[Name: Wei Zhong]
[Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Level 7 (56%)]
[Technique: Bilang Gong - Mastery (1%)]
[Lifespan: 127/137]
Cultivation days are always tedious. In the days following his wicked disciple's death, Wei Zhong, to avoid suspicion, quietly cultivated the land.
Now, the Bilang Gong has reached mastery.
Its speed has increased significantly, and its efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy has also increased several percent. Wei Zhong was delighted to see his ten-point increase in proficiency.
This way, he could return to the eighth level of Qi Refining in less than ten years, a significant improvement over his initial 46%.
If he could drop one more level, wouldn't he have another ten years to live? With this kind of nesting doll, wouldn't his lifespan be endless?
Wei Zhong seemed to have discovered a silver lining.
Filled with joy, he resumed his cultivation. For
the next six years, Wei Zhong peacefully cultivated the land.
Occasionally, a member of the Yan family's side branch would come to ask to be his disciple, but Wei Zhong politely declined.
Apparently, seeing Wei Zhong's resolute attitude, the visitors gradually stopped coming.
"Huh!"
Wei Zhong exhaled.
He glanced at his dashboard, a look of joy on his face.
[Name: Wei Zhong]
[Cultivation Level: Eighth Qi Refining Level (46%)]
[Skill: Bilang Gong - Mastery (30%)]
[Lifespan: 133/137]
He had finally returned to the state he'd been in at the beginning of his time travel, and his progress towards the Eighth Qi Refining Level was also at 46%.
The difference was that he was no longer an old man with only three days to live.
Instead, he was an Eighth Qi Refining Level cultivator with a four-year lifespan.
And within the remaining four years, he could very well reach the threshold of the Ninth Qi Refining Level. Mastering
the Bilang Gong had significantly increased his cultivation speed. What would it be like if he could reach the Master level?
The Bilang Gong was merely a Yellow-grade, common practice. If we consider its rank, it was barely mid-grade, capable of reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
Now, after Wei Zhong's day and night practice, the speed of mastering the Bilang Gong Lun is now comparable to that of a top-grade Huang-grade technique. It's just that the upper limit is lacking.
If he reaches the master level, wouldn't his cultivation speed be comparable to that of a Xuan-grade technique?
"Squeak!"
Wei Zhong's heart fluttered with excitement.
Xuan-grade techniques were unimaginable to a casual cultivator.
Wei Zhong had only seen one at an auction: a fire-attributed, low-grade Xuan-grade technique called "Fire Wheel Gong."
It fetched a whopping two thousand spirit stones at auction.
An average casual cultivator might earn less than a hundred spirit stones in a year's work, but a single technique would require over twenty years of effort, even without practice.
This demonstrates the sheer cost of Xuan-grade techniques.
Feeling good about his success, Wei Zhong left the courtyard and headed out to the fields.
From a distance, he spotted an old man and a young boy walking towards him.
"Strange, no one's come here in years, but today is an exception." In the distance ,
Yan Wenbo said to the young man beside him,
"Yan Yuan, that person's residence is just ahead."
The young man looked toward the small courtyard in the distance, a hint of surprise in his heart. My uncle said he was bringing me to see a master, but
surprisingly, it was the spiritual farmer in the fields. "Don't underestimate this person, as he's a mere spiritual farmer.
He possesses considerable talent in the art of magic. He has already mastered the Spirit Rain Technique to the highest level. Among all the spiritual farmers in the Yan family, no one can compare. The clan leader even said that this person's Spirit Rain Technique possesses
the qualities of a master. If you can learn a few techniques from him, it will greatly benefit your future spiritual cultivation.
Yan Yuan nodded. …...
"It's just cured some old ailments." He then looked at the young man beside him. "I wonder what brings you here today?"
Yan Wenbo patted Yan Yuan's shoulder, who immediately bowed and clasped his fists in greeting. "Greetings, Elder Wei."
"This time, I want to take my junior, Yan Yuan, to become your disciple."
Wei Zhong shook his head. "Brother Yan, you know I don't accept disciples."
Yan Wenbo, unsurprised, continued,
"Then, instead of having a master-disciple relationship, how about teaching him the art? This young man has considerable talent in cultivating spirits. Just teach him the art of spiritual rain."
"Cultivating spirits?"
Wei Zhong had heard that those in this field were an upgraded version of spiritual farmers, responsible for cultivating and maintaining the family's spiritual herbs. He hadn't expected the young man before him to possess such talent.
After a moment's hesitation, Wei Zhong agreed. Yan Wenbo was the Yan family's steward, in charge of leasing spiritual fields, and he couldn't afford to offend him lightly.
Additionally, he had already paid ten spirit stones as a deposit, and if he taught well, there would be a balance. Wei Zhong was happy to do it.
After a few pleasantries, Yan Wenbo left, leaving Yan Yuan alone.
Wei Zhong led him into the fields, pointed at the spiritual fields, and began to explain the spells.
"The art of spiritual rain uses rainwater to capture the spiritual energy floating in the air and bring it down to the spiritual work. Therefore, gathering water vapor is one, and capturing spiritual energy is two..."
After the explanation, it was time to put it into practice. Wei Zhong, cupping his hot tea, felt quite at ease as he watched Yan Yuan bring down spiritual rain on his spiritual field.
He could also save his spiritual energy to practice the technique more often. While improving his cultivation, Wei Zhong didn't give up his own advantages.
"No, you only focused on gathering the water vapor here, but forgot to capture the spiritual energy. Even if the spiritual energy here is exhausted, why is the spiritual rain technique restricted to this place? Expanding the range of spiritual energy capture is the key..."
After some instruction, Yan Yuan's spiritual rain technique was already well established.
Three months passed in this way, spent both practicing and teaching the technique. Yan Yuan left with his accomplishments complete, and Yan Wenbo paid the balance of ten spirit stones.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wei, for your guidance these days."
Wei Zhong accepted the spirit stone. "Brother Yan, you're very polite."
Glancing at Wei Zhong's graying hair, Yan Wenbo said,
"Fellow Daoist, are you aware that our Yan family market is holding an auction soon? It's said that the Longevity Pill will be on sale this time."
"Auction, Longevity Pill!"
Wei Zhong immediately understood and solemnly clenched his fist in thanks.
"Thank you, Brother Yan, for tipping me off in advance. I'll be preparing well."
Wei Zhong had participated in the Yan family auction many years ago, but due to his limited wealth, he didn't win any good items. Now, there was another auction.
Wei Zhong wasn't interested in the Longevity Pill. With his wealth, it was uncertain whether he could win one.
Even if he did, he would probably lose everything. Moreover, with the ability to exchange a level for lifespan, the Longevity Pill was of little value to him.
Perhaps Yan Wenbo saw that his own lifespan was drawing to a close, and he was desperate for the Longevity Pill.
"Brother Wei, you're welcome. Given our friendship over the years, I'm merely sharing a few whispers. But what you said is true. We need to prepare thoroughly.
This auction is massive. Not only will our Yan family cultivators and surrounding independent cultivators be participating, but we've also invited the Li and Chen families."
"Oh?"
"The more people attend, the harder it is to find the items you want. And with members from other families participating, could it be that the Yan family will be auctioning off items that would even tempt the other two families?"
Wei Zhong didn't press the issue. Yan Wenbo had already done his part by giving him advance notice, and it would be rude to inquire further.
After sending Yan Wenbo away, Wei Zhong gazed at the beams, lost in thought.
A Yan family auction was a rare occasion; he couldn't miss it.
He had to go out and trade his items for spirit stones.
He didn't dare sell them in the Yan family market, fearing they might be discovered. Wei Zhong decided to head to the independent cultivator market outside.
After packing up his belongings, Wei Zhong left the Yan family's territory.
Instantly, he looked a completely different person.
Disguise: Mastered (70%).
This technique is merely a minor one circulated in the martial arts world, hardly a true immortal technique, yet Wei Zhong has mastered it to the point of mastery.
By altering his appearance, combined with his own spiritual power to conceal his true form, ordinary Qi-refining cultivators are completely unable to discern his true appearance.
Thus, the wandering cultivator Chu He re-emerges.
Facing the stream, one can vaguely discern the form of a middle-aged man, a scar on his face giving him a sinister look.
This is the secret identity of his predecessor, Wei Zhong, at the eighth level of Qi Refining and renowned among the wandering cultivators.
Wei Zhong navigated with familiarity to the wandering cultivator gathering place known as Ruyue Market.
This market, located in a vacant area between the three major families, is jointly run by three ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators.
Unknown to ordinary people, this sizable market has escaped suppression from the three major families, and instead has attracted the presence of their own shops.
Some among the wandering cultivators speculate that the three wandering cultivators are facilitators of the three major families.
Wei Zhong, however, knows this claim to be utterly absurd.
Wei Zhong had previously dealt with the three cultivators and learned they hailed from a sect thousands of miles away: the Qingmu Sect.
The Qingmu Sect, a major sect boasting Jindan cultivators, was far more powerful than the Yan family, which only possessed Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Having survived in the area for nearly a thousand years, it was a preeminent power.
This was one of the reasons Wei Zhong came here to dispose of the stolen goods.
He headed straight for the market's largest shop, the Zaling Pavilion.
As the name suggests, it was a powerful place that bought and sold a variety of spiritual items, regardless of their provenance.
Finding the shop owner, Wei Zhong handed over his storage bag.
The owner chuckled, "Brother Chu, you've run into another blind fellow!"
Wei Zhong nodded. The independent cultivator Chu He was renowned in the Ruyue Market for his strength, his combat prowess approaching the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he had even forged friendships with the three market owners.
Who would dare to provoke him, except for that blind Jie cultivator?
He sipped the spiritual tea and waited for a moment before the shop owner returned.
"Brother Chu, the two storage bags you brought are quite disorganized, so I've been counting them for a while."
Wei Zhong indicated it was okay.
"All the items total three hundred and seventy-two spirit stones. Is that a reasonable price, Brother Chu?"
Wei Zhong nodded. He had already pocketed the valuables from the two storage bags, leaving behind only a few miscellaneous items of limited use and value.
After collecting the spirit stones, Wei Zhong was about to leave when he turned and asked,
"How much are your top-grade Qi-nourishing Pills?"
"Two hundred spirit stones per bottle, ten pills in total. If Brother Chu buys them, we can give you a discount of one or two."
"Give me one bottle."
"One hundred and ninety spirit stones, thank you."
"Goodbye, Brother Chu!"
(End of chapter)