Devouring Spiritual Qi, Refining Baleful Intent

These were the uniquely blessed advantages enjoyed by heaven's favored children.

Not only did their innate aptitude and supplies of spiritual treasures far surpass those of others, even their cultivation methods and Immortal Foundations were of grades ordinary people could only gaze up at.

With all those advantages stacked together, how could ordinary rogue cultivators of unorthodox paths compete with disciples of aristocratic clans and great sects? Often, they would have to flee in defeat after only a few exchanges.

Jiang Yang read through the overview of this fifth-grade cultivation method, along with all the Spell Arts sections available to view for free.

The Ninefold Clear Avenue Scripture's Immortal Foundation, Nine-Avenue Dust, was reputed to "conceal itself in dust and mist, sweep all obstacles clear."

It had the power to crush mountains and scour meridians, the wondrous ability to focus the spirit and steady the mind. It could shake mountains and shift peaks, strengthen Spirit Sense, and expel outside corruption.

As expected of a fifth-grade cultivation method. Truly formidable... extraordinarily wondrous.

Jiang Yang's eyes shone as he read, and he could not help imagining what grade of cultivation method he might practice in the future.

Jiang Yang also read through the Spells and Qi-Gathering Formula included afterward. Although he had already suspected what he would find, seeing it for himself still filled him with regret.

The Qi-Gathering Formula section... is missing.

Just as Jiang Yang had expected, the missing Qi-Gathering Formula utterly condemned this cultivation method to death.

He was no longer the little cultivator who knew nothing no matter what he was asked. By now, he had gained some understanding of foundation establishment.

If a cultivator wished to advance to foundation establishment, besides reaching the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, there were two other mandatory requirements.

The first was a cultivation method for advancing to foundation establishment. Without a method to guide them, their qi sea could not condense an Immortal Foundation, leaving them in danger of their Magic Power dispersing and their life and Dao coming to an end.

The second was devouring spiritual qi and refining baleful intent. These were actually the same thing. Generally speaking, the Ancient Method devoured spiritual qi, while the Modern Method refined baleful intent. Either way, neither could do without the aid of a crucial mouthful of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy or earth-vein baleful qi.

To establish a foundation, you have to swallow a mouthful of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy at the same time. That energy might be gathered and refined from a spiritual hollow in the mountains, obtained by refining an earth-vein baleful pit, or cultivated and purified artificially.

Jiang Yang recalled what he knew, silently matching it against the cultivation method before him.

Once gathered, this spiritual qi had to be harmonized with the cultivation method before it could forge the foundation for attaining the Dao. Once cultivated, it possessed all manner of wondrous properties, marking the beginning of the immortal path.

What the Ninefold Clear Avenue Scripture required was a mouthful of Void Stillness Dust-Cleansing Qi.

Countless spiritual hollows and baleful pits formed between heaven and earth. As they condensed over time, strands of spiritual qi and baleful intent would emerge.

Cultivators would go to gather them and swallow them when advancing. The so-called "feasting on rosy clouds and drinking dew, lodging among the mountains at dusk" amounted to just this. It was something every cultivator who wished to establish a foundation had to experience.

Without this portion of Void Stillness Dust-Cleansing Qi, the cultivation method could not be practiced. Forcing it would not only fail to produce an Immortal Foundation, but also risk death.

The crucial thread connecting everything from beginning to end was this Qi-Gathering Formula. With its most essential part missing, the scripture's value plummeted instantly. Though not entirely worthless, it was probably useful only for reference and comparison.

Jiang Yang guessed this was also why it could now be displayed on the first floor.

He had not even secured a foundation establishment cultivation method yet, so there was no need to worry about the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy he would require later.

Still, Jiang Yang had heard that those with great Divine Powers could even stir the spiritual workings in advance, alter the terrain, and deliberately reshape a spiritual land to obtain the corresponding spiritual qi.

Their descendants and disciples did not have to labor to find it themselves. Often, once they embarked on a particular path, their elders and masters had already prepared the corresponding spiritual qi. As soon as they reached the necessary realm, they could immediately enter seclusion and swallow it, getting a step ahead at every turn.

All that was still far too distant. Having broadened his knowledge here, Jiang Yang walked over to the shelves on the other side, which mainly held Spells.

Compared with the cultivation-method section, there were more sect disciples around these shelves.

Everyone was fairly quiet, either making their selections or reading on the spot, rather than gathering together.

Jiang Yang carefully stepped aside for a senior sister, then approached one of the shelves farther inside and began browsing at random.

Jiang Yang had no particular expectations when it came to Spell Arts; being able to fight and defend himself would suffice.

Being within a great Sect was certainly safe, but that did not mean he would never need to fight. After all, things within a Sect were not always perfectly harmonious either.

Wherever there were people, there would be conflict. It was simply that Jiang Yang's realm was too low for ordinary disputes to spill over onto him.

Even setting distant concerns aside, what if he left the Sect and encountered robber cultivators, villains, demonic beasts, or spirits attacking him along the way? Would he not be left helpless on the spot, with nothing to do but wait for death?

He could hardly expect to batter his opponents with ungraded Spells such as the Shimmering Radiance Art or Meridian Stabilizing Art.

Looking along the row of shelves, he found that the Spells' Dao Merit costs were neither particularly high nor low. There were first-, second-, and third-grade Spells, priced at roughly three to ten points of Dao Merit—naturally much cheaper than cultivation methods.

Jiang Yang had spent some Dao Merit buying miscellaneous books earlier and currently had forty-five points left. He planned to choose two or three Spells, keeping around twenty points in reserve.

"Sharp Metal Radiant Feathers, Spirit Essence Spell Shield, Prismatic Flowing Light, Wind-Folding Returning Shadow, Willow Leaf Flying Arrow..."

Spells for attacking and killing, essence shields for warding off enemies, movement arts for maneuvering—there was an endless array of functions, with every grade represented. For a moment, Jiang Yang was dazzled by the choices.

This one looked good, and that one looked excellent too. As his gaze wandered back and forth, he actually found himself unable to decide.

Fortunately, he had plenty of time at present, and a broad range of choices. He had not explored even a tenth or fifth of this floor of the Library Pavilion, so he continued onward.

Hmm... one offensive spell, one defensive spell, and a movement art for escaping and maneuvering. That should cover everything.

Although he wanted them all, Jiang Yang remained clearheaded. For one thing, his Dao Merit was limited. For another, biting off too much meant he could not chew it properly. In his view, mastery mattered more than quantity when it came to Spells.

Choosing a good spell and mastering it was far better than knowing a little of everything and being proficient in nothing.

After browsing another three or four shelves in succession, Jiang Yang kept all the Spells that caught his eye in mind, comparing them against those he found afterward.

"Hm? These are..."

Jiang Yang stopped before a shelf. The books and slips displayed here were not ordinary Spell Arts, but weapon arts. A few casual reads revealed formulas teaching the use of sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.

Among the various peaks, Jiang Yang had seen quite a few disciples carrying weapons such as sabers and swords at their waists as they went about their day. At first, he had thought they could not afford Mystic Artifacts and used mundane weapons to keep up appearances. Now, it seemed that was not the case.

"Good. These are good."

Jiang Yang's thoughts turned, and he understood almost instantly, unable to help praising the idea inwardly.

Qi Refining cultivators could not readily fly, and their Spirit Sense was not fully developed. Fighting often took place within thirty feet, while forming hand seals and chanting incantations took time. Frequently, spells were less convenient than weapons.

Unleash a saber technique or sword art, and a head would fall from its neck. Whatever Immortal Art or Spells the opponent possessed, none could be used.

"Xinyou Xun Thunder Saber, Returning Dragon, Breaking Feather Spear, Mysterious Water Sword Art..."

Which one should I learn?

Jiang Yang swept his Spirit Sense over the rows, wavering among the many Cultivation Arts.

Before long, he made up his mind. He waved his waist token before the light screen and reached toward a Jade Slip.

"I'll choose the sword art!"

Without deliberating for long, Jiang Yang picked the sword art from the many options and decisively took it.

There was no other reason than youthful spirit. As he saw it:

Being strong is only temporary, but looking cool is a lifelong matter.