Success

Generally speaking, most first-tier cultivation methods cost around one hundred Spirit Stones.

Unless they were some top-grade method whose value could approach a thousand, most would not exceed three hundred.

After all, at the end of the day, first-tier cultivation methods were only for Qi Refining cultivators to use as a transition.

Before Foundation Establishment, compared to ordinary people, Qi Refining cultivators merely had somewhat longer lifespans and somewhat stronger physiques; they had yet to undergo a qualitative transformation.

And yet this method before him was only a mid-grade first-tier cultivation method, but it actually cost five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. That truly caught Li Jun somewhat off guard.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but the cultivation methods of our Ningxuan Bookstore have all been calibrated. They are far more reliable than the methods circulating outside. Not to mention, this method is only a fragment. The complete method could be comparable to a third-tier cultivation method."

"And the value of a third-tier cultivation method needs no explanation from me. Fellow Daoist, you understand it well enough," the female cultivator explained.

"That's not right. Although it's a fragment, you must have copies. Not to mention, how difficult would it be to gather the complete cultivation method!"

Naturally, Li Jun would not fall for this.

Although he had obtained Zhao Wenjie's inheritance, he still needed to keep it for cultivation.

Five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones was no small sum. He could not play the wronged fat sheep here.

"Fellow Daoist, all of our cultivation methods have been authenticated. We absolutely will not let you suffer a loss. This much, we can guarantee."

Li Jun looked at the female cultivator, then probed, asking:

"How about this? I spend thirty Spirit Stones to look at the opening section of this cultivation method. If I feel it suits me, I'll buy it. If it doesn't, then I'll consider it money spent to broaden my horizons. How about it?"

"This..."

The female cultivator froze for a moment. This was the first time she had heard such a request.

"Fellow Daoist, I need to ask for instructions on this matter. Please wait a moment."

"All right. I'll wait here."

The female cultivator hurried away, then hurried back half an hour later.

"This Fellow Daoist, our elder has agreed. This is the opening section of this cultivation method."

Li Jun's eyes lit up, and he immediately took out thirty Spirit Stones.

He looked at the first page, then firmly committed it to memory.

Fifteen minutes later, he sighed and returned it to the female cultivator.

"This technique is exceedingly difficult! I fear I have fate with it, yet no share in it!"

The female cultivator blinked, only feeling that there was something wrong with this man's head.

But her face still maintained courtesy. "This technique is indeed difficult. Fellow Daoist can look at others."

Li Jun shook his head. "Forget it, forget it. None of these are very suitable."

He sighed and left Ningxuan Bookstore under the female cultivator's puzzled gaze.

"Was that the fellow who just said he only wanted to look at the opening section?"

The bookstore elder came downstairs and walked to the female cultivator's side.

"Replying to Elder Liu, it was that fellow. He said he had fate with it yet no share in it, and then he left."

Liu Mo's brows furrowed. He really was a strange one.

"Find someone to keep an eye on him. Fire Cloud City has not been peaceful lately. Don't let it be that we've offended someone we shouldn't have."

"Yes, Elder Liu."

After leaving Ningxuan Bookstore, Li Jun did not dare be careless, afraid the other party might notice something.

"Looks like someone has followed me. They really are cautious!"

Li Jun's gaze flickered slightly. This Ningxuan Bookstore really was careful.

Originally, he had wanted to find a place to stay and cultivate, but if the other party saw that, they would inevitably make guesses.

"I have to make them think I only acted on a moment's impulse."

Li Jun thought it over and came up with a good place to go—the Red House.

Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

As the largest red-light house in Fire Cloud City, most of the women here were cultivators.

Each one was not only pretty, quite a few of them also understood dual cultivation methods, and were deeply loved by Rogue Cultivators.

Li Jun came before the red-light house. Before he had even drawn near, a woman in a red dress soliciting guests came forward.

"This young master is very unfamiliar. The path of cultivation is arduous, so why not temper your heart in the mortal dust and seek out the utmost bliss of the human realm?"

He looked at the red-clothed woman before him. Her red dress blazed, and she was more delicate than any flower.

When she smiled, there was starlight in her eyes, mountain springs, and a trace of inscrutable slyness.

"Very good. You'll do. I'll book you for the night."

"Ah???"

The woman in red was dumbfounded. He was being this direct?

Li Jun pulled the woman in red through the main doors. He could feel the gaze not far behind him.

"Oh my, this young gentleman is quite a fresh face. Do you have a lady who catches your fancy?"

The madam looked at Li Jun, her eyes lighting up.

"I would like this lady to accompany me for the night. Would that be possible?"

The madam looked at the woman in red and smiled. "Young gentleman, our Lady Luo Yi sells her arts, not her body. I'm afraid she might disturb your refined pleasure!"

"That's even better. I like ladies like that."

"Ah, this..."

The madam froze for a moment. She glanced back at Luo Yi, who thought for a moment, then nodded lightly.

"Very well, then. This way upstairs, young master."

Li Jun followed the madam upstairs.

Once the two entered the room, Li Jun finally let out a breath.

"Miss Luo, is this Drunken Immortal Pavilion safe?"

"Please rest assured, young master. If one were to ask where in Fire Cloud City is safest, it would undoubtedly be Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

Li Jun nodded, went to the couch at the side, and sat down cross-legged.

"Miss, just play whatever you like."

With that, he closed his eyes to rest and adjust his condition, then began cultivating the Breath Sealing Technique with all his strength.

"How interesting."

Luo Yi's bright eyes flickered. She stepped over to the guqin, her fair hand brushing lightly over the strings, and a graceful melody rose in response.

Outside the red pavilion, a middle-aged man with a saber scar frowned.

"This fellow actually came to a red pavilion. The main family really is being overly cautious."

After confirming there was no mistake, he returned directly.

Inside the red pavilion, Li Jun knew nothing of this.

At this moment, he was completely immersed in cultivation.

Although he had only seen the first page of the Breath Sealing Technique, which only contained the overall meridian route and did not record the method of executing the art, for the entry, that was already enough.

"The circulation is incomplete, and the hidden acupoints don't appear. Could it be that I have to open them?"

Li Jun kept groping for the answer, but he never managed to grasp the key point.

At one moment, he thought of something. Didn't that sheet of gold foil he had obtained at the cliff before have many hidden acupoints on it?

He opened his eyes and glanced at Luo Yi.

After confirming that everything was normal, he shifted slightly and took out the gold foil.

Comparing the two, there were indeed several hidden acupoints on the back that matched somewhat.

"I'll try these few first. At least it's better than having no direction."

Li Jun tried to assault the hidden acupoints. As his spiritual power trembled, an occasional fresh breeze swept through the room.

"This guy is actually cultivating?"

Luo Yi was rather speechless. Who would think of cultivating in a red pavilion?

However, Drunken Immortal Pavilion was different from ordinary brothels after all. Dual-cultivation arts were also carried out here from time to time, so she had long since seen enough not to be surprised.

At midnight, the hour of the rat.

After more than a hundred attempts, the hidden acupoints on Li Jun's back were finally broken open.

Of course, in the process of assaulting the hidden acupoints, he vomited blood three times, scaring Luo Yi badly.

After Li Jun repeatedly emphasized that he was fine, Luo Yi could only play the guqin and sing softly, watching him cultivate with a face full of curiosity.

[Mortal Concealment Art: Progress 100%]

The next moment, a stream of information surged into his mind.

"It's done!"

Li Jun was delighted. Those thirty Spirit Stones had truly been worth it!

"This completed cultivation art is really strange. Without these hidden acupoints, it can't be practiced at all."

He quickly skimmed through it and discovered that the most difficult part of this cultivation art was assaulting the hidden acupoints. Everything else would happen as naturally as water flows into a channel.

Before long, Li Jun felt the spiritual energy inside his body follow a special route and perfectly complete one full circulation.

In the next instant, his aura locked directly onto the third level of Qi Refining.

"Not only can it hide my realm, but if paired with movement techniques, it can achieve an even more unexpected effect!"

Li Jun opened his eyes, very satisfied with this cultivation method.

At present, his Mortal Concealment Art had already reached the entry level. Unless a Golden Core Realm cultivator personally investigated him, no one else would be able to sense his true cultivation.

"Mm? Someone's here?"

Li Jun's mind stirred, and he turned his head to look.

Bang!

The wooden door hung with gauze curtains shattered at the sound, and a longsword shot straight toward Luo Yi.