Great Clans and Great Sects, Average and Below-Average Aptitude

"Kowtow!?"

Chu Ge was stunned. Just moments ago, his master had been praising him as a senior, making him feel quite pleased. Now, he was speechless.

Who ever heard of kowtowing to oneself?

Seeing Chu Ge's expression, Hu Xuezhi thought he was unwilling. He chuckled and cursed, "I'm not asking you to kowtow for nothing. Whether you can even reach that senior is still unknown. If you do, kowtowing a few times might benefit you."

He paused, then continued, "I'm a cripple now. The fourth chapter of the Tiger Crouching Technique is truly yours. Keep it for yourself; no need to return it. I heard from the Wang family girl that you've sold your assets and plan to go to the Prefectural City with her."

"Go ahead, the Prefectural City is a good choice. If you have Spiritual Aptitude, you might become a great figure in the future. Don't let down that Wang family girl."

"Master, what are you talking about?"

Chu Ge stared at Hu Xuezhi, who was rambling on his own, in disbelief.

Did Master get hit on the head yesterday? What nonsense is he spouting, thinking such random things.

Hu Xuezhi glanced at Chu Ge sideways, tapped his pipe, and said, "You and the Wang girl are well-matched. What's there to be embarrassed about? Forget it, I won't say more. My Tiger Crouching Technique was actually passed down from the Flying Tiger Family in Jiangcheng Prefecture. If you have Spiritual Aptitude in the future, you might consider joining the Flying Tiger Family. Back then... sigh, it's precisely because I lacked Spiritual Aptitude that I had to leave."

"The Flying Tiger Family in Jiangcheng Prefecture? How do they compare to the Yun Family?" Chu Ge asked, his heart filled with curiosity.

Hu Xuezhi replied, "Naturally, the Flying Tiger Family is superior. After all, the Flying Tiger Family has three experts in the Force Condensation Realm, one more than them."

"Three."

Chu Ge pondered, "Master, I've always had a question. Why can two experts in the Force Condensation Realm establish a major family, control vast resources, and even recruit a large number of ordinary realm Martial Cultivators, including those with Spiritual Aptitude, to become their affiliated members? It seems like they're bestowing favors. If I had Spiritual Aptitude, couldn't I cultivate to the Force Condensation Realm myself? Why would I need to depend on others?"

"Hahahaha." Hu Xuezhi suddenly burst into laughter, coughing so hard from the smoke that his pale face turned red. He pointed his pipe at Chu Ge and chuckled, "You kid, you're just like I was, ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, with ambitions as high as the sky. You need to understand that even possessing Spiritual Aptitude doesn't guarantee you'll truly cultivate into a strong expert in the Force Condensation Realm."

"Oh?" Chu Ge's heart trembled, and he showed a look of eagerness to learn more.

Hu Xuezhi sighed, "This world is unfair. Spiritual Aptitude also has levels of high and low, superior and inferior. Most people's aptitude isn't high, and for those with mediocre or lower aptitude, the hope of breaking through to the Force Condensation Realm alone is extremely slim. However, at this point, if one can obtain powerful cultivation techniques from major clans or sects, even with mediocre aptitude, they can temper their body through the techniques, guide more of the world's Exotic Power to forge their body, and ultimately have a chance to cleanse their marrow and transcend the mundane, entering the Force Condensation Realm."

Hu Xuezhi looked at Chu Ge. "You tell me, if you cultivate alone, where will you get those powerful cultivation techniques? The reason these major clans prosper and endure, attracting followers, is precisely because of their techniques. For example, the Tiger Crouching Technique I learned is merely a simplified mortal realm version of the Flying Tiger Family's powerful technique. In other words, even if you could obtain a cultivation technique, these major clans and sects already control vast amounts of resources, such as famous rivers and lakes rich in Exotic Power. As an outsider, how could you enter and cultivate there?"

"So that's how it is. Wealth, companions, dharma, and land. Major clans and sects control these, and thus they control most people." Chu Ge nodded. "Then, this means the Yun Family should be able to cultivate quite a few experts in the Force Condensation Realm, so why..."

"It's not that easy. The vast majority of people have mediocre or lower aptitude, and cultivation resources are precious." Hu Xuezhi shook his head dismissively. "For those with mediocre or lower aptitude, even with the top-tier techniques of major sects, very few can be cultivated to the Force Condensation Realm, and it consumes a lot of resources. The Yun Family's techniques aren't top-tier either. Why would they expend too many resources to cultivate such individuals? Even their own clan disciples undergo strict selection."

"Ultimately, these individuals with mediocre or lower aptitude, who cannot break through to the Force Condensation Realm, will be granted secret techniques for Exotic Power and spiritual weapons, allowing them to exhibit strength far exceeding ordinary Blood Change Martial Cultivators, like that Lord Lin from the Demon Suppressing Division..."

"I see." Chu Ge couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, as if he could eat a bowl of cold noodles. So, having Spiritual Aptitude wasn't enough; one's aptitude also had to be sufficiently high. But in this world, the vast majority of people had mediocre or lower aptitude.

Hu Xuezhi tapped out the ash from his pipe. "Those Demon Cultivator Martial Cultivators I mentioned earlier are actually also pitiable people. Because their Spiritual Aptitude was insufficient, they turned to the demonic path to forcibly enter the Force Condensation Realm. My good disciple, remember this: do not imitate them. The demonic path shortens one's lifespan! People should just live long and happily."

"Yes, this disciple remembers." Chu Ge stepped forward proactively and refilled Hu Xuezhi's pipe with tobacco leaves. He subtly slipped a thousand taels of silver notes into his hand. "Master, you don't need me to return the fourth chapter of the Tiger Crouching Technique. Please accept this money as a token of my filial piety."

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Chu Ge walked out of the Tiger Martial Arts School, escorted by several junior disciples. Hu Xuezhi not wanting the fourth chapter of the Tiger Crouching Technique was tantamount to giving away his legacy, as he didn't expect any disciple in the martial arts school to break through to the Bone Training Realm and access the fourth chapter in the future. Moreover, this chapter was not only valuable but also a stepping stone to the Flying Tiger Family in Jiangcheng Prefecture. Therefore, Chu Ge left a sum of money as a filial offering to Hu Xuezhi. Even though he himself was the 'senior' Hu Xuezhi wanted to thank, that was a separate matter. The information Hu Xuezhi shared with him during their conversation was also something unobtainable in Linyuan City and very useful to him.

As Chu Ge exited the Tiger Martial Arts School, it was already noon. Thick smoke rose from the western suburbs outside the distant city.

It was likely the cremation and burial of the citizens who had tragically died last night.

Chu Ge paused to watch for a moment, his thoughts drifting to the young girl who had met a tragic end yesterday.

A coroner should stitch her body back together. At least she won't be a headless ghost in the afterlife, unable to find her eyes when she cries.

Although dawn had arrived, the darkness of this world still persisted.

He suddenly felt the Dragon Bell tattoo on his wrist grow warm, realizing an item had been successfully refined.

He immediately stepped into an alleyway by the side of the street to check discreetly.

He saw that the old artifacts Wang Xiuyun had given him the other day had all been refined, converting into over eighty strands of Exotic Power, replenishing his depleted reserves.

He had used up a considerable amount of Exotic Power over the past few days due to his cultivation and the use of various unorthodox items, leaving him with just over a hundred and twenty strands.

Now, with the addition of these eighty-plus strands, his reserve of Exotic Power had risen to two hundred and ten, making him instantly much richer.

In addition to the twenty-plus old artifacts being successfully refined, what surprised Chu Ge was that the large Flying Head Zombie had also been refined, displaying specific information on the Dragon Bell.

"Why was this large Flying Head Zombie refined so quickly? The smaller one isn't even finished yet, this is quite unexpected. Did my Dragon Bell work overtime last night?"

As Chu Ge's gaze focused, the center of the Dragon Bell displayed the information for the large Flying Head Zombie after its refinement.

"Beguiler: Description: (A Beguiler refined from a Flying Head Zombie created by a sorcerer. Extremely rare, not comparable to ordinary minor ghosts. It is the key core that the Soul Chasing Old Man uses to control Flying Head Zombies with his sorcery. It excels at possession, phasing through walls, enchantment, and spirit channeling. Control requires a daily expenditure of two strands of Exotic Power for sustenance. Using the Beguiler's abilities will consume even more Exotic Power.)"

After reading the information displayed on the Dragon Bell, Chu Ge couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Is this all that comes out after refining the large Flying Head Zombie?

Then the smaller Flying Head Zombie will likely yield a refined minor ghost.

He suspected the Dragon Bell might have taken quite a few kickbacks.

"Beguiler, this can be called a ghost, right? The Dragon Bell determined this thing is the most valuable part of the large Flying Head Zombie.

That seems right, after all, it's the core component for controlling the large Flying Head Zombie. It's just that the cost to control it... is too much."

Chu Ge hesitated for a long time before deciding to try it out first.

Since I have more Exotic Power now, I'll try controlling a so-called extremely rare Beguiler to see.

If it feels lacking, I'll just control it and then sacrifice it to convert it back into Exotic Power. Coming from a merchant family, I can't afford to make losing deals...