77: Chapter 77 Water and Cloud Inheritance

Lin Muchen continued reading.

"I was a Loose Cultivator three thousand years ago."

"Specializing in the Dao of the Water Element, I created the 'Water Cloud Art.' During the Condensing Liquid Stage, I was already able to fight across ranks against those in the Qi Transformation Stage."

"However, in the struggle for the Great Dao, I was plotted against by enemies and afflicted with the 'Bone-Eroding Cold Poison.' I fled to this place, suppressing the toxicity with my lifelong cultivation, but eventually, my lamp ran out of oil."

"Young one of later generations, if you can reach this place, you must be someone with all Five Elements complete, and thus share a fate with me."

"In the jade box, there is one Jade Slip containing the Complete Manual of the 'Water Cloud Art,' and one 'water spirit pearl' that I obtained in my early years."

"This pearl is condensed from the essence of heaven and earth's water, providing immense help for Water Element cultivation."

"Having received my Legacy, I hope you use it well."

"If you achieve success in the future and encounter Cultivators from 'Cold Ice Valley,' you may ask a question on my behalf..."

"Never mind, the past is like smoke."

At the end of the scroll, the handwriting had become somewhat blurred.

After Lin Muchen finished reading, he rolled the scroll back up.

"Water Cloud Ancestor... being able to fight the Qi Transformation Stage while only at the Condensing Liquid Stage, this Cultivation Technique really has something to it."

[Analysis complete.]

['Water Cloud Art': Earth Rank Low Grade water-attribute Cultivation Technique, nine layers in total, corresponding to the Qi Refining through Ascension stages.]

[Characteristics: Spiritual energy is long-lasting, excels at overcoming hardness with softness. Cultivating it to a profound level allows one to transform water into clouds, integrating offense and defense.]

[water spirit pearl: A rare treasure of heaven and earth, containing pure Water Origin. It can be directly absorbed to strengthen the water element node, or used as a core material for refining water-attribute Magic Treasures.]

[System Suggestion: The Host can immediately absorb the water spirit pearl. The technique Jade Slip can be stored in the System database for later study.]

"Open the jade box first."

Lin Muchen put down the scroll and picked up the palm-sized jade box.

The surface of the jade box was carved with a ring of pale blue runes, feeling ice-cold to the touch.

He tried to pry it open, but it didn't budge an inch.

"System, how do I break this Seal?"

[Seal structure detected.]

[Requires continuous injection of pure water spiritual energy to dismantle the Seal core.]

[The Host's newly strengthened water element node provides spiritual energy of a quality that meets the requirements.]

"Alright."

Lin Muchen placed the jade box on the stone platform and pressed his right hand onto it.

In his Dantian, the water element node flared with brilliant blue light.

A Stream of pure water-attribute spiritual energy surged through his Meridians to his palm and into the jade box.

Buzz—

The runes on the surface of the jade box lit up and began to resist.

But Lin Muchen's water spiritual energy was even more powerful.

The stalemate lasted for about ten breaths.

Click.

A soft sound rang out.

The glow of the runes dissipated.

The lid of the jade box automatically popped open a crack.

"It's open."

Lin Muchen lifted the lid.

Sure enough, two items lay inside.

On the left was a pale blue Jade Slip, as long as a palm and as wide as a finger.

On the right was a pearl the size of a pigeon egg, azure blue and crystal clear, with what looked like water flowing inside.

"water spirit pearl."

Lin Muchen picked up the pearl first.

The pearl felt warm in his hand, and a Stream of pure water Spiritual Qi drilled straight into his palm.

"System, absorb it directly?"

[Possible.]

[It is recommended to guide it to the water element node.]

Lin Muchen sat cross-legged and pressed the water spirit pearl against his Dantian.

With a thought,

The pearl vibrated with a "buzz" and transformed into a streak of azure light, drilling into his body.

It headed straight for the Dantian.

The water element node, as if it had been starving for days, suddenly snapped open and swallowed the entire blue streak of light.

Gulp.

The node visibly expanded by a size.

Its color changed from pale blue to deep blue, and its rotation speed became even faster.

It even caused the entire Five Elements Cycle to accelerate slightly.

[water spirit pearl successfully absorbed.]

[water element node strengthening +35%.]

[Five Elements Cycle Feedback Efficiency slightly increased: 10.2% → 10.5%.]

[Prompt: The water element node is currently the strongest among the Five Elements; consider balanced development in the future.]

"It's at 10.5% now."

Lin Muchen felt comfortable all over.

The water spiritual energy flowed through his Meridians, cool and exceptionally refreshing.

He opened his eyes and picked up the Jade Slip.

"System, read the technique."

[Reading...]

[The Complete Manual of the 'Water Cloud Art' has been recorded into the database.]

[Analyzing technique essence...]

[Discovered that parts of the essence are inspiring for constructing the water-attribute environment of the Origin Star, such as the concepts of 'Cloud Transformation and Rain Moistening' and 'Water Vein Circulation,' which can optimize existing water source distribution and Spiritual Qi flow.]

[The Host can access and study it at any time.]

"Good stuff."

Lin Muchen also put the Jade Slip into his Storage Pouch.

This trip to the Secret Realm was a massive profit.

The five elements origin crystal had brought the cycle to Minor Achievement, with feedback breaking through 10%.

And now he had gained an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique and a water spirit pearl for free.

"This Senior Water Cloud Ancestor was quite a straightforward person."

Lin Muchen stood up and patted the dust off his clothes.

He glanced at the stone platform and put away the scroll as well.

Although this thing wasn't very useful, it would serve well as a souvenir.

Just as he finished tidying up,

Rumble—

The ground beneath him suddenly shook.

The entire underground cave began to sway.

Debris started falling from the ceiling.

"Crap, is it going to collapse?"

[Warning: The Secret Realm space is becoming unstable.]

[Inferred Reason: The core Legacy has been taken, and the spatial power maintaining the Secret Realm is dissipating.]

[Suggestion: Return immediately by the original route.]

"Run!"

Without a second word, Lin Muchen turned and jumped into the underground river.

The Five Elements Body Protection Aura was instantly activated.

A five-colored light shield enveloped his body, and he darted toward the opposite bank like a fish.

The Water spirits in the water also seemed to sense danger, scurrying in all directions.

Lin Muchen swam across in a few strokes, climbed ashore, and rushed into the fifty-meter-long passage.

A louder sound of collapse came from behind him.

The sound of rocks crashing into the river was a series of heavy booms.

Without looking back, he sprinted along the passage.

Reaching the end, he rushed into the Stone Chamber containing the Five Elements formation diagram.

The Stone Chamber was also shaking.

Rocks on the walls were tumbling down with a clatter.

"Where's the exit?"

Lin Muchen looked toward the light gate entrance he had come through.

The light gate was still there, but it was shaking violently, and its edges were starting to blur.

"System, can I still get out?"

[The spatial passage is about to close.]

[Remaining time: approximately thirty breaths.]

[Charge out!]

"I'm going for it!"

Lin Muchen gritted his teeth, fully activating the Five Elements Cycle.

The Protective Aura flared with brilliant light.

He kicked off the ground, and his entire body shot toward the light gate like a cannonball.

He dived straight in.

Buzz—

The world-spinning sensation returned.

But this time the passage was even more unstable, with surrounding spatial turbulence whipping around like crazy.

The Five Elements Body Protection Aura hissed under the strain, its light flickering uncertainly.

"Hold on!"

Lin Muchen pushed forward with all his might.

The exit light point ahead was rapidly shrinking.

"Fast! Fast! Fast!"

Only this one word remained in his mind.

Just as the light point had shrunk to the size of a washbasin, he finally reached it.

He lunged out headfirst.

Thud!

Lin Muchen crashed onto the ground and rolled several times.

A soft "poof" sounded behind him.

He looked back.

Deep within the valley fissure, the light gate had completely vanished.

Only a pitch-black cave remained.

"Huff... huff..."

Lin Muchen lay on the ground, panting heavily.

He had almost been trapped inside.

[Successfully exited the Secret Realm.]

[The spatial passage has completely closed.]

[Next opening time: Unknown.]

[May be permanently closed.]

"If it's closed, then so be it. Anyway, I've taken everything I should."

Lin Muchen sat up and checked himself.

He was fine.

Just his spiritual energy consumption was a bit high.

He glanced at the System panel.

His points were still over nine thousand, unchanged.

Lin Muchen smiled.

"A massive profit."

He stood up and looked at the cave.

He could no longer feel any spatial fluctuations inside.

With the Water Cloud Legacy taken by him, this Secret Realm was likely finished.

"Time to head back."

Lin Muchen turned and walked toward the outskirts of the Vast Mountain Range.

As he walked, he planned in his mind.

"I can learn the 'Water Cloud Art,' but my main focus is still the Cultivation Technique given by the System..."

"However, the water environment construction concepts within it can be immediately applied to the Origin Star."

"System, can the current water source distribution on the Origin Star be optimized?"

[Possible.]

[Accessing relevant essence from the 'Water Cloud Art'...]

[Concept of 'Cloud Transformation and Rain Moistening': Can guide the Origin Star's atmospheric water cycle, making rainfall more even and covering arid regions.]

[Concept of 'Water Vein Circulation': Can optimize groundwater flow, connecting scattered water sources to form a living water network.]

[Implementation requires points and will provide long-term gains for the Origin Star's overall ecological stability and Spiritual Qi concentration.]

"Roughly how many points?"

[Preliminary optimization plan: requires 800-1,200 points.]

[Can be implemented in phases.]

"Alright, I'll do it when I get back."

Lin Muchen quickened his pace.

This trip to the Vast Mountain Range was well worth it.

Not only did it solve the trouble in Black Rock City, but he also gained a Secret Realm Legacy.

His cultivation hadn't directly broken through, but his foundation had thickened considerably.

Especially with the Five Elements Cycle reaching Minor Achievement and feedback breaking 10%.

His future cultivation speed would be even faster.

"Once I return and apply the water environment concepts from the 'Water Cloud Art' to optimize the Origin Star's ecology again, the Feedback Efficiency might even increase."

The more Lin Muchen thought about it, the better he felt.

He passed through the mountain forests and crossed Streams.

Two hours later, he returned to that previous temporary mountain cave.

Everything in the cave was as usual.

He sat cross-legged, his consciousness sinking into his Dantian.

Origin Star.

Chen Tribe.

After not checking for a few days, the tribe seemed to have expanded again.

New wooden houses had been built, and the farmland was even larger.

Beside that central rune stone pillar, a group of people had gathered.

Elder Yan stood at the front, holding a piece of animal skin, saying something.

Lin Muchen didn't disturb them.

He looked at the water source distribution of the Origin Star.

Several main rivers, several lakes.

They were a bit scattered, with some areas in between being dry.

Lin Muchen exited his Dantian and opened his eyes.

Lin Muchen stood up and packed his things.

"Back to the Sect first to digest the gains from the Secret Realm."

"Then... it'll be time to prepare for the push to the second level of Foundation Establishment."

He walked out of the cave and glanced at the sky.

The sun was setting in the west.

It was time to set off.