Chapter 10: The Senior Sister is Right

Ninety-nine percent of cultivators in the cultivation world are in the Qi Refinement stage. Therefore, cultivators are accustomed to subdividing the Qi Refinement stage very finely, into layers one to nine. Only later stages are then categorized into early, middle, and late sub-stages.

The Dao Sect is different. For its disciples, the Qi Refinement stage is merely an entry threshold; why bother subdividing a threshold? The Dao Sect recognizes only a single Qi Refinement stage, without any lesser distinctions.

"Do others also draw qi into their bodies like this?" Lu Yang wondered. If everyone cultivated this way, why was his progress the slowest?

Yun Zhi shook her head. "This is the original cultivation method of the ancient people. The ancient people sensed nature, achieving unity with heaven and man, drawing spiritual energy into themselves, and thus becoming cultivators." The earliest form of cultivation naturally didn't require guidance from seniors or secret techniques; it was simply a process of continuous enlightenment and trial-and-error with one's body.

"As for your meridians, during the herbal bath, they were fully opened, allowing spiritual energy to flow unimpeded. In your state of unity with heaven and man, the spiritual energy circulated within your body according to your feelings. This circulation path is the most suitable for you, surpassing any high-grade cultivation technique."

The cultivation world likes to categorize cultivation techniques into five grades: Yellow, Mysterious, Earth, Heaven, and Immortal. However, for Yun Zhi, there were only two types of techniques: those suitable for oneself and those unsuitable.

"No cultivation technique was specifically designed for you when it was created. There are many techniques suitable for Sword Spiritual Roots—I have a whole box of them—but none are right for you."

"Starting today, I'm giving you a long-term assignment: create your own cultivation technique."

When Yun Zhi spoke of creating a cultivation technique, she naturally didn't mean Lu Yang would fumble around alone; she would also guide him. Even so, the immense difficulty was unimaginable. Creating cultivation techniques was something only venerated elders in the cultivation world could achieve.

Lu Yang's mouth twitched. "The seniors who created cultivation techniques stood at such a high vantage point. They had an overarching understanding of all realms, clear in their minds, which qualified them to create techniques. For a junior like me, who just drew qi into my body, to create a technique—isn't that a bit too much..."

Yun Zhi cut off Lu Yang's complaint. "Creating a cultivation technique isn't as difficult as you imagine."

"Do you know that Dao Sect has a rule: after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, every disciple must complete tasks issued by the Task Hall to fulfill their duty to the righteous path?"

Lu Yang nodded; he had heard of it. Other sects also had similar mechanisms, requiring disciples to complete tasks, as sects didn't support idlers. Contributing to the sect demonstrated one's value. But the Five Great Immortal Sects were different; they required disciples to issue tasks, not to contribute to the sect, but to the righteous path. The Five Great Immortal Sects leading the righteous path was not an empty boast.

"Typical tasks involve descending the mountain to slay demons, vanquish devils, or perform rites for lost souls, and so on. I dislike the mundane world, so I chose a different way to complete tasks."

"What was it?"

"The Task Hall has a standing task: submitting a copy of a cultivation technique not yet recorded by Dao Sect also counts as completing a task."

"Then, Senior Sister, you..." Lu Yang had a bold idea that he found absurd.

"So, to cope with... to complete the tasks, I created many cultivation techniques myself, and then I lied, telling them I found them in ancient ruins and grotto-heavens."

"Unfortunately, I was later found out."

"How were you found out?" Lu Yang pressed.

"Because according to the tasks I reported, I had explored every ruin and grotto-heaven. I didn't know which one to invent next."

"So you see, creating cultivation techniques isn't difficult." Yun Zhi's personal example was logical and convincing.

Lu Yang opened his mouth, wanting to say, "Senior Sister, I thought you were honest, I didn't expect you to lie too," "Senior Sister, your talent is immense, far beyond mere mortals like us," and "For you, it's creating cultivation techniques; for me, it's just making them up."

Lu Yang met Yun Zhi's indifferent gaze, and a thousand words condensed into one sentence. "Senior Sister is right."

"Although you've become a cultivator, you're still far from a qualified sword cultivator. Here, take this book." Senior Sister handed over an ancient book made of an unknown beast hide; it was large, thick, and heavy.

"Records of the Demonic Realm?" Lu Yang opened the ancient book; a fierce aura assailed him, and various monstrous beast images leaped off the pages. He could faintly hear the beasts roaring in his ears. This ancient book was absolutely priceless!

Lu Yang pondered. A sword cultivator needed Sword Intent. He had just entered Qi Refinement; how could he cultivate Sword Intent? He had heard that ancient sword cultivators comprehended their first Sword Intent through life-and-death struggles with demonic beasts, facing their ferocity. The answer was obvious: he needed to visualize the demonic beast images, comprehend their ferocity, extract their essence, discard the dross, and condense ten thousand types of demonic beasts into one point to comprehend his own Sword Intent. Although this method was difficult, it was perfectly suited for him, given his Sword Spiritual Root. It also showed Senior Sister's earnest expectations for him.

"I understand everything," Lu Yang nodded, grasping Senior Sister's meaning.

Yun Zhi glanced at Lu Yang, unsure what he had understood. She beckoned, and the puppet brought another cart of tofu. "It's good that you understand."

"To become a sword cultivator, you need precision. Here, take this Greenedge Sword. Your next step is to carve the tofu into the shape of demonic beasts using the tip of the sword. The appearances of the demonic beasts are all in the book." Yun Zhi took out a gleaming sword from her storage space. The hilt was engraved with the words "Greenedge."

Lu Yang: "..." Tofu again? Was that night not a nightmare, but a premonition, hinting that his future Daoist title would be 'Tofu Venerable'? Damn it, he couldn't have such thoughts. Lu Yang quickly chased the terrible idea from his mind.

He took the Greenedge Sword; his first feeling was how light it was. In fact, the Greenedge Sword wasn't light at all. On the contrary, it was completely unsuitable for cultivators in the first three layers of Qi Refinement, as it was too heavy for them to wield. Lu Yang was different. After his jar-lifting training, his strength was so immense that even he had no concept of it. Frankly speaking, he could now strike a cultivator in the first three layers of Qi Refinement with a simple punch, without any technique, and pierce them through.

Perhaps it was entering the Qi Refinement stage, his sword talent gradually manifesting, coupled with mastering the control of 'lifting heavy as light,' Lu Yang used the Greenedge Sword with ease. In just over ten days, Lu Yang was able to carve tofu into demonic beast shapes, as well as likenesses of himself and Senior Sister, and even the nine lotus-shaped peaks of Dao Sect. Following the folk entertainers, Lu Yang learned a new skill and could also make a significant contribution in the kitchen. He couldn't help but speed up; he really couldn't eat any more tofu.

After Lu Yang completed this stage, Senior Sister appeared, offered some encouragement, and then took out a single white sesame seed. "Sword cultivators also need to train their eyesight. Now I will throw this sesame seed into the tofu dregs, and you must find it in the shortest possible time."

Lu Yang immediately fell to his knees. "Senior Sister, let's try a different method!"

Senior Sister quietly watched the pleading Lu Yang, her eyes calm and unruffled.

"Oh."