Chapter 7: Chapter 7 'Leaving Fire Skill
Several nights later, Mr. Xu brought a young man in his twenties into Everlasting Observance.
The youth was named Jiang Yan, whose grandfather was a Ninth-grade Martial Artist and owned a martial arts hall. Unfortunately, his grandfather passed away early, and without the support of a Ninth-grade Martial Artist, their family business was gradually annexed by the Zhang Family.
Now, although Jiang Yan had some talent, his life had been difficult due to the Zhang Family's targeting, to the point where even obtaining herbs for cultivation was challenging. Therefore, at his wit's end, he contemplated seeking refuge with someone.
Mr. Xu's contact with him stemmed precisely from this.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing, the youngest Master Guan in the city who was known for his immense talent, Jiang Yan clasped his fists with excitement, "At the end of my rope, to receive assistance from Master Guan is deeply appreciated. I will repay your kindness in the future."
Pei Xuanjing shook his head slightly, "We are simply each taking what we need."
He did not wish to become too deeply involved with the other party. It was nothing more than a transaction between them.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing's distant demeanor, Jiang Yan was not annoyed but produced a family heirloom skill, the "Leaving Fire Skill," and a notebook of his insights from within his bosom.
The moment Pei Xuanjing took them, a prompt emerged in his mind.
[Discovered Taoyun item. Begin refining?]
He suppressed this voice for the moment and said to Jiang Yan, "These next few days, you should recuperate. I will study the cultivation skill you practice and then we'll see how I can assist you."
Jiang Yan nodded, then Mr. Xu led him to a guest room within the observance for his stay, while Pei Xuanjing picked up the skill and the notebook once again to study.
The "Leaving Fire Skill" was not a particularly advanced cultivation skill—capable at most of supporting a cultivator up to Eighth grade, somewhat inferior to the "Yi Wood Skill" transmitted by Everlasting Observance.
However, for Pei Xuanjing, it was still quite good. He estimated that after refining the skill and the notebook and accumulating the Taoyun, combined with the Taoyun remaining in his observance, he would be able to undertake the next simulation.
A few days later, with the help of the Life Simulator, Pei Xuanjing had largely grasped the "Leaving Fire Skill" and the insights of the notebook. Although he could not claim to fully understand it, he already had some ideas on how to help Jiang Yan make a breakthrough.
Some things are truly incomprehensible when one does not understand them.
But once understood and subsequently reflected upon, they often reveal their simplicity.
Now that Pei Xuanjing was a Seventh-grade Martial Artist, his external training of sinew, bone, and skin had reached perfection. The obscure and difficult breakthrough points for a Ninth-grade Martial Artist were clear to him from his high vantage point.
In the following days, while refining Taoyun, Pei Xuanjing also guided Jiang Yan in his cultivation.
Jiang Yan, already gifted, with Pei Xuanjing's guidance and provided resources, grasped the breakthrough intricacies in just three months. Now, what he needed was to consume nourishing elixirs to accumulate power for the breakthrough.
After doing so, Pei Xuanjing sent Jiang Yan off to cultivate on his own, and he himself focused fully on refining Taoyun.
Another half a year passed when, one day, Pei Xuanjing accumulated sufficient Taoyun to simulate twice.
[Taoyun: 2303 points.]
[Use the Life Simulator? One simulation costs 1000 Taoyun points.]
As his strength broke through, the Taoyun consumed increased. It was fortunate that his capacity for swiftly refining Taoyun increased with his growing power, or else it would take even longer.
Casting aside extraneous thoughts and without hesitation, Pei Xuanjing chose 'Yes'.
[The Great Tao is boundless; among the Forty-Nine Heavenly Paths, one escapes! Thus, all things in the world have a single thread of hope!]
At eighteen: Already a Seventh-grade Martial Artist, you realize that arduous cultivation is useless. This small city can no longer aid your cultivation, so you decide to leave.
At twenty: Having left the small city, you've made a name for yourself as a genius within a year, thanks to your Seventh-grade Martial Artist strength and swordsmanship that integrates realms.
At that time, rumors emerged of a Secret Realm Blessed Land appearing. With encouragement from some friends, you joined them in heading there.
Three months later, you emerged alive from the Secret Realm Blessed Land, still shaken by the experience.
You hadn't anticipated such fierce struggle within the Secret Realm Blessed Land. An endless stream of strong and talented individuals vying for a miraculous item, killing each other.
Though you didn't obtain the miraculous item of the Secret Realm, you stumbled into a Dan Palace and acquired a pill recipe.
You weren't immediately able to use the recipe, but the leaked information drew many after your life. After killing several pursuers and suffering grave injuries, you narrowly escaped.
In two months, you managed to heal your wounds using the recipe at hand. Even holding the recipe, the threat of pursuers continued, and you dared not seek out a Master Dan, choosing to lay low instead.
At twenty-one: You studied the pill recipe on your own and finally understood it: the "Marrow-cleansing Pill," developed by a Master Dan 500 years ago. It aided in cultivating internal organs and marrow, shoring up foundational strength and nurturing one's origin.
But 500 years had changed much, including the names—or even the existence—of certain required herbs. You set aside the recipe, realizing it would not be of immediate use.
At twenty-five: After two years of fruitless intensive cultivation, you offended a young prodigy while seeking Spiritual Medicine. They defeated you effortlessly, leaving you severely injured and damaging your foundation. From then on, you devoted your attention fully to the pill recipe.
At thirty: As you learned Pill Refining, you grasped Wood Generates Fire, elucidating the Third Layer of the "Leaving Fire Skill." You sensed that if you could combine these two skills, you could break through to Sixth Grade. Now, you just needed to mend your foundation to make the breakthrough.
At thirty: Engrossed in studying, you experimented with Pill Refining on your own and gathered Spiritual Medicine, finally producing a batch of "Marrow-cleansing Pill." After testing the pill on animals with no adverse effects, you confidently ingested it and perished.
[End of this life.]
To have been poisoned to death by the Elixir you refined yourself.
Pei Xuanjing massaged his temples; although he thankfully hadn't died at the hands of bandits this time, he still felt his simulated death was somewhat unfortunate, even more so than his previous demises caused by thieves.
[Simulation ended. You can choose to retain one of the following rewards.]
[One: Thirty-five years of combat experience.]
[Two: The "Leaving Fire Skill" Third Layer skill and insights.]
[Three: Exchange 3000 Taoyun for an ancient recipe of "Marrow-cleansing Pill."]
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone