Chapter 51 - 50: Cultivation Technique Selection

Chapter 51: Chapter 50: Cultivation Technique Selection

After the General Knowledge class ended, and after a short rest, it was time for the Magic Technique class.

The Magic Technique training ground was paved with hard Cyan Gang Stone. Faint traces of an Array could be seen circulating around the perimeter, clearly established to prevent students from accidentally injuring one another during practice.

The Instructor in charge of the Magic Technique class was named Jii Yu.

In stark contrast to Zhou Changkong’s stern and resolute appearance, Jii Yu was a beautiful woman in a lavender court dress.

Her figure was full and curvaceous, and her eyes held a gentle grace. Yet, with every glance, they revealed a shrewdness that seemed to peer right into a person’s heart.

"The path of Magic Techniques is one of endless variation, different for every individual."

Jii Yu’s voice was soft, yet it carried clearly to the ears of every student present. "Unlike the rote memorization required for General Knowledge, choosing a Magic Technique and a Cultivation Technique requires a deep compatibility with your own Spiritual Qi Attribute and cultivation path. Only then can you achieve twice the results with half the effort."

"For our first lesson today, I will not be teaching any specific Magic Techniques. Instead, I will assess each of you to help determine the direction of your future cultivation."

Hearing this, everyone present perked up.

This was the exact question on every new student’s mind.

Upon entering the Daoist School and receiving a Gray Talisman, they earned the right to visit the Scripture Pavilion and exchange it for one free Entry-level Cultivation Technique and a matching Magic Technique.

This was the greatest boon the Daoist School granted its new disciples. No one wanted to choose the wrong path and squander such a golden opportunity.

"Then let’s begin with this row."

Jii Yu casually pointed to her left.

The first to step forward was none other than Jiang Kuo.

The slightly chubby young man was usually all smiles, but he reined it in before the Instructor. He gave a respectful bow, then did as instructed, sitting cross-legged and circulating the Magical Power within his body.

As his Cultivation Technique circulated, a faint yellow halo materialized around Jiang Kuo, exuding a sense of heavy stability.

He then formed a hand seal. The ground trembled slightly, and a sharp stone spike shot up from a crack in the Cyan Gang Stone.

"You use the Small Qi Gathering Technique as your foundation, yet you’ve already refined a wisp of pure Earth Spiritual Qi. And your family’s Rock Spike Technique is also quite well-practiced."

Jii Yu gave him a single glance before nodding slightly. "Your path is a steady one," she commented. "Though the Small Qi Gathering Technique is only Mortal Level, it is all-encompassing and has laid a fine foundation for you. Now that you’re in the Daoist School, there’s no need to stick with such a basic technique."

"Go to the Scripture Pavilion and exchange for the Thick Earth Technique. That technique is dense and enduring, a perfect match for your Earth Spiritual Qi. It will also enhance the power and resilience of your Rock Spike Technique."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Jii!" Jiang Kuo was overjoyed.

The Thick Earth Technique was the very technique his family elders had recommended as the best choice. Now, with the Instructor’s confirmation, his heart was at ease.

Next, Jii Yu assessed several more students in turn.

For one with sharp Gold Spiritual Qi, she recommended the Geng Metal Sword Qi Technique. For another whose Wood Spiritual Qi pulsed with endless life, she recommended the Cyan Wood Evergreen Technique.

Soon, it was Chu Bai’s turn.

Chu Bai took a deep breath, stepped forward, and sat down cross-legged.

With a flicker of his will, the Small Qi Gathering Technique began to circulate.

In an instant, a pale blue halo of Spiritual Power manifested around him. It wasn’t a simple aquatic blue, but possessed a gentle, jade-like quality. It flowed without the slightest hint of stagnation, and even seemed to carry a cleansing purity that could wash away all dust.

"Rise!"

Chu Bai gave a soft cry and pointed his finger.

The moisture in the air instantly condensed, forming three nearly transparent, fine needles that hovered before him. With a slight nudge from his Divine Sense, the three Water Needles spiraled and danced through the air as if they were alive.

"Oh?"

Jii Yu, who had been watching with a placid expression, saw this, and a flash of astonishment shot through her gentle eyes.

She took a step forward, carefully sensing the fluctuations of Magical Power emanating from Chu Bai.

"Balanced and serene, yet gentle and agile... Is this the Purifying Spirit Flow?"

Jii Yu looked at Chu Bai in surprise. "Your Spiritual Qi foundation is primarily Pure Qi, yet you’ve perfectly fused it with a special strain of wild Water Attribute Spiritual Energy. Such a fortuitous encounter is rare indeed."

Those with a family lineage are usually guided from a young age to cultivate a specific attribute spiritual energy.

But for someone like Chu Bai to first cultivate attributeless Pure Qi and then seamlessly fuse it with wild spiritual energy... it often implies a unique fortuitous encounter. It also suggests a tenacious spirit, one that could endure the tedious and risky process of refining Evil Qi.

But it wasn’t his Spiritual Qi Attribute that truly astonished Jii Yu.

’This respiration efficiency... This flawless circulation of Magical Power...’

Jii Yu’s eyes narrowed, and she blurted out, "You’ve cultivated the Small Qi Gathering Technique to the Mastery Realm?!"

Her words caused an immediate uproar among the other students.

"Mastery?"

"Doesn’t that mean he’s practiced that basic technique down to his very bones?"

"It took me half a year just to get to the Beginner stage of the Small Qi Gathering Technique! How did Chu Bai do it?"

As fellow students, they all understood just how difficult that was.

For most of them, it was just a transitional technique for beginners. As long as it allowed for Qi Introduction, it was good enough. Who would waste so much time grinding it to a higher level of skill?

But Chu Bai hadn’t just grinded it—he’d grinded it all the way to Mastery!

Jii Yu looked at Chu Bai. The advice she had prepared was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back down. For a moment, she was at a loss.

Logically, since Chu Bai clearly possessed Water Attribute Spiritual Qi, recommending the Clear Stream Qi Cultivation Scripture would be the correct path.

This technique specialized in the Water Element, possessed considerable power, and was a perfect match for his Spirit Water Needle skill.

But...

Looking at the flawless, fluid foundation of Pure Qi that Chu Bai possessed, Jii Yu sighed inwardly. ’If I have him switch to a pure Water Element Technique, it would certainly increase his combat power, but it would also mean throwing away this excellent foundation and wasting so much of his progress.’

The very reason he could practice the Small Qi Gathering Technique to Mastery was due to its all-embracing, compatible nature.

After a moment of thought, a decisive glint appeared in Jii Yu’s eyes.

"Chu Bai, I have two proposals for you to choose from."

Jii Yu held up two fingers, her expression grave. "The first, and safest path, is to obtain the Clear Stream Qi Cultivation Scripture. This technique specializes in the Water Element and will complement your Purifying Spirit Flow perfectly. If you switch to it, you’ll see an immediate increase in the power of your Magic Techniques."

She paused, then her tone shifted. "But... your Pure Qi foundation is frighteningly solid, and you’ve already reached Mastery in the Small Qi Gathering Technique. It would be a shame to switch to a single-attribute technique and waste your talent for ’compatibility’."

"Thus, I have a second proposal: the Guiyuan Technique."

Hearing this name, a few of the more well-informed Noble Family Descendants in the crowd exchanged strange looks.

"The Guiyuan Technique? Isn’t that just a big mishmash?"

"I hear it’s a jack of all trades, but master of none."

Jii Yu ignored the whispers from the crowd, keeping her eyes fixed on Chu Bai as she explained, "The Guiyuan Technique is, in essence, a High Tier, advanced version of the Small Qi Gathering Technique. Its greatest strengths are that it is balanced, serene, and all-encompassing."

"If you choose this technique, you can perfectly carry over all your Mastery-level insights from your current technique, avoiding any stagnation from the transition. Furthermore, the technique is neutral. If you have other fortuitous encounters in the future and wish to cultivate techniques of other attributes, it will be much easier."

"However... compared to techniques that specialize in a single path, its offensive power and attribute-based bursts are admittedly more mediocre. The choice is yours to make."

With that, Jii Yu fell silent, watching Chu Bai and awaiting his answer.

But Chu Bai’s heart was already in turmoil.

’The Guiyuan Technique!’

’An ordinary Cultivator might choose to specialize in Water Techniques for the sake of immediate combat power.’

’But I’m different.’

’I have Non-stop Rushing to set a floor for my progress, Nourishing and Exquisite to ensure my speed, and the newly awakened Seal and Ribbon Mutual Generation.’

’I’m not afraid of things that are difficult to practice.’

’As long as I can grind, I can turn even a mediocre Cultivation Technique into something spectacular.’

’The Guiyuan Technique has greater compatibility. It might be easy to learn but difficult to master, but its potential is far greater.’

’It’s the perfect cornerstone, tailor-made for me.’

Chu Bai took a deep breath. He bowed deeply to Jii Yu, his gaze resolute.

"Thank you for clearing my confusion, Master Jii. I have already made my decision. I choose the Guiyuan Technique."