Chapter 22: Longing Is a Sickness

Without any hesitation, Li Si swallowed the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill and drank the two large bowls of Great Soul-Returning Broth that Senior Sister Jiang had specially given him. Then he returned to a corner of the Stone House and began his first cultivation session since arriving here.

Currently, his Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress had risen to 24%, while his Alienation Contamination Degree had dropped to 26%. The cultivation progress of the Heaven-Turning Scripture’s second layer was 7.7%. His Magic Power limit was 920 points, and his current Magic Power was 750 points.

All aspects were quite good.

Especially the advantage brought by his Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress was unexpectedly huge. As he circulated the Heaven-Turning Scripture within his body, it smoothly traveled through his main meridians and dantian. Although he could not absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy from the outside during the circulation of the Heaven-Turning Scripture, the 500 points of Magic Power replenished by the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill could substitute for it.

Even Li Si’s own Magic Power could substitute, but doing so was just counterproductive, meaning that even if cultivation progress increased, there was no overall benefit.

The Heaven-Turning Scripture’s technique was very profound and mysterious. Li Si discovered that running one full cycle consumed 10 points of Magic Power and increased cultivation progress by 0.01%. This was much more cost-effective than simply consuming Gray Fortune.

One portion of Gray Fortune could only increase cultivation progress by 0.1%.

But if he exchanged for one portion of Gray Fortune, obtaining 1000 points of Magic Power, through daily cultivation, he could increase cultivation progress by 1%. A tenfold effect, awesome.

For a while, Li Si had no distracting thoughts. He just kept circulating the Heaven-Turning Scripture over and over until he suddenly felt restless and confused, with chaotic scenes flooding his mind. Only then did he abruptly realize and immediately stop his cultivation.

Opening his eyes, he saw the Stone House was quiet. The Old Madam was still slacking off. Ji Chang and Xu Shen both had weak auras and looked pale and exhausted. They were currently busy sitting cross-legged, meditating to heal their injuries.

Only Senior Sister Jiang was missing.

Undoubtedly, she was outside controlling the Array Control Disk and operating the Five Tribulations Thunderlight Array.

Not daring to delay, Li Si immediately rushed out of the Stone House. He did not know what time it was, but Ji Chang and Xu Shen had each controlled the Formation Array for three hours and were already injured to this extent. Senior Sister Jiang, who was weaker than them, was probably even worse off. So he had to go help.

After Li Si left the Stone House, the Old Madam, who had been slacking off all along, suddenly opened her eyes and revealed a satisfied smile.

Outside the Stone House, Li Si knew nothing about this, but he also breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, everything was under control.

Judging by the daylight, it was probably around 10 to 11 in the morning. Additionally, the Five Tribulations Thunderlight Array was not fully activated. The Demon Man outside the village was nowhere to be seen, seemingly heavily injured last night. This was good news.

Thinking of this, Li Si quickly refined one portion of Gray Fortune and mastered the Artifact-Control Incantation. He did not plan to shirk responsibility. From now on, he was determined to maintain his image as the top of the Four Heroes of Floating Cloud.

“Junior Brother, why are you out? How is your cultivation?”

Not far away, Senior Sister Jiang, holding the Array Control Disk and looking vigilant, glanced over. It was clear she had not expended too much strength at the moment.

Li Si bowed solemnly. “Thank you, Senior Sister, for making it possible. My cultivation has improved greatly.”

He told the truth. With the help of the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill, he had increased the cultivation progress of the Heaven-Turning Scripture’s second layer by 1% in one go, equivalent to saving ten portions of Gray Fortune. Where else could he find such a deal?

As for this cultivation speed, if spoken aloud, it would surely be shocking. Probably even before the Evil God invaded this world, the most awesome genius could not achieve 1% cultivation progress per day.

Wouldn’t that mean one could build the foundation in just over three months?

“No need to be polite, Junior Brother. Stay in the Stone House during this time, cultivate your mind and nature, uphold righteousness and perseverance. To be honest with you, the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill is extremely precious. Its spiritual effect lasts for three days. An opportunity like this might only come once in your lifetime. You must not miss it.”

Senior Sister Jiang spoke very seriously, especially the last sentence, which carried deep meaning.

Li Si nodded heavily. He understood perfectly.

“Alright, go back. That Demon Man was heavily injured by the Five Tribulations Thunderlight Array last night and has fled to who knows where. There’s no need for you to take shifts anymore. Remember what I said.”

Senior Sister Jiang spoke earnestly. Li Si originally wanted to say he had already mastered the Artifact-Control Incantation and could help control the Formation Array, but in the end, he just nodded and obediently went back.

Seeing this, Jiang Ying sighed softly. This was all she could do.

This time, the reason she could ask the Master for that precious Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill was not only because she had always been favored and trusted by the Master, but also due to changing circumstances.

The calamity predicted by the Master had not yet arrived, but a Demon Man, originally a Golden Core Cultivator, happened to wander here.

If not burdened by the calamity, the Master had many ways to lure away or drive off this Demon Man.

Unfortunately, the invisible calamity kept accumulating, elusive and unpredictable. Under such a threat, the Master dared not act. She needed to conserve every bit of strength to deal with the unforeseen great calamity.

To make matters worse, Ji Chang and Xu Shen, two ungrateful people, were still causing trouble. At critical moments, they could no longer be fully trusted or relied upon.

Thus, the Master granted her request to cultivate this Junior Brother Li Si, ensuring there were enough capable people around.

This painstaking effort, only she understood.

It was hateful that Ji Chang and Xu Shen simply did not understand. If the Master could successfully pass the great calamity, it would be extremely beneficial for the future of the entire Floating Cloud Sect, and even the future of the Human Race. Giving a little now would surely bring a hundredfold return in the future.

She only hoped this Junior Brother Li Si would not become an ungrateful person.

“May Heaven protect our Floating Cloud Sect, protect our Human Race.”

——

Over the next two days, Li Si behaved very obediently. He was either cultivating or on his way to cultivate, never stepping outside the village. At most, when he went out for convenience, he exchanged for 1000 points of Magic Power, then returned and continued cultivating under the pretense of the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill.

However, he did not dare to be too reckless. He only cultivated twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, each time increasing cultivation progress by 1%, afraid of revealing any flaws.

But clearly, no one paid him any attention, especially since this was within the three-day effective period of the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill. This was a legitimate opportunity to use a cheat.

The Old Madam slacked off as usual. Ji Chang and Xu Shen also used their heavy injuries as an excuse to slack off. So for these two days, Senior Sister Jiang alone operated the Five Tribulations Thunderlight Array.

Thankfully, that Demon Man never returned. Otherwise, with the Floating Cloud Sect this fragile, it could take on ten of them.

“Senior Sister, let me take the night watch tonight. I’ve already learned the Artifact-Control Incantation. I can’t handle more complex Formation Array controls, but I can manage the night watch. The Master’s calamity might appear tomorrow. You need a good rest.”

After squeezing out the three-day benefits of the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill, at dusk, Li Si found Jiang Ying, who looked very tired. She had been controlling the Formation Array continuously for two days and one night. She couldn’t go on like this.

Actually, Li Si had approached her yesterday wanting to take over, but the stubborn Senior Sister refused. So today, he used a reason she couldn’t refuse.

“This—alright then.”

Since it concerned the Old Madam’s calamity the next day, Senior Sister Jiang finally agreed. Li Si felt a wave of relief. So difficult, Senior Sister, Senior Sister, you don’t know how much the Blissful Mushrooms outside miss me.

Things like blocking someone’s path to wealth should be done less in the future.

“Junior Brother, this is the Array Control Disk for the Five Tribulations Thunderlight Array. First, cast the Artifact-Control Incantation to make it hover above your palm, then inject Magic Power. Remember, this Array Control Disk has three control modes.”

“First, the Five-Calamity Slaughter Array. That means fully activated. You don’t need to worry about this mode because with your Magic Power, it’s hard to sustain.”

“Second, the Three-Calamity Slaughter Array. You can try to master it, but it’s best not to activate it lightly.”

“Third, the One-Calamity Slaughter Array. This is the easiest to control and consumes the least Magic Power. Tonight, what you need to do is maintain the operation of the One-Calamity Slaughter Array. If anything unexpected happens, call me immediately.”

Jiang Ying patiently explained for over an hour until she repeatedly confirmed he had fully grasped it, then returned to the Stone House.

Li Si also maintained a cautious, as if walking on thin ice, appearance, steadily controlling the Five Tribulations Thunderlight Array, showing no flaws.

But in reality, his heart was quite wild at the moment. Ever since the Array Control Disk was in his hands, the streams of information were too exciting.

[Obtained Thunderlight Five-Calamity Slaughter Array]

[Effective Coverage Range: One Square Kilometer]

[Formation Array Characteristics: Comes with the Thunderlight Purgatory Divine Ability, capable of easily killing Foundation Building True Cultivator level enemies.]

[Maximum Damage Effect: Inject 50 points of Magic Power per minute to simultaneously launch Thunderlight Purgatory Divine Ability attacks on fifty hostile targets, or inflict fiftyfold Thunderlight Purgatory attack on a single hostile target.]

[Note: Evil targets killed using the Formation Array are not affected by death curses.]

——

“Wow, the Floating Cloud Sect’s resources are quite rich!”

Li Si was drooling. Although Senior Sister Jiang thought his Magic Power was low and he couldn’t fully operate this Thunderlight Five-Calamity Slaughter Array, in reality, his current Magic Power was not much weaker than Senior Sister Jiang’s.

Over the past two days, through his open and aboveboard cultivation, he had transferred quite a bit of the benefits from the Fate Forge and laundered it into a full 5% cultivation progress.

Currently, his cultivation progress had reached 12.7%, and his Magic Power limit had broken through to 1420 points.

Honestly, except in terms of magical artifacts and combat experience where he might be inferior, in other aspects he could completely surpass Senior Sister Jiang.

The top of the Four Heroes of Floating Cloud was even more worthy of the name.

Of course, Li Si would not become arrogant. His real goal now was to find various Little Mushrooms and express his longing.

Two days had passed. You must have missed me a lot too, right?