Ling Xiaoyue had chosen a location for the Xuanji Sect within Jingnan State, specifically in the northern Jing Chu Territory, which required over a month's travel to reach.
Regarding the name of the sect, as the founding ancestor, Ling Xiaoyue had the duty to name it, but her talent in naming was rather poor, merely cycling through names like 'Invincible Under Heaven', 'Only I Am Awesome', and 'You Are All Trash', fearing that speaking such names aloud might get her beaten up.
Fang Zhou rejected all the names she came up with, as he didn't want to bear a title such as Sect of Invincibility or Awesome Sect in the future, as it would make him look foolish.
Ling Xiaoyue wanted to use her authority as master to forcibly decide the sect's name, but Fang Zhou threatened to disband the group, and thus the matter of naming was put on hold, to be revisited and developed together in the future.
Ling Xiaoyue might seem unreliable, but she was quite diligent, quickly teaching Fang Zhou a Qi Refining Technique called New Moon Qi.
The principle of cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm is simple; spiritual energy is pervasive in this world, merely in varying concentrations in different areas.
When people breathe, they inhale air along with spiritual energy, but it is exhaled immediately; the human body cannot retain spiritual energy on its own, and thus methods must be devised to keep it within.
The role of a Qi Refining Technique is to extract spiritual energy from the air and retain it within the body, nurturing the body day and night, and even using it to assist in combat.
Fang Zhou had learned from Li Ruyu that within the same category of techniques, there are superior and inferior ones; for instance, Qi Refining Techniques that are casually circulated in the world are considered inferior, full of flaws.
Whereas more complete techniques are extremely valuable in the eyes of ordinary people, they are seen as substandard by Cultivation Sects and not worth a second glance.
Cultivation Sects typically teach lower-grade techniques to their ordinary disciples, which some families would treasure as heirlooms.
The core force of a sect usually cultivates higher-grade techniques, and if one becomes a disciple of the Sect Master or an elder, they might be granted a true inherited technique.
Of course, different sects have different foundations; in some major sects, what is considered low-grade might be treated as top-grade in smaller sects.
Different quality techniques yield significantly different benefits during cultivation, with more advanced techniques offering wider disparities in benefits.
When Ling Xiaoyue transmitted the New Moon Qi to Fang Zhou, he couldn't tell its quality, but with cultivation techniques, one usually looks at the foundation or encounters exceptional luck; in these aspects, Fang Zhou didn't hold much hope for Ling Xiaoyue.
"Hey, this New Moon Qi you gave me, it wouldn't happen to just be some generic mass-produced item you bought and renamed as your own, would it?"
Seeing Fang Zhou doubt her like this, Ling Xiaoyue, uncharacteristically upset, picked up a wine jug and knocked it on his head.
"My foolish disciple, you know nothing. This New Moon Qi is a Divine Skill bestowed from heaven, unique in the entire cultivation world. If word gets out, it might cause a storm of blood and violence throughout the cultivation world. Your master isn't selfishly keeping it; I gave it to you as soon as you started. Tell me, aren't you touched?"
"Just keep bragging."
"So, are you going to practice it or not? If not, give it back."
"I will practice!"
There's no harm in practicing, and Fang Zhou didn't have much choice.
...
Deep into the night, a bright moon hung high, with the stars all hidden.
Fang Zhou sat cross-legged on a large rock at the mountain peak, bathed in moonlight, his eyes tightly closed, ears only picking up the rustling of the wind and the chirping of insects in the grass.
Ling Xiaoyue lay on another rock not far away, enjoying the beautiful moonlit scenery, occasionally taking a sip of wine.
Tonight was Fang Zhou's first night practicing New Moon Qi, which was more effective and had a higher success rate under the moonlight, thus he chose to do his first session at night.
"This is a free bonus, listen well."
Ling Xiaoyue only taught him some techniques for cultivation, then left him to his own devices.
Fang Zhou fumbled on his own, feeling quite nervous.
The first barrier in beginner cultivation is to extract the first strand ofAppropriately controlled, the various sounds in his ears had disappeared, and his mind was clear and bright. from the inhaled air.
Many men fail at this barrier, seemingly unable to sense the presence of spiritual energy or refine it.
Having never cultivated before, Fang Zhou didn't know if he would be successful or not.
Following the breathing methods recorded in New Moon Qi, Fang Zhou quickly adjusted his breathing, heartbeat, and mind, entering a very subtle state.
He slowly inhaled; the air traveled through his nostrils into his lungs, which trembled imperceptibly in novel ways, like a starving person greedily swallowing this inflowing air and rapidly expelling the waste gases.
Fang Zhou's breaths grew faster, and around his body, the moonlight formed hazy specks of light that floated around him and were absorbed into his body.
The various insects and nocturnal creatures on the mountaintop seemed drawn by the moonlight, growing restlessly agitated.
Ling Xiaoyue, who had been lying on the rock, suddenly sat up, stunned by the scene.
"Triggering the Moonlight on your first cultivation session?"
She stood up from the rock, her hair tips and long robe fluttering in the wind, an awe-inspiring aura bursting forth from her like a tsunami sweeping across.
The rustling insects and creatures in the forest bushes fell silent, and the whole mountaintop became as tranquil as water.
Completely absorbed in his cultivation, Fang Zhou was oblivious to the outside world.
As the moon set and stars dimmed, and the east began to lighten.
Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long, turbid breath.
He checked himself and immediately showed a surprised expression.
Cultivation was actually successful; he had refined Spiritual Energy inside his body, not just a strand but a cluster, gathered in the Dantian.
Following the guidance of New Moon Qi, Fang Zhou manipulated this cluster of Spiritual Energy to wander throughout his body, circulating and dispelling the fatigue from a night of cultivation.
As long as he kept circulating it constantly, it would nourish his physique and eventually transform him, transcending the mundane.
However, after one complete circulation, the cluster of Spiritual Energy visibly shrank, necessitating continued cultivation to replenish it.
A sound came from beside him, Fang Zhou turned his head and saw Ling Xiaoyue standing next to him.
"I've successfully made entry-level progress."
Fang Zhou smiled, remembering that protagonist-like Xiao Yan from his childhood in Wu City - a once-in-a-century genius who also took two whole days to refine his first strand of Spiritual Energy.
Could I also be a genius? Otherwise, why would Xuanji Sect and Ling Xiaoyue compete to take me as a disciple?
Seeing Fang Zhou's overjoyed expression, Ling Xiaoyue's lips slightly curled up: "That's because I teach well; I have the knack of turning stones into gold, turning dunces into geniuses under my guidance."
Fang Zhou gave her a sidelong glance, feeling that her shamelessness was even stronger.
Ling Xiaoyue picked up the wine pot and lightly tapped it on Fang Zhou's head: "Do you think you're amazing because you made entry-level progress in one night?"
Fang Zhou felt unconvinced: "Otherwise?"
Ling Xiaoyue crossed her hands, asking: "Guess how long it took for your master to make entry-level progress when I first started cultivating?"
She held up a finger: "Here's a hint."
Fang Zhou frowned: "One day?"
Ling Xiaoyue threw back her head and laughed loudly, hands on her hips: "You really underestimate your master. It was one hour, I made entry-level progress in one hour, while you spent a whole night. So who gave you the courage to be complacent in front of your master?"
Fang Zhou's pride vanished in an instant, okay, you're more impressive.
He opened the system to check his current attributes.
Name: Fang Zhou
Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level)
Cultivation Technique: New Moon Qi
Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai's Left Hand
Strength: 2
Speed: 5
Body: 3
Spirit: 2
Manliness: 0
After starting cultivation, he should be able to enhance his physical attributes, but he had only been cultivating for one night, so there were no effects yet.
Just then, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder: "Disciple, there's something I must tell you. Although our sect's cultivation technique is a Divine Skill, there is a flaw I need to mention beforehand to prevent you from finding out later and not accepting it."
Fang Zhou frowned: "A flaw, what flaw?"
Her expression and tone seemed slightly awkward, making it apparent she was somewhat embarrassed.
This surprised Fang Zhou, the female rogue who usually had remarkably thick skin, now having a moment of embarrassment—how severe must this flaw be?!
Amidst Fang Zhou's anxiousness, Ling Xiaoyue leaned closer, whispering: "The flaw is... after cultivating, you will lose hair."
"I, what the... why didn't you say so sooner... wait, what did you say?"
Fang Zhou looked at her in shock, goddamn losing hair, does that mean I will also become bald in the future?
No way, one bald guy is enough, I don't want to be a bald superhero... Wait!!
Fang Zhou looked at Ling Xiaoyue's ponytailed long hair, if it causes hair loss then how could she still have such long hair, could it be a wig?
Fang Zhou instinctively reached out to pull on Ling Xiaoyue's ponytail
Ling Xiaoyue slapped his hand away: "No need to check, this is real hair. You won't become bald in the future."
Fang Zhou puzzledly said: "Then why did you say it causes hair loss?"
"Yes."
The air suddenly quieted down.
The two silently looked at each other.
Ling Xiaoyue: (•‾̑⌣‾̑•)✧
Fang Zhou: (눈_눈)