A Gathering of Three

Zou Chongying and Tian Wan had both once studied at the private school run by Yue Shuo's father.

So, they were not entirely unrelated.

Yue Shuo could also tell that these two youths, only one or two years older than him, held a certain desire to look after him.

No matter where one was.

Being from the same hometown was always a reason to stick together.

Having received his invitation, there was a very high chance the two would come.

Of course, even if they did not, he could find another way to obtain new first-tier cultivation methods. It would merely be a little more troublesome.

Having made up his mind, Yue Shuo began cultivating.

He cultivated twice that morning, exhausting his Divine Sense until only five points remained.

Gu Jiu had also returned, but Yue Shuo did not immediately call him into the courtyard to ask about the replies to the invitations.

He first reviewed the panel from beginning to end.

[Name: Yue Shuo]

[Age: 12/100 years]

[Realm: Mortal]

[Spiritual Root: Metal 1, Wood 1, Water 2, Fire 1, Earth 1]

[Comprehension: 120]

[Cultivation: 23.2/500 (+1.8 per session)]

[Breakthrough Chance: 50%]

[Qi and Blood: 100/100] [Mana: 100/100]

[Divine Sense: 5/15] [Pill Poison: 0/5]

[Talent: Reborn as Human (Purple)]

[Bloodline: Unknown Thin Bloodline (2)]

[Cultivation Methods: Tai Chi Fist, Wood Essence Art, Evergreen Method, Thousand Waves Formula, Water Spirit Formula]

[Spells: Not Activated]

[Skills: None]

His lifespan limit was still one hundred. His realm, Spiritual Root, comprehension, talent, bloodline, and the rest had not changed in the slightest.

What had continually changed were his "Cultivation" and "Divine Sense."

However, the originally zero "Mana" now displayed one hundred points of mana. This seemed to be related to the current that had formed within his body after he refined spiritual qi.

Below the five first-tier cultivation methods, there was one additional entry.

[Spells: Not Activated].

Yue Shuo's heart stirred.

He used his thoughts to sense the several cultivation methods again, and at the same place where Tai Chi Fist displayed its cultivation-level prompt, he found the spell-related content.

[Wood Essence Art (First Tier): 10/100 (Beginner)]

(Beginner: You have learned the Qi Refining method. Your Qi Refining cultivation speed +0.2. You vaguely sense that a first-tier spell can be activated.)

"Vaguely?"

Yue Shuo examined the remaining three cultivation methods.

Aside from their proficiency all being only one point, only Evergreen Method and Wood Essence Art had identical text within the parentheses.

Thousand Waves Formula instead displayed a "secret art."

Meanwhile, Water Spirit Formula displayed nothing at all.

After cultivation, these methods no longer retained the overall introductory descriptions they had initially possessed.

However, there was still one cultivation method he had not cultivated.

Thus, its description remained.

[First-Tier Origin Return Art]

Cultivation requirement: None

Cultivation speed per level -2 points, mana limit +10%... At perfection, Foundation Establishment breakthrough chance +30%.

Can activate: First-tier spell "Origin Return Technique."

(Can restore one's own qi and blood during battle.)

"Origin Return Technique can be activated by cultivating Origin Return Art, but it does not mention the chance of activation, only that it can be activated..."

"Wood Essence Art, Evergreen Method, and Thousand Waves Formula all have their own spells or secret arts."

"After completing our cultivation-method exchange this afternoon, I'll try it again!"

Yue Shuo guessed that the appearance of "Mana" had come after he reached the beginner stage in a cultivation method. It represented that he could now cast and learn spells.

He had previously considered learning the Three Planting Arts.

"Learning and practicing spells will most likely consume Divine Sense too. I can try it tonight with those five points of Divine Sense."

If the consumption was too great, he would temporarily give it up.

Yue Shuo practiced calligraphy while planning how to use his Divine Sense with the utmost care.

At noon, he called Gu Jiu over to ask.

He learned that both Zou Chongying and Tian Wan had agreed to come before the hour of Wei that afternoon.

After eating, Yue Shuo practiced calligraphy for another half hour. When he heard a faint sound coming from outside the courtyard gate, he tidied up his desk and went out to welcome them.

After not seeing them for several days, Zou Chongying and Tian Wan seemed somewhat more composed.

However, both were quite happy to see him.

When they entered and looked over the small courtyard where he lived, the two recovered their youthful energy, chattering away as they asked all kinds of questions and volunteered details about their own situations.

The two lived in two neighboring small courtyards.

However, the small courtyards where they lived were not as large as Yue Shuo's.

They were only single-entry courtyards.

All thirteen guest disciples who had entered in the same batch had been arranged in that area, and in only a few days it had become bustling and lively.

"I really envy you. You live alone in such a large courtyard. It's so quiet!"

"Quiet, indeed! Yesterday, Cheng Fan somehow got into another conflict with Senior Brother Cao, and their servants had a spar..."

"But they were both punished by the steward. Hehe!"

Both Zou and Tian took some pleasure in their misfortune.

It seemed neither of them liked that Cheng Fan. Yue Shuo did not know Cheng Fan and was not interested, so he merely chimed in casually.

Their relationship quickly grew closer amid the complaints and gossip.

Once they reached the reception room, Yue Shuo led them to their seats.

As they drank the ancient-well tea Gu Jiu had brewed, Zou Chongying and Tian Wan remembered to ask about Yue Shuo's circumstances.

Seeing how quiet and spacious his place was.

Both of them were quite envious.

"Won't taking up a post affect your cultivation, Yue Er? If I'd known, I would have taken one too, but I don't know how to farm..."

Zou Chongying envied Yue Shuo's large plot of land.

One year was too tight, so he had not dared accept a post and waste time.

He hoped to focus more fully on cultivation.

Most people thought the same way. Some had followed their elders' advice, while others had asked their servants and learned about it that way.

Upon hearing this, Tian Wan complained:

"Chong Ying, do you have a Wood Spirit Root?"

The two had been born on the same island, had known each other before, and had lived near one another on Hemu Island. By now, they had long since become even more familiar.

"Unfortunately, I have a Metal-Water-Earth Three-Element Spirit Root!"

Zou Chongying sighed on the surface, but was actually showing off.

The topic had conveniently turned to Spiritual Roots, so Yue Shuo naturally would not let the two continue gossiping. He immediately picked up the conversation.

"Then, Chong Ying, which Spiritual Root have you chosen to focus on cultivating?"

Yue Shuo introduced himself:

"I have a Five-Element Spirit Root. I want to become a spirit plant master, so I followed a senior's recommendation and chose Wood Essence Art. I heard cultivating Wood Essence Art is beneficial for becoming a spirit plant master."

He also looked toward Tian Wan. Tian Wan was half a year older than him.

"Ah Wan, would you like to take a look?"

As he spoke, he handed the Wood Essence Art booklet to Tian Wan. The latter casually accepted it and flipped through a few pages.

As Tian Wan read, he said:

"I have Fire, Wood, Earth, and Water Four-Element Spirit Roots, but I want to become a pill refiner, so a senior recommended that I cultivate Blazing Sun Art. You need a Fire Spirit Root to cultivate it!"

"Later, Little Shuo can plant while I refine pills! Heh! Right, Chong Ying cultivates..."

Tian Wan had just begun to reveal the cultivation method Zou Chongying practiced.

But Zou Chongying beat him to it.

"I cultivate Sharp Metal Art! Its combat power is formidable! I'll protect you two in the future! I want to become an immortal sword-rider!"

Zou Chongying grinned brightly, revealing his white teeth.

"Is it very powerful?"

Yue Shuo deliberately revealed an expectant expression and muttered, "I seem to have a Metal Spirit Root too... I want to..."

Tian Wan's eyes also held anticipation. Hearing that, he felt deeply understood.

"Unfortunately, with our talent, cultivating more than one method is simply a waste of time. I have a Wood Spirit Root too, but I don't dare cultivate a planting method as well..."

Reluctantly, he returned Wood Essence Art to Yue Shuo.

Yue Shuo took it, then casually handed it to Zou Chongying and asked Tian Wan, "Can't one draw inferences from one instance to another?"

Tian Wan thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Little Shuo, someone like me, with Four-Element Spirit Roots, is not even guaranteed a one hundred percent chance of reaching Qi Refining Level One after cultivating for a year."

"And you..."

He hesitated.