Chapter 26: I, Li Si, Don’t Need Any Cheat Codes!!
Chapter 26: I, Li Si, Don’t Need Any Cheat Codes!!
Zhuwazi was gone. No one knew if his departure was peaceful.
His body was burned to ashes by Ji Chang’s Demon Slaying Thorn. Because if it wasn’t done that way, the village would soon have another corrupted Demon Man.
After this incident, Ji Chang and Xu Shen became even more unwilling to step outside the Stone House. This was no ordinary stone dwelling. It had been rebuilt with secret techniques to maximally block the prying eyes and corruption of evil entities, demons, and evil spirits.
Like that day, when Zhuwazi called out ‘Senior Sister Jiang’, it had actually alerted an unknown monster. If it weren’t for the Stone House’s protection, Senior Sister Jiang really would have been finished.
Additionally, there was another hidden danger. Since Senior Sister Jiang had been ‘marked’ by that unknown monster, Xu Shen specifically instructed Li Si, Shanwazi, Little Girl, Little Bean, and Little Vegetable Root: from now on, if they were outside the Stone House, they absolutely must not shout “Senior Sister Jiang” ever again.
Because these three words might have already become a kind of locked anchor point. Shouting them carried a high chance of summoning that kind of unknown monster from the Illusory Void.
“Junior brother,” Xu Shen confided sincerely outside the Stone House, “Sister Jiang Ying truly shouldn’t come out of the Stone House easily for a while. If she must go out, it must only be around noon. I and your Senior Brother Ji Chang still need to protect the Master. She’s badly injured right now and must recover quickly; if calamity truly arrives, it will be bad.”
“So, the supervision of the three Formation Arrays around the village will fall to you.”
He spoke very earnestly. Li Si also responded very earnestly.
“Give me one more Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill, and all the work outside will be my responsibility.”
Xu Shen blinked, momentarily stunned and seemingly about to say something else. But Li Si continued: “Including fetching water and hunting Anomalous Weeds and Alien Trees. All included at no extra charge.”
“My good junior brother! With you in the Floating Cloud Sect, it’s simply awesome!”
Xu Shen agreed decisively. Although the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill was the Old Madam’s treasure, he hadn’t been idle for the past three hundred years. Especially since he had the courage to ‘divide the luggage’, secretly stockpiling a few pills was quite easy.
It was worth mentioning that while the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill only reduced contamination toxicity and enhanced Bloodline and Bone Foundation for the first five pills taken, consuming more beyond that still restored 500 points of Magic Power.
Xu Shen himself, not to mention Ji Chang, each had five pills stashed away. As for the Old Madam? Hmph! Her reserves started at a hundred pills. Only the good-hearted Jiang Ying had none; she had given hers away.
Taking the pill Xu Shen gave him, Li Si didn’t put it away. He walked directly into the Stone House. He needed everyone to know that his progress came from solid footing and had evidence as tangible as gold and silver.
I, Li Si, don’t need any cheat codes!
Indeed, both Ji Chang and Senior Sister Jiang looked shocked upon seeing the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill, unable to understand why Xu Shen was suddenly so generous.
“Senior Sister,” Li Si said calmly, leaving no room for debate, “I’ve already discussed it with Senior Brother Xu. From now on, you can peacefully guard the Master inside the Stone House. Everything outside will be handled by me. Including fetching water and hunting Alien Trees and Anomalous Weeds.”
Even before Jiang Ying could react, he added: “Senior Sister, I want to know, does our Floating Cloud Sect have Dao Techniques similar to the Heart-Cansing Curse?”
Jiang Ying was the Old Madam’s trusted disciple and now the next leader of the Floating Cloud Sect. She held access to nearly all its Gongfa and Dao Techniques within that Iron Chest, which Li Si had coveted for a long time.
“The Heart Cleansing Curse? There are indeed a few similar Dao Techniques. But Junior Brother,” Jiang Ying said, then paused, remembering Li Si just received another pill. While it wouldn’t make him a Foundation Building True Cultivator, it would still boost his strength significantly. “…you must know that greed prevents mastery, your current strength…”
“Here, I have another Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill for Junior Brother Li.” Ji Chang suddenly spoke up, offering a pill generously. He had clearly overheard that this audacious Li Si had even taken over future water-fetching duties. Where else could he find such a deal? Naturally, he too possessed an exceptionally benevolent heart.
“Thank you, Senior Brother Ji!”
Li Si was overjoyed and swiftly accepted the pill before Jiang Ying could interfere.
Perfect! With these two pills, his future cultivation, even to the level of a Foundation Building True Cultivator, would be perfectly justified and legit.
Completely cleaned up!
At this point, Jiang Ying felt helpless. But the two pills would indeed bring Li Si’s strength on par with them three. That was a good thing, especially considering the Master’s looming calamity remained unpredictable. Relenting, she rose, walked to the Iron Chest, and pulled out three small booklets.
“Junior Brother, here are three Dao Techniques. They aren’t the orthodox techniques of our Floating Cloud Sect, but they all possess natures somewhat similar to the Heart Cleansing Curse, each with its own unique features. They are the Devil-Sealing Curse, the Calamity-Dispelling Curse, and the Thunder-Summoning Curse. You may choose one from these.”
Three choices. This wasn’t Jiang Ying being stingy. Millennia ago, the Floating Cloud Sect was vast and wealthy, possessing at least hundreds of thousands of cultivation techniques. Though only salvage copies remained in the Iron Chest, there were still thousands. But not a trace of spiritual energy lingered in this world anymore. Countless techniques and Divine Abilities were now useless. Just look at Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and even the Old Madam offering them greater power – they wouldn’t learn it.
In these times, merely surviving was enough. Too much ambition was fatal.
Li Si understood this well. He accepted all three booklets anyway, flipped through them casually, and said, “Senior Sister, could I study them carefully first before deciding which one to learn?”
“Very well,” Jiang Ying agreed without a second thought. Dao Techniques weren’t cabbages; one didn’t learn them instantly.
Thus, Li Si had obtained everything he wanted. He then discussed with Ji Chang and Xu Shen: for the next several days, during the two hours around midday, he would be taking the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pills to meditate and cultivate concentratedly. For that period, one of them would need to maintain the Formation Arrays outside.
Ji Chang and Xu Shen readily agreed. It was only reasonable. Meditation outside the protection of the Stone House was suicidal, and they certainly hoped this bold junior brother would last a few more years.
Next, Li Si resolutely swallowed both pills. Seeing this, Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and Jiang Ying were startled, but it was too late to stop him.
But Li Si had his own calculations.
As the two spirit pills entered his stomach, his Alienation Contamination Degree rapidly dropped to 23%. That was extremely low.
His Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress, meanwhile, jumped straight to 26%.
Combined with the intense amplification of his current Mind-cleansing Aura, this tripled the buffs on his cultivation, massively enhancing his cultivation speed and quality.
Two hours later, Li Si walked out of the Stone House brimming with energy. He relieved Ji Chang. Now, the entire Deserted Village was his domain.
He summoned the Fate Forge and the Information Fragment. His current status was clear at a glance:
Name: Li Si
Age: 14 years
Max Lifespan: 39 years
Alienation Contamination Degree: 23.102%
Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress: 26%
Magic Power: 1200 / 1500
Identity: True Disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect
Fate/Luck: Gray Fortune ×1 (Stored Gray Firewood: 12,000 units)
Dao Method: Heaven-Turning Scripture, Second Level (Cultivation Progress: 14%)
Dao Technique: Artifact-Control Incantation, Elementary
Dao Technique: Demon Slaying Thorn, Advanced, Enhanced Damage +600% + 3 sec Paralysis Lightning
Dao Technique: Evil-Warding Curse, Advanced, Enhanced Damage +600% + 3 sec Evil-Destroying Lightning
Dao Technique: Heart Cleansing Curse, Advanced, Enhanced Effect +600% + Steadfast Mountain Seal 1
Dao Technique: Iron Prison Discipline, Advanced, Enhanced Damage +600% + Purgatory Fire 1
Divine Ability: Heart Cleansing Curse, Elementary (Insufficient strength to cast)
——
“My strength can actually crush Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and Jiang Ying now,” Li Si thought confidently, strolling through the village, feeling exceedingly calm.
How could he not be calm? He currently possessed 12,000 units of Gray Firewood alone, equivalent to 120 units of Gray Fortune. Merging that into a Black Fortune would be feasible, but he wouldn’t do that.
If his former way had been reckless extravagance, now he was teaching himself austerity and meticulous calculation.
For example: Minimizing Alienation Contamination Degrees whenever possible.
For example: No longer solely forcing progress in the Heaven-Turning Scripture’s second level using Fate/Luck, but gaining tenfold benefits through cultivation itself.
And this: Selecting suitable Dao Techniques to learn, rather than blindly mastering them all.
Because Li Si always felt that Fate/Luck was far too elusive. Now, he seemed to have an endless supply. But what about the future?
What if the day came when he fell under the gaze of an Evil God? What if he was directly targeted?
You had to prepare for a rainy day.
With this thought, Li Si pulled out the three Technique booklets again. Information appeared:
“Obtained Dao Technique [Devil-Sealing Curse]. Consumption: 8 units of Gray Fortune to master. Requires 30 Magic Power to cast. Forms a Demon Sealing Aura. Seals the passage of illusory demons within a one-zhang radius for the duration of one incense stick. Note: Once formed, the aura is immobile but can be layered up to three times for enhanced effect.”
“Obtained Dao Technique [Calamity-Dispelling Curse]. Consumption: 8 units of Gray Fortune to master. Requires 30 Magic Power to cast. Forms a Disaster Warding Aura. Can be cast on self or allies. Has an extremely small chance to avert minor misfortunes and difficulties. Duration: 24 hours.”
“Obtained Dao Technique [Thunder-Summoning Curse]. Consumption: 18 units of Gray Fortune to master. Requires 80 Magic Power to cast. Forms a Thunder-Summoning Aura. Within a ten-zhang radius, it randomly attracts 1~3 lightning bolts to strike hostile targets.”
——
“This is troublesome. I want to learn all three of these Dao Techniques! What do I do?”
Li Si couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Honestly, at first glance, the effects seemed mediocre. But the key was that he could enhance them! Enhancing a technique seven times brought it to its apex. Enhancing it beyond that offered a chance to upgrade it to an Elementary Divine Ability. Seemed ridiculously worthwhile.