Based on Li Xingkong's requirements for a protective spell, the system immediately began searching for one.
Finding a defensive spell suited to his current stage was indeed somewhat troublesome. The main problem was that Li Xingkong's cultivation realm was too low, and he needed such a spell rather urgently, leaving him with a very limited selection.
Even so, the system could still find a suitable spell. After all, its knowledge base held a vast collection of research from numerous civilizations.
Before long, the system had found a protective spell suitable for Li Xingkong.
This spell came from the same line of research as the Shotgun Spell. Both had been developed by a certain low-tech civilization after its transformation.
The spell was called Explosive Reactive Armor. As its name suggested, its defensive principle resembled that of the explosive reactive armor used by modern main battle tanks against frontal attacks. When struck, it detonated on its own, using the resulting explosive force to cancel out the damage.
The spell's advantages lay in its simple principle and the fact that it did not need to be continuously maintained. A single charge was enough to keep the Explosive Reactive Armor attached to the surface of the body for a long time. It offered strong protection: small-caliber firearms could hardly penetrate it, and even against armor-piercing rounds from a large-caliber sniper rifle, it could reduce the damage as much as possible.
Moreover, the armor existed in the form of plates. In other words, he did not need to cultivate it until it covered his entire body before he could get started; he could attach it wherever he needed it. This was also the main reason he could learn it quickly.
Of course, without full-body protection, its effectiveness would still depend on Li Xingkong's own skills and awareness. Even so, it was already a great help to him. At least he would no longer be facing attacks barehanded.
After receiving the relevant theory behind the spell, Li Xingkong had already worked out how to use it.
He planned to first construct a small Explosive Reactive Armor shield on his arm, similar to the small round shields commonly used on ancient battlefields. It would not be large, but it would be quite convenient to use. With enough practice, it could block attacks from every direction.
As for continuing his journey, that was no longer the most important thing. After this first wave of attackers, who knew whether they had gotten word out? He had not killed them all, after all.
The most pressing matter now was to get started on these two spells.
So, after leaving the site of the attack and traveling more than ten kilometers, Li Xingkong found a long-abandoned building by the roadside to serve as a temporary place to stay.
There was no time to lose. He would start with the Shotgun Spell.
The first step to learning the Shotgun Spell was to construct a mana structure in his hand. Before he could do that, his mana had to be able to flow normally to his hand.
So Li Xingkong first had to find a relatively close energy node in the circuit of his Sun and Moon Qi Refining Method, then open a branch from there and extend it to his hand.
The channel Li Xingkong had previously constructed with his Qi Refining method ran from his qi sea to the back of his neck. That meant he could divert the flow directly from the back of his neck.
Having settled on a mana route, Li Xingkong controlled his Spiritual Qi and began constructing it.
Since he had already gotten started with his Qi Refining method, he had some ability to absorb solar energy and convert it into mana. Thus, he was not far short of the energy needed to open the mana route.
Li Xingkong's mana was now like a trickle of water in an irrigation ditch beside a field. Whichever patch needed watering, he first had to channel the water there; as for the other places, he could not tend to them for the time being.
Fortunately, the two spells he had selected shared the same origin and were both used through his hand, so opening the mana route would kill two birds with one stone.
Closing his eyes and calming his mind, Li Xingkong immersed most of his consciousness in his body, attaching it to his Spiritual Qi.
As the Spiritual Qi moved toward his right arm, he could feel the entire mana route slowly extending, as though he were building bridges and laying roads.
Cultivation took time, there was no doubt about that. When people became absorbed in it, they often forgot the passage of time.
Li Xingkong sat in the dilapidated house for nearly two days.
Going without food or water for two days was a small matter for him now, and his mana route was nearly complete within that time.
It was usable, but it was just like the roads outside.
A sidewalk was a road, and an eight-lane highway was a road, but roads were not all the same.
For an ordinary cultivator, a mana route was essentially fixed once opened. Whatever its initial size, it would be difficult to change later.
They did not understand the theory or have a sufficient foundation of knowledge, so who would dare experiment recklessly on their own body?
Li Xingkong was different. With the system's help, he could gradually broaden the winding sheep trail he had opened, eventually upgrading it into a great road reaching the heavens.
Even a winding sheep trail could still be walked.
Li Xingkong's mana could now flow normally to his hand. When he concentrated it in his palm, he even felt as though his hand were a balloon being constantly filled with water, swelling considerably.
He had no doubt that if he gathered any more qi in his hand, the skin would split open on the spot.
With the first step complete, the most troublesome part was over. Inscribing the mana structure would be quite simple by comparison.
With his knowledge of his own body and his control over Spiritual Qi, it took him less than an hour to bring a usable Shotgun Spell structure to life on his hand.
Something resembling a projected, illusory circuit of spiritual runes appeared in Li Xingkong's palm once it was complete.
Li Xingkong lightly channeled his Spiritual Qi, and the ring of runes on his hand began to turn slowly. After it had made several revolutions and remained as stable as ever, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. It meant his first attack spell was complete.
He could hardly wait to test its power.
He stood up and looked around. There was plenty of clutter in the ruined house, making it just right for some practice.
Li Xingkong casually picked up a handful of pebbles, about ten or so.
With a thought, he circulated his mana to his hand, and the mana structure there immediately began to operate.
The pebbles he had been holding felt as though they had been wrapped in something as the mana worked.
There was no charging time to speak of; how soon it was ready depended only on when the mana reached it.
In just two breaths, Li Xingkong was ready to strike.
His target was the fireplace in the house. There was still plenty of abandoned furniture around, and the walls were intact, which would better demonstrate the spell's power.
"Whoosh!"
Li Xingkong raised his hand and threw, sending the pebbles flying.
Like a shotgun blast, the pebbles scattered, covering a broad area in front of him.
A great cloud of dust immediately rose inside the house, choking Li Xingkong and obscuring his view.
Only when the dust settled did Li Xingkong see the power of that Shotgun Spell.
The old-fashioned furniture, which had still been standing, however crookedly, had long since been blasted apart and scattered across the floor, with splinters of wood everywhere. The fireplace directly opposite had fared no better. The whole fireplace was built of brick, and it had been knocked down. The entire wall opposite was also covered in holes and craters of various sizes.
Moving closer to inspect it, he saw that the blast was far more powerful than the beat-up gun he had.
Li Xingkong was very satisfied with the power. Whatever else might be said, he could at least hit targets twenty meters away now.
Now he could honestly say that no one could rival him within twenty meters.
He checked how much mana he had consumed. That shot had used only a negligible amount.
It would take him only about five minutes to recover the mana he had spent.
Li Xingkong estimated that if he fired continuously, he could do so about thirty times before his mana ran dry.
A scattergun with thirty rounds always on hand, requiring no tools and no search for ammunition.
How could a spell be such an inconvenient thing?