C19 Nine Seals

On the third day, after ensuring everyone had memorized the thirty-eight meridians, Huajun spoke up.

"Each of you has at least reached 57 points of origin power. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will all become level one cultivators today. Therefore, we're going to focus on sealing techniques."

All but Zhuang Jiujing and Zhao Cai looked bewildered.

"We are known as conjurers because of our ability to wield sealing techniques, which grant us incredible powers. There are nine types in total. Once you've achieved level one status and received the Building Foundation Palace's seal, the academy will teach you these techniques."

"There are nine sealing techniques, each representing a unique ability. You can only choose two to learn in your lifetime. I'll go over each one in detail to help you make your choices later on."

"Without further ado, the first technique is the Blood Desiccation Seal. Those affected by this seal will have half of their blood instantly sealed within the mark, leaving them dried up and weakened."

"The second is the God Sealing Seal, which disrupts the victim's consciousness, causing confusion and a loss of self-awareness. It's known as the Enemy Confusion Technique."

"The third is the Weak Vein Seal. Ordinary people are unaffected, but cultivators will find their innate meridians severely damaged, essentially a technique to sever one's roots."

"The fourth is the Severed Injury Seal. Those marked by it will feel as though they are undergoing physical torture, preferring death to life. We refer to it as the Punishment Technique."

"The fifth is the Blind Trapping Seal, which restricts the enemy's movements, making it nearly impossible for them to walk. It's akin to trapping a beast."

"The sixth is the Blindness Seal, which obscures the enemy's vision, making it difficult for them to discern directions. It's another technique designed to confuse the enemy."

"The seventh is the Giant Elephant Seal, which bestows the strength of a giant elephant, as if aided by divine forces. This is known as an Enhancement Technique."

"The eighth is the Wind Chasing Seal, which allows one to move as swiftly and invisibly as the wind. It's also an Enhancement Technique."

"The ninth and final technique is the Nine Deaths Seal. It causes the internal organs to fail, making survival beyond nine days nearly impossible. This is considered a Lethal Technique."

Yu Yin and his peers were diligently taking notes, hanging on every word spoken.

"However, there are limitations to the seals' deployment. Aside from the first eight types of seals that have only a 50% chance of success, the ninth type, the Nine Deaths Seal, has a mere 5% success rate. This is crucial for you all to remember."

Zhao Cai, puzzled, inquired, "Master, a 50% success rate? Does that mean if we cast it twice, only one attempt will succeed?"

Huajun shook her head, clarifying, "It's not about casting twice. Each attempt to cast has only a 50% chance of success."

The group of eight fell silent.

"Perfection doesn't exist in this world. Don't set your expectations too high."

"Master, with what you're saying, does anyone even bother learning the Nine Deaths Seal with such a slim 5% chance?" Dongmen Ai questioned skeptically.

"That's precisely what I'm about to address. You may consider the first eight sealing techniques, but I strongly advise against choosing the Nine Deaths Seal."

Ou Lu muttered, "A mere 5% chance with each attempt? Only a fool would opt for the Nine Deaths Seal."

"Is the Nine Deaths Seal the only way to kill someone..." Yu Yin mused internally, his mind flashing back to the burly man who had beaten him, his teeth clenched in silent fury.

"Each of the Nine Seals has its own unique feature, but only the Nine Deaths Seal can bring about death, making it undeniably the strongest," Xia Chen remarked.

Huajun paused, reflecting for a moment before responding.

"The world is full of ways to kill, and even something as small as a bamboo stick can be lethal. But does that necessarily make it the strongest?"

"As conjurers, we are not adept at killing. Our strength lies in ensnaring, in making our enemies feel as though they are plagued by a persistent ailment."

Huajun spoke with gravity, "Remember, these were the parting words of my own master. — A conjurer's body is as fragile as any other person's. As you traverse the continent, you must ally with one or several trustworthy practitioners of wrathful incantations or beast transformations to ensure your well-being. Otherwise, it's best to proceed with caution and prioritize your safety."

The eight individuals took this advice to heart, committing it to memory.

This world is cold and merciless, teeming with ancient beasts that prey on humans, and the realm of cultivators is rife with conflict and chaos.

"Consider how insignificant a single cultivator is! I want you to etch this statement into your memory."

Time flew by, and with only a short while left before the end of class, Huajun's expression softened as she prepared to resume teaching.

At that moment, Yu Yin spoke up.

"Master, there are ten levels for a cultivator. I'm curious, does the success rate of sealing techniques increase with higher levels?" He was still pondering the Nine Deaths Seal.

"The success rate of sealing skills can indeed be improved, but not due to the cultivator's level," Huajun answered.

"What the level does affect is the distance from which the caster can perform the seal, not the success rate of the casting. Make sure you remember that."

She surveyed the eight students.

"As level one cultivators, your sealing attack range will be approximately one inch. At level two, it extends to a foot. If you exceed the spell's range, you won't be able to cast the sealing skill successfully."

The students all looked bewildered.

Dongmen Ai inquired, "Master, what's the casting range at level ten?"

Huajun responded, "It's roughly a hundred yards."

"That's incredibly far..." They all gazed in amazement.

Several hours had passed since class ended at the North Pine Sealing Academy's back mountain, with the midday sun scorching the pine forest.

Beneath a stout pine tree, a young man and woman were locked in intense combat. The man had a complexion as pale as jade, while the woman's skin was the color of golden wheat, her face oval-shaped.

During the fray, the man landed a punch on the woman's cheek, sending her flying, and then snatched the wooden bucket from her hands, laughing heartily, "A mere commoner like you doesn't deserve such an exquisite fish. Now it belongs to this young master."

The woman's mouth bled as she lay curled up on the ground, still clutching her fishing rod. She had not anticipated that her day's hard-earned catch would be seized by this sudden intruder, and tears streamed down her face.

Her parents were simple fishermen, and she had longed to become a cultivator. She had convinced her father to keep it a secret from her mother and take her to the Abstruse Root Hall to assess her innate talent. Against all odds, she did possess the aptitude for cultivation. Having finally arrived at the Sealing Academy, the prohibitive tuition fees were a source of despair. Determined not to burden her family further, she had resolved to fend for herself.

Today, the heavens seemed to smile upon him, yet he never anticipated such an outcome.

Beneath a tree ahead, Yu Yin extended his hand to stop a man who was about to depart. Initially, he had no intention of intervening, but the man's parting words had incensed him.

The man, handsome and imposing, was eagerly inspecting the lively, top-quality fish in the barrel, thrilled by his unexpected fortune during a simple stroll.

Coming from a wealthy family, he believed that only the destitute fished for leisure. So, when he heard the woman's excited shrieks, he emerged without hesitation to seize her catch mercilessly.

The woman, though skilled in some fancy martial arts, was no match for him; he had learned a thing or two from a martial arts master in his youth. Despite her efforts, her inherent frailty meant she couldn't best him, and he took great pride in that.

"Get out of the way!" he demanded, his smile vanishing as Yu Yin blocked his path.

Yu Yin felt a surge of contempt for such lowlife. Acting swiftly, he landed a solid punch on the man's nose before he could react.

The man let out a wail, blood spurting from his nose as he tumbled into the bushes.

Yu Yin, fists clenched and face twisted with rage, continued his assault, unleashing a flurry of punches. He loathed these entitled bullies who used their status to oppress others.

In the distance, the woman, with tears streaming down her face, lay huddled on the ground. Stirred by the cries, she struggled to her feet.

Once the man had been knocked out cold, Yu Yin finally relented.

Without a moment's hesitation, he picked up the wooden bucket and approached the woman.

Lifting her to her feet, he urged, "You need to leave here quickly."

As she gazed at the bucket of fish, tears streamed down her face.

"These arrogant fools think they can bully anyone they see fit. Once I grow stronger, I'll make sure to deal with each one," Yu Yin declared, seething with anger.

"Thank you," she sobbed, her sleeves soaked with tears.

"I'm Yu Yin, from the White Courtyard's table yard. Next time you go fishing, come find me. We can keep each other company."

Her eyes, reddened with emotion, gazed upon him. Tearfully, the woman nodded in agreement.