Eunuchs Should All Die!

The name "Fire Starting Skill" sounded a bit crude, but after reading the cultivation method's description, Li Xiuchang felt it was surprisingly good.

At the very least, it suited him perfectly.

Strictly speaking, it was a dual-attribute cultivation method for both fire and wood, but it was categorized under fire-attribute techniques because the Spiritual Power cultivated in the end was indeed only fire-attributed.

Practicing the Fire Starting Skill, like other dual-attribute fire and wood cultivation methods, would form both fire and wood Spiritual Power within the body.

However, the wood-attribute Spiritual Power would only serve as fuel, completely consumed by the fire-attribute Spiritual Power.

Wood engenders fire, making the flames burn fiercer. After consuming the wood-attribute Spiritual Power, the fire-attribute Spiritual Power would grow, gradually transforming into Mana.

This not only compensated for the reduced cultivation speed that came with practicing dual-attribute techniques but also made the cultivated fire-attribute Mana more volatile and destructive.

Furthermore, the Fire Starting Skill wasn't exclusively for those with a dual fire-wood attribute constitution; those with a pure fire attribute constitution could also practice it, though they would need to absorb wood-attribute Spiritual Power from external sources.

The primary sources of external wood-attribute Spiritual Power were spiritual herbs, spirit wood, and other spiritual plants, as well as wood-attribute demon cores and the like.

This was also why Li Xiuchang was drawn to this cultivation method.

He remembered reading "Mortal Cultivation Genre" novels in his past life where protagonists, by being able to accelerate the growth of spiritual medicines, slowly ascended to immortality.

His own "Length" had a similar effect, allowing those spiritual herbs and medicines to grow taller.

Or, to be even more direct and crude, he could replicate the method he used the first time to turn Gold Leaf into Gold Bricks: purchase precious artifact refining metal materials, hammer them into thin sheets, add "Length," and then resell them for a massive profit.

For Li Xiuchang, converting "Length" into Spirit Stones was effortless.

And with Spirit Stones, obtaining spiritual herbs and medicines would be as easy as getting whatever he wanted!

With a large supply of spiritual herbs and medicines as "fuel," the cultivation speed of the Fire Starting Skill would undoubtedly increase significantly.

However, Li Xiuchang's current problems were: first, he had no Spirit Stones and couldn't afford precious artifact refining materials; second, he lacked the strength, and selling precious materials of unclear origin rashly would be very risky; third, his "Length" was currently limited, only one inch.

He decided to proceed steadily and, without sufficient personal strength, avoid using such risky methods to earn Spirit Stones.

In summary, the Fire Starting Skill was a rare cultivation method with a high "pay-to-win" benefit, and Li Xiuchang certainly wouldn't miss it. He immediately chose this "Fire Starting Skill."

"Are you sure you want to choose this cultivation method?" the old man guarding the Library Pavilion reminded him. "This method is indeed very suitable for you, good in all aspects, but it has no continuation."

"No continuation? Has the latter part been lost?" Li Xiuchang asked with some regret.

The old man shook his head, "This Fire Starting Skill was created by a senior of our Immortal Dust Sect. However, he just created the Qi Refining stage of this technique out of whim, and there has been no progress on the subsequent Foundation Establishment stage."

"Is this senior still alive?"

"Of course, this senior has profound cultivation and a long lifespan; he is currently in his prime."

"That's good then." Li Xiuchang breathed a sigh of relief. It might be decades before he reached Foundation Establishment, and perhaps by then, the senior would have perfected the subsequent cultivation method.

Seeing Li Xiuchang clinging to a sliver of hope, the old man poured cold water on him, "That senior has created at least a hundred Qi Refining techniques like the Fire Starting Skill that lack continuation. These are merely his casual creations; he might have forgotten about them the moment he finished."

Li Xiuchang: ...

May those who abandon their works die a terrible death!

May habitual offenders be torn to pieces!

Li Xiuchang cursed inwardly, but outwardly he said, "This senior cares deeply for the grassroots, having created so many Qi Refining techniques for new disciples to cultivate. Truly admirable."

The old man sized Li Xiuchang up and down and said, "There might be a place for you in the higher echelons of the Immortal Dust Sect in the future."

"You flatter me, senior."

In the end, Li Xiuchang still chose the Fire Starting Skill.

Having no continuation meant Li Xiuchang would need to switch techniques when he reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Switching techniques might take some effort, but that was a problem for the future. Li Xiuchang knew his aptitude was not great, so he had to seize the present.

At the very least, this Fire Starting Skill was the fastest Qi Refining technique for him, allowing both his dual fire-wood attribute constitution and his "Length" to be put to good use.

Completing the sect rules examination and obtaining a cultivation technique was the first trial for Outer Sect disciples after entering.

The second trial that followed was to cultivate Mana and become a genuine early-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Once he had Mana, he could begin practicing Cultivation Techniques, and Li Xiuchang would need to choose one from the Hundred Cultivation Arts to study.

Li Xiuchang, holding the transcribed Fire Starting Skill, returned to the entrance of the Reception Area, waiting for Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi to pick him up.

As he waited, instead of Senior Brother Zhang, he saw a familiar face.

"Senior Brother Wang," Li Xiuchang greeted.

The person who arrived was Wang Long, who was responsible for receiving Li Xiuchang into the sect.

"Junior Brother Li," Wang Long said with a smile. "Seeing you here, did you pass the sect rules assessment?"

"Yes, I just finished choosing my cultivation technique."

"This place is quite a distance from your Eastern Geng District. How about I give you a ride?" Wang Long offered.

"This... Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother. I arranged to wait for Senior Brother Zhang here. If I leave early, I'm afraid..." Li Xiuchang said hesitantly.

"Senior Brother Zhang? You mean Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi from the Eastern Geng District?" Wang Long asked.

Li Xiuchang nodded, and Wang Long's expression showed a hint of envy. "Junior Brother, you've only just entered the sect, and you're already being looked after by Senior Brother Zhang. Your future is boundless."

Li Xiuchang had always sensed Zhang Wanzhi was no ordinary person. Curious, he took the opportunity to ask Wang Long a few questions.

Wang Long held Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi in extremely high regard. "Being able to know Senior Brother Zhang is one of the few benefits of living in the Eastern Geng District," he sighed. "If I say Senior Brother Zhang is the number one genius among our Outer Sect disciples, no one would ever doubt it."

"For us Outer Sect disciples, reaching Foundation Establishment before forty means entering the Inner Sect. But Senior Brother Zhang only reached Foundation Establishment at forty-one, just missing it by a bit."

"A real shame," Li Xiuchang agreed. "But even so, shouldn't that be enough to make him the undisputed top genius disciple of the Outer Sect?"

Of course. Talent in cultivation is just the least significant of Senior Brother Zhang's many talents. His real strength lies in his aptitude for the Hundred Cultivation Arts. Any Outer Sect disciple who masters a cultivation technique to the third tier can become an Outer Sect venerable. Senior Brother Zhang has reached the second tier in over ten cultivation techniques, including alchemy, talismans, formations, medicine, and more. And he's at the peak of the second tier, just one step away from the third! But he's encountered bottlenecks in all of them and hasn't been able to break through.

Li Xiuchang gasped. Could he have a cheat too?

It wasn't strange for Li Xiuchang to have such a thought. For an ordinary Outer Sect disciple, having one technique with the potential to reach the third tier was already incredibly difficult. Zhang Wanzhi, however, had mastered over a dozen techniques at the peak of the second tier – it was simply too exaggerated.

At the same time, Li Xiuchang understood why Zhang Wanzhi was the undisputed top genius disciple of the Outer Sect. Because anyone even slightly more talented than him had either entered the Inner Sect or become a guest elder, and were no longer Outer Sect disciples.

"Not only that, Senior Brother Zhang is generous and magnanimous, often looking out for his fellow disciples. He's deeply respected and holds considerable prestige among us Outer Sect disciples. It's just a pity... we all believe Senior Brother Zhang is a victim of the Eastern Geng District's curse. If not for the curse's influence, someone as outstanding as Senior Brother Zhang would have entered the Inner Sect or become an honored guest long ago."

"Many of us have urged Senior Brother Zhang to move out of the Eastern Geng District, but perhaps it's the arrogance of a genius, he's always refused."

As they were talking, Zhang Wanzhi arrived, stepping onto a flying sword.

"Senior Brother Zhang!" Wang Long greeted him enthusiastically, then lowered his voice, "The Spirit Stones I owe you..."

Zhang Wanzhi patted his shoulder, interrupting him. "If you're short on cash, you can pay me back later. There's no rush."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Wang Long repeatedly expressed his gratitude, clearly sincere.

Other disciples also began to gather around, chatting with Zhang Wanzhi, allowing Li Xiuchang to witness Zhang Wanzhi's popularity firsthand.

After a few pleasantries, Zhang Wanzhi didn't linger. He picked up Li Xiuchang, and they flew towards the Eastern Geng District.