Shi Jian supported the staggering Xiao Qi as the concerned gazes of everyone focused on his pale, shocked face. The scene of the jade slip glowing brightly and information forcibly pouring in made everyone understand that this was no ordinary jade slip, but an extremely rare inheritance jade slip containing a legacy!
"Xiao Qi, how are you? What did you get?" Liu Yun pressed again, her tone filled with barely restrained curiosity.
Xiao Qi leaned against Shi Jian's sturdy arm, took several deep breaths, and strove to calm the dizziness and throbbing pain in his mind caused by the information impact. The forcibly poured-in characters, diagrams, and fragments of meaning were now slowly settling and organizing in the depths of his consciousness.
He raised his head, looked at everyone, his voice still somewhat hoarse but much clearer: "What's recorded in this jade slip is... a technique called 'Basic Purification Technique'... an incomplete auxiliary cultivation method."
"Purification Technique?" Shi Jian scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. "Sounds like a cleaning spell?"
Liu Yun rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Xiao Qi, her gaze sharp: "Explain in detail, what's special about it? For the master of this place to set up an illusion array to guard it, it can't possibly be just an ordinary cleaning spell."
Mu Qingfeng also nodded slightly, signaling Xiao Qi to continue.
Xiao Qi organized his thoughts and slowly said: "This cultivation method... is very peculiar. It's not for offense, nor for defense or escape techniques. Its core lies in the word 'purification'. According to the jade slip, cultivating this method can purify one's own spiritual power, expel internal pill toxins and impurities, and even... to some extent, dissolve and purify external alien energies, such as... toxins, miasma, and even the erosion of some sinister demonic energy."
He paused, feeling the incomplete yet profound technique in his mind, then continued: "However, the jade slip itself is incomplete, seeming to be just the most basic part of a larger inheritance system; many advanced application methods and principles are missing. Moreover, cultivating this method seems to have special requirements for the cultivator's spiritual power attribute; not everyone can practice it."
"Purify alien energies? Expel pill toxins and demonic energy?" Liu Yun gasped, her eyes bursting with astonishing brilliance. "This... this is simply the supreme method for auxiliary cultivation and dealing with dangerous lands! If one can master it, wouldn't they have a huge advantage when exploring poisonous miasma areas or encountering demonic cultivators? No wonder it was guarded by an illusion array!"
Shi Jian also understood, his mouth agape, mumbling: "So powerful? Wouldn't that be more precious than many attack spells?"
Mu Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then asked: "Xiao Qi, how do you feel? Can you cultivate it?"
Xiao Qi did not answer immediately. His mind was currently immersed in an indescribable tremor.
Just as he received and comprehended the essence of the "Basic Purification Technique," he clearly felt the family heirloom jade pendant worn on his chest spontaneously emitting gentle resonances! The misty, pure energy within the jade pendant, its essential characteristics, actually faintly aligned with, even... shared the same origin as the "purification" concept expounded by this "Basic Purification Technique"!
This was no coincidence!
The jade pendant was an inheritance item of Xu Lan Mountain Manor, related to his origins. And this incomplete jade slip, hidden deep in a secret realm cave and guarded by an illusion array, actually recorded a "purification" method related to it!
An astonishing conjecture flashed through Xiao Qi's mind like lightning:
Could it be... this secret realm, or the predecessor who left this jade slip, is related to Xu Lan Mountain Manor, to his family? Is this "Basic Purification Technique" part of his family's inheritance? Only because of some reason it drifted outside, or... this itself is a branch or test of the family inheritance?
His heart pounded, his blood seemed to flow faster. This was not just the acquisition of a precious cultivation method; it might be an important clue to trace his origins and uncover the jade pendant's secret!
He forcibly suppressed the storm in his heart, knowing this was not the time to delve deeper, and even more so not to expose the jade pendant's secret. He looked at Mu Qingfeng, nodded, then shook his head: "Eldest senior brother, the concept of this technique seems to align quite well with my spiritual power attribute. I feel... I can attempt to cultivate it. But precisely because it's incomplete and its concept is special, cultivating it will probably not be easy; I need to explore it slowly."
He did not lie; the technique indeed aligned with him (or rather, with the jade pendant), and the difficulty of cultivation indeed existed.
Mu Qingfeng looked deeply at Xiao Qi, seemingly detecting a subtle strangeness in his tone, but did not expose it, only gently said: "Since it has affinity with you and benefits the team, you should ponder it well. Although this technique is auxiliary, its value may far exceed many offensive techniques. In the future when exploring secret realms and dealing with poisonous miasma and demonic energy, we'll have to rely on you more."
"Yes, eldest senior brother, I will certainly do my best." Xiao Qi solemnly responded.
Liu Yun patted Xiao Qi's shoulder and laughed: "Well done, kid, good luck! This purification technique sounds really useful. Hurry up and master it; in the future, if your senior sister gets poisoned, I'll be counting on you!"
Shi Jian also grinned honestly: "Junior brother Xiao Qi, awesome!"
Although the jade slip was obtained by Xiao Qi, everyone felt no jealousy; instead, they were happy for him, while also understanding the value of this special cultivation method for the entire team.
Xiao Qi held the now ordinary-looking jade slip (the inheritance information had been absorbed by him; the jade slip itself, though still spiritual jade, had lost its divine wonder), feeling the incomplete method called "Basic Purification Technique" in his mind, and the faint, warm resonance coming from the jade pendant on his chest. His heart was filled with complex emotions.
The harvest was immense, but what followed were deeper mysteries and heavier responsibilities. He vaguely felt that he seemed to be walking along a path already laid out, step by step approaching some dust-covered truth.
He carefully put away the jade slip, his gaze once again sweeping over this empty stone chamber. What was the intention of the master of this place leaving this method? What connection did it have with the Xu family?
All of this required him to carry this incomplete purification technique and find the answers himself on the road ahead.