Chapter 21: Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill

Artifact-Control Incantation: A basic Dao Technique. It could be mastered by consuming five units of Fate. It allowed one to control objects of various sizes within a range of ten meters.

Because of this information, Li Si became very confident about mastering this Dao Technique. He just needed to go out for a short walk and come back, and he would have mastered it…

But he looked down on such shortcuts. He acted like a good student, studying seriously in a corner of the Stone House. He did not even pay attention when Jiang Ying collected the six Aberrant Wood Husks he brought back.

Who could say he was acting?

However, as he focused intently and became completely absorbed in studying the Artifact-Control Incantation’s method, Li Si was surprised to find that he had become much smarter than before. He quickly grasped many symbols that looked very obscure and mysterious, without even needing to use any shortcuts.

By the time Jiang Ying finished cooking a pot of Great Soul-Returning Broth and called him to eat, he discovered something surprising.

Artifact-Control Incantation: A basic Dao Technique. It could be mastered by consuming three units of Fate.

The information that appeared before his eyes could not be wrong. This could only mean one thing: his understanding of this Dao Technique had already deepened significantly.

His heart stirred slightly. Li Si pretended he needed to relieve himself and went outside. He took out the manual for the Dao Technique Palm Thunder, which he had not yet had time to study or master, from his small leather pouch.

Instantly, a line of information appeared.

Palm Thunder: An advanced Dao Technique. It could be mastered by consuming eighteen units of Fate.

See, a problem appeared. Before, he needed to consume twenty units of Fate to master it. So, what was the reason?

“Could it be related to my Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress breaking through 20%?”

Li Si could only think so. The evolution of his Bloodline and Bone Foundation did not make him smarter, but it made his body more suitable for cultivation and practicing Dao Techniques.

Anyway, it was a good thing.

Thinking this, Li Si found a spot behind some ruined houses and relieved himself openly and unashamedly. After all, details were important.

But just as he squatted down, a thunderclap exploded in the sky. Thick, arm-sized golden bolts of lightning crashed down, illuminating the dark Deserted Village with a harsh, pale light!

At the same time, a huge tremor came, like an earth dragon turning over. Around the Deserted Village and in the sky above, dense symbols appeared. They were surrounded by golden lightning, constantly vibrating and changing. More golden lightning bolts appeared, and the roar of thunder was continuous.

So, was that the Demon Man launching an attack?

Although Li Si was frightened inside, he knew that the Demon Man probably could not break the Formation Array. On this point, he had immense, albeit baseless, confidence in the Soy-Sauce Crone.

Was this a kind of telepathy between master and disciple, or mutual admiration between outstanding individuals?

Ah, I really am just too excellent.

During a lull in the thunder, he saw the Demon Man outside the village. It was indeed the one he had discovered earlier using the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl. Right now, the creature was like a wild bull. Even though the sky was filled with thunderbolts lashing down like whips, tearing its flesh, it still charged forward madly. Its low roars made Li Si’s heart pound, even though he was inside the village.

As for Ji Chang, who was currently controlling the Array Control Disk, he was clearly highly tense and sweating profusely. Who knew if he could last for three hours?

“Senior Brother Ji, do your best!”

Putting past grievances aside, Li Si cheered for Ji Chang in his heart. Then, with a clear conscience, he returned to the Stone House. Senior Sister Jiang’s Great Soul-Returning Broth was indeed good, with excellent flavor. He could now enjoy it as a delicious meal.

So, while thunder rolled outside, everyone inside the Stone House ate happily.

The Old Madam finished three bowls of her Great Soul-Returning Broth and continued to sit with her eyes closed, resting and seemingly doing nothing. Xu Shen did the same. Only the two middle and three junior disciples, who knew nothing, were still afraid.

This miraculous Floating Cloud Sect.

So Li Si became even less worried. He continued to study the Artifact-Control Incantation. When the Mind-cleansing Aura faded, he couldn’t help but yawn. He curled up in the corner and quickly fell asleep. He casually placed the small leather pouch underneath his body, determined not to let the Little Girl take it to play with.

He slept very soundly. Even the constant thunder outside did not disturb him.

By the time Li Si woke up again, it was already the next day. Senior Sister Jiang was cooking Great Soul-Returning Broth. Xu Shen was nowhere to be seen, but Ji Chang had returned. His face was as pale as paper, and there was even a trace of bloody red at the corner of his mouth. He lay there, unconscious, making people almost think he was about to die.

Of course, that was actually impossible.

Taking a glance at the Old Madam, she was actually enjoying her breakfast with great relish. So, it seemed Senior Sister Jiang had already cooked a pot of Great Soul-Returning Broth.

As if sensing Li Si’s gaze, the Old Madam suddenly turned her head. Her cloudy eyes also glanced at him, somewhat slyly, like a crafty old thief… Oh, sin! The Master’s gaze is always filled with kindness and benevolence, illuminating the path forward for us disciples of the Floating Cloud Sect…

The next second, the Old Madam extended a finger and crooked it, gesturing for Li Si to come over.

At that moment, Li Si’s scalp tingled. But he knew there was nothing he could do. He could only carefully stand up, walk over, and respectfully perform the proper etiquette and greetings.

“Li Si, yesterday your Senior Brother Ji Chang mentioned that it seemed you encountered some kind of stroke of luck outside, as your vitality and blood are even more vigorous than before. Is this true?”

“What? When did that scoundrel Ji Chang report on me?”

Li Si was taken aback and felt uneasy inside. But on the surface, he scratched the back of his head shyly. “Reporting to Master, I… I don’t know either.”

This was his only answer. After all, in front of this cunning Old Madam, saying more led to more mistakes, saying less led to fewer mistakes, saying nothing led to no mistakes. As for the rest, she could think whatever she wanted.

He was only certain of one thing: the current situation was also quite unfavorable for the Old Madam. She definitely would not waste her precious Magic Power on minor suspicions, including using secret techniques like divination.

In short, the Old Madam was currently acting like an old turtle playing safe. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have tricked her disciples so thoroughly.

“Heh heh!”

The Old Madam actually laughed. She looked very kind. Maybe because she was in a good mood?

Li Si glanced at Ji Chang, who seemed neither alive nor dead, and continued to act ignorant, cute, and innocent.

The Old Madam did not grab his arm to investigate. Instead, she sighed and said to Senior Sister Jiang, “Your Senior Sister asked me for a Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill last night. This pill can neutralize a certain amount of pollution toxins in your body. It should allow you to continue cultivating for a while. Breaking through to Foundation Building is impossible, but at least it can give you some ability to protect yourself.”

“Thank you, Master! Thank you, Senior Sister!”

Li Si was first stunned, then overjoyed. He bowed and expressed his thanks. This was something he had never expected. Senior Sister Jiang actually cared so much about him. Ah, the debt of gratitude just kept growing.

But the Old Madam paid no more attention to Li Si. She continued to sit with her eyes closed, resting and doing nothing, truly carefree.

Instead, Senior Sister Jiang handed him an exquisite white jade bottle.

“Junior Brother, you don’t need to thank me so much. This is what you deserve. The situation our Floating Cloud Sect is in now is very difficult. That’s why we all must find ways to overcome the hardships together, watching out for each other. Although you are young, you are very responsible. You are bold but not reckless. I’m just helping you within my means. Take it quickly. This is one of the few precious pills Master has left.”

“Yes, Senior Sister. I won’t let you down.”

Li Si said solemnly. He took the white jade bottle. Instantly, a line of information appeared.

“Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill obtained. After consumption, it can reduce Alienation Contamination Degree by 5%, increase Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress by 1%, and restore 500 points of Magic Power. It can be consumed consecutively up to five times. After five pills, it no longer has any effect.”

Li Si was overjoyed, but also felt a deep sense of caution.

He could not be sure if his secret had been discovered by the Old Madam. But without a doubt, because of his proactive behavior over the past two days, he had successfully risen from the level of Junior Brother Zhu and Junior Brother Shan, becoming a more valuable disciple within the Floating Cloud Sect.

As for whether this Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill was truly requested by Senior Sister Jiang for him, or if the Soy-Sauce Crone just agreed conveniently, that was hard to say.

But one thing was absolutely certain.

Li Si had now become the fourth major tool-person in the Floating Cloud Sect, after Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and Jiang Ying.

However, he was still more than willing. Because he could finally cultivate openly and legitimately, and openly legitimize some of the benefits brought by the Fate Forge.