Two months have passed since I reincarnated in this world. Time seems to flow faster, especially now that my spiritual sea has digested most of the rewards I received.
While awake, I dedicate myself to using the "Analysis Skill" to capture as much information as possible and try to understand what the people around me are saying. Gradually, I've deciphered some words and learned my own name: Dai Mubai. It's strange because the name feels familiar, though I still don't understand why. The maids, however, affectionately call me Xiao Bai or Bai Bai, nicknames that hint at their fondness for me.
In these two months, I haven't had many sources of entertainment, but I've managed to reread the entire Bleach manga stored in my mind. That was the only relief in the monotonous routine of being a baby. Additionally, I took the time to perform a good amount of "Good Deeds," and as a result, I've accumulated six units of positive energy, each about the size of a baby's fingernail. This energy has been a vital support, keeping me joyful, healthy, and seemingly influencing those around me. The maids, for example, always look at me with gentle expressions, and even the head maid, known for her sternness, relaxes and smiles when she sees me.
Being on the "good" side definitely has its advantages; it seems I leave a good impression on everyone I encounter.
Of the remaining rewards, only two are left to be digested: the "Great Formation Talisman Skill" and the "Golden Mushroom." The latter is closer to complete digestion, with just five days remaining. But before that happens, there's something I want to test.
With my baby body floating in my spiritual sea, I look at the Golden Mushroom. In my palm, I hold five units of positive energy. "Five units are nowhere near the mushroom's size, but maybe they'll suffice for a partial purification attempt," I think, trying to convince myself.
Using the "Advanced Control" skill, I gather the five units of positive energy into a cohesive wave. My goal is bold: try to neutralize or, if possible, purify the Golden Mushroom's curse.
I gently direct the positive energy wave toward the mushroom, and immediately a dark aura emerges from its surface, as a defensive response. Within this aura, the positive energy shines like a light trying to penetrate the darkness. For a brief moment, it seems like the positive energy is pushing back the darkness, weakening the evil aura surrounding the mushroom.
Unfortunately, the relief is short-lived. Less than a minute later, the curse fiercely reacts, resisting the positive energy and burrowing even deeper into the mushroom's layers. The purple lines around it grow more intense, and my positive energy is shattered by the curse's power, vanishing completely.
I'm surprised; I didn't expect such an intense reaction. Despite the result, I notice a small victory: the mushroom's golden color is slightly more vibrant, as if it's resisting the curse. "It seems a silent battle has begun between the mushroom's power and the curse," I reflect.
For now, I'll continue accumulating positive energy. Each unit takes about 10 days to produce through good deeds, and since I still have a bit of positive energy left, it should take around 4 days to generate a new unit.
In the meantime, I spent the next few days interacting with the maids and strengthening my positive energy.
Four days later…
Back in the spiritual sea, I observe the Golden Mushroom, which now has only a few hours left until full digestion. I have only two units of positive energy remaining and need to decide how to use them wisely.
This time, instead of concentrating the energy into a wave, I decide to create a "blanket" of positive energy around the mushroom. As soon as the energy wraps around it, the mushroom begins to glow intensely in gold, while the curse responds, becoming even darker. The positive energy blanket seems to restrain the curse, weakening it a little. For about thirty minutes, I maintain focus to sustain the energy until it is completely drained. Although it wasn't enough for a complete cure, I notice the curse's purple marks have faded slightly.
Now, I have only to wait. A day later, the Golden Mushroom is finally digested by the spiritual sea while I am feeding. Instead of pain, I feel a wave of relief and happiness. My whole body seems to relax, and for a few minutes, I experience an overwhelming sense of well-being. I soon fall asleep, entering the spiritual sea once again.
There are still no clear signs of changes, except for my spiritual sea, which seems a bit larger and more stable. The lack of information on the mushroom's effect leaves me disappointed, but I know answers will come eventually.
Now, only one reward remains to be digested: the "Great Formation Talisman Skill," which should be completed in two days.
Two days later…
During this time, I haven't noticed any significant changes after consuming the mushroom, though I do feel a bit more energized. Back in the spiritual sea, I look at the last reward: an orb at the center of a book. "This is a mid-level skill, higher than the Sharingan. I hope it brings more knowledge and information."
When the orb's digestion is finally complete, a massive wave of information floods my mind. Before my baby body can react, the intensity is so overwhelming that everything goes dark, and I instantly pass out.
I wake up later with a throbbing headache, similar to the worst hangover imaginable. The amount of information absorbed is staggering, at least ten times greater than that of the "Advanced Chef Skill." However, it's all of utmost importance.
Much of the knowledge I received pertains to talismans and formations. Talismans are, in a way, standard equipment in cultivation worlds. With the right energy, they can be activated to create grand effects, even surpassing the user's cultivation level. There are talismans for defense, teleportation, attack — like fireball and ice talismans — and many others, each serving a specific purpose.
Formations, on the other hand, are different but equally valuable. Unlike talismans, which can be carried and quickly activated, formations must be established in a fixed location. They generally possess a greater power than talismans but take much more time and energy to create and activate.
An advanced defense formation, for example, could protect an entire city from a highly powerful cultivator, like an invisible wall. And, of course, there are many other types of formations: attack formations, illusion formations, and the incredibly rare formations that absorb spiritual energy to speed up the cultivation of anyone within their area of effect.
I must admit, this is the most comprehensive reward I've received so far, even if it exhausted me in the process. And there's still more; the information on the materials required to create talismans and formations is almost as extensive as the knowledge of these arts themselves.
What makes this skill truly special is its classification as a mid-high-level reward. Normally, talismans and formations are considered distinct areas and would come in separate rewards. However, this technique is called the "Great Formation Talisman Skill" for a special reason.
There is a unique formation embedded within this skill — a formation that is not physical but spiritual, created directly within the Spiritual Sea. This formation can absorb the energy of heaven and earth automatically, refining and purifying it to produce a unique energy called "Xiantian energy." This energy is incredibly pure and especially beneficial for arts such as forging, alchemy, talismans, formations, painting, and many others. Objects seem to consume it avidly, becoming more potent.
Additionally, this energy helps to purify the body and mind, keeping them in a constant state of purity, which greatly aids cultivation. But, as expected of such an advanced technique, it is by no means easy to cultivate.
First, forming the "Great Formation Talisman" requires a special book as its core, something only masters of this art can create. In short, only direct disciples of these great masters could, in theory, learn this formation. Fortunately, as part of the reward, the required book came along with the knowledge.
Still, the technique has other difficulties. Although incredibly powerful, the creation of Xiantian energy is slow. The formation absorbs the energy of heaven and earth at a ratio of ten to one; for every ten units of heaven and earth energy absorbed, only one unit of Xiantian energy is refined. The purification process is also slow, taking about ten days to form a single unit of Xiantian energy.
To put it in perspective, a regular cultivator can generate twenty units of heaven and earth energy in twenty days. Meanwhile, a cultivator using Xiantian energy will produce only one unit in the same period, although it is equivalent to ten conventional units in quality.
Here is where the Great Formation Talisman's uniqueness shines: Xiantian energy can be cultivated by other techniques, but what makes this skill special is the ability to strengthen the spiritual formation itself.
And how? Simple — the more talismans and formations connected to the special Great Formation, the faster it can absorb and purify the energy of heaven and earth. Naturally, this demands deep knowledge in talisman and formation creation, which requires much time to learn. However, for a genius, this is more of a stimulus than a barrier, allowing one to surpass other cultivators with ease.
There is still much knowledge to process, but I can confidently say that this is the best reward I've received so far.