Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Life-extending Branches, Royal Family’s Secret Transmission · Detained Snake Bone Witch Method_1
Wang Linchi had given Chen Wen a protective Soul Device, an Amulet micro-engraved with The Great Bright Curse·Unempty Snare Vairocana Buddha Great Consecration True Words, from a previous Gigantic Secret Realm. This item was an Epic Level Soul Device, possessing five capabilities: Slay evil, Ward off evil, Brightness, Initiation, and Majesty.
Leaving aside Slay evil and Ward off evil, the Brightness attribute added light-attribute damage to attacks and could be activated simultaneously with the Slay evil ability, inflicting ten times the damage on non-human creatures. If a dark or evil attribute was added, the damage would increase a hundredfold. Initiation enhanced recovery ability, while Majesty increased one’s presence; after slaying enough non-human creatures, a force similar to intimidation could be formed.
Wang Linchi had initially crafted ten of these Amulets. The real challenge was not the Amulet itself, but The Great Bright Curse·Unempty Snare Vairocana Buddha Great Consecration True Words. Without these True Words, the Amulet would be worthless. However, the cost was not low either. Finding material that could bear The Great Bright Curse took great effort.
After their trade, Chen Wen seemed somewhat embarrassed and voluntarily provided Wang Linchi with some information, which Wang Linchi graciously accepted.
Once the trading was done, they went their separate ways.
Chen Wen was on a mission to deliver the Longevity Fruit to the Court and use his status to absolve them of their actions. If he failed, they could become wanted men. After all, they had destroyed one of the Court’s Longevity Fruit production lines—how could that be tolerated?
As for Wang Linchi, he planned to research the Ghost Sigil Method. He also intended to seek out the ghost Chen Wen had given him and, additionally, pour a libation at the Exam Ghost’s ancestral home. Luckily, the ghost Chen Wen gave him was not far from the Exam Ghost’s ancestral home, so a few days’ delay was manageable.
The final matter was the settlement of the Longevity Banquet event.
He had obtained an Epic Level life and plant spectrum Soul Kind.
[Life/Plant Spirit Seed-Elongated Life Branch (Epic Level)]
[Longevity: Increases lifespan by 20%]
[Youth: Slows aging by 20%]
[Vitality: Enhances recovery ability by 20%]
[Resistance: Boosts resistance to diseases by 20%]
[Green Pine: When in a lush plant environment, all attributes increase by 15%]
The effects were very impressive, especially the attribute that increased lifespan by 20%. An Awakener’s lifespan increases each time they break through a level, naturally increasing this percentage as well. In Wang Linchi’s case, he could extend his lifespan by about one hundred years, equivalent to two Longevity Fruits. If he continued to break through, the incremental lifespan would be even greater.
His lifespan was unusually long. A normal Black Iron Level individual could increase their lifespan by a maximum of two hundred years. His breakthrough with an abnormally high 111 points of spiritual power not only granted him an unconventional upper limit of 10,000 points of spiritual power but also an extra two hundred years of lifespan. Therefore, his current lifespan was five hundred years, on par with those at the Mountain Copper Level.
It’s somewhat useful, but not greatly so, Wang Linchi sighed. This Soul Kind was more suited for Awakeners who had long lifespans but couldn’t break through any further. Their already long lives, increased by 20%, would be enough for them to strive one last time. The only downside was the additional plant spectrum. This significantly lowered the Spirit Seed’s value. If the final Green Pine attribute had been toxin resistance or a similar effect, it would have commanded a higher price. Yes, Green Pine was plant spectrum.
Wang Linchi also knew that since the Tree of Immortality was the focal point of the event, a plant-spectrum reward was not unexpected, even if the Tree of Immortality might not truly be a tree. Maybe in the future, if I get the chance, I can deconstruct it. Wang Linchi felt no urgency for longevity at the moment, so he had no immediate need for it.
As for enhancing recovery ability and disease resistance, I do want those. However, the considerable investment of resources and effort for just these two attributes makes it not worthwhile. I’m better off researching the Mountain Copper Chapter of the Power Ghoul Soul Forging Method; after all, the power of percentage-based increments depends on my own initial strength.
What should I do with the three Longevity Fruits? Wang Linchi pondered. One of them will definitely be used as a sacrificial offering to extend my time limit in the Secret Realm. I’ve already spent slightly over a month of the initial three-month limit. As for lifespan extension, I’m not considering it. An extra ten years of life holds little allure for me right now. As long as I’m not killed or succumb to poison or disease, I still have over four hundred years to live. After all, longevity doesn’t equate to being immortal; there are no such special treatments. Luckily, I’m not one to obsessively pursue longevity, prioritizing it before strength. My life expectancy is a bonus I get after becoming stronger; the two are fundamentally different.
As for the remaining two, one can be used to offset the lifespan consumed by the Ghost Pattern. The last one I’ll keep for research. It would be best if I can discover something significant from it. If not, it doesn’t matter; I can feed it to ghosts or sell it. If worst comes to worst, I can consume it myself. Discomfort is discomfort, but it won’t hinder my progression towards strength. Ten years of life is, after all, one-fiftieth of my current lifespan—quite a long time. Since I transmigrated, only two decades have passed.
After scavenging the Longevity Banquet venue once more and finding nothing of value, Wang Linchi leisurely departed.
The output of Soul Devices in this Secret Realm doesn’t seem to be plentiful; instead, it’s dominated by Soul Kinds. The primary goal here was to kill ghosts. The only Natural Treasures were the Longevity Fruits; the rest seemed quite unremarkable.
Wang Linchi felt somewhat resigned about this. However, it was fortunate that he wasn’t a conventional Awakener; this world’s Ghost Pattern system could still make him stronger. The drawback is that it might require some research. I already have two Ghost Sigil Methods in hand. Collecting more in the future shouldn’t pose much of a problem. One is the Confinement of Great Power Ghost King Law given by the Exam Ghost, and the other is the Detained Snake Bone Witch Method from Chen Wen. The difference is that Chen Wen not only provided multiple locations of the Snake Bone Witch but also gave me detailed information about her. With proper handling, even an ordinary person could transform this Snake Bone Witch into their Ghost Pattern.
The Snake Bone Witch and the Tomb Ghost are somewhat similar. Both guard graves; the difference is that the former guards her husband’s grave, while the latter guards its own. Tomb Ghosts are spirits that manifest in graveyards, a very peaceful kind of ghost spirit that generally doesn’t harm people. They like to quietly await reincarnation in their graves and dislike being disturbed, so they often play small tricks on those who bother them to keep them away from the graveyard. Sometimes, they also bestow tomb treasures upon people they approve of. However, if someone steals items without permission, the Tomb Ghost will haunt them relentlessly. Additionally, Tomb Ghosts can communicate through dreams. When they lack something in the afterlife, they will send dreams to their descendants, asking for offerings. So, most of the time, Tomb Ghosts won’t harm people.
The Snake Bone Witch, however, is entirely different. She controls two snakes, one jade and one scarlet, to attack anyone who approaches her husband’s grave. Many Royal Family members would have their consorts become Snake Bone Witches to guard their tombs. This Detained Snake Bone Witch method might be a secret passed down through the Royal Family. When the Snake Bone Witch is converted into a Ghost Pattern, what’s gained isn’t her abilities. Instead, it’s the power to animate the Snake Bone Witch Ghost Pattern, creating something akin to a spirit body that protects the bearer. This is equivalent to having an extra Guardian Spirit.
It is for this reason that Wang Linchi chose to exchange The Great Bright Amulet with Chen Wen; if successful, it would significantly enhance his safety.
I don’t lack long-range attacks; on the contrary, my close combat skills are truly not great. If I really had this Snake Bone Witch Ghost Pattern, I wouldn’t fear combat anymore. Of course, it would be even better if it were a Thunder Ghost. It could not only engage in close combat but also use spell attacks. However, the likelihood isn’t high. The Snake Bone Witch Ghost Pattern manifests as a Guardian Spirit primarily by utilizing the Snake Bone Witch’s characteristic of guarding her husband’s grave. A Thunder Ghost, on the other hand, would be incapable of forming a Guardian Spirit. The Debt Ghost might also be an option, though it leans more towards support and assistance roles. The requirements would likely be more demanding than for the Snake Bone Witch Ghost Pattern. This supposedly Royal Family secret, the Detained Snake Bone Witch method for creating Ghost Patterns, requires the recipient to be male. For a Debt Ghost to form a Guardian Spirit-type secret, the recipient would likely need to be its benefactor or someone who has shown it great kindness.
But these secret methods... why doesn’t anyone use them? Wang Linchi suddenly wondered. Thinking further, it’s most likely because they disdain not being able to master the ghost’s abilities. After all, not everyone is like me, viewing Ghost Patterns as supplementary rather than a primary combat force. In this Secret Realm, Ghost Patterns are their foundation. Once a Ghost Pattern becomes a Guardian Spirit-type, they lose the ability to transform into a ghost, meaning they can’t obtain the ghost’s complete power. Of course, there might be other reasons. After all, if something isn’t mainstream, there are surely reasons for it being niche.