Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 1103 - 957 Cultivation (Extra - for monthly votes)

Chapter 1103: Chapter 957 Cultivation (Extra Chapter for monthly votes)

In the Shu Area, there were many teachers, and some enjoyed considerable fame, but Fang Xi found that most only knew the trivial and were mere bookworms without real talent.

It was only when he idly visited a flower and bird market that he noticed the inscriptions on an antique gold vessel were somewhat similar to the script of flowers and birds. Following an epiphany, he sought out several antique devotees and Yan Jia was sent to find masters specialized in metallurgy and epigraphy, who together pieced together some fragmented texts.

In the end, the page from the "Earth Origin Gold Book" was finally completed by Fang Xi with a combination of his own intelligence, guessing, and deducing.

Fortunately, most of the ancient seal script tended to expound the principles of heaven and earth, nearly akin to the Rules... Translated with the insight of an Earth Immortal, there should be no major mistakes.

Alas, Fang Xi had only seen a single page of the "Earth Origin Gold Book" and never saw it in its entirety.

At this time, the bright moon hung high.

Within the estate.

Fang Xi sat cross-legged, opened a pouch-shaped magic treasure bag, and took out the Dao books from Prime Taoist Yunyu.

These few Dao books from Old Crow Temple at Decayed Mountain represented a fringe path, one that was even less regarded among side paths.

But now Fang Xi was not choosy; he carefully studied one scroll, comparing it with what he had deduced from the beginner section of the "Earth Origin Gold Book," and gained many insights into the cultivation methods of this world:

"Cultivators in this world, at the beginning, whether from the orthodox sects of the Mysterious Gate or the Demon Path, should all start by cultivating a strand of True Qi Mana! Mana solidifies into talismans, forming the foundation for numerous magic spells!"

"But even at this step, there are many differences."

In the "Earth Origin Gold Book," an entire page is dedicated to describing this step, demanding that cultivators first calm their minds and keep themselves untainted, maintaining this state of purity to undergo ’Hundred Days Foundation Establishment’, ensuring their cauldron is perfect to build a superior Taoist Foundation, then refine qi using such pure and clean essences of heaven and earth like the Great Sun Purple Qi and the Nine Heavens Clear Qi. The True Qi Mana refined this way is called ’Earth Chakra Origin Truth’, ranked sixth out of nine levels and twenty-seven grades, with infinite marvelous uses. Once this is used to refine mana, it makes for a solid foundation that far surpasses that of practitioners from side paths, tenfold or a hundredfold, with future accomplishments naturally exceedingly higher, reaching for the possibility of ascending to true fruition!"

"Converted to the practices of Old Crow Temple, it involves focusing the mind, regulating breath and Qi, aligning with talismans, and harmonizing mana... The mana cultivated in this way is so mixed and impure that it hardly even meets the threshold of the first rank... The future accomplishments are extremely limited, to say nothing of the Fruit of Individual Immortality, even becoming a Sword Immortal that can travel through the Blue Void is difficult, at most you can perform the Hundred Steps Flying Sword and be a Swordsmen..."

"Could this possibly be the biggest difference between the orthodox paths of the Mysterious Gate and the side paths in this world? Is the quality of True Qi at the beginning already predetermined? It also greatly differs from the cultivation methods that involve Spiritual Roots."

The cultivation method involving Spiritual Roots starts with qi refining, then Foundation Establishment, followed by Core Formation and Nascent Soul; as long as they are in the same major realm, there isn’t much difference in the levels of mana.

But in the methods of this world, most start with ’Foundation Establishment,’ then ’Qi Refining’.

Even after refining True Qi Mana, one must start constant purification, and some don’t even follow the Gold Core Nascent Soul path, but directly refine their qi to the peak, endlessly purifying their ’Innate One Qi’, and eventually achieving Celestial Immortal Fruits with marvelous form and spirit, one Qi giving birth to life, somewhat akin to the paths of ancient qi practitioners.

There are also methods where True Qi directly transforms into a Nascent Soul, which then refines into an Origin Soul, achieving the Fruit of Individual Immortality.

Fang Xi, deducing these conclusions from the "Earth Origin Gold Book," was left speechless.

And with that, the content of the book was exhausted, considering he had only seen one page.

If not for the ancient script of flowers and birds having multiple meanings and containing endless information, he perhaps couldn’t have fathomed these mysteries.

"According to what Mo Yizui said, those who have refined their Origin Souls are either the leaders of major factions, villainous giants of the Demon Path, or Individual Immortals from overseas..."

"From this perspective, the recruitment standards of renowned orthodox sects are indeed high, all aiming for immortality... Even if they don’t achieve it in one lifetime, they can be reincarnated and try again over several lifetimes, very resilient."

Fang Xi smiled wryly, understanding that his previous desire to join a grand sect was ultimately as insubstantial as the moon reflected in the water or as elusive as flowers in a mirror.

He now held the Dao books from Old Crow Temple, disregarding the elementary methods of Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining that he had read before, and looked to several of the magic spells and divine skills in the following pages.

Old Crow Temple represented a third-rate path among side paths and didn’t have any high achievements culminating in an Origin Soul.

The subsequent Chapters were all about magic spells, including the incantation and prohibition law for refining the ’Flying Fire Shuttle’, and several techniques for condensing and utilizing ’Black Wind Crow Blood Evil’, amongst other Evil Qi.

If someone from the ordinary Martial World were to grasp some of these skills, they could claim the title of a heterodox swordsman. In the Martial World, they could be considered a Grandmaster capable of founding a sect or school.

If one harbored grand ambitions, perhaps they could even contend for the title of Martial World Leader?

Fang Xi read on and came to the final Chapter.

The last section of the Old Crow Temple Dao books detailed a method to domesticate unusual crows. One needs to find inherently intelligent crows, or even better, divine crows of another species to subdue, then in conjunction with various magic spells, talisman water, and blood food, they could grow more fierce. Once Sacrificially Refined to maturity, a wisp of Divine Consciousness could be attached to them, allowing travel through the Blue Void, gathering information, or even forging them into Taoist Soldiers. If the quantity were sufficient, they could also form a ’Black Demon Array’, which was a force to be reckoned with even among side paths.

If the Old Crow Temple’s method was cultivated to its extreme, it involved slaying the trained crows, which could be manipulated at will, and combining them with other Spirit Medicines to concoct a ’Crow Transformation Pill’. Once the pill was ingested and refined through cultivation, the cultivator themselves could transform into a divine crow of another species, untraceable in flight, with beak and talons sharper than any divine weapon, and eyes adept at penetrating all kinds of mists and illusions...

"As expected, the gap between the orthodox paths of the Mysterious Gate and the side paths is too great."

"This ultimate achievement of Old Crow Temple’s cultivation, I’m afraid, would only be casually slain with a single stroke by Mo Yizui..."

Fang Xi was utterly speechless, "However, in this world, the law of karma is stringent, and fate is like a net. If a cultivator’s external karmic merits are insufficient, the rise of a single thought could easily bring disaster..."

"I pursued Immortal Fate perhaps too eagerly and may encounter some obstacles..."

"At this point, I should quickly cultivate mana and step through the gate of the cultivation world to fully utilize my own advantages!"

His greatest strength was his high level of Taoist Cultivation, an Earth Immortal of one realm, though from the realm of True Immortals, he still belonged to the class of an Origin Soul!

With mana as the key, he could gradually transform.

Besides, high levels of Taoist Cultivation meant wondrous Art of Calculation!

It could be said that, with an additional well-crafted technique of calculation, Fang Xi’s prowess in divination would not be inferior to the Masters and leaders of the grand sects!

Only with such abilities would it be possible for him to make his way in this world!

Otherwise, it would indeed be a step by step web of traps, with one careless move leading to entrapment.

"Hmm.... The magic power of cultivators from minor paths is mixed and disorderly, and they are not skilled in the Art of Calculation. They often don’t realize their impending doom, whereas sects from the Mysterious Path can promote good fortune and avoid calamity, even helping disciples avert disasters, and calculate all kinds of lucky affinities.... This indeed is the difference between heaven and earth,"

"Recently, it is best to venture out less before I cultivate enough magic power...."

Fang Xi had already faintly sensed that his disaster was not far off.

If he could overcome this ordeal, then there was hope to continue the path of cultivation; if not, he feared he would have to accept his fate, with a wisp of True Spirit facing the plight of reincarnation anew.

As for more detailed content, without cultivating sufficient magic power, it was impossible to calculate.

"Actually, reincarnation might be good... I was just thinking about comprehending the Reincarnation Rule. As for danger? Am I, with my externalized incarnation, afraid of danger?"

"But even ants cling to life, so I suppose I should still struggle a bit..."

In fact, Fang Xi immediately thought of a choice.

"If I follow the orthodox route of the Mysterious Path, it will take a hundred days for Foundation Establishment, which is far too long.... But if I take the minor paths’ magic power, maybe in just a short while, I could cultivate magic power!"

It was a clever trick, but unfortunately, changing one’s foundation of magic power was extremely difficult. Otherwise, so many sect disciples wouldn’t accidentally fall into minor paths and then have no choice but to reincarnate and start over....

Fang Xi also discovered that the orthodox methods of the Big Thousand World’s Mysterious Path placed the highest importance on aptitude, that is, the root of a cultivator’s practice!

By comparison, even a Heaven Grade Spiritual Root from the True Immortal Realm would probably be seen as a balance-less waste in this world.

"In other words, the ’Spiritual Root Cultivation Method’ of the True Immortal Realm is actually a great convenience. As long as there are resources, can one not build their foundation step by step? Perhaps, this can be called ’Mortal Skills’?"

Upon this thought, Fang Xi’s True Spirit trembled, sensing an even greater calamity.

This was a struggle for supremacy in the Taoist system!

If he were to establish his own system in this world and guide countless beings, immeasurable merit would descend upon him, and at the same time, immense karmic consequences!

Perhaps in the blink of an eye, he could trigger a great calamity for the common folks!

This was the terror of powers from beyond this world!

However, Fang Xi was always indolent and didn’t have such ambitions.

He came to this world to gather Reincarnation Rules, Celestial Immortal Inheritance, and even various immortals’ Flying Swords...

To recklessly turn oneself into an enemy of the world seemed too unwise.

Moreover, this was not the Earth Immortal Realm where his true self could push forth invincibly.

He must act cautiously when necessary.

Of course, if pushed into a corner, it was hard to say what he might do.

Fang Xi, in tranquil contemplation, unwittingly let a night pass by, and the eastern sky was already turning white.

He came to the garden, silently visualizing, focusing his mind... breathing in and out towards the east, where the dawn was yet to break.

For ordinary people, this very first step of cultivation is exceedingly difficult.

To gather all thoughts and subdue the monkey mind within, how is it not hard?

But for Fang Xi, it was a breeze, and before long he was settled in tranquility, with a clear and ethereal mind, drawing in a wisp of the morning’s purple qi from the east.

This was the most selfless gift given by heaven and earth for those on the path of cultivation, available only for a brief moment each day and greatly beneficial for refining one’s True Element.

Breathe in... and out...

Along with the flutter of Fang Xi’s nostrils, in his deep meditation, he saw a wisp of purple qi falling down, merging with his physique, and his whole body’s bones cracked like exploding beans.

"Cough, cough!"

Feeling an itch in his lungs, he coughed up a few clots of blood phlegm and then felt an all-over ease.

Cultivators refine Qi into magic power, thus the first step of Foundation Establishment is naturally to cleanse the lungs.

At this moment, Fang Xi felt all his pores open up, and his well-perfected Breathing Skills seemed to break through a major barrier, entering the Prenatal Breathing Realm.

"Indeed, the path of cultivation is stronger than that of martial arts..."

"This is just the first step of Foundation Establishment, and it has already brought me such great benefits...."

A hint of emotion appeared on Fang Xi’s face.

Perhaps in other Big Thousand Worlds, there is a realm where martial arts lead to divine enlightenment.

But in this Big Thousand World, cultivation is still held in highest esteem, with a gap between immortals and mortals too vast to imagine.