Cultivation Methods

Cultivation methods were of vital importance after breaking through to Dou Zhe.

On the Dou Qi Continent, the grades of Dou Qi cultivation methods were divided into four tiers and twelve levels from highest to lowest: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. Furthermore, each tier was divided into three grades: primary, intermediate, and advanced.

The grade of the practiced Dou Qi cultivation method was also the key to determining one's future achievements. For instance, someone practicing a Mysterious Grade Intermediate cultivation method would naturally be somewhat stronger than a person of the same rank practicing a Yellow Grade Advanced cultivation method.

Looking at these three cultivation methods, Xiao Li could sense the intense heat radiating from them, so their grades were presumably not low.

One had to know that the current Xiao Clan's cultivation methods were somewhat outrageous; their foundation-protecting cultivation methods were only Mysterious Grade Intermediate. They were respectively the Mysterious Grade Intermediate cultivation method Furious Lion's Roar, the Mysterious Grade Intermediate cultivation method Raging Tiger Thunder Technique, and the Mysterious Grade Intermediate cultivation method Refining Fire Burning Technique.

Among them, Xiao Li was quite familiar with Furious Lion's Roar, as Eldest Brother Xiao Lin practiced this very method.

Raging Tiger Thunder Technique was the cultivation method practiced by Patriarch Xiao Ting. This technique was already starting to lag behind at his current level, but the fortunate part was that this technique's matching Dou Technique, Thunder Tiger Seal, was also Mysterious Grade Intermediate.

It possessed boundless might in Xiao Ting's hands, and this Raging Tiger Thunder Technique also ranked first among the clan's three foundation-protecting cultivation methods.

If Xiao Li had not taken Wang Ming as his teacher, he probably would have practiced the Refining Fire Burning Technique, cultivating it first and foremost while later adding new cultivation methods to the clan.

Now, someone might ask: as one of the Four Great Clans of the Imperial Capital and possessing a Dou Wang expert, why did the Xiao Clan not even have a single Mysterious Grade Advanced cultivation method?

This was a rather clever question. The Xiao Clan's heritage had broken off; after drifting into the Jia Ma Empire, many things were lost. Afterward, there was no lack of profound and powerful clansmen who emerged suddenly, but after they went out to temper themselves across the continent, they never returned.

As for why they did not buy a Mysterious Grade Advanced cultivation method, this question was also quite good, and it belonged to the category of luck. The Xiao Clan had no industries to operate, so their funds were insufficient.

When the Mittel Auction House was auctioning off a Mysterious Grade Advanced cultivation method, the Xiao Clan happened to have no money. By the time the Xiao Clan had money, there were no more Mysterious Grade Advanced cultivation methods available for auction. This luck was truly unmatched.

The Xiao Clan still had so many disciples to nurture, which resulted in the clan currently being quite poor, though perhaps they had some money kept aside for critical moments.

The Mittel Family among the Four Great Clans was in the business of trade, and major cities throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire had Mittel Auction Houses. They monopolized many industries, and with the Ice Emperor, one of the Jia Ma Empire's Top Ten Experts, holding down the fort, no one dared to touch the Mittel Family's cake.

The Mu Clan had always been the lackeys of the Jia Ma Empire's Royal Family. Backed by the empire, they would not collapse anytime soon.

The Nalan Clan looked similar to the Xiao Clan, but they had a close relationship with the Misty Cloud Sect, and the contemporary Nalan Patriarch was an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect.

(Setting note: this Nalan Elder is an elder of Nalan Jie, and at this time Nalan Jie is a Dou Ling just like Xiao Lin.)

Among all the major families in the Imperial Capital, the Xiao Clan looked somewhat like a clown, standing alone and entirely propped up by Old Master Xiao Ting.

"Teacher, could you introduce these two cultivation methods?" Xiao Li asked, breaking the silence.

Although Wang Ming had produced three scrolls whose material was unrecognizable, Wang Ming had divided them into two portions: his left hand held a vermilion red scroll, while his right hand held two vermilion red scrolls.

"Heh heh, the cultivation method in this old man's left hand is named the Nine Heavens Yang Skill. It is an Earth Grade Intermediate cultivation method and also the method this old man currently practices. It is divided into nine stages, and when practiced to completion, its Dou Qi becomes fiercely yang with boundless might.

As for the two scrolls in this old man's right hand, they are a set: the Earth Grade Low-level Cultivation Method Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique and its matching Dou Technique, the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand.

It uses one's own Dou Qi flame in the manner of 'Nine Tribulations' as its cultivation objective. Every time a tribulation is broken through, the practitioner's Dou Qi flame undergoes a qualitative transformation, gradually evolving from 'Scarlet Flame' to 'Purple Flame', until finally reaching the ninth tribulation, at which point one's own flame is no less than the beast flame of a magical beast of the same rank.

As for this Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand, its powerful might can even rival an Earth Grade Intermediate Dou Technique, and this old man is also using it. Practiced to completion, every gesture can split mountains and shatter rocks, or churn rivers and overturn seas."

Wang Ming gave Xiao Li an introduction to the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques in his hands. This left Xiao Li extremely astonished: were Rank 6 alchemists this wealthy?

Earth Grade Low-level was easy enough to speak of, but Earth Grade Intermediate? Don't tell me you, a Rank 6 alchemist, also possess Rank 7 pill recipes or even Rank 8 pill recipes!

Xiao Li carefully looked at the two cultivation methods in Old Wang's hands and weighed them carefully. He chose the Earth Grade Low-level Cultivation Method Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique.

For his current stage as a One-Star Dou Practitioner, an Earth Grade Low-level cultivation method was more than enough, already surpassing countless Dou Practitioners. Moreover, the matching Dou Technique, the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand, looked quite appealing.

At least within the Jia Ma Empire, the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand was guaranteed to let him fight opponents of a higher rank.

"Teacher, I choose the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique!" Xiao Li stepped forward to Wang Ming's right hand and spoke.

"Heh, the little fellow has an eye for this and isn't reaching beyond his grasp. Given your current level, an Earth Grade Low-level cultivation method has already reached the ceiling; there's no need to pursue higher cultivation methods.

Even if there were higher cultivation methods, you couldn't practice them anyway. Here—this is yours."

Wang Ming smiled and nodded. He was very satisfied with Xiao Li's choice, handing the Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique and the matching Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand over to Xiao Li.

Xiao Li opened this Earth Grade Low-level Cultivation Method Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Technique and quickly immersed himself within it.

The Dou Qi within Xiao Li's body began to circulate according to the direction described in the cultivation method, and soon completed a major circulation.

Xiao Li felt that his Dou Qi had become even purer, with both its quality and quantity growing at a rapid pace.

"Disciple, open your mouth!"

Just as Xiao Li was immersed in his cultivation, he suddenly heard his teacher's voice. Xiao Li didn't know what opening his mouth was for, but opening it was the right thing to do anyway—could his master possibly harm him?

Xiao Li opened his mouth, and two medicinal pills appeared in Wang Ming's hand, directly tossing them into Xiao Li's mouth.

Xiao Li naturally felt two round spheres enter his mouth, which then melted upon contact and quickly flowed down his throat.

Having eaten Gathering Qi Powder before, Xiao Li naturally understood that his teacher had fed him two more medicinal pills.

As soon as the pills were ingested, Xiao Li felt a difference. He could perceive the surrounding fire-attribute World Energy much more clearly, and his absorption speed became even faster.

It must be due to those two medicinal pills. I cannot let down Teacher's painstaking efforts; cultivate!

Xiao Li once again entered immersive cultivation. Watching his disciple sink into deep-level cultivation, Wang Ming sat down on a chair and took a sip of tea.

"Rank 3 Awakening Spirit Pill, Rank 3 Gathering Fire Pill. With these two pills going down, Li's cultivation will presumably go a bit smoother. Ah, not bad.

If Li is carefully nurtured with his talent, reaching Dou Zong is simply a matter of a snap of the fingers. As for Dou Zun, it will require some careful nurturing of my own."

Wang Ming muttered to himself, and then he retrieved an archaic scroll from his storage ring.

"The Rank 5 Peak Pill, Profound Yuan Foundation Establishment Pill, seems a bit unworthy of Li, and the Millennium Spirit Origin Fruit is too hard to find. How about changing it?

The Rank 6 High Grade Pill, Profound Yuan Foundation Establishment Pill—this old man has Purple Gold Profound Yuan Ginseng right on hand, and the other supplementary herbs should be available at the Mittel Family. That fellow Hai Bodong wouldn't dare not give me face.

Using the Profound Yuan Foundation Establishment Pill as the core, supplemented by a medicinal bath made from Grade 5 pills, doing this consecutively for five years will surely forge a Venerable foundation for Li!

It's a pity that this old man merely possesses the pill recipe for the Rank 7 Peak Profound Bodhi Foundation Establishment Pill, yet cannot refine it. Alas, I wonder if this old man can advance even further in my remaining years?"