Cultivation Method Grades, Fragmentary Scroll of Returning Origin

"Welcome to the Qianfeng Merchant Association. This servant is Xu Ya, the steward here. May I ask the guest's surname?"

The woman smiled at him, giving one a feeling like a spring breeze brushing the face.

Rumors had long held that the stewards of the Qianfeng Merchant Association were all beautiful women.

Lu Yang had never come before due to an empty purse, but seeing it today, the rumors proved true.

Xu Ya's looks were only slightly above average, yet there was a faint, elusive charm about her that stirred the heart and mind.

"Charm Arts?"

Lu Yang grew wary inwardly.

The money I have is limited—I must spend it on what truly matters.

If that woman uses her Charm Arts to lead me astray, and I buy something I don't need, that would be trouble.

"My surname is Lu, no need for honorifics," Lu Yang said.

Soon, Lu Yang realized his worry was entirely unnecessary.

The Qianfeng Merchant Association had its stewards practice Charm Arts not to deceive guests, but only to use them within a very limited scope, thereby winning the guests' goodwill.

As for lowly tricks like luring guests into buying goods—those did not exist.

"What does the guest wish to purchase?" Xu Ya seemed to notice Lu Yang's wariness. She smiled faintly, stepped back a pace, and the elusive charm about her quietly faded by a few degrees.

"I want a Yellow-grade Cultivation Method," Lu Yang said.

Xu Ya nodded slightly. "Young Master Lu, please follow me."

The two crossed the main hall and arrived at the cultivation method section. The woman pointed to an ancient bookshelf behind her and said, "This is the Yellow-grade Cultivation Method area. The characteristics and prices of each method are detailed in introductions. Young Master may browse at his leisure."

Lu Yang noticed that the shelf held at least a hundred different Yellow-grade methods. Beneath each one, a palm-sized booklet hung from a thin string.

The characteristics of those methods were recorded in those booklets.

He did not rush to look but asked directly, "May I ask how much the cheapest Yellow-grade method here costs?"

Xu Ya showed not a hint of disdain or contempt at Lu Yang's question. Her face still bore that spring-breeze smile.

Even Lu Yang had to admit that the Qianfeng Merchant Association's ability to spread its business across all of Great Jun was not without reason.

Xu Ya paced slowly to the other side of the shelf and pointed to an ancient scroll on it. "This method is called the Kuai Lei Technique. It is a Low-grade Yellow, Earth Attribute cultivation method. Once cultivated, your true qi becomes thick and heavy, unmoving as a mountain. A Second-order martial artist who practices it can generate eighteen strands of Kuai Lei True Qi per layer. The price is 1,500 taels."

Lu Yang frowned slightly upon hearing this.

With an ungraded method, a Second-order martial artist could nourish no more than ten strands of true qi per layer of cultivation.

The Kuai Lei Technique, as a Low-grade Yellow method, could nourish eighteen strands per layer—that was quite good.

But at 1,500 taels, Lu Yang could not afford it now.

Even if he borrowed from the constables under his command, he couldn't scrape together three hundred taels in a short time.

"Sigh. If I'd known, I wouldn't have rushed back."

Lu Yang felt some regret.

If he had stayed in the woods a while longer, hunted a few more minor demons, and dug out a Demon Treasure, he wouldn't be in such a tight spot now.

But that was just wishful thinking.

First-order minor demons had an extremely low chance of yielding a Demon Treasure. That last time had been a stroke of luck. To hunt another Demon Treasure, he would have to slay who knows how many minor demons to succeed.

For Lu Yang as he was now, that was clearly impractical.

Demons and monsters weren't fools either. If someone kept hunting demons in one area, they would band together and attack, or even summon a Second-Order Demon that had gained intelligence to hunt the hunter.

Whichever scenario arose, Lu Yang had no way to handle it now.

Lu Yang gave a bitter laugh. "I'm ashamed to say it, but I only have 1,200 taels on hand right now. I can't afford the Kuai Lei Technique yet. I'll have to come back another day."

Shaking his head, Lu Yang prepared to leave.

The Martial Arts School's method was ungraded, but it seemed he had no other choice for now.

As for the loss of true qi when switching methods later, Lu Yang could only console himself that he could make it up by hunting a few more minor demons.

"Young Master, please wait."

A clear, pleasant female voice sounded behind him. Lu Yang paused mid-step.

Xu Ya said, "If it's 1,200 taels, this servant does have a method to recommend to you."

"Oh?"

"What method?" Lu Yang's heart stirred.

Xu Ya sidestepped a few paces to another shelf, bent down, and retrieved a scroll thick with dust.

"This is the Gui Yuan Technique. It is a Black-grade, lower-tier, attribute-less cultivation method. Once cultivated, your true qi becomes vast and broad, balanced and harmonious."

"A Second-order martial artist who practices it can increase their true qi by ninety-nine strands for each layer of cultivation they raise."

Lu Yang felt a flash of joy, then immediately calmed down.

A Black-grade technique selling for less than a Yellow-grade one—anyone with half a brain could tell there had to be a catch.

"Miss Xu, does this technique have some flaw?" Lu Yang asked.

"You have sharp eyes, young master." Xu Ya smiled and nodded, admitting it openly and without hesitation.

"This Gui Yuan Technique is actually just a Fragmentary Scroll, obtained by chance by an elder from our Qianfeng Merchant Association's Black Mountain County Branch. Its exact grade is unclear."

"According to that elder, if the technique were complete, its quality would be at least Black-grade, high-tier."

"Unfortunately, the fragment the association currently possesses is missing most of its content, containing only the Houtian Realm portion. If you, young master, were to practice it, upon advancing to the Xiantian Realm in the future, you would have to switch techniques, losing some of your cultivation."

Lu Yang frowned. "Is that all?"

A technique that could generate ninety-nine strands of true qi per level—even if it was only a fragment, it shouldn't be sold cheaper than a Low-grade Yellow technique. After all, even accounting for the loss from switching techniques, the sheer volume of true qi the Gui Yuan Technique could produce was enough to outweigh that drawback.

Xu Ya said, "To cultivate the Gui Yuan Technique, one must consume the flesh and blood of the Demon Race, use a secret method to guide demonic qi into the body, temper the blood and qi throughout the body, and open the thirty-six major acupoints. The process is extremely dangerous; the slightest carelessness can result in death or injury."

"Since this technique was put on the shelf, over the past hundred years, dozens of people have attempted to cultivate it, and more than half of those martial artists ended up dead or crippled."

Lu Yang raised an eyebrow. "So that means the other half succeeded?"

Xu Ya nodded. "Yes. Although this technique follows a crooked path and takes an unorthodox approach, it is not entirely impossible to master. On the contrary, once mastered, one is practically invincible among those of the same rank!"

Having said that, Xu Ya paused. "However, the cultivation process is extremely difficult. Of the half who succeeded, only three have broken through to the Xiantian Realm in the past hundred years. But without exception, all three became the cream of the crop in Black Mountain County."

"Oh?" Lu Yang asked with keen interest. "May I ask who those three are?"