NOVPUB
Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Ao Qing Breakthrough
Eight months later.
The Green Sea was surging; the white sands ever constant; the scenery of Fish-Dragon Island remained as beautiful as ever.
Li Quanqing sat cross-legged on the dyke, practicing a defensive Low Grade spell.
"Water Lotus Barrier!"
This was a technique he had exchanged for in the family’s Scripture Pavilion, after much contemplation, he was finally starting to grasp some of its essence.
He released his mana at his fingertips, directing the surging waves around him, turning them into layers upon layers of water shields in the shape of lotus petals, continually emerging.
The spirit of the Dao burst forth, the vast sea sprawled endlessly, and a water lotus materialized before him in the blink of an eye, soon dissolving into a sky full of falling droplets.
Droplet after droplet of seawater churned, instantly giving life to new water lotuses, filling the sky far and wide, all shrouded by the water lotus, dreamlike and illusory.
Pop! Pop!
Li Quanqing stepped on the waves, his footfalls stirring up the sea, and with each step a water lotus blossomed, revealing lively green carps within.
With every step a lotus bloomed.
"This spell seems somewhat similar to the family’s Water Curtain Lotus Array..."
Li Quanqing stroked the head of a large green carp and returned to the shore, his mind deep in thought.
"Roar~"
Suddenly, a deep and resonant roar erupted from the shore, the sound vibrating through the wilderness, rustling the branches and leaves.
The Golden Flame Tiger, now grown into its teens, stood proudly on the beach, its body larger than a calf’s, a golden-red flame blazing on its forehead, formidable and emanating Tiger Power.
With heavy steps, it ran over, its golden fur smooth as satin, with black patterns rippling like water waves.
"Roar~"
The Spiritual Tiger affectionately rubbed against Li Quanqing’s trouser leg, gazing at the plump green carp in his hands with a longing expression.
This young tiger, although still very averse to water, had developed a taste for fish, often unearthing large earthworms in the forests as bait to catch and sneakily eat green carps.
Though not with high success rates.
"You gluttonous tiger, go drink your Beast Milk; this fish is not for you to eat."
Li Quanqing observed a white light group on the head of the green carp and gently touched it.
[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a micro Spiritual Energy Group!]
The light group shattered, the Spiritual Energy entered his body, but the effect was weak and almost negligible.
"My Cultivation... is too high; the green carp is of no use to me anymore."
Li Quanqing had anticipated this day, and nonchalantly tossed the big fish back into the sea.
The carp that escaped disaster swished its tail, immediately diving into the depths and out of sight, leaving behind ripples that slowly undulated.
"Oh woo..."
The Golden Flame Tiger watched its lunch escape right before its eyes, starting to whine pitifully, looking just like a big golden retriever.
"Tweet!!"
A flock of Qingfeng Cranes took flight from near the water’s edge, having only recently grown up and now attempting to learn how to fly.
Their abdomen and back feathers were white, while their slender necks were jet black, their red crowns strikingly vivid, and their goose-yellow beaks long and thin.
They resembled red-crowned cranes with their proud and elegant stature.
These Demon Beasts seemed to be born with the power of wind, their pale blue wide wings dignified and graceful, the outermost part adorned with dark green feathers.
When they took flight, it was as if traces of a breeze carved across the sky, adding a touch of mystery to their presence.
However, clearly, without their parents’ guidance, these Qingfeng Cranes were not faring very well.
Flap! Flap!
A Qingfeng Crane plummeted from the sky, trying to maintain its grace, its long legs frantically slapping the water surface.
Unfortunately, it failed, and with a plop, it fell right into the water.
"Tweet~"
The young crane popped its head out of the water and shook off the droplets from its feathers, looking rather nonchalant.
It appeared leisurely, floating and paddling in the water, but in reality, it was utterly exhausted.
Li Quanqing reached down and grabbed its wings, hoisting the whole crane out of the water.
[Free Heart] Springer Crane: "I’m a little little little little bird, who wants to fly but just can’t soar high~"
[Maturity: 58%]
"Eight months old and already this big, such a well-behaved little guy, much better than a certain big turtle."
Li Quanqing released the Qingfeng Crane, letting the frightened little fellow flap its wings and scurry to join its siblings.
These spiritual cranes are naturally yearning for freedom, their souls unrestrained, perching all day on trees, not very familiar with their master.
"Ao hoo~"
Seeing the flock of Qingfeng Cranes getting ready to head to the forests on Fish-Dragon Island in search of food, the Golden Flame Tiger couldn’t help but howl.
It, too, flapped its wings on its back, shakily ascended into the sky in a clumsy fashion, tucking its four paws together, and hurriedly trotted after the flock of cranes.
It looked exactly like a Husky that had infiltrated a pack of wolves.
Li Quanqing didn’t stop it; the little tiger cub had always been without its clan for company and very much needed companionship from these little fellows with wings.
It’s a tiger after all; it can’t really think it’s a bird, right?
Li Quanqing sat cross-legged on the sea’s surface, Mana swirling around him, forming a lotus platform that lifted him up, repelling the water without sinking, cultivating by absorbing the abundant Essence Qi contained in the seawater.
He opened his mouth, exhaling a beam of azure light.
The blue glimmer expanded before the wind, and in a blink, it turned into a fist-sized Sea Suppressing Bell, which rang without a breeze, humming loudly.
Wherever the sound waves passed, the sea surface instantly became calm, smooth as a mirror.
Li Quanqing tenderly caressed it, noticing that the crack on the bell’s surface had nearly completely healed, becoming barely visible.
He circulated his Mana, meticulously, like the world’s most careful artisan, slowly filling in the last remaining imperfection.
Bang!!
The bell let out a deep clang, resonating far and wide as if the echoes of the oceans spread across, reaching ten miles away and lingering on, solemn and majestic.
On the surface of the Sea Suppressing Bell, the patterns seemed to come to life, rippling like water waves, in which countless golden Runes manifested.
Pop!!
With the power of his Soul, Li Quanqing looked deeply, as if breaking through a waterfall’s barrier, finally glimpsing the specific content of the Scripture.
The Mind Nourishing Sword Casting Technique!
To nourish the mind and strengthen the spirit; to forge the sword with the soul!
This was an ancient scripture for growing one’s soul, creating a Mind Sword that cuts both others and oneself.
"With this scripture, combined with the Taiyin Soul Nourishing Water, I have nothing to worry about regarding Divine Sense Difficult in the three challenges of Foundation Establishment!"
Li Quanqing was secretly delighted when he suddenly noticed that there was more content following the scripture.
Spiritual Artifact·Sea Suppressing Sword!
This was a method for refining a Spiritual Artifact, naturally fitting with the Sea Suppressing Bell, and moreover, it could sustain the Divine Thought Sword created through the Mind Nourishing Sword Casting Technique.
The soul, being formless, is most vulnerable to the invasion and harm from the outside elements like Gang Wind and negative energies, hence, it is better to be contained in a tangible object, where it can grow steadily.
When the Sea Suppressing Sword strikes, it may seem like a sharp Flying Sword Skill to the eye, but hidden beneath is the slicing of the soul, killing without a trace.
Unpreventable.
"It’s a pity, a Spiritual Artifact is still too far out of reach for me; I can’t even refine a top-grade Magic Artifact yet!"
Li Quanqing stroked his chin, contemplating whether to pass on the Sea Suppressing Sword’s refining method to the Third Elder.
With his Artifact Refining Technique, perhaps he could manage to create it.
But in the end, he gave up the idea, his Cultivation just wasn’t strong enough.
Sometimes, it’s best to keep some secrets to oneself.
Just as he was about to pat his buttocks and head back to sleep.
Deep within the Fish-Dragon Pool, suddenly a surge of Spiritual Energy fluctuated, a pale green Demon Energy soared to the sky, stirring the winds and clouds, vaguely taking the shape of fish and dragons.
"Is this...a Green Jade Carp breaking through?"
In the blink of an eye, Li Quanqing realized that with such a commotion, there was only one possibility.
Ao Qing was about to break through!
He couldn’t wait to rush there, walking on water, unable to contain the joy in his heart.
He had been waiting far too long for this day.
By the time Li Quanqing arrived, Ao Qing had already successfully broken through, its massive body swelling even larger, the golden scales on its back gleaming brightly, the entire body surging with potent Demon Energy.
Wisp after wisp of white vapor oozed from beneath its scales, meandering, and eventually condensed into an alluring Light Group.
With a snap, Li Quanqing, almost unable to wait, slapped his hand firmly, directly onto the forehead of the Golden Pattern Green Jade Carp.
[You have obtained a Qi Refining Middle Stage Golden Pattern Green Jade Carp, rewarded with a Second Rank Sword Talisman, Sea Roar Sword Talisman!]
