After resolving the issues with the little Stone Spirit, Qi Ping placed it inside a spirit beast bag. While having a cute little soot-ball on his shoulder was fun, the Stone Spirit was far more coveted by cultivators than the spirit fox or the flower spirit. It was too dangerous to let it be seen. As for the covenant, this place wasn't safe; the process could be long, so it was best to wait until they were back in his territory.
Qi Ping continued toward the address Old Man Zhou had provided. On the way, he reflected on the items he had found in the trio's storage bags.
First, there wasn't much spirit stone—only about thirteen thousand in total, far less than what the cultivators who ambushed Meng Yan had carried. The weapons, pills, and herbs were standard for their level. Qi Ping didn't mind; he never intended to get rich through looting.
The real surprise was finding beast-taming techniques and related materials on the young Qi Refinement cultivator. This was what he truly needed! These items appeared to come from a major sect, and there was a token engraved with "Profound Sky Beast Sect" in the bag. He inferred these materials were from that sect, which seemed specialized in taming, so the knowledge was likely high-grade.
In addition, he had obtained two complete Foundation Establishment spells: Ethereal Sword-Finger and Earth-Sink Art. These two were a pleasant surprise. Up until now, his only Foundation Establishment manual was the Golden Flame Manual; now, he finally had other spells of that level.
More importantly, a new idea had sparked in his mind.
'Can I try to create my own techniques?'
'As long as I collect and comprehend enough manuals and spells, I can create the ones that suit me best.'
He had this thought because he realized how difficult it was to obtain powerful techniques. Even for someone like Meng Yan, getting a core Golden Core-level manual from the sect required multiple strict Soul Oaths that imposed heavy restrictions and prevented him from sharing the knowledge. While large trade associations in core cities sold such manuals, they were prohibitively expensive, often mediocre, or even flawed. Major powers held a tight monopoly on core knowledge.
Qi Ping had been worrying about how to find a safe channel to obtain manuals. Finding something both powerful and suitable for him was incredibly difficult. But having successfully modified the Flameburst Fireball and now obtaining these new spells, he had a realization.
Why couldn't he create spells that perfectly suited him? Just like how he had improved the Flameburst spell. He had succeeded because of his fire-attribute talent, his comprehension of the True Meaning of Fire, his soul strength, and his Heart of Nature talent—all built on his familiarity with the base spell.
Why couldn't he replicate this model for other techniques? If his comprehension wasn't enough, he could continue to contract Animal Companions with high Comprehension talents. With a five-hundred-year lifespan, he could spend decades elevating his talent to an incredible level. If his understanding of spell principles was lacking, he could acquire more knowledge!
Secret Transmission manuals were hard to find, but common spells and principles could be bought easily if one had enough spirit stones. With sufficient talent and comprehension, he could use the principles of various spells to forge his own path.
'Yes! This is completely viable!'
'Even for the Golden Core stage, I can use other manuals as a base to create the core condensation part of the technique and then refine it later.'
The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. In the beginning, there were no manuals; they were created to make cultivation accessible to the masses. In a sense, the original practitioners were the true seekers of the Dao. Those who merely followed manuals step-by-step—and couldn't cultivate without them—were they truly seekers?
'And I don't need to start from scratch. Common spells and knowledge are easy to get. Once I master them, creating something tailored to my foundation is highly probable. Even if there are flaws, I can refine them as I cultivate.'
'This way, manuals will no longer be a restriction. I won't need to join a sect or swear restrictive oaths, nor will I have to practice flawed techniques.'
After deep consideration, he felt this path was feasible. It allowed him to practice the most suitable arts while bypassing the monopolies of the cultivation world.
'Then my future Animal Companions should still focus on soul strength, comprehension, and the five elements. At most, it will take two hundred years to accumulate the necessary talents—maybe even just a few decades.'
It took decades just to move from the early to late Foundation Establishment stage anyway, so he wasn't in a rush. If the Path of Technique Creation failed, he could still buy a Golden Core manual when he reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. Regardless, comprehension and elemental talents were essential and would never be a waste.
Of course, if he encountered other truly rare spirit beasts, he wouldn't pass them up. Having planned his future, Qi Ping felt a sense of liberation. The air of freedom! If he succeeded, he would no longer be limited by the mountain of technique monopolies. And if he created his own way all the way to the peak, he might even be the first to take that unprecedented step toward true godhood.
'Perhaps this is what a true cultivator should be.'
As his reflections ended, he reached the address Old Man Zhou had provided.
"Yunzhou Prefecture, Sanjiang Village."
It was a primitive farming village. It was currently evening, and wisps of cooking smoke were rising from the homes. After some effort, Qi Ping bypassed everyone and reached the house of Old Man Zhou.