Worth Befriending

Worth Befriending

At this moment, Xiao Cha had her eyes closed, repeatedly poking her fingers at the spot between her brows.

Without Spirit Refinement cultivation, the incense only gave her a "clear and ethereal" effect. She wanted to use it to sense her [Sea of Consciousness].

But the Sea of Consciousness, like the internal organs, was governed by the "autonomic nervous system." How could she possibly feel it?

One stick of incense was nearly burned out, yet Xiao Cha had still gained nothing.

"Could my Sea of Consciousness have already closed off?"

Though it was supposed to close completely at eighteen, it was not that precise. It could happen a few months earlier or later.

Xiao Cha was somewhat dejected, but she had mentally prepared herself for this over the years. Shaking her head, she looked toward her good friend.

"I don't care about myself. I only hope Wan Qing gains something..."

When she focused her gaze, Xiao Cha was stunned to discover that Wan Qing's eyes were shining with a radiance like the stars!

It was exactly the same as when Lu Li had broken through!

Xiao Cha was overjoyed, but then immediately alarmed—

The light in Wan Qing's eyes was not steady. After flickering between bright and dim, it slowly faded away.

"What's happening!?"

Xiao Cha was frantic. It would be far too regrettable if such a wonderful opportunity ended in failure.

Suddenly, she saw the Calming Incense that was about to burn out and immediately understood. "It must be because the incense is no longer supporting her!"

Xiao Cha wanted to light a fresh stick, but then realized it was not hers.

Just then, Lu Li opened his eyes.

Xiao Cha hurriedly lowered her voice. "Wan Qing has reached a critical moment. Light another stick of incense, please~ I'm begging you!"

Lu Li immediately understood what had happened. Without another word, he pulled out a fresh stick and lit it.

The smoke drifted softly, and the incense once again took effect.

The divine light in Wan Qing's eyes also stabilized and grew increasingly bright.

"Whew~" Xiao Cha let out a long breath, her hanging heart finally settling down. Her impression of Lu Li improved immensely.

"This guy is pretty loyal. He's worth befriending."

Just as she was about to thank him, she realized Lu Li had already closed his eyes and resumed cultivating.

Only eight sticks of Calming Incense remained, so he could not waste them.

After all, external aids were merely aids. They could not provide an endless supply of mental strength.

After the second infusion, Lu Li's recovery had already become exceedingly slow.

Even after resting for twenty minutes, his head was still spinning. It seemed his brain had reached its limit.

He simply stopped cultivating and waited for Wan Qing's result.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not long afterward, just as the second stick of incense was about to burn out, the strange phenomenon in Wan Qing's eyes gradually subsided.

She suddenly rose to her feet, her lovely face flushed red with excitement, then lifted a hand and touched Xiao Cha's face.

Her movement was accurate, utterly lacking a blind person's hesitation.

Xiao Cha cried out in delight, "You've reached Spirit Concentration! Can you see now?"

Wan Qing first nodded, then shook her head. "I've reached Spirit Concentration, but I still can't see. I can only sense some clusters of light..."

Xiao Cha revealed a smile of heartfelt joy. "You've only reached the first realm, and this is already very good! Sooner or later, your sight will return!"

Wan Qing nodded forcefully. Then she took a deep breath to calm her mind and walked over to Lu Li.

"Thank you for your help, Young Master! I will never forget such great kindness!"

She held both hands before her chest, her light and slender body gracefully bending at the knees as she performed a dignified and elegant Wanfu Ceremony.

The sight pleased Lu Li's eyes, and he was also very glad to have helped this tender, water-soft young woman.

"It was only two sticks of incense. It was because Wan Qing had accumulated enough on her own that you were able to break through smoothly."

"Young Master is too modest. Had you not been so generous, I could never have sensed my Sea of Consciousness!"

Wan Qing knew her own situation best. She understood exactly how much those two sticks of Calming Incense had helped her.

Xiao Cha also interjected with a smile, "It's truly thanks to you this time! Spirit Refinement cultivation concerns Wan Qing's chance to regain her sight. If she misses the threshold of eighteen, she'll regret it for the rest of her life."

"Regain her sight?" Lu Li was puzzled when he caught those words.

Xiao Cha explained.

"Wan Qing wasn't born blind. Her ancestral home is Lüshun. Ten years ago, the People of Izumo massacred the city, and Izumo aircraft bombed her eyes blind."

Lu Li froze on the spot. He had never expected the young woman to have such a tragic past, and he understood why she was so desperate to cultivate.

To gain something and then have it taken away was the greatest pain in the world. Lu Li himself also missed the feeling of running freely beyond measure.

The sun cast down its final streak of afterglow, staining the sky blood-red.

Wan Qing said wistfully, "I've actually grown used to it over these years... I originally thought I would spend the rest of my life this way, but I never imagined there would be hope again."

Lu Li said softly, "Everything will get better."

Facing him, Wan Qing gave him a sweet smile. "Mm-hm, everything will get better."

At that moment, a wave of drowsiness came over him, and Lu Li yawned.

For mental exhaustion, no miraculous pill could compare to sleep.

He wanted to rest early, so he said, "Keep the Calming Incense. We can use it together from now on."

With that, he got up to return to his room.

Xiao Cha's expression was complicated as she suddenly called after him. "Wait..."

Lu Li turned around to look at her.

Xiao Cha stepped forward and touched his arm, saying in a sweet voice,

"Calming Incense is so expensive. I can't take advantage of you for nothing... I'll teach you Martial Arts!"

"Martial Arts?" Lu Li hesitated. Could a cripple like him really do it?

Xiao Cha said seriously, "Don't think I'm meddling. Two days ago, I served as the Governor's daughter's guard and heard a huge secret!"

She paused before continuing.

"The Governor's daughter's master said that a person's spirit exists by relying on the flesh. Only a strong body can nurture a vigorous spirit. Therefore, if Spirit Refinement is to achieve anything, it must be supported by Martial Arts cultivation!"

When he thought it over carefully, it truly made sense. Lu Li nodded solemnly. "I understand. Thank you for the reminder."

"Then get up early tomorrow, okay~"

"Alright, see you tomorrow morning."

After Lu Li left, Xiao Cha looked at the Calming Incense on the table and said thankfully,

"I was judging a gentleman by my own petty heart before. Good thing I didn't do anything excessive."

Wan Qing chuckled softly. "I told you Young Master Lu was a good person."

"Come to think of it, you were certain of that from the very beginning and even let him stay the night. How did you know?"

"Just a feeling?"

"..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Though he had agreed to get up early, Lu Li had overworked his brain and slept until the sun was high in the sky.

It was only when Xiao Cha practiced boxing in the courtyard, her punches striking with booming thuds, that he opened his eyes.

Stretching hard, Lu Li immediately felt himself brimming with boundless vitality!

His energy was so abundant that he felt like a wild horse breaking free of its reins, almost wanting to let out a Long Howl toward the heavens!

For so many years, he had merely struggled to survive in Mexico, cautious and submissive at every turn. He had never felt so free and bold before.

The reason was surely yesterday's session of Spirit Refinement cultivation.

"Life truly lies in movement. The spirit is no different."

Lu Li hurriedly tested his current abilities.

First, he visualized the Pine Stillness Diagram. Without Calming Incense, he succeeded in only two minutes.

"One-third faster than before!"

Lu Li was greatly satisfied. He then entered the Spirit Concentration State and admired Xiao Cha's agile, sexy figure.

Under Bullet Time, every detail of the young woman's movements was laid bare. He could even see each drop of sweat shaken from her body with perfect clarity.

The duration of his Spirit Concentration State had likewise increased by twenty seconds!

Lu Li was overjoyed. "Using the ritual refinement of a magical treasure to train the mind truly produces outstanding results!"

But immediately afterward, he became somewhat puzzled.

"The effect is too immediate... Like training muscles, physical functions should strengthen through quantitative change triggering qualitative change."

Thinking this, Lu Li immediately looked toward the Kunlun Mirror.

If there was anything unusual about him, it had to be this magical treasure.