novelapdf Chapter 3 The Day of Being Soaked
Chapter 3 The Day of Being Soaked
Just after midnight on the third day, Lu Changgeng felt a jolt throughout his body.
The feeling was extremely difficult to describe, like a long-parched riverbed finally waiting for the upstream sluice gates to open, or like all the meridians in one's body being simultaneously opened.
The celestial magical power that the seven fairies had released during their cultivation was already submerged deep within the spring water. Now, it all transformed into a warm torrent, silently surging into the spring.
"They're here!"
Lu Changgeng's spirits lifted, and the "Celestial Immortal Technique" began to operate automatically in his consciousness. Strands of celestial immortal power flowed along the water veins and meridians, and the spring water became hotter with each passing place.
The first to notice was the fairy in red.
She was soaking in the spring with her eyes closed when she suddenly felt a slight warmth in her lower abdomen, and her magical power subtly increased.
Although she was but a drop in the ocean, she had cultivated for ten thousand years and had a keen understanding of the increase and decrease of her own magical power.
"Sisters," she said, opening her bright, clear eyes in surprise, "try circulating your magic power."
The fairy in green was the first to react, and after a moment, she was equally surprised and spoke, unusually: "Your magic power... has increased? Although it's slight, it's definitely not an illusion."
"Me! Me! Me!" The purple-clad fairy raised her slender, white arm, a pale purple halo forming at her fingertips. "I've increased my cultivation too! Eldest sister, can this Cleansing Spring really increase cultivation?"
The fairy in red pondered for a long time, her gaze sweeping over the spring water several times, before finally shaking her head: "It must be because the true fire of the sun is compatible with the 'Celestial Immortal Technique' we cultivate that it has this effect. Such opportunities are rare in this world, and since we have encountered them, we should not waste them."
So the seven fairies sat down again and entered meditation, diligently cultivating themselves.
The fairies' cultivation postures were naturally dignified, but under the steaming spring water, their alabaster bodies turned rosy, their wet hair clung to their fragrant shoulders and jade necks, appearing and disappearing in the misty heat, adding a touch of indescribable charm.
Lu Changgeng no longer had time to appreciate it.
The Seventh Fairy became increasingly focused on cultivation, and the magical power flowing into his body became more and more abundant. He desperately guided the magical power to circulate along the water veins, and the level of the "Celestial Immortal Technique" rose at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He suddenly broke through his Qi barrier and entered the Refinement Form.
The invisible water veins have expanded several times over, and something seems to be gathering deep within the spring.
Lu Changgeng felt that he was no longer just a stagnant pool of water that had been laid out; the spring water was gradually taking on the feeling of a "trunk".
Initial formation, intermediate formation, final formation...
After ten years of cultivation were poured into his body, Lu Changgeng felt as if the entire spring was boiling.
The water jet from the spring is over ten feet high, and the water droplets sparkle like shattered jade under the moonlight.
"The fountain is back again," the purple-clad fairy opened her eyes, looked up at the water column, letting the warm spring water splash on her face, and murmured softly, "Fourth Sister cultivates the most diligently, so it's probably because of her that it's been activated."
Several hours later, dawn will break.
The fairy in red awoke from her meditation and said, "Sisters, it's time to return to the Heavenly Court. If we're discovered to have abandoned our posts, it'll be another problem."
After speaking, she was the first to step ashore, water droplets rolling down her smooth skin, reflecting a golden light in the rising sun.
She made a water-repelling gesture, and her body instantly dried, her red silk dress fluttering as she put it on.
The fairies all agreed and emerged from the water one by one to put on their clothes.
Her movements were elegant and composed, but the youngest fairy in purple kept turning back, looking reluctant to leave.
"Sister, shall we come again next time?"
"Come on, why aren't you coming?"
Seven beams of colorful light shot into the sky and disappeared into the clouds in the blink of an eye.
Lu Changgeng gazed at the empty springside, feeling inexplicably lost.
Fortunately, the gains over these three days have been enormous.
The previous chapter, "The Celestial Immortal Technique," describes a celestial art called the Weaving Clouds Technique. After ten years of cultivation and body refinement, it has reached its full potential.
He calmed himself down and began to process what he had learned.
Steam rose from the spring, and the mountains returned to their two-and-a-half-year-old tranquility.
Time flew by, and a hundred days passed quickly, which was only a few hours for the celestial maidens.
The seven fairies once again found an opportunity to slip down to the mortal world and visit the Cleansing Spring.
Lu Changgeng also learned different immortal techniques and supernatural powers from other fairies.
The Orange Fairy's "Rainbow Dance" can bewitch the mind, and although he didn't want to learn it, he was forced to master it.
The Yellow-Clad Fairy's "Rain-Making Technique" is specifically for summoning clouds and rain. She also obtained spells such as "Spirit Plant Technique" and "Dust-Avoiding Spell" from the Red-Clad Fairy and the Green-Clad Fairy.
The seven fairies would soak for a few days before returning to Heaven. Thus, Lu Changgeng's days became regular: wait for the seven fairies to come, get soaked, and receive benefits; when the seven fairies left, he would cultivate and digest, and then continue waiting.
And then there's the second part, "The Celestial Immortal Technique." When the fairies had been soaking in the spring for the thirtieth day, the red-clad fairy broke through a minor realm in the spring. With the fluctuation of her true energy, the second part of the technique, along with her magical power, flowed into Lu Changgeng's body.
……
Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
The seven fairies had been soaking in the Cleansing Spring for over a hundred days. This soak lasted for three days and three nights. Lu Changgeng received the powerful magic power from the seven of them cultivating at the same time, and his cultivation level broke through the Concentration stage, reaching the edge of becoming a great demon.
Those who concentrate their minds can keep their thoughts focused and not disperse, allowing them to travel far away from their physical body.
Lu Changgeng succeeded on his first attempt.
His divine sense rose from the spring, drifting leisurely into the air, looking down at the seven fairies soaking in the spring from an angle he had never seen before.
Steam rose from the spring, and seven hazy figures soaked in the hot water, their hair tied up in high buns, with a few stray strands clinging to their slightly flushed cheeks.
From the delicate, pale yellow behind her ears to her slender, jade-like neck, from her exquisite collarbone to her rounded shoulders, everything was bathed in hot water and developed an alluring blush.
Lu Changgeng silently withdrew his divine sense, and only uttered one word in his heart: Good.
What's even more amazing is that his spring has more than doubled in size, and the tributaries can spread for ten miles. However, in order to avoid disturbing the mountain spirits and monsters and to avoid attracting their covetousness and trouble, Lu Changgeng has always maintained the original size.
The seven fairies' magical powers have also greatly improved over these hundred days.
Lu Changgeng had heard that the fairy in red had boasted that she had been "tempered by the fire of the golden crow, her appearance remained unchanged, and she was immune to evil spirits."
"Sisters, why don't we report to the Heavenly Court and claim this Cleansing Spring as a celestial property? Then we can bathe in it openly and legitimately," suggested the fairy in green.
The fairy in red shook her head: "That's not advisable. This spring is a sacred place in the mortal realm. If we report it to the Heavenly Court, it will surely be requisitioned for other purposes. In that case, neither of us will be able to enjoy the spring. Making a fortune in silence is the right way."
The fairies wholeheartedly agreed.
After they finished soaking, the seven figures soared into the sky. Lu Changgeng looked in the direction they disappeared and felt a sense of emotion.
After spending a hundred days together, he had developed quite a fondness for these seven fairies, although the way this affection was formed was rather unusual.
Little did they know that the seven fairies never returned to the Cleansing Spring after their departure.
Lu Changgeng lay quietly by the spring, sometimes lost in thought and wandering far away, sometimes casting spells and playing around, which wasn't so boring.
He has now focused his mind and is only one step away from becoming a fully-fledged demon, but this step is hopeless for him to achieve through self-cultivation in the short term.
Many spirits in the world can concentrate their essence, but transforming into human form is extremely difficult.
Lu Changgeng originally thought that transformation was easy to achieve, seeing how the pilgrims could transform into human form whenever they encountered a monster on their journey westward. This was a misconception.
The seven fairies soaked in the spring for a hundred days, which taught Lu Changgeng a lot of common knowledge about cultivation.
Ordinary birds, beasts, plants and trees need to cultivate for three thousand years before they are qualified to take human form, and even those who have great fortune and opportunity need a thousand years.
Those with weaker origins, such as skeletons and old turtles, may not be able to transform even after five thousand years.
Even if one foot is on the path to transformation, there are still transformation tribulations waiting ahead, such as the Four-Nine Tribulation and the Six-Nine Tribulation. If one cannot withstand them, one's soul will be scattered, and thousands of years of hard cultivation will be in vain.
According to the "Celestial Immortal Manual", after condensing one's spirit, one can transform into an infant, which is what demons refer to as taking human form. This requires condensing a demon core and perfecting one's magical power, which allows one to take on a human-like outline.
However, at this stage, it can only be considered a pseudo-transformation.
The next step requires judgment from the Heavenly Dao, which will bring forth the Heavenly Tribulation of the Forty-Nine Heavens, where heavenly lightning will refine the body, solidify the human form, and strengthen the primordial spirit before one can be considered to have truly transformed.
Lu Changgeng doesn't even have a demon core yet, let alone know how to condense one as a spring.
Is this the only option left to stop and concentrate?
Winter has passed and spring has arrived; another year has passed.
At noon that day, Lu Changgeng looked at the sky as usual, hoping that the seven familiar and graceful figures would descend.
The fairies always liked to soak in the hot springs at this time, and he was very familiar with it.
An hour later, Lu Changgeng sighed inwardly, knowing he wouldn't be coming again today.
He composed himself, intending to take a leisurely stroll, when suddenly the sky darkened.
Huh? They're here?
Wait, something's not right!
Seven black dots plummeted from the sky and crashed into the spring, splashing up a huge spray of water.
When Lu Changgeng saw what was coming, the entire spring froze, and even the springhead stopped for a moment.
Seven spiders.
The size of a fist, entirely black, with strange patterns on their backs. They were whimpering from the scalding spring water, their eight legs flailing wildly.
Lu Changgeng: "..."