togophonebook Chapter 15 Full Body Magical Artifacts
Chapter 15 Full Body Magical Artifacts
Zhang Lin did not rush to enter Qingyun Town.
He found a secluded bend in the river outside the town, where the stream flowed gently down from the mountain ravine and gathered into a shallow pool at the bend.
The pool water was crystal clear, and a few small fish swam among the pebbles. Several clumps of wild calamus grew on the bank, their long leaves swaying gently in the morning breeze.
He squatted down by the pool and scooped up a handful of water to wash away the blood and grime from his face.
The cool stream water flowed through my fingers, carrying the unique crispness of the mountain stream, gradually washing away the bloody smell from the bamboo forest.
The water rippled gently, reflecting a young face.
He looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate features and regular facial features. He had the kind of appearance that wouldn't stand out in a crowd, but was still pleasing to the eye.
Only his eyes seemed out of place with the body's age, as if they had seen many hardships, like water in a deep pool, bottomless.
The original owner's eyes held the passion and confusion that a young person should have, but these were completely absent in his eyes.
Zhang Lin stared at the water for a moment, then activated his concealment technique.
The third-order technique was activated, and true energy flowed through the body along a peculiar meridian route. Wherever it passed, the aura receded like a tide.
First came the heartbeat.
The originally steady and strong heartbeat gradually slowed down, from 70 or 80 beats per minute to 40 or 50 beats per minute, and then to 20 or 30 beats per minute.
If it weren't for the fact that a cultivator's physique far surpasses that of an ordinary person, such a heart rate would have already caused someone to faint.
But Zhang Lin's expression remained unchanged, and even his breathing showed no change.
Then there's body temperature.
The temperature of the skin surface gradually decreased, from a warm 36 or 37 degrees Celsius to a temperature similar to that of the surrounding air.
Touching the back of his hand, it felt strangely cool, like jade, unlike that of a living person.
Finally, there is the fluctuation of true qi.
This is the most difficult part of the Concealing Breath Technique, and also the core of the third-order Concealing Breath Technique.
The common method of gathering qi is simply to compress true qi into the dantian to prevent it from leaking out. However, the dantian itself is a huge source of true qi, like a lamp covered by a cloth. Although the light cannot pass through, the lamp is still there, and anyone with discerning eyes can see that.
The third-level concealment technique temporarily extinguishes the lamp.
The true energy is no longer compressed in the dantian, but is dispersed and diluted, merging into the meridians, flesh and blood, and internal organs, just like pouring a vat of ink into a pond. Although the ink is still there, it has already blended into the pond water and can no longer be distinguished from it.
Zhang Lin sat by the pool, yet he was like a rock in a stream, devoid of any living energy or fluctuations.
The small fish in the pool swam past his feet without him showing the slightest panic.
A kingfisher swooped down from the willow tree on the bank, skimmed across the water, snatched a small fish in its beak, and flew away without even glancing at him.
In the perception of birds, beasts, fish, and insects, he was no different from the surrounding stones, trees, and flowing water.
This is the terrifying aspect of the third-order Concealment Technique: it's not simply about hiding, but about assimilation.
Zhang Lin sat quietly for a moment, then slowly released his breath.
But he did not restore it to its original state.
The third stage of concealing one's breath concludes the practice, while the second stage of concealing one's form continues to operate.
The facial muscles twitched slightly, the brow bone seemed to rise a bit, the cheekbone lines became more defined, and the originally soft jawline became sharper.
His nose bridge seemed higher, and his eye sockets were slightly sunken, making him look three or four years older. His demeanor had changed from that of a naive young man to that of a young cultivator in his early twenties.
It's not the kind of forced, artificial aging, but a natural and spontaneous shift in demeanor.
The youthful naiveté between his brows had faded, replaced by a calm and aloof demeanor, like a young cultivator who had weathered storms and seen the world.
At the same time, he activated the first-level Qi Concealment technique, disguising his cultivation level as late-stage Qi Refining.
The true energy cultivated through superior techniques surged from the dantian, profound yet unassuming, carrying an indescribable depth.
It wasn't the mixed and impure aura of a rogue cultivator, nor the unstable and superficial aura of a small sect; rather, it possessed a pure and composed quality.
A pure composure that only disciples of the Grand Master possess.
Just like the children of wealthy families, they don't need to deliberately flaunt their wealth; their demeanor in every gesture is the best proof.
Zhang Lin stood up and tested his expression in the water.
His lips curled slightly upward, carrying a hint of indifference and aloofness. It wasn't that he looked down on people, but rather that disciples of major sects, having seen the world, naturally maintained a detached and indifferent distance from the people and things of this small place.
Your gaze should be cool, but not too cold. Too cold a gaze will seem deliberate and may arouse suspicion.
A well-placed aloofness is a confidence that says, "I am not on the same level as you."
Your back should be straight, but not stiffly straight; rather, it should be a natural and graceful posture.
Disciples of the main sect cultivate superior techniques from a young age, possessing a solid foundation, and their physique is naturally different from that of independent cultivators.
Zhang Lin practiced it several times until he felt it was perfect and without any flaws, then he nodded in satisfaction.
He turned and walked to a blue stone on the shore, took out a cloth bag from his bosom, and changed out of his gray Taoist robe and into a black brocade robe that he had taken from Xiong Kui.
The brocade robe was made of fine material, the kind that even the best cloth shops in Qingyun Town couldn't buy. It was a dark-patterned cloud brocade, woven from spirit silkworm silk, smooth and warm to the touch, with the cloud pattern faintly visible under the light.
Although Xiong Kui was a rough man, he was particular about his clothing.
Zhang Lin unfolded the brocade robe and held it up to his body; it was slightly too big, as Xiong Kui was a size larger than him.
No matter, he summoned the system and enhanced the clothes.
"Black Brocade Robe: Ordinary clothing. Can be enhanced, costs five spirit stones."
"Enhancement effect: The material is upgraded to the level of a low-grade magic weapon, providing a certain degree of protection and automatically conforming to the body shape."
Five spirit stones.
Without hesitation, Zhang Lin made a thought, and the system screen flickered slightly.
The five spirit stones transformed into five thin beams of spiritual light, which flowed into the brocade robe.
The brocade robe trembled slightly, and the patterns on the dark cloud brocade became clearer, with a faint light flowing between the silk threads.
The fabric shrank on its own, conforming perfectly to Zhang Lin's figure; his shoulders, waist, and sleeves all fit him perfectly, as if it were custom-made.
Zhang Lin put on the enhanced brocade robe and tied on a jade belt. This jade belt was taken from another Black Wind Society cultivator, but the jade quality was good and it matched his outfit perfectly.
He wore blue scale armor underneath, and a loose blue long robe over it.
The long gown was also found among the spoils of war. Although it was not as valuable as the brocade robe, it was simple and elegant. Paired with the black brocade robe, it was neither undignified nor ostentatious.
"Ding! The jade belt has been upgraded to a low-grade magic weapon and gained an automatic adjustment function. Five spirit stones have been consumed."
"Ding! The long robe has been upgraded to a low-grade magic artifact and gained an automatic dust-cleaning function. Five spirit stones have been consumed."
"Ding! The scabbard has been upgraded to a low-grade magic weapon, gaining the sword-nurturing function. Seven spirit stones have been consumed."
The iron sword was slung over his back, its scabbard being the same one that belonged to Xiong Kui's greatsword. It was made of black sharkskin and inlaid with copper hoops. After being reinforced, it had been transformed into a scabbard that was many times more presentable than the original broken scabbard.
Zhang Lin stood by the pool, looking at his reflection up and down.
The reflection of a young cultivator appeared on the water's surface. He wore a black brocade robe, a cyan long gown, a jade belt around his waist, and a long sword on his back; his entire body was adorned with magical artifacts.
His face was stern, his eyes were calm, and his aura was deep yet unassuming. He exuded the composure and nobility unique to disciples of major sects.
He was a completely different person from the drab little Taoist priest he had been half an hour ago.