"Daoist Jia, could it be that you've found a new paramour?"
"You haven't taken care of my business for quite some time."
The female cultivator was beautiful, clad in light silk gauze, her exquisite curves faintly visible. She held a basin of water in her hands, her gaze upon him both surprised and delighted.
Jia Ren recognized the female cultivator approaching from the direction of the back house as somewhat familiar, seemingly engaged in some special business.
What kind of luck is this? Just moving randomly, and he encounters someone he knows?
The female cultivator's smile was radiant. She set down the basin and stepped forward to embrace Jia Ren's arm, her waterfall-like hair draping over his shoulder. A thick perfume invaded his nostrils, the scent peculiar.
"Daoist Jia, I've missed you so much. Have you missed me?"
Her eyes brimmed with emotion, as if autumn waves were shimmering within them.
Jia Ren couldn't help but frown and instinctively distance himself.
"Daoist Jia, don't you miss me?"
Her soft body clung to him as if boneless. With just a turn of the head, he could see her tender skin and the blush that rose on her cheeks. She appeared like a shy young girl of sixteen, her every thought tied to her lover.
Business had been poor recently, and she couldn't let a generous patron slip away.
"Since when has Daoist Jia become so shy?"
"This little lady is lonely and cold. Won't you show some compassion for me?"
Her gaze was sharp, immediately noticing that Jia Ren wore an inferior Robe, indicating he was richer than before.
"I've just switched to cultivating the Bewitching Body Technique. My voice is light, my body supple, and I have new tricks to show."
"Daoist Jia's Sun Locking Technique is exquisite and unmatched. Why not let me try and see if my skills have improved?"
The female cultivator's mouth was close to Jia Ren's ear, her breath fragrant.
Jia Ren felt as if a current had coursed through his body, his mind a whirlwind.
Dual cultivation?
The female cultivator reached a hand into his Robe, up to no good.
Jia Ren, with strong mental fortitude, suppressed the fantasies in his heart. He caught the female cultivator's wrist to prevent further mischief and simultaneously pulled his right arm free from her embrace.
"Daoist friend, please stop there."
"If there's nothing else, please leave."
Without looking at the female cultivator's tearful eyes, his expression was cold.
"HMPH, heartless man."
The female cultivator turned and went back to the stone house, sulking alone when she saw that Jia Ren did not follow.
Could my seductive arts no longer be effective? Stinking man, I will make you come crawling back to me.
Jia Ren took a deep breath, his emotions taking a long time to calm down.
I almost fell for it! Female cultivators who practice the arts of seduction are indeed enchantresses, hard to resist. No wonder the original owner was so obsessed with this path, unable to extricate himself.
Jia Ren could sense that the female cultivator had used some kind of seductive art, but unfortunately, her cultivation wasn't profound enough. More importantly, his mental fortitude was extraordinary; otherwise, he might have already been in the land of tenderness, engaging in endless nightly conversations with the female cultivator.
After breakfast, Jia Ren took out the Turtle Spirit Technique and studied it carefully.
Thankfully, there's no need to disperse my current cultivation.
For other techniques like the Eternal Spring Technique, it would be necessary to disperse one's cultivation before switching to the Turtle Spirit Technique. The Return to Origin Technique was one of the rare attribute-less Cultivation Techniques, allowing the transformation of Spiritual Power into any type of energy. For cultivators practicing other Cultivation Techniques, it would usually take anywhere from three months to half a year to return to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. Jia Ren simply had to cultivate the Turtle Spirit Technique and slowly transform his Spiritual Power, avoiding the need for dispersal and re-cultivation.
He concentrated on closed-door cultivation, without any distractions.
In one day and one night, all the Spiritual Power inside his body transformed into Tortoise Spirit Energy.
It was easier than I imagined.
Feeling the thick Tortoise Spirit Energy flowing within him, Jia Ren was in high spirits. The Proficiency Panel interface showed the Return to Origin Technique had disappeared, replaced by the Turtle Spirit Technique.
[Name: Jia Ren]
[Lifespan: 30/75]
[Realm: Fourth Layer of Qi Refining (1/400)]
[Cultivation Technique: Turtle Spirit Technique Fourth Layer (1/400)]
[Spell: Wind Control Skill: Mastery (388/400)]
[Fireball Technique: Proficient (28/200)]
[Spirit Eye Technique: Proficient (26/200)]
[Spirit Shield: Beginner (81/100)]
[Sun Locking Technique: Mastery (196/400)]
[Return to Origin Sword Qi: Proficient (148/200)]
[Gather Water Spell: Beginner (30/100)]
[Tempting Bait (Fish): Grandmaster (Limit)+]
[Insect Control Technique (Mortal): Proficient (Limit)+]
[Turtle Breath Technique: Beginner (1/100)]
[Turtle Prime Spirit Armor: Beginner (1/100)]
Skill Breaking Point: 1.375
After switching to the Turtle Spirit Technique, the effect on lifespan increase was immediately apparent. The upper limit went from 65 to 75 years, an increase of 10 years. Ten years of lifespan was already comparable to a Lifespan Extension Pill. A Lifespan Extension Pill that increases lifespan by 10 years, if put up for auction, could sell for at least a thousand Spirit Stones and is highly sought after but rarely available.
Having just switched Cultivation Techniques, the lifespan increase was noticeable. But later on, it won't be so easy to add more years to one's life. Either one had to break through the Cultivation Level to gain lifespan growth, or one had to prepare the special Turtle Spirit Ointment necessary for the Turtle Spirit Technique to aid in cultivation and make up for the lifespan deficit. Both required time and, more importantly, Spirit Stones.
The Turtle Spirit Technique is a good Cultivation Technique, but unfortunately, without the Turtle Spirit Ointment to assist in cultivation, the progress is much slower than with the Return to Origin Technique. No wonder the Turtle Spirit Technique is not very popular and has become a minority technique.
The Turtle Spirit Technique had many advantages, but its drawback was the slow pace of cultivation, which was quite fatal. Sacrificing cultivation speed in exchange for a longer lifespan. For elderly cultivators seeking to extend their lives, it naturally seemed like a good deal. But for those committed to the Great Dao, eager to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was a completely different story. On the path of cultivation, being one step slow means being slow at every step.
Passing sixty without a breakthrough basically meant there was no chance to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage. Those who focused on cultivating the Turtle Spirit Technique spent even more time. Without plenty of Spirit Pills and magic elixirs, reaching Qi Refining Completion at the age of sixty was quite difficult, let alone the Foundation Establishment Stage. In comparison, cultivators practicing other Cultivation Techniques reached Qi Refining Completion earlier. Once they reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, their lifespan would greatly increase. The lifespan gained from improving Cultivation Level far surpassed what the Turtle Spirit Technique could offer.
Haha, after many days of accumulation, I finally have 1 Skill Breaking Point! Tempting Bait (Fish) and Insect Control Technique (Mortal) have both reached their limits, with a '+' appearing afterward. Which one should I use the only Skill Breaking Point on? Tempting Bait (Fish)? Or Insect Control Technique (Mortal)? The current Bait Tempting Technique is sufficient. Even if he created higher-quality bait, it wouldn't sell for a high price, so there's no real cost-benefit. The Insect Control Technique (Mortal) is too mediocre. Since the complete version could be obtained with just One Hundred Spirit Stones, there's no need to waste a Skill Breaking Point on it. It's most appropriate to use the Skill Breaking Point on Wind Control Skill, but to master Wind Control Skill to the Grandmaster limit, who knows how long it would take. Break the Insect Control Technique! In another eight or nine days, I can accumulate another Skill Breaking Point. Having just survived a fatal crisis, mosquitoes played no small part.
Jia Ren didn't mind investing more in the Insect Control Technique. Focusing on the '+' sign next to the Insect Control Technique (Mortal) on the Proficiency Panel, the panel blurred. Once it stabilized, the Insect Control Technique underwent significant changes.
[Insect Control Technique (Spirit): Mastery (221/400)]
Insights about the Insect Control Technique rose in Jia Ren's mind, bringing forth new knowledge and perspectives. He distinctly felt the changes in the Insect Control Technique. It was no longer the crude control of the past; now he could precisely control every mosquito. With a mere thought, the mosquitoes residing outside the stone house fluttered in unison. Both their control distance and sensory range had more than doubled. The most important aspect was that the Insect Control Technique could control not just mortal insects, but also Spirit Insects.
I need Turtle Spirit Ointment, Cultivation Pills, the complete Insect Control Scripture, and Elixirs or Spirit Stones for rapidly increasing my Proficiency Level. The Spirit Stone deficit is quite large. Tomorrow I will purchase bait-making materials and Spirit Insect Eggs; a trip to the Grand Wilderness Mountain is a must.