Proving Immortality Starting with Hextech Runes

Chen Xu accepted the exquisite wooden box, feeling a mix of emotions.

Qingling... really thinks of himself when there's something good.

"Senior brother, hurry up and eat!" Qingling urged expectantly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xu was slightly taken aback, but without hesitation, he picked up the Youth Preservation Pill from the box and put it in his mouth.

However, just as his mouth closed, he had a sudden thought and transferred it to the shared storage space.

It's not that he doesn't trust Qingling...

Well, because of Qingyi, he just doesn't quite trust him.

Therefore, he must confirm that there are no adverse effects before he can take this youth-preserving pill.

Moreover, it would be a waste to give it to this clone now.

Good things should be prepared and handled personally...

But Qingling had no idea what Chen Xu was thinking. Seeing him take the Youth Preservation Pill, she shook her head in satisfaction.

Then, her gaze turned to the inside of the cave, as if she were searching for something.

"Senior brother, where's Xiao Jin?"

"I've been craving it so much ever since you and Xiao Jin left!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xu looked somewhat helpless and explained, "Little Jin... hasn't been feeling well lately, you might have to wait a little longer."

"Huh?" Qingling was immediately worried.

"What's wrong with Xiao Jin? Is it sick? Is it serious?"

Chen Xu felt a pang of emotion as he looked at her genuine concern.

However, it was inconvenient to go into details about Xiao Jin's failure to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, so he casually replied:

"It's nothing serious. Just let it rest for a while and recuperate."

Upon hearing this, Qingling breathed a sigh of relief, but her tone still held a hint of disappointment: "Oh... I'm glad Xiao Jin is alright..."

At this moment, Chen Xu remained silent for a moment, as if he was considering something.

He flipped his hand, took out a jade hairpin-shaped magical artifact, and handed it over:

"Junior sister, I obtained this magical artifact by chance. It has the effect of calming the mind and spirit."

"If I encounter danger, it can also activate a protective aura. Consider it payment for the youth-preserving pill you gave me."

This jade hairpin was one of the spoils he obtained from the ruins of the First Saint Sect; it was a second-tier magic artifact.

Qingling had given him many benefits, all of which were quite valuable, so he had to reciprocate in kind.

However, if something is of too high quality, it may arouse suspicion; if it is of too low quality, it may seem perfunctory.

After much thought, only this jade hairpin ritual implement was suitable.

Qingling was slightly taken aback when she saw the jade hairpin suddenly handed to her, and then her gaze fell on the hairpin.

The warm, smooth texture of the jade and its exquisite design sparked a hint of amazement in her eyes.

She instinctively reached out and took it, and for some reason, her fair face flushed slightly.

Qingling lowered her head in a fluster, her voice much softer than before:

"Senior brother... this is too precious... the Youth Preservation Pill was something I wanted to give you myself..."

Even so, she did not loosen her grip on the jade hairpin, clearly quite fond of the gift.

Chen Xu looked at Qingling, who seemed somewhat uneasy after receiving the jade hairpin, and wondered why.

It's just a second-tier magic artifact, isn't it? It's not even as valuable as that Youth Preservation Pill...

Isn't this reaction a bit excessive?

He suppressed his doubts and said gently, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, Junior Sister, please accept it."

"Hmm..." Qingling responded softly, no longer refusing, and solemnly put the jade hairpin into her storage bag.

She kept her head down, her toes unconsciously grinding the pebbles on the ground, and whispered:

"Um... Grandpa recently had me practice a martial art and has been monitoring my progress."

"I'll... head back now?"

Chen Xu raised an eyebrow and casually asked, "What kind of cultivation technique makes Master value it so much?"

Upon hearing this, Qingling looked up at Chen Xu slightly, then hesitated.

She thought to herself, "Grandpa doesn't want me to mention this to anyone, but Senior Brother Chen... he shouldn't be considered anyone else, right?"

After a brief struggle, she whispered:

"It's a secret technique called 'Spirit Fusion Technique.' Grandpa said that practicing it greatly benefits the soul and can solidify the foundation..."

As Qingling finished speaking, Chen Xu froze on the spot, his pupils shrinking.

Because Qingyi... appeared not far ahead at some point.

Seeing Chen Xu's strange expression, Qingling quickly added:

"But Grandpa forbids me from passing on this method. If you want it, Senior Brother, I can talk to Grandpa! Grandpa, he..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xu, having already composed himself, stepped aside and bowed to Qing Yi, saying, "Disciple greets Master!"

Qingling then followed Chen Xu's gaze and noticed Qingyi behind her.

"Grandpa? What brings you here?" Her little face immediately tightened, and she ran to Qingyi's side in a fluster.

Qingyi gave Chen Xu a deep look before turning to Qingling.

He reached out his hand from behind his back, holding a two-tailed cloud fox.

The fox was being held by the scruff of its neck by Qingyi, its snow-white fur slightly bristling as it trembled uncontrollably.

"Your spirit pet is restless and keeps barking because you haven't returned yet." Qing Yi's voice was calm and expressionless, revealing no emotion.

"It was too noisy, so I brought it over for you."

When the two-tailed cloud fox saw its master, its eyes lit up. It broke free from Qingyi's control and rushed into Qingling's arms.

The little head tried desperately to burrow into her arms, making a pitiful "whimpering" sound.

"Oh, Xiaoyun! Don't be afraid, it's alright now." Qingling rubbed her cheek against its soft head, gently comforting it.

"Grandpa was just joking with you, don't be afraid..."

While coaxing Xiaoyun, she glared at Qingyi with a hint of reproach, clearly feeling that her grandfather had frightened Xiaoyun.

"Alright, come back with me now." Qingyi ignored Qingling's gaze and turned to leave.

"Oh..." Qingling responded, hugged Xiaoyun, mouthed "I'm leaving" to Chen Xu, and quickly followed Qingyi's footsteps.

Just as Qingyi was leaving with Qingling, their figures were about to disappear at the end of the path.

A streak of light slid out from Qing Yi's sleeve and landed in Chen Xu's hand.

Chen Xu looked down and saw a simple, ancient bamboo scroll.

The bamboo slips bear the inscription "The Art of Spirit Fusion".

He accepted the bamboo slips and immediately bowed deeply in the direction Qing Yi had left, saying, "Disciple Chen Xu thanks Master for his generous gift!"

Chen Xu straightened up only after confirming that the two figures had completely disappeared.

He turned and returned to his cave, where layers of protective barriers shimmered with light, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Walking to the stone table, Chen Xu casually tossed the rolled-up bamboo slip onto the corner of the table, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

Because this thing is not the real "Spirit Fusion Technique" at all.

The ancient book about "Imprisoning Spirits and Sealing Yuan" that Lin Miaoyin helped transcribe contained a detailed record of the "Spirit Fusion Technique".

"The Art of Spirit Fusion" is divided into two volumes.

Those who study the second volume must use their own soul as a furnace and their bloodline as a guide to undergo three rounds of tempering and refine their bloodline.

The process is extremely painful, and the ultimate goal of all this is to enable those who study the first volume to be reborn perfectly through a second body.

The effect of tempering the soul is merely a side effect.

However, this method of rebirth requires both individuals to be blood relatives.

That old man... has such a vicious mind.

He even schemed against his own granddaughter, seeing her as a means to give himself a second chance at life.