Chapter 40: Ink-Splashed Jade Bamboo Flag
Luo Xuanyi is unable to improve her cultivation now, but with the help of the body transformed by the Bodhi Pill, she can store spiritual power in her body almost unlimitedly. Moreover, the spiritual power released again still contains poison. Although it is indeed a means, she cannot always liquefy her body to attack at the risk of physical collapse.
What she got must be a magical weapon that could maximize her strengths and be able to attack from a distance. Luo Xuanyi gathered her thoughts and tried to ask the people in the clouds and mist: "Senior, could you please filter out only the magical weapons that can be used to hold things?"
"..." The man in the clouds looked at Luo Xuanyi in silence. Luo Xuanyi had no choice but to sigh and give up the idea of taking a shortcut. He accepted his fate and started searching quickly.
Magical weapons come in all forms, from swords, spears, axes, and halberds that are immediately offensive, to more baffling instruments like vases, zithers, chess pieces, and paintings. Strangely, most Zang Yao Sect members avow they don't employ these readily apparent offensive techniques, using flying swords primarily for camouflage and flight control. Or they employ techniques to conceal the true form of their magical weapons, such as Sikong Qian, who has modified all his own magical weapons to blend seamlessly into the environment. Another example is Qiu Xinglun, who transforms his soul-refined formation flags into dark purple spiritual energy, wrapping them around his magic sword. No one knows which is the ultimate weapon until it strikes. This is the effect of information asymmetry, often conferring an advantage upon initial encounter.
Luo Xuanyi wasn't interested in those swords and axes. Her current figure remained the same as during her initiation: that of a malnourished ten-year-old girl, with arm length and height at a disadvantage. Her focus was primarily on magical instruments with obscure techniques or those that could be used remotely.
After a quick screening, Luo Xuanyi stood in front of a large flag and stretched out her hand again. This time, she carefully examined it and couldn't help but smile.
This flag is called the Ink-Splashed Jade Bamboo Flag, a fifth-grade magic weapon. It uses the ink-stained jade bamboo taken from the ruins of the Guiyu Sea Palace as the frame, and a captivating ink-splashed landscape painting by Dan Tai Lian as the flag surface. It is supplemented with a variety of natural treasures. Although it is only fifth-grade, it cannot be customized to the fifth grade.
This was because the Ink-Splashed Jade Bamboo Flag possessed a unique characteristic: it must be nourished by its owner's spiritual energy, and in turn, it would nourish its owner with the blood of its enemies. The more spiritual energy stored within the Ink-Splashed Jade Bamboo Flag, the greater its power. However, the spiritual energy percentage was too high for cultivators who needed to cultivate. For example, even if an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator were to acquire it, even if they drained all their spiritual energy, they would only be able to launch an attack equivalent to that of a Qi Training Great Perfection cultivator. Therefore, it would be better to cultivate on their own. To unleash the power of the fifth rank, one must at least be at the Golden Core stage, but the attack would only be comparable to that of an average Golden Core cultivator.
The Splashed Ink Jade Bamboo Flag lives up to its name. The spiritual energy stored within it pours out like splashed ink when attacking, creating a natural landscape. This landscape can create illusions, altering the perception of those around them and impacting their state of mind. Each strike requires a fresh infusion of spiritual energy, making it ideal for someone as imbued with spiritual energy as Luo Xuanyi.
The banner featured the captivating work of Tan Tai Lian. Originally a mortal court painter, her skills were unparalleled. One day, a sudden inspiration struck her, and she painted a painting titled "The Upside-Down Styx." She unexpectedly captured every living being in the palace within the painting, ascending to heaven and attaining enlightenment, entering the Foundation Establishment stage. Thus, she founded a school of painting. Her paintings could capture everything from mountains and rivers to cultivators, using them as tools for attack. During her lifetime, her school of painting reigned supreme, and no one dared to challenge her. Unfortunately, she failed to overcome her tribulation during her final ascension, even escaping a celestial thunderbolt. While the world, believing her to have failed, attacked her, she unexpectedly captured over 1,600 cultivators within her painting, captivating the world. Finally, at the end of her life, she passed away peacefully, a truly remarkable woman.
This painting, a practice piece that was accidentally damaged during the looting after her death, is titled "Dyed Mountains and Rivers." It depicts a blood-stained landscape after a great battle. It was originally intended for disciples to protect themselves and cultivate, allowing them to recreate the scene anywhere for enlightenment, but it was damaged. Now, this damaged painting can absorb the blood from all nearby wounds, transforming it into spiritual energy to feed the cultivator. However, the conversion rate is far too low for ordinary cultivators, but Luo Xuanyi can use it repeatedly. She immediately decided to take this magical instrument.
The figure in the mist glanced at her and retracted the star. Luo Xuanyi immediately felt the ink-splashed jade bamboo flag before her become a physical object. It felt surprisingly light in her hands, and she immediately fell in love with it, imprinting it with her. This flag could be large or small. Luo Xuanyi thought about it and shrunk it down to the size of a jade pendant, wearing it around her waist along with the bamboo slips.
There was one remaining magical weapon available. Luo Xuanyi wanted a defensive weapon, but after searching extensively, she couldn't find anything like the Ink-Splashed Jade Bamboo Flag. Time passed, and she finally settled on a fourth-grade Bluestone Cover, also known as the Peach Blossom Cover. This was so named because the Bluestone Cover, when used, would cover the user's entire body, creating the illusion of suspended animation, while forcing the user into a dream filled with peach blossoms.
There's also an interesting story about the Peach Blossom Hood. Legend has it that the craftsman who created it was not particularly gifted, and throughout his life, he could only produce fourth-grade magical instruments. Furthermore, he was unattractive and had no spiritual partner. Unable to bear this, he crafted the Peach Blossom Hood. In his dreams, he could play and frolic with his beloved in a peach blossom forest, and even marry and have children. This legend is incredibly erotic, but to this day, it remains unknown whether the craftsman was a man or a woman, leaving one to chuckle.
In fact, several people who have used it said that the person who appeared in the dream was not necessarily the person they loved. There was even a lifelong enemy who appeared and tried to force himself on them. It was really a spiritual pollution that scared people to death in their dreams. That's why it was always passed on and finally came into the hands of Zang Yaozong Feiyan Pavilion.
Luo Xuanyi was already satisfied holding the ink-splashed jade bamboo flag. In addition, there was the peach blossom cover, which had some flaws in its content but still had life-saving abilities, and the wind-chasing golden fire used for alchemy to assist in escape. Overall, this trip was definitely fruitful.
The figure in the mist confirmed Luo Xuanyi's decision to leave the Guizang Forbidden Land and dissipated in a gentle breeze. A familiar force pushed Luo Xuanyi out of the Guizang Forbidden Land, just in time to see Fang Caiqi, who was seizing the opportunity to meditate and cultivate.
Fang Caiqi felt the ringing of the sensor bell she had set up and opened her eyes alertly. She was surprised to find Luo Xuanyi emerging so quickly. However, she stood up and bowed, remembering the principle of not asking too many questions and causing no trouble. She immediately rang the secret bell and returned to Feiyan Pavilion with Luo Xuanyi.
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