With Gu Caiyi's injuries healing, Luo Chen's schedule suddenly opened up.
Concocting Jade Dew Pills and Blood Burning Pills no longer took much effort for him now that his alchemy had achieved great mastery.
Consequently, Luo Chen directed this surplus time toward other matters.
One was improving his combat repertoire!
This was far more than simply grinding spell proficiency.
From the library of the Luotian Association's Scripture Transmission Hall, he brought over the Duan family's manuals on channeling techniques through implements, studying them day after day in an attempt to master the method.
The other matter was researching the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror.
Although the treasure was damaged, it retained part of its former might.
With the Lanke Black Chess Piece in hand, Luo Chen's exploration of the mirror was relatively safe.
Yet it was only relatively so!
Every few days, Luo Chen would find himself slipping into its illusions.
At shortest, it lasted a brief moment; at longest, two to three days.
As a result, each time he woke, Luo Chen appeared dazed and vacant, wearing an utterly bewildered expression.
This recurring sight thoroughly frightened Gu Caiyi and Bai Meiling.
"Are you truly all right?" Gu Caiyi asked worriedly during lunch one day.
Luo Chen stiffened for a second, then waved his hand.
"Don't worry. I've already found a shortcut to controlling this treasure."
"A shortcut?" Gu Caiyi looked puzzled. "Can there really be shortcuts to controlling a magical treasure?"
Luo Chen nodded and explained casually, "The Heart-Questioning Mirror is the premier sacred treasure of Ghost-God Valley, an apex fusion of formation arrays and illusion arts designed to draw a cultivator's soul and consciousness inside to run deductive simulations.
"To control it, one must either possess master-level mastery of formation arrays or learn the corresponding compatible illusion art.
"The core illusion technique embedded within this item is a Tier 3 illusion art known as Mirror Flowers, Water Moon."
Gu Caiyi's interest was piqued. "Don't tell me you know Mirror Flowers, Water Moon?"
"I don't know it, but I have the original manual for the art and know how to cultivate it."
He possessed the original manual for a Tier 3 illusion art?
While Gu Caiyi marveled at this, Bai Meiling giggled from the side.
"Sister Caiyi, I also have the cultivation method for Mirror Flowers, Water Moon!"
Luo Chen smiled without elaborating.
He did indeed hold the method to cultivate this high-tier illusion art.
It stemmed from the Secret Ghost-God Record!
Yin souls and fierce ghosts were either brutally ferocious or bewitched people's minds, catching their prey unaware.
As the core Tier 3 ghost cultivation technique, the Secret Ghost-God Record naturally possessed arts designed to enchant and mislead.
That art was Mirror Flowers, Water Moon!
However, as a Tier 3 spell, its cultivation difficulty was exceptionally high.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to learn it, they first had to master three prerequisite Tier 2 spells.
*It's quite similar to Landslide. Both are composite spells, which naturally makes them vastly more powerful!*
To cultivate Mirror Flowers, Water Moon, one first had to learn the Tier 2 water-attribute spell Water Mirror Art, the Tier 2 wood-attribute spell Flower Fairy, and a divine soul secret art called Bewitching Spirit Art.
Only by combining all three could one effortlessly cast Mirror Flowers, Water Moon and ensnare others in illusions.
Of course!
Luo Chen's objective was not to master a formidable combat illusion art.
He merely wished to gain command of the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror through it.
Hence, he did not need deep proficiency—barely reaching the threshold of basic entry was enough.
Cultivating the three prerequisite spells was not particularly arduous.
The Water Mirror Art was a supplementary spell that most Foundation Establishment cultivators learned to some extent.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, cultivators could project their spiritual sense.
Yet what spiritual sense detected was closer to an intuitive perception; precise visuals were quite vague.
Thus, by using the Water Mirror Art, one could render those details into images to observe them directly.
Luo Chen had seen many Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators deploy this art to inspect scenes within their spiritual sense's reach from afar.
The reason he had never learned it after establishing his foundation was that his pair of spirit eyes could already see exceptionally far, rendering it unnecessary.
Learning it now posed no challenge.
After all, the spell itself was exceedingly simple; it was classified as Tier 2 merely because projecting spiritual sense was a prerequisite.
As for Flower Fairy, it was a wood-attribute art, which was likewise straightforward for him.
The final Bewitching Spirit Art was somewhat marvelous, being an application of the divine soul.
Yet for Luo Chen, that too was simple!
The reason lay in its striking similarity to the Soul Intimidation Art he had long since mastered.
The difference was that the Soul Intimidation Art leaned toward domineering force, coercing enemies through sheer deterrence.
The Bewitching Spirit Art was gentler, focusing primarily on confusion and subtle guidance.
The core of the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror lay in formation arrays and illusion arts.
Through the power of its arrays, it maximized the potency of illusion arts to induce cultivators within the illusion to carry out logical deductions and simulations.
Mirror Flowers, Water Moon was the absolute nucleus of that mechanism.
Luo Chen knew nothing of arrays, but by mastering the core illusion art, he could take a shortcut to harness the treasure.
Once he mastered it, this damaged treasure would no longer be restricted to his own use—he could also apply it to others.
***
Learning this Tier 3 illusion art took Luo Chen very little time.
After achieving basic entry in the three prerequisite spells, a simple combination allowed him to cast the illusion art, albeit at an agonizingly sluggish pace.
Using it in battle was out of the question.
However, when using it on his own people, he had all the time in the world to channel the spell.
*My affinity for spells truly is terrifying. Now I can easily reach basic entry in Tier 2 spells, and even Tier 3 spells don't seem difficult so long as I have the precise cultivation method.*
Inside the quiet room.
Luo Chen's hands formed a succession of intricate incantation gestures with astonishing fluidity, spiritual power surging from within him to trace profound trajectories in the air.
Floating before him was that bronze mirror.
About the time it took an incense stick to burn!
The art was complete!
A hazy yellow glow emanated from the bronze mirror, settling over Luo Chen.
Simultaneously, a beam of black light shone from his breast, enveloping his entire body.
In the next instant.
Luo Chen's reflection appeared inside the bronze mirror.
*Mirror Flowers, Water Moon is complete, and I've mastered this treasure. Next, I must help Gu Caiyi establish her foundation!*
Luo Chen smiled faintly.
Half a year later, under his watchful care, Gu Caiyi successfully established her foundation.
At the same time, the situation on the battlefield of Mount Thunder Accumulation's Nine Peaks grew increasingly dire. The major sects continuously dispatched core true disciples to reinforce the front.
Even Ancestor Taohua of the Hundred Blossoms Palace appeared on the battlefield several years later.
With that, all of the Seven Jade Cauldron Sects entered the war in full force!
This meant the conflict would engulf the entire Jade Cauldron Domain; from top to bottom, no one could remain aloof.
"Reporting to the Association Leader! A critical stronghold defended by our Luotian Association has suffered heavy damage and urgently requires reinforcements!"
"What did the Ice Fort say?"
"They can barely protect themselves and are powerless to lend assistance."
"Is that so?" Seated high in the Luotian Grand Hall, Luo Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "Very well. I shall make the journey to Mount Thunder Accumulation myself!"
With those words, he vaulted into the air.
Years had passed, and he had already stepped into the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment, becoming a true late Foundation Establishment grand cultivator!
Immense ripples of spiritual qi swept along as he flew.
Soaring through the air, Luo Chen pondered how to extract the Luotian Association from this mire of war.
Just as he was deep in thought, his brow suddenly furrowed.
A moment later, the corners of his mouth curled upward.
*I almost fell for my own trick!*
A chuckle surfaced as he casually swung out his sword.
The sword light was crimson, yet within the red lay a profound blackness, where the illusory silhouette of a weiqi stone faintly descended.
As the sword fell, the chess piece landed.
The space before him shattered in layers like glass.
A profound wave rippled outward like water.
And Luo Chen's figure gradually dissolved away.
Inside the quiet room.
Luo Chen shuddered and slowly opened his eyes.
Reaching out, the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror flew into his grasp.
His expression was dazed.
*No matter how many times I experience this damaged treasure, every single time leaves me marveling in astonishment!*
*Just now, I clearly cast Mirror Flowers, Water Moon intentionally to guide the Heart-Questioning Mirror, yet I still managed to drag myself inside.*
*I almost ended up simulating several decades or a whole century again.*
Luo Chen shook his head and rubbed the treasure, a hint of lingering attachment on his face.
In such a simulation, the passage of long years transpired in the blink of an eye.
Over the course of several experiments, he had actually reaped immense benefits.
The growth in his divine soul's foundation was far greater than what he had gained from years of consistently taking top-grade Nether-Passage Pills.
Right now, although his cultivation was at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, his divine soul foundation already surpassed most cultivators at the eighth layer.
He seemed only a single step away from powerhouses like Tao Wan at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.
Questioning the heart before ghosts and gods—each time one forced their way through, there was a commensurate reward!
The growth of the divine soul was that blessing!
Yet soon enough!
Luo Chen flipped his palm and stowed the bronze mirror away.
*Marvelous as this treasure is, it clearly cannot be used frequently.*
*If this continues over the long run, one is bound to become hopelessly trapped within, ending up absentminded until their soul scatters into nothingness!*
Luo Chen drew a deep breath, cutting away that trace of greed.
Lately, he had been acting in a daze, and his pill concoction had suffered multiple failures.
In his cultivation journey, that was exceedingly rare.
Especially failed concoctions!
With the system's baseline guarantee, his success rates were always kept under tight control; unexpected failures simply should not have occurred.
The culprit was none other than his repeated indulgence in the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror.
*Not just me—the cultivators under my command can only use the Heart-Questioning Mirror once or twice at most. They would be even less capable of enduring it.*
Luo Chen resolved to handle this treasure with utmost caution.
Exiting the quiet room, he greeted Xiao Ling and departed Tianlan Peak.
He headed straight for the Dao Discussion Platform.
Stepping into the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion, Luo Chen's steps paused for a brief moment.
Looking at the Sword Sect disciples still attending to their duties as normal, his brows knit involuntarily.
In this great war that threatened to engulf nearly the entire Jade Cauldron Domain, the Sword Sect was clearly a principal party. Yet aside from their movements within the front lines, outside the battlefield they carried on as though nothing were amiss.
Did they truly not care about victory or defeat?
No one answered his silent question.
Instead, a Qi Refinement disciple of the Sword Sect stepped forward with an eager greeting.
"Senior Danchenzi, Senior Chu has been waiting for quite a while."
Luo Chen nodded, casually rewarded him with a few spirit stones, and went straight to the training ground.
Indeed!
He had arranged for a sparring partner!
It was none other than Chu Kui, at the steep price of ten thousand spirit stones per session.
At such an exorbitant rate, he hoped it would be worth every stone.
When he found Chu Kui, the man was sipping wine and snacking on immortal beans.
"You're here!"
"Sorry to trouble you."
Chu Kui waved a broad hand and said magnanimously, "What trouble could there be? You paid good money, boss. Besides, after breaking through to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, I've been eager to get used to my new combat methods. This business of yours is like a pillow handed to a sleepy man."
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Doesn't that mean I'm your sparring partner as well? In that case, this fee…"
Chu Kui froze.
"Haha!"
Luo Chen burst into hearty laughter and stepped into the spacious training ground.
"Come, everyone's time is valuable, so let's not delay. Brother Chu, please instruct me!"
Watching Luo Chen stand ready for battle, Chu Kui's eyes lit up.
"Very well! I too would like to see the prowess of the Fire Spirit Lord, whose name shook the banks of the Qinhua River!"
Chapter 358