Chapter 402 - 260: New Talent, Mingyi’s Foundation Establishment
Chapter 402: Chapter 260: New Talent, Mingyi’s Foundation Establishment
In terms of speed and movement, it might not have matched a true Water Escape Talent, but it was far more versatile.
’If I can master this technique, I’ll have a massive advantage whether I’m exploring underwater Secret Realms, evading powerful enemies, or launching surprise attacks. My survivability will practically double!’
Lin Changheng marveled inwardly.
For a Cultivator like him, who was accustomed to planning before acting and deeply understood the importance of self-preservation, the appeal of this Talent had, to some extent, already surpassed the other two.
’Among all the Profound Spirit Essence Bloods I’ve encountered, the Talents of this Cold Jade Crystal Scorpion are clearly a cut above. Every single one is so appealing; I wish I could have them all.’
’This means... this Cold Jade Crystal Scorpion’s bloodline was one of the best among its peers.’
But on second thought, that made sense.
Just as an Ice Attribute Strange Spirit Root was rare among Human Race Cultivators, an Ice Bloodline naturally held a unique advantage among Demon Beasts.
...
After some deliberation, Lin Changheng made his choice.
He decided to Spirit Steal the Water Shadow Stealth Talent.
For one, he wasn’t lacking in offensive methods. He could substitute the Extreme Cold control from the Extreme Cold Poisonous Fiend Talent with his Hallucination Technique. Since it was also at the Profound Spirit Level, it was more than sufficient.
As for the "Poisonous Fiend" aspect, he had the Fire Poison Demon Technique and the newly acquired Tier Two Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Ten Thousand Poison Skull. Their functions overlapped somewhat, so he decided to forgo it.
The Water Shadow Stealth Technique, however, was excellent for self-preservation, escaping, and launching attacks from concealment in aquatic environments. And since Lin Changheng had long resided on Jade Belt Lake, where the air was thick with mist, having this technique would make him like a fish in water.
The moment he decided, he gathered all the Essence Blood, unsealed the bottles, and poured the contents together.
He dipped his palm in, coating it with the Essence Blood. The Primordial Cauldron in his sea of consciousness trembled lightly.
A Treasure Seed rapidly formed and solidified.
[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]
[Cold Jade Crystal Scorpion Treasure Seed·First Layer]
...
[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]
[Cold Jade Crystal Scorpion Treasure Seed·Second Layer]
...
[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]
[Cold Jade Crystal Scorpion Treasure Seed·Third Layer]
...
The Spirit Stealing proficiency of his Water Shadow Stealth Technique jumped directly from Peeping Path to Tongming.
The three consecutive Treasure Seeds sank into his Divine Soul, washing over it.
Lin Changheng immediately felt an incredible sense of comfort.
A light, ethereal feeling spread through him, as if his Divine Soul had been nourished and strengthened.
Even his Divine Sense had changed.
Without taking the time to appreciate the effects of his Water Shadow Stealth Technique: Tongming, Lin Changheng immediately cast out his Divine Sense.
He pushed it to its absolute limit.
Four hundred fifty zhang!
Compared to the three-hundred-zhang range of an ordinary Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was an increase of one hundred and fifty zhang.
It was a significant improvement. The strengthening effect that Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis had on his Divine Sense in the years since his breakthrough to Middle Stage Foundation Establishment was finally showing.
The boost wasn’t as drastic as what came from the Metamorphosis of a Divine Power True Intent.
But a Divine Power True Intent was something one could only encounter by chance, not actively seek out. It was only guaranteed if one could perform Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis using the Essence Blood of a True Spirit; otherwise, it was purely a matter of luck.
...
With the Spirit Stealing complete, the Talent Treasure Seed for Water Shadow Stealth had fully integrated into his bloodline and Divine Soul.
Lin Changheng took a single step, transforming into a ghostly shadow and reappearing at the island’s edge.
The night mist rose from Jade Belt Lake, and the swirling water vapor enveloped him in a cold dampness.
Instantly, an unprecedented and strange sensation enveloped him.
He didn’t feel any increase in power. Instead, he felt his very presence on the mist-shrouded island begin to fade. It was like a drop of ink falling into a clear spring, naturally diffusing and blending in until they were indistinguishable.
He was still the drop of ink, yet he had also become part of the water.
With just a thought, without even needing to deliberately channel his Magical Power, he looked down at his hands and saw their edges beginning to blur, as if viewed through a layer of flowing water. The moonlight that struck his body refracted ever so slightly.
He walked to the edge of the lake, looked at his reflection, and saw that his figure had become incredibly faint.
"What a strange feeling..." Lin Changheng muttered to himself. His voice seemed to be absorbed by the surrounding mist, making it sound somewhat ethereal.
He decided to give it a preliminary test. He extended his Divine Sense toward a nearby Tier One Spirit Fish. It continued to swim leisurely, completely unaware of his presence.
Lin Changheng now understood. The ability of the Water Shadow Stealth Technique to conceal one’s aura and Magical Power fluctuations was confirmed.
Then, with a glint in his eyes, he sank directly into the lake.
The moment the lake water touched his body, it offered no resistance. Instead, he felt a strange affinity with it, a gentle propulsive force.
It was completely different from how it felt to enter the water before.
With a mere thought, his body seemed to become part of the current. He glided forward silently and with incredible speed, not creating so much as a single ripple. Only the weeds on the lakebed swayed gently.
This method of moving through water was far stealthier and more fluid than riding an Escape Light.
As he grew more familiar with this new ability, more subtle variations began to manifest.
This must have been a result of reaching the Third Layer of Spirit Stealing.
A flare of Flame evaporated the water from his body. He stood by a mist-shrouded reef and focused his mind again. The water vapor beside him rapidly condensed, forming a pale blue Water Shadow Clone that looked almost identical to him. Although its aura was weak, the distorted light made it realistic enough to fool an observer.
The two "Lin Changhengs" moved in different directions at the same time, instantly disrupting the surrounding flow of energy.
’Excellent! So this must be the "Shadow" part of Water Shadow!’
Lin Changheng’s figure reappeared inside his Secluded Meditation Chamber, a pleased smile finally breaking across his face.
’Like a fish in water, like a shadow following its form... This Water Shadow Stealth truly lives up to its name!’
From this day forward, whether in Jade Belt Lake or the vast aquatic world beyond, he now had another ace up his sleeve, one that allowed him to advance or retreat at will.
’The wonders of Profound Spirit Level Essence Blood are already becoming apparent. It’s so much more powerful than Mortal Filth or Muddy Evil Essence Blood. I can only imagine how powerful Spirit Stealing from Nether Void Essence Blood, which I’ve never even encountered, would be.’
Lin Changheng’s eyes shone with anticipation.
All five of his Species Positions for Mortal Filth Essence Blood were now full.
Of his ten Species Positions for Muddy Evil Essence Blood, eight were filled. He had used another to Spirit Steal two layers from the Profound Edge Vulture, leaving just one slot empty.
Because two of the Muddy Evil slots had not yet been fully utilized and freed up, he currently only had thirteen Species Positions available for Profound Spirit Essence Blood.
At this level, his acquisitions included the completed Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis of the Jade Wave Spirit Turtle; the Fourth-Layer Nourishing Spirit Anomaly Technique from the Deep Lake Spirit Clam; the Fourth-Layer Hallucination Technique from the Cyan Rain Mist Toad; the Third-Layer Earth Control Technique from the Black Armored Earth Turtle; and a single layer from the Cyan Mist Temple’s Tamed Beast, the Eclipse Crow.
And finally, there was the Cold Jade Crystal Scorpion he had just acquired tonight.
In total, these occupied six Species Positions.
With the exception of the Cyan Mist Temple’s Tamed Beast, the Eclipse Crow—for which obtaining future Essence Blood was uncertain—there shouldn’t be much of a problem with the others. He should be able to max out their Spirit Stealing layers and eventually achieve Metamorphosis.
’Especially the Cyan Rain Mist Toad Essence Blood,’ he thought. ’Once Yan Mingyi finishes her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, I’ll make another trip to the Immortal City to see Bai Zhenchuan and secure the rest of that Essence Blood. Best to have it in hand.’
If he continued on this path, achieving "Ten Thousand Laws on Body" was only a matter of time.
Finally, he performed an Introspection, checking his Spirit Root—
His Water Spirit Root had reached seventeen wisps of Spiritual Charm!
...
「Three months later, on Moonrest Island.」
A massive cloud of Spiritual Qi, drawn by an unseen force, converged from all directions over Jade Belt Lake. Like a hundred rivers flowing to the sea, it swirled above Moonrest Island, dimming the sky.
Suddenly, the center of the Spiritual Qi cloud caved in on itself.
It formed a rapidly spinning Spiritual Qi Vortex, visible to the naked eye! Like a funnel, the vortex frantically devoured and compressed nature’s spiritual energy, then transformed into an incredibly dense, milky-white pillar of light that came crashing down.
This spectacle could hardly go unnoticed by the Cultivators on the two neighboring islands.
"With a commotion of this scale, someone must be breaking through to Foundation Establishment."
Both Xu Maoling and Cheng Suling were alerted. They flew high into the air above their own islands, keeping their distance to avoid any misunderstanding as they watched from afar.