The One Qi Technique was the most common Cultivation Technique in the Yinluo Sect. Any Servant Disciple could obtain it.
This Cultivation Technique could only be cultivated to the Sensing Realm at most, so its potential was extremely low.
For Cultivators in this world, the very first realm of cultivation was the "Sensing Realm."
The main goals of this realm were to sense the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, absorb and refine it, open a Qi Sea within the body, and continuously accumulate Magical Power.
Once one possessed Magical Power, they could cast Magic. Their physical strength would far surpass that of mortals, their bodies would become as tough as a Demon Beast's, and their lifespan would extend to over one hundred and fifty years.
Fang Cheng could feel that after his One Qi Technique reached the Small Success Realm, his perception of the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had become much clearer, and his cultivation speed had increased significantly.
'Is this my Golden Finger?'
'It seems to raise my level of comprehension for Cultivation Techniques, but it can't directly increase my Cultivation and Magical Power.'
He mused to himself, 'Then how do I obtain those Creation Points?'
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and a beautiful woman in a long dress walked in.
She had a lovely face, fair and delicate skin, and a graceful figure. A faint smile graced her lips as her beautiful eyes landed on Fang Cheng. "Fellow Daoist Fang," she chuckled, "could it be that I was too demanding last night? You've actually slept for the entire day."
Fang Cheng sat on the bed with his legs wide apart. A few soul-stealing, bone-melting images flashed through his mind. His gaze fell upon the woman's well-proportioned, slender legs as he sighed with a smile, "I'm the loser this time. I'll have to come back for another lesson some other day."
Anyone whose waist and back were clamped by those fair, slender legs would find it impossible to escape easily.
The woman let out a soft giggle, her smile blooming like a flower. "Why wait for another day? It's getting late. Why don't you stay and dine with me, Fellow Daoist Fang? After our meal, how about I give you a chance to turn your defeat into victory?"
Fang Cheng shook his head repeatedly and waved his hand. "I have important matters to attend to. Let's call it a day. There will be plenty of time in the future."
The original owner of this body had mysteriously met his doom in this very tower. He didn't dare take such a risk right after transmigrating.
'I haven't even figured out my Golden Finger yet. I can't afford to get reckless now.'
After a bit more small talk, Fang Cheng stood up and took his leave.
After leaving Miaoxiang Tower, Fang Cheng didn't linger on the market's main street, heading directly back to his small courtyard in Spirit Wind Alley, located in the southwest of the market.
This was where the original owner of his body had lived.
Servant Disciples of the Yinluo Sect were granted the right to live and cultivate within the Sect Marketplace, but they had to perform servant duties every year.
The original owner's duty was to refine Gu for the Yinluo Sect.
Each year, he had to submit ten Tier One Early Stage Gu Insects to the Yinluo Sect to maintain his status as a Servant Disciple.
He could also turn in more Gu Insects to the sect in exchange for merit points, which could then be used to redeem Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques.
Unfortunately, the original owner could only cultivate twelve or thirteen Gu Insects a year at most. After submitting the required amount, there were hardly any left, so he could only keep them for his own use.
Returning to his small courtyard, Fang Cheng activated the restrictive seal and finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of security.
The courtyard was not large. It was paved with green bricks, and an old elm tree stood on the eastern side. Beneath the tree was a large vat containing several red carp.
In the center of the yard was a stone table surrounded by four stone stools. The main house was three bays wide, with a simple, archaic style. The roof tiles were covered in moss, a clear sign of its age.
There was no telling how many masters this small courtyard had seen.
The Yinluo Sect had been established for five thousand years, and this marketplace was about the same age.
Fang Cheng sat in the courtyard, a glint in his eyes as he made a decision.
'First, I need to get through this immediate crisis!'
As his thoughts churned, the Golden Talisman in his sea of consciousness flared with a brilliant light.
[Talisman Master]Fang Cheng
[Divine Power Technique]
One Qi Technique·Minor Achievement (0/200)
Cyan Profound Swordsmanship·Minor Achievement (0/500)
Nameless Gu Technique·Minor Achievement (0/300)
Creation Points: 6
In an instant, he consumed 179 Creation Points, breaking through to the Small Success Realm in the Cyan Profound Sword Technique and the Nameless Gu Technique!
Countless unfamiliar yet familiar insights into Sword Techniques and Gu-refining experiences flooded his mind, as if they were originally Fang Cheng's own memories, now become incomparably clear.
ZING!
A sword's cry suddenly rang out in the courtyard.
A Refined Iron Flying Sword shot out from Fang Cheng's sleeve, dancing around his body as nimbly as a swimming fish.
The sword's light was brilliant, chilling, and sharp.
The Cyan Profound Sword Technique had been passed down from the original owner's master, Fangrushan. It was of a high grade, but unfortunately, Fangrushan had spent his life refining Gu and was not proficient in Swordsmanship, so there had been no one to guide the original owner's practice.
Now that he had raised this Sword Technique to the Small Success Realm, the sword's light flowed as fast as lightning. Although it was only a First-rank Lower Grade Flying Sword, the power of its light seemed no less than that of a First Rank Middle Grade Flying Sword.
With a thought, the Flying Sword abruptly stopped, hovering silently before the space between Fang Cheng's eyebrows. It was perfectly vertical, and from the front, it looked like a sharp blade splitting his handsome face in two.
'With this Sword Technique, my chances in the duel seven days from now are a bit better. As for the Creation Points, I'll figure out a way to get more after the duel is over...'
Fang Cheng muttered to himself, his mind made up.
He recalled his Flying Sword and walked over to the southwest side of the courtyard, where he lifted a stone slab from the ground and looked down.
There, shockingly, was a Gu Pit!
Several Spirit Stones were embedded in the pit's walls, and a blood-red spiritual light, a restrictive seal, covered the Gu Pit. At the bottom, hundreds of thumb-sized, pale-gold Gu Insects lay motionless, as if asleep.
These were the Gu the original owner had been raising.
Under the control of a Secret Technique, this pit of Gu Insects would devour one another until only one or two remained, which would be considered a success.
'In the few days I have left, I can probably do something with these Gu Insects.'
Fang Cheng put the slab back and returned to his house.
The sky gradually darkened as a vast twilight fell.
Fang Cheng sat cross-legged on the couch, his mind focused and his body relaxed. He began circulating the One Qi Technique and gradually entered a state of meditation.
...
「The next day.」
Fang Cheng awoke from his meditation at the crack of dawn. He walked slowly out of his courtyard, exited through the West Gate of the Market, and then formed a spell with his hands. A cloud of light materialized beneath his feet, carrying him into the distance.
The market was built on an island within the Abyssal Marsh.
The Abyssal Marsh spanned ten thousand li in every direction and contained countless islands.
Aside from the territories controlled by the Yinluo Sect and its affiliated families, most of the other regions were occupied by Loose Cultivators and Demon Beasts.
Riding the cloud of light, Fang Cheng flew away from the island where the Sect Marketplace was located. He headed west for over two hours before descending at the edge of a deserted island.
This deserted island was covered with towering, lush vegetation, and many Demon Beasts lay hidden within.
Many Servant Disciples came here frequently to hunt Demon Beasts and gather Spirit Herbs and Elixirs to complete their sect missions.
With a flicker of his figure, Fang Cheng slipped silently into the forest.
After traveling several li through the forest, he encountered an Ironback Wolf Demon.
This Wolf Demon was covered in green fur, with fur on its back as black as iron. It excelled at tearing, biting, and leaping, moved like the wind, and could spit Gang Qi from its mouth.
Upon seeing Fang Cheng, the three-foot-long, green-furred Ironback Wolf leaped, opened its massive, bloody maw, and pounced straight for his head.
This was Fang Cheng's first time hunting a Demon Beast. In his previous life, he had lived in a large metropolis and had never experienced such danger.
Fortunately, the original owner's bodily instincts remained. He dodged the Wolf Demon's pounce with a swift movement. The iron sword in his sleeve flashed out, its light flickering nimbly as it wrapped around the green wolf's head.
The Wolf Demon let out a mournful cry as its head rolled to the ground.
'A First-stage Early-stage Demon Beast... is no match for me at all?'
The sword's light flew back before Fang Cheng, swayed gently, and retracted into his sleeve, coiling around his wrist like a bracelet.
He had come out for two reasons. First, he wanted to familiarize himself with this body as quickly as possible and integrate the original owner's combat experience.
Second, he wanted to collect some Demon Beast Flesh and Blood to use for refining Gu.
It was just that... the power of the Cyan Profound Sword Technique at the Small Success Realm was truly beyond his expectations.
After all, the original owner had never had such an easy time hunting Tier One Lower Grade Demon Beasts.