Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

By the time we got back to the mine, it was already dark.

Li Yuan put the items he had obtained from the second trade fair into his storage bag, returned to his low house, and as usual, first circulated the Hundred Meridians Returning to Origin Technique, then switched to the Subtle Origin Guiding Meridian Technique.

The mountain wind was quite strong at night, making the wooden shed outside creak.

In the distant mountain valleys, the roars of the monsters echoed intermittently, one after another. Some were low and deep, others sharp and piercing, carrying for miles and sounding exceptionally clear in the night.

Li Yuan ignored him and closed his eyes to circulate his internal energy.

Spiritual energy slowly flowed into the area within the Spirit Gathering Array, circulating through his meridians and settling into his dantian. Later that night, he went to the mine again to collect the malevolent energy from the Malevolent Energy Gathering Bowl and, as usual, tempered his physical body once more.

The next morning, when Li Yuan pushed open the door, there was already someone occupying the space outside the earthen wall.

It was a cultivator from the Wang family. He patted his storage bag, and a pile of things appeared in front of him.

Various mining tools and supplies.

Manager Liu went over from under the wooden shed and glanced at the contents of the cart.

"We arrived earlier than usual this time."

The leader, a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining, waved his hand, looking somewhat tired.

"We're short-handed at the front, and we need to free up manpower in the rear as soon as possible. When the supplies arrive, we should also take a few people with us."

After he finished speaking, he glanced around the mine, pointed out two names, and also added the Qian surname cultivator who was slacking off while on duty to investigate the array.

The cultivator surnamed Qian turned pale, and although he wanted to speak, he ultimately didn't dare to.

Manager Liu frowned.

"Is the situation at the front lines that tense?"

"Tight." The monk squatted down and patted the wooden box at his feet.

"The first two outposts are drawing personnel, so the mine is considered one of the better ones."

As he spoke, he pulled a booklet from his pocket.

"The monthly salary will be paid together. There was also an extra reward for blocking the Li family cultivators at the mine last time, which will be included in that as well."

He settled the bill for Manager Liu first, then turned to another page and beckoned to Li Yuan.

"Li Yuan".

Li Yuan walked over.

The cultivator counted out spirit stones and placed them on the lid of the wooden box.

"This month's salary. Last time, I fought against the Li family cultivators, and I was credited for my efforts. A total of forty spirit stones."

Forty spirit stones is not a small amount.

Li Yuan checked them over and put them into his storage bag.

Sun Liang, who was standing next to him, also received his share. His complexion was much better than a few days ago. Although he was still a little pale, he could stand steadily and no longer walked with a limp.

The cultivator surnamed Qian seemed to have only received a few spirit stones, but his attention was no longer on them.

The Wang family members didn't stay at the mine long. After counting the people and handing over the items, they quickly left with the people who had been taken away.

Manager Liu stood under the wooden shed, watching the departing figure, and shook his head.

Li Yuan turned and went into the mine.

These past few days, the evil-gathering bowl had been kept deep inside, and it had collected even more evil energy than before. Li Yuan, familiar with the way, walked to that secluded side path, took down the evil-gathering bowl, and sat down cross-legged.

With a thought, he equipped the Gathering Evil Bowl.

Strands of dark gray malevolent energy surged from the bowl, flowing into the limbs and bones through the meridians. That familiar, oppressive feeling spread once more, the muscles tightened little by little, and the flesh beneath the skin felt as if it were being repeatedly kneaded by an invisible force.

Li Yuan steadied his breathing, letting the malevolent energy wash over his body.

After the first round, some of the malevolent energy remained in the bowl.

Li Yuan didn't stop, and continued to initiate the second round.

This time, the murderous aura was even deeper.

The areas around the shoulders, back, ribs, and leg bones, which had been repeatedly tempered, were no longer as stiff and resistant as they had been at the beginning, but were able to adapt more quickly. As the malevolent energy surged past, the body instinctively contracted, adapted, eased, and then contracted again.

When the last wisp of malevolent energy was exhausted, Li Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

His chest rose and fell slightly, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his back.

Just then, the panel appeared.

The conditions for making the "Gathering Evil Bowl (White)" permanent have been met.

Is it permanent?

Li Yuan paused for a moment.

I've been collecting and refining my body on and off for a while now, and I've finally accumulated enough.

"Yes."

[Permanentization successful]

【The "Body Tempering with Killing Aura (White)" skill has become a permanent entry】

[Equipment consumed]

The Gathering Fiend Bowl in his palm trembled slightly, then turned into a gray light and entered Li Yuan's body.

The next instant, the remaining malevolent energy within his body seemed to have found its home, no longer just wandering briefly, but sinking into the flesh and bones, transforming into a very faint base layer.

The dullness quickly faded, replaced by a more solid and firm feeling.

Li Yuan raised his hand and slowly clenched his fist.

The muscles are more stable than before, and the subtle pressure resistance under the skin is more noticeable. The changes aren't exaggerated, but they are real.

Li Yuan stood up, stretched his shoulders and back, and then circulated the Micro-Element Guiding Meridian Technique once more. The area around his micro-meridians was still softer than usual, and the speed of its advancement was not affected.

It was already afternoon when we came out of the mine.

Sun Liang was passing by with a pickaxe when he saw Li Yuan and grinned.

"Deputy Captain Li, my injury is almost healed."

He raised his arm and twisted his waist. Although his movements were not yet nimble, he was no longer as weak as he had been before.

Li Yuan nodded.

Manager Liu also saw Li Yuan, walked out from under the shed, looked him up and down, and clicked his tongue.

"You're really diligent. You're either cultivating indoors or drilling in the mine. In all these years at the mine, I've rarely seen anyone like you."

Li Yuan casually replied, "I've got nothing better to do anyway."

Manager Liu smiled and was about to say something when the detection array suddenly lit up.

The cultivator surnamed Lü on duty was much more vigilant than last time, and immediately shouted, "Five cultivators are approaching."

Several people in the mine immediately looked up.

Li Yuan and Steward Liu walked side by side to the earthen wall and looked out.

Five cultivators were walking from the gravel slope, their clothes were messy and not the standard attire of the Wang or Li families.

The leader was a tall, thin man in his forties with a short mustache and a bulging storage bag hanging from his waist. The four men behind him also carried packages, and two of them were driving dwarf beasts carrying goods.

Their cultivation levels are not high; the highest is only the fifth level of Qi Refining.

The group stopped some distance from the mine, and the leader raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.

"Fellow Daoists, please don't misunderstand. We are traveling merchants passing by and had no intention of offending you."

Manager Liu remained uneasy and asked through the earthen wall, "What are you doing passing by the mine?"

The middle-aged man gave a forced smile.

"Inquiring about someone."

As he spoke, he pulled a rolled-up piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and held it up in his hand.

The paper contained a drawing of a middle-aged monk's head. His features were ordinary, but he had a scar on his left brow bone, making it look like a wanted poster.

"If any of you have seen this person or know where he is, just bring him here and we will reward you handsomely."

Li Yuan glanced at the portrait from a distance, but didn't recognize it.

Manager Liu didn't let them approach, only asking, "What brings you here?"

"He used to run goods with us, but he ran off with the goods."

The middle-aged traveling merchant's smile faded slightly. "This item is quite large; we've been chasing it all the way here. If any of you have seen it before, please keep an eye out."

After he finished speaking, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"If not, then we won't bother you any longer."

Manager Liu nodded, neither agreeing nor refusing.

The traveling merchants, sensing the situation, didn't press forward any further. They turned and left, urging their dwarf beasts to continue towards the other end of the mountain path.

Only after the figures had gone far away did the security in the mine ease.

Looking in the direction the group had left, Li Yuan asked, "How did these traveling merchants end up here?"

Manager Liu shook his head.

"The monsters caused a lot of trouble before, and many trade routes outside were cut off. The markets for independent cultivators were also almost completely destroyed. Now that the Wang family and the Li family are fighting again, many traveling merchants have nowhere to do business and are stuck in the vicinity."

He paused, then added.

"Actually, these people haven't been idle either. I heard they've set up a small trading point, not very big, like a rudimentary market. The goods there are probably more varied than those from the independent cultivators, some genuine and some fake."

Li Yuan turned to look at him.

"Have you been there?"

"I've never been there." Manager Liu waved his hand. "I've only heard of that place; I don't know exactly where it is or what the rules are. If I were to recommend it to you, I might just be leading you astray."

Li Yuan nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Just write down the message.

Right now, the most important thing is still cultivation and talisman making.

As evening fell, the mine fell silent again. The distant roars of monsters echoed from the mountains, just as they had the previous nights, coming from a great distance.

Li Yuan returned to the low house, took out talisman paper and spirit ink, first drew two fireball talismans, then sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the Hundred Meridians Returning to Origin Technique again.

As spiritual energy enters the body and circulates through the meridians, the spiritual power in the dantian gradually settles down.

Read Chapter Ninety-Nine: Permanent Tempering of the Fiendish Qi, and begin today's exciting chapter.