Chapter 377: Chapter 54: Heart-Connected Lotus Root (Part 2)
Li Shifan quickly replied, "Nothing’s urgent, but given how deep I am, Senior Brother Zhang, you probably won’t be able to make it here anytime soon."
Zhang Deming replied, "It’s fine. Just send me your location and wait where you are for a few hours."
"Alright!" Li Shifan replied succinctly.
Seeing this, Zhang Deming turned off the Light Screen. He hesitated for a moment. ’I’ll deal with the matter of investigating and intercepting things at the auction tomorrow.’
With his mind made up, Zhang Deming turned and went straight back to the Spirit Tower, entering his room.
Inside, Zhang Deming activated the room’s Protective Array, then threw out several Array Cards, activating them one by one as he began his preparations.
Two hours later, Zhang Deming had just about everything ready. The entire room was now under strict protection and surveillance.
He checked the time. It was about right. Zhang Deming lay down on his bed.
He took out the Spirit Crystal Pendant he had prepared long ago from his storage pouch and carefully hung it around his neck.
After all this, Zhang Deming glanced around, checking one last time. Seeing no issues, he closed his eyes.
His Heart Spirit arrived in the Spirit Nurturing Space. Zhang Deming paused, then raised his hand to initiate a Spirit Nurturing Summoning.
Rune Summoning: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique - Qu Qingxian!
’Since I need to send an Incarnation, I can only use the Mirror Image Replicator’s ability. Of all the possible targets, Qu Qingxian should be the most suitable as the base.’
’The Dragon Turtle is much stronger, but if I use its innate abilities, my own Cultivation will plummet.’
’And the amount of Cultivation drained depends on the power of the Technique used.’
’If my Main Body were going, I could make the Dragon Turtle my primary force. Using my Main Body’s various Tier Three Techniques with the Dragon Turtle’s Three Talents Cultivation would be quite powerful.’
’But sending a summoned Incarnation... forget it. My Cultivation can’t take the strain. The Dragon Turtle can only play a supporting role.’
A ball of light coalesced before Zhang Deming, gradually forming into a stranger. He had a sunny disposition, a scholarly air, and a very clean-cut appearance. He looked to be a young man approaching middle age, perhaps around thirty.
Zhang Deming examined the image, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Mm, let’s call you Zhang Buyi. Your cover identity will be a direct-line elder of the Zhang Family."
The generational names were Nian, Guang, Bu, De, and Ze;
Jun, Xiu, Dai, Wei, and Zhong.
These were the ten generations of the Zhang Family. He hoped that one day he’d have used up all the names for his aliases.
Sensing the Incarnation’s Half-Step Yin Yang Cultivation, Zhang Deming didn’t hesitate. With another wave of his hand, a second ball of light materialized.
Rune Summoning: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique - Dragon Turtle!
After the ball of light appeared, Zhang Deming didn’t continue forming a new Incarnation. Instead, he tossed the ball of light straight into Zhang Buyi’s body.
As the Dragon Turtle Mirror Image’s light fused with the Incarnation, Zhang Buyi’s aura expanded dramatically, reaching the Peak of Three Talents in an instant.
’When the light orbs merge, the resulting Cultivation is based on the highest of the two; they don’t combine to a higher level.’
Thus, the Incarnation maintained the Dragon Turtle’s peak Cultivation, not taking that final step.
It was the first time he’d created an Incarnation like this. Sensing the Peak Three Talents Cultivation, Zhang Deming’s Heart Spirit stirred, and he beckoned once more.
Rune Technique: Enhancement Skill!
He immediately cast an Enhancement Skill.
"Ngh..."
But just as the Enhancement Skill took effect and the Incarnation began to transform, Zhang Deming let out a muffled groan.
He decisively canceled the Enhancement Skill. Only after everything had calmed down did Zhang Deming let out a long sigh of relief.
’Even with the help of my golden finger for summoning Incarnations, a Tai Chi like me trying to create a Four Symbols Incarnation... I was getting way ahead of myself!’
After calming his turbulent Spiritual Power, Zhang Deming looked at the Incarnation again. ’Since I can’t enhance it any further, this will have to do.’
With his preparations complete, Zhang Deming’s consciousness merged directly into this Incarnation.
The scholarly Zhang Buyi slowly opened his eyes. After briefly adapting to the extraordinary power within his new body, Zhang Deming waved his hand, summoning the speck of light representing Li Shifan and gently tapping it.
A passageway slowly materialized before him.
Zhang Deming looked at the passageway and plunged right in, choosing to emerge at the furthest possible distance from the Dao Mark.
...
「In the back mountains of the Celestial Spirit Sect, within the Hengduan Mountain Range.」
After receiving Zhang Deming’s reply, Li Shifan observed his surroundings, chose an ancient tree that offered the best concealment, and hid himself in its canopy.
He waited for several hours. Growing bored, Li Shifan lay on a thick branch with one leg dangling and swaying gently below. His other leg was bent, his hands were pillowed behind his head, and he gazed up at the sky through the dense leaves as he spoke:
"Ancestor, what do you think Senior Brother Zhang meant by telling us to wait for a few hours?
Could he really reach us this deep in the back mountains to meet up within a few hours?"
At that moment, a miniature scroll floated above his head. Hearing Li Shifan’s words, Li Cheng’s voice emerged from it, saying:
"You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?
Besides, you’re the one who spends more time with your Senior Brother. If anyone should know, it’s you."
Hearing this, Li Shifan said, "Well, Ancestor, do you think a Tai Chi Stage Cultivator could make it here in that amount of time?"
"Of course not. Setting aside the dangers along the way, we’ve been in the mountains for over half a month. Even though we weren’t constantly moving deeper, a Tai Chi Cultivator could hardly cover that distance in a few hours.
Even a Duality Cultivator would find it nearly impossible unless they’ve mastered a Law Level Escape Skill.
And that’s just considering travel time. If you factor in all the Demon Beasts along the way, even a Duality Great Cultivator would have a hard time getting here."
