Chapter 61: Sacrificial Gathering and Element Snatching Method

"There's nothing particularly important at home; with your third brother and me here, you don't need to worry."

Li Tongya smiled, took ten spirit stones from his storage bag, and said softly, "Our family still owes your senior disciple, Xiao Yuansi, ten spirit stones. You might as well take them back to Qinghui Peak on your way, so they don't have to change hands again."

Li Chijing understood with a sudden realization and laughed, "I had forgotten that the family still owed Senior Disciple ten spirit stones."

The three chatted as they walked, browsing the scattered stalls. They gradually left the market, boarded the large boat, and traveled to the edge of Wangyue Lake, heading towards Lijing Mountain.

***

In a daze, Lu Jiangxian heard a cacophony of voices. A vast amount of information and conversations surfaced in his mind, only to disappear like sand slipping through his fingers.

"Brother Jiang Qun, this Grand Yin Moon Essence is extremely valuable. Our sect's 'Great Snow Severing Blade' is missing precisely this kind of spiritual energy of heaven and earth. We, the Qingchi Sect, are immensely grateful for today's gift. If there's ever anything we can do for you, our sect will certainly lend its full support!"

A pleasant female voice rang in his ear. Lu Jiangxian vaguely saw a blurry face but couldn't recall anything about it.

"Qingchi Gate? Isn't it Qingchi Sect?" Lu Jiangxian mumbled to himself, then suddenly jolted awake, staring blankly at the tea table and furnishings in the surrounding small house.

The incense on the stone platform had been burning for a long time, emitting white smoke. Li Mutian was dozing on the stool opposite, and the moonlight, shining on his own blue-gray mirror body, made it appear particularly magnificent.

After a few moments of careful thought and recollection, everything in his mind slowly vanished as if it had been a grand dream, leaving behind only a scroll of cultivation techniques: The Art of Sacrificial Essence Extraction!

This cultivation technique shared the same lineage as the Mystic Pearl Spirit Offering Art. It was also performed using the mirror body as a medium, taking offerings, souls, essence blood, and spiritual power as targets to harmonize various energies and refine a streak of talismanic energy.

The scroll claimed that this talismanic energy could: strengthen cultivation, enhance the six senses, improve root bones, alter aptitude, elevate appearance, mend deficiencies… its various miraculous effects were beyond words.

"Yet, it cannot repair my mirror body! It seems I still need to find things that can mend it." Lu Jiangxian sighed regretfully. With a thought, his spiritual sense connected with his scattered talisman seeds, and he immediately realized that Li Chijing and the others had already left the market and were heading towards Lijing Mountain.

"What a shame. With this incident, I couldn't investigate that attraction in the market. I'll have to wait until next time."

With a flicker of spiritual sense, the blue-gray mirror floated up again, slowly absorbing the moon essence under the gentle moonlight.

***

Once back at Lijing Mountain, Li Chijing took out the talisman ink and explained to Li Xiangping and the others, "Since you're just starting to practice this 'Spirit Talisman Art,' you don't need to use real talisman paper and ink for daily practice. It would be a waste if you failed."

As he spoke, he brought a cup of clear water and dropped a single drop of the talisman ink into it. The ink instantly spread, turning the entire cup of water a faint wine red. He then took out a piece of cloth, laid it flat on the stone table, securing both sides with pressing stones. He gently soaked the green jade talisman brush in the clear water for a while.

"This will do."

He lifted the brush and swiftly began to draw on the cloth. In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the head and core of the talisman were completed in one go. A faint red rune instantly appeared on the cloth, seamless and radiating a subtle red glow.

Li Chijing gently put down the brush and waited for a few breaths. The cloth then burst into flames with a popping sound, burning away to a smudge of dark ash that clung to the tabletop.

"If the talisman is successfully drawn, the cloth cannot withstand the talismanic power and naturally burns up. If it's not successful, you can simply wash the ink off the cloth and start over."

Li Xiangping's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Jing'er, this is truly an excellent method! It saves both talisman paper and talisman ink, greatly reducing the cost."

Li Chijing nodded, chuckled softly, and explained, "This is just a small trick my master taught me. The Qingchi Sect, with its six-hundred-year legacy, naturally has some clever methods."

Looking up at the sky, Li Chijing said solemnly, "I still have one day left. Do you have any questions about cultivation? Has anyone in the family mastered the Profound Water Sword Art?"

Li Tongya immediately became interested. He unfastened the Azure Edge sword from his waist and laughed, "I've managed to cultivate sword light, but the sword qi hasn't been able to leave my body. I wonder if that counts as mastery?"

"Sword light and sword qi are merely the entry level." Li Chijing waved his hand and continued, "Sword arts throughout the world differ, but sword techniques generally have a few similar realms: sword light, sword qi, sword essence, and sword intent. The only distinction lies in the varying difficulty of the sword arts themselves."

"The Profound Water Sword Art is considered simple among Qi Cultivation stage sword arts; one can produce sword light after practicing for only a short time."

Li Xiangping, standing nearby, suddenly looked embarrassed, thinking how he had read the sword art numerous times without understanding anything, let alone producing sword light. He could only lower his head and pick up the Spirit Talisman Art to read it carefully.

After speaking, Li Chijing unfastened the sword from his waist, drew out its pure white blade, and smiled, "Watch."

As soon as he spoke, a grayish-white sword light illuminated the blade, fluctuating as if breathing. With a raised eyebrow from Li Chijing, the sword light instantly burst forth, transforming into a sword qi about three inches wide that shot into the air, piercing a large banyan tree in the distance with a sharp whistle.

Li Tongya watched with a furrowed brow for a while. Then, Li Chijing personally began to guide him. After Li Tongya went off to practice by himself, Li Chijing clapped his hands, realizing something with a sudden insight, and said, "I comprehended a sword technique on Qinghui Peak—just one move. I should record it here at home first, in case I die outside someday and this sword art is lost for good."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Li Xiangping cursed under his breath, then said sternly, "Jing'er, you must take good care of yourself outside! Your second brother and I can't really share your burdens; we can only guard the family for you. The outside world is dangerous, so you must be extra careful..."

Li Xiangping rambled on for a while. Seeing Li Chijing listening attentively, he fell silent for a few breaths before speaking again, "Your brother here has dull aptitude. These past years, I've struggled to cultivate to the fourth stage of Embryonic Breath, the Azure Origin Wheel. I'm feeling increasingly powerless. Without some elixirs or spiritual treasures, I'm afraid I'll at most reach the Jade Capital Wheel, Spirit Initial Wheel, even if I push myself to the limit."

"Your second brother's aptitude is better than your third brother's, but only by a limited amount; he can't compare to you. However, he does have hope of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation stage. With the two of us able to maintain the Li family's territory, and with that mirror, our Li family isn't afraid of dying out."

Sitting down on the spot, Li Xiangping wore a look of wistfulness. "Your second brother inquired when he went to Guanyun Peak. The Qingchi Sect has very strict requirements for disciples recruited from families under its governance; they must at least be able to cultivate to the Qi Cultivation stage, and one or two out of ten can even reach Foundation Establishment."

"Your second brother and I can die, but you cannot."

Listening to Li Xiangping's words, Li Chijing's eyes welled up, and he said softly, "Our family will all be fine, Third Brother, you don't need to worry. Jing'er will also work harder within the sect to secure more resources for the family."