Chapter 2

The technique of Guidance is very magical.

Perhaps because this was Su Xuan's beginner gift package, following the cultivation method that appeared in his mind after obtaining the Guidance technique, it wasn't long before a strand of Qi appeared in Su Xuan's body.

Whether this Qi was the internal strength or true qi possessed by people in the Jianghu, Su Xuan was not sure, but with the appearance of this Qi, he indeed felt that his body had changed, becoming much stronger.

Originally, his body was thin and weak; although not to the point of being unable to truss a chicken, it wasn't much better.

After perceiving the changes brought about by this Qi, he naturally cultivated even more diligently. After all, the seventy-two Earthly Fiend arts that appeared in his mind were his foundation for standing in this strange world, so he naturally had to grasp them firmly.

At the same time, Su Xuan was also very curious.

If it is said that the seventy-two small stars, once lit, grant the seventy-two Earthly Fiend arts.

Then, if the thirty-six large stars are lit, is what is obtained the thirty-six Heavenly Spirit methods?

Manipulating creation, reversing yin and yang, moving stars and changing the Dipper, turning back the sun... and other means that only exist in myths, just thinking about it made his heart race.

There are no calendars in the mountains; one does not know the years when the cold ends!

With his cultivation in the mountains, Su Xuan's strength became increasingly profound, and he later obtained several more of the seventy-two Earthly Fiend arts, some of which were means for attacking and dealing with enemies, while others were auxiliary abilities.

And what truly made Su Xuan's strength skyrocket again was an Earthly Fiend art called "Ingestion".

Wind, clouds, thunder, fire, plants, trees, gold, and stone—all things in heaven and earth can be swallowed. Swallowing them transforms them, and transforming them can strengthen the body; this is Ingestion!

This is also an auxiliary technique.

If the Guidance technique is to draw the Qi of heaven and earth into the body to nourish one's own Qi, then the Ingestion technique is to nourish oneself by devouring the essence of external objects.

After obtaining this technique, the animals in the deep mountains where Su Xuan lived in seclusion began to suffer.

They all became Su Xuan's food supplements.

Besides this, Su Xuan would occasionally take animal skins to the market to exchange for some money, in order to buy nourishing medicine.

With the help of the Ingestion technique, his strength once advanced by leaps and bounds.

But this progress had its limits.

The main reason was that Su Xuan was too poor.

For a cultivator, Dharma, companions, wealth, and land are all indispensable things.

And Su Xuan, except for "Dharma", basically had none of the latter three.

It just so happened that at this time, the State of Han was suffering from a great drought.

The King of Han seeking capable people and extraordinary talents with a bounty of ten thousand taels of gold to pray for rain for him allowed Su Xuan to see an opportunity.

The next day.

Ji Ji Wuye's men woke Su Xuan up early.

Afterward, Su Xuan waited for a long time before he saw Ji Ji Wuye again.

"Let's go!"

Ji Ji Wuye's attitude was arrogant. If it weren't for the fact that His Majesty firmly believed in the way of alchemists and was convinced that there must be capable people and extraordinary talents hidden among the common folk who could summon wind and rain, he wouldn't have bothered with this guy behind him, let alone take him to meet His Majesty.

He followed Ji Ji Wuye into the Wang Gong of the State of Han.

When Ji Ji Wuye brought Su Xuan before the King of Han, the King of Han was in the back garden, enjoying the service of beauties. However, a look of sorrow always hung on the King of Han's face.

With the great drought and no rain, if it continued, the autumn harvest would yield nothing.

His current enjoyment was nothing more than finding pleasure in bitterness.

"Your subject, Ji Ji Wuye, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Ji Ji Wuye bowed respectfully to the King of Han.

"Grand General, no need for formalities!"

The King of Han waved his hand, signaling that Ji Ji Wuye did not need to be overly formal, and then looked at the man who had come with Ji Ji Wuye.

"Why do you not bow when you see Us?"

He was somewhat angry. If he hadn't known that this person had accepted his bounty, he would have wanted to find an excuse to take this person to vent his anger.

"This long drought without rain is because Your Majesty has a request of me, so I naturally have to hold out for a price!" Su Xuan spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, the King of Han's expression suddenly sank, "Are you not afraid that We will kill you?"

Su Xuan said: "If I cannot pray for rain for Your Majesty, the only thing awaiting me is death. For me, death is not something worth fearing."

"You do have some guts!"

The King of Han's expression softened a bit, and his eyes carefully sized up the newcomer.

A green shirt as clean as if washed, a wooden hairpin stuck in his hair, with two long strands of hair hanging down from his temples, fully displaying a free and easy style.

Coupled with his rather handsome appearance, at the very least, his selling point was very good; it was just unknown whether he could pray for rain.

"The specific situation has already been stated on that bounty edict, so We will not say more."

"Before praying for rain, tell Us what else you need?"

"I need a high platform!" Su Xuan did not stand on ceremony and stated his requirement directly.

The King of Han was not surprised.

Since it was for praying for rain, it naturally required supporting facilities.

Earlier, among those swindlers who were executed, there was no shortage of those who proposed high platforms for praying for rain, and some even asked for more.

By comparison, Su Xuan only asking for a high platform to pray for rain was a requirement that was truly too small.

"As for the high platform, We will have people prepare it immediately. If you cannot pray for rain for Us tomorrow, that high platform will be your burial place!"

"Tomorrow? Tomorrow won't do!" Su Xuan spoke again.

Before the King of Han could express his stance, Ji Ji Wuye was the first to fly into a rage, "His Majesty asked you to pray for rain tomorrow, and you still want to refuse?"

"Or is it that you are also a swindler!"

Su Xuan said with a calm expression: "Heaven has its fortunes and misfortunes. If one wants to pray for rain, one must choose a good day. In my view, tomorrow is not a day suitable for praying for rain."

"Then in your opinion, when is a good day? Next year, or the year after?" Ji Ji Wuye's words carried a tone of mockery.

Su Xuan stated a time, "Nine days from now!"

"Good, then nine days from now!" Before Ji Ji Wuye could say anything, the King of Han spoke, making a final decision.

He had endured months of great drought.

It was only a mere nine days; he could afford to wait.

Ji Ji Wuye still wanted to say something, but in the end, after thinking about it, he did not speak.

In the end, it was just letting this person live for nine more days.

Neither the King of Han nor Ji Ji Wuye noticed that a faint, strange smile had curled up at the corner of Su Xuan's mouth.

Nine days later.

The Wang Gong of the State of Han, on the square.

All the civil and military officials of the King of Han, along with the King of Han himself, stood here. They endured the scorching sun, looking at a high platform standing on the square.

On the high platform, Su Xuan was dressed in a green shirt, holding a wooden magic sword, chanting words.