Choosing Origin Heaven Art

Huang Zhen glanced at the gray jade slip in Ye Xingchen's hand, and the anticipation on his face instantly collapsed.

"This is a fragment an elder accidentally brought back a thousand years ago, called Origin Heaven Art. The name sounds domineering, but in truth, it's utterly useless."

Ye Xingchen rubbed the rough surface of the jade slip with his thumb. "Useless? I'd like to hear the details."

"This art cultivates neither spiritual power nor killing techniques. Its sole purpose is—searching for Source."

Huang Zhen patiently explained, "Between heaven and earth, spiritual energy gathers into Spirit Stones. The essence of spiritual energy, after settling through ten thousand years, can transform into 'Source.' A Source Stone the size of a fingernail contains energy equivalent to a hundred Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones, and it is completely free of impurities. Cultivators can absorb it directly!"

A hundred Supreme-Grade Spirit Stones!

Ye Xingchen's pupils constricted slightly.

According to the system's conversion ratio, a Low-Grade Spirit Stone might provide only 1 Source Point, but a Source Stone... it could probably yield thousands, even tens of thousands of points at once!

This was a mobile "gold detector"!

"If it's so heaven-defying, why call it trash?" Ye Xingchen asked.

"Because of the cost."

"Origin Heaven Art defies heaven itself, peering into the secrets of the earth veins. With every layer cultivated, not only does it fail to increase one's cultivation, it instead draws upon the cultivator's own spiritual power to nourish the divine sense. Cultivate it too deeply, and one may even encounter misfortune and lose all sanity!"

"The last genius who cultivated this art forcibly practiced Origin Heaven Art at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. In a single night, he fell all the way to Qi Refining, Third Layer. In the end, he rushed into the forbidden grounds like a madman, leaving not even bones behind."

Huang Zhen stared at Ye Xingchen and spoke earnestly. "Xingchen, you possess a Medium-Grade Spiritual Root. Your future is boundless. Don't even touch this evil art that destroys one's cultivation foundation."

After hearing him out, Ye Xingchen fell silent.

So this thing was a passive skill that "drained mana," and it could even make one's cultivation regress?

For ordinary people, it truly was poison.

But for him...

The corners of Ye Xingchen's lips curled upward, tracing a strange arc.

How was this poison? This was clearly a "money-farming cheat" tailor-made for him!

"Thank you, Elder, for clearing up my doubts."

Ye Xingchen tightly gripped the jade slip, his gaze blazing. "But I want this cultivation art."

The air suddenly went silent.

Huang Zhen froze for a full three seconds before abruptly raising his voice. "Are you insane?! Did you take everything I just said as wind past your ears? Your cultivation will regress! Misfortune will haunt your later years! What exactly are you after?"

"I want its ability to search for Source." Ye Xingchen answered as though it were only natural. "In cultivation, wealth, companions, techniques, and territory—wealth comes first. If I can find Divine Source, what does a setback in cultivation matter? I can just make it back."

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

As he spoke, Huang Zhen reached out, intending to forcibly snatch away the jade slip.

Ye Xingchen took a step back. His expression remained calm, but his eyes held an unwavering resolve.

"Elder Huang."

The youth's voice was cool, yet every word rang like iron. "What you value is me, not whatever cultivation art I practice. Since this is an investment, you should trust my judgment."

"I am cultivating Origin Heaven Art."

Their gazes met.

The wildness and arrogance in the youth's eyes made even Huang Zhen, who had seen countless people, feel a chill in his heart.

This kid... was a born gambler!

After a long standoff, Huang Zhen ultimately yielded. He let out a long sigh and angrily flicked his sleeve, as though disappointed that iron could not become steel. "Fine! Do as you please! When you cripple yourself cultivating it, don't blame this old man for not warning you! Hmph!"

Just then, a somewhat shrill laugh came from the entrance of the hall.

"Isn't this Senior Brother Huang? What has made you so furious?!"

A fragrant breeze swept in.

A beautiful middle-aged woman in courtly robes approached with graceful steps. Her narrow eyes and brows carried an air of harshness.

Behind her followed a group of young men and women dressed in white.

Zhou Bingyu, also an elder of North Hall.

"Junior Sister Zhou, long time no see..."

Huang Zhen glanced at the disciples behind Zhou Bingyu, then looked at his own side, where there was only Ye Xingchen. The bitterness in his heart was beyond words.

"Junior Sister Zhou has truly had a bountiful harvest, taking in so many new disciples. This senior brother must properly congratulate you."

"You're too polite, Senior Brother Huang... Zhao Kai, hurry and greet your Martial Uncle Huang!"

A young man in white stepped out from behind Zhou Bingyu. He had sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a somewhat haughty expression.

Fifth Layer of Qi Refining!

Zhao Kai stepped forward. Though he was offering a salute, his chin was raised higher than anyone else's. "Disciple Zhao Kai greets Martial Uncle Huang! I heard Martial Uncle had accepted some extraordinary genius, and I'd been wondering when I might pay him a visit. Who would have thought we'd meet here today? Perfect—let's get acquainted!"

Ye Xingchen could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids, continuing to study the jade slip of Origin Heaven Art in his hand.

He was being ignored?

A shadow flashed through Zhao Kai's eyes. He had always been surrounded by admirers—when had he ever received such a cold reception?

He took a step directly in front of Ye Xingchen. His gaze landed on the gray jade slip in Ye Xingchen's hand. He was first stunned, then seemed to see some enormous joke and burst out laughing.

"Pfft... Hahahaha!"

Zhao Kai laughed so hard he bent over, pointing at the jade slip as he turned to Zhou Bingyu. "Master, look! What did this 'genius' choose? Origin Heaven Art!"

The moment those words left his mouth, the disciples who had been choosing cultivation arts nearby all gathered around.

"What? Origin Heaven Art?"

"That useless cultivation art that brings misfortune in one's later years and even causes cultivation to regress?"

"With so many high-grade Yellow Tier cultivation arts available, he chose trash?"

"This is the genius with a Medium-Grade Spiritual Root? I think water got into his brain!"

Mocking laughter surged like a tide.

Zhou Bingyu wore a stunned expression as well. Then she looked toward Huang Zhen, her eyes filled with confusion. "Senior Brother Huang, this is the disciple you placed such high hopes upon? It seems your eye for people... truly is unique."

Huang Zhen's old face flushed crimson, and he wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground. He shot Ye Xingchen a fierce glare, as if saying: See? This is what happens when you refuse to heed an elder's advice!

Faced with the overwhelming ridicule, Ye Xingchen finally raised his head.

"Have you laughed enough?"

Ye Xingchen turned around and calmly looked at Zhao Kai, who was laughing so hard he could barely straighten up. He said lightly, "Summer insects cannot be told of ice, and frogs in a well cannot be told of the sea."

"What did you say?!" Zhao Kai's laughter came to an abrupt halt, and his face instantly darkened.

"I said..."

Ye Xingchen walked up to Zhao Kai. Though he was half a head shorter, the oppressive aura around him made Zhao Kai unconsciously take half a step back.

"There are no useless cultivation arts, only useless cultivators."

After saying that, he could not even be bothered to pay the group any more attention. He cupped his hands toward Huang Zhen. "Elder, this disciple has made his choice. Let's go."

He turned and left.

His retreating figure was carefree, treating the mockery filling the hall as though it were nothing.

"Arrogant!" Zhao Kai trembled with rage, killing intent blazing in his eyes. "A piece of trash at Qi Refining, Fourth Layer dares lecture me? Sooner or later, I'll make you kneel on the ground and beg for mercy!"

Huang Zhen watched Ye Xingchen's departing figure, and for some reason, much of his earlier frustration suddenly dissipated.

Though the cultivation art he chose was a pit, this kid's temperament...

Wild enough! Tough enough!