[ Black Lotus Cult - The Wailing Isle ]
[ The Twin Dragon Estate ]
Lü Bu stood in front of the mirror, staring at his new body with a mixture of disgust and disappointment. The body was poorly trained, lacking the muscles and calluses that Lü Bu had come to expect from a warrior. The armor he wore felt heavy and clunky, a far cry from the sleek and efficient design he was used to. He couldn't help but spit on Xie Dongyi's dreams. How could this weakling ever hope to achieve greatness when he didn't even put in the effort to train properly?
As Lü Bu looked at himself in the mirror, he couldn't help but curse Xie Dongyi. "You wanted to dream of showing up a divine-grade spiritual root but you didn't even put in the effort. Pathetic."
He knew that if he wanted to get his revenge against his sister and the great sects of the Murim world, he needed to get his cultivation back, and for that, he needed to build his foundation before he could start cultivation, the Martial Skeleton.
The problem was, he didn't have any golden needles, and even if he did, Xie Dongyi's weak body couldn't handle the formation of a Martial Skeleton.
Sitting down on the carpeted floor, Lü Bu took a deep breath as he began to chant a mantra. Unlike the Heavenward Soul and Earthen Body technique that Xie Dongyi frequently used alongside the Nine Dao Dagger Technique, Lü Bu needed something different. Going through his memories, he remembered a Buddhist technique that could help forge a body ready for a Martial Skeleton; The Body Refinement Mantra.
As he closed his eyes, Lü Bu could feel the air around him change. The room grew colder, and a chill ran down his spine. He could hear the sound of his own breath, the soft rustle of fabric as he moved.
Taking a deep breath, Lü Bu began to chant the incantation. "With the wisdom of the Buddha, I refine my body, purifying it from all impurities and ignorance. May my body be strong and resilient, like the mountains that withstand the winds and rains. May my spirit be unbreakable, like the purest diamonds."
As he continued to chant, Lü Bu could feel the power of the technique flowing through him. He visualized his body being purified, as if every inch of his skin was being cleansed by a bright, white light. He could feel the impurities and weaknesses within him being burned away, leaving behind only strength and resilience.
The Body Refinement Mantra is a powerful technique that enhances the physical body, purifying it of all impurities and weaknesses. It is said that those who master this technique will have a body as strong and resilient as the mountains and a spirit as unbreakable as diamonds.
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[ Bamboo Forest - Alexander's Lab ]
"So, what is the last thing you want for the Reincarnation Crystal?" Kunlan asked, his voice laced with boredom
"I'm not sure. What do you recommend?" I replied, eager to hear his expert opinion.
Kunlan's eyes narrowed, but a hint of amusement danced in them. "You know about our tradition, don't you?" he asked.
I nodded. Alexander's journal had proven to be an invaluable resource, filled with knowledge and secrets that I would not have been able to uncover otherwise.
It was quite useful to know that Kunlan's kind the Ganshin follow a special tradition of presenting an extremely valuable artifact for their first recommendation.
Kunlan smirked and snapped his fingers. In his hand appeared a black fur collar cape that seemed to swallow the light around it. "This is the Nightfall Mantle, made from the hide of a temporal Demon beast," he declared proudly.
As he tossed a book at the cape, I watched in fascination as the tome disappeared into the fabric, swallowed by a subspace within it. Kunlan then shot a spiritual Qi arrow at the cape, which absorbed the attack before redirecting it towards the back of the lab, leaving a gaping hole in its wake.
I was awestruck, my jaw hanging open. Kunlan noticed and couldn't resist a jibe. "Close that mouth. I can't stand the smell of shit coming from it," he quipped.
Ignoring his insult, I gingerly touched the cape, only to feel a sharp sting as something sliced my hand. Startled, I pulled away, watching as my blood was absorbed into the fabric.
"Congratulations! You've made a connection without me," Kunlan declared with a chuckle as he observed me, a look of pride on his face. "The Nightfall Mantle is an artifact that is bound to its user, which is now you. Meaning, if others even try to wear it, it's not going to work for them."
"Thank you," I muttered under my breath, my eyes never leaving the deep, black fabric of the cloak.
Kunlan's lips twitched into a sly grin as he pulled out a small jar filled with a purplish liquid that glowed eerily in the dimly lit room. Inside the jar, I could see the most notable thing was a creature I had never seen before.
"What is that?" I asked, feeling a sense of unease creep up on me.
"This, my friend, is an Abyssal Hallucigenia," Kunlan explained, holding up the jar for me to inspect. "It is an extremely rare demon beast from the Abysmal Chasm that forms a parasitic relationship with its host. In exchange for a home and food, which will be provided by your body, it will give you extreme levels of Spiritual Qi sensitivity, in such a way that you can actually preceive Spiritual Qi in the form of colour."
My eyes widened in shock and horror as I realized what Kunlan was proposing. He wanted me to put that thing in my eye? The thought made me shudder with revulsion, but before I could even protest, Kunlan had already answered with a resounding "yes."
I hesitated for a moment, remembering Kunlan's earlier proposition of sacrificing my eye for power. Could I really go through with this?
"Can I exchange this for something else?" I asked tentatively, hoping against hope that Kunlan would give me a way out.
Kunlan burst out laughing at my request, his deep belly laughs reverberating through the small room. "Like what?" he asked, wiping away a tear from beneath his mask.
I hesitated for a moment, considering my options. "You could teach me about the art of cultivation," I suggested, knowing that it was a long shot.
Kunlan's laughter only grew louder at my request, and I felt a twinge of embarrassment at my foolishness. "Kuahahahahaha! Who said you can't make a joke?" he roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "The Ganshin are nothing but observers of this world. We don't do things like teach. But even if I did try to teach you, you won't understand a single thing. My kind learned cultivation instinctively."
Deflated, I waved the white flag. "Okay, okay, I'll buy into your tall tale," I grumbled, a reluctant surrender barely audible.
A grin tugged at Kunlan's lips, his eyes sparkling with a kind of roguish delight as he closed his fingers around the reincarnation crystal. "By the way, where'd you unearth this gem?" He kept his tone hushed and intriguing, like we were two spies trading secrets.
"Someone decided to park their soul in one of our kids. I grabbed this crystal before the tyke could open his eyes," I clarified.
Kunlan's eyebrows shot up, "Oh, so that's the method to your madness."
Deciding to plunge deeper, I asked, "Kunlan, is it standard protocol for celestial fireworks to go off when someone uses the reincarnation crystal?"
"Not at all! The usual M.O. for a reincarnation crystal is to fly under the radar."
"Then what was the deal with the lightning bolt Van Gogh lookalike in the sky?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, but it's caused one hell of a buzz in the Murim world. There's been everything from whispers of a 'Heavenly child's birth' to a 'treasure hunt for ancient riches'. But for now, it's just a giant question mark everyone is scrambling to make sense of."
"What's your take on the situation?"
He shrugged, "If I knew every time some Murim oddity occurred, I'd be drowning in nickels. And with my luck, I'd probably get mugged by some random chap in the process."
Kunlan chuckled, a glint in his eyes. "That random chap would probably be you, you sneaky little thief."
"Me? I'm offended!" I protested, feigning shock. "You make it sound like I would stoop to mugging. I'll have you know, I prefer the term 'strategic wealth redistribution'."
"Ah yes," Kunlan retorted, his grin wider. "You're just a 'Robin Hood', robbing from the rich Kunlan to give to the poor... well, yourself."
"Exactly! You understand me so well, Kunlan," I said, laughing. "Now if only the rest of the Murim world were as enlightened."
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[ Author Note: Nightfall Mantle ]
[ Type: Spatial Artifact ]
[ Description: The Nightfall Mantle is a powerful cloak made from the hide of a temporal Demon beast, Epochal Colossus. The cloak's dark, jet-black fabric seems to swallow the light around it, making it difficult to see in the dark with a fur collar.
The Nightfall Mantle is an artifact that is bound to its user, which means it will only work for the person it has chosen.
[ Abilities: ]
The Nightfall Mantle is an extremely powerful artifact with several unique abilities. It is capable of absorbing and redirecting spiritual Qi attacks, making it a valuable asset in battles. It can also create subspace pockets within its fabric, allowing the user to store and transport objects without being detected. Additionally, the Nightfall Mantle is highly durable, and its surface is impenetrable to physical attacks.
[ Limitations:]
The Nightfall Mantle has a few limitations that the user must be aware of. Firstly, the cloak can only be used by its chosen user, and others will not be able to wear it. Secondly, the Nightfall Mantle can only absorb a limited amount of spiritual Qi attacks before it needs to be recharged. Finally, while the cloak is highly durable, it is not indestructible, and with enough force, it can be damaged or destroyed.