Chapter 99 – The Truth Revealed

Something that Uncle Qi treated with such seriousness must either be a rare manuscript or a precious edition. Wei Yang didn’t dare to be careless, immediately putting on gloves and carefully approaching the table to examine it. It was an ancient book with brittle pages, filled with tiny traditional Chinese characters in clerical script. Many pages were accompanied by illustrations or a few strokes of talismanic symbols. It didn’t seem like an ordinary book; instead, it resembled a diary or a draft. The opening section briefly discussed the relationship between witchcraft, Taoist magic, Jiangtou, and even Gu.

In the author’s view, witchcraft was the ancestor of all magical practices. From ancient times, almost all mystical studies related to humans had evolved from witchcraft. It was only later, with the emergence of highly practical and applicable systems like the River Chart and Luo Inscription, the I Ching, and the Eight Trigrams, that witchcraft spread from the hands of a few, forming various sects and schools. However, this diffusion was not because witchcraft was inferior. On the contrary, it was precisely because many people were unable to master the true power of witchcraft.

Witchcraft, fundamentally different from Taoist magic, could indeed be learned through study, with its own array of formations, talismans, and incantations. However, to become a true witch, there was a prerequisite: possessing the “bloodline.” The true power of the Wu Family could only be passed down through their bloodline, and only those who awakened this bloodline could control the ritual instruments handed down by their ancestors. As a result, the Wu Family’s inheritance became a naturally closed system. Those with the bloodline might not be suited to learning witchcraft, while those passionate about witchcraft might not have a sufficiently pure bloodline. Coupled with the wars and upheavals of various dynasties, the direct line of the Wu Family gradually withered, eventually leading to its decline.

The author of this book was likely someone with extensive knowledge of witchcraft but without the Wu Family bloodline. Somehow, he had learned the Water Script and applied Extinction Script to ordinary Taoist magic, even grasping some of the secrets of using Witch Bones. Although the power was greatly diminished, it was enough to break free from the control of the witch bloodline. This achievement was no less significant than inventing a new form of Taoist magic, marking the author as a genius of exceptional talent. However, the author’s words ultimately carried a hint of resentment, lamenting that while he could use Witch Bones, he couldn’t unleash their full potential, which he considered a great waste and a profound pity.

Reading this, Wei Yang couldn’t help but exclaim, “This person is quite remarkable!”

It was already impressive to apply Extinction Script to Taoist magic, but to use Witch Bones, which required a bloodline to activate, was something extraordinary. Uncle Qi chuckled with a hint of pride, “Indeed. From our preliminary research, this book was likely left by a senior from the Mao Mountain Sect, probably dating back to the Five Dynasties period. It’s unclear how it ended up in the hands of the common people and was preserved so intact.”

Apart from the official divisions of Quanzhen and Zhengyi, Taoism also had five major branches in the folk tradition: “Native Soil, Mayi, Zhongge, Quanzhen, and Mao Mountain.” Among them, the Mao Mountain Sect was the most famous, primarily dedicated to exorcising demons and eliminating evil. Mao Mountain Taoists were almost as renowned as the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain. However, unlike the family-based inheritance of Longhu Mountain, the Mao Mountain Sect had more complex branches, with countless smaller sects operating under its name. As a result, its teachings were quite diverse, and some knowledge might have been lost over time, such as the use of Extinction Script and the secrets of Witch Bones mentioned in this book—things even Zhang Xiuqi, a true descendant of Longhu Mountain, had never heard of. Acquiring such a rare manuscript was indeed a testament to Uncle Qi’s connections.

However, this book was ultimately just a rough draft. Whether it was the Water Script or the magical techniques, everything was mentioned only briefly, and the special uses of Witch Bones were merely touched upon without detailed explanations. Putting the book down, Wei Yang sighed softly and pulled something from his collar, placing it in front of Uncle Qi. “Uncle Qi, to be frank, on this trip back home, I found another Bone Formation. It seems to be part of a set with the one I had before…”

This revelation startled Uncle Qi, who immediately snatched the Bone Formation from the table. The two Bone Formations were similar in size but differed in thickness, with subtle variations in their patterns. Uncle Qi grabbed a magnifying glass from the table and scrutinized them closely, muttering to himself, “What a coincidence! A second one! Where did you get this? How do you keep running into these things?”

It wasn’t just a coincidence—he could even use the Bone Formation to disperse evil spirits. Wei Yang’s lips twitched, but he didn’t elaborate too much. “I found it in my hometown. It’s probably something passed down from my ancestors.”

“Do your ancestors have Wu Family bloodline?” Uncle Qi looked up in surprise.

Wei Yang neither confirmed nor denied, simply steering the conversation elsewhere. “Uncle Qi, I remember you mentioned before that the Bone Formation should be part of a set. It seems someone has been looking for these things, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!” Uncle Qi recalled. “Old Yao mentioned it to me a few times. Apparently, someone has been buying up Water Script-related artifacts at high prices for over a decade, especially these Witch Bones. Old Yao initially thought it was an archaeology enthusiast, but the person showed no interest in engaging with others, not even attending enthusiast gatherings. They only made private purchases, and it’s unclear how many items they’ve acquired. Later, when Old Yao accidentally got his hands on this book, he wondered if that person was also after the so-called Witch Bones.”

This was exactly what Wei Yang had been thinking. Back in Wang Village, the disappearance of that Bone Formation had been too thorough. Due to the loss of his Heavenly Soul, Brother Qi didn’t retain many memories from his childhood, but the events he experienced were undoubtedly linked to the Bone Formation. That’s why he had such a strong reaction the first time he saw the Bone Formation at Miaotou Mountain. If the Bone Formation that Brother Qi and his father had was taken by someone, and that person had deciphered the secrets of Witch Bones, would they seek to collect more Witch Bones for their own use? After all, that person had defeated Brother Qi’s father and had intricate connections with those who were tracking Master Zeng. It wasn’t hard to imagine how powerful their magical skills and schemes were.

With this in mind, Wei Yang immediately asked, “Uncle Qi, has Mr. Yao ever met the person buying up Water Script artifacts? After all, they’re both in the antique circle and share an interest in the same things. He must know something, right?”

“I’m not too sure about that. Let me ask him for you.” Uncle Qi was very straightforward. His relationship with Old Yao was indeed good; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to borrow such a rare item for Wei Yang to examine. Moreover, given the connection to Water Script and Witch Bones, Old Yao would likely be very interested.

Without hesitation, Uncle Qi dialed the number, but the phone rang for nearly half a minute without an answer. He frowned, “Strange, he’s not home this early in the morning. Could he be out shopping?”

After a moment of thought, he said to Wei Yang, “Ah Yang, why don’t you head back for now? Once I get in touch with Old Yao, I’ll let you know. He’ll definitely be interested in this new Bone Formation you’ve found. If possible, could you bring it over for him to take a look?”

If it had been before, Wei Yang would have agreed without hesitation. But now, he dared not let these two Bone Formations out of his sight. Smiling, he replied, “Of course, I’d be happy to let him take a look. If possible, I’d also like to personally visit him. There are quite a few questions I’d like to ask Mr. Yao.”

“You sly kid.” Uncle Qi understood Wei Yang’s intent and chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, he lives in the provincial capital. We’ll make a trip there together.”

With Uncle Qi’s approval, Wei Yang felt a weight lift from his chest. These old antique dealers weren’t easy to meet, and if he could have a chat with Mr. Yao, it would likely be very beneficial. However, he didn’t forget to add a reminder, “Uncle Qi, there’s too much mystery surrounding the Bone Formation. If possible, let’s keep the fact that I have these two pieces under wraps to avoid any trouble.”

With the enemy in the shadows and us in the light, who knew who might be after the Witch Bones? It was better not to invite trouble.

“Don’t worry, I understand.” Uncle Qi clearly thought the same and readily agreed.

With the matter settled, Wei Yang didn’t dare to disturb Uncle Qi any longer. After saying his goodbyes, he left with the Little Celestial Master. Perhaps out of discretion, Heipi hadn’t stayed inside but waited in the outer room. Seeing Wei Yang come out, he immediately approached, “Ah Yang, how did it go? Uncle Qi has been running around a lot lately, all for this matter.”

Wei Yang smiled, “Thanks to you all. This has been a huge help. I’ll probably need to make a trip to Mr. Yao’s place next.”

Heipi clicked his tongue, “You guys, once you latch onto something, you just can’t let go. Well, it’s good to help the old man resolve his worries, so he won’t keep dwelling on it.”

Wei Yang didn’t refute this. After a moment’s thought, he added, “By the way, Brother Ming, I recently acquired a strange painting. The mounting seems to have some hidden mechanism, and there might be another painting concealed within. Do you know any skilled mounting masters who could help me dismantle it?”

This immediately piqued Heipi’s interest, “A painting within a painting? Such a rare thing, and you managed to stumble upon it! Of course, I know some mounting masters, but in cases like this, the owner usually needs to be present. If you’re interested, I can contact someone for you.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Brother Ming.” Wei Yang smiled. The painting he had obtained from Elder Ye had been on his mind for a while, and having it safely dismantled would be ideal.

After chatting with Heipi for a bit longer, Wei Yang didn’t linger and drove home. Although he didn’t show it, the things he had learned today had shaken him deeply. Coupled with what he had seen and heard at the Jiang Family and the scene of subduing the fox demon in his dream, it wasn’t hard to guess that he might indeed possess some form of Wu Family bloodline. And this bloodline, by an incredible coincidence, was connected to the three Bone Formations.

Whether it was killing the fox demon, inexplicably destroying the Soul Doll, or the events in Wang Village years ago, all of it was linked to his bloodline. Was this Wu Family bloodline a curse or a blessing? Even he couldn’t say for sure. But if that was the case, how to utilize this special constitution would likely be something he’d need to consider moving forward.

As he pondered this, the Little Celestial Master, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly reached out and patted his knee, as if offering comfort. Wei Yang’s chaotic thoughts instantly dissipated, and with a smile, he freed one hand to grasp Zhang Xiuqi’s. “Brother Qi, are you worried about me? Don’t worry, I can handle this. At the very least, I’ll help you recover your Heavenly Soul first…”

Yes, no matter what had happened to him, it still had some use. If he could help Brother Qi, then no matter how overwhelming the problem, it wouldn’t be insurmountable. Patting the back of Zhang Xiuqi’s hand, he prepared to head onto the main road when his phone suddenly rang.

Wei Yang answered the call, and Heipi’s anxious voice immediately came through, “Ah Yang, did you guys help someone exorcise a demon? Come back quickly. Uncle Qi got in touch with Mr. Yao’s family. It seems something big has happened over there…”

With a screech, Wei Yang slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt in the middle of the road. Ignoring traffic rules and the honking behind him, he turned the steering wheel and drove straight back the way he had come.