Lin Dalu took out the other Jade Slip, his expression focused as he pressed it to his brow. Faint light flowed, and his Divine Sense sank into it. In his mind, rows of mysterious characters immediately appeared, light flowing and turning like the heavenly river pouring down. Those characters were not mortal language, yet he could naturally understand the meaning within them.
Tranquil Spirit Art, this was a secret technique for cultivators within Yin Spirit Pavilion that could not be easily passed on. It not only had the ability to heal wounds but could also slightly increase one's talent and nourish the spirit roots within the body, Enhancing the Profound Yin Spirit Constitution. When performing the art, Qi is used as a guide and spirit as the basis, turning the heaven and earth Spirit Qi into a soft white light that clears the meridians and nourishes the pulse. It can neutralize various poisons, restore original Qi, and replenish blood and flesh.
Lin Dalu's heart moved slightly, and he silently operated the formula. The Spirit Power around him immediately vibrated. A layer of pale white radiance emerged from his abdomen, following the meridians, and in an instant, it spread to his whole body. Between breaths, the white light turned into white Qi threads, like ripples on water, slowly flowing. A faint buzzing could be heard, like a Spirit Sound knocking on his bones.
After a short while, a large amount of fine white Qi threads seeped out from his skin, misting and coiling, making the whole room a bit brighter. Lin Dalu closed his eyes and regulated his breath, his mind quiet and undisturbed. The places where he had old injuries first felt a slight stinging pain, then bursts of numbing sensations, and then gradually became warm and moist.
His heart shook, the bloody marks on his arm caused by Diao Zeyi's bramble vines were slowly fading in the white Qi. The meridians in his chest injured by Zhuo Huan also seemed to be slowly washed, his Qi Mechanism becoming smooth again. Even the bone and muscle contusions caused by falling off the cliff were completely recovered in an instant.
"Good technique..." Lin Dalu murmured, his hands Forming Hand Seals (with Both Hands). The Spirit Power within him and the Spirit Qi outside his body merged, flowing like clouds. Although this art was gentle, its Qi Mechanism was pure. As it moved through the meridians, it was like spring water nourishing a field. Wherever it passed, his tissues were comfortable and his bone marrow was clear.
A moment later, Lin Dalu slowly opened his eyes and felt his whole body relaxed. Every part of his body had been washed by Spirit Power, as if he had been given a new lease on life.
"So the body of a Dao Cultivator can be so free..." He let out a light breath, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, his brow showing a few hints of amazement and excitement. At this moment, he could clearly feel the direction of his internal Spirit Power and the pulsing of his meridians. Wherever his thoughts went, the Spirit Power followed, without the slightest hindrance.
Then, Lin Dalu's thoughts moved, the white Qi gradually retracted, his breath calmed, and everything returned to peace. Just as he was preparing to stabilize his breath again, he suddenly felt his waist and abdomen tighten, and a bone-chilling cold Qi suddenly emerged from the depths of his bone marrow.
--An unbearable pain and itching suddenly erupted.
Lin Dalu let out a muffled groan, his whole body trembling and his veins bulging. That feeling was as if thousands of sharp blades were piercing and dancing wildly inside his body. Immediately following that, the pain was mixed with an extraordinary itch, as if countless ants were crawling along his body and meridians.
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Lin Dalu almost crushed his teeth, the veins on his forehead throbbing one by one, sweat rolling down like rain. But his will was steadfast. He did not let out a single howl, only bit his lip tightly. As his Qi and Blood surged, a hint of blood spread between his lips.
A moment later, that pain and itching seemed to be pulled by some invisible force, gathering at a point on his spine and then slowly dissipating.
Lin Dalu panted heavily, his breath disordered and his expression full of horror, "This... is the same as the suffering Xiang'er endured back then!"
The last time the pain of Nine Blades and Nine Ants had suddenly calmed was because of that Fortune Pouch, but now the Fortune Pouch was no longer on him, yet it could still be resolved? Lin Dalu was filled with doubt, but then he let out another muffled groan, that wave of pain and itching came surging again!
This time he did not panic. With a shift in his thoughts, he immediately operated the Tranquil Spirit Art. The white light brightened suddenly, Qi threads coiled, and Spirit Power was like a tide, covering his whole body in an instant.
The Qi of suffering crashed into the white light and was actually stripped and swallowed layer by layer. Amidst the flickering spirit light, that heart-piercing pain and itching were pulled again, condensing into a ball above the Qi Sea. After a moment, it turned into a wisp of Gray-Black Qi and quietly dissipated.
Lin Dalu let out a breath of Turbid Qi. His expression was slightly pale, but he showed no signs of exhaustion. That strange force seemed to have carried away the remaining poison and filth in his body, instead making his whole body even clearer.
"The pain of Nine Blades and Nine Ants... can actually be resolved by me?" Lin Dalu whispered, his brow slightly furrowed and a flash of unease in his eyes. Although he did not understand why, the Spirit Power in his body was surging and he felt healthy and clear, clearly without issue.
"Perhaps... this suffering is not necessarily a disaster."
Lin Dalu murmured in a low voice, his voice deep and steady, his gaze flickering amidst the lamp shadows with a hint of difficult-to-explain depth. After a moment, he slowly stood up and looked toward the distant window lattices. The night wind was slightly cool, carrying the faint moist fragrance of vegetation.
Lin Dalu let out a long breath, and his heart tightened slightly. Although the pain of Nine Blades and Nine Ants was no longer an issue for him, thinking of Xiang'er made his chest feel as if it were being pricked by needles. Xiang'er suffered the torture of pain and itching and had encountered repeated disasters because of the sacred object, now that she was separated from him and there was no news of her, her life or death was unknown. Lin Dalu felt a burst of sourness in his heart, and a shade of darkness unconsciously floated in his eyes.
"Xiang'er..." he whispered. That soft smile and those light words still echoed in his ears. But now, she had become old and haggard, her hair as white as snow. Thinking of this, the stagnant Qi in Lin Dalu's chest suddenly surged, and anger rushed straight up.
"Diao Sandai and Zhuo Huan, although they have been executed, Diao Zeyi still remains at large and has even become an Inner Pavilion Elder of Yin Spirit Pavilion... where is the justice!" His fists were tightly clenched, veins popping out, and the blood vessels on his forehead pulsed. His voice was low and cold.
Lin Dalu took another deep breath and slowly raised his head, his eyes as clear as water with cold light surging secretly.
"Diao Zeyi is a sinister and cunning man with deep schemes. Although he is suppressed by Qiu Shengshui above and cannot kill me for now, how could he let the death of his nephew rest? He does not kill me only because he fears power, not because he does not want to."
Lin Dalu's gaze flickered, and he suddenly became silent. As his thoughts turned, a realization arose, if I have enough cultivation, I can not only protect myself but also keep Xiang'er safe! If my cultivation is high enough to be above him, then I no longer need to fear Diao Zeyi! Even if he does not kill me, I will certainly kill him!
Lin Dalu whispered, "If I want to find Xiang'er, rescue my wife from her predicament, and settle scores with my enemies, I must first have sufficient cultivation. Without Sufficient Cultivation, All is Void."
His voice was light, yet it was like a stone falling into a heart-lake, creating circles of steady ripples.
Lin Dalu slowly sat down again, his sleeves fluttering lightly and his breath gradually stabilizing. With a shift in his thoughts, Spirit Power rose from his Qi Sea, like silk or Qi, wandering along his meridians. That was a vibration unique to Cultivators, gentle yet containing a hidden tremor. Radiance flowed from his palm, reflecting his calm expression and slightly pursed lips.
Lin Dalu's chest felt slightly warm, and Spirit Qi moved around his breath, a warm current wandering through every part of his body. His stability at this moment was a kind of stillness supported by determination. The night wind rose again, the swaying lamp flickering, reflecting his tightly pursed lips and firm brow.
Lin Dalu slowly closed his eyes and formed seals with his hands. Spirit Power condensed in his Qi Sea, and faint light flickered between his fingers. Then, he raised his hand and spread his palm. Spirit light flowed in his palm, appearing and disappearing. It was a reflection of his will, soft yet strong, quiet yet firm.
"Everything... is only for her."
At that moment, the sound of insects outside stopped, and heaven and earth became silent. In Lin Dalu's eyes, there was both tenderness and resolve. His breathing was as steady as a drum, and the Spirit Power in his body completed a Full-Circuit Qi Circulation, turning into a silent vow.
The night grew deeper and the candle lamp grew dimmer. Only spirit light lingered in the room, flickering. That light shone precisely on his calm face, ordinary, yet as firm as a mountain.
Time flowed, and ten days passed quietly.
On this day, Qin Yue came to visit as agreed. She walked with a light step, a smile on her red lips, her slender fingers lightly pushing open the room door.
As soon as the door opened, a startling aura suddenly rushed toward her, coiling her sleeves and making her fragrant hair flutter. Spirit Qi in the room surged like a tide, the wind swirled the remaining candles, and spirit light flickered.
Qin Yue's expression froze, the smile on her face immediately vanished, and she cried out, "Qi Refinement Level 5?!"
Her beautiful eyes widened, her radiant beauty losing its color. Reaching level 5 in just over ten days, such Cultivation Progress had never been seen even in the hundred-year history of Yin Spirit Pavilion.
——(End of Chapter)