The commotion in the Reflection Chamber was not small, naturally causing yamen constables to gather, though they were all dispersed by the Restraint Officers.
When Ren Qing woke up, it was already the next morning.
He only felt his entire body cold, his clothes soaked through with damp dew.
Looking around, Ren Qing found himself in a familiar dilapidated temple, and his expression immediately stiffened.
He turned to look at the temple's center where a four-armed, six-eyed deity statue sat cross-legged, with large amounts of dust swirling around it.
Not daring to disturb, he obediently waited nearby.
After about two hours, Song Zongwu finally finished his cultivation and slowly walked down from the lotus throne.
"Greetings, Senior Song."
Song Zongwu patted Ren Qing's shoulder and said: "Would you be interested in joining the Restraint Officers? I can serve as your guide."
"Senior Song, my abilities are truly limited."
Ren Qing forced himself to decline. Originally he had planned to lay low until reaching the Ghost Envoy Realm, though if Song Zongwu insisted there would be no choice.
Song Zongwu waved his hand dismissively, then asked curiously: "Apart from the Human Skin Scripture, you should have mastered other techniques, right? Have any reached the Half-Corpse level?"
"That is indeed the case."
Knowing he couldn't hide it from Song Zongwu, Ren Qing readily admitted.
After all, the room contained numerous traces of battle. Though the muscle giant's intrusion had obscured some, it didn't mean they were undetectable.
He simply revealed his double pupils, ensuring the Divine Leg Sutra wouldn't be exposed. If mistaken for having connections with the Blood Dog Gang, he'd never be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
Song Zongwu was filled with astonishment.
He hadn't paid much attention to Ren Qing before, but now realized the other could be considered extraordinarily talented.
Back in the prison, Ren Qing had just entered the Martial Practitioner Realm, with barely noticeable changes in his pupils.
Yet in such a short time, he'd already reached the Half-Corpse Realm. Was it because his physique perfectly matched the technique?
Song Zongwu asked with apparent calm: "Which technique do these double pupils come from?"
Ren Qing froze momentarily before understanding.
If even Song Zongwu couldn't recognize the double pupils, it meant few people cultivated the Blindless Method. Even the mutation path of the Double Pupil Bearer might be unprecedented.
Thinking about it, this was indeed possible.
Many techniques had harsh prerequisites, so the number of cultivators throughout history who mastered them was probably few, leaving some mutation branches undiscovered.
Ren Qing answered vaguely: "I'm not sure either. I obtained this nameless technique by chance."
"..."
Song Zongwu's mouth twitched slightly. If someone had told him before that a person could independently reach the Half-Corpse Realm, he would have considered it nonsense.
Because cultivation risks were everywhere, the slightest misstep could mean death.
"Your luck is good. When breaking through in techniques, one often encounters tribulations containing great terror, said to be the intangible influence of the technique's original creator."
"The higher the realm, the more careful one must be during breakthroughs."
What Song Zongwu didn't say was that luck was also part of talent, even accounting for a significant factor.
Ren Qing had never heard of tribulations before, but mostly believed it now.
No wonder, even when a technique reached minor mastery, the lifespan consumed for promotion via the information stream remained constant.
So the information stream's function also included eliminating breakthrough tribulations.
Ren Qing cautiously probed: "Is there conflict between self-cultivation and consuming Supernatural Remnants?"
Song Zongwu thought more highly of Ren Qing now, so his explanation was especially patient, far beyond what was recorded in "Grass Hut Travels."
"Let me give an example..."
"It's like relying on the Human Skin Scripture's Supernatural Remnant to master a technique. To break through to the Half-Corpse Realm, you'd need one of three Supernatural Remnants: Flayer, Hide Tanner, or Livestock Herder."
"For a Flayer to break through, they'd need the 'Scapegoat Bone Demon' Supernatural Remnant. Consuming a different mutation path only leads to death."
Song Zongwu said earnestly: "On the surface, consuming Supernatural Remnants seems a shortcut, but it's actually a road of no return."
The higher the realm of the Supernatural Remnant, the higher its intelligence. Even if completely controlled, the mutation degree remains uncontrollable.
This uncontrollable mutation can even spread throughout the body, including every piece of flesh and bone.
Thus making self-cultivation extremely difficult, because the body already has no room left for further technique development.
Simply put, the foundation is exhausted.
"You still have room. Focus on the double pupil technique from now on. As for the Human Skin Scripture, don't think about advancing, even if you obtain the corresponding Supernatural Remnant."
Ren Qing felt that without guidance, normal technique cultivation would leave one clueless about their own death.
He couldn't help asking curiously: "When I usually beat my body with wooden sticks, I can clearly feel my skin becoming tougher. Is this the Human Skin Scripture's effect?"
Song Zongwu didn't overthink it: "Each mutation path has different cultivation methods. For tempering skin, prolonged practice will mutate you toward the Hide Tanner path."
"Flayers rely on peeling off their own skin for regrowth. Livestock Herders are even stranger, they can supposedly turn living people into livestock."
Ren Qing nodded.
He roughly understood the Human Skin Scripture's mutation branches. The Hide Tanner was actually more like golden bell armor and iron cloth shirt, the most normal of things.
This couldn't help but make Ren Qing's heart itch, giving rise to thoughts of advancing the Human Skin Scripture.
Song Zongwu said regretfully: "Because of the Human Skin Scripture, you can't cultivate any body-related techniques. For your third technique, you could choose something organ-related."
Ren Qing continued asking many questions about cultivation until the noon sun had set before stopping.
Song Zongwu also told Ren Qing the general situation about the Disaster Relief Forbidden Zone.
Though Song Zongwu didn't mention joining the Restraint Officers again during this time, he repeatedly hinted at teaching Ren Qing organ-related techniques.
Tempted by benefits, Ren Qing maintained his principles, firmly refusing all techniques, but Song Zongwu still saw through his thoughts.
Song Zongwu couldn't help laughing and scolding: "Even if you master techniques, so what? Would Sanxiang City really rely on a mere Corpse Burner like you?"
Ren Qing looked somewhat embarrassed: "Then thank you, Senior Song."
Song Zongwu paused before continuing: "Besides, this Disaster Relief Forbidden Zone operation requires mobilizing constables anyway. No street supervisors can avoid it."
Ren Qing stubbornly tried to refuse, but heard Song Zongwu add: "Don't worry, it's just surrounding the perimeter. We won't enter without absolute confidence."
Ren Qing could only nod and ask: "When will we go to the Disaster Relief Forbidden Zone?"
"Within ten days. This matter can't be delayed. Fortunately, it's not particularly dangerous for constables."
Having said this, Song Zongwu prepared to leave. Before going, he reminded: "When you have time, study saber techniques and martial arts. They're somewhat useful."
"Senior Song, I feel like something's missing from cultivation techniques..."
Song Zongwu chose not to answer directly.
"You can still try cultivating the Human Skin Scripture toward the Hide Tanner path. Though you can't break through realms, at least you can strengthen your abilities."