Gaining a Cultivation Technique

After roughly skimming through it in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Wanyuan was immediately stunned.

This was a body-tempering cultivation method. His realm and cultivation had always been slow to improve, so he had long wanted a body-tempering technique to make up for this shortcoming.

He never expected to obtain one so easily now.

What surprised him even more was the origin of this technique—it was far greater than he imagined.

The Nine Yang Art actually came from the Heaven Tier Nine Yang Golden Body Art, being a simplified version of it.

This technique also had a grade classification, from high to low: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow!

Moreover, each grade was further divided into four sub-ranks, from low to high: Low-Grade, Middle-Grade, High-Grade, and Supreme-Grade.

As for the grade of the Minor Five Elements Art he was currently cultivating, he still wasn't entirely sure.

He also felt that this technique was a simplified version of some other method, and its power was not to be underestimated.

He estimated it was at least a Heaven Tier technique. After all, it was obtained through an Entry, and the Entry was never stingy—it was the real deal.

Because after he started cultivating this technique, although it was extremely difficult at first—just entering the gate took over four months—it showed that this method was not easy to master. Profound techniques were always obscure and hard to understand, requiring time and effort.

However, even at the entry stage, he could feel that the spiritual power in his Dantian was incredibly abundant, at least comparable to a cultivator at Qi Refining Layer 5.

Compared to the common-as-dirt technique he had started with—the Qingyun Art—it was like clouds and mud!

The Qingyun Art was the introductory technique of the Qingyun Sect, only covering up to Qi Refining Level Three.

To learn the later stages, one had to go to the Qingyun Sect itself, meaning joining the sect.

This technique was so common it couldn't get any worse—it was everywhere.

After all, it was just a bait technique used by the Qingyun Sect to lure cultivators who had practiced it into joining the sect.

Thus, this technique was at most a Yellow Tier Low-Grade Cultivation Method, basically only for beginners.

Ordinary Cultivation Families practiced Profound Tier techniques, while Foundation Establishment families and sects likely practiced Earth Tier techniques.

Generally, the stronger the force, the higher the grade of the techniques they cultivated, because only such forces could protect those techniques from being stolen. Moreover, cultivating such high-grade techniques granted immense power.

That was why major forces were so obsessed with high-grade techniques and guarded them so strictly—they wanted a monopoly, ensuring their absolute and transcendent strength!

After reading through it, Lu Wanyuan immediately felt that the return of 150 Spirit Stones was far greater than he had imagined, exceeding his expectations.

He also understood why he had obtained such a return—the method was a bit dishonorable, even somewhat despicable.

Taking advantage of someone's predicament. Lu Wanyuan had never considered himself a gentleman.

Ever since being driven down from Green Bamboo Peak, especially after being ambushed and fleeing like a desperate fugitive, he had truly felt the importance of strength. For that, he would stop at nothing.

As long as he could improve his strength, protect his own life, and ensure his family's safety, nothing else mattered. Only by living could there be hope.

Otherwise, he might not even know when he would be killed.

After that, he put the handwritten technique into his Storage Bag.

In front of Jiang Yun, he naturally placed it in the Storage Bag, even though he had a Storage Ring—he had to keep that hidden.

Jiang Yun watched him put away the technique he had written, expecting him to hand over the Control Token next.

Instead, he saw Lu Wanyuan take several blank sheets of paper from his Storage Bag and hand them over.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, sorry for the trouble. Please write this technique down again from memory."

Lu Wanyuan's expression was calm, his eyes fixed on him.

Jiang Yun was stunned for a moment. Hadn't he just written it down? Why did he need to write it again? Was he going back on his word?

But after a brief pause, he immediately understood.

So he smiled and said, "Easy, easy. Fellow Daoist Lu is quite cautious. I'll rewrite it right away. Please be patient."

With that, he took the blank paper from Lu Wanyuan's hand, spread it on the table, and began writing again.

Lu Wanyuan had him rewrite it to make sure Jiang Yun hadn't set a trap for him.

He believed that if Jiang Yun had tried to trick him, the two versions would differ when compared, revealing the deception.

After all, Jiang Yun wouldn't have expected him to pull this move.

If the two versions matched, then the technique hadn't been tampered with—only then could it be trusted.

Before long, Jiang Yun finished writing the technique, handed it back to Lu Wanyuan with a slight smile, and said, "Please verify it, Fellow Daoist Lu."

"Mm, Fellow Daoist Jiang, don't take offense. This is a cultivation technique; caution is necessary."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun said nothing, only nodding slightly.

Lu Wanyuan took the technique, then retrieved the first version from his Storage Bag and compared the two.

After a short while, he finished the comparison and found no discrepancies—the two versions were identical.

Seeing this, Lu Wanyuan immediately put both copies into his Storage Bag. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, you are truly a man of your word. I admire that. These 20 Spirit Stones are my apology for the trouble. Please don't take offense."

He then handed over 20 Spirit Stones, along with the Control Token.

Jiang Yun showed no expression when he saw the Spirit Stones.

But when he saw Lu Wanyuan actually hand him the Control Token, his face clearly lit up with excitement.

It was this tiny token that had controlled him, making his life a living hell all this time.

He never expected this young man to truly give him the Control Token and return his freedom!

He snatched it over, carefully read the incantation, and soon began chanting. A mysterious light fell upon him, the shackles in his mind instantly vanished, and the token burst apart.

With a clattering sound, the token fragments fell to the ground, colliding with a sharp noise.

That crisp sound seemed to herald the birth of a new life. He lifted his head, gazing at the vast, boundless sky above—the sky of freedom. Now, he was free!

Lu Wanyuan stood nearby, watching him calmly, not saying a word.

The others were the same, some even casting envious glances.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yun turned his head to look at Lu Wanyuan, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Fellow Daoist Lu, aren't you afraid of me?"

"Afraid? What do you mean? Where does that come from?"

Lu Wanyuan stared at him coldly.

"Haha, you must have heard the Slave Trader's introduction of me at the Tooth Agency. Though I'm only at Qi Refining Level 5, my strength rivals that of a Qi Refining Layer 9 cultivator. Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word?"

"Oh, to give you your freedom so readily, of course I trust my own judgment!"

"Besides, this humble one's life doesn't rely solely on confidence—there are other means to rely on."

"Moreover, given your current state, Senior, let alone Qi Refining Layer 9 strength, I doubt you even have Qi Refining Level Three's power. Counting yourself lucky to keep your life is enough!"

"I think, Senior, you must be a wise man who won't do anything foolish without certainty."

Lu Wanyuan's face was calm, his eyes fixed on the other, speaking slowly, word by word.

Though he appeared composed on the surface, his mind was already locked on the 'Sky Thunder Seed x3' entry, ready to use it at the slightest sign of trouble.

"Good, the younger generation is formidable—courage and cunning both!"

Jiang Yun said with an approving look. After a moment's thought, he continued, "But I'll warn you now, that Cultivation Technique isn't easy to master. You'll understand once you start cultivating it!"

"Tell you what, this place is still a small backwater. When you have time and want to venture out, come find me in Huangzhou. I'll be waiting for you there."

With that, Jiang Yun turned and walked toward the exit of the Market.

"Mm, thank you for the praise, Senior Jiang. Once this junior is prepared, I'll definitely take a stroll outside. I'll meet you then, and I hope Senior won't think less of me!"

Watching the distant figure, Lu Wanyuan called out loudly.

"I'll be waiting!"

A voice drifted back from ahead, and Jiang Yun's figure vanished into the distance.

After seeing him leave, Lu Wanyuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Confronting such a High-level cultivator at close range was an immense pressure!

Lu Wanyuan turned to Baili Qiuyue and the others and said, "Alright, all of you go back now!"

"Third Brother, make sure all the Forbidden Seals at home are activated to avoid unnecessary trouble. I still need to go to the Market to buy some daily necessities—I forgot earlier. With so many people coming, we'll definitely need good supplies."

With that, ignoring them, he headed straight toward the Market.