"So besides the Qi Family, there are so many other cultivation clans, and above these clans, there's the immensely powerful Wind Moon Sect keeping them suppressed."
Before, Qi Chuan was just an ordinary mortal in White Stone Town, naturally ignorant of the true nature of the cultivation realm outside.
"Then it seems our Qi Family isn't weak either. After all, we have a Foundation Establishment ancestor. As for the Wind Moon Sect, if they can dominate all the clans, surely they must have Core Formation cultivators?"
Qi Chuan pondered aloud.
Qi Baicang nodded: "Naturally, the Wind Moon Sect's Profound Sword True Master is said to be a renowned Core Formation True Master."
"Profound Sword True Master, could it be that legendary sword cultivator?" Hearing this, Qi Chuan couldn't help but recall that iron-colored flying sword the size of a door he rode when entering the main peak.
However, that flying sword probably wasn't a real flying sword, just a flying magical artifact shaped like one.
"Indeed, Profound Sword True Master is a sword cultivator, and it's said his divine techniques are so vast that he's slain more than one cultivator of the same level and is regarded as a living legend in the nearby regions."
Qi Baicang shook his head as he spoke.
A true sword cultivator!
Qi Chuan couldn't help but ponder inwardly.
With my Golden Finger, whether I cultivate normally or dabble in auxiliary professions like pill-making, artifact crafting, or talisman arrays, it should have an effect that will eventually yield significant achievements.
However, if we talk about which profession in the cultivation realm is the most powerful and has the fiercest combat abilities, sword cultivators certainly hold a notable position.
If I can engage with the Sword Dao and harness the Hundredfold Critical Strike, I will surely have success.
Moreover, in the future, having a strong foundation in Sword Dao would be of great assistance whether for self-preservation in times of crisis or leveraging the advantages of the Sword Dao to compete for cultivation resources and seize opportunities.
But switching to the Sword Dao isn't that simple.
According to Qi Chuan's own guess, it would likely require a Sword Dao technique.
Recalling a novel from his previous life, the protagonist relied on a Sword Dao technique called the "Cyan Origin Sword Manual" to cultivate the Sword Dao, eventually attaining the Mahayana and ascending to the Immortal Realm.
Thinking of this, Qi Chuan immediately asked, "Second Uncle, does our Qi Family have any Sword Dao techniques?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Baicang shook his head repeatedly: "Probably not, I've never heard of anyone in the Qi Family being a sword cultivator."
"Not to mention our Qi Family, I've never heard of any of the clans in the surrounding areas having a sword cultivator."
"Sword Dao techniques of that caliber should only be possessed by the Wind Moon Sect, right?"
"I see..." Qi Chuan thought with regret at those words.
Even before asking, he had a strong hunch that the Qi Family wouldn't have any Sword Dao techniques; such things are too rare.
Let alone Sword Dao techniques, the Qi Family probably doesn't even have many ordinary cultivation immortality methods.
With this, if I want to venture into the Sword Dao in the future, it seems I must join the Wind Moon Sect.
But Qi Chuan had no idea about the pathways to join the Wind Moon Sect.
So for now, he had to suppress such thoughts and wait for an opportunity in the future.
Qi Chuan thought to himself.
Opposite him, Qi Baicang, hearing these inquiries, looked at his face with some surprise, guessing: "Ah Chuan, could it be that you have some thoughts about the Sword Dao?"
Faced with his Second Uncle, Qi Chuan nodded and smiled: "Indeed, I have such thoughts. If I could join the Wind Moon Sect, become a True Disciple, and acquire Profound Sword True Master's inheritance of the Sword Dao, that would be ideal."
"Haha, you have ambition!"
Qi Baicang initially thought that Qi Chuan might be overthinking things. After all, the latter also possesses a lower eighth-grade spirit root, so the Sword Dao, at that level, is not something cultivators from their background can easily aspire to.
But hearing this from Qi Chuan, Qi Baicang realized perhaps he misunderstood.
It was likely just a jest the young man made for his elder.
Besides, hasn't every low-level cultivator longed for the Sword Dao? It's nothing unusual.
Thinking this, he paid it no mind.
Then, recalling something, he took out a bundle of talismans and handed them to Qi Chuan, saying, "Ah Chuan, these talismans are for you, as a welcome gift from your second uncle."
A welcome gift?
"Thank you, Second Uncle!"
Qi Chuan received them with both hands, holding them.
These talismans were bright yellow, made of unknown materials, very resilient, and inscribed with complex red symbols that seemed to emit a faint spiritual light from their engraved lines.
There were a total of fifteen, and based on the symbols, it seemed to be three types of talismans, with five of each type, as some talismans had almost identical symbols.
"These are Fireball Talismans, Water Arrow Talismans, and Light Body Talismans, all Tier One Lower Grade Talismans, not worth many Spirit Stones. You take them to play with, just be careful not to burn down this mountain peak of mine."
Qi Baicang laughed.
Qi Chuan thanked him again and carefully put the talismans away.
He was now only at the Qi Refining First Layer, and while he had progressed in his realm, he had no means for confrontation.
With these talismans, he would have some means of self-preservation in dangerous situations.
"Oh, by the way, Ah Chuan, now that you're also at the Qi Refining First Layer, you can try cultivating some basic magic when you have time. In your Evergreen Technique cultivation manual, there are some Basic Five Elements Magic recorded."
Qi Baicang spoke again, sighing: "For cultivators like us with poor spirit roots, who don't receive special treatment from the family's higher-ups, reaching the Qi Refining Middle Stage is probably the limit in good circumstances."
"Even those less fortunate, like your Second Uncle, are forever stuck at the middle-stage bottleneck, trapped at the Qi Refining Third Layer, which is not uncommon."
"So now, as you cultivate basic Five Elements Magic, you can identify which magic suits your talent and focus on those kinds of magic in the future. If you can cultivate one or two spells to minor success or better, they'll be deemed decent confrontational techniques."
"I understand, Second Uncle," Qi Chuan replied.
He was well aware that the Evergreen Technique contains some basic Five Elements Magic.
However, he had previously concentrated his efforts on the cultivation method itself and breaking through to the Qi Refining First Layer, so he hadn't paid much attention to these spells.
Now that he had reached the Qi Refining First Layer, he could naturally attempt to cultivate these spells as well.
After all, currently, he was penniless, with only two spirit stones and fifteen talismans to his name.
Without any magical artifacts on hand, magic was the only means to enhance his combat power.
After dinner, Qi Chuan returned to his simple room.
After tidying up a bit, he sat cross-legged on his bed and took out the cultivation manual for the Evergreen Technique.
He then turned to the section containing records of the basic Five Elements Magic.
"Fireball Technique, Water Arrow Technique, Earth Wall Technique, Golden Skin Technique, Wood Vine Technique… so the Evergreen Technique contains only these five spells. If I want to learn other spells in the future, I need to exchange them within the family, I suppose?"
Qi Chuan murmured to himself.
"Let's start with the Fireball Technique."
"I suppose the Hundredfold Critical Strike will have some effect on the cultivation of this spell as well."