Lei Jun had so fresh ideas in mind: "Master, don’t laugh at . I’m still far from perfecting it."
Back in Xuanyang Grotto-Heaven, neither he nor Qu Yong and the others could use the Fla Talisman except by tossing it one by one. Although they could fire them consecutively, Lei Jun felt the firepower was too dispersed.
He hoped to make it more concentrated, on a larger scale. Perhaps as his cultivation improved, other spells could achieve this, but Lei Jun was determined to give it a try anyway. For now, it was just a prototype with many hurdles to overco. If progress stalled for too long, he wouldn't dwell on it excessively. But if he could quickly acquire the Water Marrow Yinfish to enhance his comprehension, things might turn out differently. He had already tasted the benefits in this regard.
After discussing his ideas about spirit talismans with Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun extended his right hand, spreading his fingers with his palm facing upward. Channeling his mystical techniques, he gathered mana into his right palm. A faint green hue shimred in his palm, occasionally flashing with light. It looked as though a green undercurrent, a hidden river, was coursing beneath his skin.
When Lei Jun waved his hand, the green glow remained buried under his skin, yet the corrosive force it carried was startling. Without external defenses, an opponent hit directly by Lei Jun’s palm would experience a massive decline in vitality.
"Combining the spiritual energy of Blue Stone Ink with your own mana to create a new force?" Yuan Mobai asked with a smile.
"Please guide , Master," Lei Jun replied.
Originally, Blue Stone Ink required prolonged exposure to erode vitality and physical strength. But through Lei Jun's constant experintation, he had turned it into a force capable of imdiate effect. While mastering it required extended ti spent with Blue Stone Ink mines, once learned, its power could be unleashed instantly. Lei Jun nad it the “Dark River Force.”
He clenched his fingers into a fist, drawing the green glow back into his palm until it was nearly invisible. However, the latent force remained in his hand. Striking with a punch produced a similar effect to his earlier palm strike but was even more concealed.
I wanted to be a nimble, quick-strike fighter—hit and retreat, light and agile. How did I end up developing techniques like a scheming tactician? Lei Jun mused. Sothing about this feels off...
Still, successfully creating a new force delighted him. Even though it was primitive and didn’t yet qualify as a spell or Daoist art, transforming so of his ideas into reality since arriving in this world had always been one of Lei Jun’s greatest joys. This accomplishnt was made possible not only by advancing from Foundation Establishnt to the Altar Stage but also by the ntal nourishnt provided by the Fire Marrow Yangfish.
This deepened Lei Jun's eagerness to enhance his comprehension further. It wasn’t just about the Dark River Force or the chained Fla Talismans; he had countless other ideas he wanted to bring to life.
“For your age and cultivation, this is quite extraordinary,” Yuan Mobai praised, smiling more warmly. He then helped Lei Jun refine and adjust the new force, perfecting its structure further. Though his teaching style was traditional, Yuan Mobai didn’t impose rigid thods on Lei Jun, instead guiding him to refine other aspects of his cultivation.
Even though the spiritual energy in their environnt wasn’t as abundant as on Mount Longhu, Lei Jun had anticipated this and brought ample resources to sustain his daily practices. Thus, master and disciple quietly remained in the mountains, awaiting the maturation of the Water Marrow Yinfish while continuing their lessons.
Ti passed unnoticed in the secluded mountains, and sumr arrived before they knew it.
One day, the peace was unexpectedly disrupted. Yuan Mobai inford Lei Jun that he had to leave Qingxiao Monastery for an indeterminate period. However, he assured Lei Jun that he would return before the Water Marrow Yinfish erged. Lei Jun, curious but respectful, agreed without hesitation.
Before leaving, Yuan Mobai left so tasks for Lei Jun, who began practicing independently.
During lunch one afternoon, the vice abbot of Qingyun Monastery, Qin Tao, spoke with heartfelt envy: “Junior Brother Lei, to be honest, I deeply admire you. You were accepted by Mount Longhu and even beca Elder Yuan’s disciple, receiving his teachings daily.”
Qin Tao sighed. “In just a few months, hearing Elder Yuan’s lectures has resolved years of confusion in my own cultivation.”
Lei Jun glanced at him. Qin Tao appeared around forty, clad in Daoist robes with a crown on his head, a long beard hanging over his chest. Like the abbot Lu Zhaoqing, Qin Tao exuded the appearance of an enlightened Daoist. Locals from nearby villages revered him as a celestial figure. However, Lei Jun knew that Qin Tao was over fifty, with his cultivation level stuck in the Second Heaven of Foundation Establishnt.
Seeing Qin Tao’s earnest deanor, Lei Jun replied simply, “My master’s Daoist arts are profound. I was lucky to be accepted under his tutelage.”
Qin Tao put down his bowl and picked up a teacup. “Forgive my bluntness, but is it true that Junior Brother Lei is just in his early twenties?”
“Twenty-four,” Lei Jun replied.
“A rare talent!” Qin Tao exclaid. “Judging by your vitality, you must have reached the Perfection Stage of Foundation Establishnt?”
Lei Jun deflected the question with a counter. “Is Senior Brother Qin also at the Perfection Stage?”
Qin Tao smiled bitterly. “Years of effort have brought so gains, but the chasm to the Third Heaven remains insurmountable. I’m sure you understand the dangers of crossing major thresholds in cultivation.”
Lei Jun gave a noncommittal nod. “Yes.”
Qin Tao’s tone turned somber. “Between major realms, the tribulations are genuinely life-threatening.”
He recounted grim examples: a disciple of the Zixiao Sect who failed the tribulation into Foundation Establishnt and nearly died from qi deviation, and the senior-most mber of Qingyun Monastery, who perished attempting to ascend to the Third Heaven.
Such stories underscored the cultivation world's unforgiving nature: failure ant no second chances.
Despite Qin Tao’s apparent sincerity, Lei Jun discerned his underlying envy and resentnt. Qin Tao’s pri years had passed, leaving him with dimming prospects compared to a promising young talent like Lei Jun.
Feigning agreent, Lei Jun replied, “Indeed, the fear of death looms large.”
“Yes…” Qin Tao agreed, his gaze thoughtful.
Lei Jun’s voice turned solemn. “But for us cultivators, there are fates worse than death.”
“Worse than death?” Qin Tao echoed, startled.
Lei Jun nodded with earnest conviction. “Waiting for death.”
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