Yu Ci released his sensitivity to the surroundings, finding the information from afar monotonous yet flowing to him continuously.
The accidental seeding of that divine consciousness starlight was perhaps the luckiest event he had encountered recently. The starlight, parasitic in the depths of the target's divine soul, had its existence greatly prolonged—lasting a year, even more, was not an issue. Compared to the fifty-mile limit of the Divine-Illuminating Diagram, its sensory range was far superior. Yu Ci's current record stood at an impressive fifteen hundred miles, thirty times that of the Divine-Illuminating Diagram, granting him ample time and space to react.
As the saying goes, knowing both your enemy and yourself ensures victory in a hundred battles. In this extremely passive situation, Yu Ci had leveraged the divine consciousness starlight to regain some ground, preventing the scales from tipping too drastically in the opponent's favor.
Yet, there was still much to be done—so very much! He needed to confirm the identity of his target and gather the most detailed information possible. After all, at this stage, he was only speculating and inferring. A single misjudgment, and he would not have a second chance.
Of course, there were also specific methods to consider...
Yu Ci fell into silence in the deep underground void, carefully contemplating his next move. He had boldly declared his intention to eradicate the Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit before its awakening, but to be honest, he only had a vague outline of how to proceed. He was unsure about the feasibility of the answer that had appeared with a flash of divine light, so he needed to carefully evaluate his options.
Initially, Shadow Ghost didn't understand what Yu Ci was pondering, but soon after, he saw him retrieve a bundle of silk scrolls and slowly unroll them—it was the Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book!
Like the Heavenly Flying Stars technique personally taught by Old Master Zhu, this talisman scripture from the Shangqing Sect was much more complex, containing thousands of talismans. It included the most fundamental Clear Mind Incantation and Five-Thunder Talisman, as well as the so-called Superior Immortal Talismans, which were incredibly intricate with hundreds, even thousands, of key points. The "Mysterious Celestial Star Major Refining Technique" from the Heavenly Flying Stars system was also included within its pages. Comparing the two was quite fascinating. The book also delved into talismanic cultivation practices and the crafting of Talismanic Implements. The Gang Geomancy Seven Stars Altar that Yu Ci intended to refine originated from this very text.
Having possessed the tome for over a decade, Yu Ci had committed most of the Talisman scripture to memory. He kept it close at hand for two reasons: firstly, the particularly intricate and miscellaneous talismans within were impossible to remember flawlessly without frequent reference, and secondly, the voluminous information contained within the scripture was the source of inspiration for many a Spirit evocation.
At that moment, Yu Ci unfurled the silk scroll to its latter sections and stared blankly at a particular Talisman. Shadow Ghost, peering through his eyes, immediately had a moment of enlightenment and said, "You're considering using this technique?"
He quickly added, "This Seven-Arrow Nailhead Curse originates from the profound alterations of ancient sorcery by the mysterious sects. Its renown is considerable, and its complexity even greater. It won't be easy for you to successfully employ it."
Yu Ci hummed in acknowledgment, then added, "The Seven-Arrow Nailhead Curse is one option, or perhaps the 'Big Dipper Soul-Imprisoning Death Technique'... What do you think?"
The Big Dipper Soul-Imprisoning Death Technique was a talisman from the "Heavenly Flying Stars" system, one of the talismans associated with the cycle of the celestial stars. It was on par with the Upper Cave-True Starlight Sensing Divine Thunder Talisman, and like the renowned Seven-Arrow Nailhead Curse, it was another method capable of slaying enemies from thousands of miles away!
Shadow Ghost seemed to grasp Yu Ci's line of thought; indeed, it was a viable strategy.
Under ordinary circumstances, neither the Seven-Arrow Nailhead Curse nor the Big Dipper Soul-Imprisoning Death Technique would hold any practical significance in the face of the vast chasm that separates their realms of efficacy. With the sensitivity of a True Immortal's spirit, the mere thought of a lowly Golden Elixir cultivator harboring intentions against them would warrant immediate and devastating counteraction, ensuring a gruesome end for the spellcaster.
Yet the current situation is different. For one, Yu Ci is not targeting the True Immortal himself but merely an individual in their vicinity. On the other hand, the successfully implanted divine consciousness starlight serves as the perfect medium. If utilized correctly, the talismanic curse power from thousands of miles away could infiltrate undetected, striking a fatal blow!
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Even if the attempt were to fail, what could a Black-Robed of advanced cultivation level do from such a distance? Rush over and bite?
The question remains: does Yu Ci possess the capability to execute such profound talismanic curses?
"Not yet."
Yu Ci's mind is crystal clear on this matter. Setting aside the Seven-Arrow Nailhead Curse, which is reputed to be the "number one curse killing technique" of the Mysterious Ancestral Witch Sect, even the Big Dipper Soul-Imprisoning Death Technique, which he has had some small success with, would require divine power to kill from a thousand miles away—a task nearly impossible under his current conditions.
"The Seven-Arrow Nailhead Curse, if one is willing to invest, can be executed in segments with the drawing of talismans. There are rituals lasting twenty-one days, forty-nine days, sixty-four days, and even eighty-one or a hundred and eight days. Accumulating power day by day, being careful not to leak any energy, there will eventually come a time when the buildup is successful. However, whether the Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit will afford me that time is another matter. As for the Big Dipper Soul-Imprisoning Death Technique, when striking from a thousand miles away, it requires the alignment with celestial stars and the summoning of ghosts and deities—beyond my current capabilities, though not entirely without workaround. The most pressing issue at hand is the lack of a certain item necessary for casting these two talismanic curses."
"Which one?"
"Of course, the Altar."
Yu Ci closed the silk scroll, "We've come full circle! Unless I can construct the Gang Geomancy Seven Stars Altar, harnessing the power of the Altar to sort and channel the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth, neither of the Talismans can be completed. But now, with no sign of the Altar in sight, what should I do?"
After a brief pause, he shook his head and grinned, "Actually, the most effective method is to advance my Cultivation Level. If I can form the Constellations Life-Defining Golden Talisman, at least thirty percent of the effort could be spared, and the chances of success would increase by a good margin..."
His smile quickly faded. In the presence of the Shadow Ghost, there was no need, nor any point, to put on airs. The warmth between their hearts sizzled like frying oil. Time waits for no one; he had to continue living steadily in the North Wilderness, and all his plans needed to be accelerated!
※※※
It's strange how the affairs of the world work. When you're idle, time seems to solidify, stretching the boring moments out endlessly. But when you're pressed for time, the river of time insists on flowing faster, pushing you to the point where you can neither calm your spirit nor stand firm.
In the blink of an eye, seven or eight days had passed since the heart-stopping battle at the Taoism Immortal Hunting Ground. Yu Ci still lingered deep within the boundless strata of the North Wilderness, searching for the vein of Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock, and striving to master the complex Curse-Killing Talisman Technique.
In fact, the information about the Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock Vein that Shen Wan brought for trade that day was quite clear. But the problem lay in Yu Ci's unfamiliarity with the local terrain. Deep within the earth's layers, the Divine-Illuminating map was of little use. He got lost once, which delayed him for two days. Moreover, Yu Ci suspected that with the arrival of a figure in black robes practicing the "Core-Melting Fiery Prison Technique," a great deal of Divine Power must have been concentrated on the magma's toxic heat. A great battle had erupted just a few days prior, and it wouldn't be surprising if a massive display of Divine Power, capable of moving mountains and filling seas, had altered the distribution of the magma.
In that case, to find the Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock Vein nestled along the rivers and lakes of magma would truly be a matter of luck.
Yu Ci routinely activated the Divine-Illuminating Map, first sensing the presence of Divine consciousness starlight from a great distance. The lack of response confirmed that the other party was at least fifteen hundred li away; there was no immediate cause for concern. As for other information, it remained scarce.
Next, Yu Ci did come across a sizable accumulation of magma in a river pool, but alas, there was no sign of the Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock. He decided to trace the source of this magma flow, to see if there might be other discoveries to be made. Well aware that such regions, apart from being the haunts of ferocious beasts like Magma Lizards, were seldom visited by other living beings, Yu Ci still habitually kept the Divine-Illuminating Map active, occasionally glancing at it in the hopes of finding some clue.
A clue... hmm?
A sudden burst of azure light caught his attention; looking down, he saw it emanated from the Divine-Illuminating Map. Such a glow was indicative of the presence of living beings, originating from the periphery, infusing the lifeless semi-void landscape with vitality.
Then he heard laughter from that direction, "The young lady does have some courage, a pity she doesn't grasp the situation. Today, my brother and I shall have our way with you..."
Yu Ci had no interest in the vulgarities that followed; he shifted his focus to another direction, where the figure of an acquaintance was emerging. Faced with the intimidation and humiliation of two burly men, she merely clenched her fist, and with a single punch, she struck.
Within a half-li radius, the force of her punch solidified the earth as if it were steel, silencing any foul language, forcibly stuffing it back down their throats.
Such a display of fist strength was truly transcendent.
Admiring her skill, Yu Ci also wondered, "Lu Qing? What is she doing in this desolate place instead of Yin Cave City?"
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e