Chapter 161: Chapter 151: Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light
"While not as vast as a boundless sea, it’s still impossible to master them all."
"Impressive!" Zhu Ju said, genuinely convinced.
"Truly worthy of a True Man Family."
He followed her forward. The names of various Methods were labeled on the shelves on either side, and one Visualization Technique after another came into view.
Spiritual Fox Visualization Image!
White Bone Painting!
Hundred Rivers Converging into the Sea...
"Miss Situ," Zhu Ju began.
"Young Master Zhu." Situ Kongli’s steps faltered slightly. She bit her lower lip, interrupting him in a low voice.
"If you don’t mind, you can just call me Kongli."
"Calling me Miss Situ..."
"...is too formal."
"Well..." Zhu Ju hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Then, Miss Kongli, I was wondering if you have any Treasure Visualization Images here?"
Seeing all these different Visualization Techniques had sparked an idea; he recalled the Treasure Visualization Technique mentioned in the beast hide book.
He possessed the Artifact Refining Truth, and if he could borrow a Treasure Visualization Image to study, he might be able to gain some insights.
"A Treasure Visualization Image?" Situ Kongli looked surprised.
"Very few Magicians practice this Method nowadays, but we do have one such lineage here."
As she spoke, she walked over to a shelf and took out a scroll.
"This is the Mist Banner Visualization Image. Its origins are unknown, but it’s said that once refined into a Treasure, it grants the wondrous ability to travel several miles in an instant."
"If you want it, Brother Zhu, you can just take it."
"This..." Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.
"Is that alright?"
"Of course." Situ Kongli chuckled lightly.
"The materials for refining a Treasure are extremely rare. In the last century, I haven’t heard of a single Treasure Artifact True Man appearing."
"Besides..."
"Aren’t the lives of my second uncle and me, Kongli, worth more than a single Visualization Technique?"
"In that case," Zhu Ju nodded, no longer refusing, "thank you."
He unrolled the scroll and glanced at it. It depicted a Long Banner that resembled a colorful cloud, with numerous annotations below it.
Next to the listed materials, the character for ’lacking’ was written many times.
’Mist Banner?’
’I wonder if I can refine this treasure using the Artifact Refining Method. If I succeed, what grade would it be?’
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the two of them had already ascended to the second floor.
"Brother Zhu."
Situ Kongli opened a wooden box sealed with a Forbidden Technique and handed him an old, yellowed booklet.
"The Soul Capturing Technique is a Secret Technique passed down in the Situ Family. It has the wondrous ability to seize a person’s mind, making it suitable for both killing and interrogation."
"When cast by a Great Mage, it can even modify or distort another’s memories. It’s truly exceptionally profound."
"Thank you." Zhu Ju’s expression relaxed slightly.
"I appreciate the trouble."
’Finally, I’ve obtained a high-quality Divine Soul Secret Technique. However, this technique is clearly better for interrogation than for killing.’
"It’s my pleasure." Situ Kongli smiled, her thin lips pursed slightly, then she actually turned and fetched another wooden box.
Several Yellow Talismans were stuck to the box. She carefully removed them one by one, and after opening it, she found a hidden compartment.
*CLICK...*
The bottom panel slid open, and a single sheet of yellow paper fluttered out.
"Brother Zhu."
Taking a deep breath, Situ Kongli caught the yellow paper, her expression turning solemn.
"This technique is called the Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light. It’s also a Divine Soul Secret Technique and one of the top-tier inheritances of the Daoist Sects, obtained by our ancestor in his early years."
"I now present it to you, Brother Zhu."
’Hm?’
Zhu Ju looked over in surprise.
’I already have the promised Soul Capturing Technique, yet she’s giving me another Magic technique. And judging by how it was stored, this Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light must be far more powerful than the Soul Capturing Technique.’
"The Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light is incredibly powerful. Once mastered, one can dominate others at the same cultivation level. My father used this very technique to kill Wan Zhengyang. However, it has an immense requirement for Divine Soul strength, and only a Great Mage can cultivate it," Situ Kongli explained.
"For over two hundred years, the heirs of the Situ Family have relied on this technique to establish our current standing."
"Miss Kongli," Zhu Ju said slowly, his expression grave.
"Isn’t this item far too valuable?"
’First the Visualization Image, then the Soul Capturing Technique, and now she’s even bringing out her family’s most treasured inheritance.’
’What does she want?’
"No." Situ Kongli shook her head.
"Compared to you, Brother Zhu, what does a single Magic spell matter?"
"I only hope that, for the sake of our friendship, you might lend a helping hand if the Situ Family faces a crisis, Brother Zhu."
Her beautiful eyes were filled with affection as her delicate body slowly drew closer, as if she would give herself to him with just a single word of response.
Zhu Ju fell silent.
He stared at the Magic technique in her hand for a long time. Thinking about the Situ Family’s current situation, he finally spoke slowly.
"If the Situ Family should face danger in the future, and it is within my power to help, I will certainly not stand idly by."
’I want the Magic technique.’
’And I can agree to help the Situ Family if it’s within my means.’
’But this is just a transaction. It doesn’t involve any romantic feelings.’
"With that promise from you, Brother Zhu, it is enough." A hint of regret flickered in Situ Kongli’s eyes, but also a measure of relief. She then placed the yellow paper in his hand.
"I hope you achieve the status of a True Man soon, Brother Zhu. The Situ Family would be honored to be associated with you."
*
*
*
「Zhu Mansion.」
Zhu Ju sat cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber. After reading through the Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light, a smile couldn’t help but appear on his face.
"Excellent!"
"This Divine Soul Secret Technique can bypass physical defenses and directly attack another’s Primordial Spirit. Without a special Secret Technique or a Magical Artifact for protection, even a Late-Stage Innate Qi Refiner would be injured. It is truly worthy of being a top-tier inheritance from this world’s Daoist Sects, even a cut above the Celestial Dragon Eight Sounds."
"Hmm..."
"However, this technique consumes too much Divine Soul Power. Only a Great Mage can practice it, so I’ll have to set it aside for now."
The Mist Banner Visualization Image, the Soul Capturing Technique, and the Soul-Stabilizing and Soul-Slaying Divine Light.
If Zhu Ju had been willing, even Situ Kongli herself was prepared to offer her body. The Situ Family had truly spared no expense to win him over.
"Enough!"
"Enough. I’ll focus on refining the bell embryo for the Soul-Shocking Bell first."
By now, he had already collected many of the materials needed to refine the Soul-Shocking Bell, most importantly obtaining the key component: the Spirit Jade Bell Embryo.
He was perfectly capable of refining the Soul-Shocking Bell’s embryo.
After refining the bell embryo, he just needed to acquire a few more materials to merge with it, and the Divine Soul Treasure, the Soul-Shocking Bell, would be complete.
With a flick of his hand, the palm-sized Spirit Jade Bell Embryo, as soft and smooth as fine jade, appeared before him.
"Arise!"
Spiritual Light bloomed in his eyes. Zhu Ju quickly formed a series of Spells, sending streams of True Qi into the bell embryo before him according to the Method described in the Artifact Refining Truth, while also taking out the various prepared materials.
As the various materials merged, guided by his True Qi, the Spirit Jade Bell Embryo gradually began to take the shape of the Soul-Shocking Bell.
"Go!"
Zhu Ju suddenly tapped the spot between his eyebrows.
*TAP!*
A drop of heart’s blood fell, landing on the bell embryo.
The blood refining method.
Magical Artifacts refined with this Method were even more powerful.
*VMMMM...*
The Spiritual Light flared brightly.
"Contain!"
Zhu Ju let out a low shout, his hands forming a Seal Technique.
"Heart Fire!"
"Ignite!"
The newly formed embryo of the Soul-Shocking Bell trembled slightly, then transformed into a streak of light and shot into Zhu Ju’s mind.
Under the burning of the Heart Fire, the ethereal Soul-Shocking Bell gradually solidified.
Until...
*DONG!*
A deafening bell toll resounded from his Sea of Consciousness.
Zhu Ju’s eyes went vacant. He felt his consciousness ebb and flow, and when he came to his senses, his perception had become incredibly sharp.
Inside his Sea of Consciousness, a giant hand held a bronze bell embryo. Five-colored Spiritual Light pulsed around it as his Divine Soul Power expanded silently.
"This is..."
He looked astonished and flexed his hand.
"A Great Mage?"
At this very moment, Zhu Ju’s Spiritual Soul Perception had already exceeded thirty zhang, reaching a distance of thirty-six zhang.
The moment the bell embryo formed, his Divine Soul Power had been stimulated and surged dramatically.
And...
The giant hand!
The five-colored giant hand in his Sea of Consciousness pulsed, and its palm lines, at some unknown point, had become identical to those on his own left hand.
