However, regardless of the fusion method, the caster still needs to infuse spiritual power. This is because Lu Xuan's other refining technique, the art of spirit control, cannot be applied to the Five Elements Mirror. The reason is simple: where can he find a spirit beast possessing all five elements? Therefore, most spirit-controlled magical artifacts are single-attribute attacks.
However, this rune armor breaks through this limitation. First, it doesn't require the primordial spirit of a demonic beast to independently absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming a unique defensive system. Moreover, the power of these runes can interact with the power of heaven and earth, endlessly regenerating.
It is truly inexhaustible. Once activated, the protective shield will never extinguish unless external spiritual energy is cut off. In a protracted war, this thing is an absolute nightmare for the enemy. Simply put, this rune system is almost akin to the Dao itself. It vaguely gives the feeling of merging with heaven and earth.
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Chapter 479 Forbidden Zone Opens
Lu Xuan was completely absorbed in studying the peculiar talisman armor. He set up more than a dozen layers of defensive formations around himself. Then he entered a meditative state, concentrating his divine sense to analyze the principles and structure of the talisman armor from every detail.
In the world of cultivation, most spells and supernatural abilities cannot be deduced in reverse. This is because magic and science are ultimately different. Most advanced spells possess a certain degree of idealism. However, runes are different; they are arguably the closest thing to science in the world of cultivation. At least, that's what Lu Xuan previously believed.
But he soon broke his own conviction. He discovered that the runes before him also possessed idealistic qualities. Lu Xuan had always regarded rune technology as a special kind of science. His development of the mother-child rune system was the best proof of this, because it was an extension of remote control technology in reality.
But now, the advanced rune system before him was making him gradually realize that no matter how much the cult of science in reality clamored, there was nothing that science couldn't explain. Cultivation was ultimately cultivation, fundamentally different from science. Of course, those who practiced the cult of science would call cultivation another kind of science. Lu Xuan couldn't comment on that...
However, the rune system before them was a cultivation technique that vaguely incorporated the laws of Heaven. Although very weak, it was indeed a great path. The Heavenly Rune Sect was renowned for its runes in the past, and there was a reason for that. It's just a pity that this path is too unpopular in the world of cultivation.
Most cultivators use runes or talismans as supplementary means. Therefore, without enough allies and without sufficient intellectual exchange, this path is exceptionally difficult, to the point that it has almost disappeared.
An unknown amount of time passed as Lu Xuan immersed himself in researching the new Way of Runes. Meanwhile, the entire forbidden area had undergone tremendous changes. Simply put, a new generation of trials had begun.
The key difference is that this trial is different from previous ones. This is the last time the Crimson Forbidden Land will be opened in the near future. Although the Crimson Forbidden Land is rich in spiritual energy and exceptionally abundant in various spiritual herbs, it can't withstand the continuous harvesting by the seven major sects. The seven major sects harvest once every five years, but those spiritual herbs take at least a hundred years to mature. Even if the forbidden land has some kind of blessing that makes them grow exceptionally fast, it still can't withstand such harvesting!
Therefore, in order to restore the Bloodstained Forbidden Land to its former glory, the seven major sects joined forces and made a decision. After this harvest, the forbidden land will be sealed off for sixty years to allow it to recover.
Therefore, this trial will be the largest and bloodiest in three hundred years.
Unbeknownst to Lu Xuan, over a hundred disciples from various sects had already entered the forbidden area. Of course, even if he knew, Lu Xuan wouldn't care. Apart from Xiang Zhili from Huangfeng Valley, he didn't care about the others at all.
............
Han Li was currently facing a disciple of the Giant Sword Sect. To his dismay, after a brief exchange, he had initially planned to abandon the herbs and settle the matter peacefully. He had sensed that this Giant Sword Sect disciple possessed extremely high cultivation and extensive combat experience; even with his numerous trump cards, victory would be difficult. Han Li, a man who preferred to live a life of quiet desperation, didn't want to engage in a pointless deathmatch.
But his opponent was a martial arts fanatic. Even Han Laomo's cultivation techniques were top-notch. Yet, he suddenly had a fit, insisting on a life-or-death duel. He wouldn't even take the elixirs; he was determined to kill him...
Left with no other choice, Old Demon Han had to bite the bullet and fight back.
The disciples of the Giant Sword Sect possessed only one silver giant sword magic weapon. However, this single weapon caused Han Laomo immense suffering. His twin throwing knives crumbled upon contact with the opponent's silver giant sword, offering no chance of resistance whatsoever.
Han Li scattered his throwing knives, attempting to attack from different angles and force his opponent to defend. Unexpectedly, the opponent's greatsword suddenly shone brightly with silver light, rapidly spinning around its hilt. In an instant, it transformed into a massive silver disc, emanating countless wisps of suction from its center. This caused all the nearby golden blades to feel as if they were weighed down by a thousand pounds, rendering them completely immobile.
Han Li's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly summoned his shield, barely managing to block his opponent's giant sword. In the past two years, Han Li had experienced quite a few battles, and his combat experience was considerable. However, his victories in combat always relied on a combination of multiple trump cards and skillful techniques.
However, the disciple of the Giant Sword Sect before him was a classic example of overwhelming force with sheer brute strength. No matter how many times he changed his tactics, he would still strike with his sword. This forced Han Li to dodge left and right, leaving him somewhat disheveled.
Within a few rounds, two of Han Li's magical treasures were completely shattered by the sword light.
This time, Han Li was truly enraged. Although he had been cautious all these years, avoiding conflicts easily, after several encounters, he knew that he possessed a wealth of hidden strengths and, in terms of actual combat, was definitely a high-end fighter among Qi Refining stage cultivators.
Left with no other choice, Han Li ultimately resorted to using the Qingning Mirror, which he had obtained from Feng Yue, whom he had previously killed. This magical artifact came from a female cultivator known as one of the "Twin Beauties of the Hidden Moon." Han Li had fought her before, but a beast named Feng Yue had become the unwitting victim.
Feng Yue was a violent maniac, but he was different from the martial arts fanatic from the Giant Sword Sect in front of him. That guy was a pervert who bullied the weak and feared the strong. When he encountered someone weaker than himself, he would torture and abuse them to the extreme, and when he encountered someone stronger than himself, he would turn around and run away.
At that moment, he immediately saw through Han Li's eleventh level of Qi Refining. As someone at the thirteenth level, he couldn't contain his mad dog-like rage. He was single-mindedly determined to torture and kill Han Li. After several exchanges, Han Li realized he was no match. Left with no other choice, he used his trump card, a Thunder Pearl. This directly blasted Feng Yue, leaving him with only his two calves...
Later, Han Li obtained Feng Yue's boots, which could enhance his movement skills. It was thanks to these boots that that guy was able to commit crimes everywhere without being killed.
Han Li was currently relying on this magical artifact to evade the giant sword's attacks. However, he knew that prolonged defense was unsustainable and that this wasn't a viable strategy. Therefore, he also harbored murderous intent.
He suddenly used Instant Step. Before that, he had been dodging, but only relying on the special effects of his boots. He hadn't revealed his Instant Step trump card.
This sudden move caught the opponent completely off guard.
At the same time, a thread almost invisible to the naked eye silently rose from Han Li's right hand. This was a magical artifact he had obtained from the two cultivators who had perished together. It had no other special effects, only sharpness and stealth.
The disciples of the Greatsword Sect immediately realized the danger upon seeing this. The silver greatsword instantly turned to defend itself.
The giant sword hurtled towards them, and Han Li's figure turned into a blur.
In the end, Han Li was a fraction faster, and before the opponent's giant sword returned, he had already passed by his opponent's body. Only the semi-transparent thread on his right hand turned crimson for a fleeting moment.
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Chapter 480, Second Floor
Killing the disciple from the Giant Sword Sect was a huge success for Han Li, which improved his mood slightly. He had taken a risky gamble to manage to kill him.
A moment's hesitation, and he'd be overtaken by the opponent's greatsword. He could only marvel at how well his boots, combined with his Instant Step, worked. But this only deepened his suspicions.
In the two years he had been in Huangfeng Valley, he had acquired a considerable amount of general-purpose resources. However, he soon discovered that the basic spells provided by Huangfeng Valley, in terms of both quantity and quality, were completely different from the spell encyclopedia he had obtained.
Both the power and ease of casting of the spells were significantly weaker. Furthermore, many spells were not even recorded in Huangfeng Valley's archives. Take, for example, the Instant Step he used. There's no record of anything like it in low-level spells. The Palm Lightning spell was the same.
Han Li only realized after joining the sect that lightning magic was no ordinary spell. It was generally only possible to cast with ease by those who possessed a specific lightning spiritual root. Ordinary cultivators could use it, but they would experience difficulties in casting and poor results. However, Han Li had never experienced anything like this before.
He even felt extremely comfortable using his lightning magic, and its power was astonishing. However, considering his mixed spiritual root, he never used it lightly. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain if someone saw him using it.
He increasingly felt that their initial encounter and the complete manual of cultivation techniques in his possession might not be so simple. They were definitely not common items circulating in the cultivation world.
This kept Han Li constantly on his guard. Although these things didn't seem to harm him at the moment, he never believed in unearned good fortune. He thought that he might have to pay for what he had gained someday.
Han Li quickly collected his opponent's storage bag, then emptied the entire stone chamber of spiritual herbs before leaving.