Since there are monsters in the world, does that mean there are also ghosts? If there are ghosts, are there also immortals and Buddhas, as well as Daoist cultivation? Are there the “three thousand worlds” spoken of in Buddhism, and the carefree longevity described in Daoism?

So how should I seek them out?

Where exactly is the path to immortality and eternal life?

Where can I find the so-called method of calming the soul?

……

Not knowing how he got home, he saw his aunt, then went to see his uncle, briefly explained what happened last night and the thirty taels of silver, and finally returned to his room amid his aunt’s worried admonitions.

The room was simple, but it was a place where his heart could rest.

As soon as he lay down, just as he was pondering and his mind was growing hazy, he suddenly felt that something was off.

He turned his head—

At some point, an ancient book had appeared beside him.

There was no title.

It was a strange book.

Henry Walton was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly remembered that when he got up and left the house this morning and returned to the ancestral hall, he seemed to have seen something like a book in the darkness—square and upright—but it was too dim to see clearly at the time. He thought it was probably left by that person from last night, and since his mind was muddled and full of thoughts, he didn’t pay much attention, just took the bedding, hatchet, and oil lamp and left.

He didn’t know if it was the same one.

Henry Walton couldn’t help but pick it up.

“Rustle…”

He flipped it open casually; the pages inside were all blank.

Only the first page had writing.

It read:

Exhale

A method commonly used by monsters, ghosts, and spirits.

Chapter 5: The Book of Techniques

“Exhale.

“A method commonly used by monsters, ghosts, and spirits.

“Once something in the world attains the Dao, innate vital energy arises within it. When it exhales this energy, each has its own effect.”

Henry Walton held the book and couldn’t help but read softly.

“Because this method requires no study or practice, one simply exhales the innate vital energy within, so it is the technique most commonly used by mountain spirits, wild monsters, demons, and ghosts. And because the types of mountain spirits, wild monsters, demons, and ghosts differ, their ways of attaining the Dao and their natures—good or evil—also differ, so the vital energy within them varies, and thus the effects are not the same.

“Some exhale yellow energy, which can confuse the mind; some exhale black energy, which can obscure vision; some exhale gray energy, which can cause drowsiness; some exhale white energy, which can heal and save people.

“Those with great power can exhale smoke that becomes clouds, covering the sky and blocking out the sun.

“If a human cultivates and attains the Dao, they can also exhale energy, usually white energy, with many wondrous uses. If one does not cultivate, there is also a way to forcefully exhale energy, which is to exhale yang energy; this can only burn yin ghosts, has no other use, and harms the body and shortens life.”

That was the last sentence.

Henry Walton was shocked.

Could this be a book recording techniques?

He instinctively flipped further.

“Rustle…”

The sound of pages turning in the silent room.

The moment his fingers touched the page, a barely perceptible faint light shimmered on the paper, and at the same time, Henry Walton’s gaze became dazed. The following page turns were just out of habit, and his final glance only saw that the next page was still blank.

But words appeared in his mind.

“Heaven has five energies, and all things are formed…

“Monsters are those who rely on refined energy…”

It was like words, yet not quite.

If you called them words, they had no discernible male or female voice, nor any sound at all—just like silently reciting an ancient poem in your mind, or talking to yourself in your head.

If not words, they still had clear sentences, almost as if someone’s spoken words had been transformed into information.

“Monsters and ghosts exhale energy, mostly yin and ghostly energy. As long as their cultivation is not high, ordinary people can use their own vital energy and willpower to fight them, and often prevail…

“Those with cultivation who exhale energy, besides exhaling their original vital energy, can also practice techniques to alter their original energy for different effects…

“……

“Those without cultivation rarely know the method of exhaling energy. Unless a person is extremely angry and exhales energy naturally, one must transform strength into energy: the lower force starts from the toes, passes through the soul gate into the dantian; the upper force starts from the crown of the head, passes through the chest into the abdomen; the two combine, focus the spirit and concentrate, hold the strength as energy, transform energy into yang, and at the moment of intense heat, exhale it suddenly…

“……”

This “voice” explained the method of exhaling energy in detail.

Aside from monsters and spirits who naturally know how to exhale energy (which was not explained in detail), whether it was cultivated people exhaling energy or ordinary people doing so in emergencies, the specific methods were described very thoroughly, along with some insights and experiences. It even specifically warned that ordinary people should not use this method lightly unless in dire circumstances.

Even though Henry Walton knew nothing of this path and didn’t understand most of the terms, he still grasped some of it.

Is it possible to exhale energy without cultivation?

And it was only after receiving this information from the book that he realized the reason he felt muddled and groggy was not just from a tense night, but also because he had been affected by a monster’s exhaled energy, which had weakened his vital energy and blood, and he needed to rest and recover.

This was actually a book of techniques!

But he didn’t know where this book had come from.

Could there be some connection?

Henry Walton thought for a while but couldn’t recall anything for the moment.

But why did this technique appear?

Could it be because he was affected by that monster’s exhaled energy last night?

“……”

Henry Walton gradually came back to his senses, turning the book over and over in his hands, but only this page had writing.

He could only remember this “Exhale” technique.

There was nothing else.

Yet for such a book, with so many blank pages, it was clear that “Exhale” was not the only technique within.