Mortal: My name is Ma Liang, and I also possess a magic brush.

The next morning, Ma Liang got up from his bed, and as soon as he sat up, a throbbing pain came from his temples.

I drank with Qin Yue until late last night, and the effects of the alcohol haven't worn off yet.

He casually took out a Soul Nourishing Pill from his storage bag, put it in his mouth, and his headache was slightly relieved.

As his mind gradually calmed down, he suddenly noticed a faint light floating above the defensive array set up outside his residence.

It turned out to be a communication talisman attached to the array.

Ma Liang made a hand seal to collect the talisman, and the talisman transformed into a stream of light that flew into his palm. Immediately afterward, a voice came from it.

"Ma Liang, this parting is not forever. May your journey be smooth, and may we meet again in the Kingdom of Yu someday, where we shall drink heartily until we are drunk!"

Upon hearing the message, Ma Liang couldn't help but smile. With a casual wave of his hand, the communication talisman transformed into specks of light and dissipated within the room.

Strangely enough, this was the first time he had met Qin Yue, but the person he was truly familiar with was the original owner of this body.

Perhaps it was the lingering memories of the original owner that were at play, but when she was with Qin Yue yesterday, there was no awkwardness at all. Instead, they chatted like old friends who had known each other for many years.

"May we meet again someday." A hint of confusion flashed across Ma Liang's eyes.

I am now completely lost about the future, let alone what lies ahead.

With this in mind, he raised his hand and cast a purification spell.

In a flash of inspiration, a gentle spiritual energy flowed over his body, completely dispelling the lingering turbidity from last night's drinking.

After the spiritual energy dissipated, Ma Liang felt refreshed and invigorated.

After Ma Liang finished doing all this, he turned around and bowed in the direction of Xiang Zhili's residence, his movements as practiced as clocking in for work every day.

"Good morning, senior."

Regardless of whether Xiang Zhili was secretly watching, Ma Liang finished his greetings and then left.

His purpose in making this trip was to visit the Cultivation Technique Pavilion to see if he could find a cultivation technique similar to the "Great Evolution Technique" for cultivating spiritual consciousness.

Before long, they arrived at the Gongfa Pavilion. The pavilion was ancient and solemn, with wind chimes engraved with runes hanging under the eaves.

He respectfully cupped his hands to the cultivators guarding the entrance, saying, "Disciple Ma Liang greets Uncle Wu."

Uncle Wu was dressed in the standard Taoist robe of Huangfeng Valley, with a kind face, and he was completely unpretentious when he met Ma Liang.

"Disciple, what brings you here?"

"Uncle-Master, I wish to find a cultivation technique that can enhance one's spiritual sense. Do you know if the pavilion possesses any?"

Uncle Wu pondered for a moment, "The spiritual cultivation techniques you mentioned are all high-level secret arts. This place only contains basic cultivation techniques and pill formulas that Qi Refining stage disciples can use; there are no such profound methods here."

"You are still in the Qi Refining stage. Even if you obtain a divine sense technique, it will be difficult for you to cultivate. On the contrary, it is easy to injure yourself."

Ma Liang was mentally prepared, knowing that it would be difficult to find high-level cultivation methods to enhance spiritual sense here, but he still held onto a sliver of hope and asked, "Uncle-Master Wu, I really need cultivation methods related to the soul. Could you recommend one or two? Even a rudimentary method would be helpful."

Uncle Wu scrutinized his face for a few more moments, then released a wisp of his divine sense to probe him.

A moment later, he withdrew his divine sense and realized that Ma Liang's soul seemed unstable and needed to be carefully nurtured.

"Since you need it urgently, I have a book called 'Soul Nourishing Technique' for you. This technique is not high-level and cannot increase spiritual awareness; it can only nourish the soul. Its benefit to the soul is at most negligible."

"But your spirit is currently somewhat unstable, so practicing this technique can protect your essence and prevent problems in your future cultivation. Do you want this technique?"

Ma Liang's disappointment was instantly replaced by ecstatic joy. He quickly cupped his hands and bowed, "I humbly request that you bestow upon me this 'Soul Nourishing Technique', Uncle! This disciple will be eternally grateful!"

Uncle Wu stroked his short beard, his smile gentle: "This is a basic technique; according to the valley's rules, it will only cost two spirit stones."

Ma Liang then came to his senses and hurriedly took out two spirit stones from his storage bag, handing them over with both hands.

Uncle Wu took the spirit stone and casually put it into his storage bag. With a wave of his hand, a jade slip floated out from the depths of the pavilion and landed in his palm.

"Take a look."

Ma Liang accepted the jade slip with both hands and eagerly probed it with his divine sense.

In an instant, a concise text of a cultivation technique flooded his mind. The words were simple and easy to understand, with no obscure or difficult parts.

He concentrated and quickly read for a moment, memorizing the entire "Soul Nourishing Manual," and then returned the jade slip: "Reporting to Uncle-Master, this disciple has memorized it thoroughly."

Seeing that Uncle Wu had accepted the jade slip, Ma Liang cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "This disciple takes his leave."

Uncle Wu waved his hand casually, then turned and walked out of the cultivation technique pavilion. With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned a flying magic weapon, then rode it into the air, shuttling and traveling within the territory of Huangfeng Valley.

He went to the Qilin Pavilion again, and after entering, he walked to the fence and reached out to pet a few docile monsters.

They rushed to the alchemy hall and asked the disciples on duty about the availability of Soul Nourishing Pills, only to be told that the pills were extremely rare and had been cut off.

After traveling back and forth for some time, Ma Liang finally landed outside the Hundred Herbs Garden around dusk.

"Han Li, I have done all I can. If Xiang Zhili's divine sense is still secretly spying on me and notices you, don't blame me."

Ma Liang stood before the array outside the Hundred Herbs Garden, straightened his robes, and then bowed and cupped his hands, saying, "Disciple Ma Liang has come to request an audience with Senior Uncle Ma. I hope Senior Uncle will allow me to enter."

Ma Liang stood there with his head bowed, patiently waiting for a moment, but there was no movement from inside the garden.

He hesitated for a moment, then called out loudly, "Disciple Ma Liang greets Senior Uncle Ma!"

The shouts faded, but only the wind whistled past, offering no response.

"Strange," Ma Liang wondered to himself, "I specifically asked around, and my master was in the garden today. Why is no one answering? Could he be in seclusion cultivating?"

Despite his doubts, he did not leave. Instead, he shouted loudly several more times, his voice clear enough to penetrate the formation and enter the garden.

Just after these shouts, the previously calm array of light finally showed signs of movement.

The light patterns rippled slightly, parting to the sides like waves, revealing a portal just wide enough for one person to pass through.

The moment the portal opened, Ma Liang saw a figure slowly walk out, dressed in the standard disciple uniform of Huangfeng Valley.

Ma Liang followed the Yellow Maple Valley attire and recognized the person's face, a slight smile unconsciously curving his lips.

The contours of his eyebrows and eyes are exactly the same as those in the anime.

He stepped forward. "Are you Junior Brother Han Li?"

Han Li sized up the unfamiliar cultivator before him. "I have never met you before, Senior Brother. How do you know me?"

"Junior Brother Han is joking."

"Since you entered Yellow Maple Valley, you have been stationed in this Hundred Herbs Garden for several years. Who in the sect does not know you? I came here today specifically to pay my respects because I heard of your name, Junior Brother."

A strange look flashed across Han Li's face.

"I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but I didn't expect that after spending so much time in the herb garden, my fellow disciples would find out about me."

Han Li's eyes flickered slightly, but he remained cautious.

"Senior brother just said he wanted to pay his respects to Uncle-Master Ma, so why is he now saying he came specifically to visit me?"

"Junior Brother, this isn't the place to talk outside the herb garden. Would you allow me to come inside so we can discuss this further?"

Han Li felt that the area outside the door was not a suitable place to talk, so he stepped aside and raised his hand, saying, "Senior Brother, please come in."

Without further hesitation, Ma Liang stepped into the herb garden.

The garden is filled with the fragrance of herbs, and the medicinal plants are neatly arranged, making the spiritual energy several times stronger than that of the outside world.

Han Li followed closely behind and entered, making a hand seal as the array light screen behind him slowly closed.