Longevity starts with choosing Hextech enhancement

Chapter 414 Who taught you back then?

Objectively speaking...

The fact that the power of the moonlight could amplify the blood crystals was actually good news for Xiao Chen.

Since it has obviously become so much larger, its effect should theoretically be stronger as well.

At the same time, this may not necessarily be a problem for Su Li.

With the guidance of the Wu Clan's heritage, she at least had a direction to strive for the Nascent Soul stage.

On the path of spiritual practice, being able to discern the direction has always been the most important aspect.

After all, cultivators have limited lifespans, and if they go in the opposite direction, they probably won't succeed no matter how hard they try.

Therefore, when Su Li asked, "Do you think I should continue practicing the Moon Witch's Secret Arts?"

Xiao Chen answered almost without hesitation: "Of course we should continue!"

"Or rather, why not?"

"Since this is the only way to have a chance to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, let's ignore everything else and seize this opportunity first."

"Many ancient books I've read mention that after reaching the Divine Transformation stage, one can live for two thousand years and at the same time gain a deeper understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

"At that time, we will have more time and greater power."

"Whether it's breaking the curse or doing anything else, it should be easier now."

This is practically Xiao Chen's life experience.

For him, there are almost no problems that cannot be solved even after breaking through to a higher realm.

If so, it means your cultivation level is not high enough, and you should continue to try to reach the next higher realm.

"That makes sense, but..."

Su Li hesitated for a moment, but still said frankly, "I feel that the Curse of Lunar Eclipse is getting stronger and stronger as my cultivation level increases."

"If this continues, I might end up like the great demon in mythology."

"The mere existence of itself can become a disaster for the world."

"Sometimes I wonder if I should never have come into this world."

When she said the last sentence, Su Li's eyes were filled with a mixture of light and shadow, like a setting sun about to plunge into the deep sea in the distance.

The evening breeze ruffled the stray hairs at her temples, the disheveled strands mirroring her turbulent emotions.

How could you have such a strange idea?

Xiao Chen, unusually, put away his usual calm expression: "Then I really have to talk to you."

"Although you have the blood of the witch clan, you have also received teachings from the Taoist sect."

"Then let me ask you."

What are the four words that form the most fundamental belief of our faction?

This question sounds a bit profound.

Su Li thought for a moment and said, "If I had to summarize it in four words, it would be 'the way of nature'."

Xiao Chen shook his head: "Wrong, that's not what I asked."

"Okay, maybe I didn't explain it clearly just now. Let me explain it in more detail."

"As disciples of Taoism, what are the four words that we should uphold in our actual practice?"

Actual practice?

Su Li seemed to be stumped.

She furrowed her brows slightly, tilted her head, and thought seriously for a while: "In actual cultivation, one should take it as one's duty to slay demons and eliminate evil spirits?"

Xiao Chen couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead: "Sigh, I really am... Who taught you that back then?"

"Let me tell you, the most important principle that we Taoist disciples should uphold is 'defying fate and changing destiny'!"

He paused for a moment intentionally so that Su Li could hear him clearly.

He then retorted, "What do you mean you shouldn't have come into this world?"

Is that your problem?

“I’m telling you, you have no problem. If there’s anything wrong, it’s the world that’s wrong.”

"Was it your decision to possess the bloodline of the Moon Witch?"

"You yourself don't even know it."

"Logically speaking, shouldn't the consequences of the lunar eclipse curse be borne by the caster, whose identity is still unknown?"

"You don't need to think about other things right now."

"There is only one thing to do: live well, cultivate diligently, and gain more power to defy fate and change your destiny."

"Moreover, by then, you can not only lift the curse, but also accumulate merit and do good deeds to help more people escape from suffering."

In fact, Xiao Chen's words eventually led him to the Buddhist sect.

But none of that matters. What matters is that his words greatly influenced Su Li.

The idea of ​​defying fate sounds incredibly arrogant.

The statement that "the world is wrong" is simply outrageous!

Su Li was also a little dizzy at this moment.

She asked herself, having read many Taoist classics in her youth, but she had never seen such a description before.

So much so that she now wants to ask: Who taught you back then?

Doesn't that sound like 'fallacious reasoning'?

But it was precisely these somewhat reckless words of comfort that suddenly penetrated Su Li's heart, completely shattering her usual simple understanding of the world.

She stared blankly at Xiao Chen.

They didn't even realize that the fish skewers in their hands were almost burnt.

Fortunately, Xiao Chen noticed in time and immediately grabbed Su Li's hand to help her turn over.

He added a few words of comfort: "And you don't need to feel pressured."

"Firstly, the Nascent Soul stage is so difficult, and even with the cultivation method, it is by no means something that can be achieved overnight."

"While it's true that we should plan ahead, we shouldn't think about things too far into the future, or we'll just be worrying unnecessarily."

"Secondly, I'm here. I'm not afraid to tell you that I've mastered a particularly powerful secret technique."

"As long as some spirit stones are consumed, true essence can be condensed quickly."

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm only at the early Nascent Soul stage. Who knows who will achieve the Divine Transformation stage first?"

"If I break through first, I might be able to solve the curse problem directly."

Xiao Chen wasn't bragging; normally, he could indeed break through first.

Su Li's gaze fell on her hands, and two rosy clouds appeared on her cheeks, even more beautiful than the sunset in the sky.

Like a child listening to a teacher in a classroom, she nodded obediently and gently: "Yes, I understand."

After a short while, he realized what Xiao Chen had said.

So, out of curiosity, he pressed for details about the new secret technique.

For Xiao Chen, this kind of ordinary secret technique was nothing to keep secret, at least not to hide from Su Li.

So the two leaned against the campfire and chatted about the interesting things that happened during the fight against the sea creatures over the past year.

This includes the three giant sea monsters, the powerful foundation of Pudu Temple, and the final peace conference.

"Since spirit stones are so important, why did you spend so many spirit stones to buy snacks?"

Upon hearing the target of 15 million, Su Li couldn't help but feel a little worried: "Actually, for me, it would be great if we could catch sea fish together."

The key is the people sharing the food, not the specific food itself.

"Hmph~!" Xiao Chen's lips curled up slightly: "I'm not afraid to tell you, I now have a trade route that only I control."

"The order I have on me right now is enough to earn me more than three million spirit stones."

"And there will be more orders like this in the future."

"I'm not exaggerating, but to me, these pastries are no different from those few paper cuttings; they're just a drop in the ocean."

Even though Su Li lacked a lot of experience, she knew that such a profitable business opportunity was not something everyone had.

In addition, Xiao Chen just stated that he might break through to the Nascent Soul stage before her.

This, in turn, strengthened her resolve to continue cultivating the secret techniques of the Witch Clan and to break through to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible.

In the cultivation world, a difference of one major realm is enough to create a distinct gap.

Su Li didn't want to face that situation; she wanted to earn the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with others based on her own strength.

In any case, she was inspired by Xiao Chen.

Having put aside the various chaotic thoughts that had arisen over the past two months, I decided to focus on my cultivation from now on.

The first day back ended with chatting and grilled fish.

Considering that he hadn't been back for a long time, Xiao Chen wasn't in a hurry to go to the new cultivation world.

He stayed on the island the next day and shared some red crab meat with Su Li, treating it as a break for himself.

I woke up slowly on the morning of the third day, bathed in the rising sun.

Only then did he begin to think about serious matters again.

Although it can now be generally assumed that one can move between the two sides anytime and anywhere without needing a fixed location.

However, to avoid leaving any trace, Xiao Chen still did not plan to travel directly on Ji'e Island.

Anyway, at his current speed, finding a deserted island nearby would only take half an hour.

However, there is one more thing to prepare before leaving.

That is to draw the Black Abyss Blood Escape Talisman.

So Xiao Chen went to the coast and found Su Li, who was studying the secret technique.

It must be said, when she was seriously cultivating, she was surrounded by spiritual energy, her clothes fluttering, just like a fairy descending from a painting.

It can be described in four words—absolutely gorgeous!
Xiao Chen patiently waited for her to complete one cycle of her cultivation before asking, "I remember you mentioned before that you were practicing witch runes. How is it going now?"

Su Li immediately said, "I also want to thank you for bringing back those spiritual materials for me. You were a great help."

"Overall, I feel that shamanic patterns seem to have many similarities with artifact patterns."

"Although one is engraved on an object, the other is tattooed on a person."

"However, many of the operating principles are common, making them much easier to learn."

"I should say that I have mastered about 70 or 80% of the witch runes by now."

In the end, Su Li was actually being modest.

As the Holy Maiden of the Moon, she naturally finds it easier and faster to learn these things than others.

Moreover, the curse of the lunar eclipse was inscribed on many witch runes on her body, which meant that she had already experienced it firsthand.

Therefore, although she had only studied witch runes for a relatively short time, her drawing skills were already better than many witch priests of that time.

"That would be great!"

Xiao Chen got straight to the point: "I unexpectedly acquired a batch of talisman-making materials, which can be used to draw life-saving talismans."

"But at the time, we lacked the specific production process."

"If we start right away, it will likely lead to a huge waste, so we've been putting it off until now."

"Just recently, I found the complete production process in the Scripture Pavilion of Thousand Machine Valley."

As he spoke, Xiao Chen took out the copy of "Thousand Machine Water Escape Talisman" and handed it over: "I think witchcraft patterns and talisman making should be quite similar."

"So I brought it over for you to see."

"If it's convenient, how about you help me draw these talismans?"

Upon hearing this, Su Li immediately took the copy with both hands and read through the production process word by word.

He took a deep breath and looked up, saying, "Judging from the paper, it shouldn't be too difficult."

“I feel like I can give it a try.” But he quickly added, “However, I haven’t actually learned how to make talismans, so I can’t guarantee that I will be able to draw them successfully.”

Xiao Chen chuckled to ease her pressure: "Of course, even the most skilled master wouldn't dare say they'd succeed 100% in making a talisman."

"I estimate that if I come by myself, I'll be lucky to get one out of ten."

"As long as the number exceeds this, it's considered a success!"

Of course, it would be even better if there were five.

However, Xiao Chen did not bring this up directly.

Despite this, Su Li's heart was still racing.

In fact, since the two met, she was the only one who had ever asked to have a sculpture made.

This should be the first time Xiao Chen has asked her for help.

Since that's the case, then we definitely have to perform well.

To be on the safe side, Su Li silently trained for a whole day according to the records in the "Thousand Machines Water Escape Talisman".

Unfortunately, Xiao Chen didn't think to bring the corresponding materials when he returned.

This meant she couldn't get used to the feel of the improved version first.

The two had originally agreed to draw the image on the morning of the fourth day after the spiritual energy had stabilized, in order to increase the success rate.

However, when the time came, it was necessary to start organizing the materials.

Xiao Chen suddenly remembered something: "Hiss~, there's something I forgot to ask you."

What are your thoughts on materials for demonic cultivation?

"These materials I have are all things like blood essence and animal hides obtained through demonic means. You shouldn't mind, right?"

Logically speaking, a dignified True Lord shouldn't care about these things.

However, considering that Su Li's situation is quite special and she is not the same as a normal True Monarch, she may not be willing to come into contact with demonic materials.

Just to be on the safe side, Xiao Chen decided to ask in advance.

"That's all right!"

Su Li immediately pointed to the copy in her hand: "I already knew what I needed yesterday."

"Moreover, the Wu tribe actually has many rituals and ceremonies that are quite... primitive."

She carefully chose a suitable word: "So, in fact, when I was receiving the memories of the witch clan, I had already seen many sacrificial scenes that were no less than those of the demonic path."

Xiao Chen was really overthinking this.

Su Li usually keeps her aura hidden, and looks like an innocent and carefree girl next door.

This led him to make a subconscious misjudgment.

To be fair, the rumored practice of the witch clan sacrificing prisoners alive is not necessarily more bloody or cruel than the secret methods of the demonic sect.

That's fine.

Xiao Chen readily took out all the materials.

Su Li calmly sorted them out and put them away.

Then, after the surrounding spiritual energy stabilized, he spread out an animal hide in front of him and began his first drawing.

With nothing to do, Xiao Chen stood by as a spectator.

However, compared to the drawing process that he couldn't understand, he naturally preferred to watch Su Li's movements.

To be honest, whether it's a man or a woman, they look exceptionally beautiful and attractive when they're focused.

To sum it up in four words—it's really beautiful!
However, feeling that somewhat scorching gaze, Su Li felt her heart race and the talisman brush in her hand began to move uncontrollably.

More importantly, she should have focused her attention and concentrated on drawing the talisman.

But the thought of Xiao Chen watching him made it impossible for him to concentrate.

Despite her exceptional skill, she unsurprisingly made a mistake in drawing the first talisman, rendering it unusable.

"I'm sorry, I was suddenly distracted."

Su Li quickly apologized, "I shouldn't have made a mistake here. I didn't control myself well."

Xiao Chen had anticipated this, and immediately comforted him, saying, "It's alright. Didn't I say that drawing one is not a loss, and drawing two is a victory?"

"You don't need to put pressure on yourself."

However, Su Li did not respond; instead, she looked at him with a flushed face.

After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke, "I'll be drawing here by myself from now on, and you're not allowed to watch."

"Whether you go to the other side to cultivate or rest for a while, you can come back here after the spiritual energy surge ends."

Ok?
What do you mean?
Xiao Chen's eyes widened.

Did I affect your performance here?

What kind of strange logic is this?
When I used to practice magic on the beach, weren't you watching me from the rocks?

That's absolutely unreasonable!

Hmph, fine, I don't care if I don't want to watch it.

He originally stayed here only so that he could offer timely advice if the drawing failed.

Since it's not needed, then forget it.

Xiao Chen immediately nodded: "Okay, then I'll go sunbathe for a while and come back later."

After saying that, he went directly to the other side of the island and lay down on the beach in a starfish position.

After he left, Su Li took a deep breath and finally focused her attention again.

He began to focus intently on drawing the remaining talismans.

Before the spiritual energy surge ended, all the materials were collected.

They didn't tell Xiao Chen the specific results of the subsequent drawing, only saying that they would reveal them all at the end.

She was afraid that if she heard the feedback during the competition, she wouldn't be able to perform at her best.

Although Xiao Chen was somewhat curious about this, he remained indifferent overall.

Just believe it and that's all!

Three more days passed, and Su Li finally finished drawing everything.

When Xiao Chen waited for the spiritual energy tide to recede before coming over to check the situation.

Then you can see a row of neat animal hides laid out on the beach, and Su Li is doing the final portable processing.

That is, by using specific talismanic techniques, these animal hides are compressed to a size slightly longer than the palm of a hand.

In a sense, it is similar to using secret techniques for refining spiritual materials.

Noticing Xiao Chen approaching, Su Li finally couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, revealing two sweet dimples.

But she deliberately pursed her lips and remained silent.

She just gave him a smug smile and continued with her own actions.

Xiao Chen counted them himself.

They discovered that there were actually nine magic talismans on the ground!
what?
No, is that right?

Could it be that I really affected your performance?
It should be noted that Xiao Chen only obtained ten sets of materials in total.

Moreover, he personally witnessed one of the animal hides being damaged the day before.

What's even more unbelievable is that this is a fourth-tier talisman!

Logically speaking, even if a fourth-level talisman maker were to make the job, it would be impossible to guarantee such a high success rate of 90%, right?
No, it doesn't seem to be 90%.

Xiao Chen suddenly realized.

If we exclude herself as a distraction, Su Li's actual success rate should be 100%.

hiss~!

He gasped in shock, feeling as if he were seeing things.

I have to say, this is truly astonishing.

It was far more than the best outcome he had anticipated, which was that five talismans would ultimately be successfully drawn.

He was quite surprised that Su Li possessed such amazing talent in the art of talismans.

What followed was a pleasant surprise!

This time, nine Black Abyss Blood Escape Talismans were successfully used, which means that one can travel up to 90,000 miles using Blood Escape.

At such a great distance, even if one were to encounter a top-tier Nascent Soul cultivator, there should still be a chance of survival.

Well, considering that activating the talisman also takes time, we might need to add a prerequisite.

That is, to survive the opponent's first attack and gain a sliver of hope.

However, even with this premise, the value of these talismans remains unaffected.

In the blink of an eye, Su Li had already compressed them all.

Then they stacked them up and presented them to Xiao Chen with both hands.

But she kept her red lips pursed and didn't say anything.

She just stared at him with a pair of big, expectant eyes.

It's as if three words are about to float out of there—Praise me!

Xiao Chen easily understood her meaning and couldn't help but chuckle.

He then sincerely praised her, "Wow, you actually managed to create so many magic talismans! You're really amazing!"

"When I saw the first failed attempt, I thought I might not get anything this time."

"I never expected that everything would actually succeed later on. It's unbelievable."

Upon hearing this, Su Li quickly turned her head to the right and chuckled to herself.

Then he quickly suppressed his emotions and said in a serious tone, "Unfortunately, it was still a failure in the end."

"Mainly because it was my first time drawing, I was a bit rusty and couldn't perform well."

"However, I managed to accomplish my mission!"

After saying that, she could no longer contain her joy and smiled sweetly, like a pear blossom glistening with dew.

For Su Li, being able to do her best to complete the first task that Xiao Chen entrusted to her was a very happy thing.

"Since you've succeeded so much, how about I leave you two for protection?"

Xiao Chen thought about it and realized that he didn't actually need that many.

Firstly, he might not be able to encounter a top-tier Nascent Soul cultivator.

Even in the new cultivation world, as long as you don't go to the Holy City to show off, you should be fine.

After all, even those at the Nascent Soul stage have their own things to do; they're not just idle folks in the countryside.

Secondly, if one is really unlucky enough to encounter an enemy that even seven Black Abyss Blood Escape Talismans couldn't handle, then...

Then let's rely on the Night's Edge to save our lives, and then just activate the teleportation.

"Do not worry about me."

However, Su Li refused clearly: "Don't forget, I still have the Illusionary Moon Wheel in my hands, which is more than enough to protect myself."

"And didn't you say that the Nascent Soul cultivators all went to the Three Mountains Grotto Heaven?"

"In that case, there shouldn't be any danger outside that I can't handle."

She spoke these words with unwavering confidence, tinged with a touch of naive innocence.

Xiao Chen thought about the Venerable One he had seen at Pudu Temple, as well as the illusory image of the Ming King, and smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He silently put away the six magic talismans, then reached out his left hand to grab Su Li's right hand and placed the remaining three talismans in her palm.

"I'd better bring it just in case, that way I'll feel more at ease."

"So that I don't go out and come back to find there are no blood crystals left to collect."

(End of this chapter)