Chapter 74

Early the next morning, on his way to the training chamber, Chu Danqing calculated his expenses from yesterday.

“Six thousand spent on two awakenings each for the Three Precepts; the Cold Spring Shadow was cheap—only fifteen hundred for full awakening.”

“Da Bao’s auxiliary materials and daily supplies cost five hundred.”

“After deducting the ten thousand park points I can’t use, I’ve only got five hundred and thirty left????”

Chu Danqing used to think money was hard to earn and shit was hard to swallow; now he had to add a third: spending money vanished like diarrhea—zipping away in an instant.

“Da Bao and the crossbow troops fought so many hard battles, and yet here I am, my pockets nearly as clean as my face.”

Da Bao, carefree, held his tablet, not quite understanding Chu Danqing’s complaints.

In his view, life was good—every day he ate his fill, drank his fill, and watched cartoons.

At five years old, his intellect wasn’t enough to handle economic accounting.

Whenever anything came up, he just called Xiao Chu.

For non-combat matters, Xiao Chu would always sort it out.

After arriving at the training chamber, Chu Danqing immediately began selecting options—and discovered something interesting.

“Huh? Knowledge-type items also work inside the training chamber? I’ll take them all.”

【A-Rank Training Chamber: Summoning Fundamentals LV.5, Summoning Art Fundamentals LV.5, Five Elements Spirit Beasts Scripture (Legacy) LV.1, Savage Beast · Cave Child (Wu Da Bao)】

【Knowledge-Type Items: White Crane Immortal’s Notebook, Volume One; Song Xi’s Annotations on the Five Spirits Collection】

(Note: Investing knowledge-type items and selecting corresponding training skills yields improved training effects and more suitable instructor projections.)

(Note: This training session will consume 50 durability from invested knowledge-type items.)

Upon seeing the first prompt, Chu Danqing ignored the second one about durability consumption.

He’d assumed knowledge was valuable; he hadn’t expected the items themselves to matter.

It seemed he could have charged more when he sold the old captain’s fist manual.

After all, few apprentices in the reserve phase acquire foundational skills so easily.

【Training Duration: 10 days. Reserve apprentice’s rest time not exceeded. Generating A-Rank Dingxiang Summoning Instructor.】

【Generation Complete. A-Rank Dingxiang Summoning Instructor: Caiyun Old Lady (Projection)】

Chu Danqing entered the A-Rank training chamber; a projection slowly formed—a frail old woman, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, face stern, dressed in simple robes.

As soon as Caiyun Old Lady’s projection appeared, she sized up Chu Danqing: “Your spiritual power is solid; the pills you use are orthodox Xuan Sect, balanced and harmonious.”

“Your Five Elements Spirit Beasts Art is low in cultivation level, but suits your current stage—yet your origins are not humble; your qi cultivation and foundation-building prospects are promising.”

“As for beast taming, your skill is lacking—but the beasts you raise are well-cared for.”

“They’re not the kind you could have raised at your level. Someone else must have guided you.”

Caiyun Old Lady needed only one glance to see through Chu Danqing’s true state.

“Your humble disciple is no match for Old Lady. Please instruct me further,” Chu Danqing said, then added: “This is Da Bao—he’s human.”

In terms of summoning expertise, Caiyun Old Lady had far greater insight than the Holy Son of Qingyun Sacred Ground.

Perhaps due to different projection types, or simply her greater experience.

“Since I’m here, I’m here to teach you,” Caiyun Old Lady said, indifferent to Chu Danqing’s flattery and correction.

She’d lived this long—she’d heard every kind of sweet talk; Chu Danqing’s smoothness meant nothing to her.

Only the young Qingyun Holy Son, with his limited experience, still found it effective.

“Start with your Five Elements Spirit Beasts Art, supplement it with beast taming—both will improve.”

“As for your beast,” Caiyun Old Lady finished arranging for Chu Danqing, then turned to Da Bao—but had no clear plan.

Cultivation required resources.

Chu Danqing quickly pulled out his thousand-year hundred-whisker ginseng, East Sea Dragon Saliva Incense, and other auxiliary materials.

“The Qingyun Holy Son who guided me before said Da Bao still has a latent root capable of enhancing bleeding skills.”

“Once my Summoning Fundamentals and Summoning Art both reach LV.10, and with rare treasures, it might activate.”

“Old Lady, with my current level, is there any chance? If not, I’d like to enhance Da Bao’s attributes and skills.”

Chu Danqing spoke at once.

Caiyun Old Lady studied Da Bao, then Chu Danqing, thinking for about a minute before answering.

“The Holy Son spoke wisely.”

“Before, you clearly hadn’t trained the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Art.”

“To make that root sprout and grow, you’ll need higher beast taming skill.”

Caiyun Old Lady picked up the thousand-year hundred-whisker ginseng and East Sea Dragon Saliva Incense, examined them, then said: “Now, with these two main ingredients, it’s not difficult.”

“But doing so will inevitably delay your own cultivation—both beast taming and Five Elements Spirit Beasts Art will suffer.”

After a moment’s thought, Chu Danqing asked: “If I prioritize my own cultivation, how much can Summoning Fundamentals and Five Elements Spirit Beasts Scripture improve?”

He then pulled out his two remaining Five Qi Pills.

Caiyun Old Lady studied the Five Qi Pills, then said: “Within ten days, your two beast taming skills will surely rise to LV.9.”

“As for the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Scripture, I can only help you refine the Five Elements qi within your body and these two pills.”

“Helping you break through the barrier with spiritual power to reach LV.2 is easy.”

“If you choose to boost beast taming instead, you could reach it too—but it would be extremely arduous.”

“After all, how often does one get both?”

Chu Danqing immediately changed his approach: “What if I focus solely on Summoning Fundamentals? Can I push it to LV.10?”

Caiyun Old Lady’s expression softened with approval, but her tone shifted: “If you could study without pause for fifteen days, I’d have an 80% chance of helping you succeed.”

“But time is insufficient.”

She was indirectly saying Chu Danqing lacked the talent to complete it.

“Old Lady, I choose everything—I can endure ten days!” Chu Danqing had already prepared plenty of stimulants in his storage space.

Plus, his Five Attributes had improved—his physical condition and learning ability were both enhanced.

“Good. Since you’ve said that, I’ll speak plainly upfront.”

“We’ve made a training pact—if you can’t hold out, I’ll still make you finish.”

“Even if you scream and beg, I won’t stop for a moment,” Caiyun Old Lady said—she had no habit of giving up halfway.

“If I dare quit, Old Lady, you can beat me with your cane,” Chu Danqing said, sensing the intensity—but no matter how hard or exhausting, he’d grit his teeth and endure.

(End of Chapter)