Chapter 15: Selecting a Technique

No good deed without an ulterior motive; if not treachery, then theft!

Seeing the steward approaching with a smile, Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately grew wary, but one cannot strike a smiling face, nor could he win a fight against him.

So, Facing Facing Cang Luo warmly clasped his hands in return and said, "Greetings, my lord steward. I, your junior brother, have just entered the sect today and have come specifically to receive a cultivation technique.

By the way, may I ask your name, my lord steward?"

As soon as Facing Facing Cang Luo finished speaking, the steward beamed even more. He waved his hand and said, "Too humble, too humble. My surname is Chen; you may call me Senior Brother Chen."

"Oh, greetings, Senior Brother Chen. I am your junior brother, Facing Facing Cang Luo. 'Cang' as in the sky, 'Luo' as in misfortune. May I ask for your guidance, Senior Brother Chen?" Facing Facing Cang Luo clasped his hands in return once more.

The reason Liang Zhishi Chen asked Facing Facing Cang Luo to call him Senior Brother was not out of politeness, but because the stewards of the Profound Heaven Gate are recruited from disciples who have either successfully graduated or been forced to graduate.

In Earth terms, it is like a senior student becoming a staff member after graduation.

The so-called "successfully graduated" means that a sect disciple must reach the first level of Wu Zong before the age of thirty-six; at that time, the graduating disciple may decide whether to stay or leave.

They may leave the sect to develop on their own, remain in the sect as an inner-steward to earn resources for cultivation, or be dispatched by the sect to manage the sect's assets across the Chu Kingdom.

"Forced graduation" refers to failing to reach the required cultivation level within the specified age; at that time, one will be forcibly persuaded to withdraw.

However, outstanding individuals among them may also be retained by the sect as stewards; those with cultivation above Wu Ling may serve as inner-stewards, while those with Wu Shi cultivation can only serve as outer-stewards.

In fact, judging by Facing Facing Cang Luo's age and cultivation level, he should have been expelled from the sect long ago, but who could refuse him given his special status?

Facing Facing Cang Luo himself did not know about this matter; the institution with the authority to persuade him to withdraw was the Liang Zhishi Pavilion, but it had been resolved by Xuan Qingqing.

This was the will of Sect Master Xuan Hong, to prevent Facing Facing Cang Luo's identity as an Earthling from being exposed and to avoid drawing others' attention.

He specifically asked Xuan Qingqing to use her "private authority" to protect Facing Facing Cang Luo, making others believe that Facing Facing Cang Luo had only avoided expulsion through connections...

Liang Zhishi Chen pointed to the three rows of bookshelves behind him and smiled, "Junior Brother Cang, there are one hundred and sixty-nine Yellow Grade, Lower Tier techniques available for selection here, collected by the sect over thousands of years.

Among them, there are thirty-nine mental cultivation methods, eighty-seven fist and foot martial arts, and forty-three body movement martial arts.

Does junior brother already have a plan?"

After Liang Zhishi Chen finished speaking, Facing Facing Cang Luo looked utterly bewildered and muttered to himself, "Damn, so many apps... no, so many techniques."

Facing Facing Cang Luo never expected that even the lowest-tier Yellow Grade, Lower Tier techniques for outer disciples would be this numerous; how many would the higher-tier ones be?

If sold on Earth, wouldn't one become a billionaire in minutes?

"Ah, spit, spit? What dialect is that?" Liang Zhishi Chen asked in confusion.

"Oh, from my hometown, a small place called Earth, though it's a bit far." Facing Facing Cang Luo casually brushed it off.

Liang Zhishi Chen nodded and said, "I see. By the way, junior brother, have you decided which technique to choose?

You must know that choosing a technique suitable for oneself to cultivate will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded, fully agreeing with his statement.

Indeed, with over a hundred techniques, there must be distinctions between superior and inferior; in such a situation, one needs a senior to offer guidance.

At this moment, Facing Facing Cang Luo remembered Li Haoran saying that mentioning his name would get the stewards to help, but Facing Facing Cang Luo would not owe him a favor for such a trivial matter.

Facing Facing Cang Luo respectfully said, "Your junior brother has no preparation and knows nothing about techniques. Could senior brother offer some guidance?"

Hearing Facing Facing Cang Luo say he knew nothing about techniques, Liang Zhishi Chen nodded with satisfaction and immediately said, "No problem, no problem.

Senior brother sees you are talented and intelligent; as long as you choose the right technique, you will surely advance to Wu Jiang next year."

"I'd believe you if I were a ghost!" Facing Facing Cang Luo quickly said, "Thank you for your auspicious words, senior brother. Please offer your guidance."

"Hmm." Liang Zhishi Chen nodded and whispered, "Senior brother will secretly tell you; this is my experience accumulated over many years...

It is not written in the 'Overview of Techniques,' so do not tell anyone else."

"Hmm, hmm, I will absolutely not say a word." Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded in cooperation, wondering what scheme he was up to.

Liang Zhishi Chen continued, "Mental methods are for the internal, martial arts for the external; prioritize the internal before the external.

The power of martial arts is often determined by the mental method, so choosing a mental method suitable for oneself is the top priority."

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded and quickly took note.

Seeing Facing Facing Cang Luo listening attentively, Liang Zhishi Chen was very satisfied and continued, "Although the primal force in nature has no attribute distinctions, mental methods and martial arts do, and they will transform the non-attribute primal force absorbed into the Lower Dantian into primal force matching the mental method's attribute.

Different attributes of mental methods have different characteristics.

For example, a Yang-attribute mental method: a martial artist cultivating a Yang-attribute mental method will have a larger and more substantial reserve of primal force compared to those cultivating other attributes.

And the characteristic of Yang-attribute primal force is extreme intensity; like Fire-attribute primal force, it will scorch the target.

If paired with a Yang-attribute martial art as well, the power will be extraordinary!"

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded; techniques actually have attribute distinctions. Why was this not seen in the 'Overview of Techniques'? But it sounded quite reasonable.

Facing Facing Cang Luo asked, "Senior brother, although the Yang attribute seems very strong, surely it has no weaknesses?"

Hearing Facing Facing Cang Luo's question, Liang Zhishi Chen felt slightly awkward but immediately put on a profound expression.

He said, "Junior brother is indeed intelligent. The Yang-attribute technique does have a weakness: its consumption is the greatest."

After a pause, he continued, "However, junior brother need not worry; there are also Fire-attribute techniques to choose from. The power of the Fire attribute is second only to the Yang attribute, but the consumption is significantly reduced.

Hmm, if you still find the consumption too high, then choose a Water-attribute mental method; it has almost no consumption.

Because it recovers while consuming, though relatively speaking, its power is the weakest..."

Listening to him explain in detail, Facing Facing Cang Luo gained much benefit and learned that techniques have nine attributes in total.

They are Yang, Yin, Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Wood, Thunder, and Space.

Among them, the Water attribute can transform into the Ice attribute upon reaching a certain level, and the Earth attribute can transform into the Metal attribute; after transformation, the power increases dramatically.

Each attribute has strengths and weaknesses; for instance, the Thunder attribute and Space attribute techniques, which Facing Facing Cang Luo cares about most, are no different.

Among them, Thunder-attribute techniques have power comparable to the Fire attribute, the speed of circulating the primal wheel and mobilizing primal force is the fastest, and martial arts excel in speed, but the consumption is also very high.

The characteristic of Space-attribute martial arts is that they are ever-changing and unpredictable, but the cultivation difficulty is the highest, and the consumption is also considerable.

The other attributes are also good; for example, Earth-attribute techniques have a primal force reserve comparable to the Yang attribute, and even more substantial. After cultivation, body strength is extremely high, and martial arts excel in power and defense.

The Wind attribute can make the body more agile, the primal force recovery speed is faster, and martial arts focus on lightness and agility.

Regarding this, Facing Facing Cang Luo thought of the various classes in games; isn't cultivating the Wind attribute just like an assassin?

Earth-attribute is a warrior tank? Interesting...

Just as Facing Facing Cang Luo was about to ask which thunder-attribute and space-attribute techniques were available, he heard Liang Zhishi Chen suddenly change the subject. He said: "Although there are many technique attributes, a martial artist generally only cultivates one attribute.

Because a martial artist's energy is limited, and the mental methods and primeval force of different attributes are mutually exclusive.

Also, the Lower Dantian's space is limited, and the primeval force stored is also limited — what matters is the quantity of primeval force, not its variety."

At this point, Liang Zhishi Chen paused and continued: "However, there are exceptions. For example, someone who primarily cultivates a fire-attribute mental method will also cultivate a wood-attribute mental method.

Because wood generates fire, these two mental methods are compatible, and by doing so one can absorb some wood-attribute primeval force to keep on hand for healing wounds.

It's just that not everyone is suited to cultivating multiple attribute techniques at the same time."

At this point, Liang Zhishi Chen looked at Facing Facing Cang Luo with an expectant face, thinking: Ask me, ask me quickly what attribute technique you're suited to cultivate.

I'll definitely tell you, I just need to charge a little fee...

Facing Facing Cang Luo still didn't know that Liang Zhishi Chen's purpose in telling him so much knowledge was for the upcoming paid knowledge, and only felt that the people of the Primeval Martial Continent were really friendly, not keeping anything to themselves.

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded and said: "I see, different attribute techniques have different uses.

Then Senior Brother, could you see if I'm suited to cultivating two different attribute techniques?

If not, then which one would be better for me to cultivate?"

After Facing Facing Cang Luo finished speaking, Liang Zhishi Chen was immediately delighted, rubbing his hands and laughing: "Easy to say, easy to say. Senior Brother will definitely tailor a technique for you and guide your cultivation, letting you become an Emperor or a Sovereign.

It's just, it's just that Senior Brother me has been a bit strapped for cash lately. Could Junior Brother lend me five low-grade primeval stones?"

After saying this, Liang Zhishi Chen looked at Facing Facing Cang Luo with deep affection, waiting for Facing Facing Cang Luo's answer...

Facing Facing Cang Luo was stunned. Holy crap, so you've taken a fancy to the five low-grade primeval stones of a newly initiated disciple.

Damn, no wonder you're so enthusiastic. Look at you going on and on like this — you've probably scammed quite a few people, haven't you?

Right, he said the "Technique Overview" didn't write these things — could it be that they tore them out? To show off their knowledge and scam newcomers?

Thinking of this, Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately refused, took two steps back, spread his hands and said: "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance, but Junior Brother me is penniless.

The five low-grade primeval stones I just received have already been exchanged for silver and sent back home to support my parents."

After saying this, Facing Facing Cang Luo ignored him and walked straight toward the bookshelf storing mental methods, planning to pick one himself.

And Liang Zhishi Chen, seeing Facing Facing Cang Luo so decisively refuse his proposal, did not get angry — this kind of thing he had long since become accustomed to.

Glancing at Facing Facing Cang Luo's back, he shook his head indifferently and turned to look for his next target.

"Hey, this Junior Brother, please stay. I see your bones are extraordinary — truly a martial arts prodigy not seen in a hundred years..."

Hearing Liang Zhishi Chen's words, Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately wore a speechless expression. Sure enough, his guess was right — this guy really was scamming people!