Chapter 149: First Appearance of Equipment-Type Hexes

Chapter 149: First Appearance of Equipment-Type Hexes

The moment he broke through, Xiao Chen used his spiritual sense to inspect his dantian internally.

As expected, the spirit flowers representing Yu Ling Jue had fully bloomed. Five petals encased seventy-two stamens, perfectly matching his current maximum of seventy-two mana channels.

Xiao Chen didn’t waste time familiarizing himself with his new cultivation realm. Instead, he focused on the three cards materializing before him.

These three cards all bore golden edges.

[Origin Plan Uplink II: While carrying any magical artifact, restores 2 mana every quarter-hour.]

[Balanced Budget II: At the start of each year for the next forty years, gains 10,000 spirit stones.]

[Not Today: Grants the Night’s Blade. Effect: When the wielder’s health first drops below half, immediately enters a 15-minute invisibility state. During this time, they cannot be targeted, and all negative statuses are removed. This effect can trigger once daily.]

Xiao Chen reviewed the three hexes sequentially.

First was [Origin Plan Uplink II], a standard mana-regeneration hex. Unlike the earlier [Meditation], which required active focus, this was far more practical. While ideal for attrition-based strategies, Xiao Chen had prioritized expanding his mana capacity through Internal Elixir cultivation, making this hex redundant for his playstyle.

Next was [Balanced Budget II]. For a golden hex, its utility was staggering. Individually, its value rivaled Pill Forging Master’s Heart. While the latter required gathering herbs, refining pills, and finding buyers, this hex provided instant spirit stones—a convenient alternative.

Lastly came [Not Today], the first equipment-type hex to appear. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the defensive hex he’d hoped for. Even seasoned players relied on luck.

The good news? The Night’s Blade was a lifesaving ace.

“I’ve made my choice!” Xiao Chen declared, instantly feeling a new item materialize in his storage bag—a purple cloak.

Though seemingly simple, the Night’s Blade had four distinct functions, as Xiao Chen understood from hex mechanics.

First: Damage Absorption. When triggered, any attack reducing his health below 50% would have excess damage directly waived. Crucially, this was a passive effect requiring only possession, not active wear. Even cultivators with no time to react would benefit, making it ideal for countering ambushes or desperate, all-in attacks.

Xiao Chen imagined some unlucky opponent unleashing their ultimate technique, only to watch helplessly as he emerged unscathed.

Second: Invisibility. While most cultivators could track targets via spiritual sense, the Night’s Blade’s invisibility also granted uncapturable status, evading even binding spells like Green Thorn Technique. This allowed him to either strike opportunistically or retreat undetected.

Third: Status Cleansing. All negative effects were purged upon activation.

“With Divine Veil, this might be redundant,” Xiao Chen mused, shaking his head. Still, the first three effects were more than enough.

“Now I can head to Hezhou without fearing Golden Core Zhenren. Even if they chase me, I’ll outrun them.”

Fifteen minutes was ample time. With Zongdi Jinguang, he could escape a Golden Core’s spiritual sense range before invisibility faded. Even if pursued, he could evade by changing direction.

First, he needed to discuss the Chu Mo Dian matter with Mei Yong. But before that, a visit to Elder Chen was necessary.

At the Chen family courtyard, Elder Chen was in his study with Chen Tianyuan, Chen Tianfeng, and other clan elders, finalizing candidates for Hezhou. Similar discussions were underway in other major clans—securing the Ascension Spirit Pill was a generational opportunity no one would miss.

Xiao Chen chatted with Steward Chen for half an hour before the meeting adjourned. Entering the study, he found five late-Stage Foundation Building elders, including one who’d skipped the last Ascension Fair but now sat among them, his cloudy eyes belying a sharp, spear-like aura.

When Xiao Chen announced his intent to join the Hezhou expedition, Chen Tianyuan and Chen Tianfeng frowned. Elder Chen outright objected: “No. It’s too dangerous. Focus on cultivation here or refine pills at the alchemy hall—either is better than risking your life.”

Xiao Chen calmly replied, “Master, I have a reason I can’t explain yet. I must go.”

“Absolutely?”

“Absolutely.”

After a long silence, Elder Chen relented: “We have ten days to prepare. Wait three days. If you still insist, I won’t stop you.”

Though puzzled, Xiao Chen agreed.

Two days later, the answer became clear. Lihuo Sect’s honorary elder was returned in a coffin, alongside two critical rumors.

First: Spirit Origin Sect had developed a new defensive talisman to counter Soul-Chasing Shuttles. Widely distributed, it seemed effective—except the elder had died the day he received it, pierced through the heart.

Second: Whispers claimed Divine Flame Cult possessed a technique to pierce defensive artifacts. Though unconfirmed, the rumor spread rapidly across Li Zhou, likely fueled by the Cult itself.

“Many cultivators dismiss it as impossible,” Xiao Chen mused, “but this is likely Blood Sacrifice Secret Technique’s doing. While I can handle it, most lack Body Cultivation advantages.”

Yet a deeper concern emerged: Why leak such a secret? If Divine Flame Cult aimed to intimidate, they’d miscalculated. Many “peaceful” cultivators were merely cowards in disguise—threaten them enough, and they’d turn to Demonic Dao without hesitation.

At the sect hall, Mei Yong stared at a Blood Sacrifice Secret Technique manuscript, eyes wide.

“This is the rumored technique allowing Divine Flame Cult to pierce defenses?” he muttered, flipping through the pages. “How did this end up here?”

Xiao Chen quickly turned to the side, looking at Xiao Chen with urgency: "Help me sort this out!"

"You're saying that when you were returning from the bazaar earlier, suddenly a golden light technique flashed by, and then an ancient manual appeared on the ground?"

"Exactly."

"His speed was extremely fast, so you couldn't get a clear look at his face?"

"That's right."

"Besides this manual, there were no other traces left, and no pursuers either?"

"None."

Xiao Chen's face was filled with confusion: "This person left the manual so mysteriously. I really don't understand what this means."

"I flipped through it and noticed it seems to be a demonic cultivation technique, so I specially came over to hand it to my senior sect brother."

His tone and expression appeared sincere, as if he were telling the absolute truth.

Mei Yong looked perplexed: "Strange, who on earth would do something like this?"

"Let me think. Someone who would expose the Divine Flame Cult's demonic cultivation techniques at this particular moment must have a personal grudge against them, and must also be a noble cultivator with high moral integrity."

"Whoever obtained this manual must be an extremely powerful cultivator, likely at the Foundation Building peak."

"Plus, he's also proficient in the golden escape technique."

Mei Yong suddenly slapped his thigh: "I get it now! He must be the Golden Light Hermit from Quanzhou!"

"Wait a second, Senior Mei."

Now it was Xiao Chen's turn to look confused: "How come I've never heard that the Golden Light Hermit is from Quanzhou? Wasn't he only seen once in Huangfeng Valley?"

Mei Yong replied matter-of-factly: "Junior sect brother, you don't know this. I've already made inquiries around. Not only does our Li Zhou lack any Foundation Building cultivators practicing the golden escape technique."

"Even in Hezhou, there's never been any mention of such a technique."

"Only Quanzhou has had rumors about the golden escape technique. Other regions simply don't have any related cultivation methods."

Xiao Chen thought for a moment. Now that he recalled, he had indeed purchased the Zongdi Jinguang manual from a black market hosted by Quanzhou cultivators before.

And in other regions, he had truly never encountered any other golden escape techniques.

Mei Yong continued his deduction: "Think about it. Where did the Golden Light Hermit first appear? At the Quanzhou Mutual Aid Assembly in Huangfeng Valley."

"He was forced into exile by the Divine Flame Cult, so he must have been harboring deep resentment, which explains why he's now exposing their secrets as revenge."

"This makes perfect sense."

"Otherwise, why would someone go through all this trouble without seeking fame or profit? It would be completely counterproductive."

"I'm almost certain this manual was sent to us by the Golden Light Hermit himself."

His reasoning sounded solid. If Xiao Chen weren't the actual person involved, he might have been convinced.

Still, he nodded slightly: "Well, Senior Sect Brother, I suppose you're right."

...

As the story of the Golden Light Hermit exposing the Divine Flame Cult's cultivation manual spread, two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Chen once again arrived at the Chen family courtyard, declaring his firm decision to go to Hezhou.

Elder Chen seemed to have anticipated this outcome and didn't try to dissuade him further.

Instead, he gestured for Xiao Chen to sit and began explaining the situation in Hezhou.

"I remember you haven't traveled much beyond our sect. In recent years, you've only been to Shi Valley. Other than that, you've stayed within our sect's territory."

"If you want to go out and see the world, that's not a bad idea. Broadening your horizons will benefit your future cultivation."

"But tell me, how much do you actually know about Hezhou?"

Xiao Chen answered honestly: "I've read the Chu Mo Dian intelligence reports about Hezhou."

Those reports contained publicly available information that other elders in the sect could also access.

Hearing this, Elder Chen nodded: "Don't assume Hezhou and Li Zhou are similar just because they both have three major sects, with Hezhou being slightly larger."

"In many aspects, Hezhou is completely different from our Li Zhou."

"Hezhou has many rare treasures from the Central Domain and Eastern Territory. However, due to the great distance and Li Zhou's barrenness, these items rarely make their way here."

Xiao Chen already understood the distance factor.

When he previously read through Daoba's diary, cultivators at the Great Perfection stage had taken over a month, nearly two, to travel from Hezhou to Li Zhou.

Later, he specially checked maps and learned that between Li Zhou and Hezhou lay a vast expanse of spiritual energy-deprived desert.

The first time he saw this, Xiao Chen had been quite surprised.

This desert spanned nearly the same width as Li Zhou itself, and in the north-south direction, it extended even further, almost matching Hezhou's size.

It was unimaginable that such a massive area could completely lack any spirit veins.

This explained why no cultivators were willing to settle there, leaving no one to drive away wandering yao beasts or protect ordinary people, turning it into a wasteland.

However, for Foundation Building cultivators, this distance wasn't particularly daunting.

Therefore, the key point in this statement was actually "Li Zhou's barrenness."

Xiao Chen asked directly:(End of Chapter)

Chapter end