Chapter 139: The Eight-Trigram Arhat

Her cultivation had advanced a step further, though there were no signs yet of a breakthrough to the fourth level of the Spirit Flower stage.

"Did you run into any trouble while you were out this time?" My second uncle pulled me over to the stone bench and poured me a cup of hot tea.

"Everything went well. Can’t you see? Not a single scratch on me."

Second Uncle nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that every time I returned, the three of us had an endless supply of things to discuss and stories to share. I brought out all the food I had bought in the city and laid it out on the ground, creating quite a large pile.

"Wow, so many potato chips!"

Nangong Xi rarely left the mountain and certainly didn't get to eat snacks often, so I had decided that every time I returned, I would bring her some treats. Second Uncle carried the groceries into the house, and Nangong Xi swept all the snacks into her storage ring; that should keep her satisfied for a while.

"Oh, by the way, Second Uncle, what do you think this is?"

Second Uncle was still spry for his age; in no time at all, he had moved all the groceries inside and returned to the stone bench to continue his tea. I fished a piece of purple crystal from my ring and handed it to him. He stroked the crystal, examining it, but didn't seem to know its name.

"This thing looks quite nice. It’s likely used for crafting weapons or magical artifacts. It must be worth a fortune."

"So, I’m rich then?"

I placed the ring full of purple crystals on the table, and Second Uncle picked it up to take a look.

"Where did you manage to get so much of this stuff?"

Second Uncle knew I always brought him surprises whenever I returned, so he wasn't overly shocked this time, simply telling me to keep the ring safe.

"Found it in a cave."

...

We chatted for a long time again until I grew tired and returned to my room to rest. The room remained tidy, and Nangong Xi had added several decorations, making the small wooden cabin feel much less monotonous. Second Uncle had even dismantled half of the large heated brick bed and replaced it with a proper bed to make our stay more comfortable. I lay down, my eyes too heavy to keep open, and drifted off into a deep sleep.

When I groggily woke up, it was already past seven in the evening.

"Phew, that feels good."

I changed into a plain white robe, stretching my limbs as I walked outside. The moment I stepped out, I caught the scent of something delicious—it seemed Second Uncle was cooking himself.

"Brother! Spar with me!"

Before I could even react, Nangong Xi pulled me toward the center of the courtyard.

"You’re only allowed to block! No counterattacking!"

"What kind of rule is that..."

Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light erupted as Nangong Xi rushed toward me at incredible speed. I quickly drew my Snow Blade and parried in a flurry. Her speed now was easily on par with mine, if not superior. She was clearly a talented martial artist, though as a girl, she still needed to work on her strength. Even though I was only blocking, Nangong Xi had to exert significant effort to move me. Whenever her sword struck my blade, it felt like nothing more than a tickle.

Before long, Nangong Xi was drenched in sweat and forced to stop.

"Brother, you're cheating! You used way too much strength!"

Nangong Xi sat on the ground, and I looked at her with an innocent expression.

"Alright, alright, there's no comparing the third level of the Spirit Flower stage to the sixth."

At that moment, Second Uncle’s voice drifted from the house, and a few seconds later, he walked out carrying dishes.

"Indeed..." I muttered in agreement.

Second Uncle had shown off his culinary skills again today, spreading a massive feast across the table—Nangong Xi was in for a treat. The three of us ate and chatted, the atmosphere filled with joy.

"Autumn is really here; the weather has turned much colder," Nangong Xi said softly. I had noticed it, too. These past few months, I had been constantly on the move, and from the sweltering heat of summer, it had turned to autumn in the blink of an eye. Winter wouldn't be far behind.

After dinner, I returned to my room to cultivate. I was currently at the sixth level of the Spirit Flower stage, just a step away from the Spirit Lotus realm. I needed to keep training; I had always longed for the day I could soar freely through the skies.

Once I entered the meditative state, a steady stream of spiritual energy flowed into my fingertips. It seemed that as my cultivation level rose, the white sphere within me was gradually shrinking; it was now the size of a ping-pong ball. I didn't dwell on it, however, and instead felt even more motivated to cultivate.

Without realizing it, I spent the entire night in meditation. The next morning, I heard a rooster crow and slowly opened my eyes, exhaling a breath of stale air. The weather had turned colder, and Second Uncle had thoughtfully prepared a cotton-lined robe for me the night before. It was very comfortable to wear; even if I sweated, the cotton didn't cling to my skin.

Today, I planned to continue practicing my finger techniques—the Bagua Arhat Formation. I had previously mastered the movements but hadn't memorized the mental cultivation method. Taking advantage of the crisp morning air, I quickly brought out the Heaven-Walking Finger Technique manual. It was true what they said: practicing in the morning yielded twice the result with half the effort. I quickly committed all the mantras and chants to memory.

It was around seven in the morning. Second Uncle hadn't woken up yet, probably due to being tired from yesterday. As I passed Nangong Xi’s room, I glanced inside and saw her sitting on her bed, meditating, so I didn't disturb her.

I stood up and began to trace the finger techniques, coordinating them with the mental mantras. Once I finished, a Bagua formation slowly manifested before me.

"Huh? That's not right?"

No sooner had my words of doubt faded than the formation began to change. Suddenly, a blue border appeared around the outer edge of the Bagua formation. But it wasn't just one layer; continuously, over twenty blue borders appeared, tightly encircling the circular formation. The central Bagua array reacted with these blue borders, slowly intertwining with them.

In an instant, the formation, while still blue, saw its outermost layer turn golden, radiating a light so brilliant it was dazzling even in the daylight. I had to admit, it was stunning. The overall structure was also a size larger than the standard Bagua formation, providing more comprehensive defense.

I circled to the front of the Bagua Arhat Formation and unleashed a Thunder-Dash Technique at it. It shook violently but showed no signs of breaking—not bad at all. I threw several more lightning strikes at it, and only on the fifth strike did the formation finally reach its limit and shatter. I was satisfied with this result; it should be enough to withstand a blow from someone in the Spirit Lotus realm.

Immediately, I summoned another Bagua Arhat Formation. Having learned from the previous attempt at controlling the Bagua array, I decided to try to control this one as well. I channeled my spiritual energy into my hands and began to experiment.

To my delight, after a few attempts, I discovered the secret to controlling it. Unexpectedly, it treated me to another visual feast. I watched as the central Bagua array slowly adhered to my hands, while the outer borders continued to float in place. It formed the shape of a large megaphone. I had expected it to look awkward, but it turned out to be surprisingly cool.

I tried moving it around; at first, I couldn't quite get the hang of it, but slowly, I grasped the mystery behind it, allowing it to stay firmly fixed to my hands as I moved.