Yu Ci lay in bed, idly toying with the Inner Elixir in his hand.
The Inner Elixir, normally suffused with a deep blue luster, kept its brilliance mostly hidden. Instead, it was the profound and resentful aura from the extinguished Yang Spirit that transformed into a Dark Light, ceaselessly ebbing and flowing.
Unlike Tie Lan, who could disregard the dense resentful aura, the Dark Light actually harmed Yu Ci. However, he had his own ways to counter such malevolent and resentful energies. By simply drawing forth the True Purple Smoke from the warm jade at his chest, no wicked presence could come near.
He had also inadvertently discovered an even more effective method to suppress the toxins—placing the warm jade against his wounds daily proved more beneficial than the Heavenly River Prayer Incantation.
Yet, while the True Purple Smoke was adept at halting the worsening of his injuries, it struggled to expel the toxins. More precisely, it could dissolve some, but at such a slow rate that by the time the toxins were fully eradicated, his left leg, long soaked in the poison, would likely be completely useless due to the atrophy of bones, tendons, and muscles!
As for the originally conceived idea of using talismans to drive out the poison, it wasn't impossible. The "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book" indeed contained several talismans with the requisite capabilities. He had hastily learned a few and tried them to no great effect. There were two others that seemed much stronger, their complexity leaving Yu Ci speechless.
Under the prerequisite of possessing an extremely high level of "Layered Orifice Combination," the simpler one required mastery over three hundred and sixty-five key points, while the more complex boasted nearly five hundred! It was the so-called "Immortal Talisman," one that could truly drain a person...
Yu Ci outright abandoned the one with five hundred key points; for a Talisman Cultivator below the level of Vacuum Walking Cultivation, it was not even worth considering. As for the "Earth Deity Virtue Talisman," with its three hundred and sixty-five key points, it could harness the energy of the nine lands, neutralize all poisons, and resolve them without remedy. This talisman was particularly suitable for use deep within the earth's layers and was especially effective against the "water poison" of the Inner Elixir.
Yu Ci was indeed moved, but the act of Drawing Talismans and the vast amount of Primordial Qi consumed by the use of a Talisman were not burdens he could bear alone at his level. It seemed inevitable to prepare early and take ten days to half a month, completing the task in stages. Yet, by that time, whether the bones, sinews, and veins in his legs would have suffered irreversible damage was something no one could guarantee.
Thus, Yu Ci longed to find a swift antidote from the Inner Elixir of the Gu Sculpture, but alas, he had yet to succeed.
This was the third day since the poisoning.
Yu Ci put away the Gu Sculpture's Inner Elixir and propped himself halfway up, looking down from his bed at the meticulously flattened ground, where the Talismanic Pattern Drawings complex enough to make one's eyes pop were laid out. These were part of the structure of the "Earth Deity Virtue Talisman," the fruit of his labor over the past three days.
The structure of the Talisman above might seem intricate, but in essence, it was a platform that harnessed the energy of the nine earthly realms, the central hub of the Talisman's operation when activated.
Normally, this step could be skipped, but the constraints of his Cultivation Level forced him to seek external assistance. This "platform" not only had to manage the immense force but also served as a buffer and a fulcrum, bearing multiple functions and, consequently, an enormous amount of pressure. A single misstep upon activation could grind the entire ground to dust, rendering any thoughts of Talismans or detoxification moot.
Over the past few days, Yu Ci had devoted half his energy to fortifying this platform, a task of great labor.
He cast a Void Divine Travel Talisman on himself and floated above the ground where the Drawing Talismans were inscribed. His fingers, imbued with True Sha, tapped piece by piece. On one hand, he was collecting the Aura feedback of the Talisman Pattern Fractal; on the other, he was ascertaining the solidity of the region.
Suddenly, he noticed an anomaly at a particular location. Frowning, he tested it again, only to shake his head. Then he said, "Prostrate Plant seeds."
Silently, a figure appeared behind him, and a few grass seeds fell into his palm. These seemingly ordinary seeds, once planted, would quickly "grasp" the soil layers, their roots beneficial in conducting Earthly Qi, making them most suitable for reinforcing the structural integrity of the ground.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
After he inserted the seeds, before he could speak again, someone handed him a jade bottle filled with a liquid that stimulated living beings. Yu Ci poured two drops, not bothering to replace the stopper, casually setting it aside. It was swiftly taken away, not at all affecting his subsequent actions.
The following steps required little in the way of external objects. After revising two sections of the Talisman Fragmentation Form, Yu Ci reexamined everything to ensure no errors or omissions, only then exhaling in relief. By this point, two hours had passed!
He was imitating the gourd's painting, setting up the structure according to the original diagrams in the Talisman Book. It wasn't as smooth as it would be for one who had mastered the art, and he had to consider the strength of the structure and allow for some personal flair, so mistakes were inevitable. Correcting them took more mental effort than the initial setup, especially since his Qi and Blood circulation was sluggish due to poisoning. He was genuinely tired now, a layer of sweat beading on his forehead.
He reflexively reached out, only to grasp at air—huh, where was his sweat towel?
It was a simple question, but Yu Ci paused for a long time, turning his head to look around. Apart from himself, there was not a single soul in the entire cavern. The woman who had been by his side was nowhere to be found.
"Gone out?"
Yu Ci scratched his head, then used his sleeve to wipe away the sweat. He sat on the bed to rest for a while before returning to work on the Talisman Fragmentation Form. Strangely enough, tracing the Drawing Talismans, which should have been relatively easy, felt oddly strenuous. Particularly when he needed specific materials, the irritation grew as he searched back and forth, leading to two mishaps that nearly affected the other half of the completed Fractal Structure.
Realizing that something was off with his condition, Yu Ci promptly stopped. It was then that Shadow Ghost, with a hearty laugh, said, "What's the matter? Have you gotten used to having someone around these past few days?"
Yu Ci found himself in a somewhat awkward position, yet he had to concede that Shadow Ghost's assessment was spot on—he still found it challenging to fathom Lu Qing's background, but it had become crystal clear that this female cultivator was undoubtedly the finest of assistants one could wish for in the world.
His movements were impaired, and though he mostly relied on the Void Divine Travel Talisman for transportation, drifting about was somewhat uncomfortable, and certain details did not flow smoothly, especially when he began to depict the Talisman Fragmentation Form. Observing this, Lu Qing took the initiative to undertake some of the more meticulous tasks.
On the first day, Yu Ci felt a bit embarrassed, thinking it was already quite troublesome for her to keep him company, let alone to be at his beck and call—it seemed downright impolite. However, just two days later, Yu Ci had cast his initial reservations to the winds.
He had never encountered such an empathetic woman!
In her idle moments, Lu Qing was like a formless, insubstantial ghost, perching unnoticed in some corner, causing no disturbance whatsoever; yet as soon as a need arose, she would deliver whatever was required to Yu Ci's hands in the briefest of moments. In performing such tasks, the female cultivator paid meticulous attention to detail, anticipating the needs and subconscious movements of others with a practiced ease. Often, Yu Ci, fully aware of someone's presence behind him, would become so engrossed in his work that he'd forget their existence entirely, making it easier for him to enter a state of complete absorption.
Yu Ci even felt that Lu Qing had elevated this sort of task to the level of an "art," achieving a perfection that bordered on the philosophical, a "skill approaching the Way." Under such circumstances, all notions of trouble and politeness were cast aside! What did it matter if it was selfish? There were times when Yu Ci even felt that his life did not hinge on the speed at which he completed the Talisman, but rather on whether Lu Qing was there to support him from behind!
This was truly...
Yu Ci chuckled at himself and simply asked in resignation, "How long has she been out?"
"There must be a time for everything."
Shadow Ghost, a male figure, was indeed eager to discuss with Yu Ci, another male, the enigmatic nature of Lu Qing, : "This woman is no simple matter. She clearly has no knowledge of talismans, yet her timing in advancing or retreating is impeccable. Whether it's reading facial expressions or analyzing psychology, it seems she has specifically studied these skills."
"And what of it?"
"What else can be said? Don't you think you're too trusting of this woman? Don't forget, the secret arts of the Demonic Sect can often bewilder and confuse the mind without one's awareness. Moreover, the method of the Heavenly Demon Soul Split Incarnation, though superior, requires the severing of one's soul, which greatly affects one's temperament and mind. Since ancient times, out of a hundred who have practiced it, scarcely two or three remain unchanged…"
As Shadow Ghost was speaking at length, a figure passed through the stone and entered.
Yu Ci, no longer paying attention to Shadow Ghost, greeted her with a smile: "Market Master Lu."
The newcomer was indeed Lu Qing. Her expression was as usual, but for some reason, she exuded an aura as if scorched by fire. Seeing Yu Ci at leisure, she paused briefly and then asked, "Have you finished for the day?"
"Not yet, I was thinking of taking a short break." Yu Ci, of course, would not admit to any embarrassing blunders and simply chuckled, "I'll get started right away."
Lu Qing, however, suggested, "Perhaps it's best to pause for a moment…"
It was the first time she had ever offered an opinion on Yu Ci's schedule. As she spoke, she "moved" something out of her Storage Ring.
The reason for saying "moved" was due to the object's considerable size—it was a block of stone, five feet square and about two feet tall. By its form, it appeared to be a stone, its surface a reddish-brown hue with distinct scorch marks as if thoroughly baked by flames. Yet when she placed it on the ground, Yu Ci distinctly heard the sound of water gurgling within.
Could this be the Mysterious Water Gleaming Rock?
Yu Ci was taken aback.
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e