13. Sun Furnace

As soon as the two crystalline Spirit-Opening Pills entered his mouth, they melted instantly into two cool streams that surged swiftly into his mind.

The last time, Lin Guichen had only taken a single Spirit-Opening Pill. The change after opening one spiritual aperture was not particularly intense—like a dust-covered mirror surface being lightly rinsed with water, still quite blurry.

But this time, with two pills, the longer-lasting and more persistent flow washed through him, making his previously faint sensitivity grow much stronger.

The most obvious transformation was his perception of the Spirit-Talisman and the broken Escape Talisman hidden on his person, which became much clearer. Even without holding them in his hands, just by focusing slightly, he could activate them at will.

"With two spiritual apertures, the sensation really is different."

Lin Guichen carefully felt the changes within himself. "My spiritual sensitivity is indeed sharper. For items like talismans, which are inherently attuned to one's spirit, even if they're not on you directly, you can vaguely sense their presence as long as they're nearby."

Most people live in ignorance, their senses dulled and clouded without even realizing it. It is said that at birth, this sixth sense-like special perception has not yet been obscured, which is why infants and young children can perceive things adults cannot.

Opening a spiritual aperture is like piercing holes in this naturally veiled sense. The more apertures one opens, the further one's spiritual awareness extends.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Lin Guichen looked toward the door, strongly sensing someone was about to knock.

The next moment, he heard a knock and a voice outside—Xiao Cui’s. "Young Master, a basket of freshly delivered loquats and mulberries from the orchard just arrived. Would you like some?"

"Yes, wash them well," Lin Guichen replied, nodding to himself. "My feeling was right—the perception from two apertures is very clear."

This was the so-called sixth sense.

He closed his eyes again and walked toward the bed. Soon, he sensed a special presence. Groping around the bed with his eyes shut, he soon found a bone flute.

"It really is easier to sense these special items now."

Lin Guichen nodded slightly, then suddenly looked at the little Daoist boy and frowned. "If someone had opened several spiritual apertures, could they sense the talismans I have hidden on me?"

With eyes closed, the world was pitch dark, and he could only rely on spiritual sensitivity. These special items were like sparks in the darkness—very easy to find.

The little Daoist boy lounged lazily on the table, not bothering to look back. "Impossible. Those are Daoist treasures. Practitioners of the Daoist path are nearly extinct. Unless someone else embarks on the Way, only you, as a Daoist heir, can sense the spirit of Daoist treasures."

"All dead?" Lin Guichen raised an eyebrow. "How did they die?"

"Environmental reasons," the boy yawned, clearly uninterested. "You'll understand later."

Lin Guichen didn't ask further and began testing the bone flute. No sound came out, but with his sharpened spiritual sense, he could vaguely feel the flute emitting waves of inaudible energy, colliding and rebounding, surrounding him.

Within this range, no sound could escape, nor could any sound enter. As the invisible, sound-blocking ripples spread, he felt his own spiritual energy being consumed.

"Huh?"

He suddenly pressed one of the flute's holes and, relying on his much sharper sensitivity, blew again.

Immediately, he felt the area of sound insulation shrinking.

"After opening two spiritual apertures, I can control the sound-blocking range with this flute?"

A trace of a smile appeared on Lin Guichen's face.

Last night, after obtaining the bone flute, he had tried to activate it, but with only one spiritual aperture, his sensitivity had not been so keen, and he couldn't precisely grasp the flute's changes.

"If I could open three or even more spiritual apertures, perhaps I could unlock new functions?"

The thought left Lin Guichen full of anticipation for opening more apertures.

He almost wanted to snatch the pouch from the little Daoist and eat all the spirit pills at once, opening the legendary Nine-Aperture Exquisite Heart in one go.

"But..."

He frowned slightly, glancing at the bone flute in his hand. "Even after opening another aperture, the total amount of spiritual energy I have doesn’t seem to have changed."

It was a distinct feeling, like weighing something with your hands—you could clearly sense the difference. He realized his spiritual energy reserve had not increased.

"Of course not," the little Daoist said, glancing up at him. "The number of apertures is like your senses—hearing, vision—while your spiritual energy is like stamina. They’re unrelated."

Lin Guichen understood.

Still, the number of spiritual apertures was clearly more important.

He couldn't help but look forward even more to the day he'd open all nine. According to the Daoist boy, using Spirit-Opening Pills to open nine apertures required doubling the dose each time—a total of 511 pills to complete the process.

Even maintaining his current peaceful state and taking two pills a day would take over half a year.

And when Old Drumstick returned from Yihai next month and focused on him, the trouble would be endless. He didn't dare imagine it, and who knew how much the Daoist boy's pill deliveries would be delayed.

"Before Old Drumstick returns, I'll escape."

Lin Guichen pondered. "Once I flee the Chen family, Third Master Chen will definitely hunt me down. That’s another disaster, and I certainly won’t have such peace then."

Moreover, the Chen ancestral home had ready-made wandering spirits and evil entities. He could use them as demonic adversaries to earn more rewards from the Daoist, and Third Master Chen would help him.

There was no rush to run yet.

Soon, Xiao Cui brought him the washed fruit. Lin Guichen ate as he reflected and experimented with the changes from the two apertures.

Before long, it was nearly noon.

He had agreed to meet Third Master Chen at the Sun Furnace at midday to see Chen Linyu’s father.

Sure enough, after waiting briefly in the courtyard, he saw Third Master Chen arrive as promised, supported by Su Zichu, who carried a small bundle.

…

It was the same three forked paths behind the ancestral hall.

The middle path led to the Spirit-Burial Celestial Palace, and the left to the Spirit-Burial Sun Furnace.

As they walked along the small path, Lin Guichen soon felt an inexplicable heat, as if he was stepping into a desert.

"So this is the Sun Furnace?" Lin Guichen looked at the oddly-shaped furnace ahead. "It's actually more normal than I'd imagined."

The furnace was about ten feet tall, shaped somewhat like a three-legged bird, with its back bearing a sphere—a form entirely unscientific for a furnace.

Though not fully extinguished, only a small flame burned inside.

"It does look fairly normal," Third Master Chen nodded.

Lin Guichen was curious. "Is this Spirit-Burial Sun Furnace modeled after some myth?"

"The Sun Palace, Golden Crow," Third Master Chen replied, but it was Su Zichu who opened the bundle and handed a ceramic jar to him.

He opened the jar, walked up to the Golden Crow-shaped furnace, and poured half a jar of thick black ointment into its slightly open beak.

"What is that?" Lin Guichen asked Su Zichu.

"Corpse oil," Su Zichu replied.

Lin Guichen was stunned.

Corpse oil?

So it seemed he had expected too much—the methods of spirit-burial were never normal...

As Third Master Chen poured the corpse oil into the Sun Furnace, it acted like a powerful accelerant. Flames roared up, licking the furnace walls and causing them to glow red-hot.

Soon, the sphere on the Golden Crow's back was ablaze and shining bright.

The temperature difference inside and outside the furnace made the air currents shift, and the Sun Furnace let out a strange, birdlike cry.

It was as if a real three-legged Golden Crow carried the blazing sun, emitting a piercing cry!

The surrounding temperature soared. Just standing before the Sun Furnace, Lin Guichen could feel his face burning, waves of heat rolling outward.

Third Master Chen ignored it all, knelt before the furnace, and prayed in a low voice.

Then—

From the burning, glowing sun above the furnace, a transparent, phantom hand extended.

Then a second, a third, a fourth...

One after another, phantom figures emerged from the sun, and in the furnace’s light, they resembled the sunfire spirits of legend, gods born from the great sun.

But all these phantoms screamed in agony, their faces twisted in pain and torment, as if trapped in hell itself!

Lin Guichen watched this hellish spectacle, his pupils contracting.

So this was... the price of becoming a Yin Spirit through the Sun Furnace?

To endure endless burning and suffering?

Yet, a few of the fire spirits suffered less, only frowning in silence—perhaps they had stronger endurance, or could withstand the heat...

Soon, one of these phantoms, enveloped in firelight, flew out.

It was a tall, robust middle-aged man, square-faced and stern, whose furrowed brow lent him an imposing air, his whole bearing rough and weathered.

This was one of the ancestor spirits in the Sun Furnace who did not scream.

Lin Guichen looked closely.

So this was Chen Linyu’s father?

And Third Master Chen’s son?

At this moment, Third Master Chen, who had been quietly praying, stood up, smiled at the phantom man, and said, "Mu Zhi."

Lin Guichen realized that Chen Linyu’s father was named Chen Muzhi.

"Mm?" The ever-burning Chen Muzhi frowned, speaking in a deep, hoarse voice, "Yu’er’s... husband, you... found him?"

"Yes, it’s him," Third Master Chen glanced at Lin Guichen.

Chen Muzhi frowned at Lin Guichen, then grunted, "Hmph, a... living person?"

He looked again at Third Master Chen, his eyes blazing with fury, voice lowered, "You old bastard! If you wanted Yu’er to rest in peace, why not find a suitable dead man? Damn you, you old dog, you’d stoop to such a vile thing? Are you even human? I’d really like to kill you!"

Lin Guichen was taken aback.

Why this sudden, violent outburst of cursing? He had spoken with difficulty before, but now, in his rage, he cursed with such fluency!

And to hurl abuse at his own father?

Such filial piety...

Lin Guichen suddenly felt some affection for this father-in-law.

If nothing else, his scathing insults toward Third Master Chen truly resonated with him!

"Calm down," Third Master Chen remained unruffled, smiling amiably. "Suppress your anger a bit, don’t give in to the heart’s fire, or you’ll suffer even more when you return."

"None of your damn business, you old bastard!" Chen Muzhi continued to curse.

"All right, all right," Third Master Chen smiled gently. "This is all for Yu’er’s sake. Her soul is unstable. By marrying a living man, she can draw on his yang energy to stabilize her soul, can she not?"

He shook his head. "Or do you want her to end up like you, buried in the Sun Furnace, turned into an ancestor spirit tormented by the blazing sun?"

"You damned dog..." Chen Muzhi growled through clenched teeth, but said no more.

"For Yu’er’s sake, you should help." Third Master Chen produced a thick card. "As her father, you should draft the marriage contract."

Lin Guichen couldn't see clearly, but he noticed many words already written on the card.

Chen Muzhi frowned at it, then burst out, "What kind of crap marriage contract is this? You old bastard—is this how you arrange a marriage?"

Third Master Chen smiled faintly. "Your son-in-law already agreed. It’s the best for Yu’er, isn’t it?"

Chen Muzhi frowned deeply, glancing at Lin Guichen.

"Just sign it. If you don’t, no one can save Yu’er."

Third Master Chen’s expression was calm as he raised the card for Chen Muzhi.

Chen Muzhi snorted, his fingertip moving across the card from a distance, leaving behind a scorched signature.

"Done," Third Master Chen said with a smile. "We’ll be leaving now. Bear with it."

He glanced at Lin Guichen. "Guichen, bow three times to Yu’er’s father."

"Wait!"

Chen Muzhi called out, fixing his gaze on Lin Guichen. "I only signed the paper, I didn’t acknowledge him as my son-in-law. Get out, you old bastard! Leave me alone! I need to see if this boy is worthy to be my son-in-law!"

Third Master Chen frowned slightly. "Very well, but mind your behavior."

"I know. Stop nagging, you old thing—get out, hear me?" Chen Muzhi cursed again.

What a hot-tempered man... Lin Guichen was speechless.

Third Master Chen shook his head, smiled at Lin Guichen. "I’ll wait for you outside."

With that, he left, supported by Su Zichu.

In the burning sand, before the blazing Sun Furnace, only Lin Guichen and his unusually irascible father-in-law remained.

"Boy," Chen Muzhi scrutinized Lin Guichen, as if restraining himself, and said hoarsely, "With such... talent, you’d actually... agree to a ghost marriage?"

Lin Guichen’s heart stirred, but he feigned confusion. "What do you mean?"

Chen Muzhi rasped, "You’ve... opened... two spiritual apertures, haven’t you?"