Chapter 58: Gifts
Mo Hua went home and told his parents that he was about to break through to the fourth layer of Qi-Refining and would start practicing a cultivation method.
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua were quite pleased. At Mo Hua's age, being a fourth-layer Qi-Refining cultivator made him one of the best among his peers in Tōngxiān City.
As for the cultivation method, Mo Shan told Mo Hua not to worry:
"I've already discussed this with your mother. If you can't learn the cultivation method from Tōngxiān Sect, then we'll have to find experienced independent rogue cultivators to teach you. Among the demon-hunting masters in Tōngxiān City, there's a senior named Han. He has a minor Five-Element spiritual root of Intermediate-grade quality. In a few days, I'll invite Senior Han for a drink and casually ask him to help with this. He's a warmhearted person and should be willing to assist. We'll just offer some Spirit Stones as a token of thanks. But…"
Mo Shan paused, then continued, "But Senior Han is also from a background of independent rogue cultivation. He often says that although this cultivation method is passed down in his family and quite complete, it isn't considered a great inheritance. If you cultivate it to later stages, it might not hold much promise…"
Mo Shan wanted to give Mo Hua the best, but this was all he could provide, and he looked somewhat disappointed.
Mo Hua, however, comforted him: "Father, I want to become a formation master in the future. As long as a formation master's Divine-Sense is strong, the cultivation method itself isn't that critical. Being able to practice steadily is enough. This cultivation method has been passed down through Senior Han's family for generations, which means it's safe and reliable to cultivate—nothing could be better than that."
Mo Shan finally looked relieved, and Liu Ruhua patted Mo Hua's head, speaking warmly:
"Let's eat first. After dinner, rest early; tomorrow you still have to study formations with Mister Zhuang."
"Okay," Mo Hua obediently nodded.
Bai Zisheng said he would help Mo Hua find a few cultivation methods, but Mo Hua didn't tell his parents. The larger the clan, the stricter the transmission of inheritance—they wouldn't casually share techniques outside.
Besides, Mo Hua didn't want to accept Bai Zisheng's favor; he couldn't repay it yet.
Unexpectedly, the next day, Bai Zisheng really brought a few jade slips and passed them to Mo Hua like a thief.
"I took these out secretly while Aunt Xue wasn't paying attention. You can take a look and see if any suit you. If one fits, keep it; I'll return the rest."
Mo Hua opened his mouth, speechless.
Bai Zisheng looked proud. "So, how is it? Aren't you touched?"
He seemed a bit arrogant but was sincere.
Mo Hua asked, "You secretly took out these cultivation methods, won't you be punished?"
Bai Zisheng snorted. "I'm a direct descendant of the Bai Clan. These are just some Intermediate or Inferior-grade cultivation methods, even if this was a clan heirloom, they wouldn't dare do anything to me."
Mo Hua looked extremely doubtful.
Bai Zisheng grumbled, "Do you think I'd lie to you?"
"Maybe just one or two years of confinement; it's not a big deal," Bai Zixi said lightly, though a faint smile appeared in her eyes.
Bai Zisheng's face turned slightly red.
After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua shook his head: "I can't take these techniques—I can't put you at risk."
Bai Zisheng frowned. "I'm not afraid. Why are you?"
Bai Zixi added softly: "These cultivation methods are valuable, but for the Bai Clan, they aren't that rare. You can cultivate them safely; otherwise, Aunt Xue wouldn't have let my brother take them."
"That's right, that's right!" Bai Zisheng quickly nodded, then suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! How did Aunt Xue know I took them out?"
Bai Zixi glanced at him lightly. "Everything you do is seen by Aunt Xue. You just think others don't know."
Bai Zisheng slumped, a bit deflated.
Mo Hua couldn't deny his curiosity, he also wanted to know what techniques the disciples of great clans practiced and their subtle intricacies.
After pondering, Mo Hua no longer refused. Silently, he appreciated the Bai siblings' kindness and took the jade slips from Bai Zisheng to examine them:
Minor Five-Element Technique: Suitable for minor Five-Element Intermediate-grade spiritual roots, a simplified version of the Superior Great Five-Element Technique. Cultivators can refine spiritual power up to thirty-three cycles, controlling Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth spells in a versatile and simple manner.
Spirit Concealment Technique: Suitable for Intermediate-grade Water type spiritual roots, can refine spiritual power up to twenty-eight cycles, ideal for stealth spells.
Blazing Flame Technique: Suitable for Intermediate-grade Fire type spiritual roots, can refine thirty-five cycles of spiritual power, increasing the potency of Fire spells by 10–20%.
Water-Wood Spiritual Technique: Suitable for Intermediate-grade Water and Wood spiritual roots, can refine thirty-six cycles of spiritual power. Cultivating this technique purifies the meridians, nourishes the body, and reduces cultivation bottlenecks. It's for nurturing the body, not for combat-focused strength. Required spiritual items: Tian Shen Wood, Boundless Water, Spirit Transformation Liquid…
…
Mo Hua was overwhelmed by the variety and quality of the cultivation methods. Yet as he read further, his brow furrowed.
"Nothing suitable?" Bai Zisheng asked, noticing Mo Hua's frown.
Mo Hua carefully asked, "What is Tian Shen Wood?"
"It's the root wood of the Tian Shen plant. It nourishes the body and isn't too rare," Bai Zisheng replied.
"How many Spirit Stones does it cost?"
"Tian Shen sprouts are extremely valuable, but Tian Shen Wood is much cheaper—maybe a few hundred Spirit Stones per piece," he said uncertainly.
"And Boundless Water?"
Bai Zisheng scratched his head, glancing at Bai Zixi.
Bai Zixi's eyes turned slightly. "Boundless Water is seawater from the Boundless Sea. A Pill Master must refine it for forty-nine days to remove impurities. The final condensed water is Boundless Water. It isn't expensive, but it requires effort. A small vial costs around a thousand Spirit Stones, more in remote areas. It's a rare spiritual item, so even Spirit Stones don't guarantee availability."
Mo Hua exhaled sharply.
What kind of cultivation methods were these? He couldn't possibly afford them!
Cultivation methods like Water-Wood Spiritual Technique required only a piece of Tian Shen Wood and a vial of Boundless Water, yet the Spirit Stone cost alone far exceeded Mo Hua's expectations.
Furthermore, reading the descriptions revealed that cultivation and breakthroughs demanded additional spiritual items, plus daily Spirit Stones for practice—a cumulative astronomical sum beyond his reach.
And that's just for Qi-Refining. Foundation Establishment and beyond would cost even more. It's well-known that the higher the cultivation stage, the greater the required resources.
Even if Mo Hua became a first-class formation master and spent all his time drawing formations, he likely couldn't afford such expenses.
Mo Hua looked at Bai Zisheng and then Bai Zixi, unable to help but ask, "Do your clan's disciples all practice techniques like these?"
"Of course not," Bai Zisheng shook his head. "Direct descendants practice superior techniques, requiring rarer treasures. Some spiritual items have no market value and are preserved only within the clan, never shared."
"But even techniques like these aren't for external transmission. Without the special items required for cultivation, outsiders can't practice them anyway."
"The ones I gave you are the best among techniques allowed to be shared. Generally, collateral or lesser-born disciples, unless exceptionally gifted, aren't qualified to cultivate them."
"Do clan members provide all the spiritual items for cultivation?" Mo Hua asked.
"I don't know about others, but for Zixi and me, our mother provides everything needed for practice," Bai Zisheng said.
Bai Zixi glanced at him and said lightly, "The clan ranks disciples by birth and talent. The higher the rank and talent, the more cultivation resources are allocated. Gifted direct descendants can request anything needed for cultivation…"
"For other disciples, if they want better techniques beyond what their rank provides, they must find a way themselves, usually via their parents or relatives exchanging merit points for spiritual items within the clan."
"In any case, disciples of noble clans only need to cultivate. They don't need to worry about sourcing Spirit Stones or spiritual items."
"That's right," Bai Zisheng nodded.
"Our clan, like others, has lasted over a thousand years. We have abundant resources and established channels to acquire treasures. Except for extremely rare items, most treasures are not considered scarce."
Mo Hua was shocked. The resources of great clans were vast as the ocean, and inheritances numerous as smoke and waves. For independent rogue cultivators, however, what they could obtain was merely a drop in the sea.
No wonder Qi-Refining was just the beginning for cultivators of noble clans, but a lifetime for grassroots rogue cultivators.
(End of Chapter)