Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 68: The Correct Mode for Activating [Illusion Simulation]

"With these complete encyclopedias of inscriptions, plus the talents of [The More You Fail, the Stronger You Become] and [Elementary Analysis], as long as my cultivation can break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining next June."

"Perhaps I'll be able to master the first-tier high-grade inscription!"

Zhou Ling thought to himself.

He then exhaled and began to circulate the Spirit Flame Technique, starting his cultivation.

Not long after he closed his eyes, he felt the scene before him change, and red leaves, like flames, suddenly fell.

In an instant, the maple leaves seemed to transform into streaks of red light flowing like sword beams. In a short while, endless beams of sword light burst forth, illuminating the entire courtyard as a magnificent fiery sword domain.

Although he knew he was in an illusion, Zhou Ling felt it was so real that he hurriedly activated the Azure Gang Sword Technique.

The Fire Pattern Sword then appeared in his hand.

Zhou Ling made a hand seal, and the Fire Pattern Sword slashed out to clash with the red sword beams!

At this moment, he seemed to become the target of the red sword light, and could only subconsciously keep circulating his sword techniques to fight against the red sword light.

However, under the suppression of the red sword light, the Fire Pattern Sword seemed to have little killing power and kept retreating.

Zhou Ling could only unleash the full power of the Spirit Flame Technique and the Azure Gang Sword Technique, slashing and blocking wave after wave of sword rain.

And so it continued.

As his spiritual energy gradually depleted, he felt a sharp, intense pain in his meridians.

"it hurts!"

Zhou Lingzhi felt as if his meridians were about to tear apart, and his spiritual energy was being drained.

Like a dried-up river, it is constantly cracking!

[You are currently cultivating within an illusion. Your resilience increases by 1, spiritual energy by 3, and proficiency in the Azure Sword Technique by 5.]

[You are currently cultivating within an illusion; Sword Control +3]

[You are currently cultivating within an illusionary realm. Illusionary Realm Simulation +1]

[You are currently practicing the Azure Gang Sword Technique. Your innate talent has increased by 1, and your proficiency in the Azure Gang Sword Technique has increased by 2.]

Only then did he suddenly wake up, breaking free from the profound state he had just been in.

At the same time, the sword light seemed to leave faint traces in his mind.

He covered his head, and it took him quite a while before his mind returned to normal.

"It was clearly an illusion just now, so how could it feel so real?" Zhou Ling wondered to himself.

The more I look at this Fire Spirit Maple Tree, the more magical it seems.

However, he hadn't expected that cultivating in the illusion could also improve his sword technique proficiency with the help of his talent.

He couldn't help but open the properties panel.

Sure enough, I saw that the Azure Gang Sword Technique had reached the first level of mastery, 2/1000.

Not far away, Wang Xin had already finished her cultivation and was playing with the stone rock rat.

Zhou Ling also stood up.

······.

In the days that followed, Zhou Ling would get up early every morning, have breakfast, and then take the ingredients her mother had bought to Maple Leaf Mountain.

Then he began his meditation under the Fire Essence Maple Tree.

Because each illusion is different, Zhou Ling cultivates different skills each time.

Sometimes it's the Azure Gang Sword Technique, sometimes the Great Yang Fist, and sometimes even palm fire and thunder, or drawing inscriptions, etc.

After completing his cultivation, he studied the Complete Book of First-Order Inscriptions to learn about the various methods of drawing inscriptions.

Sometimes, when encountering inscriptions that are truly difficult to understand, or when struggling to comprehend aspects of the Spirit Flame Technique, one would ask the master for guidance.

Although Zi Ling was neither a weapon refiner nor a practitioner of the Spirit Flame Technique, her few words were enough to enlighten Zhou Ling.

This impressed him greatly; how did he manage to do that?

In the evenings, he would stay at home drawing tools for the workshop. With a complete guide to first-tier inscriptions, he was now willing to take on most of the projects.

Of course, this excludes first-tier superior-grade artifacts.

Over the past few days, Zhou Shan's injuries have shown significant improvement.

Li Ru has also taken over the shop and is currently carrying out simple renovations.

Seeing that Zhou Ling brought ingredients every morning, Li Ru thought that she could make time to go up the mountain to cook for them.

Zhou Ling naturally refused, pretending that his master preferred peace and quiet and didn't like being disturbed.

Li Rucai gave up on the idea.

Even so, thinking about how her son had to cultivate and cook on the mountain, Li Ru always felt she should share some of the burden with him.

Every day, I not only buy and cut the ingredients, but also prepare all the matching materials.

He then explained to Zhou Ling in detail how to cook it.

I also made some extra steamed buns and pastries.

In addition, he purchased some high-quality spirit rice, along with some spirit herbs suitable for brewing that Zhou Ling had gathered during his last trip into the mountains, and specially brewed several jars of fine wine for Zi Ling. He also instructed Zhou Ling, "Your master did not accept our apprenticeship gifts, so these spirit wines are our tokens of appreciation. We hope your master will not find them offensive."

"Mother, don't worry! Master has no shortage of spiritual herbs and stones, he just loves this spiritual wine!"

Zhou Ling smiled.

Although the spiritual energy in Maple Leaf Mountain is thin, Master doesn't seem to care at all.

She wasn't too picky about the food, as long as it tasted better than what she made herself.

The only thing I like is spirit wine.

He has a high alcohol tolerance and drinks four or five jars of alcohol every day.

Now, the spirit wine that Mother brews seems to suit Master's taste very well.

Although it is just average quality black rice with not much spiritual energy, Li Ru's brewing recipe and method are unique, and the taste, aroma and other aspects are very good.

The master was also very satisfied with this spiritual wine.

Knowing that Zi Ling liked it, Li Ru felt relieved and made an extra batch every two days. After it was packed, she had Zhou Ling deliver it to her.

The shop is ready to open soon after the decorations are finished.

Li Ru also tried to buy different qualities of spirit rice and spirit medicine, and to refine different types of spirit wine.

In terms of quality, there are also high and low grades.

Each time, Li Ru would have Zhou Ling bring some of the better quality items to their master to try.

On this day, Zhou Ling was sitting cross-legged under the Fire Essence Maple Tree, cultivating.

[You are currently practicing the Azure Gang Sword Technique. Your innate talent +1, Azure Gang Sword Technique proficiency +2]

[Effect: After entering the illusion realm 10 times, the illusion realm simulation is complete.]

[Total number of times entered the illusionary realm: 10/100]

[Illusion Simulation: Can simulate real combat by consuming divine sense]

"I've unlocked the [Illusion Simulation] talent, but how do I use it?"

"It consumes divine sense, so it clearly needs to find a target on its own!"

Zhou Ling was unsure for a moment.

According to the description of the [Illusion Simulation] talent, it can simulate real combat situations.

"How about we try it out with the Rock Rat first!"

The rock rat was outside the yard, on a rock not far away, munching on beef jerky and basking in the sun, looking quite relaxed.

Zhou Ling suddenly had an idea.

The Rock Rat has thick skin and flesh. Although it is only in the mid-stage of Tier 1, its leather armor already provides the defensive capabilities of the late-stage of Tier 1.

Even if I use the Azure Gang Sword Technique, I really can't hurt it.

He immediately sent a message to the rock rat.

"Squeak!"

The rock rat seemed unwilling to accept this, and immediately jumped off the rock, trying to escape.

An invisible magical power emanated from Zhou Ling's hand, and the Fire Pattern Sword shot out instantly.

A red light swept across.

With a bang, the Fire Pattern Sword struck the rocky mountain, causing the rocks to shatter.

The rock rat was agile and had already made its escape.

Meanwhile, Zhou Ling also caught a glimpse of the fleeing rock rat in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Immediately activated [Illusion Simulation].

The next second, the scene from just now appeared in his mind.

The Fire Pattern Sword unleashed several strikes before finally hitting the Rock Rat.

[You are simulating an attack on the Stone Rock Rat. Illusion Simulation +1, Azure Sword Technique +1, Divine Sense Cultivation +2]

Zhou Ling opened his eyes again and looked at the rock rat.

The rock rat immediately fled again.

Next, Zhou Ling focused his mind again and unleashed the Fire Pattern Sword once more.

Another bang.

This time, the Rock Rat was knocked away.

Fortunately, Zhou Ling didn't use much spiritual power.

Zhou Ling looked satisfied.

Now he roughly understood the function of the [Illusion Simulation] talent: it could simulate the opponent's situation and help find their weaknesses.

(End of this chapter)