Chapter 75 of 100

Chapter 75

16 min read3,989 words

The reason why Lu Buqi chose to follow the extremely unreliable Long Buli to seek treasure was threefold.

First, the current Lu Buqi had a great curiosity about the mysterious world of the Xuan cultivators. He really wanted to see it for himself. Even if he didn't gain much, at least he could have more interaction with Long Buli, who seemed to know a thing or two, which would be beneficial.

Second, after the initial wariness and subsequent exchanges, Lu Buqi no longer had any significant reservations or doubts about Long Buli. On the contrary, Long Buli seemed to understand him quite well at several key points, making him feel a sense of kinship. Joining her in the treasure hunt was like helping her out, so she wouldn't end up dead in some corner due to her carefree nature.

The third reason, which even Lu Buqi found amusing, was that he simply wanted to go back and see if the giant snake had successfully shed its skin. This question had been lingering in his mind since he left the small valley a few days ago.

As Lu Buqi had told Long Buli, he really felt that the giant snake was very much like him. Every time he thought of those large, intelligent eyes, he felt a strange and indescribable feeling.

Of course, if one considered the matter from a gender perspective, there was a fourth reason: when Lu Buqi was feeling bored, fate suddenly bestowed upon him a girl...

Regardless of her impressive profession, just being a super beautiful woman was enough to make a lasting impression. More importantly, her name matched Lu Buqi's so well, and their destination was a place that left a deep impression on him, which made him feel a sense of predestined fate.

This was why the cautious and meticulous Lu Buqi still chose to go with her. He had been looking for a reason not to go, but couldn't find one. He couldn't let himself be goaded into it with a lame excuse like being cowardly, could he?

However, what surprised Lu Buqi somewhat was that Long Buli's slender figure could actually finish off over twenty pounds of roasted tiger meat. And the way she looked, still hungry after the meal, suggested she could eat more.

Seemingly sensing Lu Buqi's surprise, Long Buli stretched slightly, her already prominent chest becoming even more noticeable: "What? Is my eating manner that bad?"

Lu Buqi, slightly taken aback, replied: "To eat so quickly with such refined manners, you're quite a unique one!"

Long Buli blinked her eyes, exuding charm: "Your meat is really delicious. If I didn't eat quickly, you would have finished it all."

Lu Buqi's lips curled slightly. Indeed, his roasting skills were excellent, and he had mastered the slicing technique. The meat of the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger was fresh and rich in fat, leaving a lingering taste. The twenty pounds of meat should have been enough to fill his stomach, but today he still felt unsatisfied.

"If I had known your meat was so delicious, I would have asked you to roast a whole tiger just now!" Long Buli rubbed her oily hands, still savoring the taste.

"Roast a whole tiger? Could you really eat that much?" A few black lines appeared on Lu Buqi's forehead. This woman's nerves were really thick.

Long Buli rolled her eyes: "I can eat it slowly. It won't go bad if I put it in the Jie Ring."

Lu Buqi was taken aback: "Jie Ring? Is it some kind of storage tool?"

"You don't know the Jie Ring?" Long Buli was also surprised, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes: "Well, you're not like me, a treasure hunter who roams the world, so you wouldn't have this kind of knowledge..."

Lu Buqi ignored her contempt: "Just tell me what the Jie Ring is!"

Long Buli extended her hand and waved a plain bronze bracelet in the firelight: "This is it. Don't be fooled by its appearance; it can hold quite a lot of things, even three or four Black Jaw Ghost Tigers."

"Is it really a storage space like those in Chinese mythology? No wonder Long Buli's ropes and weapons could suddenly disappear... What kind of world have I ended up in?" Lu Buqi was shocked: "Three or four Black Jaw Ghost Tigers, that space must be at least a dozen cubic meters, yet it's condensed into a bracelet. Can this be explained by science?"

As Lu Buqi pondered, Long Buli suddenly exclaimed: "What, are you thinking of taking it?"

"I'm not that shallow. Besides, if we really fought, I might not be your match. Why do something so foolish?" Lu Buqi replied calmly.

"Just kidding!" Seeing Lu Buqi's serious face, Long Buli pouted: "You have no sense of humor. Even if I gave it to you, you couldn't use it anyway."

Lu Buqi felt relieved: "Is there any special way to use the Jie Ring?"

"Of course. The storage space in the Jie Ring is called the Jiezi Space, and it is recognized by mental power. Unless you reach the late Xuan Tong stage and can use your primordial energy to erase the mental power, you can't use it again." Long Buli explained: "However, it's said that such a strong erasure will make all the items in the Jie Ring disappear, turning it into a new Jie Ring!"

Lu Buqi was once again taken aback: "What did you just say about the late Xuan Tong stage and the Fu Cheng realm? What kind of realm is that?"

"You don't know this either?" Long Buli looked at Lu Buqi strangely: "For a martial artist of your strength, you should have some knowledge of these things!"

Lu Buqi smiled bitterly. He suddenly realized that ignorance could be very painful, especially when it made him look ignorant in front of a beautiful woman, a pain that kept recurring.

Sensing Lu Buqi's embarrassment, Long Buli laughed lightly: "It seems you only know about Xuan Tong. Although I don't know exactly how martial artists cross into the Xuan cultivation stage, I can tell you that Xuan Tong is a broad term, just like martial artists often refer to bravery, bone resonance, and passion as the Body Refinement stage."

As Lu Buqi gradually understood, Long Buli explained in detail: "In the Xuan Tong stage, there are also three realms: Qi Yin, Niao Du, and Fu Cheng, and each realm is divided into nine levels."

"I see..." Lu Buqi was captivated: "It's hard to imagine how powerful a Xuan cultivator at the Fu Cheng realm must be."

Long Buli pursed her lips: "They're not that powerful. If they encounter ten-stage Xuan beasts, even ten of them together wouldn't stand a chance! But they are much stronger than us. A hundred of us wouldn't be a match for a Fu Cheng realm cultivator. Those who reach the Fu Cheng realm are usually important figures like elders or protectors in major sects. Ordinary people don't even hear about them, let alone see them."

Lu Buqi pinched his nose: "You seem to know a lot about this. You mentioned patterns and Qi techniques before. Can you tell me more about those?"

"Qi techniques, as you might guess, are the secret manuals that Xuan cultivators use to learn Xuan techniques." Long Buli smiled: "If we're lucky, we might get a Qi technique for you this time. However, many Qi techniques have cultivation conditions and taboos, so you need to choose one that suits you."

"As for patterns, they are a common method used by Xuan cultivators to activate Xuan techniques. Strong Xuan cultivators use special pattern cloths to infuse some attack, defense, or auxiliary Xuan techniques, making it easier for lower-stage Xuan cultivators to use them." Long Buli explained: "A Qi Yin realm Xuan cultivator might only have enough primordial energy to use two or three Xuan techniques, but with patterns, they can use over ten. This is the effect of patterns. You will definitely see this in the future, and Heart Cores are a necessary material for making patterns."

Lu Buqi understood: "No wonder the Wang family is so dedicated to collecting Heart Cores; they have such a significant use..."

Long Buli pouted: "Heart Cores have more uses than that. They can be used in medicine and alchemy. However, as a common material, the Xuan cultivation sects rely on ordinary people to collect them for them. The Fu Cheng realm Xuan cultivators, on the other hand, are eagerly seeking Xuan Pearls."

"Xuan Pearls?" Lu Buqi wasn't stupid: "Are they related to Xuan beasts?"

"Yes, Xuan Pearls are to Xuan beasts what Heart Cores are to spirit beasts!" Long Buli's eyes sparkled: "The energy contained in Xuan Pearls is a thousand times that of Heart Cores. They are indispensable treasures for alchemy and the creation of Xuan artifacts. Xuan cultivators will go to any lengths to obtain one!"

Lu Buqi nodded in understanding: "Xuan beasts are so powerful that even Xuan cultivators find it difficult to hunt them. Their Xuan Pearls are naturally precious."

"Buqi, if you knew where there was a Xuan beast, would you also go to any lengths to kill it?" Through the firelight, Long Buli's eyes gleamed with a strange light.

---