Chapter 633: Charm and Attraction

Chapter 633: Charm and Attraction

The pain in his legs momentarily abated, Hui stood in place. He focused all his attention on his third eye, scanning the water for qi emanations. The objects shes looking for should stand out

Blazing bright light shot from the water, all but blinding his third eye. Hui stumbled back, clapping his hands over his forehead. Owowow!

Giving up? Jizhi Zhimei asked.

N-no, Hui said. Shes giving me an out? This is definitely a task Im meant to lose so she can destroy me! I cant give up now.

But damn, so many items, so much light! The water itself, the pond stones, the lotuses everything is an incredibly powerful artifact. Even at my true cultivation, its still a blinding amount of qi, all stocked in this tiny pool!

Hmm if I absorb it all, I could definitely advance to the next stage. This incredibly dense qi Huis eyes gleamed. He turned, looking up at Jizhi Zhimei, still hidden behind the wall of fog. Im starting to see an upside to being her disciple.

Looking down at the water, Hui took a deep breath. The primary problem is that the water itself is full of qi. I cant see anything detailed past it. If I want to find the sponge, I need to see past the water.

He took a deep breath. As long as I dont move, the water wont hurt me. As long as I dont move Circulating the snakeskin technique, he plunged his face into the water.

Thick qi battered him from all directions. A brilliance akin to the surface of the sun assaulted his eyes.

Hui barely resisted the urge to lick his lips and roll his eyes at himself. Okay, so what did I think was going to happen? I can break the surface of the water, sure, but then Im just in the water. How on earth did I not realize it until I did it?

But well, now that Im already here if I absorb some of this qi, Ill be able to see more easily in the water. Bonus, the water might even stop attacking me! Yes, yes. I think Ill do that. Carefully lifting his face out of the water, leaving the snakeskin behind as he did, Hui instead stood in the water. Pressing his fingertips together over his dantian, he killed what little remained of his qi, shoving it down to nothing. Carefully, carefully. I dont want to absorb all of it. Just a little. Just enough to clear my vision!

From the far side of the fog screen, Jizhi Zhimei watched Hui. Choosing to cultivate instead of find the sponge? Stymied by such a small amount of pain? His resolve is too weak. I knew it. He doesnt actually walk the path of beauty. She settled her veil back over her face and began to wave her hand, preparing to dismiss the fog screen.

Before she could, all the qi in the pond flew toward Hui with ferocity. Waterspouts drilled up out of the water and flew into his pores, the qi was so desperate to enter his dantian. The lotuses leaned toward him, yearning. From the bottom of the pond, the little stones rolled toward Hui, piling up around his feet until they reached his mid-calf. All the hidden resources lying in the pond hurtled toward Hui and stuck to him like magnets. The water swirled around his legs, growing shallower with every passing breath.

Er yes? Hui said, scratching the back of his head.

She frowned at him. Her eyes narrowed.

Thats not good. Distraction, distraction! Hui looked down. Ah! Senior, look! Did I find them? Reaching down, he grabbed a brownish-yellowish sponge in one hand and a sliver of black soap in the other.

Jizhi Zhimei pursed her lips.

Nno? Hui said, shrinking back.

Do you realize how grave your situation was, moments ago? You nearly died. Your cultivation hovered on the verge of total bodily and soul destruction. If I hadnt sealed you at fourth realm, you would be dead right now. Even that might be too much for your path to continue. Youve all but crippled yourself, in the space of a blink. You should be dead right now. And you have no idea what you did, nor how to avoid it later. Jizhi Zhimei shook her head. She snatched the soap and sponge away from Hui.

I simply have to avoid absorbing dangerously qi-rich water, Hui said, nodding. I understand her point, but how often do disciples run across qi-rich water?

If youre that sensitive to qi, youll need to undertake special training to avoid killing yourself the next time you find somewhere with thick qi, Jizhi Zhimei stated.

Ah well, thats reasonable, Hui agreed, nodding. Is this what its like to have a reasonable Master? How strange. Im not used to it.

For now, return to the other disciples. I suppose high potential comes with its own difficulties Jizhi Zhimei muttered, half to herself.

Hui cupped his hands to her and ran off. At the door to her palace, he paused and looked back.

Jizhi Zhimei held her hand over the pond. Qi spooled from her hand, splashing as water into the empty pond bed.

Oh? So the pond was full of Jizhi Zhimeis qi? Then its not merely a force of attraction associated with Charm-Dao qi, but also corrosion? In keeping with the theme of beauty, should I call it exfoliation? Hui looked down at his robes, which now ended at a flat line at his mid-calf, bare feet slapping along the stone floor as he walked. I suppose I need new robes, too. Hm-hm, lets go find some fresh robes. And not from the female disciples laundry this time! Although, I suppose that did indirectly lead to me meeting Li Xiang, so I cant be too sad about it.

Nodding to himself, Hui wandered off.