In the following days, Lan Xiaohui is in a bad mood. She is distracted to the point that even her sporadic cultivation does not improve much.
We head deeper into the forest, and her pace lacks the kind of strategy and reconnaissance that it had before. She heads straight south, but at least she rests when she feels her stamina approach a point where she would suffer disadvantage in combat.
During these trips, we only co across one demonic beast that does not flee from her as far as I can tell with my limited perception and after a lengthy battle she brings it down. I am pleased that her mood does not affect her combat prowess, or makes her forget that she is putting her life on the line here, but I can also tell that even this triumph brings little joy to her heart.
That afternoon, we co across a stream and she follows it to a small pond with many water lotuses on its surface. Though these lotuses are only of the Earth grade, the water itself is filled with spiritual energy.
I use my [Critical Analysis] on it and discover its mysteries.
[ Analysis: Crystal Spring Water is a Sky grade treasure. It can soothe the mind and reverse the flow of chaotic Qi. It contains a strong presence of calming ice Qi and powerful Yin energy. ]
It is a sha that it is a liquid. In its current molecular state it would take up too much space in my internal storage. Even more regrettably, ice is less dense than its liquid state. The sa phenonon that allowed creatures to live on planets, underneath the water during many Ice Ages, is also the sa phenonon that now conspires to prove difficult to transport this treasure.
It is a pity. This water wouldve been useful for alchemical recipes. Many of the pastes and pellets that Lan Xiaohui used had this calming quality. This quality did not refer to the state of mind, but rather the balancing force in recipes that harmonized essences of opposite affinities.
Though, with how shallow my Dao of Alchemy is, I simply cannot tell if this water is useful for anything other than drinking. And considering that Lan Xiaohui was taking off her clothes to bathe in the pond, I add bathing to the list of this spring waters usefulness.
I wonder if Lan Xiaohui even knows that she is about to take a dip into a rare spiritual treasure.
She shivers as she steps into the pool, and concealing her upper body, she reaches over to , grabs by the hilt and pulls into the water.
My body is now at the Dao Vessel realm, I do not accumulate dirt anymore. Not easily or accidentally at least. Falling into the mud wont make it stick to , but crushing bones and drinking blood might leave a mark.
Still, I do not raise objections. Perhaps performing maintenance on myself and herself will distract her. Having a task is always useful.
But that is not the only reason.
The mont I subrge into the water, I feel a change in my internal processes.
[ Refinent process: 1.94 BP/min | 1.04 SP/min ]
Even the queued up processing ti is cut in half, while the abstract resources I obtain more than double.
This Crystal Spring Water was not ordinary. It had a secret that even my [Critical Analysis] could not discover.
Ti control? Entropy manipulation? The options were limitless and getting more and more unrealistic.
I pull up a log of my Talents and a single entry returns.
[Sky] Critical Analysis: Grade D (98%)
It was so close to improving. Lately, I have used [Critical Analysis] extensively, especially on all the materials my internal storage was producing.
As Lan Xiaohui washes her hair, I repeatedly use [Critical Analysis] on the water, trying to detect any changes both to the output or my sub routine. As my sea of consciousness begins to diminish using the Talent was not effortless or free I begin to think that perhaps using it on the sa object either has no result or diminished effects.
Just then, I notice an improvent. The percentage ticks up to 99%!
It takes about ten minutes of ti, and most of my sea of consciousness before the final percent is reached, and my sub routine fires, filling with joy.
[ Critical Analysis: Grade D -> Grade C ]
Imdiately, I turn it towards the Spring Water and observe the result.
[ Analysis: Crystal Spring Water is a Sky grade treasure. It can soothe the mind and reverse the flow of chaotic Qi. It contains a strong presence of calming ice Qi and powerful Yin energy. It also aids in the decomposition of corpses, or their preservation if frozen into ice. ]
[ BP/hour: 0.87. SP/hour: 4.64. Processing ti per cubic ter: 48 hours. ]
I am not sure if I am pleased with the result or not. On one hand, I am disappointed that this Spring Water does not include so dinsional closed-loop array artifacts to displace ti or intervene with the Laws of Thermodynamics, and, while it has a considerable processing ti and high soul point yield, its only good use is to help process corpses. On its own, it is not very useful.
Still, I am pleased that my [Critical Analysis] can now determine the value of materials placed in my internal storage, and discern hidden attributes. I wonder what kind of information it can provide on my arrays now.
My consciousness is too diminished to attempt it at the mont.
I am certain that with a deeper cultivation base, my consciousness would also expand. Perhaps it could also give the ability to perform physical feats, like Lan Xiaohui can when she makes float in the air.
Even though the most natural avenue of optimization is to cultivate, it takes but one glance at Lan Xiaohui to know that this is currently not possible.
I do not have tactile senses I cannot feel her touch but I know that she is gentle in the way she cleans my already pristine surface with the base of her palm. Even with this inappropriate sensory thod, I detect that Lan Xiaohui is distant, and that her inner heart cannot support the dual cultivation function.
Now that we are so deeply connected, I can sense her Dao Heart, and I know that she does not regret not killing Zhao Wei. Yet even so, her sense of self is diminished.
Why did you not resist that individual imdiately? I ask her. The Yin-Yang Grass Wine had no effect on you.
She is startled out of her maintenance function and her hand now rests on my black jade core.
I still have many devils in my heart, she says.
What devils?
Her expression changes from one of distracted distance to one of darkness. She inhales deeply. I felt like no matter what I did, no matter how hard I try, I would always be worthless.
Your value is several orders of magnitude greater than that individuals. You are incomparable entities.
She cracks a smile at my words. It is a faint thing and ultimately a aningless gesture. Her Dao Heart is still wounded. This wound I can see it now it is much older and far deeper than anything Zhao Wei couldve inflicted.
I was soones concubine once, she says in a much quieter voice. That will never change.
I dont comprehend her logic. I was a warship once. Am I, too, supposed to sohow feel diminished now?
You were deceived by lesser entities because your heart is kind and pure. Your change in social status has nothing to do with your Dao. Whether you are a concubine, prostitute or queen makes no difference, or affects how far you can walk on your journey. You are an ideal companion.
Her brows furrow and her lips press together. Then she nibbles on her lower lip and nods, tears glimring in her eyes. I am your ideal companion?
Yes.
Maybe she misunderstands. I am largely referring to her abnormal battle talent. She truly is a monstrous existence that is uniquely suited to feeding Blood Points.
She laughs in a very peculiar way. She tangles a finger into her black locks. That makes feel a bit better.
I will slay the devils in her heart.
I am not entirely sure if that is more for my benefit or hers. But as long as we both benefit, I suppose it doesnt matter.
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