The Darkest Day
Without anyone's assessnt, Huai Shi was certain that his developnt was perfectly normal. Moreover, Huai Shi's proficiency in Alchemy had now surpassed the beginner phase. Such nonsense about "important rituals requiring complete undressing" could no longer fool him.
Indeed, too many clothes could interfere with a Secret Ritual. However, if it was just a layer of linen, the interference could be considered negligible.
After taking a bath, Huai Shi put on shorts and ca out, giving Raven's mobile phone no chance to be of use. Otherwise, who knows how much money she would have extorted from him! That was out of the question.
Raven wasn't annoyed. After tossing aside the mobile phone, she scrutinized Huai Shi.
Layers of dark green capillary veins protruded from beneath his pallid skin, at first glance resembling so freakish tattoo. The continually shifting Mountain Ghost Stigmata, like a complex network of roots, pulsed in unison with Huai Shi's heartbeat. They spread out from the crack in his chest, covering his entire body. On Huai Shi's back, they overlapped, forming a vague and blurred outline of Yu Dai Shan. This outline, however, was also constantly changing. Only after the faint glow completed a cycle would its true form be montarily revealed.
"Okay, I was worried you had gone down the wrong path," Raven said. She nodded with satisfaction after poking the Stigmata on Huai Shi's back. "In the Heavenly Inquiry Route, the Yin Soul is the foundation, establishing a tone of life born from death. As for the Mountain Ghost, it is an extension, much like a ssenger, bridging the inner and outer worlds. In Alchemy, it's said, 'rising from earth, descending from heaven.' The first part of that phrase summarizes the Mountain Ghost's role: to sprout from death and proliferate from the ground. It is the bridge connecting death and life, the pillar maintaining balance. Being able to do this much is already enough; anything more is rely gilding the lily. If one gets confused by the magnitude of power, it would be a loss not worth the gain."
Having said that, she raised her hand and, without reservation, slapped Huai Shi's back. SMACK. It nearly left a red mark.
"Lie down obediently!"
She pressed on Huai Shi's shoulder, not using much strength. His vision blurred for a mont, then suddenly he was on the ground, looking up at the ceiling and Raven's eyes staring down at him. He was stunned.
"So quick?"
"Yes," she answered with a nod and a smile. "Just that quick."
"Why the rush?" Huai Shi asked, puzzled.
He had only just returned ho and hadn't even had the chance to catch his breath before Raven imdiately brought him to the basent. He couldn't understand such haste.
"It's better to be tily than early, and you've arrived at a good ti."
Raven smiled amiably, waved her hand, and bent down. She directly pulled the Sacrificial Knife from Huai Shi's Stigmata, then pinned his hands and feet, cutting them to draw blood.
Imdiately, faintly green blood flowed from Huai Shi's outstretched hands and feet. It spread across the complex matrix below, gradually covering the entire Secret Ritual.
Far from feeling weak, Huai Shi felt rather light. It was as if he had high blood pressure and releasing so blood had relieved him. He had eaten too much on Yu Dai Shan and was suffering from indigestion. Releasing this excess vitality allowed the Mountain Ghost Stigmata to operate smoothly. Moreover, using Huai Shi's blood as a base material was much better than anything else, if only for its compatibility.
Raven's actions were swift. She rapidly spread the blended Source Substance solution into the pre-engraved matrix. Once the vitality in the blood was stimulated by the Source Substance, it emitted a hazy light.
"Opportunity seldom knocks twice—"
Raven magically produced a pocket watch from one hand and checked the ti. With her other hand, she took out materials like the Blood Revenge Crystal, Holy Grace, Sinister Remnants, and Undying Flas, embedding them around the Secret Ritual.
A vague heat and pain traveled along the blood on the ground. It entered Huai Shi's body through his unhealed wounds, causing him to suddenly stiffen. It was as though he had been thrown into an Alchemy Furnace.
The Mountain Ghost Stigmata began to operate intensely, countering this sudden change, but to no avail. Instead, it was being led by the Secret Ritual, starting to undergo transformations Huai Shi could not have anticipated.
The intense woodification process started again, spreading inward from his hands and feet. Layers of fine roots grew from Huai Shi's pores, completely integrating him with the entire Secret Ritual.
Raven's movents were too quick for Huai Shi to react. Under the excruciating pain, he couldn't help but gasp for air.
"I an... couldn't you have prepared ntally first?"
"That's true," Raven replied with a nod. "I actually wrote down so precautions, but I forgot to give them to you..."
As she spoke, she reached out, made a grasping gesture, and a thick book materialized, which she then tossed to Huai Shi. However, with no hands free to catch it, the book's cover smacked him directly in the face. SMACK.
"What's this?" Huai Shi felt the pain. He squinted, trying to read the title on the cover. "*Three... Years of Disconnected Chapters, Five Years of Torturing the Protagonist*?"
"Ah, my apologies. I grabbed the wrong one."
Raven responded without any sha, "It should be this one."
Where Huai Shi couldn't see, she pulled the Sword of Virtue from his bag. She lifted it and deftly sliced her wrist. Instantly, a drop of crystalline blood adhered to the Sword Blade. A brilliant light flared, engulfing the entire blade and turning it crimson red.
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