Choosing a New Cultivation Method, an Unexpected Surprise?

The reason he chose an Elite Grade instead of a higher Earth Grade was simple: broke.

Beginner Grade techniques generally cost between 1 and 10 Gold Coins.

Elite Grade techniques usually ranged from 100 to 1000 Gold Coins.

Earth Grade techniques were even more outrageous—starting at a minimum of 10,000 Gold Coins, with some reaching as high as 100,000!

"Let's go! Time to pick a technique!"

No sooner said than done.

Su Zhan headed straight for the Martial Hall.

The Martial Hall was the central hub for all martial artists—a supply center where one could purchase everything a warrior needed: Elixirs, Spirit Weapons, techniques, and various cultivation resources.

Not only that, but if you wanted to form a team to hunt beasts outside the city, or post a bounty mission, or acquire rare materials, you could do it all here.

Thus, as Su Zhan approached, all three techniques began to stir restlessly.

Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "Elixirs! The rich aura of so many high-grade Elixirs!"

Nine Fire Saber: "Holy crap, the sheer number of Spirit Weapon auras here is making my mouth water!"

Jade Body: "I smell a ton of high-year medicinal herbs—you smell that too, big bro? I really want to eat them..."

Nine Fire Saber: "Not just high-year herbs, there are plenty of high-grade minerals too—this is way too tempting!!"

Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "There are also many powerful presences stationed here—some are even beyond my perception range!"

"..."

From the chat messages, Su Zhan gleaned some new information.

It wasn't just Elixirs that could nourish and accelerate a Body Tempering Technique—even the medicinal herbs used to refine Elixirs worked the same way... The same applied to weapon techniques; any metal or mineral used to forge Spirit Weapons could trigger their craving, and devouring them would speed up cultivation!

"That broadens my options quite a bit."

Su Zhan's eyes flickered.

He had already made up his mind—once his techniques broke through and his strength increased, he would immediately take on a mission to hunt beasts outside the city... By then, whether he traded for Spirit Weapons, Elixirs, or any other items, it would all bring him considerable gains!

The Martial Hall was both imposing and spacious.

It had a futuristic sci-fi aesthetic.

After asking where to purchase techniques, Su Zhan headed straight there.

The technique area was equally vast.

It was arranged like a library.

Row after row of bookshelves held techniques neatly in place.

"Beginner Grade."

"Elite Grade."

"Earth Grade requires going upstairs to the second floor—you need to verify your assets."

"I'll just stay on the first floor."

He arrived at the Elite Grade section.

"Body Tempering Technique Area."

"Weapon Technique Area."

"Attribute Technique Area."

"Special Technique Area."

"I'll skip Special Techniques for now—I'll go straight to cultivating an Attribute Technique!"

Su Zhan had already decided on the way here.

He already had a Body Tempering Technique and a Weapon Technique.

What he was missing now were an Attribute Technique and a Special Technique.

Attribute Techniques, as the name implied, covered Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Ice, Thunder, Wind, Light, Darkness, Poison, and so on—all of these counted as Attribute Techniques.

Special Techniques, on the other hand, had no fixed definition—things like the Disguise Skill for changing appearance, the Stealth Technique for hiding one's form, the Breath Concealment Method for suppressing aura, and so forth.

Special Techniques rarely provided a direct boost to combat power.

Attribute Techniques were the opposite.

These were several times harder to cultivate than any other category of technique, but by the same token, their power output was also several times higher!

But soon, Su Zhan ran into a problem.

"These techniques... every single one of them looks incredibly powerful!"

Heavenly Fire Hand: Flame gathers in the palm, reaching Major Accomplishment can instantly melt metal and stone... If it strikes a human body, the effect is easy to imagine.

Cold Thunder Method: Summons thunder to attack an opponent, can be attached to a weapon, dealing immeasurable damage to the enemy... Can be summoned from thin air or attached to a weapon, both powerful and flashy.

Corrosive Poison Art: Can be applied to a blade, once it hits an enemy, it deals strong corrosive poison damage... A must-have for an Old Silver Coin!

Heavenly Fire Hand, 800 Gold Coins.

Cold Thunder Method, 800 Gold Coins.

Dark Corrosion Poison Cultivation, 1000 Gold Coins.

The prices were all absurdly high; he couldn't afford any of them!

He had no choice but to filter again for Elite Grade Techniques within 300 Gold Coins that suited him.

"Right!"

Su Zhan's mind flashed with an idea, "Why pick myself? I'll ask the techniques!"

Su Zhan: "Can you guys sense the aura of those technique manuals around? I need to pick one that fits me, any suggestions?"

Jade Body: "Boss, you've come to the right person! We can all sense their auras, we even know how strong their momentum is!"

Nine Fire Saber: "That's right, boss, if you're going to train, I suggest that Ice Kill Technique. Its momentum is sharp, its attack power must be impressive!"

Basic Qi and Blood Method: "I sensed Ice Kill Technique too, it's indeed good, standing out among these Attribute Techniques around, but I think because it's too fierce, it's not easy to control."

Su Zhan: "Then do you have a suggestion?"

Basic Qi and Blood Method: "Boss, my suggestion is that Departing Fire Method. Its momentum is gentler, easier to handle, and it doesn't lack power either."

Jade Body: "Big bro, I have to say something here. That Departing Fire Method is gentle, but it's too gentle. Its power is a bit weak compared to other Attribute Techniques."

Nine Fire Saber: "True, I have a bit of Fire attribute myself, and that Departing Fire Method in my eyes is just an honest man, too mediocre."

Su Zhan: "Then do you have any good suggestions?"

Jade Body: "Boss, there's nothing particularly great around here that perfectly matches you. Why don't you walk a bit further ahead?"

Su Zhan: "Alright, I'll go through all of them, you guys feel carefully."

Su Zhan strolled straight through the Elite Grade Attribute Technique area.

To let the techniques sense clearly enough, he even walked back and forth several times.

There were quite a few that matched.

But when he looked at the prices, they all exceeded 300 Gold Coins, and Su Zhan could only sigh in disappointment.

Suddenly.

Basic Qi and Blood Technique: "Boss, wait!"

Nine Fire Saber: "Brother Blood Consumption, you sensed it too, right? Something's off!"

Jade Body: "I noticed it earlier, and this time the feeling is stronger!"

Su Zhan was curious and eagerly asked, "Did you guys sense some powerful technique? Where?"

Basic Qi and Blood Method: "Boss, look at the spot under your left foot."

Under his left foot?

Su Zhan looked down: "I don't see anything."

Jade Body: "Boss, it's that mat propping up the bookshelf leg!"

What the hell?!

Su Zhan stared closely, and sure enough, under the bookshelf leg, there was a square, folded, dirty-looking mat.

Nine Fire Saber: "Yeah, that's it! That oppressive feeling is coming from this thing!"

Su Zhan was dumbfounded.