Departure

Zhou Changwang carefully put away the Spirit Farmer's Manual before taking out the several jade slips he had bought from Six Directions Pavilion.

Compared to the jade slips crudely recorded by rogue cultivators themselves, those bought from Six Directions Pavilion were much more compact and refined.

Zhou Changwang first turned his attention to the Body Protection Technique.

In that previous battle, had it not been for the protection of the Golden Light Shield Talisman, even if he had successfully killed Wang Chang, he would have been severely injured himself.

Now that the Golden Light Shield Talismans had been used up, he naturally needed to first learn a protective technique, ensuring that if he encountered such danger again, he would have some safeguard.

He immersed his mind within it.

Only after a long while did Zhou Changwang come back to himself.

"This Body Protection Technique is not difficult to cultivate, but it has quite a few rune structures—seven in all."

As Zhou Changwang thought this, he began familiarizing himself one by one with the various rune structures of the spell in his mind.

This was also the most troublesome part of learning a spell for the first time.

One needed to use one's own spiritual power to 'write' out the structures.

Only by ensuring complete mastery of a rune structure could one successfully cast the spell.

Yet every unfamiliar rune structure was complex and three-dimensional. Wanting to master one through memory was no easy matter.

It was like a complicated landscape painting. Even merely copying it, it was difficult to achieve a resemblance; a difference by the slightest fraction could lead a thousand miles astray.

Half an hour later.

Feeling that he had roughly memorized the rune structures within, he began attempting to cast the spell.

Once, twice, three times, four times...

Failure, failure, failure...

Attempt after attempt, failure after failure.

It was a familiar process.

Having an Attribute Panel did not mean he could skip it.

Fortunately, he had experience cultivating other spells, and had even cultivated some to Minor Mastery and Major Mastery. He had his own understanding of rune structures.

After roughly thirty attempts.

Buzz!

At last, he completed the condensation of the final rune structure. Once it was stimulated by the spiritual power within his body—

The spell instantly took shape.

Body Protection Technique +1

Body Protection Technique Initiation!

At once, he sensed a thin layer of protective barrier appear around his body.

This protective barrier wrapped around him from head to toe, yet it did not obstruct his vision, much less interfere with his spellcasting.

"So, the Body Protection Technique has been cultivated successfully.

Next comes the process of continuously casting it and raising its proficiency."

Zhou Changwang sighed with feeling, then turned his attention to the next spell: the Lightness Technique.

After the time it took for one incense stick to burn, the Body Protection Technique dissipated on its own.

Zhou Changwang hurriedly cast the Body Protection Technique again, maintaining the spell's operation through uninterrupted casting.

An hour later, Zhou Changwang also successfully cast the Lightness Technique.

The Body Protection Technique's experience had accordingly risen to (Initiation 8/100).

Next came the Soundproofing Art, the Derivation Technique...

Of these two spells, the Soundproofing Art was the easiest to initiate. It had only three rune structures, and he reached Initiation after practicing it just over a dozen times.

As for the Derivation Technique, perhaps because it was a divination-type spell, it was rather difficult to cultivate. It had nine rune structures in total, nearly comparable to a mid-grade spell.

Zhou Changwang spent a full two hours practicing continuously. After failing hundreds, perhaps even thousands of times, he finally succeeded once and truly reached Initiation.

Yet after the spell succeeded, he only sensed an inexplicable aura spread outward. Then there was nothing after that.

No unusual situation occurred.

"Perhaps it is because there is no danger nearby at present?"

Zhou Changwang muttered, not believing that the spell had failed.

After all, the words Derivation Technique Initiation on the Attribute Panel were crystal clear.

Last came the Breath-Concealing Art and the Sword-Controlling Technique.

The Breath-Concealing Art was not difficult to cultivate either, and he reached Initiation within half an hour. As for the Sword-Controlling Technique, its cultivation difficulty was roughly comparable to that of the Derivation Technique. However, for this spell to truly display its power, it still had to be used in conjunction with a Dharma Artifact.

That was why its price had been so steep.

After pairing it with a Dharma Artifact, Zhou Changwang suffered a bit for it as well... many new gouges appeared around the room.

That was even with him deliberately controlling it.

"This spell can only be cultivated more smoothly in an open space."

Zhou Changwang sighed, but a trace of delight could not help appearing on his face.

Because once he had successfully cultivated the Sword-Controlling Technique, the Dharma Artifact he controlled was finally no longer limited to charging straight ahead as before.

It could turn appropriately and change directions.

As for wielding it freely, as one pleased?

Zhou Changwang felt that he would at least need to cultivate the Sword-Controlling Technique to Mastery, or even the Minor Mastery realm.

Several days later.

Zhou Changwang stood at the gates of the market city.

In the distance, a merchant caravan of more than a hundred people was gathering.

Within the caravan, spirit beasts such as Blood-Silver Horses and Single-Horned Savage Oxen pulled carts piled high with goods.

"Father, take care on this journey."

Zhou Changwang looked at Zhou Qiankun, his expression complicated as he spoke.

As early as half a month ago, his father had told him that he would be leaving, preparing to return to the mortal world and live for himself.

Now that this moment had truly arrived, Zhou Changwang still felt a trace of sadness.

"Don't worry. Your father has traveled north and south for so many years—what storms and waves haven't I seen?

This time, I'm returning home in retirement. I won't need to pass through any especially dangerous places, so there certainly won't be any problems. Those few chests of gold and silver you gave me are enough for me to live as a wealthy old man.

You, on the other hand—after I leave and you remain here alone, you must be extra careful.

In all things, preserving your own life comes first. Never take risks.

Do you know why I sent you into the Spirit Plant Hall back then? It was because the profession of spirit planter is actually one of the safest professions in the cultivation world.

Although you were not chosen by the spirit planters in the Spirit Plant Hall and could only become a spirit farmer, you at least have a stable job now. That puts my mind at ease..."

With parting at hand, Zhou Qiankun, usually a man of few words, could not help becoming much more talkative.

He gave Zhou Changwang many instructions, most of them lessons drawn from experience.

Zhou Changwang merely nodded again and again, showing not the slightest impatience.

"Oh, right. The reason I never let you learn martial arts did indeed have something to do with me, but the real reason was that the martial path wastes too much time.

Ordinary people might spend decades before they have any hope of success and reach the Innate Realm. Even in the cultivation world, where resources are not lacking, it would still take at least ten years. It is far too chicken-ribbed.

However, after observing for so many years, I have also discovered that although cultivators are strong, what is strong about them is only their spell techniques. Their physical bodies are actually very frail. Once a martial artist gets close, their combat power is greatly reduced, and they simply cannot be a martial artist's match.

I have even killed mid-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators after closing in on them."

As he said this, Zhou Qiankun looked a little pleased with himself. Then he said with a serious expression, "Therefore, I am leaving that copy of the Eight Heavenly Origin Forms for you. Practice it when you have time. At the very least, it can strengthen your body."

"Zhou Qiankun..."

Just then, someone from the merchant caravan called out.

"Coming."

Zhou Qiankun answered. He gave Zhou Changwang's shoulder one final pat, looked steadily at him for a moment, then waved his hand and turned to leave.