Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

In the following days,

Chen Li stayed honestly within his residence.

He either delved into studying spells or practiced Qi Cultivation and body strengthening. Even when he went out, it was only to accompany his wives and concubines on strolls through the city, sampling the delicious foods from different places.

Compared to the wilds, the city was much safer.

At least, blatant killings were rare.

Since developing Lightning Skill 2.0, Chen Li’s spell research had sped up significantly, making delightful progress every day.

Following Flash Skill 2.0,

he quickly introduced Flash Skill 2.1, which could shoot light rays from both eyes.

Flash Skill 2.2, which could flash at high frequencies.

Flash Skill 2.3, which made his whole body glow.

Flash Skill 2.4, which allowed him to emit light from his back.

Flash Skill 2.5, which could be released with his hands

...

There were more than a dozen variations in total.

Most of these versions were by-products of the research and development process, accidental monstrosities, marvels among spells, successful failures.

However, these quirky versions also allowed Chen Li to collect a wealth of data and accumulate experience.

...

The basement.

The spell practice room.

"Snap!"

A flash of light, countless times more dazzling than the sun, flickered for an instant.

Then it extinguished rapidly!

"Crap!"

Chen Li’s real body, not minding the tears streaming from his eyes due to the light’s irritation, hurriedly cast a Freezing Skill to cool down the smoking spell notebook, then quickly retracted it into his storage bag.

Heat waves rolled through the Qi Cultivation room.

Even the stone walls around him emitted wisps of blue smoke, and a pungent burnt smell was detectable to the nose.

Even though the flash had passed, the temperature lingering in the air still reached seventy to eighty degrees Celsius.

If an ordinary person were standing here, they would likely have already been scalded.

And this was merely the residual effect.

Flash Skill 3.0:

A second-order, level seven spell.

Compared to the original version, which lasted for over a second, Chen Li had deliberately modified it to be quite brief, compressing all the second-order, level seven mana into a single flash, with the entire spell lasting less than 0.1 seconds.

As a result, it emitted an extraordinarily intense brightness.

Even surpassing the max level original version.

Through numerous battles, Chen Li had long realized that Flash Skill didn’t need to last very long.

Especially against Foundation Establishment cultivators possessing Spiritual Sense.

The greatest utility of Flash Skill was to catch the enemy off-guard during combat, rendering them unable to see suddenly, disrupting their combat rhythm, causing them to be dazed, panicky, and fearful, exposing flaws, and creating the opportunity for a killing blow, which actually takes but a moment.

Either you kill the enemy,

or the enemy has already adapted.

...

Chen Li was generally satisfied with Flash Skill 3.0.

If there was an imperfection, it was that the light’s temperature was still too high, with too much energy released in the form of heat. Had it not been for his compression of the spell’s duration, in pursuit of a short, intense burst, the effect might have been greatly reduced.

By contrast, the original version had little to no temperature.

One was inclined towards hot light, the other towards cold light.

The difference was clear.

However, this was unavoidable.

He had absorbed and integrated part of the incantation and hand seals from the First Order, Seventh Level Spell "Scorching Ray," causing his Flash Skill 3.0 to inevitably retain a degree of high temperature.

It was impossible to be perfect in every aspect.

"Once I refine it a little more, I will put the enhancement of Flash Skill to rest, and then, I’ll shift my focus to the Traction Skill," Chen Li contemplated in his heart.

Flash Skill 3.0 was a First Order, Seventh Level Spell; having leveled it up to Max Level, it was equivalent to a Second Order, Second Level Spell. For his current stage of Foundation Establishment, it was more than sufficient, and he had no immediate plans for further upgrades.

After all, it was only an auxiliary spell; it only needed to be good enough.

There was no need to chase after a higher level.

Just as Chen Li was calculating within, he suddenly shuddered, feeling an intense itching sensation wash over him.

He resisted the urge to scratch.

He knew perfectly well that scratching was pointless.

This condition had begun a month ago; as the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill optimization drew closer to Max Level, his body started showing abnormalities.

It started with an itchy skin, and soon the muscles began to feel it too, then the internal organs and even the bones, flaring up every couple of days. The itch came in waves of urgency and reprieve, unbearable because scratching did nothing, and it was impossible to reach the itch within.

Moreover, as time passed, it grew worse and worse.

Chen Li had no good solutions for this.

In a way, this was a good thing, as it signified the transformation of his body by the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill.

"Thankfully, it won’t be much longer now," he bore the itch with determination, thinking to himself.

Given the current pace, the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill should reach Max Level in just over a month, maybe two at most. Once the optimization of the cultivation technique was complete, the journey to its perfection would naturally follow.

With his mind agitated, Chen Li naturally couldn’t stay put any longer, so he stepped out of the basement.

Zhou Hong, seeing Chen Li’s forehead covered in cold sweat and his steps lacking their usual agility, quickly approached to support him and asked with concern, "It has started again, why is it so severe this time?"

After all, as his bedfellow, she could detect any slight change immediately.

"Sigh, that’s just the way it is with Body Refinement... Bai Wei, have Bai Wei prepare a medicinal bath!" Chen Li said weakly.

This time felt even harder to bear than before, as if every inch of his flesh, every organ, and bone had countless feathers tickling them. It was not only itchy, but also sore and numb. Just a little more and all sensations would be complete.

He didn’t want to delay any longer.

The Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill needed to be advanced at a faster pace.

As for the Spirit Stones, he would just have to accept the waste.

...

Several hours later.

Chen Li was soaking in a scalding medicinal bath, and couldn’t help but groan in comfort.

With the operation of the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill, the fiery potency of the medicine permeated his body through the skin, and in that instant, it felt as though he was engulfed in flames. Using this painful stimulation, Chen Li felt the soreness and itching in his body lighten considerably, his entire being seemed to float weighlessly, as if falling through clouds.

It was a pity that after a mere ten or so minutes, the turbid medicinal liquid began to turn slightly clear.

"Bai Wei, the potency of the medicine isn’t enough. Next time, use two... no, three portions of the medicinal herbs!"

"Yes, master!" Bai Wei, who was standing by, quickly responded.

...

In the following days.

Chen Li had a medicinal bath every day, sometimes even twice when an episode occurred. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

At one point, he ran out of medicinal herbs.

Chen Li went to buy another batch.

Compared to half a year ago, the price of medicinal herbs had risen from 27 Mid-grade Spirit Stones per batch to 35 Mid-grade Spirit Stones each, a staggering increase. Fortunately, Chen Li was only buying thirty batches, so the extra expense was limited.

During this time, turmoil seemed to escalate in the borderlands; rumors had it that many of the Foundation Establishment cultivators previously recruited by the Artefact Sect had fled back, and the situation was quite dire.

However, Chen Li didn’t bother to investigate further as it was too far removed from him.

No matter how chaotic it got there, it would not affect this place.

...

Time is money,

and money can likewise buy time.

With a liberal expenditure of Spirit Stones.

Chen Li’s progress with the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill accelerated dramatically. What was originally over a month’s worth of work, now approached Max Level in just twenty short days.

ps: Procrastination got the better of me, consider this Chapter as for yesterday.