The Underwater Cave Mansion Once More

Shen Hui stood by the pool, gazing at the water's surface wreathed in white mist, then turned to Lu Huan and said:

"Don't rush. I'll teach you a Water-Avoiding Formula first."

Lu Huan had been playing with the splashing water, and at this she looked up, her eyes sparkling.

"What's it for?"

"It keeps water from touching your clothes, keeps your breath from stifling in your chest, makes rivers part their way, and sends all waters retreating."

As Shen Hui spoke, he formed a hand seal with his left hand, a trace of green light gathering at his fingertips.

"This formula uses your own spiritual energy to connect with the water essence of the earth veins, turning the space three inches around your body into a layer of air shield. The water will flow around it and cannot come near you."

Then he flexed the five fingers of his right hand, curled his thumb into his palm, layered his ring finger and little finger behind it, and held his index and middle fingers straight together, like a short sword.

"Watch carefully."

When Lu Huan nodded, Shen Hui began to recite the incantation.

"Primordial Origin, settle and guard; proclaim it to all spirits. True palace of the water manor, swiftly descend, dark essence..."

Lu Huan watched without blinking. Then she copied Shen Hui and raised her fingers, but no matter what she did, she could not form the Water-Avoiding Formula's hand seal.

Helpless, she could only use her right hand to bend the fingers of her left one inward, folding them one by one while muttering under her breath.

Though she learned in fits and starts, she did not make any major mistakes.

Shen Hui did not hurry her, merely watching quietly from the side.

After trying four or five times,