https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-220-Cangling-Debate-of-Swords-28-/13547389/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-222-Cangling-Debate-of-Swords-30-/13547391/
Chapter 221: Cangling Debate of Swords (29)
Chapter 221: Cangling Debate of Swords (29)
【Name: Three Blossoms Crowning Technique】
【Skill Card Attribute: Passive Skills, Permanently Mastered】
【Skill Category: Universal】
【Effect: Increases vitality value, stamina value, and spirit energy value recovery speed by 50%】
【Learning Condition: None. This skill card becomes non-tradable after pickup】
【Background: Human Flower: Refining Essence into Qi; Earth Flower: Refining Qi into Spirit; Heaven Flower: Refining Spirit back to Emptiness. When the Three Flowers Converge at the Crown, one remains unshaken by fear, free from anger and resentment, unattached and unobscured, eternally clear and awakened. Those who achieve this divine art will shed their mortal shell and return to the Void Realms.】
As soon as Bei Ling obtained this item, she noticed it was non-tradable and promptly learned it. The Secret Manual in her hands transformed into white light, vanishing instantly. A second later, it became a set of data in her menu.
The power and practicality of this skill were unquestionable. Believed to be a must-have for 95% of players, it would occupy a spot in their twelve skill slots without hesitation. The remaining 5% were extreme cases—players in the late game with tightly interwoven skill combinations that left no room for passive skills.
Excluding such scenarios, this skill could be used by any player from early levels all the way to max level without replacement, and even remain useful post-max.
Additionally, since "recovery speed" was a non-static attribute that varied based on player level, proficiency tendencies, and stat caps, the Three Blossoms Crowning Technique had no learning conditions set.
Bei Ling felt immense joy after acquiring this skill. From the moment she fell into this underground cave until now, she finally had something to show for it. It was worth the long time and hardships she and Xiao Tan had endured.
After reviewing the skill details, she turned to Xiao Tan, thinking: Your [Heaven-Earth Reversal Mantra] must be just as impressive. You’re probably grinning inside.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Tan’s face wore a puzzled expression.
He wasn’t the type to hide his emotions, so his expression already revealed much…
【Name: Heaven-Earth Reversal Mantra】
【Skill Card Attribute: Active Skill, Permanently Mastered】
【Skill Category: Martial Arts】
【Effect: Reverses Heaven and Earth, inverts the Qian-Kun (Heaven-Earth). (No cooldown)】
【Consumption: 2% of stamina value cap】
【Learning Condition: Martial Arts Proficiency B, Spirit Arts Proficiency C, Level 30+, this skill card becomes non-tradable after pickup】
【Background: Martial cultivators seek first to elevate their cultivation realms, second to refine their combat techniques. This technique carves a unique path, using arcane methods to invert the body’s interaction with the external world, creating an unparalleled divine skill.】
Xiao Tan couldn’t decipher the skill’s effect, nor did he meet the learning conditions. He could only pout and temporarily store the skill card in his satchel.
“What’s wrong?” Bei Ling teased with a mischievous grin. “Did it say something like ‘To master this divine skill, one must first…’?”
“To master this divine skill, first hit level thirty.” Xiao Tan retorted.
“Oh, so you can’t learn it yet,” Bei Ling laughed.
“With the three Secret Manuals now bestowed, my time in this world has ended,” Stone declared. “My master awaits me in the higher realm. Farewell…”
“Hold on!” Bei Ling quickly interjected. “Could you answer a few more questions?”
“What now? Do you want me to personally tutor you in martial arts?” Stone grumbled impatiently. “You common mortals get dumber with each generation. I don’t even have limbs—what’s the difference between me verbally guiding you and you learning directly from the Secret Manuals? Can’t you read?”
“We want to know: Who is your master? What are you? Why are you here? And why give these Secret Manuals to strangers like us?” Xiao Tan fired off all his questions at once.
Bei Ling added, “Also, if convenient, could you tell us about this underground cave’s formation? Is Cangling Town really haunted? And who was the person who took the Great Emptiness Formless Arts?”
Stone, who’d just called them “common mortals” and insulted their intelligence, surprisingly remembered every question and answered methodically:
“My master’s name is Zuo Dao, known as the Pangmen Great Immortal.
I don’t know how many years ago it was—I’ve lost count. Back then, I was just an ordinary stone on the northern mountain of Zangling Town.
One year, villagers killed a little girl named Ling’er. After her death, she became a vengeful ghost, haunting the Ringing Temple. The mountain fell under her resentment energy’s grip, and I was tainted by her demonic aura, becoming a demonic stone.
Later, I became her subordinate, hunting villagers who entered the mountain and the monks and Taoist exorcists they summoned. Years passed. In Zangling Town, the killers of Ling’er and their families all perished. The exorcists who came to hunt ghosts never returned. Yet Ling’er’s resentment remained unresolved, and the killings continued.
One day, my master passed through Zangling Town. After learning the background from villagers, he ascended the mountain and encountered me. He took the bell Ling’er used to bind me and entered the Lingzhong Realm. Miraculously, he returned—alive. He was the first person to see Ling’er’s ghost and survive.
My master said Ling’er was no ordinary mortal. Her vengeful ghost was exceptionally powerful. Though the original killers were dead, ancestral sins had doomed their descendants. Zangling Town was fated to destruction—no one could remain there, or countless lives would be lost.
Villagers and officials believed my master. Under his guidance, the entire village relocated, and the authorities sealed the roads. The town was abandoned.
My master stayed behind, spending months using artifacts and spells to excavate the underground levels, connecting the caves beneath. He altered the town’s geomancy, renaming it Cangling, hoping this would eventually resolve the calamity over time.
After completing this, he left.
Years later, he returned to the town, bringing me down from the mountain. He told me he was a traveler from another world, beyond the cycle of rebirth. His time in this world was short—he would soon ascend to the higher immortal realm.
Over the years, he’d collected many treasures. Useless to take to the higher realm, yet unsafe to leave behind. So he stored them in this underground cave, entrusting me to guard them.
Before departing, he enhanced my spiritual intelligence, taught me cultivation methods, and ordered me to refine here in seclusion. He told me… external treasures may be gifted to those with fate. Except for the three Secret Manuals, which must never be given to the same person. As for other items, those who enter the cave may take what they will.”
Stone’s lengthy explanation was surprisingly clear, though Xiao Tan and Bei Ling processed it differently—one bewildered, the other deep in thought.
Stone continued, “Now my cultivation is complete, and my master’s task is fulfilled. The time of fate has come. Do not delay my ascension.” It paused. “As for the Great Emptiness Formless Arts, I gave it to someone named Lin Chang.” Its eyes glanced sideways. “But not in this stone chamber. He entered through a different entrance, reaching different areas.”
“Lin Chang?” Xiao Tan and Bei Ling echoed in unison.
“A strange name?” Stone asked.
“When did you give him the Secret Manual?” Bei Ling pressed. “And… how did he leave? How large is this underground cave?”
“That Lin Chang was far easier to deal with than you two,” Stone replied. “He found another stone chamber. I’d just emerged from the wall when he turned pale with fear. The moment I spoke, he kowtowed repeatedly, begging mercy. I asked which manual he wanted, but he only pleaded. So I randomly gave him one. After flipping through a few pages, he laughed maniacally, muttering, ‘I must escape…’ Since he said so, I used a spell to send him out.”
“You can use spells to send people out?” Xiao Tan’s face lit up, hopeful for a one-way teleportation method. “Then for us…”
“Find your own way out. I’m ascending. Performing spells for you would delay me.” Stone’s irresponsible reply followed immediately: “Alright, I’ve answered all. The cave has multiple exits. As for size… walk nonstop, and you’ll cover it in a day and night.” With that, it retreated into the wall. The cracks rippled like waves, then stilled seconds later.
“Hey!” Xiao Tan shouted at the wall. “You’ve wasted more time already—what’s a little more?”
Bei Ling ignored Xiao Tan, arms crossed, silently pondering.
“The Pangmen Great Immortal he mentioned… was the one who left the message at the village entrance,” she murmured. “That Ling’er is undoubtedly the ghost in the main quest ‘Enter Lingzhong Realm, Locate Ling’er’s Soul.’ According to Stone, Ling’er is extremely powerful—a boss-level existence. Could she be the true final boss? And the duel plotline just a side quest? Was the haunting the real main quest?”
She opened the game menu, glancing at the task bar. The side quest “Find Yin and Yang Stone Tablets, Open Stone Door” had already been checked off. The main quest remained active, meaning Feng Bu Jue and Si Yu had yet to confront Ling’er.
(End of Chapter)
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