Startling

The two worlds looked much the same, but their cultivation systems were utterly different.

All cultivators in Pingjiang followed the path of refining heaven and earth's spiritual qi: establishing a Dao foundation, condensing a Golden Core, and seeking their own ascension. It could also be called the "Qi Refinement Path."

But Black Dragon Mountain—and indeed the entire Grand Ruins Realm—followed the Qi-Consumption Path.

In so-called "Qi-Consuming Initiation," the first mouthful of True Qi was of critical importance.

Jiang Ran had already heard Iron Ox mention this many times. The grade of the True Qi one consumed would determine the upper limit of one's future cultivation.

Iron Ox seemed immensely proud of his family's inherited cultivation method. Whenever he spoke of it, he claimed that he, too, might one day successfully assimilate qi and enter an immortal cultivation sect.

Now that Jiang Ran had heard Old Man Liu's words, the Liu Household's cultivation method truly was far from ordinary.

Qi was divided into nine grades, with one as the highest and nine as the lowest.

"To be honest, the Jiang family also possesses an inherited art. But now, I have no possibility of returning home..."

Jiang Ran wore an earnest expression. "Jiang Ran is willing to remain with the Liu Household and work, asking only for a chance to cultivate."

Since he wanted someone else's cultivation method, he naturally had to show sincerity. At the very least, his words had to sound pleasant.

"Should Elder Liu have any other requests, Jiang Ran is willing to do his utmost!"

Well, giving his all was giving his all; doing his utmost was doing his utmost.

Actually laboring for a lifetime in exchange for a farming household's cultivation method would definitely make him the biggest fool under heaven.

But... the seven-day period had already passed.

Jiang Ran could leave this place at any time now and travel back to Pingjiang City.

If the other party's demands were too excessive, then once he got the cultivation method, he could simply run.

Old Man Liu froze for a moment, looking somewhat surprised.

Just now, when he had deliberately mentioned the eighth-grade Autumn-Grass Frost-Condensing Qi, he had merely been showing off and raising his own price.

Yet he had not expected this young man surnamed Jiang to be so perceptive, actually volunteering to work for the Liu Household.

With that... things would be easy.

"Brother Jiang, you are too courteous!" A faint smile appeared on Old Man Liu's face. "Suffering misfortune in the mountains is truly unfortunate. The fact that you were able to come to the Liu Household and settle down is itself fate."

"Our household is not blackhearted either. We can give you the cultivation method."

"Daniu has made progress in Qi Cultivation. In three to five years at most, he will leave Xiang Village to seek immortality."

"During that time, the Liu Household's farmwork and miscellaneous chores will have to trouble you..."

That was all?

Jiang Ran raised his brows. He had thought Old Man Liu would make some harsh demand, such as having him sign a contract of indenture. If it was merely two or three years of work, that was hardly a problem.

"Not troublesome at all, not troublesome at all. Jiang Ran is willing to do it!"

"Good!" Old Man Liu's smile grew even more radiant.

Things went very smoothly. Early the next morning, Old Man Liu took Jiang Ran to the village chief to register his household and complete the formalities.

In truth, it was simply an entry in the register. He was listed as an outsider of the Liu Household bloodline who had wandered abroad, which was nothing unusual in these times.

Jiang Ran felt it was somewhat unnecessary.

But Old Man Liu said that the cultivation method was ancestral and could not be passed outside the family; only one who had truly entered the Liu Household could be taught. That was reasonable enough.

The Liu Household's cultivation method consisted of three parts.

The first was Qi Cultivation, the second was Qi Assimilation, and the most vital part was the "Qi-Collection Method"—the method for gathering Autumn-Grass Frost-Condensing Qi.

Old Man Liu still held something back, giving him only the Qi-Nurturing Method.

As for the Qi-Consumption Method and the Qi-Collection Method, he said they would have to wait two years.

Jiang Ran did not care too much.

All his interest had been drawn to the cultivation method.

"Four stages of Qi Nourishment—blood, essence, heart, and soul. It actually requires one to nourish the physical body into a Mystic Spirit Body, so as to accept qi and transform into an immortal..."

Even a mere Qi Nourishment method left him deeply shaken.

No matter what, Jiang Ran himself was a cultivator, with Qi Refinement Level One to his name. Even from his perspective, it was easy to see—this cultivation method was far too formidable!

No wonder Iron Ox had cultivated bitterly for years and still remained at the Qi Cultivation stage, not yet having formally stepped onto the path of immortal cultivation. Such a wondrous cultivation method would naturally be unimaginably difficult to cultivate.

Looks like I made the right gamble. Jiang Ran's eyes brimmed with fighting spirit.

In Pingjiang, he had been a poor student, ranked near the bottom of the entire school.

But now, with the cultivation method of the Grand Ruins Realm aiding him, everything was different.

Cultivating the Qi-Nurturing Method was not difficult, especially since Jiang Ran was already a Qi Refining cultivator. He quickly found the way and entered the path smoothly.

Qi Cultivation nourished the body and accumulated qi, preparing one for future Qi Assimilation.

Since it cultivated the body, it naturally required certain supplements to nourish the flesh, advance the cultivation method, and continuously push the whole body toward the Mystic Spirit Body.

The Liu father and son were rather generous, it had to be said.

Ever since Jiang Ran had formally registered and become a member of the Liu Household, Old Man Liu seemed to have treated him as one of their own.

Not only did he receive meat every day, but Old Man Liu also often brought back mountain goods and wild game. They were all spiritual items containing spiritual essence, quite fine supplements that could greatly benefit cultivation during the Qi Cultivation stage.

Jiang Ran's food and clothing were almost exactly the same as Iron Ox's—at least on the surface.

Xiang Family Village was merely a remote village under Black Dragon Mountain's rule. Not every household possessed an inherited cultivation method, and even fewer could eat spiritual items.

There was no free lunch in the world, nor would hamburgers fall from the sky. Jiang Ran naturally understood this principle.

Farmwork for the Liu Household alone was absolutely not worth such treatment.

Old Man Liu treated him too well. If he did not have some other motive, probably no one would believe it.

Still, Jiang Ran did not think too much about it. The seven-day cooldown had already passed, and in a few days, he planned to return to Pingjiang.

By then, no matter what bad ideas—or even "schemes"—Old Man Liu had, they would have nothing to do with him.

"Brother Iron Ox, what exactly does 'fill the fist with blood' mean?"

Jiang Ran held a yellowed scroll as he sought instruction from the Liu Household's eldest young master.

Iron Ox tilted his head and gave a simple-minded grin. "What is so difficult about that?"

"Brother Jiang, I'll demonstrate it once, and you'll understand."

With that, Iron Ox rose and began to perform a fist form. His blood and qi surged through his entire body, every gesture brimming with strength. His fists displaced the surrounding air, producing continuous sounds of wind tearing apart.

The force of his fists was sharp and biting, their edge fully exposed.

Though it was not the first time Jiang Ran had watched Iron Ox practice his fists, he still clicked his tongue in amazement.

With such power and speed, even if several boxing champions from his previous life were tied together, they could not compare. Even at Pingjiang No. 1 High School, only those at the very top of their year rankings could rival him.

It was precisely because Jiang Ran had also cultivated the Vajra Fist and begun Qi Cultivation that he could better understand Iron Ox's strength.

He did not doubt in the slightest that, in actual combat, this fist technique could smash apart mountain rocks.

This is too outrageous... Iron Ox was only at the third stage of Qi Cultivation, not yet having completed the fourth stage.

A mere third stage of Qi Cultivation already seemed vastly stronger than the early stages of Qi Refining in Pingjiang.

If Qi Cultivation was already this powerful, then the strength of true Qi Refinement cultivators who had actually consumed True Qi was simply beyond imagination.

After patiently studying for several more days, Jiang Ran felt that he had grasped almost everything. What remained required more of his own comprehension and cultivation.

"It has been more than half a month. It should be about time to go back."

After considering it again and again, Jiang Ran made his decision.

Those two sinister cultivators in the forest park had been terrifying, leaving behind no small psychological shadow.