Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 138 Repairing the Molted Shell
Ten days or so passed quickly in the spirit room.

During these days, Fang Shu did not attempt to make a breakthrough.

On the contrary, he ate and drank well every day, and in his spare time, he would read some Taoist books or even flip through a few of the storybooks he carried with him for amusement.

Until this day, the Daoist talisman in his mind trembled slightly, and words appeared:
[The art of cordyceps parasitism has been mastered]

All sorts of mysterious texts and spiritual root diagrams rushed into his mind, causing him to momentarily lose focus.

Indeed, in the past few days, in addition to continuing to hone his cultivation, he has also been using Daoist talismans to analyze spiritual root methods.

Compared to ordinary spells, the spiritual root method has more specific steps and only involves planting spiritual roots. It does not require learning from scratch to understand, and many of its principles are similar to those of immortal disciplines such as Gu Dao.

However, for ordinary people, it still takes several months to comprehend it. Especially for those immortals without a foundation in immortal arts, to fully grasp it is similar to learning a new spell from scratch, requiring one or two years, or even four or five years.

That's probably why Senior Sister Fang Lu worked as a handyman for two years.

Fang Shu already possessed a foundation in Gu refining, and with the aid of Daoist talismans, he had thoroughly comprehended it in less than fifteen days. In fact, theoretically, this time could have been even shorter.

The reason for this was that he combined his own understanding of spiritual roots with the simplified twenty-four methods he had obtained from the Jin family's Treasure Hall, and incorporated them into the Cordyceps spiritual root method, using them to cross-reference and distinguish the authenticity of the method.

With his eyes slightly closed, Fang Shu silently comprehended the meaning.

After digesting the information properly, his face did not show any joy; instead, his brows furrowed slightly.

According to the Daoist talisman's deduction, although the feasibility of the "Cordyceps Parasitism Technique" in his hand reached 80%, the possibility of risks or loopholes in it also reached 20%.

Furthermore, even if Fang Shu fully mastered it using Daoist talismans and had a solid foundation, his success rate in planting spiritual roots using this method still could not be increased to 90%.

"Is the remaining 20% ​​risk a flaw in the method itself, or a loophole left by the Jin family?"

After frowning and thinking it over, Fang Shu quickly put the idea aside.

At this point, dwelling on this is pointless and will only disturb his peace of mind.

Rather than doing this, he should think carefully about how to mitigate the remaining 20% ​​risk, since he has neither the opportunity nor the chance to obtain a perfect spiritual root method.

Fortunately, Fang Shu had anticipated the current situation.

It could even be said that obtaining an 80% feasible method for cultivating spiritual roots was already beyond his expectations.

Putting aside other matters, without Senior Sister Fang Lu's help, Fang Shu originally planned to take on a recruitment task with less danger and an incomplete reward method, and then spend his time repairing and researching a spiritual root method on his own.

Now that a viable method has been found, he only needs to expend some more effort to make up for its shortcomings by adapting it to local conditions and individual circumstances.

A thought struck him, and the Daoist talisman in Fang Shu's mind trembled once more.

In his mind, secret texts appeared one by one, and a strange secret text, resembling a net and human body, emerged from his mind and slowly entangled and wrapped around the cordyceps secret text.

This secret text is the innate secret text that he observed and imprinted from Xiao Lili's body.

Compared to the secret texts on several cordyceps, this secret text on a medicinal ginseng, though overly complicated, possesses its own natural rhythm.

What's even more remarkable is that the two sides are intertwined, their rhythms are in sync, and they do not create resistance.

A series of profound truths and ingenious ideas kept surging in Fang Shu's mind.

He tried to calm himself, but his mental energy was rapidly depleting, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

After careful consideration, a hint of joy finally appeared on his face.

Although the secret texts on ginseng and cordyceps are different, they do not contradict each other. Many of their principles are interconnected. The former can supplement the latter, or the latter can serve as a reference for the former.

Fang Shuxin thought to himself, "Indeed, the method of medicinal ginseng involves using flesh and blood to cultivate spiritual plants and nurture precious medicines. The method of cordyceps also involves using flesh and blood to cultivate fungi, and the two are quite similar."

This is another reason why he chose the "Cordyceps Parasitism Technique" among the twenty-four spiritual root methods.

Immediately, Fang Shu composed himself and took out the many sheets of paper and pens he had prepared beforehand. He then began to deduce and repair the spiritual root method in the spiritual room. The sheets of white paper, covered with scribbles, fluttered around the spiritual room like white moths.

More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

This day.

Fang Shu's hair was disheveled, and there were at least several hundred sheets of waste paper in the spirit room. Moreover, he had already run out of paper three days ago.

He sat there blankly, now relying solely on his mental power and the Daoist scriptures to deduce the truth in his mind.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, and he felt that he could begin to cultivate spiritual roots.

As expected, after he gained some insight, the Dao talisman passed three breaths in a flash:
[Realm Level: Qi Refining Capable (96% complete)]

As the final words appeared, a look of relief spread across Fang Shu's face.

And the section about methods in the Daoist talismans, specifically the section on spiritual root methods, has also changed:
【Fang's Cordyceps and Gu Poisoning Technique (Completed)】

After his modifications, the Cordyceps Spirit Root Method passed down by the Jin family had become his own unique secret technique, incorporating the wonders of Gu refining and ginseng cultivation, and thus he changed its name.

The spiritual root cultivation method is complete, everything is in place and there is nothing missing, but Fang Shu still did not immediately begin planting the spiritual root.

He first lay down on the ground and fell asleep immediately.

He slept for a full eighteen hours before getting up to stretch his muscles and slowly taking out the pills, checking the materials, and setting up the altar.

It took him another three days to burn incense, bathe, and pray to all the righteous gods. He praised them all, including the Dragon King, the Kitchen God, and the Grand Duke Jupiter.

at last.

On this day, Fang Shu had one last thought: "If nothing unexpected happens, most of the immortal seeds from the same batch would have been reduced to menial tasks by now."

The next moment, he suppressed that distracting thought as well.

With a whoosh, several arrays were activated, and dense spiritual energy even transformed into spiritual light, flashing around him. Even ordinary people could tell at a glance that this place was extraordinary.

In addition, pages of talismans were made into prayer flags, which were flapping and moving around without wind.

Fang Shu calmed his mind and closed his eyes slightly.

The cultivation of spiritual roots has officially begun.

He took a silver knife and slowly sliced ​​open the skin on his forehead, cutting deep enough to reach the bone, as if he were peeling off his scalp.

Fortunately, his actions were not so terrifying; he simply stopped when he felt he had done enough.

But the next moment, the dragon-seeking and gold-touching worm that he had prepared on his forehead was stimulated and began to wriggle wildly, burrowing into Fang Shu's body and brain.

Strands of mycelium, resembling fine hairs, spread out from the body of the tomb raider, eerie and terrifying, as if it were moldy.

In the blink of an eye, Fang Shu's body was completely covered, turning him into a white-haired zombie. These mycelia also spread to the altar beneath him, eroding the talismans and absorbing the medicinal liquid, becoming increasingly rampant.

Fang Shu's aura grew increasingly weak, as if he had withered and died, resembling a molted insect shell.

One day, two days, three days...

Eighteen days have passed.

A surge of life suddenly burst forth within the mummified body in the spirit chamber.

A tiny golden sprout emerged from Fang Shu's forehead, its yellowish-brown color resembling millet or golden flowers, its surface smooth and glossy.

In an instant, the spiritual energy in the room surged and gathered there, stirring and stirring.

(End of this chapter)