How did it come true?

After five days of dedicated effort, Li Xiuchang finally completed the first and most crucial step of the "Dantian Shadow Creation Technique"—projecting a phantom Dantian.

The next step was to use a secret method to alter this false Dantian projection and overlay it onto his true Dantian, creating a convincing illusion.

However...

As expected, the unexpected happened at this very stage.

"My false Dantian is too realistic, haha! It truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier secret method; even I can't tell the difference."

"Wait..."

"Something feels off."

"Am I... is this... real or fake?"

"A second Dantian?"

No way, how could someone practicing a secret method to conceal their cultivation end up with a second Dantian?

"What use could this Dantian possibly have?"

Li Xiuchang frowned, a second Dantian was no small matter.

He hoped nothing would go wrong and lead to his demise.

The crucial point was that with this development, he didn't know who to turn to for help.

Should he seek help from the senior "Domineering Arrogant Heaven"?

He wasn't sure if they would even bother with him, and it would be difficult to explain his specific situation online.

Besides, what if the secret method provided by "Domineering Arrogant Heaven" was flawed?

However, with the Preaching Ranking in place, most secret methods and cultivation techniques were guaranteed to be genuine.

Furthermore, Li Xiuchang's intuition told him the problem likely wasn't with the secret method itself, but with him.

After all, this wasn't the first time he'd messed up while cultivating.

After regaining his composure, Li Xiuchang first carefully examined his second Dantian.

He discovered that its state was quite peculiar; it seemed to occupy no space yet it undeniably existed.

"Looking at it this way, it doesn't seem to affect my use of the 'Dantian Shadow Creation Technique.' The second Dantian, like the Dantian projection, can overlap with the true Dantian."

Li Xiuchang decided to use the second Dantian as a false Dantian projection.

Others used a fake to appear real; he would use the real to appear fake. Who would be able to tell the difference?

For now, he would treat this second Dantian as a disguise to hide his cultivation, and he would explore its other uses later.

With the Dantian created, the rest of the technique presented no further difficulty. Li Xiuchang successfully mastered the "Dantian Shadow Creation Technique," concealing his cultivation at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation.

Just then, Senior Brother Wang Long returned. He sized Li Xiuchang up, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"I can't tell at all! Absolutely can't tell!"

If a mere Qi Condensation Cultivator like you could tell... Li Xiuchang had stayed with Wang Long for over a week, and it was time to leave.

Calculating the date, he suddenly remembered that he had turned eighteen today.

However, cultivators had long lifespans and didn't typically celebrate birthdays, so he didn't pay it much mind. He bid farewell to Senior Brother Wang Long and hurried back to his residence in the Eastern Geng District.

The small courtyard at number eighteen, Eastern Geng District, had its Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine well-tended by the Yin spirit couple.

Most of the first-tier Spirit Plants Li Xiuchang had planted later had now matured.

He harvested all the mature Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine, preserving them carefully to be sold by Senior Brother Wang Long later.

Harvesting and preserving Spirit Plants was also a skill, a technique that a Spirit Planter had to master.

After finishing his tasks, Li Xiuchang pondered what to do next.

There were still a few days until Zhao Yuansi's lecture, so he considered going to the General Affairs Hall first to get the routine inspection out of the way.

Since he could now conceal his cultivation, it didn't matter whether he went early or late.

He heard that passing the inspection came with a "Coming-of-Age Gift Pack."

Li Xiuchang intended to get all these miscellaneous matters out of the way as quickly as possible so he could focus on honing his skills and accumulating length later.

He had heard that Yan Song, the "Outer Sect Senior Disciple Brother" responsible for the routine inspections, was an extremely strict individual. Li Xiuchang deliberately tidied his appearance before piloting his Flying Boats towards the Outer Sect's General Affairs Hall.

On the way, he reflected on his actions, confirming that he hadn't done anything outrageous in the past six months since joining the sect.

If he had violated any sect rules, there were actually two instances.

First, he had concurrently cultivated multiple skills without having mastered any single one.

Second, he had consumed Immortal Brew to aid his cultivation before reaching the age of eighteen.

However, neither was a major offense.

The General Affairs Hall was located in the core area of the Outer Sect, not far from bustling places like the Preaching Ranking, the Library Pavilion, and the Reception Area. It was also the center of power for the Outer Sect.

Outer Sect disciples typically came here to accept missions, register for skill assessments, and collect their monthly stipends.

Normally, the General Affairs Hall should be bustling with people, very lively.

But after Li Xiuchang arrived, he discovered that while there were indeed people coming and going, the atmosphere felt incredibly desolate.

Everyone who entered or exited had a stern face, never smiling, never speaking, their footsteps even silent.

Li Xiuchang could tell at a glance that they were all putting on an act.

When had the Outer Sect disciples of the Immortal Dust Sect ever been so serious?

"It seems they're all quite afraid of that Senior Brother Yan."

Li Xiuchang, mimicking their demeanor, put on a stern face and walked into the General Affairs Hall with a serious expression.

Since everyone else was acting this way, there was no need for him to be the odd one out; he just had to follow suit.

Speaking of which, Li Xiuchang's visit to the General Affairs Hall this time wasn't just for his routine inspection; he also needed to sign up for the next First-Tier Spirit Planter assessment.

Only by mastering a skill and passing the assessment to obtain a certificate could one be considered a qualified Outer Sect disciple.

If one failed to achieve First-Tier in any skill for an extended period, they could even be demoted to a Registered Disciple.

Once a certificate was obtained, one would be eligible to accept sect missions, and completing them would earn rewards.

Additionally, the monthly stipend would also increase.

Li Xiuchang had been in the sect for several months and hadn't collected his monthly stipend yet. Although it was only a few dozen Spirit Stones, it was free money, so he decided to pick it up on his way out.

"This junior brother." A tall senior sister stepped forward to receive Li Xiuchang. "What business do you have?"

Li Xiuchang explained his purpose and was led by the senior sister to a small room.

"Junior brother, please wait a moment. I'll go inform Senior Brother Yan." The tall senior sister said and then left.

Li Xiuchang kept his gaze straight ahead, standing still like a wooden post. After about fifteen minutes, he saw someone enter.

Upon seeing this person, Li Xiuchang finally understood who the people coming and going in the General Affairs Hall had learned their poker faces from.

The man who appeared before Li Xiuchang wore a clean and neat black robe, without a single wrinkle. His back was ramrod straight, his face stern, and his eyes held a coldness mixed with authority, as if "seriousness" was written all over his face.

He didn't even need to introduce himself; Li Xiuchang guessed this must be the Outer Sect Senior Disciple Brother, Yan Song.

"Senior Brother Yan." Li Xiuchang greeted him, his body still standing rigidly like a soldier at attention, his face devoid of any expression.

Yan Song scrutinized Li Xiuchang from head to toe, his gaze seeming to search for any flaw.

But Li Xiuchang, in both his demeanor and posture, was imitating Yan Song perfectly. He stood like an unyielding wooden post, with no weak points, impeccable.

"Li Xiuchang..." Yan Song spoke Li Xiuchang's name.