The Waters Run Deep

The waters run deep.

"So this was Soul Refinement!"

Lu Li clenched his fists, exhilarated beyond measure, even ignoring the splitting pain swelling in his head.

Such an important clue had actually been provided by a picture book.

He looked at the illustrated booklet in his hand and suddenly felt that fate loved playing tricks on people.

But with one worry finally laid to rest, the taut string in his mind slackened, and he soon could not hold on any longer.

Lu Li's face turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped down, and his whole body nearly slid off the chair.

Just then, a sharp cry suddenly rang out: "You really were sneaking a look!"

Xiao Cha poked her head in from the window to peek inside. When she saw Lu Li holding the picture book, she immediately flew into a rage!

Baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, she charged in, only to abruptly halt when she saw Lu Li's complexion. She cried out in alarm:

"Oh my! What did you do? Why do you look like you're about to die?"

Hearing the shout, Wan Qing hurried over.

She extended three fingers and placed them on Lu Li's Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. She immediately understood what was wrong:

"The pathogenic heat hasn't cleared, and his mind has suffered severe damage!"

The situation was urgent. Wan Qing swiftly took out a needle case, her fingers moving like flying butterflies as she inserted silver needles into the major acupoints on Lu Li's head.

At the same time, she instructed Xiao Cha, "Dazhui Acupoint. Nine shallow, one deep. Needle it!"

"Got it!"

Xiao Cha also took out a silver needle and jabbed Lu Li's Dazhui Acupoint at the back of his neck ten times in rapid succession, squeezing out three to five drops of blood.

Meanwhile, Wan Qing twisted the dozen or so needles in Lu Li's scalp one by one, following a particular rhythm and applying precise force.

After the whole set of movements, Lu Li's cranial pressure rapidly dropped, and the dizzy, bloated feeling in his head greatly eased.

He let out a long breath and silently exclaimed, Amazing!

No wonder foreign politicians and athletes alike hired private acupuncturists.

Star Alliance Country had even included acupuncture in its national health insurance!

It seemed no one was a fool; everyone knew a good thing when they saw one.

"Being able to meet Wan Qing, I really am lucky..."

Breathing in the maiden's faint, orchid-like fragrance, Lu Li drifted off to sleep in a daze.

Vaguely, he heard Xiao Cha clamoring, "I knew there was something unusual about him! Even a normal person would have a hard time messing themselves up like this..."

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

This ordeal had taken a heavy toll. Lu Li slept for a full day and night, only waking the following morning.

The moment he opened his eyes, he hurriedly checked on the Kunlun Mirror.

Though the magical treasure was still damaged all over, it was in excellent condition, swimming joyfully about within his Sea of Consciousness.

Having absorbed all the mental power of a Spirit Concentration Cultivator, along with the nourishment of the Sea of Consciousness, it was in far better shape than when he had first seen it!

Delighted, Lu Li willed it into existence.

A golden arc of light flew from between his brows, transforming into the Kunlun Mirror as it happily circled and danced around him~

He raised a hand and pointed, and the Kunlun Mirror shot out with a howl toward the wall!

Just as it was about to strike, Lu Li willed it again. The Kunlun Mirror immediately stopped, transformed into a rainbow streak, and flew back into his Sea of Consciousness.

"Its destructive power... is probably about the same as a brick swung with full force. But it can attack from every angle, making it impossible to guard against!"

Lu Li gave an objective assessment.

Of course, given the Kunlun Mirror's form and mystical charm, this definitely was not its proper use.

But even refining it was rather strenuous for Lu Li, much less unleashing its true might. For now, he could only use it this way.

At this point, his goals of obtaining extraordinary power and repairing the Kunlun Mirror had both been achieved.

Lu Li began to entertain the thought of returning home. He had been thinking about his father's ashes; he had to take a look before he could set his mind at ease.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Wan Qing and Xiao Cha had come over.

Xiao Cha was also carrying a huge bowl of steaming hand-pulled noodles. "Lucky you, Wan Qing made these herself~"

Lu Li had slept nearly an entire day and night and was truly starving. He quickly took the bowl and began wolfing the noodles down.

The noodles were springy and smooth, with two poached eggs on top. After finishing the bowl, he felt like he had come back to life.

Remembering yesterday's acupuncture, he hurriedly thanked Wan Qing. "Thank you, Miss Wan Qing, for lending me a hand."

"You need not be so polite. I should be thanking you even more, Young Master, for teaching me the method."

Wan Qing stepped forward to check his pulse, then gently advised, "The human brain is very fragile. Whatever Young Master wishes to do, you must not rush it."

The young woman had already sensed that Lu Li had secrets, but she was understanding and did not pry. She merely reminded him to take care of his health.

Lu Li nodded. "I understand."

In the final analysis, his cultivation was simply too low, and the strength of his mind was insufficient to feed the magical treasure.

Thus, Lu Li asked, "Where can I learn a cultivation method for [Meditative Entry]?"

Wan Qing answered, "You can buy one from the Divine Heart Society or the National Martial Arts Association, but it costs one hundred Ocean Dollars."

"Not just that~" Xiao Cha cut in.

"Besides a cultivation method, you also need Calming Incense. That'll cost at least three hundred Ocean Dollars! It's practically highway robbery. My monthly wages are only ten Ocean Dollars~"

Lu Li nodded. Buying a cultivation method required money as well... It seemed he still had to make a trip back.

But before leaving, he needed to settle his place to stay, especially the most crucial matter: medical support.

Lu Li shamelessly said, "I need to deal with some trivial affairs. Miss Wan Qing, could you keep this room for me?"

Wan Qing paused slightly, then nodded gently. "Of course."

This gentle young woman was grateful to him, so naturally she had no objection.

Xiao Cha was about to object, but she herself had received a favor from the man before her, and her good friend still needed his guidance...

After holding it in for a long while, she merely said in a soft, petulant voice, "You're not allowed to sneak peeks at my picture books again~"

Wan Qing smiled and explained, "She has liked these since she was little. She doesn't dare take them home, so she keeps them all here with me~"

Looking slightly embarrassed, Xiao Cha poked Wan Qing in the waist, telling her not to say any more.

Lu Li did not dare underestimate the picture books. In a sincere tone, he said:

"Miss Xiao Cha, may I look at your picture books? I'm quite interested in them."

"You like these too?"

Xiao Cha's beautiful eyes lit up. She secretly rejoiced at meeting someone with the same hobby, especially since this fellow enthusiast was a Cultivator!

But she did not reveal it on her face, instead pretending to be reserved as she said:

"If you want to read them, I suppose it's not impossible... I'll let you see Romance of the Three Kingdoms first~"

Xiao Cha walked to the table, opened a drawer, and took out picture book after picture book, like a child showing off her toys.

Lu Li had worn a smile at first, until he suddenly noticed that one of them looked familiar—

On its cover was a boy with whiskers on his face?

Then he looked at the title. Lu Li's expression changed: Naruto!?

He snatched up the picture book and asked in a low voice, "Where did this book come from?"

Xiao Cha was somewhat confused. "It's a picture book from Izumo, created by Emperor of Izumo when he traveled the world in his youth."

"Emperor of Izumo?"

"Mm-hm. They say this man was exceptionally talented, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He was even a [Manifestation Grandmaster]!"

Xiao Cha continued explaining, "Manifestation is a Spirit Refinement cultivation, while Grandmaster is a Martial Arts cultivation. This man cultivated both Spirit Refinement and Martial Arts. He was incredibly formidable!"

At that moment, Wan Qing suddenly said coldly, "That beast is vicious at heart. He is truly a great Confidant threat to Divine Continent!"

The young woman, usually gentle as water, now wore an expression so cold it was frightening!

Xiao Cha hurriedly hugged her in comfort. "It's all in the past... You have to live well..."

Lu Li frowned deeply, realizing that the waters of this world ran deep.

But anything he might want to do would have to wait until later.

Right now, he was merely a tiny shrimp who had just entered the gate. For the moment, he needed to return to Blue Star first.

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

After bidding the two young women farewell, Lu Li limped out of the clinic and entered a narrow alley.

The surroundings were deathly silent, and the mottled blue brick walls blocked out the light, making it exceptionally dim.

This place was perfect. Lu Li connected with the Kunlun Mirror and issued a long-awaited command—Cross-Realm!

At once, an overhead view of Blue Star from space appeared on the Kunlun Mirror's surface.

The image grew clearer and clearer. About thirty seconds later, Lu Li was enveloped by a mass of blue light and vanished along with the magical treasure.

Faint barking echoed in the distance. No one knew that something miraculous had just happened here.