Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Rune-Making

After Lin Shi left, Zhou Luo sat on the chair, lost in thought.

There was only one entrance leading from the first layer to the second layer, guarded by rotating sentries. Forcing his way in or sneaking down was impossible.

Unless the mine’s management personnel actively allowed him down.

But the person in charge would definitely realize that going to the second layer meant contacting the Great Elder’s people. Therefore, they would absolutely not let him enter so simply.

As Zhou Luo pondered a solution, the meal delivered by Lin Shi inspired a plan in his heart.

That plan was poisoning the food.

If someone got poisoned, he, as a Pill Master, would be required to personally examine them and then see if he could concoct the corresponding potion.

This was his chance to enter the second layer.

However, right now, how could he poison the food meant for the second layer people?

According to Lin Shi, all these meals were prepared by people from down the mountain, then brought into the spiritual mine interior by designated personnel.

To poison it, he would need to go down the mountain.

Zhou Luo couldn’t help but look towards the furnace.

The potion delivery the next day would present an opportunity.

But after going down the mountain, he still needed to sneak into the kitchen without it being known. This was another problem requiring an urgent solution.

This one was relatively simple though.

Zhou Luo walked towards his storage bag and retrieved several items.

They were an ordinary rabbit-hair brush, a stack of symbol paper, and a box of spiritual ink.

These three were the essential items for crafting spiritual symbols.

That’s right.

Zhou Luo intended to craft spiritual symbols.

To avoid so many eyes and ears after descending the mountain the next day, spiritual symbols would be crucial for this.

Because Zhou Luo knew of a first-grade mid-grade spiritual symbol called the "Disguise Symbol".

This symbol, as the name implied, when pasted on the body, could alter the user’s appearance, voice, and aura, turning them completely into another person.

Of course, this appearance-changing symbol also carried certain risks and limitations.

For instance, it couldn’t disguise the user into a Qi Refinement cultivator of the fifth layer or above. Moreover, if encountering a high-level cultivator, the disguise could be easily seen through.

But Zhou Luo already had a target in mind.

It was the very Lin Shi who had just stepped into the fifth layer of Qi Refinement.

He planned to disguise himself as Lin Shi, infiltrate the pavilion down the mountain the next day, and then take the opportunity to poison the kitchen.

…

Since he had last drawn the first-grade rune-making skill, Zhou Luo hadn’t found the time for practical application.

Now, he finally had the chance.

He skillfully ground the ink, and the crafting method of the Disguise Symbol immediately surfaced in his mind.

Before long, the spiritual ink was prepared. Zhou Luo spread the symbol paper on the table and picked up the spiritual brush, ready to begin.

An ordinary spiritual symbol master would have to prepare in various ways before drawing, ensuring they were in the most optimal state.

Yet Zhou Luo needed none of that.

As a top-level first-level Pill Master now, crafting a high-grade spiritual symbol of the first tier was effortless as flicking dust off his sleeve.

Dipping the spiritual brush into the ink, he concentrated his mind. Spiritual energy surged within him, converging through his meridians toward his right hand before channeling into the brush.

The previously calm spiritual brush abruptly radiated a glow, its inked tip shimmering brilliantly.

Zhou Luo set his gaze upon the blank symbol paper. With a steady hand, he began painting, strokes flowing effortlessly across the page.

The moment his brush touched the paper, every motion unfolded seamlessly as if rehearsed ten thousand times—smooth, uninterrupted, without the slightest pause.

The ink-laden tip danced deftly over the spiritual symbol, leaving soft trails of light. A tremendous, latent power rippled like waves over the ocean, gradually infusing deep into the blank spiritual symbol under Zhou Luo’s guidance.

After several minutes, the once-lifeless spiritual symbol glowed faintly. A vivid, intricate pattern had been drawn, breathing new strength into the entire talisman.

A mid-grade spiritual symbol of the first tier—the Disguise Symbol—was complete!

Zhou Luo exhaled deeply, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

For his first attempt at symbol crafting, he hadn’t felt the slightest hint of unfamiliarity. Apart from some depleted mental focus and spiritual energy, everything had proceeded perfectly smoothly.

Picking up the Disguise Symbol, Zhou Luo studied it attentively.

The symbol bore a pattern resembling a human silhouette. By channeling a wisp of spiritual energy, one could activate the talisman, allowing the user to adopt the targeted person’s appearance.

This was the immense power of spiritual symbols.

They could unleash greater strength while consuming less spiritual energy.

He recalled the battle between Lin Dao Ming and Zhao Yuan—it had been the relentless barrage of spiritual symbols that denied the Hehuan Sect disciple any chance to retaliate, ultimately dying a frustrating death under the double attack of symbols and spiritual energy.

Next, Zhou Luo continued his crafting attempts.

Symbols like the Disguise Symbol proved highly practical. Extras could likely be sold off later.

After an hour, Zhou Luo had successfully crafted five Disguise Symbols.

His spiritual energy was also nearly exhausted.

Undeniably, rune-making consumed far more spiritual energy than pill-alchemy.

The latter primarily demanded intense concentration, while the former required continuous infusion of spiritual energy to empower the spiritual symbols.

Stowing away the five symbols, Zhou Luo didn’t rest. Instead, he began to sit in meditation to practice and replenish his spiritual energy.

While cultivating, he suddenly realized that the spiritual energy here was no less abundant than that at the spiritual vein in his clan’s blessed site—only slightly below the levels at the core area.

Thinking further, it made sense. This was, after all, a spiritual mine—the heart of the spiritual vein itself.

Practicing here was no different than cultivating within the spiritual vein blessed site.

Zhou Luo felt invigorated.

Seems this place did have its advantages after all.

He reined in his thoughts and resumed his practice.

The next day, despite staying up all night, Zhou Luo felt surprisingly refreshed, all thanks to the pure spiritual energy within the spiritual mine.

His spiritual reserves had refilled considerably overnight, so he simply rose to continue concocting potions.

Soon after, Lin Shi arrived outside his chamber door bearing breakfast.

Residents of the first level weren’t permitted to leave freely unless reporting it beforehand.

Thus, each individual was assigned a dedicated handler responsible for tending to their various needs.

This effectively confined most occupants to their rooms, where they could solely focus on their tasks.

Lin Shi’s role was to deliver meals to Zhou Luo among other duties.

He rather enjoyed this assignment though.

It always presented an opportunity to happily pet Little White, passing time and dispelling boredom.

“How’s the potion crafting going, Brother Zhou?”

Upon entering, Lin Shi efficiently placed down breakfast and effortlessly scooped up the nearby kitten as he inquired.

“The volume’s a bit high. It might take longer than expected,” Zhou Luo replied slightly apologetically.

“Aren’t there a lot?” Lin Shi looked puzzled.

Clearly, this amount of a hundred-plus potions remained unknown to him as demanding for a middle first-level Pill Master.

Had Zhou Luo not been a top-level first-level Pill Master, even an extra day likely wouldn’t have been sufficient.

Zhou Luo understood the likely orchestrations behind this from the spiritual mine’s overseer. Offering no explanations, he simply stated, “I’ll do my utmost.”

“Alright. Must make haste, though. We shouldn’t incur any displeasure from Elder Si,” cautioned Lin Shi kindly.