Chapter 95: Spell Permanence: Strength-Path Rune

Inside the room, they sat with one as host and the other as guest.

Fang Shi spoke directly: "True Person Zuo, have you ever seen this rune?"

Magic power flowed, light and shadow shifted, and a Spirit Detection Rune floated up before the two of them.

Zuo Yuanzong pondered, "This is Dao Script, isn't it?"

"Rune and Dao Script are merely names, just as the Dao has no name, yet we forcibly call it the Dao."

"What True Person says is reasonable. Can this Dao Script observe changes in spiritual energy and detect the flow of spiritual energy?"

"How do you know?"

Zuo Yuanzong smiled: "Dao Script is the external manifestation of the Great Dao's rules, so it too has patterns."

"Just like this Dao Script; it appears as a seamless whole, but is actually composed of three parts."

"This part of the Dao Script represents observation, this part represents spiritual energy, and this part represents feedback."

As Zuo Yuanzong spoke, he pointed out the corresponding sections of the Dao Script.

"Combined, even though I have never seen this Dao Script before, I can roughly understand its meaning."

"Of course, the combination of this Dao Script is not perfect; there is still room for improvement in many places."

"For instance here; if the stroke of the Dao Script deviates by one angle (gū), the flow of spiritual energy becomes smoother, manifesting as a potentially greater detection range."

"And for instance here..."

As Zuo Yuanzong explained, Fang Shi's understanding of Dao Script improved rapidly.

Many places that were previously unclear instantly became clear.

This also benefited from Fang Shi's practice; many things were already just one step away from breakthrough.

After acquiring the theory, Fang Shi's level in Dao Script improved rapidly.

"Through continuous learning, your Spell Identification has improved: 13→14."

"Through continuous learning, your Knowledge Dao Script has improved: 1→2."

"Through continuous learning, your Knowledge Dao Script has improved: 5→6."

"Through continuous learning, your Spell Identification has improved: 15→16."

"Through continuous learning, you have comprehended Spell Permanence I."

"Spell Permanence I: Your understanding of spells has reached a certain level. You can make certain spells permanent; the specific cost varies by spell."

Zuo Yuanzong was indeed worth the price of electrum, having basically covered all the circulating knowledge of Dao Script.

Plus, Fang Shi's wisdom was clear and penetrating; he understood everything with a single hint and could draw inferences from one instance.

After a day and a night of study, Fang Shi had completely drained Zuo Yuanzong.

Anything deeper was not a service available for ordinary payment.

Without immense benefit, cultivators would not leak their fundamental inheritances to outsiders.

"True Person Zuo, regarding the basic knowledge of Dao Script, I have understood it."

"Now I have a question: the first Dao Script I showed you was inscribed within my body."

"What impact does this have on a cultivator? Why have I basically not noticed other cultivators inscribing Dao Script on their bodies?"

Zuo Yuanzong's face showed surprise; no wonder he was a Spirit Awareness stage loose cultivator, truly daring to do anything.

"True Person Fang, did you not notice a conflict between inscribing Dao Script on your body and your own Cultivation Technique?"

"This is greatly detrimental to the improvement of your cultivation."

Hearing this, Fang Shi fell silent for a moment, recalling that aside from diligently practicing at Heavenly Sword Sect,

in actuality, his meditation and Qi refinement at other times were merely for restoring magic power.

The improvement of magic power came from leveling up; he truly had not noticed this factor.

Zuo Yuanzong added: "Of course, due to differences in cultivation methods, some Dao Script indeed does not conflict with cultivation methods."

"Therefore, great families all possess inherited Dao Script; these Dao Script inscribed on the body can strengthen one's own abilities."

"Whether for fighting, alchemy, or artifact forging, the various functions are endless."

"True Person must be in this situation, having inadvertently discovered a Dao Script that does not conflict with your own cultivation method."

"Truly a deep fortune!"

Hearing Zuo Yuanzong's sigh, Fang Shi did not know what to say.

He couldn't exactly say that you all need to sit in bitter meditation and refine Qi,

while he himself needs no such thing at all.

"Then let me suppose a person: if he does not care about the improvement of cultivation and fills his body with inscribed Dao Script, what would happen?"

"Nothing good. The more Dao Script, the more severe the conflict with the Cultivation Technique; not only will cultivation fail to improve, but in the end, it may even cost one's life."

Fang Shi pondered for a moment and said: "How about this, True Person Zuo, do you have a Dao Script that can increase physical strength, one that is of good quality?"

"There is one, but True Person Fang, why do you want this Dao Script? Do you intend to inscribe it in your body?"

Zuo Yuanzong was not a fool; connecting it to Fang Shi's actions, he guessed.

Fang Shi openly admitted: "Correct, I do intend to inscribe it in my body."

"Why must True Person do this? If the conflict is severe, you could lose your life."

"True Person Zuo, times are not peaceful now. I have my own duties and need to eliminate the infected. You also know the danger of the Evil Gods; therefore, at this time I must improve my own abilities to the greatest extent possible."

Zuo Yuanzong bowed in reverence: "True Person's high righteousness is beyond my reach."

Fang Shi said: "Our divisions of labor differ; no need to dwell on it. We are all merely seeking survival."

Zuoyuan Sect sighed: "That's right, just trying to survive. I'm just unlucky; I arrived in Yizhou and got trapped inside immediately. It would have been better to accept a friend's invitation to go to Bingzhou."

Fang Shi smiled: "I'm different; I'm originally from Yizhou, so I can't escape anywhere. I can only fight with all my might for a chance at life."

"In that case, then I shall give this Dao Character to True Person as a reward for True Person's righteous act."

"However, True Person must act cautiously. Under no circumstances should you forcibly engrave it, or you might lose your life."

"Then many thanks to Master Zuoyuan."

Fang Shi returned to his room and, thinking of the Dao Character Zuoyuan Sect had given him, a surge of joy rose from the depths of his heart.

This was a Gravity Dao Character, capable of drawing upon the power of the earth and mountains to amplify one's own strength.

It is said that the ultimate manifestation of this Dao Character grants its owner the power of Mount Tai.

Not a metaphor, but the true power of Mount Tai, an extreme force of 550 billion tons.

Of course, Fang Shi's Dao Character is a simplified version.

The strength amplified when engraved in the body is only doubled.

Provided it does not conflict with one's own Cultivation Technique.

In fact, it is less convenient than the Barbarian Strength Art.

At least the Barbarian Strength Art has no such thing as conflict.

However, Fang Shi could not find a Master who could help him cast the Barbarian Strength Art at any time.

Moreover, once a Dao Character is engraved, it is essentially a permanent spell.

As long as it is not dispelled, it remains effective for a lifetime.

Therefore, it is acceptable.

Half an hour later, Fang Shi, sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, opened his eyes.

"Gravity Dao Character I: The owner of this Dao Character can draw upon the power of the earth and mountains, gaining a +5 bonus to their Strength attribute."

With the Dao Character on his body, the Giant Belt had served its purpose and retired.

Now Fang Shi's Strength had reached 27 points; combined with his Supernatural Strength and Qi Refining stage.

That was a colossal force of ten tons!

However, Fang Shi had a doubt; he found that engraving Dao Characters within his body was extremely easy.

What conflict? It seemed non-existent; the process went too smoothly to be true.

Previously, Fang Shi had thought he simply hadn't detected the conflict between the Dao Character and the Qi Detection Dao Character.

Later, after testing it carefully again, he discovered there was absolutely no conflict.

Fang Shi knew this phenomenon was absolutely abnormal and could not be explained by the Cultivation Technique of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Do the Artifact Cultivators in the Heavenly Sword Sect world not have Dao Characters?

They certainly do, so why didn't the Heavenly Sword Sect utilize Dao Characters to improve their strength?

It can only be said that they were unable to do so.

Of course, there is also the possibility that the Heavenly Sword Sect inheritance Fang Shi received was incomplete.

Fang Shi's Heavenly Sword Sect Cultivation Technique, in the end, was merely two fundamental techniques: the "Sword Art" and the "Sword Technique."

There were no other auxiliary methods or techniques whatsoever.

Methods to enhance the Jin Dan might also exist within the Heavenly Sword Sect.

It's just that Fang Shi hadn't managed to obtain them.

But regardless, engraving Dao Characters was never this easy for Fang Shi.

He had even tried other types of Dao Characters.

All of them blended like water and milk, with absolutely no conflict.

This is simply incredible!

The Cultivation Technique of the Heavenly Sword Sect could never achieve this.

"Then is it a matter of constitution?"

Fang Shi looked deeply at the Force Resistance I on his attribute panel.

This was the subject of his suspicion.

It was also the specialization that had caused the greatest change to his constitution.

Unfortunately, he still could not engrave two at the same time.

"The ability of this specialization is still limited!"

"I must find an opportunity to improve it."