Free Cultivation Method

"The Scripture Repository holds thirty-three thousand cultivation arts and secret techniques.

Of those, twenty-nine thousand are Mortal Grade, and four thousand are Spirit Grade.

The remaining ninety-nine Mystic Grade techniques are kept on the fourth and fifth floors. Only the top hundred outer sect disciples are qualified to cultivate them, and naturally, they aren't cheap—each costs thousands of spirit stones at the slightest.

And they're all incomplete, containing only a small portion of the full content.

As for the even more powerful Dao Grade techniques, I've only heard of them and never seen one. They say only inner sect disciples have a chance to come into contact with them."

Zhang Ming led the way ahead. Seeing that Su Hao was a complete novice who knew nothing at all about the Scripture Repository, he launched into an endless introduction.

Cultivation arts and secret techniques were divided into ranks.

Mortal, Spirit, Mystic, and Dao.

A Mortal Grade cultivation art could only be cultivated up to Foundation Establishment, and that was the end of the road.

Spirit, Mystic, and Dao Grade manuals, on the other hand, were increasingly profound and powerful.

In the outer sect's Scripture Repository, aside from the complete Mortal and Spirit Grade cultivation arts, Mystic Grade cultivation arts were all sold in pieces. Without strength or spirit stones, one could forget about them!

"You're very fortunate to have taken a Master—and an alchemist at that.

Your circumstances in the outer sect are far better than those of most disciples.

When countless disciples first enter the sect, all they receive are the Qi Refining Art from the first three floors and inferior Pure Qi Pills. After that, they have to fend for themselves and find ways to earn spirit stones through the channels provided by the sect."

Zhang Ming sighed with emotion, thinking of his forty or fifty years as a cultivator—surviving nine deaths for every life, only to painstakingly claw his way to the position of Scripture Repository steward.

His potential had already run dry. If he wanted to advance any further, he would have to rely on fate and opportunity.

"Alas." Su Hao revealed a bitter smile. Only he himself knew that once Lin Zhi Shan emerged from seclusion, death would be breathing down his neck.

For now, if he wanted to obtain the Breath Concealment Technique, he could only rely on Lin Zhi Shan's name.

"Alchemists are few and far between in the cultivation world.

Looking across our outer sect's past few decades, there have only been a handful of alchemists. Your Master is the most skilled among them, and even the outer sect elders hold him in high regard.

There are rumors that once he reaches Qi Refining Level 10, he'll be able to enter the inner sect for further study.

Once he enters the inner sect, you'll be able to inherit his mantle and become a respected alchemist of our outer sect."

Zhang Ming continued talking to himself, his face full of envy.

Seeing that Su Hao did not pick up the thread of conversation, he changed the subject. "I wonder what kind of cultivation art Junior Brother Su is looking for?"

"Is there anything that seems low-ranked, but whose actual power runs close on the heels of Mystic or Dao Grade techniques?"

Su Hao raised an eyebrow.

"Hahahaha..." Zhang Ming burst into laughter.

"Looks like my thinking was too naive." Su Hao sighed.

"No, no. It's just that this question is exactly the same as the one I asked back then. Over the years, more than ninety percent of disciples have asked something similar."

"There isn't such a cultivation art?"

"There is!" Zhang Ming stopped laughing and quickened his pace after arriving on the second floor.

Dozens of bookshelves filled the second floor, covered with countless wooden plaques inscribed with book titles and introductions to the cultivation arts.

Only by taking a plaque and paying the spirit stones could one receive the Divine Sense Jade Slip containing the actual contents of the cultivation art.

"Extreme Intent True Art! This isn't a cultivation art, but a secret technique for strengthening one's power."

Zhang Ming picked up a sandalwood plaque from a corner. The words "Extreme Intent True Art" and a wealth of introductory information were engraved upon it.

"Its power is directly proportional to one's talent.

The higher one's talent, and the more talents one possesses, the stronger the enhancement effect.

It is said that when the Extreme Intent True Art is perfected, its ultimate effect can increase one's power a hundredfold!

If someone at Qi Refining Level 1 had their power increased a hundredfold, they could kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Zhang Ming explained, though his expression was somewhat strange.

"But it's only Mortal Grade now? And costs fifty low-grade spirit stones?" Su Hao frowned slightly. "Forget multiplying one's strength a hundredfold—even if it increased one's strength by just ten or twenty percent, it shouldn't be merely Mortal Grade."

"Uh... First, this secret technique is incomplete. It only contains content for the Qi Refining stage and is ineffective for Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

Second, the secret technique is written in ancient divine script. It can be grasped through intuition but cannot be conveyed in words, so those who comprehend it are few and far between. Over the past century, only a few people have learned it.

Third, its effects are related to talent, and the severity of its side effects is likewise related to talent.

One of them was Senior Disciple Brother Ye Feng, who became a Foundation Establishment cultivator ten years ago and entered the inner sect.

For some reason, with his aptitude, even in the inner sect he would have been considered a genius.

He spent eight years in seclusion over the Extreme Intent True Art before finally mastering it. Yet when he used it, it could only increase his strength by twenty percent, and its side effects were enormous.

When he used it in the outer sect grand competition, he actually fell two minor realms on the spot, dropping to Qi Refining Level 8. In the end, despite taking first place, he still lost his chance to enter the inner sect.

It took him another five years before he finally stepped into Foundation Establishment. Many of his fellow senior and junior disciples had entered the inner sect before him..."

Zhang Ming shook his head regretfully and glanced at Su Hao. "That's why the Extreme Intent True Art is also the cheapest cultivation method in the Scripture Repository, selling for twenty spirit stones."

"Those with high talent have no use for it. They have plenty of secret arts stronger than this.

"Those with low talent struggle even to earn spirit stones, so naturally they wouldn't waste them on this."

Su Hao's eyes burned.

As long as he could survive, his talents would only grow more numerous and stronger!

No one was more perfectly suited to this secret art than him!

"Oh, right—quite a few people have chosen it. There's no shortage of fools in this world. Too many people think they're different, that they're the protagonist, the exception."

Zhang Ming smiled awkwardly. He himself had been one of them. It was only twenty spirit stones—what was the harm in giving it a try?

"I'll take it!" Su Hao made his choice without hesitation.

"Are you sure? Junior Brother Su, don't regret it. Even if it were a Spirit Grade cultivation method worth over a hundred spirit stones, I'd be willing to give it to you. But if you choose the twenty-spirit-stone Extreme Intent True Art, I won't make up the difference for you!"

Zhang Ming stressed.

"Of course. But I also need a Breath Concealment Technique. Do you have a Spirit Grade breath-concealing cultivation method?

"When my Master comes out of seclusion, I'll have him settle the bill? Or, Senior Brother Zhang, consider it a loan to me. I'll repay you with interest when the time comes. You said it yourself—my Master is the wealthiest among the outer sect."

Su Hao's eyes flickered. With his life hanging by a thread, he had to borrow even if it meant usury.

If he died, Zhang Ming could collect the debt from that cheap Master of his! Who cared if a flood raged behind him!

"Ah, Junior Brother Su, what are you saying? Who are we to each other? Don't be so formal."

Zhang Ming patted his chest magnanimously.

He then brought out a copy of the Ghost Concealment Art, though it contained only the first chapter.

The cultivation methods here could be sold either in their entirety or separately in parts.

A complete Qi Refining stage secret art sold for two hundred spirit stones. Split into three chapters, each chapter cost only seventy spirit stones!

"Junior Brother Su, the first chapter of the Ghost Concealment Art is enough to carry you through Qi Refining Level 8, even Level 10. It's just that its effect becomes a little weaker the further you go.

"The second and third chapters are advanced sections. You can only cultivate them after reaching Qi Refining Levels 8 or 9. You won't need them anytime soon, and taking them now would only waste spirit stones. What do you think?

"It's not that I'm stingy.

"Let me put it this way: once you reach Qi Refining Level 8, I'll give them to you then! My word is my bond."

Zhang Ming said righteously.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang."

Su Hao was grateful beyond measure as he accepted the Divine Sense Jade Slips containing the Extreme Intent True Art and the Ghost Concealment Art.

Qi Refining cultivators possessed weak divine sense, but they could still use such jade slips to study cultivation methods.

The Scripture Repository was not afraid of cultivation methods being leaked at all. Records were kept of which disciple had purchased which cultivation method.

Once a disciple used a related cultivation method, if there was no purchase record in the Scripture Repository and they could not provide a convincing explanation, they would either have to pay the fee afterward or await one of countless tortures.

"If I can freeload from the Scripture Repository, then by waving Lin Zhi Shan's banner, I can do the same at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, right?"

After leaving the Scripture Repository, a thought suddenly flashed through Su Hao's mind.

He had originally intended to return to Heavenly Medicine Mountain, but he immediately turned around and headed for the nearby Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

"Steward Zhang, we've checked. Half a month ago, Alchemist Lin took in a batch of Medicine Slaves, and Su Hao was among them. Alchemist Lin has already entered seclusion, while Senior Brother Lin Miao may have gone out and is not at Heavenly Medicine Mountain."

Inside the Scripture Repository, a disciple hurried back.

"Oh." Zhang Ming let out a sigh of relief. The more he thought about it afterward, the more something felt wrong. Why would Su Hao want the Ghost Concealment Art and the Extreme Intent True Art?

But since such a person really did exist, he immediately dismissed some of his suspicions.

Sitting in a rattan chair, he narrowed his eyes in thought. "Looks like that brat really does have some talent that the Life Controlling Lantern failed to detect... Next month, I'll go have another talk with Junior Brother Su!"