Under the cover of night, Jiang Ming returned to his room.
"Exchange."
Jiang Ming's mind stirred, and the surrounding space changed.
The sun hung in the sky again, and the area was bright. Jiang Ming sat cross-legged in the martial arts practice field.
Li Jin's Character Card flickered slightly.
Word-for-word cultivation techniques flew into Jiang Ming's mind.
Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique!
At this moment, it seemed as though Celestial Demons swirled around Jiang Ming. His expression continuously changed: sometimes lustful, sometimes fearful, sometimes greedy, sometimes sad, sometimes arrogant.
Lust, fear, greed, sadness, arrogance — five emotions lingered around Jiang Ming, transforming into blue smoke, which gathered into five blurred human figures.
Through the smoke, one could faintly discern Jiang Ming's features in the figures.
Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique is designed to nurture demons, driving them to assist in cultivation. One person cultivates as if six were cultivating.
However, these demons are not altruists; their sole purpose is to disturb Jiang Ming's mind and then consume him!
The demons were just being nurtured, yet Jiang Ming's emotions were already wavering. This is only the beginning; it is hard to imagine what a cultivator must endure when the technique achieves Great Success.
It's no wonder that this technique hasn't been mastered in a thousand years.
Yet Jiang Ming remained calm and composed, softly reciting the Nameless Calming Heart Method.
Each word he uttered seemed to conjure a golden rune, which ultimately bound the five illusory demons.
A refreshing sensation like a spring of ice flowed from Jiang Ming's heart, calming him instantly.
Jiang Ming opened his eyes, finding nothing around him.
Neither the golden runes nor the five demon shadows were present; they were mere reflections of his mind.
"Boom!"
A sudden roar echoed.
Jiang Ming narrowed his eyes in surprise; this was his cultivation space, where could the noise come from?
He suddenly looked up.
A giant, towering a hundred zhang high, had appeared at the edge of the martial arts practice field without his notice.
Its skin emitted a bronze hue, its belly was grotesquely large like a ghoul's, while its limbs were unnaturally slender, contrasting heavily.
The most striking were its dignified features and the flesh bun atop its head, resembling a Buddha; it was incredibly jarring to the eye.
The giant moved slowly, extending a finger toward the martial arts practice field, suffocatingly heavy like Mount Tai pressing down.
This was the Divine Buddha Jiang Ming had seen when he traveled from Jiang Family Village to Evergreen City!
How could this be possible!
The Divine Buddha had intruded into the cultivation space, into the realm of the Jiuzhou Simulator?
Realizing something, Jiang Ming quickly lowered his head, forcing himself not to look at the Divine Buddha, and rapidly repeated the Nameless Calming Heart Method.
His voice grew louder, countless golden chains rising from the earth, binding the Divine Buddha.
Jiang Ming did not know how long he had cultivated until his mind was completely calm.
He looked up.
The colossal Divine Buddha was bound by countless golden chains, seemingly draped in a radiant golden robe.
Under this golden covering, if one ignored its immense belly, it truly resembled a Buddha standing aside.
Jiang Ming opened his eyes again.
The martial arts practice field was serene, without any Divine Buddha or demons.
"So, it had been a Divine Buddha's shadow lurking in my mind at that time…"
"Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique could draw it out."
Having calmed his mind, Jiang Ming ceased dwelling on it, and continued his cultivation.
During cultivation, Jiang Ming discovered the speed of the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique was ten times faster than when Li Jin had practiced it.
Even though Jiang Ming's body had not yet opened all meridians, his cultivation speed surpassed Li Jin's when he had opened all his meridians.
Compared to his previous cultivation speed, Jiang Ming felt as if he had transitioned from riding a tractor to flying an airplane.
Inner Strength rose rapidly.
Soon, the resources provided by the martial arts practice field were insufficient.
Jiang Ming took out the Thousand-year-old Ginseng, collected by Great Jinn's vast national power, difficult even for Li Jin to acquire.
At this moment, Jiang Ming held a strand of ginseng root in his mouth, nearly sensing the essence within greedily absorbed by his flesh, transforming into Inner Strength and Qi-Blood.
"It seems to be the cause of that Divine Buddha…" Jiang Ming frowned slightly.
He did not know whether this was good or bad, but he saw only benefits now.
The Divine Buddha shadow had also been included among the demon shadows aiding Jiang Ming's cultivation, and its cultivation speed could easily surpass that of the combined demon shadows.
Jiang Ming continued cultivating.
Active Skill, as usual, practiced the Sword Palm Leg martial arts.
Static Cultivation, practiced Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique.
Each time Jiang Ming cultivated, five illusory shadows bound by golden chains and a towering golden Buddha appeared around him.
In cultivation, months and years pass unnoticed.
When Jiang Ming finally left the cultivation space, he had exhausted the Thousand-year-old Ginseng.
Moreover, his cultivation had reached the Acquired Peak, both in Inner Strength and Qi-Blood.
Jiang Ming exhaled a breath of turbid air and enjoyed a restful sleep.
The next morning, Jiang Ming trained the martial arts hall disciples in basic skills before rushing to Mr. Qian's small courtyard.
"Jiang Ming, seeks a meeting with the elder!"
Jiang Ming spoke outside the house.
After about four or five breaths, an elderly voice sounded from inside the courtyard.
"Enter."
"Jiang Ming, what brings you here?" Mr. Qian appeared as calm as ever, like nothing could stir him.
Jiang Ming straightforwardly stated his purpose: "Elder, I wish to join the City Lord's Mansion, but I heard one needs a Martial Arts Hall Master Level expert's referral. I wonder if you..."
Mr. Qian glanced at Jiang Ming, a fleeting look of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
Jiang Ming's Qi-Blood surged too quickly.
Yet that brief curiosity quickly vanished; it was unclear if he chose not to care or not to delve into Jiang Ming's secrets.
"City Lord's Mansion… you mean… Chaofeng Pavilion?"
Mr. Qian sat calmly on a stone chair, playing chess alone, his tone unhurried.
"I suppose, yes." Jiang Ming replied uncertainly.
Ignoring Jiang Ming's uncertainty, Mr. Qian calmly continued: "Jiang Ming, you've been at our Lion Roar Martial Arts Hall for over a month, helping quite a bit. As a rule, if you have requests, I won't refuse."
"Unfortunately, I've already used my recommendation quota."
Jiang Ming felt a bit disheartened.
Yet Mr. Qian, unhurriedly, added: "However, a friend of mine holds such a quota, and it's a recent selection for Chaofeng Pavilion."
Jiang Ming looked eagerly at Mr. Qian.
"Though I cannot guarantee you will be granted this quota, take this and visit East City White Lotus Martial Arts Hall, seek out their hall master, he will know."
"Alright, go on, let an old man enjoy his peace."