lotus, with layers upon layers of petals, each as thin as a cicada's wing, exuding a cool and aloof air, untouched by worldly affairs.

"Nine lamps gather, the path of the soul opens."

Gu Yan took out the strand of hair that Shen Youwei had given him from his bosom.

He divided his hair into nine strands and wrapped each strand around a wick made of lightning-struck wood.

"Fire, come!"

Gu Yan flicked his fingertip, and a spark of pure spiritual fire landed on the lamp wick.

"call--"

Nine soul-guiding lamps lit up simultaneously.

In an instant, a bizarre and wonderful picture unfolded in the narrow paper-making shop.

The first lamp, an octagonal palace lantern, casts a warm, dim light. It is a lamp for people, illuminating the way home and exuding the warmth of everyday life.

The second lamp, a ghostly green flame, with a frame made of white bones, is a ghost lamp, encompassing all things in the universe, guiding one to the underworld.

The third lamp, heavy as a mountain, with an earthy yellow halo, is a ground lamp, bearing all things, embodying the virtue of carrying all things.

The fourth lamp, with its swirling cloud patterns and rising pure air, is a celestial lamp, high and ethereal, elusive and unfathomable.

The fifth lamp, shining brightly with golden light, is majestic and solemn. It is the divine lamp, guarding this place and causing all evil to retreat.

The sixth lamp, with its purple aura rising from the east and flowers blooming on the other shore, is a bewitching lamp, enchanting all beings and ever-changing.

The seventh lamp, with its surging black flames and chilling killing intent, was a demonic lamp, rampant and arrogant, utterly domineering.

The eighth lamp, imbued with compassion, is a golden lotus in bloom—it is a Buddha lamp, dedicated to saving all sentient beings, a testament to the cycle of cause and effect.

The last celestial lamp, with its blue lotus slowly blooming, emitted a light that was not dazzling, but rather a clear, almost transparent glow.

It floats at the highest point, as if looking down at the other eight lamps, carrying a sense of detached solitude and pride.

With all nine lights on, the interplay of light and shadow made the entire space of the house seem distorted.

At that very moment, a thunderous roar, like the sound of a great bell, resounded in Gu Yan's mind.

[Paper-making skill level is perfect.]

Break through the bottleneck, and your skill will approach the Tao.

[Papercrafting skill level upgrade: Grandmaster (0/50000000).]

[Gained Grandmaster-level Trait: Spirit Imbuement (Can grant paper-mache creations a trace of true sentience, requiring no external soul to fill them; it is the rudimentary form of the Creator's authority).]

[Gained Grandmaster-level Trait: Transformation of Reality and Illusion (Consumes a large amount of spiritual energy, allowing paper effigies to transform into flesh and blood bodies for a short period of time, creating a lifelike illusion).]

Gu Yan suddenly opened his eyes, and countless runes seemed to flow within them.

At that moment, the world in his eyes changed.

Those paper figures were no longer inanimate objects; in his eyes, every piece of paper seemed to breathe, and every bamboo strip seemed to have a pulse.

He can wake them up at any time if he wants.

This is what a master is.

It is no longer simply imitation and borrowing, but true creation.

"Is this what soul-inflicting is?"

Gu Yan looked at the fairy lamp, and a thought struck him.

The blue lotus lamp flickered slightly and emitted a clear sword cry, as if a peerless sword immortal was being nurtured within it.

"nice one."

Gu Yan suppressed his inner elation and quickly concealed his aura.

Such a breakthrough was too commotional. If he hadn't set up an isolation formation in advance, he probably would have attracted that unfortunate Foundation Establishment elder again.

"Knock knock knock".

The knocking came at just the right moment.

"Boss Gu, it's time."

It's Shen Youwei.

With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Yan caused the light of the nine soul-guiding lamps to instantly dim, becoming simple and unadorned, and quietly resting on the counter.

Apart from its exquisite craftsmanship, there is nothing unusual about it.

He went over and opened the door.

Shen Youwei was still dressed in a blue robe, but today she looked somewhat haggard, as if the past three days had not been peaceful.

When she stepped into the room and saw the nine lamps on the counter, she froze instantly.

Although the lights were not yet on, as someone who had already stepped into the threshold of cultivation, she could feel the terrifying atmosphere contained in those nine lamps.

Even just a glance makes one feel somewhat dazed, and the vision involuntarily becomes unfocused.

"Did you make this?"

Shen Youwei looked at Gu Yan in shock.

Even the elders in a sect who specialize in weapon crafting wouldn't be able to do this much, right?

Is this really something an ordinary paper craftsman could make?

"I have successfully completed my mission."

Gu Yan's face was somewhat pale, a sign of his spiritual energy being depleted. He pointed to the lamps: "Nine Phases Guide the Soul, to the ends of the earth. As long as the soul remains, this lamp will surely respond. However, Miss Shen, there is something I am unsure whether I should say."

Shen Youwei took a deep breath and bowed respectfully: "Master Gu, please speak."

The title has changed; it's gone from "boss" to "master."

Gu Yan pointed to the lamp, his voice low and somber: "When we lit the lamps to test their flames just now, the flame of this magic lamp flickered the brightest, while the human-shaped lamp had the weakest light. This means..."

He paused, looking into Shen Youwei's eyes: "Your sister's soul probably didn't enter the Yellow Springs, nor is it in the mortal world. Instead... it fell into the demonic path, or is trapped in some extremely yin and evil place."

Upon hearing this, Shen Youwei's face turned deathly pale, and her body trembled slightly.

"As expected... it was definitely those people..."

She bit her lip, a flash of deep-seated hatred crossing her eyes, which she quickly concealed.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. Youwei will remember this kindness."

Without saying much, she took out a storage bag and carefully put away the nine lamps.

Then, she gave Gu Yan a deep look, as if she wanted to get to know this man all over again.

"Master Gu, Changning County is too small to contain a true dragon. If one day you wish to venture into the world of cultivation, you may bring this jade token to Liuyun Sect to find me."

After saying that, she turned and left, her back view resolute, carrying a flame of revenge.

Gu Yan watched her departing figure, stroked his chin, and muttered to himself.

"I wouldn't call myself a true dragon; I'm just an ordinary person who wants to live forever."

He closed the door and turned to look at the room full of paper figures.

"I've achieved Grandmaster status, I have the Foundation Establishment Pill, and I have the map."

Gu Yan picked up the scissors, a smile playing on his lips.

"Next, it's time to get myself a set of clothes that will allow me to dominate the world of cultivation."

Outside the window, the wind and rain had stopped, and the sky was bright.