Unlike Loose Cultivators who practiced whatever they could find, any reasonably powerful sect had complete sets of Cultivation Techniques and Magic Techniques.
Moreover, these complementary techniques were not only more powerful when used together but also consumed less energy.
The core concepts and intents of these techniques all stemmed from a single, unified origin.
'This also means I can first learn the Magic Techniques and Swordsmanship that complement the Longxi Breathing Technique. Then, from those techniques, I can grasp the core mysteries of Longxi Peak's main Cultivation Technique. Finally, I can use the branches and leaves to complete the trunk.'
This was something only Zhong Ming could do.
In most sects, the main Cultivation Technique was the root—the thickest trunk of a great tree—while the complementary Swordsmanship and Magic Techniques were the branches and leaves.
Only when the roots and trunk were strong could the branches and leaves attached to them flourish.
The reverse was simply not possible.
But Zhong Ming was different. Heaven Rewards Diligence ensured that as long as he cultivated, he would reap rewards.
This also meant:
'I can break the convention.'
'Whew... I hope there are some Magic Techniques and Swordsmanship here that are easy to practice and complement the Longxi Breathing Method.'
Holding on to this hope, Zhong Ming walked toward the Longxi Peak Scripture Pavilion.
His entry into the tower was uneventful. After checking Zhong Ming's disciple Token, the elder guarding the Scripture Pavilion let him in.
However, a word of warning also reached Zhong Ming's ears.
"You may only choose one, and you may only choose from the first floor."
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder. This disciple will remember."
After respectfully bidding the elder farewell, Zhong Ming walked into the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion.
As soon as he entered, Zhong Ming discovered that the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion was vast and filled with an incredible number of Cultivation Techniques.
However, the techniques here were all low-level, and most were just a jumble of miscellaneous Magic Techniques.
*Purification Technique*
*Purifying Light Spell*
*Flame Sword Technique*
*Bright Light Sword Technique*
*...*
Seeing all these substandard Cultivation Techniques, Zhong Ming couldn't help but shake his head.
Fortunately, the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion also had some good things.
The Magic Techniques and Swordsmanship that complemented the Longxi Breathing Technique were by no means weak.
After some searching, Zhong Ming found four related Magic Techniques and Sword Techniques. They were:
*Wave-Surging Dragon Stream Step*, *Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique*, *Longxi Sword Technique*, and *Spirit Stream Finger: Water Dragon Technique*.
Among them, the *Wave-Surging Dragon Stream Step* was inspired by the concept of a "dragon leaping over stream waves, walking upon them." It fused the power of the Yu Step's "three steps, nine traces" with the posture of a dragon's movement. It was both a Stepping Technique and a method for building up momentum.
Its core concept was treading on waves.
Wave-Surging Dragon Stream, one step to a new heaven. With each step, a Cultivator's momentum and Magical Power would stack one layer higher, like a rising tide.
Minor Achievement in this technique was three steps (three layers of stored momentum), while Great Success was nine steps (nine layers of stored momentum).
'It's a decent Magic Technique. I can practice it later. For now, it's too complicated.'
For the same reason—its complexity—Zhong Ming also temporarily gave up on the Longxi Swordsmanship.
This was a Swordsmanship that balanced both offense and defense. It possessed the Flowing quality of water and the might of a dragon.
The principle of this Swordsmanship was captured in nine words: "Sword flows like a stream, Sword Momentum Like a Dragon."
By learning it, Zhong Ming could round out both his offense and defense.
Unfortunately, it had many Sword Techniques, and practicing it once would be too time-consuming. Right now, time was exactly what Zhong Ming lacked.
'The *Spirit Stream Finger: Water Dragon Technique* isn't suitable for me either... I haven't even opened my Qi Sea Acupoint. I simply don't have enough Magical Power to cast this Magic Technique.'
'If I can't cast it, I naturally can't practice it.'
With that, Zhong Ming set his sights on the last option: the *Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique*. It was also the most suitable one for him.
'The Sword-Drawing Technique. This is a Swordsmanship centered on the core concept of a One-Hit Kill.'
'It emphasizes using the explosive power of the instant the sword is drawn to launch a surprise attack. This skill completely disregards follow-up moves, pursuing a life-or-death outcome in a single strike.'
Using such Swordsmanship in actual combat was a bit too extreme; it wasn't the best choice.
It was suited for Assassins and Death Warriors.
But Zhong Ming was practicing the sword now not to fight enemies, but to explore the True Intent of the Longxi Breathing Method. Under these circumstances, the one-move Longxi Sword Drawing Technique was perfectly suitable.
'This is the one!'
'With only one move, even with just seven days, I can grind it to the Third Realm, Refinement. If I'm lucky, reaching the Fourth Realm, Minor Achievement, isn't impossible!'
After selecting the Cultivation Technique, Zhong Ming immediately took it outside and registered it with the Scripture Pavilion's elder.
Afterward, Zhong Ming didn't choose to use a convenient Jade Scroll. Instead, he found a corner, opened the book that recorded the *Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique*, and began to read it carefully.
Naturally, while reading, Zhong Ming activated his special ability: Mind Reading.
HUMMM...
The moment he activated this ability, Zhong Ming's mind became highly focused and exceptionally sharp.
Reading in this state, Zhong Ming quickly grasped all the mysteries of the Sword-Drawing Technique.
After Zhong Ming spent the time it takes for an incense stick to burn carefully reading through the *Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique*, his progress with the technique was already one-third complete.
[Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique: First Realm, Initiation (183/480)]
This reading session also sparked an idea in Zhong Ming's mind.
'Speaking of which, I have another way to quickly increase my Skill Level in the Longxi Breathing Method... If I find some Cultivation Insights related to the Longxi Breathing Method and study them carefully with my Mind Reading ability, I could raise the Longxi Breathing Method to the Second Realm, Insight, or even the Third Realm, Refinement, just by reading.'
This method would certainly have some effect, but Zhong Ming felt that the Longxi Sword Drawing Technique would be faster. With only one move, it was much more convenient to practice.
'I'll try the Longxi Sword Drawing Technique first. If it doesn't work, I'll come back and focus on reading.'
After completely memorizing the *Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique*, Zhong Ming bowed to the elder in the Scripture Pavilion and then left.
He didn't return directly to the Cultivation Field. Instead, he bought a sheathed longsword from the general store in the Longxi Outer Courtyard and then went to the side of the stream.
By now, Jiang Yue was getting a little anxious from waiting.
Seeing Zhong Ming arrive, he immediately took Jiang Xiaoyu and left the spirit spring, running over to where Zhong Ming was.
"Brother Zhong, you're back."
"Mhm."
"..."
Jiang Yue's enthusiastic attitude went beyond merely showing respect for a worthy person, which made the expressions of the onlookers rather strange.
Next, the crowd was even more surprised to discover that Jiang Yue wasn't cultivating at the spirit spring. Instead, he was following Zhong Ming up to the mountainside.
"This..."
"What on earth is so special about Zhong Ming that he can make Jiang Yue forget about cultivating and just follow him around?"
The ordinary students didn't understand. This bizarre scene even caught the attention of the two highest-ranking people in their class.
The one who felt curious about this scene wasn't Xue Yao, but a man and a woman who radiated an air of nobility.
Seeing that Yi Yunya was quite curious about Zhong Ming, Zhuang Yi raised an eyebrow. "You're very interested in that Zhong Ming?"
Without denying it, Yi Yunya nodded. "A little. For Jiang Yue to value him so highly, he must have some real ability... Aren't you curious?"
"Not interested." Glancing at Zhong Ming, Zhuang Yi said calmly, "Whatever he's done has nothing to do with me."
"Besides, with a third-class Spiritual Root and no family background, his future achievements won't be very high. He's not worth my attention."
With that, Zhuang Yi closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
This attitude—unperturbed by external matters and firm in his belief that he was the strongest—made Yi Yunya... even more wary of Zhuang Yi.
'There is only one position for a True Disciple...'
After muttering this in her heart, Yi Yunya turned her gaze back to Zhong Ming.
After a moment of contemplation, she gave an order to someone below her.
"Orchid, go and gather some information on Zhong Ming. If he really has some ability, arrange a meeting between me and him tomorrow."
"Yes, milady."
...
The discussions of outsiders didn't affect Zhong Ming in the slightest.
He led Jiang Yue, and the two of them arrived at the mountainside.
Looking down from their high vantage point, Jiang Yue discovered that from this spot, the contours of Longxi Mountain and the path of the stream did indeed resemble a great dragon.
This also made Jiang Yue more confident in what Zhong Ming had said.
The next moment, he gave Zhong Ming a sincere bow.
"Brother Zhong, thank you."
"There's no need. It was a trade. Your Elixir Pills were a great help to me."
This was no empty platitude.
After a full morning of cultivation, Zhong Ming's meridians had been in excruciating pain. Eating the Spirit Rice had only provided slight relief.
But after consuming the Earth Marrow Spirit Liquid, the pain in his meridians had vanished completely.
This effectively doubled Zhong Ming's available cultivation time.
Not to mention, Zhong Ming now had Elixir Pills not just to relieve meridian fatigue, but also to increase his cultivation base.
With this in mind, feeling the urgency of time, Zhong Ming said no more. He consumed a Primordial Spirit Pill, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate intensely.
HUMMM...
As the Primordial Spirit Pill entered his stomach, Zhong Ming quickly perceived the wonders of cultivating with Elixir Pills.
Previously, Zhong Ming absorbed Spiritual Qi from the world through breathing. Because of his mediocre Spiritual Root, his Cultivation Technique being only at the Initiation stage, and the not-so-abundant Spiritual Qi on Longxi Peak, the amount of Spiritual Qi he absorbed each time wasn't very much.
But now, the situation was completely different.
The Elixir Pill, refined from various precious medicinal herbs using the Dragon and Tiger Harmonization Method, contained a great deal of Spiritual Qi that was also extremely easy for the body to absorb.
After swallowing one, Zhong Ming could feel a continuous stream of Spiritual Qi emanating from his abdomen.
Seeing this, he hurriedly activated the Longxi Breathing Technique.
INHALE, EXHALE...
As the Cultivation Technique circulated, the stream and Dragon Flood Dragon that Zhong Ming visualized were no longer illusory. A real Flood Dragon made of Spiritual Qi was now flowing within his body.
Although this stream-dragon still moved with considerable difficulty, and Spiritual Qi constantly dissipated during its circulation...
...because the Primordial Spirit Pill continuously released Spiritual Qi, even if seven or eight-tenths of it dissipated midway, the amount of Spiritual Qi Zhong Ming refined into his Qi Sea Acupoint was still immense.
'This has increased my cultivation efficiency by at least three times compared to my normal practice.'
The constant influx of Spiritual Qi also caused Zhong Ming's Qi Sea Acupoint to gradually shift from a state of nothingness to having a tangible, albeit illusory, sensation.
'Once this feeling solidifies completely, I'll be able to break open my Qi Sea and reach the initial stage of Qi Cultivation.'
Being able to feel his cultivation base growing bit by bit was naturally a wonderful thing.
However, after the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the effects of the Primordial Spirit Pill dissipated.
At the same time, Zhong Ming could feel an uncomfortable sensation lingering in his body.
'If I'm not mistaken, this is Erysipelas... Thankfully, the human body has its own detoxification ability and will automatically expel the Erysipelas.'
'But this also means I can't use Elixir Pills to cultivate again until tomorrow.'
Besides not being able to take another Elixir Pill until tomorrow, Zhong Ming also discovered that the excess Spiritual Qi put a great deal of strain on his meridians. This forced him to stop cultivating after only a couple of hours in the afternoon.
"..."
'In the beginning, because my meridians are so fragile, the amount of time I can cultivate each day is too short.'
After assessing his situation, Zhong Ming realized that because he couldn't take Elixir Pills consecutively and his daily cultivation time was so limited, at this rate, he could hope to advance to the initial stage of Qi Cultivation within eighteen days. But seven days was absolutely impossible.
'As expected, achieving an A-Class evaluation isn't so easy. But that makes sense. If it were easy to be rated A-Class, Longxi Peak wouldn't give A-Class Disciples such preferential treatment.'
After this reflection, Zhong Ming understood something even more clearly.
'Because my meridians are fragile, my daily cultivation time is extremely limited. For someone like me to break through to the initial stage of Qi Cultivation in just seven days, I can only rely on one thing—the special properties gained from advancing a Cultivation Technique.'
Thinking this, Zhong Ming's gaze fell upon the *Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique*.
'It's time to practice you.'