He strode to the cliff face.
Li Changsheng took the basket off his back and forcefully pulled away the vines on the cliff, revealing a huge stone slab hidden behind them.
The slab had likely broken off from a larger boulder. Though large, it was less than three fingers thick when viewed from the side.
Li Changsheng walked to the edge of the slab, circulated his Spiritual Power to his palms, grabbed the edge, and pushed with all his might.
SCREECH...
Accompanied by a piercing scraping sound, the stone slab was slowly pushed aside, revealing a dark, three-meter-wide cave entrance.
"Phew..."
Li Changsheng dispersed the Spiritual Power in his hands and let out a light breath of relief.
He herded Big Flower and Xiaohua into the cave, shouldered his basket, rearranged the vines to cover the area, and moved the slab back to seal the entrance.
After doing all this, he didn’t linger and turned to walk deeper into the cave.
His footsteps, along with the oinks and grunts of Big Flower and Xiaohua, echoed inside the cave.
He wasn’t sure how long he had been walking when a glimmer of light appeared ahead.
’Phew, finally made it.’
Li Changsheng sighed in relief and quickened his pace.
Soon, a large cave opening appeared. He walked out and looked around.
Tall, lush trees surrounded him. The chirping of insects and the hissing of other creatures filled the air, punctuated by the occasional roar of a beast.
Li Changsheng didn’t go any further. He took off his basket, plopped down on a rock, and began to ponder the day’s events.
Seeing that he wasn’t going to keep moving, Big Flower and Xiaohua lay down, huddled together, and grunted contentedly.
「A moment later.」
Li Changsheng suddenly shot to his feet and cursed, "Fuck, what the hell is going on!"
The events of the day had left his mind in a complete muddle.
First, there was someone selling an incomplete Cultivation Technique and Magic for a single Spirit Stone. Then there was the blatant thief, followed by a brute with a long blade ready to kill him for his pigs.
From the brute’s words, he inferred there were many others like him. Heaven knows how many life-and-death struggles he would have faced if he hadn’t run.
’Aren’t they afraid of the Outer Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall?’ Li Changsheng’s expression was grim.
This was what truly confused and terrified him.
’If it was just the actions of individuals, that would be one thing. But what if the Law Enforcement Hall was condoning it?’
A chill ran down Li Changsheng’s spine.
Just then, he suddenly recalled the Cyan Yang Sect’s entrance examination.
Recalling the memory, Li Changsheng narrowed his eyes and murmured, "It was too fast... and too simple..."
In this life, he had been born into a moderately wealthy family that ran a tavern, so he had never had to worry about food or clothing.
Just as he was preparing to live a lazy, comfortable life, word suddenly spread through the city that an Immortal was recruiting disciples.
At first, he didn’t believe it. But when he saw the massive palace situated in the square before the City Lord’s Mansion, he instantly joined the line of people waiting for the examination.
The one in charge of the examination was a cold, indifferent young man in a white robe.
The test wasn’t about one’s character, nor was it about Spirit Root aptitude.
The young man simply placed a hand on Li Changsheng’s shoulder. A cold, icy energy circulated once through his body, and then he was told he had passed.
After passing, he was told to wait to the side with the others.
When night fell, they weren’t even allowed to say goodbye to their families before the palace gates slammed shut.
The indifferent young man left, and an amiable-looking old man came out.
The old man gave them a brief introduction to the Cyan Yang Sect, mainly boasting about how powerful it was, talking about things like "five branches and three peaks."
After he finished boasting, the old man’s tone shifted.
He said that the Cyan Yang Sect did not support freeloaders. As Outer Sect disciples, they had to contribute to the sect, or they would be expelled.
Contributions included things like farming, animal husbandry, identifying herbs, mining, and so on...
The old man even carefully explained the pros and cons of each choice.
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Changsheng chose animal husbandry.
Afterward, he was assigned to a windowless room where he ate, drank, slept, and relieved himself.
Half a month later, he and over a hundred others were dropped off at the Hundred Beasts Valley by the Floating Palace. An Outer Sect Steward then led them into the valley, beginning their year-long career of raising pigs.
He had never even seen the main gates of the Cyan Yang Sect.
He had only heard that the Cyan Yang Sect was located in an Immortal Mountain Blessed Land deeper in the mountain range, and only by becoming an Inner Sect Disciple could one be qualified to enter the main sect grounds.
For an Outer Sect Disciple in the Hundred Beasts Valley to be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple, not only did their cultivation have to reach the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, but they also had to be proficient in animal husbandry.
They had to be proficient in at least three types of Magic that aided in husbandry.
A year had passed, and Li Changsheng had never heard of anyone being promoted to Inner Sect Disciple.
"Hundred Beasts Valley... a hundred beasts..."
Li Changsheng murmured a few words, then closed his eyes, activated his Spirit Guiding Technique, and sank into his cultivation.
「Time slowly passed.」
The sun began to rise, its brilliant rays shining into the cave.
On a smooth stone, Li Changsheng was breathing deeply and rhythmically.
POP...
A soft sound echoed in Li Changsheng’s ears. The circulation speed of the Spirit Guiding Technique within him suddenly increased by thirty percent. The free-roaming Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was continuously drawn into his body and instantly refined.
「An hour later.」
Li Changsheng opened his eyes, a gentle luster flashing through them.
’My Spirit Guiding Technique broke through, and it brought my cultivation along with it, smoothly breaking through to the second level of Qi Cultivation.’
Li Changsheng felt the Spiritual Power in his body double, and a look of joy spread across his face.
’And with the Spirit Guiding Technique breaking through to the third level, not only has its circulation speed increased by thirty percent, but the range for drawing in Spiritual Qi has also extended from one meter to one-and-a-half meters, and the refining speed is also thirty percent faster.’
He could foresee that his cultivation speed would be much faster from now on.
Li Changsheng focused his gaze on himself.
[Target: Li Changsheng]
[Race: Human]
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation, Second Level (1%)]
[Cultivation Technique: Spirit Guiding Technique, Third Level (Not upgradeable). Trait: Spirit Recovery]
[Magic: Insect Seal (Incomplete) "Beginner 1%", Water Purification Technique "Beginner 71%", Fattening Technique "Beginner 83%"]
[Status: Healthy.]
Li Changsheng frowned when he saw "Not upgradeable" after the Spirit Guiding Technique, then his gaze fell on the "Spirit Recovery" trait.
[Spirit Recovery: Doubles the recovery speed of Spiritual Power.]
’Spirit Recovery is a pleasant surprise, but it’s a shame the Spirit Guiding Technique can’t be upgraded further.’
’And I need a new Cultivation Technique...’
Amidst his joy, Li Changsheng also felt a headache coming on.
The cheapest Cultivation Technique in the Scripture Tower cost at least one hundred Spirit Stones. Clearly, he wouldn’t be able to afford one anytime soon.
’Oh well, the Spirit Guiding Technique is enough for me for now.’
After thinking for a while without coming up with a solution, Li Changsheng decided to stop worrying about it. He took out last night’s spoils and opened the bundle.
Inside the bundle, besides thirteen crystal-clear Spirit Stones, there were three bright yellow talismans and a jade vial.
The talismans were a Mind Confusion Talisman, a Rejuvenation Talisman, and a Fireball Talisman.
Inside the jade vial were three yellow jade-colored Elixir Pills. He didn’t recognize them and didn’t dare to consume them rashly.
’What a poor bastard.’
Li Changsheng cursed inwardly. ’When you go out robbing people, why not bring all your valuables with you!’
He put away his spoils and got up, walking over to the basket.
The piglets in the basket had woken up long ago and were now lined up, suckling.
Tucked upright in the basket was a long blade wrapped in leather—the very one the brute had used last night.
Li Changsheng reached for it and slowly drew the blade.
The body of the blade was as bright as snow, its surface polished enough to reflect his image. The edge glinted with a sharp light.