After five days of hard work and experimentation, Li Xiuchang finally completed the first—and most important—step of the Dantian Shadow Creation Technique: projecting a dantian shadow.
The next step was to use a secret method to transform this false dantian shadow and overlay it onto his true dantian, creating an effect where the false could pass for the real.
But...
At this step, an accident happened—exactly as expected.
"My false dantian is way too real. Hahaha, no wonder this is a top-tier secret technique. Even I can't tell the difference."
"Wait..."
"Why does something feel wrong?"
"I... This... Is this for real?"
"A Second Dantian?"
Seriously? How could someone practice a secret technique for concealing their cultivation and end up cultivating a second dantian?
"What do I need a dantian for?"
Li Xiuchang was deeply troubled. Having an extra dantian was no small matter.
What if something went wrong and he ended up killing himself?
The key was that after this happened, he did not even know whom to ask for help.
Should he seek Senior "Domineering Arrogant Heaven"?
He did not know whether the other party would even pay attention to him. Besides, relying only on an online exchange, it would be difficult to determine his exact situation, right?
Then again, what if there was a problem with the secret technique provided by "Domineering Arrogant Heaven"?
However, with the Preaching Ranking's restrictions, the secret techniques and cultivation methods obtained through it were basically guaranteed to be genuine.
Moreover, Li Xiuchang's intuition told him that the secret technique might truly not be the problem. The problem might be him.
After all, this was hardly the first time he had practiced something incorrectly.
Once he had regained his composure, Li Xiuchang first carefully studied his Second Dantian.
He discovered that the state of this dantian was extremely unusual. It seemed not to occupy any space, yet it genuinely existed.
"From the looks of it, this doesn't seem to affect my use of the Dantian Shadow Creation Technique. The Second Dantian can overlap with the true dantian just like the dantian shadow can."
Li Xiuchang simply began using the Second Dantian as a false dantian shadow.
Others used the false to pass for the real, while he used the real to pass for the real. Who could possibly see through it?
In any case, he would first use this Second Dantian as a disguise for concealing his cultivation and slowly explore its other uses later.
Since the dantian had already been created, there was no difficulty left in the later steps. Li Xiuchang successfully mastered the Dantian Shadow Creation Technique and concealed his cultivation at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation.
Just then, Senior Brother Wang Long returned. He looked Li Xiuchang up and down several times before clicking his tongue in amazement.
"I can't tell. I absolutely can't tell!"
If even a Qi Condensation Cultivator like you could see through it, wouldn't that be a problem... Li Xiuchang had stayed with Wang Long for more than a week, and it was time for him to leave.
Counting the days, he suddenly realized that he had already turned eighteen today.
However, cultivators had long lifespans, and there had never been much of a custom of celebrating birthdays. He did not care much about it. After bidding farewell to Senior Brother Wang Long, he hurried back to his residence in Eastern Geng District.
In the small courtyard at No. 18, Eastern Geng District, the Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine in the yard had been well cared for by the Yin Soul couple.
Most of the First-grade Spirit Plants that Li Xiuchang had planted later had already matured.
He harvested all the mature Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine, carefully storing each one. He planned to give them to Senior Brother Wang Long to sell later.
Harvesting and preserving Spirit Plants was itself a field of knowledge, as well as a skill every Spirit Planter had to master.
After finishing his work, Li Xiuchang wondered what he should do next.
There were still several days before Zhao Yuansi's lecture. He considered going to the General Affairs Hall first and getting the routine inspection out of the way.
Now that he could conceal his cultivation, going sooner or later made no difference.
He had heard that passing the inspection also came with a "Coming-of-Age Gift Pack."
Li Xiuchang planned to settle all these miscellaneous chores as quickly as possible in one go. After that, he would focus on studying his craft and accumulating length.
He had heard that the person responsible for the routine inspections, the "Outer Sect Senior Disciple Brother" Yan Song, was an extremely strict man. Li Xiuchang deliberately tidied his appearance before piloting his flying boat toward the Outer Sect General Affairs Hall.
On the way, he reflected on his conduct and confirmed that he probably had not done anything excessive during the nearly six months since joining the sect.
As for sect rules he had violated, there were in fact two.
First, without having mastered any single craft, he had practiced several crafts simultaneously.
Second, he had consumed immortal wine to assist his cultivation before turning eighteen.
However, neither was a major matter.
The General Affairs Hall stood in the heart of the Outer Sect. It was not far from the Preaching Ranking, the Library Pavilion, the Reception Area, and other lively places in the Outer Sect. It was also the Outer Sect's center of authority.
Outer Sect disciples came here to accept tasks, register for craft examinations, and collect their monthly stipends.
In theory, the General Affairs Hall should have been bustling with people coming and going.
Yet only after arriving did Li Xiuchang discover that although people truly were coming and going, the place gave off an extremely deserted feeling.
Everyone entering or leaving wore a stiff expression. They neither smiled nor spoke, and even their footsteps were silent.
Li Xiuchang saw through them at a glance.
When had the Outer Sect disciples of the Immortal Dust Sect ever been so proper?
"Looks like they're all afraid of that Senior Brother Yan."
Li Xiuchang copied their manner, stiffened his face, and walked into the General Affairs Hall with a solemn expression.
Since everyone was putting on the same act, there was no need for him to stand out. He simply had to follow along.
As it happened, Li Xiuchang had not come to the General Affairs Hall solely for the routine inspection. He also planned to register for the next First-grade Spirit Planter examination.
Only after mastering a craft and passing its examination to obtain a credential could one be considered a qualified Outer Sect disciple.
If someone failed to raise any craft to the first grade for a long time, they might be demoted to a Registered Disciple.
Once they obtained a credential, they would be qualified to accept certain sect tasks, and completing those tasks would earn them payment.
Their monthly stipend would also increase accordingly.
Li Xiuchang had been in the sect for several months but had yet to collect his monthly stipend. Although it amounted to only a few dozen spirit stones, it was free money. There was no reason not to take it, so he planned to collect it on his way out.
"Junior Brother." A tall senior sister came forward to receive Li Xiuchang. "What business do you have?"
Li Xiuchang explained his purpose, and the senior sister led him into a small room.
"Junior Brother, please wait a moment. I'll go notify Senior Brother Yan." After saying this, the tall senior sister left.
Li Xiuchang kept his gaze straight ahead, standing rooted to the spot like a wooden stake. He waited for nearly a quarter of an hour before someone finally entered.
The moment he saw this person, Li Xiuchang finally understood who the poker faces in the General Affairs Hall had learned from.
The man before Li Xiuchang wore a clean, neat black robe without a single wrinkle. His back was ramrod straight, and his face was stern. His cold eyes carried an air of authority, as though the words "serious" had been written across his face.
Without needing an introduction, Li Xiuchang guessed that this must be the Outer Sect Senior Disciple Brother, Yan Song.
"Senior Brother Yan." Li Xiuchang greeted him. His body remained motionless, standing at attention like a soldier, and his face showed no expression.
Yan Song looked Li Xiuchang up and down, his gaze seemingly trying to pick out some fault.
But at this moment, whether in expression or posture, Li Xiuchang had copied Yan Song one-to-one. He was like a straight wooden stake—flawless from every angle, without a single weakness.
"Li Xiuchang..." Yan Song called out Li Xiuchang's name in a single breath.
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