Before Parting

Xia Qing entered a carriage pulled by a Five-Colored Divine Bird.

The carriage was made of precious wood, carved with exquisite patterns and inlaid with valuable gemstones. It was extraordinarily lavish.

Inside the carriage, the Maid asked, "Princess, that young man is quite talented. You gave him the 'Overlord Body Art'—can he cultivate it?"

The Maid knew the value and terror of the Overlord Body Art. It was not something an ordinary person could cultivate, and she could not understand why the Princess had given it to that youth.

Was the youth's talent truly that great?

Xia Qing smiled. "Of course he isn't qualified to cultivate it."

"I gave him the Overlord Body Art partly to let him know that I value him, and partly to let him understand the limits of his own abilities. Afterward, he won't ask for high-level martial arts again."

The Maid suddenly understood. So it was to win people's hearts while also making the youth see himself clearly, so he would not become blindly arrogant.

She had seen many geniuses. They truly were formidable, but they were still prone to overestimating themselves.

"Go to the Vast Mist Sect. I heard a Water Spiritual Root genius appeared there. See if we can borrow them," Xia Qing said.

"Yes, Princess."

The Maid guided the divine bird toward the Vast Mist Sect.

"Ping An! What happened to you?"

Li Yuntian had come to chat with Jiang Ping An. Before he even entered, he smelled blood.

A bad feeling rose in him, and he hurriedly pushed the door open.

Then he saw Jiang Ping An lying in a pool of blood, trembling without end.

He was horrified. He thought that old bastard Xu Tao had come to assassinate him, so he quickly cast the Healing Art to treat him.

"The Overlord Body Art... is so difficult."

Jiang Ping An recovered a trace of strength and spoke with difficulty.

Li Yuntian suddenly understood. So it was caused by cultivation.

"Of course the Overlord Body Art is difficult to cultivate. With your talent and ability, it is simply impossible for you to learn it."

Seeing how foolish the youth was, Li Yuntian explained, "The reason the County Governor gave you the 'Overlord Body Art' was to tell you that she values you greatly."

"Forget you—among the hundreds of millions of living beings in all of Black Wind County, there may not even be two who can cultivate such a heaven-defying art."

"After a month, when you reach Black Wind County, go find the County Governor and exchange it for a cultivation method that suits you. It may not compare to the 'Overlord Body Art,' but it certainly won't be weak."

Hearing Li Yuntian's words, Jiang Ping An gritted his teeth. "But if I can learn this art, it will definitely make me very strong."

Li Yuntian rolled his eyes at Jiang Ping An. "Strong, sure—but you need to be qualified to learn it first."

"One cannot rush cultivation. So many extraordinarily talented Cultivators ruined their foundations because they were too eager to cultivate, and in the end faded into the crowd."

"If you continue like this, forget becoming stronger—your body itself may be crippled."

Li Yuntian admonished him in the tone of an elder.

Jiang Ping An suddenly understood and let out a long breath. "I understand."

"It's good that you understand. Give up early and suffer less." Li Yuntian nodded in satisfaction. This child could be taught.

But Jiang Ping An's next sentence changed his expression.

"I'll just learn it more slowly and solidify my foundation. I was too anxious before," Jiang Ping An said seriously.

Li Yuntian: "..."

He wanted to smack this brat. Why did he have to be so stubborn about cultivating this art?

This was simply not something someone with his talent could learn.

"Forget it. Cultivate slowly. This old man will stay beside you and help treat you."

He was a Cultivator with wood-element talent and was skilled in the Healing Art. Since he could not persuade the youth, he could only help him.

"No, it would delay Old Li's cultivation," Jiang Ping An refused.

Although Old Li's treatment would speed up his cultivation, it would delay Old Li's own cultivation.

"Cultivate my ass. I'm old already. Foundation Establishment is beyond hope for me. I can just muddle through my days."

Li Yuntian had attempted Foundation Establishment twice and failed both times. He had bought two Foundation Establishment Pills, emptied his savings, and fallen into debt.

Later, he came to terms with it. At worst, he would never achieve Foundation Establishment and simply live a few fewer years.

Hearing Li Yuntian's words, warmth filled Jiang Ping An's heart. He no longer stood on ceremony and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Old Li."

He sat back up and circulated the "Overlord Body Art" again, this time slowing the speed tenfold.

Even so, his body still ached violently, as though countless blades were roaming through him and carving apart his meridians. The sensation was agonizing.

Li Yuntian rapidly cast the Healing Art at his side, treating him.

Looking at the resolute youth, Li Yuntian silently sighed.

He did not know when the youth would finally see clearly that this cultivation method truly was not something he could cultivate.

In only half a month, Meng Jing successfully raised her physical abilities to Jiang Ping An's level.

Her talent was truly powerful. Before, she had only been playful and half-hearted in everything she did.

Ever since she met Jiang Ping An, the fighting spirit in her heart had been awakened.

Below the Martial Master realm, cultivation was not difficult. With resources, one could improve quickly.

Only after stepping into Foundation Establishment, or becoming a Martial Master, did cultivation become difficult.

Meng Jing progressed at an astonishing pace, but Jiang Ping An was still standing in place.

The Overlord Body Art was too difficult to cultivate. Half a month had passed, yet he had not even completed the most basic circulation of blood. At present, he could at most circulate it through one-third of the route within his body.

Meng Jing challenged Jiang Ping An again. The result was surprising, yet also expected. This time, Meng Jing won.

She had cultivated a strange blade technique. Her speed was incredibly fast; Jiang Ping An had not reacted at all before her blade was already at his throat.

Meng Jing sheathed her blade, planted her hands on her hips, and smugly said, "Haha! The cultivation method Princess Sister gave me is so powerful. This Miss won! From now on, be this Miss's lackey. This Miss will protect you!"

Jiang Ping An had no reaction to his defeat and returned to his room to continue cultivating.

There were countless geniuses in the world. These geniuses possessed powerful bloodlines, powerful secret arts, and vast resources.

Only by working even harder could he draw close to their footsteps.

"Hey! Hey! I beat you, so why are you still acting like this? You stupid Woodhead!"

Meng Jing bared her little tiger teeth in anger, wishing she could go over and bite him a few times.

She had once thought he ignored her because she was weak. Now it seemed she had been wrong. He was simply a block of wood.

Another ten days passed, and the first Winter Snow arrived.

The people of Flat Water County no longer wore their former worried expressions this year, because they could safely make it through the winter.

If Xu Tao had not been driven away, who knew how many people would have frozen to death this winter.

Stories about Jiang Ping An grew more and more fantastical throughout Flat Water County, with all kinds of versions emerging.

No matter what the stories contained, the outcome was the same: it was this youth who had allowed them to live well this year.

That day, Jiang Ping An and Meng Jing were also setting out for the capital of Black Wind County.

Meng Kuo handed Jiang Ping An an ancient-looking green book.

"You're leaving soon, and I have nothing much to give you. This is a cultivation method I obtained from a top-tier secret realm while traveling in my younger days. I've kept it stored away ever since."

"This is a Spirit Cultivator cultivation method. I can't cultivate it, but I've always felt it differs from other cultivation methods. Give it a try."

Jiang Ping An handed the cultivation method back. "General, you are too kind. You and Old Li have taken care of me for so long. I am already deeply grateful."

He did not care whether the other party gave him money or not. He could only still be alive because of their help.

"Don't call me General in the future. Just call me Uncle Meng. When you get to Black Wind City, find someone to examine it. Perhaps you can sell it for a good price. If it isn't worth anything, just throw it away."

Meng Kuo smiled and stuffed the cultivation method into Jiang Ping An's hand.

"Then thank you, Uncle Meng."

Jiang Ping An glanced at the green-covered book. This cultivation method was called the "Earth Accumulation Art."

It was a very ordinary name, and he casually put it into his Storage Bag.