Chapitre 86: Bone Parasitism
"Well, I've improved a lot since then. Maybe it's worth another look."
Determined, Li Wei rummaged through a stack of dog-eared manuals that he'd gathered from various corners of the sect. Eventually, he uncovered a booklet that exuded a faint, musty smell. Flipping through brittle pages, he found a scrawl describing Bone Manipulation: embedding a shard of bone into a target to inflict internal harm. He narrowed his eyes, trying to coax the system's interface to appear.
A soft pulse resonated in his mind, and faint text materialised in his consciousness:
[Detected cultivation technique: 'Bone Manipulation'. Embed bone shard into a target; can be manipulated from a distance to inflict internal damage.]
[Modification Suggestion: 'Bone Parasitism' – Embed bone shard into a target and store qi from the target.]
Li Wei's eyes widened. "Bone… Parasitism?" he murmured, scanning the mental projection. Unlike Bone Manipulation, which focused on harming an enemy internally, Bone Parasitism went further—siphoning a target's qi and adding it to his own reserves.
He skimmed the manual's half-finished notes, now overlaid with the system's suggested modifications. According to these instructions, the bone shard must be infused with his qi, then covertly implanted into someone—ideally without them noticing. Over time, the shard would gradually absorb a portion of their cultivation and transfer it back to Li Wei.
"It's a way to increase my cultivation using someone else's strength."
Setting the booklet down, Li Wei let his mind race. He already had Bone Fire, which promised to refine ash, and now this new Bone Parasitism, which could accelerate his growth even faster. The difference was that Bone Fire still required materials he didn't have, while Bone Parasitism was something he could start right now—he just needed an unlucky volunteer.
Casting one last glance at the system's text, Li Wei carefully tucked the old manual back into his stack of books.
"I'll try it on some outer disciples, just to see how much qi I can drain—and how quickly."
With that, Li Wei exhaled, determination settling in. Tomorrow, he'd begin planning for the Cinderbone Elixir while figuring out how—and on whom—he could test this secret new technique.
Li Wei slept better than he had in ages, waking with a tiny smirk tugging at his lips.
"First things first." He scratched out a quick note, jotting down the Cinderbone Elixir ingredients he needed:
Five shards of Low-Tier Demonic Bone
A Fire-Element Beast Core
A handful of Emberleaf
Three roots of Ashvine
Two petals of Smolderbloom
He folded the note and wedged it into the bone slave's ribcage, ensuring it wouldn't slip out. Then he placed two Strength Potions in its skeletal hand—the bony fingers wrapped around the vials in a precarious grip.
A faint pulse of qi activated the puppet, and it clattered upright, shifting awkwardly on its bare bones.
Li Wei kept a steady tether on it through his bone-manipulation sense, feeling each halting step.
"It's like guiding a blind man," he mused. "I can sense outlines, corners, and shit like that, but it's all second-hand."
Eventually, the bone slave arrived at the shop. Li Wei sensed it stop near the counter. There was a moment of fumbling—the shopkeeper must have seen the potions in those shaky, skeletal hands, and the note in its ribcage. Li Wei felt a wave of relief when someone carefully plucked the vials away before they could hit the floor.
The shopkeeper likely read the note, rummaged around for items or a few pills in exchange. Li Wei couldn't tell exactly what was happening, but the tension in his gut eased when he felt some new weight settle into the skeleton's hand.
The skeleton nearly dropped the new package once or twice, and Li Wei's heart rate spiked each time he sensed the slip.
"Goddamn it," he cursed, mentally urging it to hold on tighter. "Note to self: give it a satchel next time."
The shopkeeper must have noticed too, because after another near-fumble, Li Wei felt the weight settle more securely in the puppet's bony fingers. Satisfied that the exchange was done, he nudged the slave to turn around and shuffle back.
"Let's see if I get any of the shit I actually need," he thought, a wry grin forming. "Even if it's just partial, that's progress."
Eventually, the skeleton reappeared in the dim mouth of Li Wei's cave, a small pouch clutched between its knobby fingers. Li Wei snatched it up and carefully untied it, rummaging inside to see what the shopkeeper supplied. A slip of paper caught his eye:
Got a handful of Emberleaf,
three roots of Ashvine,
two petals of Smolderbloom,
but not the rest.
I took the price out of the balance.
—Zhao Ming
Li Wei glanced down at the meagre assortment of herbs in his hands and muttered under his breath. "It's nowhere near everything I need, but at least it's a start."
"Shit, oh well. Can't expect the cunt to have everything," he thought, tucking them carefully into his storage pouch.
He closed the flap with a sigh. Even with this small haul, the Cinderbone Elixir was still out of reach—he needed five shards of low-tier demonic bone and a fire-element beast core before he could even think about brewing it. Still, some progress was better than none. Stretching his arms, he decided it was time to return the Bone Fire manual to Zhao Feng, having already memorised everything.
"I don't need it cluttering my cave, and maybe I can get a few more tips out of him."
Stepping outside, Li Wei took a moment to look around the craggy mountainside. Numerous caves were carved into the rock face—some higher, some lower. All belonged to direct disciples stronger than he was. His own cave sat closest to the base, a reflection of his lesser standing under their master.
"Of course I never asked Zhao Feng where he lives," he mused, lips twisting into a wry smile. "Typical."
Deciding he couldn't just wander up and down the mountain blindly, Li Wei muttered, "Fuck it, I'll ask someone. Better than knocking on random holes in the wall."
He set off along a narrow ledge of stone, carefully navigating the path to avoid a sheer drop on one side. Every now and then, he passed a cave entrance with faint signs of life—smouldering torches or a discarded cloak near the doorway. He figured these belonged to mid-level foundational establishment disciples—certainly stronger than him. Still, it was a start.
Spotting one particular cave with a warm lantern glow, Li Wei approached. The stone arch around the entrance was smoother than most, suggesting the occupant cared a bit about comfort—or at least aesthetics. He paused just outside, pressing himself against the rock wall for a moment. He'd concealed the Bone Fire manual under his robe, intending only to ask for directions.
"All right, Li Wei. Be respectful, don't step on anyone's toes."
He wasn't entirely without defences, though. His second storage pouch held a large supply of bone dust, ready to be flung as a surprise tactic if push came to shove. Still, he reminded himself that the sect's rules specifically frowned on killing another direct disciple, not necessarily on conflict itself—so if things escalated, it might get messy regardless.
Clearing his throat, he called out, "Excuse me? Is anyone in?"
From within the cave, a soft, feminine voice echoed: "Come in."
He stepped cautiously across the threshold, eyes adjusting to the lantern's glow. The interior was more spacious than he expected, walls and floor carefully smoothed. Sparse furnishings and a faint scent of incense lent an air of comfort.
Li Wei cleared his throat at the cave entrance, keeping his tone respectful. "Senior Sister, pardon the intrusion. My name is Li Wei—I'm new to Mount Xinlun."
A soft lantern glow reflected off polished stone walls as a woman stepped forward. She carried herself with a measured grace that hinted at deeper lethality—like a blade kept sheathed but always within reach. Moments before the interruption, she had been seated on a low cushion, weaving intricate blood-red talismans.
"Lin Yu," she said simply, dipping her head.
Li Wei noticed the faintest trace of arrogance in her posture, but it was carefully concealed. His instincts warned him that she was dangerous, perhaps loyal to a faction that might want to rope him in. Still, he didn't overestimate his own value—he was the weakest of the direct disciples and he knew it.
"I'm looking for Senior Brother Zhao Feng," he explained. "I'm not familiar with the mountain yet."
Lin Yu arched a brow, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Zhao Feng?" She gestured toward the mountain's higher reaches. "You'll have to climb beyond the twisted pine by the crag—you'll see a red talisman near the entrance to his cave."
He offered a slight bow. "Thank you, Senior Sister. Sorry to bother you so late."
The corners of her mouth lifted in a small, knowing smile. "Not a bother at all. What business do you have with our dear Senior Brother?" she asked lightly.
"I'm just returning something that belongs to him," Li Wei replied, careful to maintain a pleasant tone.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone