New Cultivation

Xu Chunniang curled her lip, not taking Zhang Donglai's words too seriously.

Within the sect, could he really lay hands on her directly?

The Carefree Sect's rules were no mere decoration. If he dared attack a low-ranking disciple, his own cultivation would be destroyed for violating sect rules!

Bound by the sect rules, Zhang Donglai could not act directly and could only pull a few tricks through Contribution Missions. But she had already decided not to accept missions from him, so she had nothing to fear.

Xu Chunniang thought this blandly, cast aside her grudge with Zhang Donglai, and strode out of the Affairs Hall toward the Merit Pavilion.

Xu Chunniang had not forgotten her task for the day. She wanted to choose a movement technique.

There were quite a few people in the Merit Pavilion today. All sorts of techniques had appeared one after another during yesterday's demonstrations, and these new disciples had just received their spirit stones. Plenty had come to select techniques.

After learning that the Merit Pavilion's steward was a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator, the normally quiet pavilion became even more solemn. Though there were many people, not one dared make a clamor, fearing they might anger this Foundation Establishment steward.

Even those who recognized Xu Chunniang, this "celebrity," did not dare mock her aloud.

Xu Chunniang was happy for the peace and quiet. She headed straight for the movement techniques and began looking through them.

Yet after yesterday's demonstrations, Light Body Technique had become a popular technique as well. Someone had already selected it and taken it to be copied, while many others stood in line waiting.

Xu Chunniang had some time to spare, so she simply looked through the other movement techniques. It was not as though she absolutely had to choose Light Body Technique; anything that could improve her speed and agility would do.

Suddenly, a footwork technique called "Spirit Void Steps" caught Xu Chunniang's eye.

Movement techniques and footwork techniques had somewhat similar effects. One worked on the entire body, while the latter worked on the legs, but both could enhance agility and speed. However, movement techniques were easier to grasp, while footwork techniques were somewhat more difficult.

"Spirit Void Steps: an attribute-free technique. Channel spiritual energy into the legs to make them more agile; step as though treading on emptiness, graceful as a startled swan."

Xu Chunniang's heart stirred. She had watched the Light Body Technique demonstration many times yesterday and naturally remembered that it filled the entire body with spiritual energy, making the body lighter. Once the body became lighter, one's movements naturally became far more nimble.

Spirit Void Steps, meanwhile, directly infused spiritual energy into the legs to increase speed.

Why not choose Spirit Void Steps? Xu Chunniang considered it. Light Body Technique required spiritual energy to fill her entire body, whereas Spirit Void Steps only required it in her legs. In terms of spiritual energy consumption, Spirit Void Steps would certainly use less.

Moreover, many people had already chosen Light Body Technique, and only more would choose it in the future. Those who mastered it would also find its flaws more easily. From that perspective, Light Body Technique held no advantage.

Having made up her mind, Xu Chunniang stopped waiting for Light Body Technique and directly picked up Spirit Void Steps to have it copied.

This time, she only intended to select this one technique. After all, she already had Spirit Blast Technique for offense and did not lack attack techniques for the time being.

After standing in line at the copying station for the time it took an incense stick to burn, Xu Chunniang placed the technique in her hand on the table and laid out five large spirit stones.

Steward Mu lowered her eyes for a brief glance, not expecting to meet this little girl again so soon.

She collected the spirit stones, took out a new Jade Slip, and began copying. Before long, the technique had been copied.

"Thank you."

Xu Chunniang thanked her politely, took the Jade Slip, and turned to leave, only to hear a voice transmission at her ear. "You have cultivated the Hidden Spirit Art quite well."

If Mu Rong had not been a Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of seeing through the little girl's true cultivation at a glance, she might well have been deceived by the Hidden Spirit Art on her body.

Xu Chunniang paused slightly. She was not surprised in the least that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had seen through her true cultivation. After all, the Hidden Spirit Art clearly stated that it was ineffective against cultivators of higher realms and could only fool cultivators of the same realm.

Xu Chunniang turned back and blinked. "Please keep it secret for me, Uncle-Master."

Mu Rong's lips curled faintly. This little girl was not afraid of her. She did not know whether the girl was bold or simply big-hearted. Still, as a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, she naturally would not stoop to bicker with a mere Qi Condensation cultivator.

A few sharp-eyed people recognized that the one speaking with the Foundation Establishment Uncle-Master was none other than Xu Chunniang, who had "stolen the limelight" yesterday. But they did not dare act recklessly in the Merit Pavilion and could only watch helplessly as Xu Chunniang left.

After leaving the Merit Pavilion, Xu Chunniang went to the Dining Hall.

There were no fewer new disciples in the Dining Hall than in the Affairs Hall or Merit Pavilion. Long queues had even formed inside the hall, which had once been deserted.

Steward Zhao was kept busy, continuously taking Grain Abstinence Pills from his Storage Bag, yet the line showed no sign of shrinking. Everyone's Grain Abstinence Pills had run out.

Xu Chunniang shook her head. She had originally thought she could return early and cultivate for a while, but it seemed she could forget about that now.

As usual, her appearance drew everyone's ridicule. Xu Chunniang had truly become famous yesterday, though not for anything flattering.

Xu Chunniang ignored them as usual.

She did not even understand what they were laughing about. Her casting of techniques had been practically flawless, she had earned outstanding results, and the second level Qi Condensation cultivation she displayed was certainly not low.

Rather than spending their time cultivating, these people spent all day wagging their tongues here. No wonder so many of them were still stuck at the first level Qi Condensation.

As this batch of new disciples increased their cultivation, the number of Grain Abstinence Pills they could collect at once rose from two bottles to three.

When it was Xu Chunniang's turn, she collected three bottles without the slightest hesitation. If she had been allowed to collect more, she would even have wanted to collect her entire year's allotment. After all, every trip to collect Grain Abstinence Pills cost several hours.

By the time she returned to her residence, night had already fallen.

Xu Chunniang did not cultivate. Instead, she began drafting a cultivation plan for the new year. She liked the feeling of making a plan, carrying it out step by step, and completing it.

Xu Chunniang was currently at the peak of the second level Qi Condensation, not far from the third level Qi Condensation.

With Spiritual Dew in hand, she believed she would break through before long.

As for techniques, apart from the Spring Growth Technique, Spiritual Rain Technique, and Hidden Spirit Art that she had already mastered, she still had Earth Moistening Technique and Spirit Void Steps left to learn.

I should raise my cultivation first. Once my cultivation improves, my physical constitution will strengthen. Practicing techniques after reaching the third level Qi Condensation will let me bring out their effects better. And once I break through, the cultivation of Hidden Spirit Art can enter its next stage as well.

After settling her plan, Xu Chunniang unusually went to bed early. Keeping herself in good mental condition would, in the end, do more good than harm to her cultivation.

At the hour of the tiger the next day, the cave was still shrouded in dimness when Xu Chunniang woke.

Having lived in the cave for a year, she had long grown accustomed to such an environment. Moreover, ever since reaching the first level Qi Condensation, she had been able to see in the dark. Darkness did not affect her at all.

Xu Chunniang sat cross-legged, preparing to condense Spiritual Dew.

Though she still had some Spiritual Dew left in her Storage Bag, after so many days, part of its spiritual energy had begun to dissipate. She did not intend to use that for this breakthrough.

As she repeatedly cast the highly practiced Spiritual Dew Technique, drops of Spiritual Dew fell in an endless stream into the white jade bottle she had prepared beforehand.

As her cultivation increased, the time Xu Chunniang needed to fill a bottle of Spiritual Dew had shortened from two days to a little over half a day.

In only two days, she collected three bottles of Spiritual Dew.

After collecting three bottles of Spiritual Dew, Xu Chunniang began adjusting her condition. Only when both her body and mind had reached their peak did she gulp down the Spiritual Dew and attempt to break through her cultivation.

Xu Chunniang continuously circulated the Carefree Art, absorbing the spiritual energy brought by the Spiritual Dew within her body and guiding it into her dantian...