The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 623 - 443: Taoist Skill Book

Chapter 623: Chapter 443: Taoist Skill Book

"What a nuisance! That Manager Qian is truly detestable. A Yin Yang Creation and Transformation Tripod actually costs a Life Extending Pill? If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t have bothered coming here to patronize his business. This old Taoist just can’t comprehend it—nowadays even money can’t buy better Dao Artifacts. Taiyi, you are way too generous, giving away such a treasure like a Life Extending Pill without hesitation. You should let him wait it out for a few days, and keep him hanging."

As soon as they walked out of Duo Bao Building, Tu Daoist started grumbling.

He was used to poverty, and seeing Li Yi being exploited like that pained him deeply, as if the Life Extending Pill had come out of his own pocket.

Li Yi, however, remained composed and unmoved: "As good as the Life Extending Pill is, it cannot compare to the importance of improving one’s own strength. Besides, Manager Qian from Duo Bao Building wasn’t wrong—it’s simply an exchange of goods, each fulfills their needs. I am, however, interested in the second Dao Artifact, but Manager Qian said I would need to wait for three months. The Dao Artifact isn’t within the Tao Court but afar, and it would take time to transport it back. Though I certainly cannot wait for three months."

"Forget it. Obtaining one hundred and eight High Grade Magical Artifacts and one supreme Dao Artifact makes this trip worthwhile. Next, we’ll head to the Taoist Collection Building to purchase some spells, and then everything should be ready. We leave the Tao Court tomorrow."

"Manager Qian profits while wanting to raise prices even further. Taiyi, you shouldn’t indulge him. Instead of spending money there, you could go to Treasure Court instead," Tu Daoist remarked.

Li Yi chuckled, finding some sense in Tu Daoist’s words.

With numerous treasures now in his possession and his strength growing rapidly, Li Yi felt that if he brought along a few Tri-Floral Realm experts, he might as well see what Taixian Weng could do to him when he returned across realms to Earth. He lacked backing before, but now he was determined to seek alliances—being constantly bullied was unworkable.

Afterward, the two of them headed to the Taoist Collection Building.

The building’s manager greeted them warmly. When he learned that Li Yi was looking to buy Taoist Skills, he promptly presented several thick volumes.

"These are all the Taoist Skills collected by the Taoist Collection Building over the years, encompassing every variety imaginable. One Spirit Stone per book—no credit allowed."

Li Yi inspected the goods, flipping open a Taoist Skill Book. He glanced at a skill called Wall-Walking Technique. Using Xiang Xiangzi’s Primordial Spirit Flower, he quickly grasped its mysteries. When he formed the hand seals and executed the spell, he truly passed through the wall—not to mention how marvelous it was.

"These spells are truly genuine, but casting them requires mana. Without mana, these spells are mere decoration. The Taoist Collection Building compiled Taoist Skills within the Tao Court into books to preserve them for posterity, ensuring that even after nature’s spiritual energy revives, Taoist teachings endure. It’s quite the benevolent act," the building manager remarked sentimentally.

"I’ll buy all of them," Li Yi said, wasting no words as he directly threw out a Spirit Stone to purchase the entire lot.

Unlike Magical Artifacts, Taoist Skill books have no storage costs after compilation. Once purchased, the Taoist Collection Building can simply reprint more books, which is why the price is so low.

Nonetheless, for Li Yi, these Taoist Skills were priceless treasures.

"Wall-Walking Technique, Earth-Tunneling Technique, Invisibility Technique—these are all minor arts. Aren’t there truly top-tier Taoist Skills?" Tu Daoist expressed his dissatisfaction. In his view, these spells were merely tricks—good for amusing regular folks but not genuinely impactful. Given their cheap price, however, he could not complain too much.

After all, compiling these books indeed takes time and effort.

"Top-tier Taoist Skills? What might the Daoist be referring to..." the manager cajoled.

Tu Daoist replied, "For instance, Five-Colored Divine Light, Stone-to-Gold Technique, or Star-Catching and Moon-Grasping arts?"

"Daoist must be joking. Each of those Taoist Skills you mentioned is potent enough to serve as the foundational teachings of a top-tier sect. Even in the End of Dharma era, who would sell such monumental arts to a minor Taoist Collection Building for a mere few pounds of rice?" The manager laughed and shook his head, clearly signaling that such lofty skills were beyond reach.

Even if they existed, purchasing them would be out of the question.

"Ah, how unfortunate," Tu Daoist sighed with disappointment.

Still, he understood the reasoning.

To sell Magical Artifacts and Dao Artifacts is plausible—after all, it’s reasonable for cultivators to part with possessions for the sake of livelihood. However, auctioning top-tier Taoist Skills tied to one’s sect lineage would be akin to betraying one’s master and ancestors—an act calling for divine retribution.

"Senior Tu, obtaining so many Taoist Skills is already remarkable," Li Yi smiled and said, "Let’s move on to Zuixian Building. Tomorrow, we’ll head to Treasure Continent for a look."

"Alright. The Tao Court has run its course; onwards to Treasure Court to try our luck. I’ve heard before that following the End of Dharma, all cultivators of Overseas Immortal Islands gathered in Treasure Court. Now, years have passed, and who knows what has happened in Treasure Court?" Tu Daoist replied while nodding.

With that, he ceased pressing the matter further. After all, Li Yi had already gained three sect legacies—anything additional would just be icing on the cake.

After seeing Tu Daoist back to Zuixian Building, Li Yi sought a quiet spot to study the Taoist Skill books. He noticed that some minor spells were rather practical, such as the House Building Skill. By casting this spell, the soil on the ground would converge into form, transforming into a small mud house. By adding more mana, the mud house could evolve into a stone house—durable and capable of lasting centuries.

If mastered to a high degree, one could even construct entire cities through spellcraft.

How could such a spell be deemed useless?

Another example was the Body Purification Technique—once cast, all dirt and grime would vanish instantaneously, leaving oneself clean and refreshed without the need for bathing.

Or Dream Implanting Technique—similar to the Dream Implanting Techniques from the Four Seas and Eight Continents but more refined. This technique enabled entry into another person’s dreams as long as one possessed a strand of their hair or an item they frequently used, regardless of distance. However, the caster must be asleep themselves for the spell to work.

Enthused, Li Yi ardently studied these minor spells, filling gaps in his abilities.

"This trip to the Cultivation World was absolutely worthwhile. In any other world, with my strength, obtaining such extensive Taoist teachings would have been impossible," Li Yi pondered to himself. "However, due to the lack of spiritual energy here, Taoist Skills are near worthless. So many spells, totaling thousands, required only a single Spirit Stone."

Of course, not all Taoist Skills were useful—many were indeed impractical.

For instance, the Strengthening Technique, which Li Yi felt he had no use for.

Time quickly passed as he engrossed himself in studying Taoist Skills. Before he knew it, noon of the next day had arrived. Were it not for Intelligent Computer Lan Ji reminding him, he might have delayed his plans.

Closing the Taoist Skill books, Li Yi stored them into the Five Elements Bracelet. He let out a long sigh, marveling at the intricacy of Taoist Skills.

This truly represented the heritage of an entire world.

Bear in mind that on Earth, cultivation had only produced one skill—the Eye-witness Skill—which was incomparable.

"Cloud Ascension."

Li Yi stood, casting the spell. A soft cloud materialized beneath him, lifting him into the air as he soared directly to Zuixian Building.

Inside Zuixian Building, over a hundred people had already gathered, waiting for Li Yi. Naturally, not all were prominent experts; most were disciples brought by their masters, families accompanying students, and other such groups that made up the numbers.

Among the crowd, familiar faces like Tu Daoist, Wu the Taoist, and Nun Liu stood out. They were steadfast in their resolve to join Li Yi.

"Taiyi arrived right on time."

"Is that Heavenly Dao Sect’s Cloud-Riding Technique? I haven’t seen it for so long—it brings back memories."

"Heading to Treasure Court? I’m starting to look forward to it now. Staying here too long has drained all hope."

The crowd buzzed with conversation.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Tao Court, another cloud approached, carrying over a hundred people as well. Two immortals from the Heavenly Dao Sect led their remaining disciples to converge with Li Yi’s group.

"Taiyi, the time has come. Shall we set off immediately?" Goddess Yun Feizi asked politely with a bow.

"Senior fellows, follow me as we depart," Li Yi announced, casting Cloud-Riding Technique once more. A massive cloud materialized, lifting everyone from Zuixian Building into the sky. The cloud merged with his own, forming one unified entity.

"Taiyi, I will lead the way," Yun Feizi volunteered.

She then took the lead, guiding the group as her cloud raced forward at an astonishing speed, resembling a streaking white rainbow across the sky.

Li Yi, unwilling to be outdone, followed closely behind.

With mana fueling their flight, crossing the seas to reach Treasure Court was no challenge.

Nonetheless, in the End of Dharma era, few would squander mana on such extravagant distances.

Given the need to transport nearly three hundred people, however, this was the only viable option. Although Li Yi possessed the Thunderbolt Fighter and Good Wings, they had limited capacity. Yet, after this journey, he planned to visit the Sixth World to purchase several transport ships and store them in the Five Elements Bracelet. With ample storage space now, he could accommodate anything.

Through Cloud-Riding Technique, Li Yi and the Heavenly Dao Sect group quickly departed the Tao Court, reaching the vast sea.

"End of Dharma era—why do I see no demon beasts in the ocean?" Li Yi queried as he gazed at the tranquil water.

"I know the answer to that," Xiang Xiangzi replied with a smile. "Taiyi, observe the sea—calm and peaceful with scarce fish and shrimp. Why is that? After the End of Dharma eliminated spiritual energy, ocean demon beasts, no matter how much they ate, could no longer satiate themselves. Even if they devoured the entire ocean, their hunger persisted until they ultimately starved."

Li Yi suddenly realized the truth.

Because he could personally relate.

At present, he had to rely on consuming Spirit Blood Pills and absorbing nature’s spiritual energy to sustain himself. Were he to eat like an ordinary person, even if he ate round the clock, his hunger would remain unrelenting, and he might die of starvation.

The higher a cultivator’s realm, the greater their consumption.

This was an unchangeable law.

"Not only demon beasts—this world has shrunken significantly as well. Numerous grotto heavens have collapsed or gone into hiding, heavenly realms have retreated afar, and large realms have sealed themselves off," Xuan Yuezi elaborated. "In the past, relying on Cloud-Riding Technique to reach Treasure Continent required at least three months, while using transport ships took three years. But now, I estimate it will only take one day."

"Only when spiritual energy revives will grotto heavens re-emerge, major realms reopen, and the world regain its former state."

Li Yi’s expression shifted upon hearing this, immediately thinking of Earth.

Earth, even now, was expanding.