Chapter 76: A Scent

At this moment, Lu Li finally understood the power of the Nine Forms of the Heavenly Fox.

Admittedly, they possessed the effect of enchantment. But if it only affected the body, then those who cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness or those with no desires for the physical form could completely resist this cultivation technique.

But what if this technique could outline the desires within one’s heart?

With a slight movement of his Divine Sense, Lu Li withdrew the faintly glowing Spirit Patterns within his bones and muscles. As he exhaled a breath of turbid air, he returned to the room he shared with Liu Qingxi.

“Finished chatting so quickly… Huh?” Liu Qingxi was busy arranging yarrow stalks for divination, but a few of them suddenly snapped and fell toward Lu Li.

This unexpected change made Liu Qingxi look up at Lu Li as he entered the room.

“What’s wrong, was the divination not going smoothly?”

“No… this situation…” Liu Qingxi glanced at the fallen yarrow stalks, then looked up at Lu Li again. “Hey, Sister Lu, your aura has changed.”

“Huh?”

“Hmm…” Liu Qingxi frowned slightly. “Your facial features haven’t changed, but before you seemed to exude a faint coquettish aura, whereas now there’s a gentle and warm feeling mixed in.”

“…Uh… that should be a good thing, right?” Hearing this, Lu Li realized that the effects of the Magic Technique Fragrance Holds had already started to take effect.

“A good thing? I feel a bit…”

Liu Qingxi’s gaze wandered up and down Lu Li’s body.

“It’s that kind of coquettishness with a hint of gentleness, gentleness that seems to carry a trace of charm, and charm mixed with shyness and vulnerability…”

Muttering to herself, Liu Qingxi stepped over the yarrow stalks and approached Lu Li.

“And the scent of grass, trees, even a faint aroma of pastries…”

As she spoke, Liu Qingxi’s voice dropped a bit.

“Sister Lu, to be honest, I quite like it.”

“What?!” Startled, Lu Li stepped back.

Lu Li’s reaction made Liu Qingxi jolt as well, and she stood still.

Then she frowned, as a faint blue light shimmered from her right hand. She pointed at her chest and between her brows, exhaling a breath of turbid air.

“Liu Qingxi, are you okay?” Lu Li leaned slightly, scanning the blue light with his Divine Sense.

“…I think so. You didn’t use Charm Technique on me?” When Liu Qingxi opened her eyes again, a trace of watery vapor flickered in them.

“No.” Lu Li double-checked; Bewitch Heart, Enchanting Sound, and Fragrance Holds were all in a restrained state.

“Is that so…” Liu Qingxi pursed her lips, her gaze sweeping over Lu Li’s pupils and finally landing on his lips. “I understand.”

“Yes, I just practiced a cultivation technique.” Lu Li looked at Liu Qingxi, who was struggling to calm her breathing. “It seems to have a significant effect on you?”

“I think so.” Liu Qingxi turned around and went back to sit on the bed in meditation. “I’ll also organize my thoughts tonight.”

“Then I’ll go rest outside.” Lu Li opened the sliding door and glanced at the empty main hall.

“Hmm… that’s better.” Liu Qingxi raised her right hand again, this time pointing at her Dantian, chest, and brow center. “Sorry.”

“No, it should be my fault.” Lu Li shook his head slightly, closed the door, and went to the hall to sit cross-legged.

Using his Divine Sense for internal observation, Lu Li carefully checked the state of his body.

The Spirit Patterns in his Dantian, lungs, throat, tongue, as well as his bones and muscles, were all dim.

His own Charm Spiritual Root was also in a dormant state within the technique. Logically, it should not have enchanted Liu Qingxi.

“I need to think of a way. It’s very lethal against enemies, but for friends, it has a negative side effect.”

“Take Liu Qingxi, as the Heavenly Calculated Saintess, she even had to use magic techniques to calm her mind… troublesome.”

With a soft sigh, Lu Li delved into the inherited memories of the Yin Yang Sect, trying to find some skills and methods.

He didn’t sleep all night. Lu Li found no cultivation technique to calm the heart and mind, but instead discovered many skills and methods to stir the heartstrings.

These things made his cheeks flush red, and for a moment he couldn’t control himself.

To calm his restless heart, he began to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and cultivate diligently.

And the moment he sat cross-legged in meditation, Lu Li understood the true power of the Nine Forms of the Heavenly Fox.

He had already reached a certain speed in absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

After practicing Bewitch Heart and Enchanting Sound, the speed of absorbing and refining Spiritual Qi had increased by thirty percent, then sixty percent.

Now with Fragrance Holds completed, the speed had increased by a full ninety percent.

“At this rate… if I fully cultivate all nine forms, it would probably be a full three times faster… and since my male body normally only has thirty percent of a female body’s speed, the net difference would be nine times.” With a bitter smile, Lu Li watched as thick True Yuan began to condense within his acupoints.

During this night, another dozen acupoints became filled with True Yuan.

“The good news is, at this rate, I’ll soon advance from Refining Self to the Seeing Dragon Realm.” Lu Li opened his eyes and looked at the rays of light spilling into the hall. His previously chaotic thoughts dissipated quite a bit.

He walked to the window and gazed at the vast white sea of clouds.

In the distance, the moon over the green mountains gradually set, while half a red sun rose in the sky.

Like a Golden Crow leaping, it pierced the night sky, bringing endless light to the world.

The sea of clouds churned, the morning sun broke through the mist, revealing a world of pure white.

“Fellow Cultivator Lu, this is the territory where the human race’s Northern Domain borders the Yao race’s Southern Domain,” said Xiu Popo as she walked out of her room. “The White Sea Snow Plains serve as a natural barrier, separating the Yao Kingdom from human territory.”

“It’s magnificent,” Lu Li said, watching the pure white world gradually being dyed gold. “And very beautiful.”

“Yes… sometimes looking at such grand and majestic scenes really lifts the spirits.” Xiu Popo glanced at Lu Li, then widened her eyes. “Fellow Cultivator Lu… Fragrance Holds is complete?!”

“I think so.” Lu Li nodded, looking at Xiu Popo, whose mouth was agape and pupils trembling. “However, Xiu Popo, I have some doubts.”

“Ah… what is it?” Xiu Popo struggled to close her mouth. “Forgive me… although I am the wet nurse of two Saintesses and have heard tales of the Celestial Fox Clan, I never expected Fellow Cultivator Lu to be a prodigy, completing such a cultivation in a single night.”

“It’s just a coincidence.” Lu Li waved his hand. “Rather, regarding the effects of Fragrance Holds…”

“As they say, when Fragrance Holds is complete, it becomes a scent upon a single whiff.” Xiu Popo also sat down and gestured for Lu Li to rest as well. “Anyone who smells it will associate it with the scent they most desire.”

“This desire is not necessarily romantic love; it could be homeland, family, obsessions—it can stir the softest emotions in one’s heart.”

“After I completed the cultivation, what I smelled was… probably my mother’s scent.” Thinking of this, Lu Li couldn’t help but feel melancholy.

“What this old woman smells is the youthful scent of the two Saintesses,” Xiu Popo said, closing her eyes and flaring her nostrils. “That was an era when the Celestial Fox Clan had not yet declined.”

“Hmm…” Lu Li looked at Xiu Popo, who was lost in nostalgia, and fell silent for a moment.

Amid the soft sound of sliding doors, Liu Qingyun and Yuan He came out of their room.

“Fellow Cultivator Lu, Xiu Popo.” Liu Qingyun gave a simple bow, while Yuan He yawned and waved casually.

“Greetings to you both.” Lu Li placed his palms together at his waist and gave a slight bow.

“Hey, Layman Lu seems different today?” Yuan He rubbed his eyes. “Did you use a different scented dew? Why does it smell like a monastery?”

“I smell the scent of bamboo groves and vegetation,” Liu Qingyun said, thinking for a moment. “Ah, is it the Yin Yang Sect’s Fragrance Holds magic technique?”

“Correct, considering we need to enter the Yao race’s territory, I have practiced it.” Lu Li looked at the calm expressions of the three, and his doubts grew stronger.

“Then we’ll go back to meditating.” Yuan He also caught Lu Li’s gaze, then grabbed Liu Qingyun’s shoulder. The two closed the door again, even setting up a Restriction.

“These two are truly interesting characters,” Xiu Popo said, watching the True Yuan rising from the door. “Fellow Cultivator Lu, judging by your expression, it seems you still have doubts?”

“Yes, although Fragrance Holds allows everyone to smell different scents, it should also have… the effect of arousing desire, right?” When Lu Li mentioned this, he lowered his head, and his face flushed pink again.

“That’s a good question, Fellow Cultivator Lu… This scene reminds me of the time I taught the previous Saintess.” Xiu Popo gently patted Lu Li’s shoulder. “Before answering this question, Fellow Cultivator Lu, I would like to ask you one thing.”

“What is it?”

“In this world, what is love?”