Song Yan had two Jade Tokens in his arms, one of his own, containing 83 points, and another that belonged to Miss Qiu, which contained 7 points.
Miss Qiu fought hard to be useful, tirelessly making skins, and thus managed to gather 7 Contribution Points over half a year, then...handed them all over to Song Yan.
The young man deftly headed toward the low-level marketplace at the foot of the mountain, pausing midway to dig up a bundle from beneath a marked rock and changed into a low-hooded cloak and a human skin mask.
These items were what he had picked up during his visits to the marketplace over the past few months, along with three bottles of "Strengthening Ginseng Pill," all costing 1 Contribution Point.
The human skin mask was merely a mask for Jianghu people; a Cultivator could see through it with just a bit of perception, so it was practically useless, thus cheap, but for Song Yan, it held much utility, as it could make others mistake him for a bandit or some evil Jianghu person.
Having acquired a fortune in recent months, he hadn't acted out of the ordinary, but descended the mountain normally, therefore knowing that the marketplace below sometimes had people from outside Jianghu visiting.
The Puppet Sect was regarded as mighty emperors by Jianghu's evil martial artists, far surpassing any Mortal Dynasty in utility.
From conversations with those individuals and Qiu Lianyue, Song Yan also learned that the world he transmigrated to seemed vast with numerous dynasties, and the Puppet Sect he was in lay at the "Three Kingdoms Border," an evil cultivation force.
The Three Kingdoms were indeed mortal kingdoms named by coincidence as Wei, Shu, and Wu, yet...these Three Kingdoms evidently had no relation to the Three Kingdoms from before Song Yan transmigrated.
Hence, whenever the Puppet Sect needed people, they would casually plunder from any kingdom, with an endless supply available.
As for controlling dynasties, the Puppet Sect seemed disinterested, firstly because Mortal Dynasties lacked Profound Stones and Profound Veins, rendering it a waste of time and pointless; secondly because they still needed Mortal Dynasties to continue providing "people" as resources.
Song Yan arrived at the foot of the mountain, pretended to wander outside, yet did not purchase "Strengthening Ginseng Pill" today nor visited the usual stalls but walked a bit and entered the pavilion, skillfully swiping his Jade Token on the "Goods Stand" sign.
A stream of goods information immediately appeared in his mind.
Song Yan rapidly swiped the Jade Token, spending 88 points to purchase "Qi Concealment Technique," "Qi Arrow Technique," then reluctantly looked at the newly added goods from last month.
"Soul-Searching Skill," Refining Profound Magic Technique, available for use, price: 199 Contribution Points.
The more a person feared something, the more they desired it.
Song Yan really wanted to buy this.
But 199 Contribution Points were still too expensive for him...
Song Yan glanced over and quickly left.
He was about to take a few loops, deal with the human skin mask and cloak, and return to the cliff top when he suddenly heard commotion from the marketplace entrance.
It was a noisy sound accompanied by some malicious laughter.
He paused in his steps, turned his head towards the marketplace entrance, and saw carts of prisoners arriving from afar, but the men and women inside the carts, though travel-worn and looking despairing, were all extraordinary.
The men were handsome, the women beautiful, all displaying a noble air that was definitely not ordinary.
Some Jianghu people nearby were laughing wantonly.
"The Wei Kingdom is about to be completely eradicated, all the royal women and princes have been captured and sent to the Puppet Palace, though the Blood Gun Gang rebelled, they were wise enough to present all of them to the immortals."
"Rumor has it that the Wei Kingdom's royal family carries a strand of Multi-tailed Fox Race bloodline from the Mountain and Sea Kingdom, which though incredibly weak, insufficient for cultivation, granted them extremely beautiful appearances, men and women alike...now it seems, the rumors might be true."
"Look, isn't that the Eldest Princess Cao Yanran from the Wei Kingdom leading the charge? Tsk tsk tsk, I've heard her sultry name in Jianghu, the first beauty of Great Wei. But what of it? She's still sent to the Puppet Palace, soon to serve as a lowly maid here."
Song Yan looked at the foremost prisoner cart, where indeed stood a beautiful woman, a sight that could not fail to stir any man's heart. Though Qiu Lianyue had some beauty, she paled greatly in comparison to her.
Reflecting on the words of those Jianghu people, Song Yan let out a soft sigh: It seemed the outside world was not safe either.
If this scene had only been "watching TV or movies," he might feel some sympathy in his heart, but in this world, he felt it was already a challenge to take care of himself and survive.
The world was like this, each should mind their own business.
"I still need to become stronger."
...
...
That night.
Song Yan recounted what he saw and heard at the marketplace today to Miss Qiu.
He remembered Miss Qiu was also from Wei Kingdom.
And after listening to Song Yan's recount, Qiu Lianyue was stunned for a long time and trembled, saying: "Even the Eldest Princess was captured?"
Song Yan replied, "I heard those Jianghu people say her name was Cao Yanran."
Qiu Lianyue said, "A beauty beyond comparison, Wei Palace's peony..."
She murmured, then let out a long sigh, immediately her eyes reddened, and tears poured down in streams.
Song Yan said, "Do you know her?"
Qiu Lianyue replied sorrowfully, "My family's business had the backing of Yanran, the Eldest Princess, in Great Wei. My father took me to meet her once.
Back then, standing before her, I felt as if I was facing a blazing light, and I didn't dare to lift my head, let alone look at her straight on...
Brother Song, you said the Blood Gun Gang rebelled. Perhaps it's a recent affair in the past half year. Since Yanran, the Eldest Princess, and many from the royal family were captured, my family's business might have suffered collateral damage as well."
Originally, Qiu Lianyue held a sliver of hope to return home, but now... that faint hope was completely shattered.
Her face was pale, her eyes vacant, as she murmured, "Dynasties rise and fall, but what truly endures are these Cultivating Profound sects..."
Suddenly, her expression became agitated. She tightly grasped Song Yan's hand and said with a trembling voice, "Brother Song, you must succeed. You're a good person, you must succeed.
Actually, I guessed it. I guessed that you need to extract from me to succeed in your cultivation. Don't be gentle; you've already bought me a lot of medicine. You should extract more; you must not fail! I don't want you to fail! You can't fail!"
Song Yan scratched his head.
In truth, what troubled him now wasn't failure, but concealment.
After Qiu Lianyue's midnight watch was over, he returned to the door of the Suspended Room, his expression slightly moving, and pulled up the panel:
[Name: Song Yan]
[Life Span: 17/3908]
[Talent: Remaining Life Dao Fruit]
[Realm: Refining Profound, First Layer]
[Spirit Root: Inferior Ghost Profound Root (Life Span Calculation available)]
[Cultivation Technique: Profound Qi Guiding Technique (Achieved) (Life Span Calculation available)]
[Magic Techniques: (Life Span Calculation available)]
"Qi Concealment Technique" (Not entry-level)
"Qi Arrow Technique" (Not entry-level)
Seven months allowed him to accumulate a significant amount of life span, and his understanding of the relationship between Cultivation Techniques and Magic Techniques deepened.
Cultivation Techniques are unique cultivation methods and tools for practice, without distinct tiers. Utilizing these methods to absorb Profound Qi is the essence of Cultivation Techniques. This doesn't mean Cultivation Techniques are simple; in fact, they are quite complex. Even within 'Profound Qi Guiding Technique' there are various requirements such as visualization and heart methods and other nuances.
Yet the true slaughter techniques lie within Magic Techniques.
Magical Battles involve not the Cultivation Techniques but the Magic Techniques.
After purchasing "Qi Concealment Technique" and "Qi Arrow Technique," Song Yan understood that Magic Techniques have tiers: entry-level, Xiaocheng, Great Success, Perfection.
He then focused his attention on "Qi Concealment Technique."
Only by concealing his aura effectively could he choose to break through to the next realm.
[Please select time investment]
Song Yan adeptly began his endeavors.
Life span numbers began to change.
[You invested one year contemplating "Qi Concealment Technique," and in three months, you achieved entry-level. After three more months, you attained Xiaocheng, and by year-end, you achieved Great Success. You realized that Qi Concealment is in fact Qi Gathering and Hidden Qi. Within the body, like a labyrinth, with bones, muscles, blood, organs, and meridians all capable of harboring qi. Others wishing to probe your realm need to use their qi, and upon contacting your qi, they naturally ascertain your realm. However, if you've hidden yours beforehand, leaving them unable to find it, that qi... will naturally be concealed]
'Achieving Great Success in just a year?'
Song Yan was slightly surprised.
But given it was commonplace and considering his focused and single-minded cultivation, it seemed reasonable.
Seeing he still had ample life span, he decided to go big, remembering Qi Yao's words: "The terror of Ghost Cultivators lies in their ability to alter ordinary Magic Techniques, transforming them into Illusion Techniques, Devouring, and others."
[You invested ten years contemplating "Qi Concealment Technique." After one year, you achieved Perfection. You were able to gather Profound Qi within your body at will and hide it anywhere on your body, occupying only one spot. Discontent, you continued trying to conceal qi, with minimal success, until repeated experiments finally revealed something unusual: the Profound Qi within your body wasn't ordinary but Evil Qi. Evil Qi, mixing wickedness with profoundness, led you to ponder how to utilize this unique power. After five years, you mastered "Soul-Collecting Technique," temporarily separating Evil Qi from Profound Qi within, able to retaliate with Evil Qi against those attempting to probe your realm and information internally. Unsatisfied, you continued trying. Yet another four years yielded no results]
Song Yan reviewed the panel.
[Magic Techniques]
"Soul-Collecting Technique" (Perfection)
Clearly, his mastery of the variant technique required no further practice.
'Still plenty of life span left; converting it to power is certainly more secure, thus... onwards.'