Lin Mu had been suspecting that Dugu Shanhe used some questionable technique and his actions had confirmed it. But learning more from High Elder Juxue made Lin Mu realized just how questionable it was.
"Have there been other people using it before? In the recent times?" Lin Mu questioned after thinking something.
"There have been a few, yes. But none in the Rust Sky world." High Elder Juxue answered. "Due to the obvious effects of the technique, most that do encounter a practitioner end up forgetting about it. The technique's ability to affect memories is very problematic." He added.
"Yes. Dugu Shanhe did say that he has been 'collecting' them for a while." Lin Mu replied. "He also seemed rather… Fixated on them."
"That is a common side effect of the Six Faiths Soul Mystic Art. It makes its practitioners addicted to harvesting memories from others. That was its intended purpose, after all." High Elder Juxue answered.
"But there's more to it, isn't there?" Lin Mu could pick up on some of the hints.
"Indeed… the creator of the technique, the Six Faiths Deity spread the technique so that his own cultivation could be furthered. Once the practitioner of the Six Faiths Soul Mystic Art had gathered enough memories, they would be ripe for harvesting by the Six Faiths Deity.
He could grow his strength at an exponential pace, faster than he would be able to on his own." High Elder Juxue revealed.
"I see… then was he a Soul Cultivator?" Lin Mu asked the question that had been on his mind for a while.
He hadn't seen soul cultivators so far and also knew that they were rather rare. It was a path that was rarely seen and difficult to learn about.
"Hmm… He was half a soul cultivator, I suppose," High Elder Juxue replied.
"Half? How so?" Lin Mu inquired further.
"As in… by consuming memories, he also consumed a part of the souls of the cultivators. This fueled his Qi and furthered his cultivation base, which was still that of the Qi path.
You could say he simply added another source of Qi for himself. If he were a True Soul Cultivator he wouldn't take such a dangerous path. Consuming souls like that is also dangerous to the user themselves.
It can corrupt their souls and tear apart their being. As you consume the memories of others, your own 'self' will start merging with them. Do it long enough and you will lose your sense of self.
Most that embark on this path become mindless monsters." High Elder Juxue explained in detail.
"I understand." Lin Mu said in a calm tone, though internally he was rather shocked.
'If what High Elder Juxue said is true then… The Murdering Heart Sutra's ability… it also consumes souls.' Lin Mu thought finding it hard to figure it out completely.
Though he also understood that there was a difference between what High Elder Juxue had said and the ability of the Murdering Heart Sutra.
'The Six Faiths Soul Mystic Art consumes memories that are part of a soul. But the Murdering Heart Sutra consumes entire souls themselves.' It was obvious to Lin Mu that the sutra was on an entirely different level.
It also didn't seem to have the drawbacks that were in the Six Faiths Soul Mystic Art. Regardless of how it might be, this whole incident gave Lin Mu a much needed insight into not only Mental and Soul techniques but also his own weakness to it.
'I was lucky that Dugu Shanhe can only restrain my body and mind in that way. If he could directly harm me, it would be the death of me,' Lin Mu thought. 'I need better defenses against something like this,' He reckoned.
"We'll need to investigate further into this, whether Dugu Shanhe was taught or if he found this technique on his own. But for now, you can leave." High Elder Juxue stated. "Thank you for your help."
"Ah, yes!" Lin Mu cupped his hands. "I'll just go get my reward since I'm here."
"Wait," But before Lin Mu could go, the old man stopped him.
"For your reward… Hmm…" High Elder Juxue stroked his beard, as if thinking of something. "I can give you an option… an alternative to it."
"Oh?" Lin Mu was intrigued by it.
"You can choose not to take your reward now." High Elder Juxue replied. "Skip all your rewards till your final victory, and I'll recommend you a greater reward than you would get if you won in the end." He offered.
Lin Mu raised his brows upon hearing that. It was an offer that might be a bit questionable to other contestants, as it would be the same as not getting the Immortal stones and healing pills that they might need. But for Lin Mu, it was actually quite appealing.
"I can tell you don't really need the smaller rewards, do you?" High Elder Juxue asked. 'If he has a master that can put a ward like that, he shouldn't really be lacking in resources.' He assumed.
It was certainly true on some level, though Lin Mu's fortune had been accumulated from more than just a single source.
"I… don't exactly require them. They aren't crucial to me." Lin Mu answered truthfully.
"Then this will be a lot better." High Elder Juxue replied. "For having defeated Dugu Shanhe who could have caused a lot of trouble not just for others, but also brought a loss of face to the Temple of the Guardian beasts, I can offer you this much." He explained.
"But in exchange, I also want a thing from you." High Elder Juxue said, making Lin Mu a bit hesitant.
"What is it?" Lin Mu wondered if he had any conditions.
"You cannot reveal Dugu Shanhe being a user of the Six Faiths Soul Mystic Art." High Elder Juxue firmly stated. "Though don't worry, he will still be declared to be an unorthodox cultivator and you won't face any consequences." He added.
