Instructing the Disciples

Early the next morning, the two youngsters skipped even their morning lessons and came to pay their respects outside Kang Dabao's quarters. They left Jin Shilun behind, sitting in the scripture hall with a face full of misery, clutching an obscure Daoist scripture and pulling at his hair as he struggled to understand it.

Oh, right. His two senior brothers had also told him that after his morning lessons, he was to wait in the kitchen. There was a secret sect technique urgently awaiting transmission to him.

"You're here?" Kang Dabao pushed open the door, his eyes still heavy with sleep, and looked at the two excited youngsters.

"Greetings, Master." The two bowed with perfect propriety.

"Good. You didn't slack off after going back last night. Your spiritual power can now circulate through a complete cycle without obstruction." Kang Dabao stretched out both hands and sent a stream of spiritual power into each youngster to test them.

In the cultivation world, allowing another person to probe one like this was extremely dangerous. Unless they were one's closest kin, one must never permit it.

Both youngsters beamed at the praise.

"In that case, I'll pass on cultivation methods to you. Our Chongming Sect was once a great Foundation Establishment sect. Our cultivation texts could fill buildings and exhaust the oxen carrying them; they were too numerous to count. Though we've declined somewhat, more than a dozen cultivation methods have been passed down. You descendants have received the legacy left by your predecessors today. From now on, you must take the revival of the sect as your own duty, cultivate diligently, and never slack off."

As Kang Dabao spoke, he couldn't help recalling the earnest instructions his martial uncle had given him when passing on his cultivation method more than twenty years ago.

Seeing the youngsters put away their smiles, sit up straight, and listen with utmost attention, Kang Dabao was quite satisfied.

He continued, "Among the cultivation methods, there are two of the Primordial Rank and sixteen of the Desolate Rank. Some were inherited from our founder, while others were collected by our predecessors. The Primordial Rank, Superior Grade Three Yang Scripture is a sword cultivation method of the single Fire Element. It's one of the treasures passed down to protect our Chongming Sect. Besides its Qi circulation method, it also contains the Three Yang Sword Scripture, along with a Primordial Rank, Superior Grade Technique Method, Flame Sword Net, and a Primordial Rank, Middle Grade Law Technique, Azure Radiance Sword Qi.

"Once mastered, it grants the practitioner blazing spiritual power and provides a certain boost to all Fire Element Technique Methods. It can be cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Getting started is somewhat difficult, though, and takes some talent. In the past fifty years, your third martial uncle is the only person in the sect who has mastered it. I don't know much about it myself. If you choose this one, you can ask him for more guidance when he returns.

"One more thing: this cultivation method consumes a great many resources. The sect may not be able to provide everything you need, so think it over carefully.

"The Vast-Tier Lower-Grade Azure Wood Treasured Light Guide is a single Wood Element cultivation method. Your grandmaster found this overlooked treasure at a mortal's bookstall when he was young. It's the method I cultivate.

"There's nothing particularly remarkable about it. The main reason it qualifies as Primordial Rank is that its cultivation is balanced and gentle, and a bit of treasured light protects the spirit platform, so there's little need to worry about Qi Deviation. Once mastered, it also gives you twenty percent more spiritual power than an ordinary cultivator of the same stage. However, this is only a fragment, and it can only be cultivated to the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer.

"The Desolate Rank, Supreme Grade White Ape Scripture is an attribute-free body cultivation method that can be cultivated to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. It's also the method your second martial uncle cultivates. Once mastered, you'll have the strength of an ape demon and prevail in every close-quarters fight. Uh, try to steer clear of sword cultivators like your third martial uncle. It comes with two Vast-Tier Lower-Grade Technique Methods: Ape Demon Cannon Hammer and White Ape Step."

"The Desolate-Tier Superior-Grade Abundant Grass Scripture."

"The Desolate Tier, Middle Grade Five Spirits Art."

"The Desolate-Tier Lower-Grade Yi Wood Art."

"The Desolate Tier, Middle Grade Metal and Fire Formula."

Kang Dabao explained the eighteen cultivation method Jade Slips to the two youngsters one by one, then laid them on the bed and waited for them to choose.

"Master, I choose the Three Yang Scripture."

"Master, I choose the Azure Wood Treasured Light Guide."

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Han Yundao and Duan Anle announced their choices in turn.

It was exactly what Kang Dabao had expected. The words "Primordial Rank" alone were enough to eclipse the other cultivation methods' own radiance.

As it happened, Han Yundao had no Wood Spirit Root, and Duan Anle had no Fire Spirit Root. What choice was there to make?

They were fortunate, too. Even in some great Foundation Establishment sects with shallow foundations, few disciples could choose a Primordial Rank cultivation method and cultivate it without paying any price.

Whether they could master it was another matter. Generally speaking, the higher a cultivation method's grade, the harder it was to comprehend and cultivate.

Kang Dabao looked at Han Yundao with some concern. Forget it. Youngsters wouldn't give up until they had knocked their heads against the south wall.

Alas, a higher grade doesn't necessarily mean it's suited to them. Oh well, let them realize it for themselves. Kang Dabao then said, "After cultivation methods come Technique Methods."

Kang Dabao put away the remaining Jade Slips and pulled out a book as thick as a fist.

"This is the Original Law Scripture, the source of countless Technique Methods. Memorize it well. I'll test you in a month. After the test, I'll teach you the Introduction to Five Elements Incantation Seals. You must gain a basic grasp of the Fireball Technique within three months!"

If ordinary Technique Methods were advanced mathematics problems, then the Original Law Scripture was the four basic operations of arithmetic. It was just that this particular set of basic operations might have been a little thick.

The way of Technique Methods was as deep as an abyss. Even the most basic Fireball Technique had nine mnemonic incantation seals and eleven hand-seal incantation seals.

In a magical duel, mnemonics, hand seals, and breathing all followed set patterns.

Depending on variables such as weather, terrain, the time of day, and one's position, the order and speed of the hand seals and mnemonics would change. They could be neither a fraction too fast nor a fraction too slow. Otherwise, the casting might merely be interrupted, or in a serious case, the caster could be injured.

Thus, the threshold for using Technique Methods was actually quite high. A great deal of theory and practice was needed to master them fully.

Generally speaking, mastery of a Technique Method could be roughly divided into five stages: entry, basic grasp, minor mastery, major mastery, and perfection. The stages differed not only in proficiency but also in the Technique Method's power.

The power of the same Technique Method at perfection and at entry could not be mentioned in the same breath.

To use a Technique Method in an actual magical duel, one had to reach at least the basic grasp stage. The same principle applied: without guidance from a predecessor, cultivating Technique Methods was an extremely difficult task.

The reason few low-level Rogue Cultivators fought using Technique Methods came down to practical considerations.

When life and death hung in the balance, a half-baked Technique Method that failed to work could cost them their lives!

That was why, even though low-level talismans were nearly twenty percent weaker than Technique Methods of the same grade, Rogue Cultivators still favored them.

Rogue Cultivators who could achieve minor mastery in several Technique Methods, or even just one, were considered elites among their kind. The cultivators whose Storage Bags Kang Dabao had picked up a while ago fell into that category.

The Technique Method books sold outside were far more obscure than those passed down in sects and lineages. If they could master Technique Methods from books like those, who else could be called elites?!

"Introduction to Cold Crow Mountain Spirit Things, Accounts of Cloud Horn Prefecture's Sects and Aristocratic Clans, Revised Record of the Great Wei Compendium, Thirty-Six Methods of Qi Circulation, Ninety-Four Taboos of Qi Refinement, and Examination of Food, Medicine, and Poison. You must memorize them all thoroughly within three months. I'll test you on them too."

Their two little faces, plump with collagen, visibly fell.

"Don't pull those long faces. Memorize them properly! If you don't even know these things, what kind of immortality are you cultivating?!" Kang Dabao scolded. "From now on, every fifth and tenth day of the month will be a test day. Anyone whose cultivation progress is slow will not only get the ruler, but go without food!"

"We'll remember, Master." The two youngsters were somewhat surprised. How had Master's temperament become so much stricter after they entered the Dao?

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. At dusk one day, Jin Shilun was hiding in his dormitory, reading. Although he had yet to succeed in body cultivation, he could still read more books on cultivation fundamentals. They were far more interesting than Daoist scriptures.

As for why he was "hiding," it was because his master was in the courtyard, berating someone.

"The sixth leaf of yellow dew grass turns red when it matures. It's white crane seed whose third leaf turns red when it matures! Just how did you memorize it?! How are you still getting it wrong?!"

"Your hand seals for the Fireball Technique are too slow again. You've twisted your hands into chicken claws! How are you even more stupid than your second martial uncle?!"

"The maternal clan of the River Prefecture Jiang Household's ancestor is the Li Household of Cloud Horn Prefecture, not the Feng Household! How many times have I told you?!"

"A fire crow is First-Tier Lower-Grade when it's one chi and two cun long, not one chi and three cun! At one chi and three cun, it's First-Tier Superior-Grade! If you still can't remember, you won't even know how you died when you run into one!"

"You good-for-nothings!" Kang Dabao held a disciplinary ruler, his face dark and somewhat frightening. His two disciples knelt on the bluestone tiles with long faces. "Hands out!" Smack, smack. Their two pale little hands visibly reddened and swelled.

"You aren't putting your hearts into it! You good-for-nothings!" Kang Dabao sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, his anger still unspent. The two youngsters wanted to cry but didn't dare.

In fairness, the two youngsters had indeed made considerable progress, but they still hadn't met Kang Dabao's expectations.

After all, youngsters could hardly escape having a playful nature. That was perfectly normal.

Just then, clouds and mist began to churn within the Lesser Cloud and Mist Formation.

Kang Dabao paused. Was someone visiting? He lightly formed a hand seal and looked through the formation, seeing a plainly dressed scholar outside.

Qi Refining Fifth Layer? Who is this? Kang Dabao wondered. Leaving his two disciples behind, he walked slowly out of the formation.

"Xie Liusheng, a disciple of Master Fish Mountain, greets Sect Leader Kang." The plainly dressed scholar bowed to Kang Dabao.

"Oh, Master Fish Mountain? So it's Fellow Daoist Xie. My respects." Kang Dabao returned the bow, while counting the days in his head. It seemed about time; it should be that matter.

"I dare not accept your respects, Sect Leader Kang. Before I left, Master specifically instructed me to deliver the invitation to the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair into your hands personally. Please set out early, Sect Leader Kang. Master is currently on Fish Mountain Island, preparing to welcome you." Xie Liusheng appeared to be around twenty. He was dignified and spoke with distinction, inspiring immediate goodwill.

"Master Fish Mountain is too kind. Please come into our humble sect for a cup of plain tea and ease your weariness, Fellow Daoist Xie." Kang Dabao carefully tucked the invitation into his sleeve.

"I wouldn't dare impose, Sect Leader Kang. I still have three households near Cold Crow Mountain to visit, so I'll take my leave!" Xie Liusheng bowed again and said farewell. The Armored Horse Talisman on his leg glowed yellow, and before long he vanished into the mountain forest, impossible to spot with the naked eye.

"Fish Mountain Treasure Fair." Kang Dabao thought that it was indeed as expected. Holding the invitation, he passed through the formation and entered the sect.

"Hmm, the third day of the sixth month. There are twelve days left." He looked over the two youngsters, who were still kneeling on the ground and hadn't managed to stand up, and began to make plans.

"That'll teach you not to study hard for this Daoist master!"

I just got to the apartment. I wrote a chapter on my phone on the train today, and tomorrow I have to go back to the factory for the early shift. I'll post more when I have time later.

Thanks to all the brothers for your comments, votes, and support.