As night deepened, the moon sank toward the west.
Before he knew it, the eastern horizon had begun to pale.
Su Yun slowly finished his cultivation and opened his eyes.
By then, his cultivation had firmly reached the second level of Qi Refining.
One night.
In a single night, he had gone from an ordinary mortal with no cultivation at all to the second level of Qi Refining, crossing two realms in one leap.
If word of this got out, the entire Azure Cloud Sect would erupt. Everyone would be stunned speechless.
After all, it took ordinary disciples anywhere from a month or two to half a year to go from mortal to the first level of Qi Refining.
Even talented cultivators with high-grade spirit roots needed ten days to half a month to break through a single level. Advancing from the first level to the second took even longer.
Even the Heavenly Spirit Root recorded in ancient texts could manage no more than one level every two days. It was absolutely impossible to break through two realms in a single night like he had.
He had completely shattered the common sense of the cultivation world.
Feeling the abundant spiritual energy within him, Su Yun was full of vigor. He didn't feel the slightest bit of fatigue from a night of hard cultivation. Instead, he felt clear-headed and refreshed.
He was utterly satisfied.
It felt incredible.
He couldn't help but secretly humblebrag.
Everyone said that cultivating immortality was difficult, that every step was an uphill struggle.
In his view, it was nothing special. It wasn't difficult at all.
With a Heavenly Spirit Root as his foundation, a thousandfold boost from a Mythical Entry, and resources in ample supply, breaking through was as easy as drinking water.
But after basking in his delight, Su Yun quickly regained his composure.
He rubbed his chin and pondered.
His cultivation speed was simply too outrageous.
Going from mortal to the second level of Qi Refining in a single night was far too shocking.
If word spread, it would surely attract countless covetous eyes and suspicion.
The cultivation world had never been a kind place.
The strong preyed on the weak, and people's hearts were unfathomable.
For now, he had the Azure Cloud Sect backing him, and things seemed peaceful. But a tall tree caught the wind.
If his heaven-defying talent were fully exposed, it would inevitably attract the covetous attention of reclusive old monsters and powerful cultivators from other sects.
They would covet his Heavenly Spirit Root and the secret behind his cultivation.
Even with the Azure Cloud Sect supporting him, he would be beset by trouble—and might even invite disaster upon himself.
With the Thousandfold Amplification, his breakthroughs would only get faster. He would have no bottlenecks at all.
Everything would go smoothly as his cultivation soared.
He couldn't let anyone see that kind of speed.
He had to learn to conceal his true abilities and hide his actual cultivation.
Keeping a low profile while steadily building his strength was the way to go.
At that thought, Su Yun's eyes shifted.
The Breath Concealment Art.
If he could learn a secret art for concealing his aura, he could hide his cultivation at will and display only the talent expected of him in front of others, without drawing too much attention.
That would let him cultivate in peace and avoid unnecessary trouble.
He just didn't know whether the Azure Cloud Sect's Technique Pavilion had any spells or manuals for concealing one's aura.
When he had some time during the day, he could visit the Technique Pavilion and look for a suitable concealment art.
Keep his edge hidden and cultivate steadily.
He could reveal his brilliance once he was strong enough.
During the day.
The sky had brightened, and sunlight spread across Azure Cloud Mountain.
After a quick wash, Su Yun changed into his personal disciple robes and headed for the Lecture Hall.
The reason was simple.
He had only been here a short time.
Even though Chu Fan had explained the sect's rules to him the day before, Su Yun still knew little about the cultivation world's general knowledge, the levels of cultivation, how to identify spirit herbs, or the taboos cultivators had to observe.
The lectures were easy to understand and perfect for filling in the basics.
Even with his heaven-defying talent, he couldn't afford to lack common knowledge.
Otherwise, he might make a fool of himself later.
Half an hour later.
The Lecture Hall.
It was a spacious wooden building, its interior lined with rows of wooden tables and chairs.
The hall was now full of newly inducted disciples.
Everyone sat up straight, quietly listening to the elder lecturing at the front.
A shadow flickered across the doorway as Su Yun strolled in at an unhurried pace.
The personal disciple robes were unmistakable.
The eyes of several hundred disciples in the hall instantly fixed on him.
Rustle.
Everyone reflexively stood and bowed with clasped hands, their voices respectful.
"Greetings, senior brother!"
The elder lecturing at the front paused and glanced over at Su Yun. He didn't interrupt, silently allowing everyone to pay their respects.
Su Yun clasped his hands behind his back, his expression calm and his steps unhurried.
He gave a slight nod in casual acknowledgment, his presence commanding.
The corners of Su Yun's mouth lifted into a subtle smile.
Heh.
Who wouldn't love this kind of treatment?
Instead of taking an empty seat in the back, he walked straight to the front row and sat down.
Then the lecture resumed.
The elder's lesson was detailed and monotonous.
He went from the three calamities mortals faced to the nine grades of Qi Refining.
From low-grade spirit herbs to ordinary demonic beasts.
It was all the most basic, simplest knowledge—not even enough to count as an introduction.
The dull drone of the lecture echoed in Su Yun's ears.
He propped his chin on his hand as his eyelids drooped.
He was nearly nodding off.
He forced himself through the entire lesson.
The bell rang.
Su Yun didn't stay a moment longer.
He stood up and left.
Several hundred disciples watched him go. Not one dared to say a word.
After leaving the hall, Su Yun headed straight for the sect's western side.
The Technique Pavilion.
It stood halfway up the mountain, a five-story wooden tower.
The entire building was made of dark red timber, its eaves simple and ancient. Two disciples stood guard at the entrance.
Su Yun walked up the steps.
"Stop. Please present your token."
The two guards held out their hands to stop him. They were respectful, but strict about the rules.
Su Yun casually took out his white jade Personal Disciple Token.
The two guards immediately bowed and stepped aside.
"Please enter, senior brother!"
The Azure Cloud Sect's Technique Pavilion had a strict hierarchy.
The first and second floors were open to outer disciples.
The third and fourth floors were open to inner and core disciples.
The fifth floor was reserved exclusively for elders and the sect master.
As the sect master's personal disciple, Su Yun could enter all four floors except the topmost restricted floor without hindrance.
He walked inside the pavilion.
The air was permeated with the faint scent of old ink.
Rows of tall wooden shelves stood packed tightly together.
The shelves were filled with jade slips, ancient books, and scrolls made of beast hide.
There was a dazzling variety, covering all sorts of subjects.
Fist arts, footwork, spells, sword techniques, body refinement, secret arts.
Everything one could want.
The first floor held only the lowest-grade basic breathing techniques and crude boxing and kicking skills.
The second floor held ordinary spells at low prices, capped at a few dozen contribution points.
Su Yun couldn't be bothered to look around. He kept walking, heading straight for the third floor.
The third floor was nearly empty, quiet and still.
It held advanced basic cultivation methods, mid-grade spells, and secret arts.
Everything was sealed in jade slips and reinforced with spiritual energy, making it difficult to damage.
Su Yun was looking for three things.
An offensive spell.
A body-refinement cultivation method.
A secret art for concealing his aura.
He browsed through the shelves one by one, running his fingers across the jade slips.
Their names, grades, and contribution-point costs were marked on them.
He picked up a jade slip containing a mid-grade spell.
When he saw the price, Su Yun couldn't help clicking his tongue.
"Nearly two hundred contribution points?"
That was expensive.
An ordinary outer disciple could spend six months working themselves to the bone on the simplest herb-gathering and mountain-patrol assignments.
Even then, they might not save up two hundred contribution points.
A single mid-grade spell could wipe out half a year's savings for an ordinary disciple.
He continued browsing.
A moment later, his gaze settled on a golden jade slip.
[Golden Blade Technique]: Low-grade, mid-tier spell.
It condensed one's own metal-element spiritual energy into a sharp blade of gold, capable of striking enemies from a distance.
It was fast, highly penetrative, and consumed little spiritual energy.
It was best suited to low-level cultivators with metal spirit roots.
Price: Two hundred contribution points.
It suited him perfectly.
He'd take it.
Next, he found a body-refinement cultivation method.
[Dark Iron Bone Tempering Art]: Low-grade, mid-tier body-refinement cultivation method.
It used both medicinal power and spiritual energy to temper bones and flesh, strengthening the body.
When mastered, the body would be comparable to a magical artifact, able to withstand blows and endure punishment, with a huge advantage in close combat.
Price: One hundred and fifty contribution points.
It was just right for a dual-cultivation path.
The last one.
In the most remote corner, Su Yun found the [Breath Concealment Art].
Its description was short and bold.
Conceal one's aura, hide one's cultivation, and mask fluctuations in spiritual energy.
When fully mastered, even a mighty cultivator at the Spirit Transformation level would be unable to see one's true cultivation.
Price: Six hundred contribution points.
The most expensive.
And the most necessary.
Su Yun knew that perfectly well.
This cultivation art was worth far more than its price.
In the Human Realm, Spirit Transformation cultivators were already at the very peak.
What did it mean to be able to fool the eyes of those old monsters at the Spirit Transformation stage?
It could save his life, hide his true abilities, and let him play the fool before turning the tables.
It was useful in every situation.
Six hundred contribution points wasn't expensive at all.
The three items together cost nine hundred and fifty contribution points.
The thousand contribution points his master had given him were almost gone.
Su Yun gritted his teeth.
He didn't hesitate.
He redeemed them all.
Money and worldly possessions were all fleeting.
Only strength, secrecy, and trump cards were what truly mattered.
Especially the Breath Concealment Art. He had to get it.
His cultivation speed was far too astonishing now. The sooner he hid it, the safer he'd be.
That way, he wouldn't draw the attention of anyone with ill intentions and invite disaster.
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