Although no information prompt appeared, Ling Qing instinctively understood that when he used this energy to cast forest and earth-element spells, they would come much more naturally to him.
Once everything had settled, Ling Qing stretched his limbs and tested how it felt to have leveled up.
Although his attributes hadn't increased, he still felt noticeably stronger than before.
With a thought, he opened his status panel:
Name: Ling Qing Class: Druid Lv. 2 Natural Force: 105/105 Health: 100% Personal Attributes: Strength: 10; Dexterity: 10; Constitution: 10; Intelligence: 11; Wisdom: 14; Charisma: 10 Class Experience: 1450 Status: Healthy Skills: [Knowledge—Nature, Taoism] Familiarity with a particular field of knowledge. [Medicine] The ability to use medical knowledge to identify and treat simple injuries and illnesses. Formulas: Ghost-Repelling Pill, Detoxification Powder (fine); Ephedra Decoction, Lonicera and Forsythia Powder, White Tiger Decoction, and others (ordinary). General Skills: [Five Animal Frolics] (Expand for details ↓) [Eight Divine Incantations of the Taoist Gate—Incomplete] Used in Taoist priests' daily practice to cleanse the heart of sin, protect the spirit, invoke the gods' protection, and open and expound the scriptures. These incantations are essential for anyone beginning to study and practice the Tao. 〔Incantation of Mind Purification〕: Reciting this incantation regularly can dispel distracting thoughts, calm the mind, and protect the soul. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Grants a slight (10%) bonus when contemplating the Tao, and a slight (10%) bonus to mental defense against psychic attacks. 〔Incantation of Mouth Purification〕: Reciting this incantation regularly purifies the spirit governing the mouth, teeth, tongue, and thoughts, erasing sins of the mouth and cleansing its foul air. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Grants a slight (10%) bonus when chanting incantations or performing recitations. 〔Incantation of Body Purification〕: Reciting this incantation regularly can expel the three poisons, filter out turbid energy, erase sins of the body, protect the body and safeguard the Taoist form, keeping the body pure. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Grants a slight (10%) bonus when learning or practicing physical cultivation techniques. 〔Incantation of Heaven and Earth Purification〕: Reciting this incantation regularly can sweep away filth and dispel evil energy, filling the land beneath the incantation with righteous energy and warding off illness to prolong life. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Removes baleful and tainted energy from the land beneath the incantation and gathers a slight (10%) amount of Positive Energy. 〔Golden Light Incantation〕: Reciting this incantation can aid cultivation, drive away demonic hindrances, protect the body from evil, and strengthen the spirit and soul. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Slightly (10%) improves the effects of cultivation techniques and grants a slight (10%) bonus to physical defense. 〔Mysterious Essence Incantation〕: Reciting this incantation regularly can help keep one's thoughts righteous and aid in understanding the profound principles contained in the scriptures. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Grants a slight (10%) bonus to inspiration when reading or studying esoteric knowledge. 〔Incantation of Land God Pacification〕: Reciting this incantation can inform the land gods in all directions, borrow their power to protect the ritual grounds, and forge a bond with them. Rank: Ordinary Trait: Slightly (10%) increases affinity with the land gods of the current area. 〔Incantation of Incense Offering〕: Reciting this incantation can convey one's true intent through incense, summon numinous light, and earn its protection, bringing one closer to the Wondrous Way. Rank: Ordinary Trait: When conducting a ritual with incense beneath the incantation, grants a slight (10%) bonus to the success rate and the effectiveness of communication. Note: As only the method of reciting the scriptures has been learned, while divine talismans, cultivation methods, and hand seals are still missing, the rank cannot be increased. Class Skills: [Heart of Nature], [Wild Empathy], [Elemental Perception] (Expand for details ↓) [Forest Walk] A Druid can move at normal speed through thorny plants, dense undergrowth, and similar terrain without suffering harm. Note: If the terrain described above was created by magic to impede movement, it will still affect the Druid. [Wild Shape] As a Druid, you have the ability to channel the primal energy of beasts into your physical form and transform into a beast. Spellbook: Book of Nature (Expand for details ↓)
The flood of information that abruptly appeared left Ling Qing momentarily stunned. After carefully sorting through it, he found that, aside from the two class skills he'd gained upon leveling up,
the biggest changes were the Knowledge—Taoism and Medicine skills, along with the Eight Divine Incantations he'd gained in the instance. He also still had quite a bit of general experience left over after leveling up.
He could set aside the Medicine skill for now. It was mainly useful for healing injuries and illnesses, though it would probably also provide some bonuses when he used healing spells.
The Eight Divine Incantations had been fully understood, but without more information, they couldn't be upgraded. Still, they had unlocked the Knowledge—Taoism skill.
At the same time, they provided a fairly comprehensive range of bonuses for the various aspects required for cultivation.
Whether it was temperament, comprehension, the body, or the environment, they covered practically every basic aspect of cultivation.
Taken together, the incantations' enhancements were even more comprehensive than those of the Book of Nature.
However, the effects of the two could stack. Besides, once Ling Qing found rarer materials in the future, he could upgrade his Spellbook.
After looking through the panel several times, Ling Qing contentedly dismissed it.
The task Daoist Wenxi had given him was now complete. The Eight Divine Incantations couldn't be upgraded, and there was no need to rush the Five Animal Frolics.
Although he'd gained the ability to use Wild Shape, he hadn't chosen the Path of the Wild. He first needed to gain a basic understanding of an animal before he could transform into it.
For example, if he wanted to take the tiger form from the Five Animal Frolics, he needed to learn about tigers' habits and movements.
Ideally, he would spend some time living alongside one.
That would take plenty of time spent studying and observing. Only after he'd fully mastered its form and could transform into it would he be able to keep improving his Five Animal Frolics.
From then on, Ling Qing recited scriptures and practiced martial arts with Tian Yong and the others every morning and evening, followed by discussions of what they had learned.
During that time, he also asked them for advice on combat. After all, the Five Animal Frolics he'd learned was mostly for improving his physical fitness, and he had almost no experience fighting.
The rest of the time, he healed trees nearby that had been corroded by yin energy, earning experience.
He also searched for seeds he could plant, coaxed them to sprout, and sowed them in the land they had prepared.
And so, in the days that followed, everyone made the most of their time in the instance, working hard to improve themselves.
From time to time, they also asked the servants who brought their meals about the situation in town, hoping to see Daoist Wenxi once more before the instance ended.
The day before the instance was due to end, Daoist Wenxi finally finished handling the temple's affairs and returned to Tianshui Town.
The geomancer had already selected a burial site, and all the preparations had been made.
"At last, we've been able to welcome you, Daoist. Please, come in!"
The moment he saw Daoist Wenxi, Old Master Liu, advanced in years, was overcome with delight. He hurried over and personally led the way.
After a lively procession of drums and gongs, the deceased was laid to rest, and the living gathered to enjoy a hearty meal.
Ling Qing and the others were given a table of their own, with the same standing as the town's gentry. The townspeople might not want to get close to them, but they didn't dare offend them, either.
Afterward, Old Master Liu gave each of them some silver.
After nightfall, they returned to the same ancestral hall and seized the opportunity to ask Daoist Wenxi for guidance.
Tian Yong and the others, in particular, were all determined to master every incantation before the instance ended.
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