Three Layers

"I killed someone?"

Wu Tao looked at the dismembered remains and blood in the alley. The gray-clothed loose cultivator's upper body lay not far away, eyes wide open in disbelief, fear, and confusion.

The impact of it all was too great for Wu Tao. He was stunned for a moment, his mind hazy. Not knowing what he was doing, he picked up his spirit stone bag and the other person's bundle. Then, in a daze, he conjured a fireball to burn everything to ashes before fleeing in panic.

Wu Tao walked quickly through the streets. He couldn't hear the conversations of the passersby, as if he were the only person in the world.

Unknowingly, Wu Tao returned home, activated the sound-proofing and anti-peeping array, and leaned against the door. His face was still pale with lingering fear. At this moment, he could hear his heart pounding violently.

So clear!

"I killed someone!"

He looked at his hands. For the first time in his life, he felt an uncomfortable sensation. If he could, he wouldn't have wanted to kill anyone, but the other person had tried to rob him of his spirit stones.

In his past life, Wu Tao had read novels on a certain website where transmigrators killed people without guilt or discomfort, acting as if nothing had happened.

But after killing someone himself, Wu Tao realized that the novels were wrong.

As a human being, and influenced by the morality and worldview of his past life, he couldn't lack empathy or feel no discomfort. It wasn't strange to feel a sense of kinship with other living beings.

Clutching his wildly beating heart, Wu Tao took a long time to recover. The discomfort in his heart had lessened considerably. He sat down at the table and admonished himself, "It seems I haven't adapted to this world yet. This is a world of cultivation, governed by immortal sects, where the strong prey on the weak. I need to adapt quickly."

After self-admonishment, he reviewed the events in his mind. Everything had happened too quickly and suddenly. He had acted almost without thinking, and then it was over.

"I was still too impulsive. I attacked without knowing the opponent's strength. Spirit stones can be earned again, but life is lost forever."

"However, speaking of which, the Dragon Spear Body Tempering Art combined with Wind and Thunder is truly powerful. With my cultivation at the Second Level of Qi Refining, I killed that loose cultivator at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining."

"The opponent didn't even have a chance to resist. It was an instant kill."

"It's no wonder. Body cultivation techniques are known for being invincible in close combat. Actually, my reaction wasn't bad, and my response was quite steady. Before attacking, I activated the Wind-Speed Magic Robe and the Small Spirit Shield Robe. The Wind-Speed Magic Robe allowed me to get close to the opponent for the Dragon Spear Technique, while the Small Spirit Shield Robe could defend against their attacks."

"For my first time with no actual combat experience, to achieve this level shows I have talent in Spell Battle."

He felt a surge of excitement and joy, but quickly realized he had become arrogant. He immediately admonished himself, "Don't be complacent. I am an Artifact Refiner, not skilled in Spell Battle. I must remain low-key in my actions and words."

Afterward, Wu Tao frowned, a little worried. "Private duels between loose cultivators are forbidden in the West Outer City. If I killed someone, will the patrol squad find out?"

He recalled that in his daze, he seemed to have destroyed the evidence. His heart slowly relaxed. "It should be fine. I'll stay home for a few days until the heat dies down, then I'll consider going out. I can use this time to break through to the Third Level of Qi Refining."

"Huh? Where are my spirit stones and pills?"

Wu Tao carefully recalled the scene of the incident. It seemed he had picked up his spirit stone bag at the end. After searching the room for a while, he found the spirit stone bag by the door, with a bundle next to it.

He had been too nervous when he returned, leaning against the door and dropping the items he was holding without realizing it.

Picking up the spirit stone bag and the bundle, Wu Tao sat back in his chair. The gray-clothed loose cultivator had mentioned having a Godly Travel Talisman. Opening the bundle, he indeed found a talisman inside.

It was the Godly Travel Talisman.

The talisman paper was made of beast hide, with runes drawn in cinnabar. Each stroke was fluid and aesthetically pleasing, exuding a mysterious aura. In the center were the two characters for 'Godly Travel'.

A First-Rank Level 6 Godly Travel Talisman. Once activated, it could propel one ten miles in an instant. If used for travel, it could cover a thousand miles in a day.

It was countless times better than the Lightness Talisman.

This Godly Travel Talisman was essential for escaping or pursuing. Each one cost over sixty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. While First-Rank Level 6 might not sound expensive, one had to remember that most talismans were one-time use.

"I heard there are Talisman Treasures among talismans, which aren't one-time use and can be used repeatedly, though they do have a limited number of uses. They're like simplified Magic Tools, but Magic Tools and Talisman Treasures each have their own merits."

"As long as a Magic Tool isn't damaged, it can be used indefinitely, though it requires more spiritual energy. Talisman Treasures, despite having limited uses, require very little spiritual energy to activate. In a Spell Battle, saving even a little spiritual energy could be the key to victory."

After putting away the Godly Travel Talisman, Wu Tao continued to look.

This bundle only contained seven Low-Grade Spirit Stones. No wonder he had taken the risk to rob Wu Tao.

Perhaps in the eyes of the Gray-Clothed Loose Cultivator, it wasn't a risk. From his words, he had been targeting Wu Tao for days, knew his route home like the back of his hand, and was aware of his identity.

In this world of Cultivation, Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiners were notoriously weak in Spell Battle. They lacked the time to study spells, focusing solely on refining artifacts.

It was this ingrained perception that cost the loose cultivator his life.

"Looking at it this way, the development strategy I devised is correct. On the surface, I am an Artifact Refiner who is not skilled in Spell Battle. In reality, I am also a Body Cultivator. Body Cultivators are invincible in close combat."

"When the Gray-Clothed Loose Cultivator was dying, I think I saw surprise in his eyes."

Wu Tao became even more determined to keep his identity as a Body Cultivator hidden.

The Gray-Clothed Loose Cultivator was poor. Besides some miscellaneous items, there was only a nail in the bundle.

Wu Tao picked up the nail and felt it was familiar. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he suddenly understood. "Isn't this a coffin nail? Why would he carry a coffin nail so solemnly? Does it have any special significance?"

"Never mind, I'll break through to the Third Level of Qi Refining first, then I'll study it carefully."

Wu Tao took out a Qi Condensation Pill and went to the Cultivation Room, preparing to cultivate.

He adjusted his mindset and sat cross-legged on the Prayer Mat. He expelled the last trace of unease from killing from his mind. With his five senses focused inward, he swallowed a Qi Condensation Pill and began circulating the Sanyang Technique to refine the pure spiritual energy contained within the pill.

Three days later, Wu Tao opened his eyes. He felt that the spiritual energy in his Dantian was already very full, needing only a little more to break through.

He swallowed another Qi Condensation Pill and began refining it.

As the Sanyang Technique circulated, wisps of spiritual energy spun out from the pill and were transported to his Dantian. The spiritual energy in his Dantian grew stronger and stronger, and soon it was completely sufficient.

"Break!"

Time ticked by. Half of this Qi Condensation Pill had been refined. Wu Tao sensed his Dantian and felt that the opportunity to break through had arrived. He silently willed it in his heart and circulated the Sanyang Technique with all his might, channeling the spiritual energy in his Dantian to surge forward.

The spiritual energy in his Dantian suddenly erupted. With a roar from his Dantian, it abruptly expanded. The space within his Dantian grew larger, and the spiritual energy surged downwards, instantly covering only the base of his Dantian.

With the Breakthrough, the spiritual energy nourished him. Wu Tao felt his Five Senses and Six Perceptions become much more acute, and even his divine sense had doubled in strength.

"Finally, I've broken through to the Third Level of Qi Refining!"

Wu Tao stood up, an indescribable joy on his face.