The Cultivation Arts They Each Chose

In the mountain forests outside Kamar-Taj.

Natasha stood in a vast clearing, her face full of confusion.

"Master, what are we doing here?"

"To help you cultivate an art," Feng Xu answered concisely.

Before Natasha could ask anything else, he raised a finger glowing with golden light and lightly touched her brow.

"This Ninety-Nine Heavens Spirit-Calling Art was an art I created back in Siberia, in memory of certain things."

"Though the result differed somewhat from what I had hoped for, this art still counted as one of the finest in the Scripture Pavilion."

Feng Xu had originally created this art in hopes of reviving those who had died in the Cultivation World.

The Ninety-Nine Heavens referred to the ninety-nine layers of heaven in the Cultivation World.

Unfortunately, the spirit-calling had ultimately failed.

The great battle had destroyed their bodies, souls, and even their true spirits, and the laws of this universe were different as well.

Still, while he could not call forth the true spirits of the Cultivation World, the true spirits from Earth's myths and legends were no problem.

Take Hua Nation, for example, with its vast population.

Not only did it possess myths and legends extremely similar to those of the Cultivation World, it also had the wishes and faith of over a billion living beings accumulated across thousands of years.

With spiritual energy, their hidden true spirits could be manifested and put to use.

"However, cultivating such a top-tier art requires some knowledge."

"Knowledge?" Natasha did not quite understand.

But as Feng Xu finished speaking, his fingertip touched Natasha's brow.

In an instant, a massive amount of information regarding Eastern myths and legends poured into Natasha's mind.

"Ah, my head is so itchy. It feels like I'm growing a brain!"

Washed over by the immense volume of Eastern mythological culture, Natasha began babbling nonsense.

Yet Natasha soon absorbed all that information completely.

At the same time, after being immersed in that knowledge, she, a native of the Bear Nation, finally understood what Feng Xu meant by cultivation and seeking the Dao.

Once he saw that she had absorbed all the information, Feng Xu spoke again.

"You can study that knowledge on your own afterward. For now, I'll teach you how to cultivate the Ninety-Nine Heavens Spirit-Calling Art."

As he spoke, the jade slip in Natasha's pouch floated out on its own.

Then it shone brightly, displaying the art's information in midair as a holographic projection.

"The Ninety-Nine Heavens Spirit-Calling Art is divided into Spirit Edict and Spirit Invocation. Spirit Edict manifests a spirit's true form and commands it to act."

"Spirit Invocation summons a spirit to merge with your body, strengthening you for a short period..."

With Feng Xu's explanations and demonstrations, Natasha, who was no fool to begin with, quickly started cultivating.

In less than an afternoon, Natasha successfully circulated the art.

Still, she was far from capable of summoning the spirits from those myths with her current beginner's grasp.

Time flew by.

More than a year had nearly passed since Feng Xu finished teaching Natasha.

During that time, Feng Xu used the Time Stone to comprehend several different Time Laws, as well as a Spatial Law. His strength had also recovered to the peak of the Golden Immortal Realm.

By this universe's standards, even at the lowest estimate, he was equivalent to a Multiverse-level being.

Mainly because he had never fought anyone here, even Feng Xu did not know exactly where he stood.

If everyone was like Ancient One—possessing only a high realm but lacking combat power—Feng Xu felt that fighting above his level would be no problem at all.

On the other side, Ancient One used the Time Stone as the core of an array and the magical artifacts in the three Sanctums as its foundation, filling all of Kamar-Taj with spiritual energy.

As a result, the mages, no longer lacking spiritual energy, had basically all reached Body Tempering Stage One.

Among them, outstanding individuals like Mordo, Kaecilius, and Hamir had even reached Body Tempering Stage Two.

The strength of their bodies, combined with the marvels of cultivation arts, also made the mages completely give up on magic.

However, some everyday, non-combat magic was still frequently used.

For example, portals, making tea, cleaning, and the like.

After all, those useless spells were not created by the demon gods. Ancient One had figured them out herself over several centuries.

Thus, the mages did not worry that using them would bring any drawbacks.

In the plaza.

Natasha, with her wine-red hair, fair delicate skin, and exquisitely alluring face, stood there with her eyes closed.

Though she was only fifteen, Natasha had already grown into herself. Even her loose robe could not hide her dangerously curvaceous figure.

Perhaps due to cultivation and the nourishment of spiritual energy, she looked more like an eighteen-year-old young woman.

A breeze drifted past.

Natasha suddenly opened her eyes, her expression solemn.

One hand rested behind her back while the other floated before her chest, its fingers forming a sword seal.

At the same time, she chanted, "Nine Heavens Spirit Edict, heed my command! Golden Armored Warriors, come forth!"

As her words fell, golden light appeared.

When the radiance faded, two muscular men in golden armor, yellow headscarves, and standing a full three meters tall appeared before Natasha.

"Golden Armored Warriors greet the Immortal." x2

As lowly servant immortals with the lowest status in myths and legends.

The two Golden Armored Warriors wore expressionless faces and knelt on one knee with cupped fists.

"It seems that even at Body Tempering Stage Four, I can only summon two at once with my own spiritual energy."

Natasha sighed dejectedly.

Back when she was only at the second stage, she could summon one. Now that she had advanced two more stages, she could only summon one additional warrior.

"Oh my God, Natasha, you're really too discouraging."

Mordo, who had been watching from the side, could no longer stand it and began complaining.

"With those warriors you summoned, even Kaecilius and I together couldn't beat one, yet you're still dissatisfied!"

"That's right." Kaecilius nodded along, then said enviously, "It's great being the Sect Master's disciple. The art you chose is incredible!"

Hearing their praise, Natasha blushed slightly and replied somewhat shyly.

"You two senior brothers are too modest. With your current strength and magic, I would be no match for you at all."

"Besides, Master said that the Bone Demon Art and Blood Demon Art you chose are both powerful arts capable of fighting above your level!"

"Not at all, not at all~"

"They're only so-so~"

At Natasha's mention of them, the two spoke modestly, but their faces were full of pride.

According to Feng Xu, these arts were immortal opportunities. Everyone had only one chance to choose, and once chosen, they could not be changed.

So, having selected superior arts from the Scripture Pavilion, they naturally felt that their immortal opportunities ran deep and that they were perfectly suited for cultivation!

Looking at their smug expressions, Natasha seemed to remember something else and said with a mischievous grin.

"I remember Master also said that the people who cultivate your arts are always great demonic villains. Every time they appear, the various sects use them to build reputation and farm equipment."

"They're renewable, high-quality resources, deeply beloved by everyone!"

Mordo/Kaecilius: "???"

Why did their cultivation arts suddenly seem so much less appealing?!

And did she have to stab them right in the heart like that?!

Worthy of being Feng Xu's disciple. That little mouth of hers was truly like a sword smeared with honey!

The two cursed inwardly, but laughed awkwardly and made excuses to leave.

"Well, we still have things to do, so we'll be going."

"Right, right, Mordo's second uncle-in-law gave birth. We need to go congratulate him."

"Bullshit! Your second uncle-in-law gave birth! Your whole family gave birth!"

"..."

After watching the two leave, Natasha softly said, "Sorry."

Then she leaped directly onto a Golden Armored Warrior's shoulder and was carried by it as it jumped toward the outside of Kamar-Taj.

On the high platform.

Watching Natasha run off, Ancient One rubbed her sturdy pectorals and asked.

"Your precious disciple ran off when she's only at Body Tempering Stage Four. Aren't you worried?"

After more than half a year together, Ancient One had come to understand Feng Xu's personality. He was not some old-fashioned stiff who cared deeply about etiquette.

That was why she could joke with him like a friend.

"It's enough. Those mortals outside cannot hurt her, and besides, this is something I promised her."

With that, Feng Xu withdrew his gaze and turned toward the muscular male version of Ancient One beside him. "How many divine thoughts have you separated now?"

"Not many. Just five divine thoughts, turned into five avatars."

Ancient One chuckled and continued, "I really don't know how you came up with the Myriad Thought Manifestation Art."

"If I can truly transform ten million thoughts and then merge them into one someday, perhaps I'll surpass you, and even Multiverse-level beings like Eternity."

"So you'd better be careful!"

"Careful about what?" Feng Xu smiled, pretending to be confused.

"Careful that I'll become stronger than you!"

"You're Baldy Qiang?"

"I said my strength will surpass yours!"

"There's a cockroach in your shoe? Honestly, you really need to improve your personal hygiene."

"I fucking..."

Ancient One swallowed the words she was about to say, turned around, and left.

She feared that if she did not leave now, she would be severely beaten for cursing!