I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Mandala

Besides the First Layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture, starting from the Second Layer, some special medicines are needed to aid cultivation!

Although the First Layer of the Fetal Concealment doesn’t require medicinal aid, constructing a Mandala is necessary!

The so-called Mandala needs to be constructed from statues or paintings!

It is the shadow of the gods!

Duan Rong had never devoured any Artifact Spirits related to sculpture, so he didn’t have the ability to create divine statues.

But his painting skills were already quite advanced, and he could construct this Mandala through paintings! In this aspect, he didn’t need the help of others!

However, once the Mandala is constructed, it would be quite conspicuous!

This Fetal Concealment Scripture isn’t something passed down by a sect; he couldn’t cultivate openly. Constructing a Mandala would be too eye-catching!

Without a doubt, it greatly increased the risk of exposure!

However, abandoning the Mandala would make the cultivation of the Fetal Concealment impossible!

Duan Rong lifted his head heavily, watching the hurried pedestrians on the street...

The tense atmosphere of citywide searches from a few days ago seemed to have passed. Though the city gates were still strictly controlled, people seemed accustomed, busy with their own lives, and discussions of the event were rarely heard in the streets...

Duan Rong picked up the bowl and drank the broth in one go, wiped his mouth, and stood up!

”There’s no rush on the Fetal Concealment Scripture, let’s see a bit more...”

Duan Rong thought as he walked and quickly returned to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

Duan Rong walked to the Martial Arts Arena in the middle courtyard, drew a weapon from the rack, and silently chanted, reading Artifact Spirit!

He wasn’t actually trying to devour the Artifact Spirit, just checking his Spiritual Power along the way!

Looking at the numbers that appeared before him, Duan Rong muttered to himself indifferently, ”Spiritual Power is still at level 1!”

This was expected by Duan Rong!

After all, he had calculated in the mountains before, digesting eighty-one Tier One Tree Spirits would take nearly half a month; only a few days had passed!

Duan Rong let out a slight sigh, unable to cultivate Fetal Concealment, with Spiritual Power not breaking through either. The only thing left was to grind through the Bone Shrinking Technique!

Duan Rong decided to master the Bone Shrinking Technique in the shortest time possible!

Once he understood the current situation and set a goal, Duan Rong seemed filled with energy again!

He quickly returned to his dormitory, shut the doors and windows tightly, and began practicing the Bone Shrinking Technique!

In the cramped dormitory, Duan Rong continuously assumed various bizarre postures!

To stretch and reshape the resilience of his muscles, tendons, and skin!

This process was actually very painful!

It could very well be termed Purgatory!

After nearly an hour of repeated stretching, Duan Rong suddenly twisted and contorted his head, hands, and waist in bizarre postures...

His first goal was to fit himself into the wooden tub!

Sweat covered Duan Rong’s whole body, the pain in his muscles and skin made his scalp tingle as if electrified!

Duan Rong’s gaze was fierce, his teeth clenched!

Duan Rong’s body was twisted together, and with every hour that passed, he twisted tighter!

His body was like a spring, compressed tighter and tighter!

Moreover, each tighter twist increased the pain geometrically!

Now, Duan Rong’s entire body was transmitting an electrifying pain!

And it was sustained electricity!

The pain, like a tide, continuously impacted Duan Rong’s consciousness, unsure how much longer he could endure. Perhaps in a while, he might faint from the pain!

The time for lunch had long passed, but Duan Rong had painstakingly managed to twist himself to this extent; if he loosened up, he would have to start over!

Just then, a knock suddenly sounded on the door!

Duan Rong was startled, seeing his body twisting in reverse like a spiral, unwinding circle by circle...

A few moments later, he returned to normal!

The knocking continued!

Duan Rong’s eyes were sharp as he silently stood with a knife, to the side of the door!

At this moment, a voice sounded outside the door. ”Escort Master Duan, are you there?”

This voice was familiar; it was the voice of the gatekeeper.

Duan Rong exhaled a breath of turbid air; he was being a bit paranoid. Although the case was big, who would suspect him, an apprentice Escort Master?

Duan Rong wiped his sweat, unbolted the door, and opened it with a smile: ”Ah, Uncle Ma! I’m here, just now practicing!”

The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, almost about to leave, but Duan Rong had suddenly opened the door. Seeing Duan Rong drenched in sweat, with his chest almost soaked through, the gatekeeper began to believe Duan Rong’s words and said: ”Oh, Escort Master Duan, someone has come with a card to invite you to the mansion!”

”A card?”

The gatekeeper handed the red card to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong received it and opened it, finding only eight short words: ”Long admired, especially invite for a chat!”

And the handwriting was childishly scrawled, extremely unsightly.

Duan Rong snorted coldly through his nose, intending to refuse, but noticed the signatures included two names: Ximen Kankan and Jiang Qingyu.

He had seen Jiang Qingyu once at the Huaying Building, but even so, at this time, Duan Rong didn’t want to deal with social engagements.

Duan Rong’s eyes flickered, and he casually asked the gatekeeper, ”Who is this Ximen Kankan?”

Jiang Qingyu was the sole heir of Jiang Heng, the silk store owner. This Ximen Kankan had put his name before Jiang Qingyu’s, and it seemed quite odd, almost not like a human name.

The gatekeeper gave Duan Rong a strange look and said, ”Ximen Kankan is the son of Ximen Yong.”

”Ximen Yong?”

”The big boss behind the three herbal shops in the county!”

Duan Rong’s expression slightly changed. This Ximen Kankan was the young master of the herbal shop chain.

Duan Rong immediately felt that connecting with this line might be beneficial!

For the Fetal Concealment’s Second Layer, medicinal support was necessary.

He remembered the auxiliary medicine for the Second Layer was something called Dragon Flame Fat, which sounded rare, surely not an easy find!

If he could connect with Ximen Kankan, it might help him in searching for this medicine.

”Where’s the person who delivered the card?”

”Waiting at the main gate!”

”Please tell him I’ve accepted the invitation! Ask him to wait a moment while I freshen up and change clothes!”

With that, Duan Rong closed the door, and the gatekeeper reluctantly left.

Duan Rong washed his body, changed into clean clothes, and left the main gate of Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

Shi Liang, the young servant from the Ximen family, was already waiting outside with a carriage. Upon seeing a youth with a dark face and short attire holding a red invitation card, he quickly approached and bowed, ”Are you Escort Master Duan? My young master sent me specifically to escort you to the mansion.”

Duan Rong nodded, glanced at the young servant who appeared decent and sharp, and smiled, ”Ximen Young Master is too kind. Lead the way, my friend.”

Shi Liang quickly went to the lion sculpture, pulled out the carriage, opened the door, and said, ”Escort Master Duan, please get in!”

Duan Rong strode over, entered the carriage, and Shi Liang closed the curtain, driving away!

With the sound of hooves clattering, the carriage wobbled down West Main Street!

Seated inside, Duan Rong carefully examined the interior.

The carpet’s quality, the curtain’s material—all were top-notch, but the carpet’s color pattern didn’t match well with the curtain’s style, appearing somewhat out of place!

Unconsciously, Duan Rong compared the carriage’s decor with the Xia Mansion’s he previously rode in!

Though made of fine materials, they lacked the sophisticated touch of the Xia family, indicating different styles!

Recalling Ximen Kankan’s unsightly handwriting, Duan Rong muttered to himself inside the carriage, ”This Ximen family, perhaps they’re nouveau riche...”