Eating Hot, Soft Rice at Such a Young Age (Seeking Follow-up Reads and Collections)

"Sir, may I ask how one could make this kind of sky lantern?"

After asking around for a while, Zhou Ling bought the cheapest Jade Chicken Sky Lantern, intending to take it back and study it carefully.

But even this Jade Chicken Sky Lantern cost five Broken Spirit.

The middle-aged stall owner asked curiously, "At your age, don't tell me you're thinking of refining one of these?"

But seeing that they had bought two sky lanterns, he patiently explained with a smile, "Making these isn't particularly difficult. But first, you need to become an Artifact Refiner and be able to draw Inscription."

"These sky lanterns are basically ordinary Magic Artifacts with one to three Inscription."

Zhou Ling had read books about Artifact Refiners, so he naturally understood a little about Artifact Refiners and Inscription.

He had merely wanted to learn the refining process, but now it seemed this stall owner was probably just a reseller.

He likely could not explain the refining process clearly, either.

Then, just as he was about to pay with Spirit Stones, Wang Xin paid for him.

At the same time, she bought a Jade Chicken Sky Lantern for Yuan Hu as well.

Yuan Hu grinned from ear to ear.

Holding the sky lantern, he could not bear to put it down.

Zhou Ling truly had not expected that, at his age, he would already be living off a woman.

But his pockets were empty right now. Five Broken Spirit was no small expense to him.

Besides, he had already received quite a few Qi Gathering Pills from Wang Xin over the past two years. Why fuss over five Broken Spirit?

He could only swallow his pride and accept Wang Xin's kindness.

"Zhou Ling, y-you're planning to become an Artifact Refiner?"

Holding the Green Jade Rabbit Lantern in her hand, Wang Xin asked curiously.

Zhou Ling nodded.

After weighing it all up, he felt that learning artifact refinement was the path best suited to his circumstances.

"B-but you still d-don't have a main cultivation technique!"

Wang Xin pursed her lips and looked at Zhou Ling.

"Mm."

Zhou Ling did not hide it from Wang Xin. "Once I return to the Dao Academy, I plan to exchange for a main cultivation technique."

"I'll have to learn some Skills sooner or later, so I chose artifact refinement."

"I'll see if I can earn some Spirit Stones to help support the household."

"If I do earn some, I'll treat you both to Spirit Cake too."

The moment Yuan Hu heard that, he was thrilled. He gave a thumbs-up and flattered him, "Brother Ling, you're so smart. You'll definitely make it."

His parents worked themselves to the bone every month, yet what they earned was barely enough to cover his tuition.

As for Spirit Food, that was something he could only dream of.

Being able to eat Spirit Cake today had made him happier than words could say!

Wang Xin, on the other hand, fell silent.

The three of them wandered around for another round. Besides all manner of flower lanterns, the food stalls and fire performances left them dazzled.

Of course, Zhou Ling's main goal was still to improve his two talents, [Basic Insight] and [Preliminary Analysis].

Then, relying on [Mountain Treasure Hunt], he unexpectedly picked up a Low-grade Spirit Stone.

He treated the two of them to a meal of Spirit Meat Wontons, spending fifteen Broken Spirit.

When they parted, Yuan Hu excitedly invited them to come again tomorrow.

Wang Xin said that she would be returning to her clan with her mother tomorrow to pay respects to their ancestors, so she had no time.

Yuan Hu turned to Zhou Ling again.

Zhou Ling shook his head. His mind was occupied with cultivation techniques and earning Spirit Stones.

With Wang Xin not coming, how could he possibly be in the mood to play with Yuan Hu?

Afterward, they each said their farewells and went home.

On the third day, the holiday ended. Zhou Ling arrived at the Dao Academy's Study Hall early in the morning.

[You are absorbing spiritual energy. Spiritual Energy Affinity +1, spiritual energy +3]

The spiritual energy at home was rather sparse, and his cultivation efficiency there was nowhere near as good as at the Dao Academy.

Before long, Wang Xin also arrived at the Study Hall.

Zhou Ling was taken aback. Wang Xin seemed to have arrived much earlier than usual today.

As soon as Wang Xin sat down, she quietly took three Jade Slips from her cloth bag and handed them to Zhou Ling.

"This is a cultivation method I brought from home. Take a look—see if there's one that suits you?"

Zhou Ling's mouth fell open as he stared at the three Jade Slips, completely dumbfounded.

He knew Wang Xin's family had to be exceptional. After all, her mother was a Second-Grade Alchemist, which already placed them firmly among the middle class in Lingxia Immortal City.

But he had never expected Wang Xin to casually pull out three Jade Slips containing cultivation methods.

He could not help frowning as he asked quietly, "Where did you get these? If your family finds out, won't that be terrible?"

The cultivation methods of noble families generally could not be passed on to outsiders.

From the books he had read, he knew that a single Yellow-grade high-rank cultivation method could be the inherited treasure of a Foundation Establishment family.

And what Rogue Cultivators lacked most was precisely a good cultivation method with an established inheritance.

As for the Dao Academy, the cultivation methods students their age could exchange for were only the most basic ones.

"From home."

"It's fine. See if there's one that suits you. I-I'll take the rest back."

Wang Xin blinked her Catherine Big Eyes and said shyly in a small voice, "Just remember—you have to treat me to Spirit Cake once you earn Spirit Stones!"

"If your Mother finds out, won't she punish you?" Zhou Ling asked quietly.

Wang Xin shook her head. "Mother never punishes me. Besides, these are only some Yellow-grade mid- and low-rank cultivation methods."

Zhou Ling looked unconvinced.

"At most, she'll make me cultivate for a little longer. It's nothing."

A faint smile rested on Wang Xin's face.

After thinking it over, Zhou Ling still shook his head. "I can't take these. They're too valuable."

He was certain that Wang Xin was a scion of a noble family. Cultivation methods were no trifling matter.

"Nothing will happen!" Wang Xin said anxiously.

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, as if she were about to cry again.

"This..."

Zhou Ling truly was afraid she would start crying. If she drew the Instructor over, things would become troublesome.

With that thought, Zhou Ling stopped refusing and accepted the Jade Slips from Wang Xin.

He would be lying if he said he was not tempted. The cultivation methods of ordinary noble families came through established inheritances, so they were surely far better than the basic cultivation methods currently offered by the Dao Academy.

And there was another crucial point—they did not cost Spirit Stones.

If he exchanged for one through the Dao Academy, even a First-Grade Low-Rank Fire Refining Art would cost more than a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

That would be an enormous burden on his family.

Besides, he had already accepted quite a few favors from Wang Xin. Once he had the ability in the future, he could repay her then.

Only then did a faint smile appear on Wang Xin's face.

Zhou Ling picked up the Jade Slips and began reading.

Five Elements Art, First-Grade Mid-Rank. Suitable for cultivators with Five Elements Spiritual Roots and Spiritual Roots of all other attributes. Those with exceptional aptitude could cultivate it to early Foundation Establishment.

It allowed one to wield Five Elements spells of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Its applications were extremely broad, and there were numerous supporting spiritual materials...

Crimson Fire Art, First-Grade Mid-Rank. Suitable for Fire Spiritual Roots. It could be cultivated to early Foundation Establishment and could enhance fire-element spells. Supporting cultivation spiritual materials: Crimson Fire Grass...

Spirit Flame Art, First-Grade Mid-Rank. Suitable for Fire Spiritual Roots. It could be cultivated to early Foundation Establishment. Cultivating this method could cleanse the meridians and strengthen the physique.

Those with outstanding talent and comprehension could also condense Spirit Flame.

Spirit Flame could be used for alchemy, Artifact Crafting, and even paired with spells as a primary means of attack.

Supporting spiritual materials required for cultivation: Fire Haze Grass, Fire Spirit Sand, Crimson Spirit Liquid...

The descriptions on the three Jade Slips were not particularly long, yet they left Zhou Ling dazzled.

There was no need to say it—they were all fire-attribute cultivation methods. Clearly, Wang Xin had selected them with great care.

He had not expected this little girl to be so meticulous.

As he looked at the three cultivation methods, he felt that all of them seemed suitable for him.