The sun faded gradually, mountain winds rose, and the residual clouds at the edge of the sky held a hint of blood-red intent. Distant tree shadows leaned, a few evening crows cried, startling the forest tips. The stone steps before the courtyard were covered in a thin layer of night dew, moonlight had not yet fully spread, and the sky grew as heavy as ink, as if the entire Yin Spirit Pavilion held its breath in the darkness. Occasional intermittent insect chirps seemed to echo the silence in his heart. Inside the room, the lamplight flickered slightly, casting a layer of golden-red on the window like a dying flame.
Lin Dalu sat cross-legged in meditation, calming his Qi and concentrating his spirit. The lamp wick shook slightly with a "sizzle" sound, a wisp of blue smoke dispersing into the dim light. Before him lay seven scrolls of ancient books, all of them cultivation techniques, fire, water, wood, metal, and earth systems in order, Fireball Art, Flowing Abyss Dao Method, Green Vine Spirit-Binding Art, Golden Light Shadow-Shattering Formula, Earth-Rock Body-Guarding Skill, along with Qi Mastery Formula and Soul-Search Art. The ancient scrolls had slightly aged paper, yet Spirit Power was hidden within them, as if the sound of Spirit Power flowing could be heard.
Lin Dalu slowly reached out and picked up the scroll of Qi Mastery Formula. The cover was pale gray, the title written in crimson ink with vigorous strokes. Flipping it open gently, he saw the explanation, at Qi Refinement Level 2, one can manipulate objects from a distance. Lin Dalu recited in a low voice, a scene from the past floating in his mind, that day in the dye workshop courtyard, Xiang'er had struggled to use this formula, drawing her Spirit Power, and the bangs that almost fell into the dye vat were actually lifted by an invisible force. Xiang'er at that time, though exhausted, had light in her eyes, a tenderness like autumn water. He froze slightly, his fingertips trembling, a sour bitterness in his chest, "Xiang'er, where are you now?"
He took a deep breath to steady his mind. To find her, he must first become strong. Thus, he closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, Spirit Power circulating through the Qi Sea, his breath like tides hitting the shore, growing deeper. A "crack" sounded outside the window, like a branch breaking, startling a few birds. Lin Dalu's thought moved, Spirit Power traveling along his meridians, slowly merging into his palm. Following the formula, his thoughts flowed like a stream.
"Govern Qi, Fetch Object."
He uttered a few words in a steady tone. The Wooden Writing Brush on the desk suddenly wobbled slightly, as if pulled by the wind. A moment later, the Wooden Writing Brush body slowly left the desk, rising half an inch. There was a slight noise in the air, like silk rubbing. Lin Dalu concentrated and dared not move, Spirit Power vibrating slightly, and the Wooden Writing Brush immediately fell to the ground, a soft "tap" sound.
"Again." He shouted lightly.
The Qi Sea turned again, the Spirit Power flow becoming steadier. Moments later, the Wooden Writing Brush floated straight up, spun twice, and slowly landed back on the desk. His eyes brightened slightly, a long-lost joy surging in his heart. Spirit Power Fluctuation remained in his palm, like a warm current wrapping around his fingers.
"As recorded in the formula, entry is indeed not difficult. Xiang'er was right, this method can serve as the foundation for all arts." Lin Dalu murmured softly, "All is Void, Qi Mastery Formula, Rise!" Light flickered in his eyes, and he practiced several more times, gradually mastering the intent, fetching objects from a distance, manipulating cups, and flipping scrolls, all moving according to his heart. The objects in the room made slight noises, lamp shadows swayed, and wind entered through the gaps, bringing a scent of faint book fragrance intertwined with Spirit Qi.
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After a long time, he slowly performed the Withdrawing Technique. Spirit Power returned to the Qi Sea, and his breath became steady. Though slightly fatigued in his chest, there was an inexplicable sense of relief. Lin Dalu showed a faint smile, caressing the scrolls on the desk, whispering, "With this method, the path to finding Xiang'er is one step closer."
Then, he picked up that green ancient scroll, its surface gleaming like green scales covering the paper. Faint cold air lingered around it, cool to the touch. Lin Dalu felt a sense of vigilance but still opened the beginning of the scroll. He saw the ancient and profound inscriptions inside, saying, "One can enter its gate at Qi Refinement Level 5, capable of Soul-Capture and Thought-Probing, Reading Residual Traces of Past Events, and Shattering Illusory Mind." He muttered and read it again, his expression gradually turning solemn, "This method, is extremely eerie, not like a righteous path technique."
The night grew deeper outside, insect sounds had ceased, leaving only the soft pulse of the lamplight. He slowly injected Spirit Power into the scroll, and immediately green light flowed, as if a wisp of breath turned into coolness, lightly touching the Third-Eye Point.
"Ugh," he groaned, feeling his mind suddenly tighten, a wave of dizziness hitting him. He immediately steadied his mind and, as recorded in the scroll, diverted the Thread of Divine Sense, condensing his thoughts at the Third-Eye Point. The surrounding atmosphere turned dead quiet, even his breath seemed to condense into mist.
Suddenly, as if countless fine threads intertwined in his mind, a strange sensation rose from the Spirit Platform. He felt as if he could perceive every vibration of the Spirit Power within his body, even hearing the soft trembling of his heart and soul, "buzz, buzz," like the heaven and earth murmuring. Lin Dalu opened his eyes, the green light had faded, and the pages trembled slightly, as if spiritual intent still remained.
"This technique is indeed profound." He said in a low voice, cold sweat seeping from his forehead, "If practiced to Grand Perfection, one should be able to trace others' past events and spy on their minds, if Xiang'er really met with disaster, perhaps this technique can help me find her traces."
He rolled the ancient scroll back up and placed it back slowly, his face solemn. This method was extremely dangerous, with the slightest carelessness, it could cause a backlash to the Qi Sea. But Lin Dalu's mind was set, no fear in his expression, only a bit of proud sense of achievement.
After sitting quietly for a moment, he looked at the other cultivation techniques before him. After long deliberation, his gaze finally fell on that crimson-patterned ancient scroll, Fireball Art. He remembered Xiang'er once in the Lin Family dye workshop rooms, forming seals with her fingers, lighting the stove, fire reflecting on her face, her sweet voice and laughter still in his ears. Lin Dalu's heart moved, whispering, "Perhaps, I can also practice this method."
Unfolding the ancient scroll, he saw the handwriting flowing with red flames, as if he could hear the low roar of a blaze. The scroll recorded, "This technique transforms Spirit Power into fire, can strike from a distance or attack up close, Breaking Wood, Transmuting Metal. Beginners must use Heart Flame to guide Qi, must not act recklessly, otherwise, it will backfire on the meridians." Lin Dalu read it silently several times and took a deep breath.
The Spirit Power in his Qi Sea slowly rose, the temperature jumping abruptly. Drops of sweat slid from his temples, his collar slightly damp. Lin Dalu formed seals with both hands, and according to the scroll's instructions, his breath was like flame, making a hissing sound. Suddenly, his palm felt hot, and a small fire rose, only the size of a bean, colored like the early sun, warm but not restless. The fire jumped, lighting the room bright red.
"It actually worked."
Lin Dalu sighed softly, the palm fire growing stronger, flames flickering. The sound of the fireball breaking through the air made a "chi" sound, bringing a slight wind, hitting the wooden wall opposite directly, leaving a wisp of scorch mark. Wood chips curled, the air filled with a scorched fragrance, his expression both surprised and joyful.
"This power, if practiced to proficiency, can be used for both offense and defense."
He praised in his heart, yet a doubt arose, the color of that flame was almost identical to when Xiang'er performed the technique. Could it be that I also have a Fire Spirit Root? Lin Dalu lowered his eyes in thought, the fire light reflecting in the depths of his eyes, jumping incessantly like an unquenchable obsession. He withdrew the formula and slowly extinguished the fire, residual warmth still in his palm, as if matching the longing in his heart.
"Xiang'er, I will definitely find you."
As he spoke, the fire breath gradually died out, leaving only the lamp shadow reflecting his resolute face.
The lamplight in the room was dim, the ashes in the furnace not yet cold. Lin Dalu sat cross-legged, several scrolls of cultivation techniques spread out quietly before him, Spirit Radiance faint. His brows furrowed slightly, his thoughts cluttered. If he practiced correctly, he would get twice the result with half the effort, if he practiced the wrong attribute, it would not only be in vain but would suffer backlash. At this moment, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "If I truly have a Fire Spirit Root, how can other methods tolerate me? However, without trying, how can I know?"
Lin Dalu looked up out the window and saw the night wind carrying withered leaves with a "rustling" sound. Thinking of Xiang'er, a flash of determination appeared in his eyes, "Even if there are all kinds of risks, compared to Xiang'er's danger, it is nothing. Moreover, as I thought before, if I can practice it, I will, if not, I'll stop, it won't be a big deal."
His gaze turned to the earth-colored ancient scroll before him, the surface slightly thick, appearing as if covered in dust and sand, faintly flashing with earthy brown-yellow light. Qin Yue's words about the Five Elements Generation during the day, "Between the five elements, they promote, generate, and grow each other, Fire generates Earth," Lin Dalu had already kept these words in his heart. He pondered silently and muttered, "Five Elements Generation is like a silkworm spitting silk, wood burns into fire, fire ashes become earth," Lin Dalu suddenly opened his eyes, reached out to take this earth-colored scroll, and looked at it, the title carved as Earth-Rock Body-Guarding Skill, the handwriting powerful and steady as a mountain. Lin Dalu lightly touched the scroll surface, a chill at his fingertips, a sense of heaviness flowing from the scroll. Opening the beginning, what met his eyes was, guide Qi with the heart, transform Qi into rock, Spirit Power defends externally, forming a sturdy shield. This method is a body-protection technique.
His mind condensed, slowly operating Spirit Power. He heard the Spirit Power flow within his body vibrate with a "hum," like the sound of stones echoing from the depths of his joints. Lin Dalu took a deep breath, formed seals with his hands, and chanted the formula in a low voice. In an instant, the air grew heavy, Earth Qi churned, and a heavy force rose from the soles of his feet, traveling up the meridians like a slow flow of sand and stone. The lamplight in the room was shaken, and the window frame made a "bang" sound.
He gritted his teeth to steady his mind, Spirit Power churning incessantly within his body. Suddenly, a layer of light brown radiance rose around him, as if crushed stones were floating around him. As that light wavered, it made a "rustling" low sound, like the sound of a landslide or breaking stones. Lin Dalu closed his eyes, sweat rolling down his forehead, his face as solemn as a rock.
"Settle!"
Lin Dalu shouted in a deep voice, Spirit Power withdrew, the radiance gradually stabilized, and a thin layer of Rock-Vein Pattern floated on the surface of his skin. Trying to tap it with his finger, there was actually a slight stone-like vibration. He rejoiced in his heart, "It actually can become a body-protection technique!"
However, a strange thing happened along with it. As the Spirit Power circulated, the Qi Sea within his body seemed to be shaken, a deeper momentum rising. He opened his eyes in horror, feeling as if the Qi Sea was being expanded, the Spirit Power flow surging, and his momentum abruptly increased, he actually broke through unknowingly!
"This, is this Qi Refinement Level 6?" He was stunned. But the Qi Sea had not yet calmed down, and another surge of breath occurred! Lin Dalu's heart churned, "How can this be? I haven't practiced the subsequent formulas, how can I have another breakthrough? But this feeling, it's definitely correct!" Since he broke through Qi Refinement Level 2, the feeling of every breakthrough at Level 3, 4, and 5 was just like this, Lin Dalu remembered clearly. He looked at this cultivation technique scroll, his gaze solemn, doubts in his heart like a sea.
The wind whistled outside the window, the firelight swayed, and he murmured in a low voice, "The cultivation methods in this world are truly mysterious." But the Spirit Power had not yet subsided, Lin Dalu only felt his Qi Sea was broad, his meridians throughout his body were as smooth as a spring stream, the Spirit Power within him churned incessantly, as if invisible heaven and earth Qi was being injected along with the momentum. He held his breath and concentrated, continuing to regulate and stabilize, but within the Qi Sea, it still seemed to be pulled, circulating on its own. In a moment, the Spirit Power surged again, his chest vibrated, Spirit Radiance suddenly burst forth, and his momentum rose accordingly.
"Boom!"
The lamplight brightened suddenly, the air vibrated, and dust flew. Lin Dalu opened his eyes, Spirit Radiance flickering in his pupils, he already showed signs of another breakthrough.
——(To be continued)