Chapter 15: Worth forming a deep friendship with
At this moment, Xiao Cha had her eyes closed, repeatedly poking her fingertip towards the center of her brow.
Without the Refining God Cultivation, the incense only had the effect of "Clear and Spiritual" for her; she was attempting to use this effect to sense her Sea of Consciousness.
However, the Sea of Consciousness, like the vegetative nerve of the internal organs, was not something one could feel.
Nearly an entire stick of incense had burned down, and Xiao Cha had still found nothing.
"Could my Sea of Consciousness already be sealed?"
Although it is said to seal completely at 18, the timing isn't that precise— it could happen several months before or after.
Xiao Cha was somewhat disheartened, but having been mentally prepared for so many years, she shook her head and looked towards her good friend.
"I don't mind, I just hope Wanqing has gained something..."
Focusing her gaze, Xiao Cha suddenly realized—Wanqing's eyes were shining with a brilliance like the stars!
This was exactly like Lu Li during his breakthrough!
Xiao Cha was immediately thrilled! But then she was struck with alarm—
The brilliance in Wanqing's eyes was not consistent; after flickering brightly and dimly, it slowly faded away.
"What's going on?!"
Xiao Cha was anxious; it would be incredibly disappointing if such a good opportunity were to fail.
Suddenly, she noticed the Calming Incense about to burn out and immediately understood: "It must be because the enhancement from the incense is gone!"
Xiao Cha was about to light a new stick when she realized it wasn't hers to use.
Just then, Lu Li opened his eyes.
Xiao Cha quickly lowered her voice and pleaded, "Wanqing is at a critical moment, light another stick of incense, please, I beg you!"
Lu Li immediately grasped what was happening and without a word, he drew a new stick and lit it.
The smoke was faint, and the effect of the incense began to manifest again.
The light in Wanqing's eyes stabilized and grew brighter.
"Phew~" Xiao Cha let out a long sigh of relief, her worry dissipated, and her impression of Lu Li greatly improved!
"This person is quite reliable, worth getting to know better."
Just as she was about to thank him, she noticed that Lu Li had already closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
There were only 8 sticks of Calming Incense left, which couldn't be wasted.
After all, external objects are just aids and cannot provide unlimited spirit.
After the second infusion, Lu Li's recovery had become excruciatingly slow.
After resting for 20 minutes and still feeling dizzy, he concluded that his brain must have reached its limit.
He simply stopped his cultivation and quietly awaited the result from Wanqing's side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a short wait, just as the second stick of incense was about to burn out, the anomaly in Wanqing's eyes gradually receded.
She suddenly stood up, her pretty face flushed with excitement, and then reached out to touch Xiao Cha's face.
Her actions were accurate, devoid of the hesitation of someone blind.
Xiao Cha exclaimed with joy, "You're Concentrating! Can you see now?"
Wanqing first nodded, then shook her head, "I've reached Concentration State, but I still can't see. I can only sense some orbs of light..."
Xiao Cha wore a genuinely joyful smile, "For the first realm, that's already great! You will surely regain your sight one day!"
Wanqing nodded vigorously, then took a deep breath to calm her mental state, and approached Lu Li:
"Thank you for your assistance, young master! I am deeply grateful and will never forget your kindness!"
With that, she placed her hands in front of her chest and kneeled lightly, performing a Formal and elegant Wanfu Ceremony.
Lu Li watched with appreciation and was happy to have helped this tender-hearted girl:
"It was just two sticks of incense; it's because of your own considerable accumulation that you were able to breakthrough smoothly."
"You are too modest, young master. Without your generosity, I would never have been able to sense my Sea of Consciousness!"
One's own people know their own affairs, and Wanqing was deeply aware of the tremendous help those two sticks of Calming Incense had been.
Xiao Cha also interjected with a smile, "We really owe you one this time! Refining God Cultivation is crucial for Wanqing's recovery; if we miss the hurdle of 18 years old, it would be a lifelong regret."
"Recovery?" Noticing this word, Lu Li was puzzled.
Xiao Cha explained:
"Wanqing wasn't born blind. She was originally from Lushun, and ten years ago the city was massacred by Chuyun people; her eyes were blinded by the explosions from Chuyun planes."
Lu Li froze on the spot, never expecting the girl to have such a tragic past, and he understood why she was so eager to pursue cultivation.
To have regained and then lost again, there was no greater pain than this in the world. Lu Li himself also missed the feeling of running freely.
The sun cast its last rays of twilight, coloring the sky a blood-red hue.
Wanqing said with a sense of emotion, "Actually, I've gotten used to it over the years... I had thought I would spend the rest of my life like this, but unexpectedly, I found hope again."
Lu Li spoke softly, "Everything will get better."
Smiling sweetly toward him, Wanqing replied, "Yes, everything will get better."
Just then, a wave of drowsiness hit, and Lu Li yawned.
Nothing could replenish mental exhaustion quite like sleep, not even the most miraculous elixirs.
Wanting to rest early, he announced, "Keep the Calming Incense for yourselves; we can use it together in the future."
After speaking, he prepared to stand up and return to his room.
Xiao Cha appeared conflicted and suddenly called out to him, "Wait…"
Lu Li turned to look at her.
Xiao Cha stepped forward, touched his arm, and said with a delicate voice, "The Calming Incense is so valuable, I can't just take advantage of you for nothing... I will teach you martial arts!"
"Martial arts?" Lu Li showed hesitation. With his disability... could he do it?
Xiao Cha spoke seriously, "Don't think I'm meddling. A few days ago, while acting as the guard for the Governor's daughter, I heard a big secret!"
She paused, then continued, "The Governor's daughter's master said—human spirit relies on the physical body to exist, only a strong body can sustain a vigorous spirit. Thus, for Refining God to achieve success, one must be supported by Martial Arts Cultivation!"
Thinking it over, it did indeed make sense. Lu Li nodded earnestly, "I understand, thank you for the reminder."
"Then, get up early tomorrow~"
"Alright, see you in the morning."
After Lu Li left, Xiao Cha, looking at the Calming Incense on the table, expressed her relief,
"I was being cynical before, it's good I didn't do anything excessive."
Wanqing chuckled, "I told you Young Master Lu is a good person."
"How did you know right from the start, even letting him stay the night?"
"Intuition?"
"..."
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Though he had agreed to get up early, Lu Li, having overused his brain, slept until the sun was high and still didn't wake up.
It was only the sound of Xiao Cha practicing her punches in the courtyard, loud and clear, that finally made him open his eyes.
Stretching lazily, Lu Li felt a boundless energy surge through him!
He was brimming with such vitality that he wished he could bellow a roar into the sky, a feeling he had never experienced before while barely scraping by in Moxico, always cautious and overly polite.
The reason had to be yesterday's Spirit Refining cultivation.
"Indeed, life is in movement, as is the spirit."
Lu Li hastily tested his current abilities.
First was visualization of the Serenity Meditation Diagram, which he accomplished in just two minutes without the Calming Incense.
"One third faster than before!"
Lu Li was very pleased and then entered the Concentration State, admiring Xiao Cha's agile and attractive figure.
In Bullet Time, the details of the girl's movements were crystal clear, down to the beads of sweat flying off her body.
The duration of the Concentration State had also increased by 20 seconds!
Lu Li was overjoyed, "Training the spirit through Refining Magical Treasure is indeed remarkably effective!"
But the immediate result also puzzled him:
"The effect seems too instant... Like building muscle, enhancement of bodily functions should be a quantitative change leading to a qualitative one."
With that thought, Lu Li immediately looked toward the Kunlun Mirror.
If there was anything unique about him, it had to be this Magic Treasure.