Name: Wei Zhong Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 (56%) Technique: Azure Wave Art · Mastery (1%) Lifespan: 127/137
The days of cultivation were always dull. In the period after his unfilial disciple's death, Wei Zhong had steadily farmed and cultivated to avoid arousing suspicion.
Now, the Azure Wave Art had reached the mastery level.
Its circulation speed had increased considerably over before, and its efficiency in absorbing spiritual qi had risen by several degrees. Seeing the ten points of cultivation progress, Wei Zhong's heart filled with delight.
At this rate, he would return to Qi Refining Level 8 in less than ten years, perhaps even surpassing his previous progress of 46%.
If he dropped another level, would that not grant him another ten years of lifespan? Like nesting dolls within nesting dolls, would his lifespan not become endless?
Wei Zhong seemed to have discovered the crucial point.
Brimming with joy, he began cultivating once more.
For the next six years, Wei Zhong quietly farmed and cultivated.
Occasionally, collateral descendants of the Yan family came to his door seeking apprenticeship, but Wei Zhong politely refused them all.
Seeing that his attitude was firm, people gradually stopped visiting.
"Hah!"
Wei Zhong exhaled a mouthful of stale qi.
He looked at the Status Panel, delight appearing on his face.
Name: Wei Zhong Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 8 (46%) Technique: Azure Wave Art · Mastery (30%) Lifespan: 133/137
At last, he had returned to the realm he had possessed when he first transmigrated, and his progress through Qi Refining Level 8 was likewise at 46%.
The difference from back then was that he was no longer an old man with only three days left to live.
He was now a Qi Refining Level 8 cultivator with four years of lifespan in hand.
Moreover, it was very likely that he could cross the threshold into Qi Refining Level 9 within those remaining four years.
The mastery-level Azure Wave Art had greatly increased his cultivation speed. What kind of situation would it be if he raised it to the master level?
Speaking of which, the Azure Wave Art was merely a commonplace Yellow-Grade technique. In terms of quality, it was barely mid-grade, and at most could be cultivated to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.
After Wei Zhong's day-and-night cultivation, the mastery-level Azure Wave Art was already no weaker in cultivation speed than a high-grade Yellow-Grade technique. Only its upper limit was lacking.
If it entered the master level, would its cultivation speed not rival a Mystic-Grade Technique?
"Tsk!"
Wei Zhong's heart stirred with excitement.
A Mystic-Grade Technique—something a Rogue Cultivator did not even dare dream of.
Wei Zhong had only seen one at an auction. It had been a fire-attributed, low-grade Mystic-Grade Technique called the Flame Wheel Art.
The moment it went up for auction, its price had reached a staggering two thousand spirit stones.
An ordinary Rogue Cultivator could not earn even a hundred spirit stones from farming for a year. One technique required a Rogue Cultivator to save for over twenty years without cultivating at all.
This showed just how expensive Mystic-Grade Techniques were.
Having made progress in his cultivation, Wei Zhong was in a good mood. He left his small courtyard and headed into the fields.
From far away, he spotted an old man and a young man walking in his direction.
Strange. No one has come to my door these past years. Why is today an exception?
In the distance, Yan Wenbo said to the young man beside him,
"Yan Yuan, that is the man's residence ahead."
The young man looked toward the distant courtyard, somewhat surprised. His clan uncle had said he was bringing him to meet an expert, yet the man turned out to be a spirit farmer in these fields.
"Do not look down on him merely because he is a spirit farmer. He is quite gifted in the path of spellcraft. He has long cultivated the Spirit Rain Technique to the mastery realm. Looking throughout all the spirit farmers of our Yan family, no one can compare with him.
"The Clan Head once even said that his Spirit Rain Technique already carried the air of a master. If you can learn even a few tricks from him, it will greatly benefit your future path of nurturing spirits."
Yan Yuan nodded.
"Daoist Wei, it has been many days since we last met. Your complexion has improved considerably."
Wei Zhong looked at the old man before him. It was Yan Wenbo, the Yan family steward in charge of leasing spirit fields. As old spirit farmers of the Yan family, the two had exchanged greetings for decades and were fairly familiar with one another.
"I merely cured some old ailments," Wei Zhong said, then looked at the young man beside him. "May I ask what brings you here today, Daoist?"
Yan Wenbo patted Yan Yuan on the shoulder. Yan Yuan immediately bowed and cupped his fist in salute. "Greetings, Old Wei."
"On this visit, I wish to bring my junior, Yan Yuan, to become your disciple."
Wei Zhong shook his head. "Brother Yan, you know this old man does not take disciples."
Yan Wenbo was not surprised and continued,
"Then let there be no master-disciple title. How about simply teaching him the path of spellcraft? This lad is quite talented in the path of nurturing spirits. Daoist need only teach him the Spirit Rain Technique."
Nurturing spirits?
Wei Zhong had heard of it. Those on this path were an upgraded version of spirit farmers, responsible for cultivating and tending the spiritual herbs within a Lineage.
He had not expected the young man before him to possess such talent.
After pondering for a moment, Wei Zhong still agreed.
Yan Wenbo was the Yan family steward in charge of spirit field leases. He could not be offended lightly.
Besides, Yan Wenbo had offered ten spirit stones as a deposit, with further payment to come if the teaching went well. Why would Wei Zhong not gladly accept?
After some pleasantries, Yan Wenbo departed, leaving Yan Yuan behind.
Wei Zhong led him into the fields, pointed at the spirit field, and began explaining the spell as he cast it.
"The Spirit Rain Technique is a spell that borrows rainwater to capture the spiritual qi drifting through the air and bring it down upon spiritual crops. Thus, gathering water vapor is the first step, and capturing spiritual qi is the second..."
After the explanation came practice. Watching Yan Yuan summon spirit rain over his spirit field, Wei Zhong held a cup of hot tea and felt quite at ease.
He could save his spiritual power and grind through the spell several more times. While increasing his cultivation, Wei Zhong had not abandoned his own advantage.
"No. You only focused on gathering the water vapor in this area, yet forgot to capture spiritual qi. Even if the spiritual qi here has been exhausted, why should the Spirit Rain Technique be confined to this place? Expand the range over which you capture spiritual qi, and that will be..."
After this round of instruction, Yan Yuan's Spirit Rain Technique had begun to take shape.
Thus, three months passed between his own cultivation and teaching spellcraft. Yan Yuan departed after achieving success, and Yan Wenbo paid the remaining ten spirit stones.
"Many thanks to Daoist Wei for your instruction these days."
Wei Zhong accepted the spirit stones. "Brother Yan is too polite."
Glancing at Wei Zhong's graying hair, Yan Wenbo spoke.
"Daoist, do you know that our Yan Family Market will soon hold an auction? It is said that a Life Extension Pill will appear this time as well."
"An auction? A Life Extension Pill!"
Wei Zhong immediately understood. He solemnly cupped his fist in thanks.
"Many thanks to Brother Yan for revealing this news in advance. I must make proper preparations."
Wei Zhong had attended a Yan family auction once many years ago, but his wealth had been too meager to secure anything worthwhile. Now, another auction was being held.
Wei Zhong was not interested in that Life Extension Pill. Given his wealth, whether he could obtain one was still uncertain.
Even if he did win it, it would likely leave him stripped clean, with nothing left. Besides, with his ability to exchange lost cultivation levels for lifespan, a Life Extension Pill was of little importance to him.
Perhaps Yan Wenbo believed that his lifespan was nearing its end and that he desperately desired a Life Extension Pill.
"Brother Wei need not be so courteous. Given our friendship of so many years, I merely revealed a bit of news. Still, Daoist is right—you must prepare well.
"This auction will be enormous in scale. Not only will Yan family cultivators and nearby Rogue Cultivators attend, but the Li family and Chen family, the other two great families, have also been invited."
"Oh?"
The more people attending the auction, the harder it will be to obtain what I want. And with members of the other families participating this time, could it be that the Yan family will auction something valuable enough to move even the other two great families?
Wei Zhong did not press further. Yan Wenbo had already fulfilled his obligation by notifying him in advance. Asking too many questions would be impolite.
After seeing Yan Wenbo off, Wei Zhong looked up at the roof beam and sank into deep thought.
It was rare for the Yan family to hold an auction. He could not miss it.
He needed to make a trip outside and exchange the items in his possession for spirit stones.
He did not dare sell them at Yan Family Market, fearing someone might notice something amiss. Wei Zhong decided to go to a market for Rogue Cultivators outside.
After packing his things, Wei Zhong left the Yan family's sphere of influence.
With a single shake of his body, he had become someone else entirely.
Disguise Technique · Mastery (70%)
This technique was merely a minor art passed down among mortals. It could not be considered an immortal art, yet Wei Zhong had practiced it to the mastery realm.
By altering his face and bones, coupled with his spiritual power to conceal himself, ordinary Qi Refining cultivators could not see through his true appearance at all.
Thus, Rogue Cultivator Chu He returned to the world.
Looking into the stream, he could vaguely make out the appearance of a middle-aged, burly man. A scar ran across his face, lending him a somewhat ferocious look.
This had been Wei Zhong's previous body's secret identity. At Qi Refining Level 8, he possessed considerable renown among Rogue Cultivators.
Wei Zhong followed the familiar route to the Rogue Cultivator gathering place known as Ruyue Market.
This market lay in the blank region between the territories of the three great families and was jointly operated by three Qi Refining Level 9 cultivators.
Ordinary people did not know why this sizeable market had not been suppressed by the three great families. Instead, all three families had opened their own shops within it.
Some Rogue Cultivators speculated that the three Rogue Cultivators had ties to the three great families and were merely their disguises.
Wei Zhong, however, knew this claim was utter nonsense.
This was because Wei Zhong had dealt with those three cultivators and learned that they came from a sect a thousand li away: the Azurewood Sect.
The Azurewood Sect was a great sect with Core Formation Cultivators. Compared with the Yan family, which only had Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was powerful beyond measure.
It had endured in this region for nearly a thousand years and was the foremost great power.
This was also one reason Wei Zhong had come here to dispose of his stolen goods.
He headed straight for Miscellaneous Spirit Pavilion, the largest shop in the market.
As its name implied, this shop purchased and sold all manner of spiritual items. It was powerful, and it did not ask where goods came from.
Finding the shopkeeper, Wei Zhong handed over his Storage Bag.
The man chuckled. "Brother Chu, have you run into some blind fool again?"
Wei Zhong nodded. Rogue Cultivator Chu He's strength was famous throughout Ruyue Market. His combat power nearly rivaled that of a Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator, and he had even struck up ties with the market's three owners.
Who would dare provoke him? Only those Robber Cultivators without eyes, of course.
Wei Zhong sipped the spirit tea in the shop and waited only a short while before the shopkeeper returned.
"The items in the two Storage Bags Brother Chu brought were rather mixed, so it took a little longer to tally them."
Wei Zhong indicated that it was no matter.
"The total value of all the items comes to three hundred and seventy-two spirit stones. Does Brother Chu find that acceptable?"
Wei Zhong nodded. The good items from the two Storage Bags had already been tucked into his own pocket. What remained were merely miscellaneous objects of little use to him, with limited value.
After putting away the spirit stones, Wei Zhong was about to leave when he turned back and asked,
"May I ask what price you sell High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pills for?"
"One bottle costs two hundred spirit stones and contains ten pills. If Brother Chu buys one, I can offer a slight discount."
"One bottle, then."
"One hundred and ninety spirit stones, please."
"Take care, Brother Chu!"
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