Official Agency

"By the way, young friend An, given your current realm, you could try joining the Special Administration Bureau."

"The authorities have now collected the foundational cultivation techniques of most schools across the country, as well as texts on cultivation methods. Most of them are available to professionals."

"Self-taught talents like you, young friend An, will receive particular attention and support."

Wang An hadn't expected the authorities to be gathering so much information about cultivation-type professionals, too.

That made sense. Even now, when cultivation-type professionals practiced these traditional techniques, all they gained was greater speed and efficiency.

But no one could guarantee that, in the future, there wouldn't be great divine ability users who could truly seize the stars and snatch the moon.

He felt that joining might not be a bad idea, as long as it didn't place too many restrictions on him.

After all, his future cultivation would require suitable locations, material resources, and more. His company, at its current size, couldn't provide everything he needed.

Relying on the authorities' resources and channels might be another way forward.

Zhang Mingqing and Wang An talked as they walked deeper into the forest. Zhang Mingqing still needed to determine the precise area affected and the strength of the magnetic field.

"Daoist Zhang, what rules does the Special Administration Bureau have for cultivation-type professionals like us? What rights and obligations do we have?"

"I've never been one to tolerate restrictions very well. I wonder if I could join."

Zhang Mingqing took a careful look at the young man, who couldn't have been more than thirty, and said with a smile,

"Young friend An, there's no need to worry. The main obligation of cultivation-type professionals is to attend a cultivation exchange meeting once a month. The authorities record the proceedings, so that counts as everyone's contribution."

"Other than that, there usually aren't any assignments. At most, you'd have one like mine: coming out to take a look and observe these changes from a cultivator's perspective."

"The actual handling of matters is done jointly by combat personnel organized by the authorities and the military. We don't face much danger."

Wang An was somewhat surprised by how leniently the authorities managed them.

"I didn't expect the authorities to place so few restrictions on cultivation-type professionals."

"Young friend An, you know that for cultivators like us, cultivation of the state of mind is of utmost importance. Without a relaxed environment, how could we enter a state of stillness and cultivate?"

"Besides, when all is said and done, we're still only flesh and blood. At most, we can offer the country some unique perspectives to inform its decisions."

Wang An nodded in agreement and made his decision.

"Daoist Zhang, if there's no problem, could you introduce me to the Special Administration Bureau?"

"Haha, no problem. Young friend An, from now on we'll be fellow Daoists and colleagues."

Eventually, the two reached the place where Wang An had previously practiced Qi Gathering. He had erased almost all traces of human activity there.

When they arrived, Zhang Mingqing took a compass from a shoulder bag and began surveying the local feng shui and the lay of the mountain ranges.

He then took out a magnetic field meter to measure the field's strength and its interference with artificial signals.

Half an hour later, he finally finished recording all the data.

"Let's go. I've finished my assignment, so I can take you to the Special Administration Bureau's Changnan branch."

"As for the employment information and the exchange of cultivation techniques, I'll discuss it with the Celestial Master and see which techniques and spells are suitable."

On the way to the Special Administration Bureau, Zhang Mingqing discussed the list of cultivation techniques and spells for exchange with the Celestial Master of the Celestial Master Mansion.

In the end, he sent Wang An a list of items available for exchange.

[Internal refinement techniques:

Golden Light Internal Refinement Technique: protection, gathering qi, refining the spirit, and establishing a foundation for talisman arts.

Breath Regulation and Qi Ingestion Technique: replenishing internal qi, strengthening the body, and supplying energy for drawing talismans.

Preliminary Embryonic Breathing Technique: entering the innate state, stabilizing qi, and increasing magical power.

Zhengyi Talismans:

One-Stroke Talisman Technique: the foundation of talisman arts.

Hand Seal Formula Method: holding qi, summoning gods, and stabilizing talismans.

Pacing the Dipper and Treading the Stars: connecting with the stars, receiving qi, and securing the altar.

Orthodox Unity register-bestowal techniques: Supreme Three-Five General Merit Register, Orthodox Unity Covenant Might Register, Highest Clarity Great Grotto Register

Professions: [General Merit Mage], [Covenant Might Mage], [Five Thunder Mage], [Student], [Daoist Child], [Daoist Priest]

Wang An looked carefully at the functions of the internal refinement techniques. As expected, his [Refining Essence into Qi] and [Refining Qi into Spirit] already covered them.

Daoist cultivation techniques were essentially all built around four stages: refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit and returning to emptiness, and refining emptiness and joining the Dao.

Different schools' techniques simply placed emphasis on different things.

The Orthodox Unity School, for example, placed greater emphasis on developing the ability to draw talismans.

Schools such as Complete Perfection and Dragon Gate focused more on tempering and cultivating life and nature.

What could truly help Wang An was the Orthodox Unity School's talisman inheritance.

Although most talismans could only be drawn after receiving a register, and internal refinement techniques supplied their energy, it was the runes that truly gave talismans their various abilities.

The steps of summoning gods and connecting with the stars helped with drawing the talismans, stabilizing their energy, and amplifying their overall power.

Over the past few days, he had been comprehending Innate Qi and had gained some understanding of the principles within it.

Combined with his now high three-dimensional attributes, he might really be able to draw some talismans of decent strength.

Though they still wouldn't have the spell effects of flashing golden light and exploding energy, being able to exist apart from their source was a great step forward.

Wang An checked his current comprehension progress.

[Innate Greater Yin Moonlight Spirit-Nurturing Wondrous Qi (25%)]

[Innate Lesser Yang Sunlight Life-Nurturing Wondrous Qi (8%)]

[Innate Grand Pure Spirit Water Essence-Nourishing Mystic Qi (3%)]

[Innate Gui Water Sweet Rain Moistening Mystic Qi (0.1%)]

He thought that once his comprehension progress exceeded 50%, he should be able to use the principles of greater yin to draw a talisman that calmed the mind and nourished the spirit.

Such a talisman used its creator's true qi as an activation switch, leveraging the relevant principles of greater yin in heaven and earth to calm the mind and nourish the spirit.

These foundational talisman inheritances from the Celestial Master Mansion on Mount Longhu could make up for some of his shortcomings, help him draw talismans more effectively, and reduce failures.

As for specialized profession systems like those of religious practitioners, they usually required strict, lengthy fasting and the bestowal of registers. Taking up such professions wasn't particularly difficult, but it took too long and didn't suit his current interests.

Seeing these professions reminded Wang An of his [Feng Shui Master] profession, which he had yet to take up.

Professions like that, which were still in their early stages of development, might be worth making the focus of Wang An's search going forward.

After all, most professions were of limited help to him. The boosts his current three-dimensional attributes gave his various abilities were no less than those provided by such professions.

What he truly needed now were rare professions that were difficult to take up.

His time was limited, after all. At present, he basically used his [Martial Artist] profession's Repair skill to speed up recovery from injuries sustained during cultivation.

He hadn't looked for any specialized combat martial skills either. His days were already almost completely booked.

At night, if the weather was good, he gathered and refined stellar qi, or studied subjects related to taking up the [Astronomer] and [High-End Finance Professional] professions.

During the day, he had to cultivate while studying feng shui energy fields. Now he also had to visit the launch site every few days to gather and refine golden yang qi. He really didn't have much energy left to take up professions that offered little help.

Time passed bit by bit. Riding in Zhang Mingqing's official vehicle, Wang An and Zhang Mingqing finally drove into the underground level of a museum.

When they got out, they saw a sign reading "Special Management Bureau Changnan Branch" hanging to the left of an antique wooden door.