Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Li Mufeng continued reading, and the effects of the equipment slowly appeared.

【Effect 1: Mystic Water】

[Water-attribute spell power increased by 100%.]

【Effect 2: Abyss】

[Upon activation, a three-zhang radius domain is created. Enemy movement speed within the domain is reduced by 50%, and the spiritual energy circulation speed of enemies within the domain is reduced by 50%. Duration: 10 seconds.]

[Cooldown time: one hour.]

【Effect 3: Dispelling Illusions (Not Activated)】

[Greatly enhances mental stability, grants immunity to low-level illusions, and can reflect one mental attack.]

[Cooldown time: 1 day.]

See here.

Li Mufeng's heart began to pound wildly.

The first two terms alone are already far beyond the scope of ordinary blue equipment.

In particular, the "Abyss" skill is an area-of-effect skill. Even though its effect can only last for ten seconds, in a real life-or-death battle, one second is enough to change the course of countless battles, let alone ten seconds.

Then Li Mufeng looked at the upgrade requirements for this equipment.

[Promotion Requirement 1: Infuse ten jin of Frosty Soul Black Iron.]

[Promotion Requirement Two: Personally kill a Tier 1 High-Grade Water-Attribute Monster in the River of Oblivion.]

[Promotion Requirement 3: Absorb Moon Essence Dew three times on the night of a full moon.]

What delighted Li Mufeng even more was the effect of the equipment after its upgrade.

First, the item will change from blue to purple, making it Li Mufeng's first purple equipment.

【Effect 1: Mystic Water】

[Water-attribute spell power increased by 200%.]

【Effect 2: Abyss】

[Area range expanded to ten zhang, slowing effect increased to 80%, enemy spiritual energy circulation speed reduced by 80% within the area, additionally inflicting spiritual energy erosion effect. Duration: ten seconds. Cooldown: one day.]

【Effect Three: Dispelling Illusions】

[Greatly enhances mental stability, grants immunity to low-level illusions, and can reflect one mental attack. Cooldown: one day.]

So powerful! Li Mufeng only thought about it for a moment before he felt that this advanced version of [Spirit Embryo - River of Oblivion] was terrifying. Not to mention that the third effect could be described as a treasure for evil cultivators.

After this second effect is enhanced, it can slow down the speed by 80%, which means it's almost the same as stopping time.

If this effect is activated during battle, the previously tense situation may be decided in an instant.

Li Mufeng suppressed his excitement and carefully searched the artifact tomb again.

But after looking around, he couldn't find a spiritual embryo more suitable for him than the [Forgetful River].

Finally, he reached out and picked up the gray-black spirit ruler, which was covered with the marks of time, and turned to walk out of the artifact tomb.

So he picked up the spirit embryo and left the tomb.

Outside the tomb.

Zhou Zhengyang and the steward in charge of guarding the artifact tomb had been waiting for a long time.

When he saw the worn-out spirit ruler in Li Mufeng's hand, he was slightly taken aback. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, the expression on his face became somewhat strange.

"This is……"

He squinted and examined it for a moment.

"The River of Oblivion?"

"Tsk tsk, young friend, you certainly know how to pick things."

At this point, the manager couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, his expression carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

"This object has been lying in the tomb for over five hundred years; I had almost forgotten its origin."

With his hands behind his back, he recited the background of the item as if it were a treasure trove, showing no sign of his claim that he couldn't remember its origin.

"The one who forged this item back then was a renowned second-tier weapon-forging master on the weapon-forging peak. That person had extremely high talent in weapon-forging and became famous throughout the sect before he was even a hundred years old. Logically speaking, he had a bright future, but unfortunately, he was a fool."

At this point, the manager's tone suddenly became somewhat meaningful.

"It is said that when that master was young, he fell in love with a female cultivator in the sect. In order to win her favor, he spent more than ten years personally crafting magical artifacts, building flying boats, and even changing the style of his protective jade pendant countless times. Unfortunately, his love was unrequited. The female cultivator never even glanced at him."

The manager sighed, but his expression didn't seem regretful; instead, it had a hint of schadenfreude.

"Later, the female cultivator traveled far away with her companions and rarely returned to the sect, while the weapon refiner seemed to be possessed."

"It is said that when he was refining this spiritual embryo, he secluded himself for several months without sleep or rest, coughed up blood several times, and even sprinkled his own heart's blood on the spiritual embryo. Later, someone heard him muttering to himself after getting drunk."

"What did you say...?"

"If only everything in the world could slow down, the clouds could disperse more slowly, the wind could stop more slowly, and even those who leave could walk more slowly."

"Not long after the spirit embryo was completed, that weapon-refining master died in despair."

The steward looked at the spirit ruler in Li Mufeng's hand.

"I don't know if it's because the obsession is too deep, but after that person died, this spiritual embryo refused to recognize its master for a long time. Over the past five hundred years, countless disciples have taken a liking to it."

"No matter how they refine it, they cannot truly awaken its spirituality. If it cannot gain the approval of the spiritual embryo, it is nothing more than a slightly harder magic weapon, and it is not even as practical as some high-grade magic weapons."

At this point, he looked at Li Mufeng with a half-smile.

"Many sect disciples refused to believe in the superstition and insisted on choosing it, but after several years of trying, they gained nothing and eventually returned it to the artifact tomb with curses and complaints."

"Therefore, young friend, you should think carefully. You are not a disciple of my Qingxuan Sect."

"If you choose this today, there will be no turning back."

Li Mufeng had been listening for so long that his eyes almost rolled to the sky, and he muttered to himself.

You remember it very clearly, don't you?

But outwardly, he respectfully cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you for informing me, senior. I still wish to give it a try, after all, it is a spiritual embryo."

The steward wasn't surprised. Over the years, countless people had come, each believing themselves to be the chosen one to awaken this spiritual embryo. Out of respect for Zhou Zhengyang, he had said what needed to be said and naturally wouldn't continue to dissuade him.

After leaving the tomb, Zhou Zhengyang rode a cloud and flew with Li Mufeng towards the outside of the mountain gate.

Neither of them spoke the rest of the way.

Only when the sea of ​​clouds surged in the distance and Qingxuan Peak was gradually left behind did Zhou Zhengyang suddenly sigh softly.

"Junior Nephew Li, your willingness to voluntarily give up your spot in the Talisman Inquiry Tournament is actually quite unexpected. I was originally thinking of using this opportunity to let you enter the Qingxuan Sect for cultivation ahead of time."

At this point, Zhou Zhengyang shook his head.

"However, it seems that staying in the sect may not be a good thing. The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Rather than entering the Qingxuan Sect now and getting involved in those troubles, it would be better to continue accumulating strength in the market."

Zhou Zhengyang stood with his hands behind his back on the clouds, gazing at the distant mountains.

"You have a long road ahead of you. Do not let your cultivation become lax because of drawing talismans. I still maintain that only when you reach the Qi Refining Perfection stage will you be qualified to learn the truth about Senior Brother Lu's fall back then."

"I've taught you everything I can about the Heavenly Origin Qi Talisman Making Method. From now on, you'll have to walk your own path."

Li Mufeng remained silent for a moment, then bowed solemnly.

"This disciple will remember the teachings of my master."

The two landed slowly. Li Mufeng stood on the magic flying boat heading to Black Stone City, watching Zhou Zhengyang depart into the distance.

In the distance, one after another enormous magic ships sailed from the horizon, their hulls shimmering with spiritual patterns and their banners fluttering, adorned with the symbols representing the major sects.

Young, beautiful, and spirited boys and girls are staring intently at the ants beneath them.

Li Mufeng was left behind by them. Looking back, the majestic gate of Qingxuan Sect was gradually disappearing.

A slight sense of loss crept into his heart; the smiles of those geniuses were almost blindingly bright.

Feeling the gentle breeze caress his face, Li Mufeng's lips suddenly curled up slightly.

我会回来的。