An Ordinary Family, A Common Minor Cultivator

Three days later, in the Royal Court's grand tent.

Wu Wang changed into a black robe and leather boots, his simply tied long hair tucked into a young beast's skull. He sat on the highest throne in the royal tent...

...actually, on the seat next to it.

He was only the Young Master now and couldn't sit on the throne.

Below the six-layered jade staircase stood more than ten influential figures from the tribe.

After completing their greetings, they gazed at Wu Wang with concerned eyes, wondering why the Young Master had summoned them.

"Everyone," Wu Wang said slowly, "my Star Invocation Technique cultivation has recently reached a critical stage. I also received guidance from my mother before. I believe you've all heard the rumors within the tribe.

From now until my father returns to the Royal Court, I will find a place to cultivate in peace.

I will have to trouble all of you to discuss and handle the many tedious affairs of the Royal Court."

An old woman in a patterned robe, her face etched with wrinkles, became so emotional she teared up. "Young Master, have you broken through again? You're only twelve or thirteen, could it be you're about to reach Moon Sacrifice?"

"Still far off, still far off. It was just a minor breakthrough, nothing worth boasting about."

Wu Wang's smile deliberately held a touch more simpleheartedness.

He had to; the elders liked that.

"Young Master!"

A burly old man frowned and shouted, "You can't always be cultivating these esoteric things. Our Bear Hug Tribe is built on strong physiques. You're too thin. Wouldn't it be better to eat a few more pounds of meat every day?"

"This..."

Wu Wang could only maintain an awkward yet polite smile and lightly brush past the topic. "My father works very hard patrolling various regions. Please ensure his supplies are ample. That's all for today, I just wanted to inform you. The place I'll be in seclusion is not far behind the mountain. You can send people over anytime."

With that, Wu Wang stood up and slipped away.

The old man still wanted to call out to Wu Wang to say a few more words, but he was glared at by several old women holding wooden staffs and wearing ceremonial robes.

As Wu Wang exited the back door of the royal tent, he could still hear the elders' kind and gentle discussion: "What's wrong with cultivating the Star Invocation Technique? Are we eating your food?" "Without the Star Invocation Technique, could you defeat a great fierce beast that's thousands of years old?" "You only know how to train your strength all day, why don't you just fly to the sky?"

On the Status of Female Shamans in Clans.

There weren't many major matters in the Royal Court, mostly just tasks related to resource allocation and logistical support. For truly critical issues, people would usually go directly to Wu Wang's grandmother, the previous Great Priest of the Bear Hug Tribe.

Leaving the royal tent, Wu Wang didn't return to his own residence. He walked up the mountainside with his hands behind his back for a while, then soon got into a carriage and drove away from the Royal Court.

Immortal cultivation emphasizes 'Spirit Absorption,' drawing in the pure energy of heaven and earth. Lin Suqing couldn't explain exactly what pure energy was, only managing to deceive him with talk of 'when heaven and earth first opened, what rose was pure, and what descended was turbid.' However, it was certain that the more people there were, the less pure energy there was, so it was best to avoid densely populated areas for cultivation.

Wu Wang silently deducted her wages for that.

The cultivation methods in the Human Domain were mainly divided into two major schools: Body Cultivation and Spirit Cultivation. These were further divided into two major factions: Immortal Cultivation and Demonic Cultivation. Demonic Cultivation was 'Absorb Turbidity,' drawing in the turbid energy of heaven and earth.

Before the carriage could pick up speed, it began to slow down. The four Frost Wolves pulling it wagged their tails in disappointment. Wu Wang looked forward to see a wide river valley, with a stream winding around and pebbles piled up. Two simple wooden huts had already been hastily completed. The reason these huts were so rudimentary was also Lin Suqing's suggestion. Immortal cultivation valued environmental bonuses. The simpler it was, the closer one could get to nature. The downside was susceptibility to insect bites.

In the distance, scattered tents could be seen, and closer by, several patrols of Giant Wolf Riders were visible. Although the location seemed to offer no strategic advantage, the surrounding security was sufficient to ensure its safety.

"Ah..."

Wu Wang stretched and let out a soft sigh.

From today on, I will cultivate immortal methods and comprehend the Dao; from today on, I will be a simple and happy little cultivator, striving to live for thousands or tens of thousands of years; from today on, I will master a small technique for ascending to immortality every day, aiming to become a male immortal lounging in the clouds as soon as possible...

"Young Master~~"

A familiar cry suddenly came from the distance. Lin Suqing, riding on the back of a Giant Wolf, was rapidly approaching with a team of Giant Wolf Riders, shouting from afar:

"I found something good at the market!"

Oh?

Wu Wang's eyes lit up. He had sent Lin Suqing to the nearest Northern Wilderness Market yesterday to look for some powerful cultivation techniques for his Foundation Establishment stage. Could it be that she had actually found a profound art?

A moment later.

Lin Suqing and Wu Wang were alone in a small wooden cabin, the door shut tight.

The former's cheeks were flushed. She took out two paper books wrapped in sheepskin from her embrace and pushed them in front of Wu Wang, seeking praise with her expression.

Wu Wang calmed his mind and toyed with the packages before him.

Lin Suqing said:

"Young Master, these are top-tier Demonic Path cultivation methods!

Although the Demonic Path and our Immortal Sect seem diametrically opposed, in reality, they only have conflicting cultivation philosophies. Everyone is pretty much the same.

Open them up and take a look."

That look of seeking praise.

"Is that so?"

Wu Wang responded with a smile and casually opened the package in front of him. He focused his gaze and his smile froze slightly.

Uh...

The Great Law of Yin-Yang Harmony: The Joyful Union Sect's Secret Transmitted Art

The Northern Wilderness Market really has some interesting things.

Seeing Wu Wang's strange expression, Lin Suqing instinctively took half a step back, watching the young man before her nervously.

"How much did this cultivation technique cost?"

Wu Wang's voice was quite calm.

"Two Hundred-Year Beast Cores," Lin Suqing said quickly. "This technique ranks in the top three hundred Demonic Path techniques. If the Joyful Union Sect hadn't been razed for incurring widespread wrath, such a technique wouldn't have been leaked! Is... is it fake?

I didn't examine it closely when I bought it, but the preface seemed quite profound, and the bookseller swore it was genuine. He just copied it many times, so he sold it very cheaply."

Wu Wang glanced at the book in front of him, then suddenly turned around and stared at Lin Suqing.

"I have a question for you."

"Ask away, Young Master."

"What exactly do a man and a woman do on their wedding night?"

Lin Suqing counted on her fingers, item by item: "The wedding ceremony, the exchange of vows, lifting the veil, drinking the cross-cupped wine, the wedding chamber games, and then sleeping together. Afterward, they wake up and serve tea to the master and elders.

There's no mistake, I've often deduced these steps."

Wu Wang: ...

How badly do you want to get married?

"It's not your fault," Wu Wang said, tossing the book in his hand over to her. "Go back to your room now and study this cultivation technique carefully, paying special attention to the illustrated technical guidance in the middle.

Ponder it yourself, and don't make such a joke in the future. You're decades old, and you know less than your junior sister!"

"This," Lin Suqing said, looking slightly confused, took the cultivation technique, and was a bit bewildered. As instructed, she returned to the adjacent wooden cabin.

What does he mean I know less than my junior sister?

Lin Suqing, feeling a bit dizzy, opened the cultivation technique before her and slowly flipped to the pages with illustrations. She looked at the simple drawings of people undressing and embracing. At first, she tilted her head in confusion, then a blush crept up from her neck to her forehead, quickly conquering her brow. Finally, with a poof, wisps of white smoke exploded from her forehead.

What the!

You can cultivate like this?

Entwining limbs while circulating Qi? Ah! It truly is an evil and unorthodox path!

Lin Suqing quickly raised her hands to cover her eyes, then peeked through her fingers a few more times. She thought about how she had just... in front of a twelve-year-old boy.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump!

Hearing the sounds of someone banging their head against the wall next door, Wu Wang shrugged and began to read the other cultivation technique Lin Suqing had bought.

This one was somewhat useful.

Soon, on the wooden bed covered with furs, Wu Wang revealed a smile similar to his mother Cang Xue's and continued to circulate the spiritual energy he had absorbed into his body.

A necklace hidden inside his clothes was emitting a faint glow, which subtly enveloped his form.

After a while, Wu Wang slowly exhaled and stood up again. He raised his hands, and a point of starlight bloomed on his forehead.

The sunlight in the room immediately dimmed. a faint sea of stars appeared behind Wu Wang, and countless starlight descended from the star sea, converging on Wu Wang's body and entering him.

Soon, Wu Wang stopped absorbing the Star Power and sat back down on the wooden board, closing his eyes and concentrating, continuing to circulate the Lesser Heavenly Cycle.

He repeated this process, seemingly trying to figure something out.

By the time night fell, a guard had brought hot food and dishes. Only then did Wu Wang emerge from his wooden cabin, his eyes filled with confusion, and he seemed distracted even while eating.

Lin Susu, who had already achieved grain abstinence, naturally didn't dare to disturb Wu Wang. She tore off pieces of roast meat and savored the rare and precious ingredients.

"Hey," Wu Wang suddenly looked up and asked, "Which element does Star Power belong to in the Five Elements?"

"Star Power is the essence of heaven and earth; it cannot be said to belong to any one category of the Five Elements."

Lin Susu thought carefully, then added:

"I once heard a saying that the stars in the sky also have Five Elements affiliations, but it's generally based on the corresponding directions: South for Fire, East for Wood, North for Water, West for Metal, and Center for Earth.

Star Power might follow this pattern."

Wu Wang nodded slowly, holding his rice bowl and continuing to ponder by the campfire.

Lin Susu raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "They don't call me 'Hey,' and besides, I have a Daoist Name..."

"Hm?"

Wu Wang looked up at her.

Lin Susu instantly clasped her hands together, placed them by her cheeks, and showed her sweetest smile: "Little 'Hey' is always at the Young Master's command."

"Mm."

Wu Wang agreed, lowering his head to continue his contemplation.

He hadn't expected to develop such a strong interest in cultivation, becoming so engrossed that he couldn't pull himself away.

The Lesser Heavenly Cycle was just the first step after Spirit Absorption, a very small step, meant to allow spiritual energy to reside within the body, transforming it from a mortal body to a Dao Body.

The four realms of Foundation Establishment: Spirit Absorption, Gather Qi, Return to Origin, Condense Core.

After completing the Lesser Heavenly Cycle, one enters the early stage of Spirit Absorption. The next task is to expand the meridians to accommodate more spiritual energy and refine one's innate essence into the first wisp of Origin Qi.

This wisp of Origin Qi is crucial for future cultivation. Supplementing essence with spirit is the core meaning of the Return to Origin realm.

The four realms of Foundation Establishment represent a mature cultivation system, the 'lessons learned' summarized and compiled by the human race's predecessors and experts over many years.

But this didn't mean Wu Wang had to follow this path.

Moreover, he already had experience cultivating the Star Invocation Technique. Comparing and verifying the two seemed to make it easier to approach the essence of both cultivation paths.

What Wu Wang could now confirm was that the Star Invocation Technique was a bestowal from above;

While it seemed easy to start, requiring only constant prayer to gain power, in reality, this power was more like 'borrowed' power.

The cultivation laws of the Human Domain were different.

In Wu Wang's opinion, the human sages who pioneered the methods of Immortal Cultivation had incredibly bold ideas.

[Develop one's own potential, merge with nature to comprehend the Great Dao, and use the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to shape extraordinary beings.]

Just thinking about it was exhilarating!

The key was that this path had already been trodden successfully by the human sages of the Human Domain.

Every time he thought of this, Wu Wang felt deeply moved, as if he were sinking into a quagmire, immersed in the world of cultivation.

He had only pushed open the crack of a door, and behind it lay infinite treasures.

It was just...

A bit taxing on the tutor.

Lately, Lin Susu had been exhibiting frequent non-normal physiological phenomena common to female cultivators, such as irritability, petulance, and hair loss. As the days passed, the girl's 'condition' gradually worsened.