Emotional outbursts are always fleeting, eventually returning to a steady track.
Exhausted, Yu Ci collapsed onto the ground, indifferent to the mud beneath him. He sprawled out, staring blankly at the foggy sky cloaked in rain. The raindrops brushed his cheeks, gradually calming his excessively agitated emotions.
The physical sensation of the Storage Ring in his palm was real, but the ring itself was now empty.
Once rationality took over, the pain in his heart surged forth: It was too much, too much! In his ecstatic joy just now, he had dumped everything out of the ring, only to have it scattered and trampled. The spoils of war that were once clear and distinct were now a mess. If anything valuable had been damaged, wouldn't it be a devastating loss?
However, what Yu Ci most wanted to know was, how about the pack of the Nature-Connecting Cultivator? Perhaps it would open a window to an unknown world for him and temporarily satisfy his curiosity.
Driven by this thought, Yu Ci rolled over and sat up. Seeing the scattered items within a ten-yard radius, he groaned and then burst into hearty laughter. His complex state of mind was indescribable.
The rain gradually ceased, but because they had been soaked in the muddy water, nearly half of the spoils were ruined. Yu Ci, not caring whether there were any valuables among them, swept them aside out of sight. Only then did he begin to categorize the remaining items.
The first valuable item that Yu Ci found was a Stone Box containing Shrimp Whisker Grass. Opening the lid, Yu Ci clicked his tongue lightly. Inside the box, several layers of Shrimp Whisker Grass were spread out fully. Each plant was intact with excellent quality, probably due to Yan Daoist's careful selection.
A rough estimate revealed at least seven or eight hundred plants in the Stone Box. Coupled with Yu Ci's own harvest, it would be more than enough to exchange for a Three Yang Talisman Sword. This alone made him feel that risking his life for this battle was utterly worthwhile.
Next, he picked out eight jade items. A Jade Slip about four inches long and two fingers wide with a yellowish hue was set aside by Yu Ci. Then there were seven small Jade Plaques, each only palm-sized with average material quality but intricately engraved with typical Talisman-making patterns. Yu Ci immediately thought of the universally used Talisman styles within the Cultivator community.
Jade Talisman, this must be a Jade Talisman! Made from jade and pre-engraved with Rune Patterns to store Talisman power. It can be activated during combat to achieve instant Talisman casting - a very useful method. As it related to his expertise, Yu Ci took special interest in it. After playing with it carefully for a while and discerning the Talisman script system on each one, he carefully stored them in the Storage Ring.
The last item that caught his attention was a Miniature Dagger only an inch long. It looked like a piece of artwork with a complete set of blade and handle. But with such a size, even a newborn baby, let alone a burly man like Yan Daoist, would probably find it hard to use.
Yu Ci initially thought it was a trinket. But upon trying it out, he found the blade extremely sharp, capable of cutting through stone like mud. Moreover, the material was incredibly sturdy, even capable of blocking the edge of the Nine Yang Talisman Sword. After staring at it for a while and still not understanding its purpose, he could only temporarily store it away.
At this moment, the pile of miscellaneous items had been sorted out. What was useful were seven Jade Talismans, the Jade Slip left at hand, and the previously seized Nine Yang Talisman Sword. Was this the complete wealth of a Nature-Connecting Cultivator?
Yu Ci was somewhat excited and disappointed, but he quickly dismissed his greedy thoughts, calming his mind. Once his emotions were stable, his attention focused on the Jade Slip in his hand.
During his time at the Twin Immortal Sect, he had seen such objects more than once. He also knew that these were used by cultivators to store various information and mystical incantations. However, like the Storage Ring, without the ability to separate consciousness and thoughts, ordinary people could not fathom its mysteries. If not for this, when he stormed into the Purple Thunder Immortal's chamber, he would not have only taken a bound volume of the "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book".
Facing the Jade Slip, he slightly moved his thoughts, and a series of extremely organized information poured into his mind, faster than reading any book. Yu Ci quickly learned that the Jade Slip did not contain any cultivation methods, but rather the "melting" method that Yan Daoist spoke of - the entire process of transforming the three Yang Talisman Swords into a Pure Yang Talisman Sword.
This was interesting. Yu Ci had painstakingly come to Sky Rift Valley to exchange for a three Yang Talisman Sword and find a way to refine his own talisman from it, ultimately advancing his Cultivation Level. But after this tough battle, he had both the Sword Talisman and the method to refine the Sword Talisman, and their quality was only higher. More importantly, he broke through the "Three Barriers of the Mundane" in one fell swoop and became a true Cultivator with a talisman. The wonders of the world could not be more so.
Yu Ci ceased to continue reading, gently placing the Jade Slip together with the Nine Yang Talisman Sword into his Storage Ring. He then meticulously transferred various belongings from his person into the ring—items such as the book of ‘Shangqing Star Secret Talisman’ and the ever-handy Hundred-Treasure Pouch. His form felt instantly unburdened, a sense of lightness enveloped him.
His gaze only shifted then, sweeping over the headless corpse of Yan Daoist. He had no intention of tidying up this grotesque scene, letting the carcass remain as a feast for the wild beasts and fierce birds. It crossed his mind that should he have met a similar fate, Yan Daoist would have afforded him no better courtesy.
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Subsequently, Yu Ci found himself back at the clearing amidst the woods where the ordeal had transpired.
As raindrops fell, the bonfire had long been extinguished. Yan Daoist, in his haste to hunt him down, had left this place untouched. Twenty-two corpses still lay as they were at the moment of death, the potent stench of gore hung heavily in the cool air. Though no human eyes had yet been drawn to this carnage, a few wild animals had already been enticed, ready to partake in the unexpected feast laid before them.
Yu Ci drove off these beasts with his sword, but when he turned around to face the corpses, he was momentarily taken aback.
However, he was a man of resolution. He quickly gathered the bodies together, adding dry firewood around them. The skull of Yan Daoist was placed in the front.
Once everything was ready, he stood beside the pile of corpses. Taking a moment to compose himself, he gestured in the air from top to bottom. He began with the Soul Summoning Immortal Crane, continued with the sun and moon, then the cloud energy, followed by a flying dragon carrying souls to heaven. The set of Soul-soothing talisman was completed in an instant, emitting a Divine Light that sprinkled over the corpses.
He then stepped forward, raising his Nine Yang Talisman Sword. He infused it with True Qi, and a surge of red flames erupted, igniting a massive fire. The Discarded Husk was enveloped in flames, gradually turning into ashes.
In this wilderness filled with beasts, there was almost no possibility of a proper burial. All he could do was use Ancient Shamanic Rituals, hoping that these souls could rest in peace.
The fire blazed fiercely. Yu Ci stood beside it, neatly arranged around him were twenty-two Stone Boxes. He held his sword in salute, silently praying for a moment before picking up one of the boxes. He lifted the lid, revealing neatly arranged Shrimp Whisker Grass.
After a brief hesitation, he finally grasped the precious herbs and threw them into the fire. Once he started, he didn't stop. Soon, all twenty-two Stone Boxes were opened and the Shrimp Whisker Grass was thrown into the fire handful after handful.
Each Stone Box contained dozens to hundreds of plants. In total, there were about fifteen hundred plants. They were all thrown into the fire by him, turning into ashes along with their original owners.
Perhaps hidden within these ashes were unknown selfish desires and contemptible thoughts, but their owners were dead – they had died amidst joyous laughter. As the only survivor among them, Yu Ci felt that he should express something. This was the best way he could do it.
Thus, Yu Ci did not feel that he was wasting resources or that his actions were particularly noble. He simply felt relieved. In this way, he distinguished himself from Yan Daoist, who killed for wealth, and thus earned the right to pacify these souls.
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Another night fell. Yu Ci sat at the center of a hollow at the foot of the mountain peak, bathed in the clear radiance of the hanging moon above him.
This was his new dwelling place which he had found after spending most of the day searching in a dense forest two hundred miles away from yesterday's battlefield. Situated within a pine forest at the peak of a mountain, this naturally formed rocky hollow was shielded by an outcropping cliff behind it, providing shelter from wind and rain. Below were pine trees forming a natural barrier, making this hideout invisible from below.
Despite being less accessible and secure than his previous location, Yu Ci didn't mind. He was eager to understand his actual Cultivation Level progression. Finding such a secluded and quiet place already proved his extraordinary patience.
Yu Ci originally intended to meditate immediately, but he found his mind unable to settle. After pondering for a while, he suddenly realized the problem. With a shake of his head and a smile, he took the Divine Bronze Mirror out of his Storage Ring. Over the years, he had formed a habit of holding the Divine Bronze Mirror while meditating. Without it, he felt uncomfortable.
Upon seeing the smoky remnants of his hair and eyebrows reflected in the mirror, he suddenly felt a surge of childlike playfulness. He patted the mirror surface, pulling a face at his reflection, "Old friend, I still need you to look after me!"
The Divine Bronze Mirror remained silent, while Yu Ci chuckled heartily, still holding the mirror firmly as he settled into meditation.
Sitting quietly under the moonlight, basking in its radiance, he breathed in and out, as fine as a thread.
The interplay of mind and breath has always been complementary. With each breath Yu Ci took, day turned into night, embodying the energy of heaven and earth. Pure lunar essence was absorbed during his respiration process, circulating through his organs, stimulating a five-colored cloud energy that nourished them.
The subtle connections between the essence, energy, and spirit of the human body were intricate. The primordial Qi from the organs emerged, causing a reaction in the brain. A cool energy ascended from the Niwan organ, forming a bright moon that illuminated his entire body.
Using the spirit as the moon and Qi as the cloud, Yu Ci had been diligently practicing the "Nine Houses & Moon Method" for nearly two decades. The image of a bright moon in his mind no longer required conscious effort. As his awareness flitted in and out, a clear radiance was cast, permeating every limb and pore of his body, nourishing his Divine Soul and promoting its growth.
However, today was different. In the past, the bright moon always hung in the Niwan organ, guiding the primordial Qi of the organs to rise and fall. But now, influenced by the lunar essence and Qi, the moon spontaneously moved out of the Niwan organ, journeying through various spiritual palaces.
Each inch the moon moved brought immeasurable changes in energy. Every organ, muscle, bone, and acupuncture point responded accordingly. Their reactions were minute yet profound, like faint sounds in the quiet of night seeping into every fiber and vein.
Yu Ci's spirit naturally followed the moon's journey through the nine palaces, savoring this novel sensation.
Perhaps due to his complete immersion, he gradually forgot his physical existence and stopped paying attention to the distribution of the nine palaces. He seemed to exist within the moon itself, traversing through limitless vacuum, following its rise and fall, waxing and waning.
After completing this cycle, he experienced a sudden change. The limitless vacuum remained unchanged; the moon was like a boat on which he floated through a sea of stars. Divine light illuminated his path; celestial mansions spread out before him. Countless stars dotted the vast sky.
As the moon moved among them, there was no beginning or end in sight. All around him was an infinite sea of stars shining brightly. Yu Ci tried to sense their energy but found no point of reference. The void seemed not empty at all; countless spiritual responses seemed hidden within it. Yet they were intertwined, creating an indistinguishable chaos.
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