What to Cultivate and Learn

Night fell, and the Spirit Field Department lay silent under the moon's glow. Silver light bathed the spirit fields and the stone hut, spilling through the window and into the room.

Han Yu sat cross-legged on his stone bed. In the stillness of the night, he pondered the priorities for his upcoming cultivation.

The Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method was his foundation, requiring daily practice to push his Spirit Breath to its limits. The Blood Refining Technique was equally critical, as it rapidly enhanced his combat prowess and ability to protect himself.

Then there was the Thousand Illusions Secret Art. This was the key to concealing his secrets. He needed to master the ability to conjure illusions and alter his physical appearance. Only then could he move in and out of Wanchun Valley without drawing suspicion.

Additionally, he had just obtained the Spirit Beast Sect’s Beast Heart Psychic Pact. Originally, he planned to practice it superficially, avoiding the pact pattern. However, now that the Thousand Illusions Secret Art could conceal such markings, he could fully cultivate the sigils if his needs and time allowed.

Finally, there were the rewards from Elder Yan: a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills and ten Minor Merits.

Tomorrow, he would visit the Technique Pavilion to exchange his merits for a new spell. With fifteen total Minor Merits—five saved and ten rewarded—his options had expanded significantly beyond the simple Wind Blade Technique he had initially considered.

Han Yu organized these thoughts, establishing a clear hierarchy of needs. He then took out a lustrous white Qi Gathering Pill, swallowed it, and began circulating the Green Grain Qi Cultivation Method. He wanted to compare the pill's efficacy against the Mystic Heart Fruit to optimize his resource allocation.

The pill's medicinal power dissolved gradually. Han Yu guided this energy through his Circulation Cycles, converting it into Spirit Breath. The breath settled into his Dantian, nourishing the spiritual sprout there. The sprout, representing the third layer of Qi Refining, swayed gently.

When this sprout unfurled its first complete leaf, he would break through to the fourth layer.

After several cycles, Han Yu paused to assess the pill’s potency. He was somewhat pleased. The remaining energy from the pill was still condensed and potent, enough to fuel his cultivation for another three days.

A single Qi Gathering Pill provided over four days of growth in Spirit Breath. That was far more cultivation support than a Mystic Heart Fruit now gave him.

Using such a potent pill at the early stage of Qi Refining might be considered wasteful by some, but for Han Yu, speed was survival. He had used Mystic Heart Fruit so often that its effects had waned, which partly explained the difference. Even so, the fruit was more valuable than a Qi Gathering Pill because it could clear the mind as well as support cultivation.

Opening his eyes, Han Yu saw the large and small crows perched silently by his bed. Possessing spiritual intelligence, they knew to be discreet and never burst in squawking at night.

"Tomorrow, when I choose a technique, I'll need to find a way to let you two move about openly," Han Yu said with a smile. "Otherwise, once I become an Outer Disciple and interact with more powerful cultivators, you won't be able to visit me safely."

The crows gave soft caws and nodded. They couldn't bear the thought of long separation. After a moment, they spread their wings and flew away.

Han Yu’s thoughts drifted to Old Taoist Li. As a lowly Laborer Disciple, he had no way of knowing the outcome of the confrontation involving Hong Liang and Wang Hui at the market. Nor could he investigate the source of Hong Liang’s Blood Refining Technique without raising suspicion.

The market would likely face another search because of Hong Liang. He wondered if Old Taoist Li, selling his flower cakes, would be exposed.

Early the next morning, a cheerful shout broke the silence outside Han Yu’s hut.

"Junior Brother Han! Junior Brother Han!"

Han Yu opened the door to find Zhong Yue standing there, her crimson sash bright against her robes. Her white Spirit Dog was notably absent.

"Junior Brother Han, did you need a ride to the Technique Pavilion? Senior Brother Hua Qi told me the news, so I came right over!"

"Yes. I am not familiar with the other Senior Brothers and Sisters, so I didn't want to trouble them. I could only ask for your help, Senior Sister Zhong," Han Yu replied politely. "You didn't bring your Spirit Dog today?"

"That glutton Xiao Bai is too greedy. I was afraid he might offend you again. Come on, hop on."

Zhong Yue summoned her Plantain Leaf, and Han Yu stepped aboard. He asked Zhong Yue about something on his mind.

"Senior Sister Zhong, how are spirit pets regulated within the sect? I’d like to raise a pet, but I fear being misunderstood."

Zhong Yue laughed. "Just mention it to a sect elder. Isn't that enough?"

"I don't know any sect elders," Han Yu reminded her.

"Oh, right. That's fine. You can just learn a beast-taming technique and register your spirit beast. The sect isn't usually strict about it. It's only recently, with the crisis and all the spies, that inspections have tightened."

Her voice was as clear and bright as silver bells. "The sect needs to know where your beast-taming technique came from and whether it is the Spirit Beast Sect’s Beast Heart Psychic Pact. So, just exchange for a beast-taming manual from our Technique Pavilion and you'll be fine."

"I see. Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister Zhong," Han Yu said.

"No need, no need! Actually, I should be congratulating you! Senior Brother Hua Qi told me you were absolutely brilliant yesterday. Even the Elders and Deacons praised your spell mastery. Killing a spy and coordinating with the seniors... you’ve earned real merit."

Han Yu looked genuinely taken aback. "That is too much praise. I just got lucky and happened to be in the right place."

"Hehe, you're quite modest, Junior Brother Han!"

As they chatted, the Plantain Leaf approached the main peak. A faint cyan light swept over them from the air.

"Don't be nervous. That’s a new formation on the main peak to identify sect members. Usually, an Outer Disciple jade pendant is enough to pass," Zhong Yue explained. "I heard that if enemies attack, the formation can seal the entire peak, forbidding entry or exit."

"You heard?" Han Yu asked.

"From a senior in the herb garden," she explained with a smile.

They flew past layers of towers and pavilions, finally arriving before the Technique Pavilion not far below the sect’s main hall.

"Look, that’s the arena for your competition tomorrow," Zhong Yue said, pointing to a vast expanse of stone platforms on the mountainside.

Han Yu followed her gaze. The area, typically used for practice by Inner and Outer Disciples, was now lined with rows of stone platforms, silent and waiting.

"Alright, go in and exchange for your technique. I'll wait out here. When you're done, I'll take you back," Zhong Yue said.

"Thank you for waiting, Senior Sister Zhong."

"No need to be so polite!" Zhong Yue laughed, her voice chiming behind him as he walked toward the pavilion entrance.

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