Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 41: Gathering Spirit Ring
After reporting to Wang De, Li Yuan was told to wait for further notice.
Wang De also said he would keep an eye out for any Loose Cultivators with similar Jade Pendants, but that it would be difficult to investigate—he couldn’t just search people’s bodies.
Back home, Li Yuan took all the Spirit Stones from his sleeve and counted them on the table.
His newly received monthly stipend, patrol subsidy, his cut from hunting the Demon Beast, and the Spirit Stones looted from the rogue cultivator—all added together, they formed a large pile on the table.
The loot from the rogue cultivator alone amounted to a full forty-eight Spirit Stones.
Li Yuan put the Spirit Stones back into his sleeve, left his residence, and headed up East Street toward North Alley.
He first stopped at a Loose Cultivator’s stall that sold Talismans.
"Three Spirit Shield Talismans, three Fire Snake Talismans, and two Godspeed Talismans."
It wasn’t that he was unwilling to buy from Old Zhang’s stall, but he had no use for Old Zhang’s Talismans at the moment.
The stall owner quoted a price. Li Yuan paid with Spirit Stones and tucked the Talismans neatly into his sleeve.
He then went to Old Sun’s stall and bought two Replenishing Essence Pills, a type of medicine used for rapid injury recovery.
The pills and Talismans cost a total of fifteen Spirit Stones, the equivalent of five months’ salary for an ordinary Inspector General.
Because the Inspector Generals were bound by a contract with the Wang family, they actually earned less than some Loose Cultivators.
After walking another half a block down East Street, Li Yuan stopped in front of a stall.
The Gathering Spirit Ring was still there.
Its brass-colored surface was mottled with rust, its Spirit Patterns barely visible, and it sat inconspicuously in a corner of the display.
"How much for this?" Li Yuan asked, pointing at the Gathering Spirit Ring.
The stall owner was the same gaunt, middle-aged Loose Cultivator from before. He looked up at Li Yuan, recognizing him as the person who had inquired about the price earlier.
"Still fifteen."
"Thirteen," Li Yuan offered.
"Nope. Fifteen, price is firm."
"Fourteen."
The stall owner rubbed his hands together, hesitated for a couple of breaths, then gritted his teeth.
"Deal."
Li Yuan took out fourteen Spirit Stones, stacked them on the stall’s cloth, and slipped the Gathering Spirit Ring into his sleeve.
After returning to his residence, Li Yuan bolted the door, sat on the edge of his bed, and took out the Gathering Spirit Ring.
[Equippable Item Detected: Gathering Spirit Ring (Complete)]
[Entry Preview: Spiritual Qi Convergence (White) — Increases the range and speed of Spiritual Qi absorption during cultivation.]
[Permanence Condition Preview: Absorb the Spiritual Qi from ten Spirit Stones while equipped (0/10)]
[Current equipment slots are full (2/2). Replace a currently equipped item?]
’Spiritual Qi Convergence. It increases the range of Spiritual Qi absorption and boosts the speed of its influx.’
’The effect isn’t as potent as my existing Spiritual Qi Filtration or Circulation Acceleration, but it can stack with them.’
’Plus, the condition for making it permanent is extremely simple—absorb the Spiritual Qi from ten Spirit Stones.’
’If I really push myself, I can absorb the Spiritual Qi from ten Spirit Stones in just a few days.’
’And once this entry is permanent, it’ll be my fifth permanent entry of White grade or higher, which will unlock my third equipment slot.’
With a thought, Li Yuan unequipped the Iron Bull Skill.
’The boost from my Spiritual Power Condensation entry is much greater than the one from Organ Strengthening right now.’
Then, he equipped the Gathering Spirit Ring.
The brass ring dissolved into a dim yellow glow that sank into his wrist, which grew slightly warm.
The next moment, Li Yuan felt a subtle change in the surrounding Spiritual Qi. The range of his perception had expanded.
Previously when he cultivated, Spiritual Qi would surge in from a radius of about ten feet around him. Now, that range had expanded, and Spiritual Qi from fifteen to twenty feet away was converging on him.
The influx was also slightly faster, though the increase was limited.
Compared to the immediate, tangible effects of Spiritual Qi Filtration and Circulation Acceleration, the boost from Spiritual Qi Convergence wasn’t particularly strong.
’But it’s enough.’
Li Yuan took out a Spirit Stone, held it in his hand, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate.
Later that night, the Spirit Stone in Li Yuan’s hand turned dim and gray, its Spiritual Qi completely drained.
[Spiritual Qi Convergence (White) Permanence Progress: 3/10]
’So, absorbing three Spirit Stones gets the progress to three. At this rate, I’ll need seven more. No rush, I can absorb them on the road.’
Li Yuan then stood up and took his place in an empty area of the room.
Nourishing Essence Skill, Fifth Stance—Returning to the Origin.
He went through the motions once, twice, three times.
After reaching the Qi Refining Fifth Level, his progress in mortal cultivation techniques had sped up considerably.
A notification popped up on his panel.
[Nourishing Essence Skill: Adept (0/800)]
Li Yuan finished his practice and stood still, letting out a long breath of turbid air. ’I’ve been so focused on cultivating Spiritual Power lately that I’ve neglected my mortal techniques.’
’Still, reaching this level only took about a month, which isn’t slow at all.’
Unlike the changes from mastering the Iron Bull Skill, the most immediate sensation after mastering the Nourishing Essence Skill was a change in the liveliness of his Qi Blood. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Before, his Qi Blood flowed through his body like a quiet river, simply going where it was directed. Now, it was as if the river was filled with countless undercurrents. When his Qi Blood reached his fingertips, it no longer dissipated but instead looped back, forming a small cycle at his extremities.
Li Yuan dismissed the panel and sat cross-legged again.
Grasping a Spirit Stone, he circulated his Spirit-Introducing Skill and continued to work on the permanence progress for his Gathering Spirit Ring.
...
「The next morning, outside the eastern gate of the marketplace.」
Dawn had just broken, and the air carried a cool, damp, grassy scent.
When Li Yuan arrived, a good number of people had already gathered at the meeting point.
Three patrol squads, plus members of the Wang family—about thirty people in all—stood by the roadside in small groups.
Li Yuan immediately spotted He Shou at the front of the group, whispering with a member of the Wang family who was dressed in a gray-blue robe.
Li Yuan’s gaze swept over the crowd, pausing on a figure near the back.
Fang He.
Fang He saw Li Yuan as well and gave him a nod.
Li Yuan walked over to stand beside him.
"You’re here too?"
"Yep." Fang He stretched his neck. "I’m part of the demon hunting team, so I have experience in this area."
Li Yuan glanced over the group again but didn’t see Zhou Dazhuang.
A little while later, everyone had arrived.
A man stepped forward from the front of the group.
He was in his forties, tall and thin, with a cold, aloof expression. The gray-blue robe he wore was made of finer material than those of the other Wang family members, and a longsword with a plain, unadorned, dark-silver scabbard hung at his waist.
His aura was calm and restrained, but Li Yuan could sense that his presence surpassed everyone else present.
This was the captain of the guard contingent, a Wang family member rumored to have a Cultivation at the Qi Refining Ninth Level—two levels higher than Inspector General Captain Wang De.
"Move out."
His voice wasn’t loud, but the surrounding chatter ceased at once.
The group began to move, heading southwest along the dirt road south of the marketplace.
Li Yuan had traveled this road more than once. The first stretch overlapped with his usual patrol route: a dirt path flanked by overgrown weeds, with scattered low bushes swaying in the morning breeze.
He held a Spirit Stone in his hand, absorbing its Spiritual Qi even as he walked. The process was much slower than proper cultivation, but it was better than nothing.
After about an hour of walking, the dirt road ended.
The group didn’t stop, pushing straight on to the southwest over gravel and wild grass. The terrain grew uneven and the thickets denser. In some places, thorns and stunted trees were so tangled that they had to turn sideways to squeeze through.
The guard captain led the way, his pace unhurried but exceptionally steady. He seemed to know the route by heart, never hesitating at a single fork.
Li Yuan noticed that their route wasn’t chosen at random.
Instead of heading straight for the Yuanheng Mountain Range, they were following a wide arc, deliberately avoiding certain areas.
