They stayed here for five days. Shang Yanting's ordinary injuries had mostly healed, but he could only hold light objects with his hands, and his legs still couldn't move.
The red fruits were long gone, and the fish in the lake were down to six.
Jia Xitong was already considering finding an exit when Shang Yanting suddenly suggested entering the pool to have a look.
Upon hearing this, Jia Xitong initially objected.
The pool, clear to the bottom, appeared shallow but was actually deep.
His limbs were useless—going down would truly be dangerous.
"Didn't you say I was very capable?"
Shang Yanting gazed at the pool. "A pool that can nurture Undetermined Silver Fish and Undetermined Secret Grass might itself be the greatest opportunity. In my current state, attempting to cultivate is akin to defying fate. If I don't take a risk, how could I have a chance?"
Jia Xitong was taken aback by his words.
Indeed, if there were no dangers in his location, then he wouldn't be the protagonist.
To ensure his safety when entering the pool, Jia Xitong preemptively "fished" up the remaining six fish.
Shang Yanting painstakingly crawled into the pool step by step.
The pool water was warm.
As Shang Yanting entered the water, he sank abruptly, unable to float. Jia Xitong, having used up the time for the puppet while fishing, could only watch nervously within Shang Yanting's Sea of Consciousness.
Upon immersing, he held his breath.
As he reached the bottom, he began to feel for the glowing stones beneath, discovering that these were Spirit Stones!
Spirit Stones, crucial and precious resources for cultivation.
On the Aotian Continent, one Spirit Stone was worth at least a Hundred Gold. Those below the Martial Master Realm weren't fit to use Spirit Stones for cultivation.
As the Young Master of the Shangmou Family, even after reaching the Martial Master Realm, Shang Yanting received merely ten Spirit Stones monthly, whereas here, the pool's bottom was piled high with large Spirit Stones!
How many are there?
Because of this, Shang Yanting became more convinced that there were greater opportunities in this pool!
He continued to search the stones one by one.
Due to lack of oxygen, the veins in his neck were prominent.
The Martial Arts God favors the protagonist.
At the center of the pool, a black box was embedded, appearing particularly out of place amidst the Spirit Stones.
He opened it.
A book floated in the water from the box, with three large characters on the cover—Source Cultivation Technique.
The book drifted endlessly in the water. Shang Yanting was at the brink of his limit, gasping desperately!
Just as she was intensely anxious, suddenly the protagonist crossed his legs and adopted a five-hearts-to-heaven posture underwater.
Was he cultivating?
Cultivating underwater?!
The previously calm pool began to churn, forming a vortex centered around him. The Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stones in the pool gathered beneath Shang Yanting, causing dramatic changes!
All the Spiritual Energy rushed towards him.
Brutally, recklessly.
The vast amount of Spiritual Power was beyond Shang Yanting's mortal body to absorb.
His skin began to crack, like a balloon about to burst, with every inch of skin enduring the excess Spiritual Energy's pain.
Even Jia Xitong in the Sea of Consciousness felt these changes.
She saw wisps of fine white gas appear in Shang Yanting's Sea of Consciousness, recklessly colliding and continuously disappearing and reorganizing, growing in number.
Eventually, they multiplied so much that Jia Xitong couldn't evade them. A thread of "gas" pierced through her soul body, instantly warming it—soothing!
She instinctively sought to grasp this "gas,"
At this moment, Shang Yanting's entire body was glowing, as was Jia Xitong's soul body.
The Talismanic Record flipped frantically, new content appearing on its blank pages—Talismanic Record: Basic Skill Chapter.
While Jia Xitong didn't look at this content, as it appeared on the Talismanic Record, it also appeared in her mind.
Jia Xitong mimicked the knowledge in her mind, manipulating the formula, chanting, breathing, absorbing, and controlling the frenzied Spiritual Energy around.
The most immediate feeling for Shang Yanting was that his pain was gradually alleviating.
The excess Spiritual Power was being constantly absorbed, and the previously chaotic Spiritual Energy within him began to become structured, allowing Shang Yanting to smoothly enter the realm guided by the Source Cultivation Technique.
Cultivation knows no time.
Every time Spiritual Energy completed a small cycle within him, the Spirit Stones in the pool grew dimmer until all Spiritual Energy was absorbed by him.
Who knows how many days he had spent in the pool.
Shang Yanting suddenly opened his eyes—his foundation had returned! And it was even more stable and solid than before!
Shang Yanting rose from the water, slowly moving to the lake's edge. On the shore, he bowed solemnly towards the center of the lake. This Source Cultivation Technique proved to be a cultivation method to repair his foundation, reigniting hope for his cultivation!
Gratitude to the elder who placed the secret manual here!
On the other side, Jia Xitong in the Sea of Consciousness had also completed the passive cultivation.
Though she didn't know what she was doing, she felt stronger.
At this moment, she felt particularly inclined to bow to Shang Yanting.
Indeed, following the protagonist brings benefits!
He leveled up, and so did she.
Though she didn't quite understand the manner of leveling up, it surely felt good.
With his foundation repaired, Shang Yanting had no reason to stay and prepared to leave.
"Host, Host, are you leaving just like that?"
Jia Xitong, who had just awoken from cultivating, was shocked—what about the grass, what about the fish?
This was truly wasteful!
Was the protagonist in the original novel also this extravagant?
"Dear Host, hello, we are now issuing you a new quest:
Gather Heavenly and Earthly Treasures: Undetermined Secret Grass·All
Gather Heavenly and Earthly Treasures: Undetermined Silver Fish·Dorsal Fin
Quest Rewards: Upgraded Healing Talisman*2, Upgraded Exploding Talisman*2, Upgraded Solidification Talisman*1"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Shang Yanting's steps halted abruptly as he walked outward. So, the harvested plants and scraped fish scales were treasures?
However, this so-called reward…
"Previously, the talismans you provided didn't require completing any quests."
What did this mean?
Was she still trying to get something for nothing?
The little angel who wouldn't abandon them days ago now awoke to her true nature as a black-hearted broker, "Here's the thing, dear Host, the previous talismans were a pre-loan for you.
Currently, you owe the system five hundred Exploding Talismans, one hundred Healing Talismans, and ten Solidification Talismans."
"Did I really use that many things?"
Shang Yanting questioned, looking at the contents above.
"Dear Host, the system only charged you a small amount of interest."
Moreover, she had also burdened Puppet Little Raccoon with a debt of ten thousand talismans.
It's a reasonable price.
##
Looking back at falling into the cave, it was indeed a blessing in disguise.
Shang Yanting consumed two types of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures and successfully rebuilt his foundation. Although his cultivation couldn't recover, he regained the opportunity to cultivate. Even his limbs, with severed muscles, could move now. Though his legs couldn't walk quickly or for long, and his hands couldn't lift heavy objects.
As for Jia Xitong, she gained even more from this venture.
Undetermined Secret Grass's roots belong to her;
Undetermined Silver Fish's fin also belongs to her. The Talismanic Record was upgraded—not only enhancing the overall talisman effects but also featuring the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures Chapter and Basic Skill Chapter.
Thanks to Shang Yanting's fortuitous encounter, her soul body inexplicably acquired a surge of Spiritual Power.
In summary… there's no mistake in following the protagonist~
######Original Chapter######
He fell into the icy cave.
He was swallowed by the giant python.
When he broke free of the snake's abdomen, wore down his knees, and joyfully discovered the Immortal Fruit to restore his foundation, the monstrous fish in the pool devoured him, and the rampant Spiritual Power tore him apart.
His body and soul were torn to shreds in hell—
No one to save me.