For the next hour, we talked about everything and nothing. About sunsets and mountains, about the properties of pills and mythical animals. What we did not touch—was the past and the affairs of the sect. Yes, it was not necessary. I was finally able to relax a little bit.
"And don't try to break into the meridian sphere," she said finally. "You are still too weak, and your Qi is unstable. First treatment, then development."
"I wish I knew how to do it," I chuckled, and the shock on her face turned to satisfaction. Well, yes, the meridian sphere, this is not a concentration of Qi. A simple infusion of energy into the body will not do. There was only a passing mention of some spiritual nodes in the library, but again—I just have huge problems with theory. Hopefully, the local knowledge repository will solve them.
"You really had a hard time in the Shen clan," So Yun shook her head. "But never mind, the fact that you don't know the way to break through—is even better. You can't hurt yourself. I'll explain when the time comes. In the meantime—take the pills, Kai. They are—the pinnacle of my current skill."
I just nodded gratefully. I was clutching a thin notebook and writing materials in my hands—the girl did not forget about her words about wanting to learn the technique. But the main thing is that in the space of the ring I got a bag with healing pills created by sister So, which she strictly forbade anyone to show. And in my soul, for the first time in a long time, peace reigned. And, by the way, the pills were of the highest quality. The system confirmed it, so So Yun's bragging about mastery in alchemy was by no means out of the blue.
[The Pill of Spiritual Rebirth]
[Purity: 99%]
Eliminates spiritual damage and strengthens energy centers. It has a positive impact on the development of the recipient. Restores damaged spiritual shells.
I was even afraid to imagine the approximate cost of such a pill. A thousand spirit crystals? A hundred? A million? Are they priceless simply because no one will ever sell such a treasure? Ha, yes, after that, I really just have to marry her!
Back in my room, I flopped down on the creaking bed. I didn't have much strength, but I still couldn't sleep. And then I decided to check the remaining contents of the ring. I probably should have done it right away, but... so much has piled up, yes. It's not because I forgot about everything.
The first thing I did was get out the papers. Invoices, orders from the elders of the Phoenix Sect, a list of new students, a list of cargo, an order to enroll me as a servant of the sect, not students, a letter to Elder Lu with an order to kill me... In general, nothing of value. No description of techniques, no secret recipes—just another confirmation of the vile nature of my dear relatives.
I burned all this stuff, and hid the ashes in a ring, just in case. What if local craftsmen can restore the pieces of paper from the ashes?
All that remained were the amulets with the black Blade formation and the book. When I took it out, I felt the heat coming from the book. The cover was made of black leather, and the glowing lava veins gave it a sense of danger.
[The Book of Ashes]
[Auxiliary artifact]
[Rank: Spiritual]
Creates a cloud of incandescent ash covering a wide area. Cloud control depends on the control of the carrier's Qi.
Contains a significant supply of Qi (500/500)
Unknown effect (raise the rank to determine)
I held the book in my hands and felt like an idiot. Have I had a natural weapon of mass destruction in my ring all this time? Seriously? However, am I an idiot? The mysterious inscription "unknown effect" discouraged any desire to use the miracle artifact. Especially if you remember who I got it from. I quickly hid it inside the ring, just in case.
The sword—is another matter. A heaven-level artifact, by the way. I still bothered to ask the system for information about it. I don't even know what I've done to deserve this honor.
[The Phoenix Blade]
[Combat Artifact]
[Rank: Heavenly]
Indestructibility
Heavenly sharpness
Qi Conduction
The fiery fury of the primordial Phoenix, crushing the laws of Heaven
And there are no unknown effects to you. However, of the known ones, I have so far been able to activate only indestructibility. Corny because it's more of a physical property of the blade, yes. I just didn't have enough Qi for the rest. It didn't come out with a rank.
So I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I began to meditate. The updated Song of Pure Flame combined with pills worked wonders. I was leaving the room just to eat, and on the ninth day, eating incredibly delicious dumplings, it dawned on me. I forgot about the assignments! They must be performed once every ten days, otherwise a hundred points will be deducted!
I didn't think long at the task board. The patrol. Yes, again. But what is the probability of getting into a pile of worms again? I may not have been able to throw fire like before, but the twelfth level of Qi concentration brought my body to an unimaginable level. I can handle the small stuff.
And, lo and behold, the patrol was completely calm! After meeting a guy and a girl at the gate, we just walked around the castle for several hours, meeting only a couple of harugs, whom I personally killed. At the same time, I checked the Devourer's technique again. Its use did not cause any discomfort, on the contrary, the pain seemed to become a little less. But maybe it was just my imagination.
When we returned without any problems, we passed the task, and I became the lucky owner of ten points. Which I immediately spent by going to the local library. I regret to say—knowledge is expensive. There are about twenty points left from the hundred points given to me by Sister So. Moreover, books were not given out forever, but only for a certain time, and it was strictly forbidden to take them outside the library.
Seven more days passed while studying and meditating. I still felt bad, but now I was at least a little more educated. It turns out that there are three nodes in the practitioner's body. In the head, heart and groin area. Their discovery is the transition to the meridian sphere. That's just how exactly to do it in the textbook was not said. There was a separate book for this, and it cost one hundred points per day of reading. I just didn't have that amount. Knowledge is precious in this world.
On one of these days, my studies were interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Aina. She smiled at me sincerely and waved her hand.
"Hello, scumbag," she giggled. "Do you know that everyone in the sect only talks about you?"
"Why is that all of a sudden?" I chuckled and looked around. As luck would have it, a couple of some girls immediately turned away and pretended they were walking by. "Wait, are you serious?"
"Well of course. Think about it, we don't have much news, only someone's breakthrough from the events—and then you're such a bang—and in the first few days you manage to get into a fight, then disappear into nowhere," she smiled. "And also your acquaintance with Master So..."
"What's wrong with her?" I squinted.
"That's right! Master So is very kind and knowledgeable. And by the way, she invites you to her place. Urgently. By the way, that's why I was looking for you."
"Thank you," I nodded, putting the book on the shelf. At least I managed to finish reading it. "I won't keep her waiting."
"Yeah, let's go faster," she nodded. "Master Seo Yun told me to escort you so that you wouldn't get lost. Again."
All the way to Seo Yun's chambers, Aina cheerfully told me the latest news of the sect. Unfamiliar names followed each other and I suddenly realized that I had unconsciously shut myself off from everyone. The life of the sect flies by me while I cultivate. As a real practitioner should, I chuckled.
"Young Kai, here you are. Why don't you come to me at all? Oh, how cruel of you to leave me alone on these cold evenings..." she sighed.
"I'm sorry, Sister So," I apologized. "I am only trying to cure my illness as soon as possible in order to form a core and fulfill my promise."
"Ah, you little brute. Come here, I want to check on you."
I didn't resist, and objectively I couldn't. The difference in strength is too great. After enduring a dozen minutes of scanning techniques, I heard a surprised gasp.
"I am, of course, a genius alchemist, but not that much. Kai, what's your secret?"
"Such good progress?"
"Is it good? It's just magical! At this rate, your Qi circulation system will return to normal in the next ten years!" she exclaimed.
"Wait, but it was ten years before, how so?"
"I'm sorry, Young Kai, I embellished the numbers a little so as not to upset you," she looked down. "But now I'm not lying!"
"I'm not offended. Thank you for everything. I don't understand what I've done to deserve this," I shook my head.
"And you weren't so modest before," she laughed. "Actually, there is another reason why I called you. Kai, how would you like to join the expedition to the Frosty Plum Grove?"