บท 21: Chapter 21 The Choice of Cultivation Technique
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Thump thump!
The door of the Cave Mansion was knocked.
Wang Chen, who sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, came to his senses and hurriedly got up to open the cave door.
"Bing Fifty-Six Hours have passed."
The person standing at the doorway was none other than the Cave Mansion Executor, who, with his nostrils flared, said to Wang Chen, "You can leave now."
Wang Chen frowned, "Elder, I entered the cave at 13 p.m."
He clearly remembered that it was two days ago when he checked into the Cave Mansion right at 13 p.m.
And now it was just 11 a.m.
He was short by two whole hours!
"If you're told to leave, then leave, why the pointless talk!"
The Cave Mansion Executor glared with eyes wide, his attitude was extremely overbearing, "Don't we need time to clean and clear the place out?"
Wang Chen glanced at the Cave Mansion, which was only a few square meters in size and, apart from a meditation cushion, had nothing else.
He then looked at the Cave Mansion Executor who seemed to think that his behavior was perfectly justified.
And then he left.
Wang Chen didn't get angry, nor did he argue with the other party based on reason.
The source of all human suffering fundamentally stems from anger at one's own impotence.
As Wang Chen was now, he had no power to quarrel with an Executor.
So why bring disgrace upon oneself?
But he remembered what the man looked like!
"Hmph!"
The Cave Mansion Executor sneered contemptuously.
Bullying the likes of Wang Chen, a low-level little cultivator, was something he was adept at and which he found utterly effortless.
The single hour he had just nipped from Wang Chen would bring him an extra piece of Low Spirit income.
A piece of Low Spirit was little.
But over the years, it added up to a considerable amount!
The Cave Mansion Executor wasn't afraid of Wang Chen complaining. He had connections above; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten this cushy job.
Meanwhile, Wang Chen, who had left the Cave Mansion, was hurrying towards the Outer Sect Main Hall.
Speaking of the experience of cultivating within the Cave Mansion, it was truly too comfortable.
In just half a day, he had broken through the bottleneck and advanced to the fourth tier of Qi Cultivation, then spent another day and a half stabilizing his realm.
The efficiency of his cultivation was many times better than at his own home.
Thinking about those born into families of Purple Mansion Superiors or even Golden Core True Persons, who had been cultivating in such an environment from a young age, their starting point was unknowably many times higher than that of ordinary people.
Even a pig would have become a demon if it was put in such conditions!
But Wang Chen didn't resent the heavens or other people because of this.
He had the experience of being human for two lifetimes, and with the help of the Immortal Cultivation panel, his future achievements would certainly not be lower than any prodigy.
Just wait and see!
The Outer Sect Main Hall of the Cloud Sun Sect was located at the center of Cloud Mountain City.
A city within the city.
Under the Main Hall were the Combat Hall, Punishment Hall, Dharma Transmission Hall, Merit Affairs Hall, Pill Hall, Artifact Hall, Spirit Planting Hall...
Various Hall Masters, Elders, Overseers, Executors, and Disciples collectively managed the affairs of the Outer Sect.
Many low-level cultivators' greatest dream was to blend into one of these divisions.
To enjoy the sect's more and better welfare benefits.
As well as certain privileges.
Wang Chen arrived at the Dharma Transmission Hall.
He patiently waited in line for half a two-hour period before he could enter the Scripture Pavilion.
"Thank you for your troubles, Elder."
Wang Chen respectfully presented his Identity Plaque to the Dharma Transmission Elder seated in the Scripture Pavilion.
Within this Black Iron Plaque, which represented the identity of Outer Sect Disciples, were sealed the one hundred Merit Points that the original owner had painstakingly accumulated over five years.
Merit Points were contributions to the sect, obtained by completing various tasks issued by the Merit Affairs Hall.
Or they could come from rewards given by the sect.
And the original owner never touched a single point of these contributions.
It was all meant for exchanging for a new Cultivation Technique suitable to himself, after making a breakthrough to the middle tier of Qi Cultivation.
Wang Chen was fulfilling a wish for the original owner.
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"Hmm."
The white-haired Dharma Transmission Elder took the identity plaque, carelessly extending a finger and lightly stroking its surface.
He asked, "What cultivation technique do you wish to exchange for?"
Wang Chen bowed and said, "Elder, please help this disciple test his Root Bone."
He also handed over the ten Spirit Stones he had prepared earlier.
"Hmm."
The Dharma Transmission Elder waved his sleeve, and the Spirit Stones in Wang Chen's hand instantly disappeared without a trace.
The next moment, a dry finger jabbed into his brow.
Wang Chen immediately felt a powerful breath penetrate through his third eye, swiftly coursing through his entire body.
The Dharma Transmission Elder quickly withdrew his finger and said expressionlessly, "Root Bone low, with Fire as the master and Metal, Wood, Water, and Earth as subjects."
A Root Bone complete with all five elements is the foundation for entering the Tao, and Root Bone quality varies in rank.
Wang Chen's Root Bone attribute was only 3 points, so receiving a low rating was entirely within expectations.
The critical matter was the strength difference among the five elements.
After the Dharma Transmission Elder tested Wang Chen's Root Bone and found it leaned toward a particular aspect, he then knew which cultivation technique he should choose.
Wang Chen immediately spoke up, "Elder, please recommend a Fire Aspect primary cultivation technique for me."
"Fire Aspect cultivation techniques, huh…"
The Dharma Transmission Elder showed a smile that was not quite a smile, "You have only a hundred Merit Points; the only choice you have is the Raging Flame Skill. To want a better technique, you'd need at least over two hundred Merit Points."
Raging Flame Skill?
Wang Chen was indeed aware of this technique.
He was very disappointed— the Raging Flame Skill was hardly stronger than the Five Elements Skill!
Keep in mind; Wang Chen was choosing a primary cultivation technique, one he'd have to practice until reaching the higher tiers of Qi Cultivation.
If the primary technique was too mediocre,
Not to mention being a tier behind others in the same cultivation level, his future chances of a successful Breaking Threshold Mansion breakthrough would also be much lower.
Wang Chen wasn't very worried about Breaking Thresholds, but practicing a subpar technique was genuinely disheartening.
His Root Bone and Comprehension were both very low.
Perhaps wait to accumulate more Merit Points before exchanging?
"Actually, you have another option."
Just as Wang Chen was hesitating, the Dharma Transmission Elder spoke up, "Your five elements are quite balanced, with a limited emphasis on Fire. If you're willing to be a steady Spiritual Plant Farmer, continuing to practice the Five Elements Skill is also a good choice."
"A hundred Merit Points can be exchanged for the remaining six tiers of the Five Elements Skill."
Wang Chen was speechless.
The Dharma Transmission Elder was putting it tactfully, but the meaning was clear.
Wang Chen's deficient Root Bone and mediocre elemental affinity certainly didn't bode well for his future.
Therefore, the Five Elements Skill, which nobody wanted to cultivate, was actually very suitable for him.
Because the Five Elements Skill is compatible with nearly all low-level spells, it matches very well with a Spiritual Plant Farmer.
Seeing Wang Chen silent, the Dharma Transmission Elder became a bit impatient, "Young man, don't aim too high and miss the chance. The origins of the Five Elements Skill are not simple; it's much stronger than the Raging Flame Skill. Will you exchange or not?"
"I'll exchange!"
Wang Chen gritted his teeth and agreed.
The Five Elements Skill it was, then!
He had the advantage of the Immortal Cultivation panel's cheats, an exceedingly fast technique cultivation speed, and he could rely on Heavenly Merit and Human Virtue to make a breakthrough and change his fate.
Breaking Threshold Mansion was not a dream.
When the time came, with enough accumulated Merit Points, he could still exchange for a high-tier primary cultivation technique.
Although the Five Elements Skill was mediocre, its compatibility was unmatched.
"Hurry up, then."
The Dharma Transmission Elder reached out, grabbed a Jade Slip, and threw it to Wang Chen.
According to the rules of Dharma Transmission Hall, the Jade Slip of the exchanged technique could not be taken away by sect disciples and could only be studied on the spot.
Wang Chen took the cultivation technique Jade Slip and pressed it against his brow.
Then, he injected mana.
The Jade Slip immediately radiated thousands of beams of light as a flood of information poured into Wang Chen's Sea of Consciousness.
In an instant, the secrets of the Five Elements Skill from tiers four to nine were silently branded into his Divine Soul!
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The first update is here.
PS: Some have asked about reserve chapters. Actually, there are none, because this is my first time writing a Xianxia novel, and I'm not sure if everyone will like this story. If it is well-received and performs well, there will definitely be some chapters saved up before going on sale.
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