Free Web NovelChapter 66: Chapter 41: Clash
After the Black Dragon Brothers fled, Xuzhuang did not linger. Fortunately, while he had little Magical Power remaining, it was enough to carry him hundreds of miles away to a small island.
Xuzhuang found a spot to land, his face already pale. He didn’t immediately begin to meditate and recover, however. Instead, he released Lieyun from his sleeve.
The flood dragon was now covered in wounds, having been struck by the aftershock of Xuzhuang’s Sword Qi clashing with the Black-armored Youth’s secret treasure. Fortunately, it was only an aftershock. Thanks to its powerful demonic physique, its life was not in danger.
"I owe you a great deal for this, Lieyun," Xuzhuang said.
Lieyun’s draconic head drooped, looking listless. "It was my duty, Master," it replied.
Xuzhuang took two Elixir Bottles from his sleeve. "I don’t have any Spirit Medicine specifically for demonic beasts," he said, "but this bottle of Jade Dew Life Pills is of superior quality. They should have some effect on your injuries."
"This other bottle contains Marquis Fuhai’s Jiao Pearl. It should aid your cultivation."
Lieyun looked at them and said, "Thank you, Master." It then took both Elixir Bottles from Xuzhuang’s hand with its mouth and swallowed them whole.
Xuzhuang nodded. "Don’t rest just yet. I have something else for you to do."
A pained look came over Lieyun’s face. "Please instruct me, Master," it said weakly.
Xuzhuang took a pouch from his sleeve and gave it to Lieyun. "Listen carefully..."
Lieyun listened intently, nodding from time to time. When Xuzhuang finished his instructions, he added, "If things get desperate, you can sacrifice the Jiao Pearl. Don’t hesitate. I will make it up to you later."
Lieyun nodded again. After the day’s battle, Xuzhuang’s trust in the creature had grown considerably. Seeing it nod, he knew it had taken his words to heart. Satisfied, he nodded and waved his hand. Lieyun’s body slithered away, disappearing from sight.
With his preparations complete, Xuzhuang finally breathed a small sigh of relief. He found a large rock, sat down cross-legged, and took out a box. Opening it revealed a layer of Five Elements True Sand, which he placed before him. He then closed his eyes and began to meditate.
The perilous magical battle had consumed a great deal of Xuzhuang’s Core Energy, and his Magical Power was nearly depleted. Fortunately, his foundation was profound and had not been fundamentally damaged. After just a short period of meditation, his internal energy stabilized. As he breathed in the ambient Spiritual Qi, his Magical Power began to trickle back into existence.
The Land of the East Sea truly did have innumerable Spirit Veins. Though this island was small and uninhabited, its Spiritual Qi was not thin. Xuzhuang’s absorption rate was vast, and in just a few moments, he had recovered a good deal of Magical Power, and color returned to his face.
With a small reserve of power restored, Xuzhuang employed another technique. He exhaled a breath of Magical Power, which transformed into a mist. The mist coiled around the Five Elements True Sand, gently grinding it. Fine powder fell away, blown off by the wind, while the Spiritual Truth within the sand was drawn back with the mist and absorbed completely into his body.
This superior Spiritual Truth—reputed to be a perfect embodiment of the Five Elements, capable of manifesting at will, and able to be refined to directly increase one’s Magical Power limit—was being used by Xuzhuang simply to recover his spent power. It was an outrageous waste of a precious treasure.
By now, Xuzhuang had recovered ten or twenty percent of his Magical Power. His Core Energy, however, could not be restored so quickly; that would require arduous cultivation in the days to come.
Xuzhuang did not relax. He cultivated with single-minded focus, striving to recover every last wisp of Magical Power he could.
The sun passed its zenith and began to descend. The sea breeze blew through the sparse woods, a constant WHOOSH filling the air. After four hours had passed in this way, Xuzhuang, still in silent meditation, suddenly spoke. "Since you have arrived, miss, why not show yourself?"
Laughter like silver bells echoed from the empty air. The Demoness suddenly materialized on the branch of a tree, her long, plain white dress revealing a pair of snow-white bare feet that dangled and swung in the air.
"Your Spiritual Sense is truly extraordinary, sir. I only just arrived, and you’ve already detected me."
Without opening his eyes, Xuzhuang said coolly, "Your methods are the truly brilliant ones, miss. I clearly discarded that Stone Talisman. I have no idea how you managed to find me."
Shishi laughed. "Aren’t we allies, sir? Why must you be so on guard against me?" She neatly avoided answering how she had found him.
Xuzhuang replied, "Your words and your actions are inconsistent, miss. How could I dare let my guard down?"
"Surely you don’t think I have malicious intent? You must remember, I swore a Dao Heart oath. How would I dare try to harm you?" Shishi said in a slow, deliberate tone. Seeing his noncommittal expression, she paid it no mind and continued, "So, where have you hidden the Five Demons Transport Map?"
Xuzhuang said, his face devoid of expression, "I was fighting off pursuers the entire time. I was afraid of losing the treasure, so I used a spell to put the Five Demons Transport Map away for safekeeping."
Shishi smiled. "Well, you’ve broken free now. Aren’t you going to take the map out?"
Xuzhuang said, "I have done what I promised you, miss. What about what you promised me?"
"Oh!" Shishi toyed with a lock of her black hair, her flowing sleeve sliding back to reveal a pale wrist and a delicate, bell-adorned Bracelet. With a faint, unreadable smile, she said, "The Sacrificial Refining Method I promised you..."
After a moment of thought, Shishi suddenly said, "Very well. I can give you the method first. Listen closely." She then began to recite the Spell.
Xuzhuang listened intently. He reached into his sleeve and revealed the three-headed, six-armed Venerable Elephant Jade Pendant in his palm. Channeling a trace of Magical Power into it, he began to refine it according to the method she described. Sure enough, he instantly refined a few of the treasure’s internal restrictions. While he was still a long way from truly mastering the artifact, it was enough to prove that her technique was genuine.
"Good. You truly kept your word, miss." A smile touched Xuzhuang’s lips, but he suddenly produced a yellow talisman and slapped it onto the Jade Pendant. Layers of Magical Power sealed it shut before he stowed it back in his Qiankun Bag. Clearly, he did not trust Shishi as much as his words suggested.
