Dantian Shadow Creation Technique

"Domineering Arrogant Heaven" got straight to the point. "I happen to have a cultivation technique for concealing one's cultivation level that I use myself. Take it and use it."

Li Xiuchang knew that a secret art personally used by such a senior expert could not possibly be mediocre, but he still asked:

"Senior, how effective is this secret art at concealment? Are there any requirements for learning it?"

"Domineering Arrogant Heaven" replied, "There are no requirements. Even those in the Qi Condensation Stage can learn it. As for its concealment effect... if you are not satisfied with my technique, then you will not find a better one anywhere in the Immortal Shade Realm!"

This senior's manner of speaking truly matched his title—Domineering Arrogant Heaven... Li Xiuchang explained, "It is not that I doubt your secret art, Senior. I merely wanted to ask so I would have some idea of what to expect."

After a moment, "Domineering Arrogant Heaven" replied, "My secret art is special. Concealing your cultivation level across four major realms is no problem at all. If you still find that insufficient, I can also give you the crafting methods for two magical treasures. Both treasures can conceal one's cultivation level. If you craft either one and use it alongside my secret art, then even if an immortal descended to the lower realm, they might not be able to see through your cultivation level!"

Even an immortal descending to the lower realm could not see through it? What a boast... Li Xiuchang guessed there had to be some exaggeration in that.

However, it seemed that the sections of the Preaching Ranking that introduced Paid Content could not conceal side effects or contain falsehoods.

Words spoken there were equivalent to swearing a Dao oath and could not be violated.

The same applied to those who paid Dao Grains to unlock Paid Content. Once they obtained Paid Content, whether insights and realizations or Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts, they were considered to have sworn a Dao oath by default and could not pass it on to others without permission.

Could what this domineering senior said all be true?

Li Xiuchang pondered it carefully. The other party had said, "even an immortal descending to the lower realm might not be able to see through your cultivation level," using the words "might not," so it was not an absolute claim.

But his claim that this secret art could conceal one's cultivation level across four major realms was probably true.

That was already outrageously powerful, and it was more than enough for Li Xiuchang!

It meant that while still in the Qi Condensation Stage, he could conceal his cultivation level even before Spirit Transformation cultivators.

When such a senior expert made a move, it truly was extraordinary.

The secret art he offered was terrifyingly powerful!

Li Xiuchang could not help marveling at how absurdly good his luck was.

He had happened to need a secret art for concealing his cultivation level. He came to the Preaching Ranking to try his luck, only to encounter this senior, who had lurked for over a hundred years before returning and making a new post.

And he had merely asked for help with the attitude of giving it a try, never expecting to actually receive a response...

More importantly, this senior really did possess an invincibly powerful secret art for concealing cultivation levels.

Thinking about it this way, Li Xiuchang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Everything seemed to be going too smoothly.

As though it had all been arranged in advance.

"The only ones who know I came to the Preaching Ranking to seek a technique are Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi, Senior Brother Mo Tu, and Senior Brother Wang Long. Senior Brother Wang Long was the one who told me to come to the Preaching Ranking, while Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi was the one who recommended Senior Domineering Arrogant Heaven to me..."

Li Xiuchang knew Wang Long very well, but in his eyes, Mo Tu and Zhang Wanzhi had always been veiled in mystery.

Thus, if he were to suspect anyone, Li Xiuchang would only suspect Mo Tu and Zhang Wanzhi.

"Come to think of it, these two senior brothers really have taken excessively good care of me... But ever since I entered the Immortal Dust Sect, every senior brother I have met has treated me very well."

"I must be overthinking it. If this really was arranged, could a Big Shot like Domineering Arrogant Heaven have been involved too? What have I done to deserve that!"

Though he said so, Li Xiuchang became somewhat more vigilant.

His greatest secret was, in fact, the Length Cheat. From now on, he did not plan to use the Length Cheat in the Eastern Geng District again.

Li Xiuchang cast aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind. For now, he should first get his hands on the secret art for concealing his cultivation level.

After he said a few flattering words, "Domineering Arrogant Heaven" finally sent over the secret art.

"Dantian Shadow Creation Technique"?

Li Xiuchang froze for two seconds upon seeing the name of the secret art before choosing to accept it.

Once he accepted the Paid Content sent by the other party, it was considered that this consultation had been concluded, and the one Dao Grain held in escrow was transferred to "Domineering Arrogant Heaven's" account.

Only then could Li Xiuchang view the full contents of the Dantian Shadow Creation Technique. After studying it carefully and gaining a general understanding of it, he finally understood why this secret art was so effective at concealing cultivation levels.

"Create a 'shadow dantian' for the dantian. Put plainly, it is a fake dantian. Use the fake dantian to cover the real dantian, and the cultivation level displayed will all be fake..."

Forget concealing himself across four major realms—even five or six major realms would be possible. So long as others did not use their Spiritual Sense to probe deep into his body for a careful inspection, he might be able to fool them.

At the end of the secret art, the crafting methods for two magical treasures were also included: one was the Dusty Pearl, and the other was the Obscuring Leaf.

Both magical treasures could conceal one's cultivation level.

For now, the Dantian Shadow Creation Technique was enough for Li Xiuchang. He also did not have the spare money to forge magical treasures, so he did not pay much attention to them.

He had obtained such a precious secret art for nothing, yet all Li Xiuchang had paid was a single Dao Grain gifted by the Preaching Ranking.

He wanted to express his gratitude further, only to discover that the Big Shot Domineering Arrogant Heaven had already closed their private chat.

If he wanted to start another conversation, he would have to stake another Dao Grain to initiate a consultation—and the other party would still need to be willing to accept it.

An image of Domineering Arrogant Heaven had already taken shape in Li Xiuchang's mind: a senior who possessed both pride and domineering presence, acted decisively, and did not fuss over trivialities.

"But wasn't it said that what people display on the Preaching Ranking often differs greatly from reality, or is even completely the opposite..."

At this moment, in a corner not far from the Preaching Ranking.

Three grown men were squeezed together.

The refined, easygoing man in the middle withdrew his Spiritual Sense. The other two asked, "How did it go?"

The refined man, Chen Changsheng, nodded with a smile. "I did not fail my mission."

Mo Tu gave a slight nod, while Zhang Wanzhi smiled as well before asking, "What did you tell him? Did he grow suspicious?"

Chen Changsheng said, "I concealed the effects of the 'Dantian Shadow Creation Technique' and told him it could only hide one's strength across four major realms. I also gave him the crafting methods for two magical treasures to muddle his judgment. Once he crafts those two treasures in the future, even if he discovers how powerful the 'Dantian Shadow Creation Technique' is, he will only think the treasures' effects had stacked with it."

Zhang Wanzhi raised a thumb. "Old Chen, you're still the steady one!"

Chen Changsheng coughed. "It does have one drawback, though."

"What drawback?"

"Can the two of you see through my Cultivation Level?" Chen Changsheng answered a question with another question.

"Isn't that obvious? Your secret art is so disgusting—who could..." Zhang Wanzhi abruptly fell silent, understanding dawning on him. "You mean..."

"That's right. Once Li Xiuchang's Cultivation Level rises in the future, perhaps neither you nor I will be able to see his true Cultivation Level."

Li Xiuchang had originally wanted to ask Big Shot "Domineering Arrogant Heaven" whether there were any Body Refining Techniques suitable for him, but the other party had left too quickly.

He could only continue searching through the Preaching Posts one by one.

Body Refining Techniques had already fallen out of the mainstream in the current cultivation world, with fewer and fewer people practicing them.

Logically, something eliminated by the times should have been obscure within the Immortal Dust Sect as well. Yet Li Xiuchang discovered that his fellow sect members rather enjoyed studying crooked and unorthodox things.

At the very least, discussions concerning Body Refining Techniques were exceptionally lively on the Preaching Ranking. Plenty of bored people were improving them or even creating their own Body Refining Techniques.

Body Refining Techniques had originated from the immortal sects and flourished in the Buddhist sect. During the era of the Buddhist sect's rise, a wave of body refinement had swept across the Immortal Shade Realm.

But as the Buddhist sect declined, Body Refining Techniques also faded into obscurity.

Of the Body Refining Techniques Li Xiuchang found in the Preaching Posts, nine and a half out of every ten were either original Buddhist Body Refining Techniques or improved versions of them. Even the remaining half—a so-called self-created technique—carried the shadow of Buddhist techniques.

After searching for over half an hour more, he selected an utterly unremarkable technique from among the many Body Refining Techniques: the "Vajra Dharma Form Art."