Time? Resources? Don't Need!

Shangguan Liuyun pushed the manual in front of Li Yan. Just as Li Yan reached out to take it, Shangguan Liuyun raised a hand and held it down.

Meeting Li Yan's puzzled gaze, Shangguan Liuyun calmly said, "Brother Wan, don't be hasty. Before you look through it, there are some things I need to make clear first."

At the side, Shangguan Feiyun also spoke. "Brother Wan, don't rush. There are indeed some matters that need to be explained clearly beforehand."

Hearing this, Li Yan glanced at the Cultivation Method on the table again. Clearly, there was likely something wrong with it.

Shangguan Liuyun then began explaining the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art.

The so-called Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art had been created anew by an ancestor of the Shangguan Family based on a fragmentary art he had obtained by chance. This Cultivation Method had an extremely high ceiling, and it was precisely because of it that the Shangguan Family had earned its current standing in the martial world.

However, this Cultivation Method had a tremendous flaw—those two words, "cultivation" and "nurturing."

Flower cultivation and leaf nurturing was like growing flowers. From selecting the soil and seeds to choosing the proper ground, every step required immense care and effort.

This meant it was a Cultivation Method that was bitter first and sweet later.

According to Shangguan Liuyun, this Martial Arts required tireless cultivation day and night, year after year. Not only did it take far longer to cultivate than other methods, but there was also little improvement before reaching a breakthrough threshold.

Yet correspondingly, once one's realm advanced, the gains would be immense.

First, the increase in the amount of True Qi far surpassed that of other Cultivation Methods, and the quality of the True Qi was even more refined and pure.

"Brother Wan, though the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art is the Shangguan Family's signature Cultivation Method, its cultivation drawbacks mean we will not cling to an old broom and treasure it as our own. If you can accept those drawbacks, then this Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art is yours."

"Of course, if you cannot accept them, the Shangguan Family also has several Cultivation Methods collected from other martial-world forces. Though they cannot compare to Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing, they are still quite decent overall."

After hearing the explanation, Li Yan was instead rather surprised. He had thought they would put every possible obstacle in the way of this deal, yet he had not expected them to lay everything out so clearly.

"No need. Is Elder Brother Shangguan looking down on me too much?" Li Yan said with a smile as he met their puzzled gazes. "If I'm choosing, I'll choose the best. Why would anyone throw away a watermelon to pick up sesame seeds?"

As he spoke, Li Yan took the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art manual and began reading it on the spot.

When he opened the first page, the opening preface came into view.

"Martial arts are like planting; heaven and earth are the garden."

"Time is the blade that cleaves the heavenly cage."

Good grief, what grand words. This was only a martial arts world, and it was already talking about cleaving the heavenly cage...

But Li Yan soon could not smile anymore. After skimming through it, he confirmed one thing: this Martial Arts not only required time, but also consumed resources!

Naturally. Only through the accumulation of time and resources could one reap enormous gains during breakthroughs.

After Li Yan finished reading the entire manual, something suddenly stirred within him.

Cultivation Method: Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art, Unlearned (0/1000)

Seeing the points required on the panel, Li Yan could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

Good grief. It truly was worthy of being a Cultivation Method built up with both time and resources—but just learning it required a thousand points.

Yet when he thought of the benefits this Cultivation Method could bring, Li Yan let out a long sigh, though a smile appeared on his face.

This kind of Cultivation Method suited him perfectly. Time? Resources? All he needed was enough Experience Points!

"Brother Wan, this Cultivation Method is indeed vast and profound, and it will take no small amount of effort. If you..."

"No need!"

Knowing what the other man wanted to say, Li Yan raised a hand to interrupt him. "The Shangguan Family keeps its word, so naturally I must prove worthy of the Shangguan Family's bold spirit."

"As long as none of you worry that one day, relying on this Cultivation Method, I will rise later yet surpass you and overshadow the Shangguan Family's prestige."

"Hahahaha! You really dare to talk, kid. If that day truly comes, my Elder Brother will probably be the first to jump out and wave the banner for you!" Shangguan Feiyun laughed loudly.

Only those who had personally cultivated this Martial Arts knew just how arduous it was. The Shangguan Family could already be considered wealthy and powerful, yet even after pouring out all its resources, it could barely support the two brothers' cultivation of this method.

Li Yan was alone and had no force to rely on. Cultivating this Cultivation Method on his own would be fraught with a thousand difficulties and ten thousand hardships. But since he had already chosen it, there was no need for them to play the villain for nothing.

"Alright. Brother Wan, stay here and rest easy for now. If you have any questions about cultivation, ask me or my second brother at any time. I still have matters to deal with, so I'll take my leave."

Shangguan Liuyun left his seat. Shangguan Xiyun had been about to ask Li Yan to accompany her around Dongjiang City, but Li Yan first said that he wished to return to his room and study the Cultivation Method.

Watching Li Yan's departing back, Shangguan Xiyun secretly bit her red lip.

At the side, Shangguan Feiyun teased, "What, has the Shangguan Family's Third Miss taken a fancy to someone?"

With that single remark, Shangguan Xiyun's face instantly flushed scarlet. "Stinking Second Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Serves you right for getting beaten into a pig's head! Hmph!"

"Hey! You little brat, do you have any conscience? Why do you think I got beaten up?"

After returning to his room, Li Yan immediately opened the Attribute Panel.

Name: Li Yan
Realm: Ninth Level of Body Tempering
Strength: 110.9
Speed: 103
Physique: 111.6
Spirit: 27
True Qi: 0.1
Martial Arts: Hundred Beasts Marrow Quenching Scripture, Fifth Level (123/1600); Hundred Battles Saber, Peak Mastery (0/1200); Falling Star Spear Fragment, Unlearned (Completion/1000); Tearing Wind Claws, Unlearned (0/100); Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art, Unlearned (0/1000)
Remaining Experience Points: 2045

He still had over two thousand Experience Points on hand, enough to learn this Cultivation Method. But if he wanted to continue improving it, he was still far, far short.

It seemed he would not be able to stay with the Shangguan Family much longer. After all, if he holed up in the Shangguan Family, no one would come deliver Experience Points to him.

"System, learn the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art."

1000 Experience Points consumed. Congratulations, you have learned the First Level of the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art.

In an instant, a warm current surged forth from Li Yan's dantian, spreading through the meridians of his entire body like a thread.

As the warm current flowed, the blood and qi throughout Li Yan's body moved with it, continuously refining themselves along its path before finally transforming into strands of True Qi that strengthened the initial current.

In the blink of an eye, the strengthened True Qi settled into the major acupoints throughout his body and slowly took root within them.

Only after a long while, when the True Qi had fully taken root, did Li Yan finally let out a weary breath.

No wonder this Martial Arts consumed several times the resources of ordinary methods. Who the hell planted several dantians inside their body?

Even his Body Tempering level, far beyond the norm, had nearly failed to withstand it!

At this moment, atop the guest room roof, Shangguan Feiyun's expression shifted unpredictably. The changes in the aura inside the room could not escape the observation of a Meridian Opening Realm cultivator like him.

Back when he had first cultivated the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art, Shangguan Liuyun had prepared several bottles of Qi Replenishing Pills at the side, ready at all times to replenish him when he ran out of steam.

Today, he too had been prepared, intending to lend a hand when the boy's natural foundation proved insufficient and thereby earn him a favor.

Yet unexpectedly, the boy had actually relied on the strength of his physical body, blood, and qi to force his way through the first—and hardest—stage of this Cultivation Method!

"Tsk. Comparing people really makes people want to die."

The moment his words fell, an explosive boom suddenly sounded in the distance, and two figures shot into the sky.

"Something's wrong! Something happened!"