Mortal: I have a gathering technique

Chapter 37 Reaching out to Nie Ying...

Fang Qing slept for three days straight, and when he woke up, all his fatigue was gone.

In the days that followed, he picked up the intermediate-level beginner spell [Firebird] again, which he had not yet learned.

At the same time, he began to comprehend the divine power of the Great Sun God's Illumination Record during the Foundation Establishment stage—the Divine Fire Cover!

This is a defensive divine power, its full name is [Great Sun Divine Fire Shield]. Once mastered, it can condense a layer of golden-red light screen around the body.

It can defend against most fire-attribute attacks below the Core Formation stage, and also has a strong defensive effect against attacks of other attributes.

It can be considered a rather powerful defensive technique.

Time slipped away little by little as Fang Qing pondered his enlightenment.

A month later, Fang Qing successfully mastered the [Firebird Technique], and at the same time, his gathering technique was finally refreshed.

After his gathering technique was restored, Fang Qing immediately sent out two invitations.

Several days later, a sound transmission talisman flew into the cave.

"They've finally arrived?"

Inside the Spirit Eye Chamber, Fang Qing stopped comprehending the Divine Fire Shield, cast a dust-removing spell, and got up to go to the main hall.

He raised his hand to activate the protective array around the cave, and a few breaths later, a stunningly beautiful female cultivator in blue robes walked in with light steps.

This woman was tall and slender, with a radiant and beautiful appearance. Every move she made was like a spring flower in bloom, yet she rarely smiled and had a cold and aloof demeanor.

Such a contrasting reaction brightened Fang Qing's eyes. He stepped forward with a smile, cupped his hands in invitation, and said, "Junior Sister Nie, your presence is an honor to my humble abode. Please, have a seat!"

This woman was none other than Nie Ying, the magical genius whom Fang Qing had "long coveted"!

Fang Qing's enthusiasm was somewhat unexpected for Nie Ying, and a faint blush quietly appeared on the latter's rosy cheeks.

She accepted Fang Qing's invitation and sat down at the stone table, her cherry lips parting slightly: "Senior Brother Fang, you flatter me. How could I refuse your invitation?"

This woman was straightforward. After a few words of modesty, she got straight to the point and asked about the purpose of Fang Qing's invitation: "I wonder what important matter Senior Brother Fang has invited me here for?"

Fang Qing had already prepared a response, and immediately straightened his expression, explaining, "Junior Sister, there's no need to be nervous. Actually, I wanted to ask you about some magical issues."

At this point, he praised sincerely, "In terms of talent for cultivating magic, Junior Sister Nie is second to none in the sect. I have long heard of her."

"It just so happens that we both cultivate fire-attribute techniques. I hope Junior Sister Nie will be generous in giving me guidance on this occasion."

When asked about her proudest achievement, Nie Ying smiled slightly and said softly, "Senior Brother Fang, you flatter me. I only have a superficial understanding and dare not claim to be the best. Since you don't mind, I will speak frankly and without reservation."

Fang Qing sighed and cupped his hands in praise, saying, "Junior Sister is too modest."

After speaking, he paused for a moment, then decisively asked some questions about magical cultivation.

Just as she said, Nie Ying truly spoke her mind without reservation.

The two discussed for several hours. Fang Qing, seeing that the groundwork had been laid, said, "Talking without doing is ultimately useless. Why don't we have a friendly spar?"

"————Alright then!"

Nie Ying was also itching to try it, and after a moment's hesitation, she nodded in agreement.

The two simultaneously formed hand seals and each unleashed their Firebird Technique.

Considering they were inside a cave, they tacitly suppressed their magical power, and soon a firebird the size of a fist appeared in their palms.

As the two pointed their halberds, the two firebirds immediately flew into the air and swooped down together.

The two birds pecked and bit each other, sparks flew, fiery feathers flew, and wisps of scorching heat spread rapidly outward.

However, Fang Qing had only recently mastered the Firebird Technique, and his application was not as agile as Nie Ying's. After a short while, the firebird he controlled gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

Seeing this, Fang Qing was not discouraged. He controlled the firebird with one hand, and quietly moved his other hand under the table to form a hand seal.

Just as his own Firebird was being devoured by the enemy Firebird, he deliberately feigned an accidental loss of control and detonated his own Firebird.

With a deafening roar, the two birds exploded, sending a terrifying burst of fire soaring into the sky. The protective array of the cave was struck by this attack, and a five-colored light screen suddenly appeared.

Nie Ying's pretty face changed. She didn't realize that Fang Qing had deliberately detonated the firebird. She only thought that Fang Qing had just learned the firebird technique and didn't have enough control. She herself had caused such a commotion because she was too competitive and insisted on a fight. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

However, she didn't notice that at the very moment the firebird exploded, Fang Qing's hand, hidden under the table, suddenly emitted a burst of spiritual light.

In a flash of inspiration, she flew into the great formation, and in an instant, a five-colored halo quietly descended, coincidentally enveloping Nie Ying within it.

As Nie Ying was enveloped by the five-colored halo, her delicate body suddenly stiffened, and she collapsed unconscious onto the stone table.

This five-colored halo is none other than the sealing light of the [Five Elements Sealing Array].

This light, like the Divine Suppression Talisman, can seal a cultivator's divine sense and five senses, but it is even more powerful.

Seeing Nie Ying fall, Fang Qing lowered his head and sighed, thinking to himself:

"Junior Sister Nie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to harm you, but what can I do? That kid Wu Feng has no talent!"

After his gathering skills were restored, Fang Qing set his sights on his "magical talent".

Initially, he chose Wu Feng as his subject of study.

After all, this kid is only a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, while he is already a Foundation Establishment senior uncle.

With just a word from Fang Qing, Wu Feng would obediently come to her door. Even if he knocked her unconscious in order to collect the materials, the boy wouldn't dare to ask any questions afterward.

But man proposes, God disposes; he was unable to extract the talent for cultivating magic from Wu Feng.

Then, having no other choice, he could only set his sights on Nie Ying.

But Nie Ying is not Wu Feng. She is not only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but also Lei Wanhe's disciple.

Even if Fang Qing is the young master of Huangfeng Valley, he cannot force his way in.

To prevent rumors of "Fang Qing and Nie Ying" from spreading, Fang Qing thought long and hard before devising this scheme of "exchanging magical skills and accidentally activating a powerful formation."

Immediately, Fang Qing dared not delay any longer. After confirming that Nie Ying was unconscious, he immediately reached out his claws—or rather, his hands—to Nie Ying.

[Talent - Gathering]

As Fang Qing's thoughts stirred, a familiar golden light appeared—

Seeing this, Fang Qing smiled with delight.

Hours later.

Outside the cave.

"Senior brother, there's no need to apologize. It was just an accident. Little sister wasn't injured; her five senses were just temporarily suppressed. She's fine."

Seeing Fang Qing's guilty expression, Nie Ying repeatedly comforted him.

Although Nie Ying felt something was off about Fang Qing's explanation after waking up, she was unharmed and didn't want to overthink it.

"Junior sister, there's no need to say anything. It's all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on sparring, none of this would have happened."

Fang Qing turned her face away, her tone filled with self-reproach.

Seeing this, Nie Ying offered a few more words of comfort before riding away on her magical artifact.

Fang Qing stood at the entrance of the cave, watching Nie Ying leave. Once her figure disappeared from sight, he smiled slightly, turned around, and went back into the cave.

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