Chapter 18: The Path of Cultivation

Thanks!

The monster hunter looked at Zhang Xingyu gratefully, then waved his long sword and went to help Hu Siping hunt down the six-tailed snow fox.

Zhang Xingyu breathed a sigh of relief. It was a close call just now; fortunately, he acted quickly. Otherwise, he would definitely have been sucked into a dried corpse by that tree monster.

Alright. Now it's time for looting the corpse. Such a difficult tree monster, it must explode something.

Thinking of this, he leaned over to fiddle with the pile of charred charcoal transformed from the tree monster. Sure enough, it didn't disappoint. A pebble the size of a soybean was hidden in the pile of charcoal.

This pebble was crystal clear, warm, and smooth, and felt very cool in the palm of his hand.

Zhang Xingyu immersed his consciousness into it, wanting to see clearly what was inside.

Before he could see clearly, the pebble began to shrink rapidly and finally disappeared into thin air.

What the hell?

Just as he was puzzled, the system's cold, mechanical prompt sounded in his mind again: "Ding-dong, the host has absorbed one low-tier God Yuan Stone, gaining a large amount of God Yuan, and the God Yuan Value has increased by 100,000 points."

God Yuan Stone?

"Ding-dong, the God Yuan Stone is formed by the condensation of God Sea fragments when a god falls, containing a large amount of God Yuan."

This extremely unreliable system didn't know what was going on, but this time it was unusually generous and took the initiative to explain to Zhang Xingyu.

"Ding-dong, the host has over 100,000 God Yuan Value; should it be used to exchange for a cultivation technique?" the system prompted again.

"Cultivation technique? I don't have a spiritual root, uh, is there really a cultivation technique suitable for a mortal like me?" Zhang Xingyu asked anxiously.

"System searching, please wait." The system replied.

A moment later, the system's prompt sounded again: "After system detection, there are now two waste-material-style cultivation techniques for the host to choose from: the first is the God-cultivation technique 'God Planting Technique'; the second is the Immortal-cultivation technique 'Spirit Planting Technique'."

"God-cultivation technique and Immortal-cultivation technique. System Big Brother, what is the difference between these two techniques?" Zhang Xingyu asked.

"God-cultivation and Immortal-cultivation are two completely different ways of cultivation." The system replied immediately.

"God-cultivation is absorbing God Yuan, cultivating the divine soul, and refining the divine body. After success, one can use divine abilities, drive heaven and earth vital energy, overturn rivers and seas, and be omnipotent."

"Immortal-cultivation is absorbing spiritual aura, refining Qi into spirit, and refining spirit back into emptiness. After success, one can use Dao techniques, drive heaven and earth vital energy, overturn rivers and seas, and be omnipotent."

"Then what is the difference between divine abilities and Dao techniques?" Zhang Xingyu asked without shame.

"Divine abilities are a way of driving heaven and earth vital energy by using divine ability seeds as carriers and consuming one's own God Yuan. According to the size of the power, divine abilities are divided into non-ranked divine abilities, low-tier divine abilities, mid-tier divine abilities, high-tier divine abilities, peerless divine abilities, and supreme divine abilities."

"And Dao techniques are a way of driving heaven and earth vital energy by using Immortal Dao techniques as carriers and one's own vital energy as a guide. According to the size of the power, Dao techniques are divided into nine grades, with the first grade being the lowest and the ninth grade being the highest," the system explained in detail.

"Then what are the pros and cons of God-cultivation and Immortal-cultivation?" Zhang Xingyu thought for a moment and asked.

"God-cultivation is direct, but God Yuan is scarce, and cultivation is difficult. Immortal-cultivation is troublesome, but vital energy is relatively easy to obtain, and cultivation is easier," the system continued to explain patiently.

"Then can God-cultivation and Immortal-cultivation be carried out at the same time?" Zhang Xingyu continued to ask.

"Theoretically, they can be practiced at the same time. However, throughout history, no one has ever done so." The system replied.

"Why?"

"Gods and immortals do not share the same path."

"What does that mean, I didn't understand."

"Stupid host, your knowledge is really too little. Gods and immortals do not share the same path, which refers to the Divine Dao and the Immortal Dao; the path is the same, but the road is different."

After the system finished answering, it asked Zhang Xingyu again: "Host, have you chosen your cultivation technique?"

Does this still need to be chosen? This is an Immortal-cultivation world, uh, if I don't choose an Immortal-cultivation technique, wouldn't my brain be broken?

A look of determination flashed in Zhang Xingyu's eyes: "System Big Brother, I have chosen; I choose the 'Spirit Planting Technique'."

The system was silent.

"System Big Brother, are you still there?" Seeing that the system had no movement for a long time, Zhang Xingyu was very anxious.

At a critical moment, you ghost system are playing at shutting down.

"Ding-dong, congratulations to the host for consuming 100,000 divine soul points and obtaining the God-cultivation technique 'God Planting Technique'." After a long time, the system's prompt suddenly sounded in his mind.

"What the hell? System Big Brother, I chose the Spirit Planting Technique, not the God Planting Technique you said. Important things are repeated three times; I chose the Spirit Planting Technique, Spirit Planting Technique, Spirit Planting Technique."

"I heard it, this system is not deaf. Stupid host, repeating it is useless. This system is a God Realm System and doesn't know any shitty Immortal-cultivation techniques."

"You don't know, you don't know, then why did you let me choose, you jerk!" Zhang Xingyu was furious upon hearing this.

What a trash system! Not reliable at all!

I want to cultivate immortality, but you gave me a God-cultivation technique. Cultivating God in an Immortal-cultivation world, are you trying to make me a heretic and be hunted down by all the immortal cultivators in the world?

"That's none of my business. Whether to practice the 'God Planting Technique' or not, host, you decide for yourself."

"I." Zhang Xingyu only felt as if he had been choked by a fishbone, and his full grievances had nowhere to be told.

Just at this moment, Zhang Xingyu felt that there seemed to be an extra shining star in his brain.

This star shed rays of holy brilliance, forming a large passage of text in his mind.

Zhang Xingyu scanned with his divine sense and immediately understood the meaning of these words.

This 'God Planting Technique' is a technique that introduces how to open up the God Sea. The technique begins by saying: God is the foundation of all living things. Use the soul as a seed to open the God Sea and create a world. Opening the God Sea requires using the cultivator's own divine soul as a seed to open up a world in the brain.

This world can store God Yuan, slowly grow, and finally become like a vast sea.

It's just that practicing the 'God Planting Technique' requires consuming a large amount of divine soul. If one does not have a powerful divine soul, the cultivator is extremely likely to lose their divine sense and become a walking corpse.

Zhang Xingyu was communicating with the system with his eyes closed when he suddenly felt his shoulder being patted lightly a few times.

He opened his eyes and found Hu Siping looking at him with an anxious face.

The young monster hunter was holding a shining bead, waiting silently on the side.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu wake up, the monster hunter turned to Hu Siping and said: "Brother Hu, I said he was fine. You didn't believe me. Isn't he awake now?"

"Xingyu, are you okay?" Hu Siping asked Zhang Xingyu with concern.

"I'm fine." Zhang Xingyu nodded at him.

After a pause, Zhang Xingyu asked Hu Siping: "Are Skinny Monkey and Er Leng okay?"

Hearing Zhang Xingyu's inquiry, Hu Siping's expression dropped instantly: "Skinny Monkey and Er Leng are both dead. Now there are only the two of us left who came to escort."

"Both dead?" Zhang Xingyu couldn't believe his ears.

"Hmm, both killed by the locust tree monster and the six-tailed snow fox. But don't be too sad. We killed both the locust tree monster and the six-tailed snow fox, which can be considered as avenging them," the monster hunter added on the side.

After the monster hunter finished speaking, he solemnly cupped his hands at Zhang Xingyu and said: "My name is Jin Muyun, and I am a monster hunter. The bead in my hand is the fox monster's inner core."

"Hello. My name is Zhang Xingyu." Zhang Xingyu cupped his hands at him, which counted as a return gift.

Jin Muyun nodded and then asked: "Brother Zhang, have you ever found the tree monster's inner core?"

"Inner core?"

"Yes, it should be like the bead in my hand."

"No." Zhang Xingyu shook his head affirmatively.

A look of disappointment appeared on Jin Muyun's face: "What a pity, such a powerful tree monster, it didn't cultivate an inner core."

After a pause, he said to Hu Siping and Zhang Xingyu: "Two brothers, I am a monster hunter. This monster's inner core is very important to me; can you two let it go to me? As for those gold coins in the carts, I won't take a single one. What do you two think?"

"If you want the inner core, just take it. As for the gold coins on the carts, you can take them all together," Zhang Xingyu answered hurriedly.

Just kidding. This monster hunter is also an immortal cultivator. Immortal cultivators, uh, high above, not killing and silencing after taking everything can already be considered a discovery of conscience.

Jin Muyun waved his hand: "Getting a monster inner core is already a great advantage for me. I absolutely cannot take these gold coins."

"How can this be, you must take these gold coins."

"No, I cannot take them."

One insisted on taking them, the other firmly refused.

Zhang Xingyu's inner monologue: This Jin Muyun is either an idiot or a pure and noble immortal-cultivation rookie who has detached from low-level interests.

Jin Muyun's inner monologue: This Zhang Xingyu is really a kind and simple person, a person who treats money like dirt, a person worth associating with.

Hu Siping was confused: These two guys are pushing back and forth, not straightforward at all, what are they doing!

A quarter of an hour later, he really couldn't watch anymore: "You two stop pushing back and forth. If you keep pushing, it will be dark soon. If it really doesn't work, let's just split it equally!"

"Good!"

"Excellent!"

Zhang Xingyu's inner monologue: Confirmed the look, this Jin Muyun is a pure and noble immortal-cultivation rookie who has detached from low-level interests. Splitting away a portion of the gold coins, safe!

Jin Muyun's inner monologue: It can be confirmed that Zhang Xingyu is a person who can share wealth, a person who will not let friends suffer losses. They probably don't know the value of the inner core, so they think I would suffer a loss if I didn't split the gold coins with me. Forget it, I will help split away a portion first, so that they can feel at ease.

Hu Siping's inner monologue: These two goods have finally stopped. The three of us together subdued monsters and demons, shed blood and sweat, and should share the gold and silver equally and share the wealth.

After reaching a consensus, Jin Muyun said to Zhang Xingyu and Hu Siping: "With so many gold coins, it's inconvenient for you to store them. Why don't I use my gourd to pack them up first, then go to Shanyang Cheng to exchange them for gold notes, and then give them to you."

Zhang Xingyu and Hu Siping nodded in agreement.

Jin Muyun took out the gourd from his waist and chanted the incantation at the large cart. A moment later, the boxes loaded on the cart flew into the gourd one after another like flowing light.

Watching Jin Muyun perform Dao techniques, Zhang Xingyu and Hu Siping were both envious.

Hu Siping thought: I must cultivate immortality.

Zhang Xingyu thought: Cultivate immortality, I want to too.

Jin Muyun looked at the envious expressions of the two and showed a faint smile on his face: "When you two arrive at Shanyang Cheng, you can also go to the Dengxian Pavilion to test whether you have spiritual roots. If you have spiritual roots, you can also cultivate."

"Good. I just want to ask Brother Jin for some guidance," Hu Siping cupped his fists and said.

Jin Muyun nodded: "I will tell you in detail on the road later. Now, let's burn the corpses of these dead people first."

"Burn?" Zhang Xingyu and Hu Siping looked at Jin Muyun together.

"Yes, burn. The monster aura and yin aura remaining here are very heavy; if they are buried directly in the soil, it is very easy for corpse transformation to occur," Jin Muyun explained.

Night fell, and a beam of fire soared into the sky, illuminating the sky around the small village like daylight.

The fire burned out, the bright moon rose, and the three left Big Locust Tree Village and strode toward Shanyang Cheng.

There, a new life was welcoming them. ===== CHAPTER 19 =====