Spirit Splitting Art

Spirit Splitting Art

"If only I could strengthen my spiritual sense." Shi Yue murmured under his breath.

"Heh heh, little Shi, you want to strengthen your spiritual sense? I happen to have a cultivation method for that. Interested? One hundred Spirit Stones." Xiaoyaozi's voice suddenly rang out.

"Doesn't spiritual sense grow stronger as a cultivator's cultivation improves? There are cultivation methods that strengthen spiritual sense, too? I've never heard of one." Shi Yue sounded curious, his eyes full of doubt.

"Hmph, the world is vast, and nothing is too strange to exist. Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. This method is called the Spirit Splitting Art. It has four levels. Once you master the first level, your spiritual sense will double. Master the second, and it will increase by ninety percent; the third, by eighty percent; and the fourth, by another seventy percent. This art not only strengthens your spiritual sense, it also increases your chances of forming a Core. Little Shi, one hundred Spirit Stones is an absolute bargain." Xiaoyaozi spoke in a tone brimming with temptation.

"It not only strengthens spiritual sense but also increases your chances of forming a Core? You're not trying to fool me, are you?" Shi Yue's eyes were full of suspicion.

To be honest, Shi Yue might have believed it if the art only strengthened his spiritual sense. But the claim that it could also increase his chances of forming a Core seemed hard to believe. He thought Xiaoyaozi was lying to trick him out of his Spirit Stones.

"Why would I fool you? Have I ever lied to you? Honesty is the foundation of a person's character. Why would I throw away my good name for a mere one hundred Spirit Stones? Once you master the first level, your spiritual sense will immediately double. Controlling magic tools or refining pills will both become much easier."

"Why does each higher level give a smaller increase?" Shi Yue thought it over briefly, then asked.

"Is that so strange? The higher your cultivation, the harder it is for your spiritual sense to grow. I can't promise you anything else, but if you master the Spirit Splitting Art, I guarantee your spiritual sense will far surpass that of cultivators at the same level." Xiaoyaozi sounded utterly confident.

After hearing this, Shi Yue was tempted.

He thought it over briefly, then said, "One hundred Spirit Stones is too expensive. Ten—"

Before Shi Yue could finish, Xiaoyaozi cut him off. "What? Ten Spirit Stones? Little Shi, do you think the cultivation method I'm offering you is some common trifle? Let me tell you, the founder of this art was honored as the Puppet Emperor. It was with this very art that he controlled thousands upon thousands of puppets and made a fearsome name for himself in the Cultivation World."

"I'm not finished! Why are you in such a hurry? I said I'd pay ten Spirit Stones for the first level. If it really does strengthen my spiritual sense, I'll buy the cultivation method for the second level from you afterward." Shi Yue explained.

"One hundred Spirit Stones for all four levels. By that reckoning, the first level should cost at least twenty-five Spirit Stones! Do you think I can't do arithmetic?" Xiaoyaozi sounded displeased.

"How am I supposed to know whether what you're saying is true? If I master the first level and it only strengthens my spiritual sense a little, instead of doubling it like you said, won't I have been cheated? Ten Spirit Stones for the first level. If it really doubles my spiritual sense, I'll give you another forty when I buy the second level. How about that?" Shi Yue said, curling his lip.

Xiaoyaozi fell silent for a long while before replying, "Fine! Ten it is. Give me the Spirit Stones first, then I'll tell you how to cultivate the first level of the Spirit Splitting Art."

Shi Yue hesitated briefly, then nodded in agreement.

He immediately took out the Heaven Controlling Bead. After infusing it with magic power, he entered Palm Heaven Space.

From a distance, Shi Yue tossed ten Spirit Stones into the stone house.

"Little Shi, listen carefully. I'll only say this once. The way to cultivate the first level is..."

After listening to Xiaoyaozi's explanation, Shi Yue repeated it to himself, then took out paper and a brush and wrote it down.

Once he had finished, a wave of drowsiness washed over him. Fighting it, Shi Yue left Palm Heaven Space, and only then closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, Shi Yue opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

He got up, stretched, opened the stone door, and walked outside.

After leaving Danxia Hall, Shi Yue flew toward Deacon Hall on his magic tool.

He had refined two thousand Bigu Pills this time. There was no way he could keep that many pills for his own use.

He planned to ask Steward Wang whether there were any assignments for refining Bigu Pills.

When he reached the mountain where Deacon Hall stood, Shi Yue spotted a stone stele, taller than a man, erected on the Green Stone Platform in front of the hall. Dozens of Taixu Sect disciples were gathered around it, quietly discussing something.

Curious, Shi Yue walked over.

"Heh, the prize for first place in the Minor Competition is actually a Top-grade Magic Tool."

"Yeah! This time, the top thirty in the Minor Competition will all get prizes. The top ten will receive magic tools, those placing eleventh to twentieth will get pills, and those placing twenty-first to thirtieth will get Spirit Fields."

"Our sect has quite a few Qi Refining Stage disciples. There'll definitely be lots of people entering. Making the top thirty will be incredibly difficult."

As soon as Shi Yue approached the stele, he heard a chorus of discussion.

"The Minor Competition, with Spirit Fields as prizes?" Shi Yue looked surprised.

Taixu Sect had always held a Minor Competition every three years and a Major Competition every ten.

The Minor Competition was held once every three years, and all Qi Refining Stage disciples could enter. They competed against mechanical puppets and were ranked according to the levels and number of puppets they defeated. The top thirty received prizes, which varied from year to year.

As for the Major Competition, it was one of Taixu Sect's grand events. All Qi Refining Stage disciples could enter, and every participant had to sign a life-and-death contract, making it extremely dangerous. The top ten all received generous rewards, and those who performed exceptionally well might even be taken in by an Ancestor Master. It was a golden opportunity to rise above the crowd.

Shi Yue had taken part in the Minor Competition twice, but he couldn't even defeat a single low-grade, first-level puppet, so he had naturally received no prize.

Shi Yue squeezed through the crowd and read the words carved on the stele.

It listed the specific prizes for the top thirty in the Minor Competition. The first-place prize—a Top-grade Magic Tool—had many people itching to compete.

Knowing his own limits, Shi Yue focused on the prizes for those placing twenty-first to thirtieth.

Twenty-first place: five mu of Spirit Fields, five jin of Spirit Grain seeds, and three years' rent waived.

Twenty-second place: five mu of Spirit Fields, three jin of Spirit Grain seeds, and three years' rent waived.

Twenty-third place: four mu of Spirit Fields, five jin of Spirit Grain seeds, and three years' rent waived.

......

Twenty-ninth place: one mu of Spirit Fields, five jin of Spirit Grain seeds, and three years' rent waived.

Thirtieth place: one mu of Spirit Fields, three jin of Spirit Grain seeds, and three years' rent waived.

The Minor Competition would take place in a little over a month.

Seeing this, Shi Yue wore a thoughtful expression.

Shi Yue planned to enter the Minor Competition. It wouldn't cost him any Spirit Stones to participate, and if he happened to make the top thirty, he could get some prizes.

Shi Yue had entered the previous two Minor Competitions. It would be hard to justify skipping this one.

Of course, more importantly, Shi Yue wanted to use this chance to test his combat skills. He hadn't forgotten the time he was ambushed.

For cultivators, cultivation was important, but strength was just as important.

With the Heaven Controlling Bead in hand, Shi Yue had a chance to make a fortune. But without enough strength, he would be nothing more than a plump lamb in the eyes of evildoers.

Shi Yue didn't want to be a plump lamb—or, more precisely, he wanted to be a plump lamb with a few tricks up his sleeve.

Once he had made up his mind, Shi Yue left the crowd and headed for Deacon Hall.

"Junior Brother Shi, what brings you here today?" Steward Wang saw Shi Yue and hurriedly forced a smile, his manner somewhat ingratiating.

"Senior Brother Wang, what are you talking about? If Martial Ancestor Sect Leader hadn't summoned me again a while ago, I would have come to Deacon Hall to visit you long ago." Shi Yue smiled, deliberately mentioning his meeting with Martial Ancestor Sect Leader.

Hearing this, Steward Wang's smile broadened. He had guessed right: Martial Ancestor Sect Leader really did think highly of Shi Yue. Perhaps one day, in a good mood, Martial Ancestor Sect Leader would take Shi Yue in as a disciple. Then Steward Wang would have to address Shi Yue as Martial Uncle.

"Junior Brother Shi, what assignment have you come to take today? I'll make sure you get first pick." Steward Wang beamed.