Howard Tiger looked at the bold and spirited Shawn Young, his eyes gleaming with admiration. He said loudly, "Good! What a declaration—'My fate is mine, not Heaven's!' Shawn, I really appreciate your attitude! Of all the cultivators I've met, you're the most uniquely gifted, and you're one of us, so of course I won't stand by and do nothing. Now, while I don't have the power to help you overcome the Heavenly Tribulation, I do have a spell that can temporarily suppress your inner agitation and violent urges—the 'Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell'! Whenever you feel your emotions getting out of control, just activate this spell and it'll effectively calm those negative feelings!"
"Hmm? The 'Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell'! That sounds like one of the supreme Taoist mind arts—" Shawn Young was startled and blurted out.
"That's right! This 'Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell' is one of the three great foundational spells of our Heavenly Master Order. Anyone who masters it can quickly enter the states of relaxation, tranquility, and emptiness, clearing away all distractions—especially when disturbed by internal or external evil forces. Recite this spell, and you'll receive the protection of the Six Heavenly Guardians, which helps you ward off disasters, overcome dangers, and break through obstacles! It should be quite effective at suppressing your Heavenly Tribulation when it acts up!" Howard Tiger explained.
"Thank you so much for your help, Howard Tiger—" Shawn Young said excitedly. He knew that with the aid of this supreme mind art from the Heavenly Master Order, it would be much easier to control himself when the Heavenly Tribulation struck.
"Heh heh—Shawn, don't get too excited yet. You should know, this spell is only a supporting treatment, not a cure! If you want to truly overcome the Heavenly Tribulation, you'll still have to rely on your own luck and willpower!" Howard Tiger said seriously.
"Yeah, I understand—I believe that with your help and this spell, I'll definitely find a way to break through the Heavenly Tribulation!" Shawn Young nodded.
"Good, as long as you understand! Now, your true energy circulation is strong enough to activate this spell. I'll teach you the incantation and the hand signs now. Whenever you feel your emotions getting out of whack, just use it for instant relief! Also, this spell was originally a secret technique of our Heavenly Master Order, but since your Ancient Taiqing Sect shares the same roots with us, teaching you isn't against our rules. However, you must remember—never let this spell fall into the hands of evildoers!" Howard Tiger warned Shawn Young.
"Yes, I will definitely remember your teachings, Howard Tiger—" Shawn Young replied quickly.
"Alright—let's head back to the office!" Howard Tiger waved at Shawn Young, leading him back inside and closing the door behind them. Only then did he begin to teach Shawn the 'Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell,' one of the three great foundational spells of the Heavenly Master Order.
"Interlock your hands to form the Diamond Protection Mudra, step in the Seven-Star Ritual pattern, channel your true energy, and let it flow through all your meridians—" Howard Tiger loudly taught Shawn Young the basic hand signs and mental techniques.
All the Taoist arts in the world, though varied, share the same origin. The Ancient Taiqing Sect and the Heavenly Master Order have always had similar cultivation methods, each with their own strengths. Shawn Young naturally picked up Howard Tiger's teachings quickly and began practicing the spell as instructed.
"Ren Gao protect me, Ding Chou shield me, Ren He guide me, Ding You preserve me, Ren Can guard my soul, Ding Si nourish my spirit, Taiyin Huagai, Earth Gate and Heaven Gate, I walk the Yu Step, Lady Xuan guides me, Ming Hall sits and lies, hidden and concealed, urgently as the law commands—release!" After teaching Shawn Young the incantation, Howard Tiger watched as Shawn activated his true energy according to the spell.
As Shawn Young activated the Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell, the true energy of the Supreme Purity surged inside him, generating a powerful and uplifting aura. The energy quickly circulated through all his meridians and entered his Second Sight, forming a gentle and soothing current—like a spring breeze washing over him. The violent urges within him dissolved and faded away, transforming into a faint white mist that rose to the top of his head and was expelled from his Baihui point.
Immediately, Shawn Young felt the chaotic and violent energy in his mind dissipate, leaving his mood calm and clear, his spirit refreshed. It was as if a gentle rain and breeze had cleansed every pore of his body.
"Whew—this Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell is amazing! It really suppresses the effects of the Heavenly Tribulation! Thank you so much for your help, Howard Tiger!" Shawn Young finished the technique, feeling its unique effects, and sincerely thanked Howard Tiger again.
"Haha—Shawn, you don't need to thank me so much. This Heavenly Guardian Protection Spell is closely related to your sect, so teaching it to you today is part of your destiny! If it can help you suppress the Heavenly Tribulation, then maybe you'll have a chance to break through this dangerous barrier! Keep it up! I've lived a long life, but I've never seen anyone truly step into immortality. I hope you can surprise me—" Howard Tiger said with a cheerful wave.
"I will do my best to break through the Heavenly Tribulation and live up to your expectations, Howard Tiger!!" Shawn Young nodded confidently.
"Good! You're a promising student. Nowadays, with high technology everywhere and people losing touch with tradition, our Taoist arts are fading. If you can truly master these arts, it'll be a huge boost for all orthodox Taoists and bring honor to our sect!" Howard Tiger nodded.
Just then, Shawn Young suddenly felt a strange fluctuation in his Second Sight, as if a mysterious presence was trying to force its way in. Alarmed, he quickly closed his eyes, focused his energy, and sent his consciousness into his Second Sight to search for the intruder. Soon, he found a faint dark red aura heading toward the Heavenly Sanctuary, lingering at its entrance and trying to break in, but it was quickly repelled by the barrier set up by the Red Dragon and his partner.
Shawn Young was startled and immediately chased after the dark red aura with his spiritual sense, but the aura quickly sensed something was wrong and—poof—it scattered and vanished without a trace.
Shawn Young quickly realized—someone must have used a special spell to force their way into his Second Sight from far away, but the intruder had already dispersed their true energy, so Shawn couldn't track them any further. He searched the area thoroughly with his spiritual sense, but found nothing. Helpless, he withdrew his consciousness from his Second Sight and returned to reality.
As soon as he opened his eyes, Shawn Young saw Howard Tiger staring at him intently and suddenly said, "That aura was from a soul-capturing spell—one of the Nine Chrysanthemums Society's signature tricks from Japan!"
"It was Daniel Feathercloud!!" Shawn Young blurted out in shock.
"Yes, it's most likely him. That old bastard is making his move, Shawn—you need to track him down and finish him off! The Nine Chrysanthemums Society is notorious for their use of evil magic, and they're a real pain in the ass!" Howard Tiger said fiercely, his eyes flashing with hatred for the Nine Chrysanthemums Society.
"Fine! I was already planning to hunt him down and grind his bones to dust—" Shawn Young shouted angrily. He knew Daniel Feathercloud was one of his greatest enemies and had to be eliminated!
"Good! Now, you'd better get your trip to Hong Kong sorted out. We've got people over there, but unless it's absolutely necessary, don't alert them. You can use the Hung Society's resources—their power in Hong Kong and overseas rivals our National Paranormal Task Force!" Howard Tiger reminded Shawn Young.
"Oh! Got it, I know what to do—" Shawn Young nodded.
"Alright—I have other things to handle, so I'll get busy. Shawn, I'm waiting for your good news! Go all out, and remember, the National Paranormal Task Force has your back whenever you need it!" Howard Tiger nodded.
"I won't let you down—Howard Tiger, you go ahead, I'll take my leave now!" Shawn Young cupped his hands respectfully and left the office.
Once he left the Southern Military District, Shawn Young pulled out his phone and called Martin Yang to arrange his trip to Hong Kong. After everything was set, Shawn gazed at the southern sky and silently declared to himself, "Hong Kong—here I come!"