Water-Fire Harmony

"Profound Mirror above, ten thousand transformations merge into the unseen."

"Now, with sacrificial offerings, we present this demon spirit."

"We beg for your profound insight and bestowal of talismans!"

After reciting the prayer from the [Sacrificial Ritual of Holding Talismans], Chen Heng immediately flicked a drop of vital blood from his fingertip towards the Water-Fire Twin-Headed Snake on the Profound Mirror Altar.

He was fortunate; the Chen Family's demon hunting team had recently captured a mid-stage first-tier Water-Fire Twin-Headed Snake.

The old servant, Uncle Fu, had only spent a hundred merit points from Chen Heng's identity token to retrieve it.

Not long after.

The Water-Fire Twin-Headed Snake on the Profound Mirror Altar rapidly weathered and dissipated at a visible rate, transforming into wisps of ethereal light that flowed into the altar's patterns.

Concurrently, Chen Heng felt a warmth pour into him from above his head.

The Water-Fire Twin-Headed Snake on the Profound Mirror Altar then completely vanished.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Profound Mirror's surface displayed the four ancient talismans of [Water-Fire Harmony].

This time, Chen Heng was prepared. He watched as the four ancient talismans once again transformed into a strand of gray Lu Qi, integrating into his limbs and bones.

He surmised that the beast's rank must determine the quality of the Lu Qi.

Just like before, the four characters of [Water-Fire Harmony] remained in his sea of consciousness, on his spiritual platform.

Before long, Chen Heng understood the enhancement effect of this Lu Qi: controlling water and fire as if they were extensions of his own body, achieving balance and mutual benefit.

Everything unfolded exactly as he had anticipated.

After receiving the enhancement of a brand-new Lu Qi, Chen Heng returned to the courtyard of his lodge specifically used for practicing techniques.

He calmed his mind, formed hand seals, and his water-element true essence surged within him.

He channeled the surging mana, circulating it through his body according to the incantation of the Verdant Water Barrier.

The scattered water spiritual energy around him rapidly converged towards Chen Heng.

In the blink of an eye, a mass of clear green flowing water formed before him. He drew circles with his hands, transforming the water into a barrier that flowed around him.

This was the Verdant Water Barrier, which Chen Heng had previously struggled to control the range of.

After the enhancement from the Lu Qi [Water-Fire Harmony], his ability to control water flowed effortlessly, and the difficulty of casting the Verdant Water Barrier was significantly reduced.

Furthermore, the protective range could be adjusted at will. If his true essence output was sufficient, he could even envelop himself entirely, defending against attacks from any direction.

Moments later.

Under the Lu Qi's enhancement, Chen Heng began to experiment with the current casting effects of the Flame Heart Finger.

Before long, he had figured out the casting effects after the Lu Qi's enhancement.

The advantages of this technique were further amplified, with lower mana consumption, faster casting speed, and greater power.

Chen Heng felt that he could now cast it more than five times within ten breaths, reaching the "Proficient" level.

The mastery of a technique was generally divided into five realms: Novice, Minor Accomplishment, Proficient, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection.

Due to the excellent enhancement effect of the Lu Qi [Water-Fire Harmony], he spent the entire day frantically practicing the Flame Heart Finger, Verdant Water Barrier, and the Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique.

He continued until his true essence was completely depleted.

Chen Heng then returned to the cultivation room on the second floor of the Green Bamboo Lodge, satisfied, and activated the array formations and restrictions.

He sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, palms facing upwards.

He began circulating the Water Fire Defense Scripture, absorbing and refining spiritual energy to restore his true essence.

And under the enhancement of the Lu Qi [Water-Fire Harmony].

The previously incompatible water and fire spiritual energies within the Green Bamboo Lodge's vicinity.

Actually merged, converging into an invisible spiritual energy vortex that swirled above Chen Heng's head.

The true essence that previously took several days to fully recover.

Now, it was restored in less than half a day.

Chen Heng was initially surprised, then continued his cultivation.

He wanted to know the extent of his current cultivation speed under the enhancement of the Lu Qi [Water-Fire Harmony].

After half a month of secluded cultivation, Chen Heng emerged from the cultivation room with a look of joy.

He had concluded that his current cultivation speed could rival that of a cultivator possessing a seventh-grade upper-tier Water-Fire Spiritual Root.

This Lu Qi had effectively compensated for his greatest weakness.

After all, as everyone knew, the grade of one's spiritual root could not be improved.

After exiting seclusion, Chen Heng indulged in Spirit Cuisine to nourish his physical body.

Cultivators in the Qi Refining stage had not yet achieved辟谷 (bì gǔ - abstaining from grain/food), so they still had to eat, drink, excrete, and sleep.

Well, sleeping could be replaced by meditation.

These Spirit Cuisines were meticulously prepared by the old servant, Uncle Fu. Although he was a Spirit Planter.

But after living for decades, making a few common, go-to Spirit Cuisine dishes was second nature.

Even Chen Heng himself knew a classic fire-roasted beast meat dish.

The wine flowed, and the dishes were savored.

After Chen Heng had eaten and drunk his fill, he looked at the old servant Fu Bo, who was attending him, and said calmly, "Uncle Fu, have there been any major events in the family recently?"

"Hmm, tell me about any interesting anecdotes from the known rogue cultivators and families on the southern foothills."

Upon hearing this, the old servant began to ponder.

As a servant attending an outstanding young disciple of the family, he naturally couldn't be oblivious to the outside world and focus solely on his cultivation.

Moreover, Chen Heng had already instructed him to consciously gather such information.

Not long after.

Uncle Fu, having carefully chosen his words, slowly began, "Reporting to Young Master, there have been two rather significant events in the family recently."

Chen Heng said nothing, merely gesturing with his eyes for him to continue.

"The first is that not long ago, the family spent quite a few Spirit Stones to purchase a high-grade second-tier Spirit Paste, [Jade Marrow Paste], for Young Master Mingyun, to regrow his severed right arm."

"However, Young Master Mingyun's Dao heart seems to have shattered, and he voluntarily withdrew from the Azure Profound Sect. He is now living in seclusion in a cave dwelling in the mountains, refusing to see anyone."

"This action has caused considerable criticism within the clan, with many believing that Young Master Mingyun... has failed the family's trust."

At this, Chen Heng listened, tapping his fingertips on the table, lost in thought.

In this cultivation world, most cultivators believe that before reaching Foundation Establishment, the physical body is a precious raft for crossing the sea of life and should not be easily damaged.

Even if a severed limb can be reattached, it severely damages one's foundation, which is greatly detrimental to cultivation.

Chen Mingyun likely felt that Foundation Establishment was hopeless for him in this lifetime, which is why he gave up on himself.

As for withdrawing from the sect, with his foundation damaged, Chen Mingyun had undoubtedly lost the trust of the Azure Profound Sect. This action could be considered him fulfilling his own fate.

"Uncle Fu, please continue!"

With that, the old servant Uncle Fu resumed, "The other major event is that the youngest cultivator of the 'Xing' generation in the family, Elder Chen Xingyun, who joined the Azure Profound Sect over ten years ago, recently sent a letter."

"However, the contents of the letter are unknown to this lowly servant."

"However..."

"It's fine to speak!" Chen Heng said calmly.

"This Elder Xingyun possesses a high-grade Lightning Spiritual Root. He joined the Azure Profound Sect at thirteen and has been there for seventeen years. He should have already cultivated to the great circle of Qi Refining."

"He is likely seeking aid from the family to accumulate sect contribution points, exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and attempt to reach Foundation Establishment."

Upon hearing this, Chen Heng looked at the old servant beside him with a hint of surprise.

Information about a Foundation Establishment Seed from a cultivation family about to reach Foundation Establishment is usually kept highly confidential to prevent rival forces from knowing and making secret moves.

How could even an old servant know about this matter?

Uncle Fu, being experienced, immediately saw the thought in Chen Heng's mind.

He quickly explained, "After Elder Xingyun's high-grade Lightning Spiritual Root was detected back then, he planned to secretly join the Azure Profound Sect. However, on his way, he was ambushed by hostile forces."

"Elder Xingyun almost died on the road. This incident caused quite a stir."

"The Clan Head, who had been uninvolved in worldly affairs for many years, flew into a rage and executed several traitors who had colluded with outsiders and leaked family information."

"Everyone in the clan who is a bit older knows about this matter."

"Young Master, you were not yet born then, so you wouldn't know the details."

After Uncle Fu's further explanation, Chen Heng finally understood the background of this clan elder, Chen Xingyun.

She was a true direct descendant of the Chen family, and indeed, the most direct of the direct descendants.

Her bloodline traced back to the founding ancestor of the Chen family, Chen Mengyun, and to Heavenly Thunder Venerable Chen Xiaoting, who possessed a high-grade Lightning Spiritual Root, developed the Chen family, and was the only one in hundreds of years to break through to the Violet Palace realm.

Violet Palace Venerables could live for five hundred years.

Unfortunately, this ancestor died a hundred years ago during a Yao Beast riot in the Moon Gazing Mountain Range, at the claws of a fourth-tier great Yao Beast.

Fourth-tier great Yao Beasts could refine their internal bones, speak human language, and were powerful Yao Beasts on the same level as human Golden Core True Persons.

Otherwise, the Chen family's situation would be much better than it is now.

After this discussion, Chen Heng lost interest and waved for Uncle Fu to withdraw.

He then returned to his cultivation chamber on the second floor and slept soundly.