themonasnovels Chapter 26 Thunder Technique Completed, Descending the Mountain to Enter the World
Chapter 26 Thunder Technique Completed, Descending the Mountain to Enter the World
Fragrant Hills is named so because of the camphor trees that fill the mountain with spiritual energy.
From the foot of the mountain to the summit, the fragrance flows with the terrain. This fragrance is not the scent of ordinary flowers and fruits, but rather the manifestation of the earth's spiritual energy. Breathing it is like drinking from a clear spring, cleansing the body and mind.
Practicing in these mountains is twice as effective with half the effort, and one feels completely refreshed.
After activating the Mountain Backing Seal, Li Xiao only needs to sit cross-legged in the mountain, close his eyes and concentrate, and he can feel the spiritual energy between heaven and earth slowly flowing into his brow and being stored in his sea of consciousness like clear water.
The pool of water accumulated over two years of cultivation is roughly the size of a small puddle.
Casting a spell will consume the water in this puddle, which will replenish itself once it is depleted.
If the spiritual energy is exhausted, you can still use spiritual techniques, but it will deplete your life force.
Spiritual energy is easy to replenish, but vitality is not.
Brother Rat spent three hundred years of his cultivation in the Huang family, which drained all his vitality, leaving him powerless to reverse the situation.
Previously, Li Xiao's use of the Closed-Eyes Fire Spirit Technique had resulted in relatively little loss of life force, and he had also replenished it by using tattered cloth shoes; otherwise, it would have been extremely harmful to his health.
Now that he possesses spiritual energy, Li Xiao naturally won't use his innate life force to perform spiritual magic.
During this month in the mountains.
Li Xiao ate berries to fill his stomach in the mountains every day, and the spirits there even learned to cultivate the berry forest like humans.
Carnivorous spirits are not vegetarians; they hunt and eat meat, and occasionally eat berries.
According to the fortune teller, this is because they have not attained enlightenment and their wild nature has not been tamed.
Given time, Li Xiao might truly be able to save the world...
One person can attain enlightenment, and even their chickens and dogs can ascend to heaven!
Among the mountain spirits, six of them, who possessed high levels of cultivation, transformed into human form.
From highest to lowest level of cultivation, they are: Tiger Spirit, Leopard Spirit, White Fox Spirit, Deer Spirit, Monkey Spirit, and Hedgehog Spirit.
The tiger spirit and the leopard spirit have the highest cultivation levels, both around five hundred years, and are able to perform spiritual magic in human form.
The other spirits and monsters have shallower cultivation, around four hundred years old, and can only use their true forms to perform spiritual magic.
The wild beasts in these mountains transformed into spirits, whose nature was kind and as pure as a blank sheet of paper.
When the tiger spirit and the leopard spirit ate meat, they felt guilty.
Li Xiao found dealing with them very easy, without any hidden agendas.
These spirits are like children, saying whatever comes to mind without holding anything back.
Only the white fox spirit had her own little schemes.
But she would only secretly slip a few extra berries to Li Xiao each time they were distributed...
For the past month, Li Xiao has spent most of his time learning thunder magic from the leopard spirit.
Because the leopard spirit could use human form to teach the secrets of thunder magic, learning it was a perfect match.
In addition, Li Xiao discovered that the increased comprehension from equipping the [Rat Spirit Skin] greatly helped him learn spiritual techniques.
If you replace the rat skin, you will find it much more difficult to learn; otherwise, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Name: Li Xiao
Age: 16
[1 equipment slot unlocked]
[Equipment Slot: Rat Spirit Hide]
[Spiritual Technique: Close your eyes and observe fire and thunder]
In the last few days of the month, Li Xiao barely managed to master the Thunder Fiend Spirit Technique.
"Hey!"
Li Xiao cast a spell on a large tree not far away, by a lake in the mountains.
A palm-sized circular bolt of lightning shot out from between his fingers, striking the tree with lightning speed.
Snapped!
The tree was struck by lightning, leaving a hole in it, and charcoal was billowing out.
This spiritual technique is called "Wind-Driven Thunder Fiend," but Li Xiao only mastered a superficial understanding of it and could only call it Thunder Fiend.
Its power was much weaker, like a palm-sized thunderbolt, far inferior to what the leopard demon could unleash.
But if it were hit on a person, it should be enough to kill them on the spot...
With Li Xiao's current level of skill, he can use it twice a day.
"More fish have arrived!"
The tiger spirit in the distance was fishing by the lake with a fishing rod. He said with great joy, "The method that Junior Brother taught me is really useful. We can catch a lot of fish every day."
On the lakeside, the other children were also holding fishing rods, waiting for the fish to bite.
Not long ago, the monkey spirit, under Li Xiao's instructions, stole embroidery needles from the villagers of Xiangshan Village.
By heating the needle with fire and bending it into a fishhook, these monsters became obsessed with fishing.
They didn't hunt in the mountains, but spent their days fishing around the large lake in the mountains.
The white fox spirit doesn't usually eat meat, but these past few days she's started to enjoy eating fish.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"
The tiger spirit spewed out flames, igniting the firewood the monkey spirit had chopped.
Everyone gathered around the fire and grilled fish by the lake.
"Junior brother, come and grill some fish, tell me a story..."
The spirits swarmed around Li Xiao, making him look like a mountain king.
Everyone sat in a circle around the crackling campfire, the air filled with the fresh scent of pine resin.
The flickering firelight illuminated the expectant faces.
The tiger spirit was simple and honest, the leopard spirit was curious, the white fox Su Xue's tail trembled slightly with the flickering flames, and the deer spirit, monkey spirit, and hedgehog spirit waited eagerly.
This was their favorite part: listening to Li Xiao tell stories.
Li Xiao doesn't tell any profound stories or quotes from the Four Great Classical Novels.
They all tell fairy tales, like Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, or the Seven Dwarfs.
Even these simple stories captivated them.
That night, Li Xiao dreamed again while he was sleeping.
As always, Lady Xiangshan spoke to him about the profound and mysterious Dao of Shangqing.
Finally, it seemed that he was granted another spiritual power.
Li Xiao woke up to the chirping of birds in the early morning, just as he was about to check what kind of spiritual technique he had acquired.
The fortune teller stood to the side, watching him with a smile.
"Ming Po."
Li Xiao climbed up from the bluestone slab.
The fortune teller waved her hand, gesturing for him to sit down. She then sat down on the bluestone slab herself and asked, "How has this past month been?"
Li Xiao laughed and said, "To be honest, it's quite comfortable... The air here is fresh, the environment is beautiful, I can sleep until I naturally wake up, carefree and without any worries."
The fortune teller chuckled, "It seems you quite like it here, and the little ones like you too. However... you have to go down the mountain. Hanging out with those idiots will dull your brain; how will you accomplish anything then?"
It seems that the fortune teller was reminding Li Xiao not to forget his homeland while he was enjoying himself.
The spirits here are as pure in thought as blank sheets of paper, without any ulterior motives.
People living here gradually lose their guard and their wisdom in scheming against each other.
"Yes, it's time to go down the mountain."
Li Xiao nodded, knowing the weighty responsibility he bore.
My mother's month-long hospital stay is over, and I should go check on her condition.
The fortune teller nodded and said, "Last night, the Goddess of Fragrant Mountain must have bestowed upon you a magical technique?"
Li Xiao nodded: "Yes, I haven't had time to fully comprehend it yet."
The fortune teller said, "This spiritual ritual is called 'Inviting the Gods'."
Li Xiao asked in surprise, "Summoning a deity?"
The fortune teller said, "Yes, invoke the gods. The Goddess of Fragrant Mountain is your support. If you are in trouble, no matter where you are, the Goddess will help you. However, this method should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary. The Goddess of Fragrant Mountain is restricted by heaven and earth and cannot enter the mortal world. It will cost a great price and cause serious injury."
Li Xiao nodded: "Li Xiao understands."
The old woman nodded: "Those little ones will hate to see you go. Go down the mountain before dawn, so they won't cry and cling to you, not letting you leave..."
Li Xiao laughed and said, "I understand, Granny. By the way, do I still need to repay the ten thousand silver dollars I borrowed from you?"
The fortune teller said irritably, "If you don't pay me back, I'll break your legs."
Li Xiao: "..."
Although I'm reluctant to leave, it's time to go.
He got up, went into the cave, kowtowed to his master several times, then bid farewell to the fortune teller and went down the mountain alone.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Li Xiao was about to leave.
A figure emerged from the woods; it was the quick-witted white fox.
He had guessed that today was the day Li Xiao would come down the mountain, so he stayed up all night waiting at the foot of the mountain.
"Li Xiao, are you leaving?"
The little girl, dressed in a lotus-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looked reluctant to part.
Over the course of the month, she gradually came to enjoy the time she spent with Li Xiao.
"Yes... I have to avenge the mouse."
Li Xiao told a lie, not wanting the girl to feel too bad.
"Take this..."
The white fox took out a plum-sized fruit from its body and handed it to Li Xiao.
"This is?"
"This Jade Heart Fruit and I have absorbed spiritual energy for three hundred years..."
"Mountain spirits? I don't want them."
Li Xiao refused.
The spirits and deities who cultivate themselves in the mountains, besides living on dew and wind, can also increase their cultivation.
Since Li Xiao has chosen to enter the mortal world to cultivate merit and become an immortal, how could he take their things?
"Take it, it'll definitely come in handy!"
The white fox shoved it into Li Xiao's hand and then ran away.
In the distance, her light, melodious voice came again:
"Next time you come back, remember to ask me to teach you the White Cloud Spiritual Technique, or I won't allow it!"