Chapter 15: Choosing a Technique

Unprovoked kindness is either deceit or theft!

Cang Luo immediately grew wary upon seeing the clerk approaching with a smile, but one does not strike a smiling face, and even if he wanted to, he couldn’t win.

So Cang Luo also bowed warmly in return and said: “Greetings, Elder Clerk. I’ve just joined the sect today and came to collect a cultivation technique.”

“By the way, may I ask your name, Elder Clerk?”

No sooner had Cang Luo finished speaking than the clerk’s face lit up even more; he waved his hand and said: “Don’t flatter me, don’t flatter me—I’m surnamed Chen. Just call me Elder Chen.”

“Oh, Elder Chen, good day. I’m Cang Luo, ‘Cang’ from ‘heaven’ and ‘Luo’ from ‘misfortune.’ May I ask what guidance you have for me?” Cang Luo bowed again in return.

The reason the clerk wanted Cang Luo to call him “elder brother” wasn’t out of politeness, but because all clerks of Xuantian Sect were recruited from former disciples who had either graduated successfully or been forced to leave.

In Earth terms, they were alumni who became staff members.

“Successful graduation” meant a sect disciple had to reach Martial Sovereign Level One before age thirty-six; at that point, the disciple could choose whether to stay or leave.

They could depart to develop independently, remain in the sect as an inner sect clerk to earn resources for cultivation, or be assigned by the sect to manage its properties across the Chu Kingdom.

“Forced graduation” meant being expelled if one failed to reach the required cultivation level within the allotted time.

Still, outstanding individuals might be retained as clerks: those above Martial Spirit level could serve as inner sect clerks, while those at Martial Master level could only serve as outer sect clerks.

In truth, given Cang Luo’s age and cultivation base, he should have been expelled long ago—but who could ignore his special status?

Cang Luo himself didn’t know about this; the office authorized to expel him was the Clerk’s Pavilion—but Yin Qingqing had resolved it.

It was Sect Master Xuan Hong’s order: to prevent Cang Luo’s Earth origin from being exposed and drawing unwanted attention.

He specifically had Yin Qingqing use her “private authority” to protect Cang Luo, making others believe he’d merely used connections to avoid expulsion…

The clerk pointed to the three rows of bookshelves behind him and smiled: “Young Brother Cang, there are one hundred and sixty-nine Grade-Yellow Lower-Tier techniques available here, collected by the sect over millennia.”

Among them: thirty-nine heart methods, eighty-seven fist and foot techniques, and forty-three body movement techniques.

“Have you decided yet, Young Brother?”

After the clerk finished speaking, Cang Luo stared blankly and muttered to himself: “Damn, so many apps… no, so many techniques.”

Cang Luo hadn’t expected even the lowest-grade techniques for outer sect disciples to number so many—how many would higher tiers have?

If I took them to Earth, wouldn’t I become a billionaire in minutes?

“Huh? What dialect is that?” the clerk asked, puzzled.

“Oh, my hometown—a small place called Earth. A bit far away.” Cang Luo brushed it off casually.

The clerk nodded: “I see. By the way, Young Brother, have you decided which technique to choose?

Choosing the right technique for yourself can double your progress.”

Cang Luo nodded, fully agreeing with his words.

Indeed, with over a hundred techniques, there must be clear differences in quality—under such circumstances, he needed an elder’s guidance.

At that moment, Cang Luo recalled Li Haoran’s advice: just mention his name and the clerk would help. But Cang Luo wouldn’t owe Li Haoran a favor over something this trivial.

Cang Luo bowed respectfully: “I have no preparation, and I know nothing about techniques. Could Elder Brother offer me some guidance?”

Hearing Cang Luo admit complete ignorance of techniques, the clerk nodded approvingly and said: “Of course, of course.

Elder Brother sees you’re handsome and gifted—if you pick the right technique, you’ll surely advance to Martial General next year.”

I’d believe that if pigs could fly! Cang Luo quickly replied: “Thank you for your kind words, Elder Brother—please guide me.”

“Hmm.” The clerk nodded and whispered: “I’ll tell you something secret, something not written in the ‘Technique Overview’—don’t tell anyone else.”

“Yeah, yeah, I won’t say a word.” Cang Luo nodded along, wondering what trick he was pulling.

The clerk continued: “Heart methods govern the inside, techniques govern the outside—start with the heart method, then the technique.

A technique’s power is often determined by the heart method, so choosing the right heart method is the most critical matter.”

Cang Luo nodded and quickly took note.

Seeing Cang Luo listen intently, the clerk was deeply satisfied and went on: “Though primordial energy in nature has no attribute, heart methods and techniques do—and they convert the attributeless primordial energy absorbed into the dantian into energy matching the heart method’s attribute.

Master Chen saw Cang Luo listening intently and was greatly satisfied, then continued: “Although elemental force in nature has no attribute, cultivation methods and martial techniques do, and they transform the attributeless elemental force absorbed into the dantian into elemental force matching the method’s attribute.”

For example, Yang-attribute heart methods: cultivators who train them store more and denser primordial energy than those using other attributes.

Yang-attribute primordial energy is extremely intense, burning targets like Fire-attribute energy.

If paired with a Yang-attribute technique, the power becomes tremendous!”

Cang Luo nodded. So techniques had attributes too—why wasn’t this mentioned in the ‘Technique Overview’? But it sounded reasonable.

Cang Luo asked: “Elder Brother, Yang-attribute seems powerful, but it must have weaknesses, right?”

Hearing the question, the clerk hesitated slightly, then immediately put on a profound expression.

He said: “Young Brother, you’re sharp indeed. Yang-attribute techniques do have a weakness—they consume the most energy.”

He paused, then added: “But don’t worry, Young Brother—there’s also Fire-attribute techniques. Their power ranks just below Yang, but their consumption is much lower.

Hmm, if you still find that too high, choose Water-attribute heart methods—they consume almost nothing.

Because they restore energy even as they use it, though their power is the weakest…”

Cang Luo listened attentively, gaining much insight—he now knew techniques had nine attributes.

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

Water-attribute techniques, when cultivated to a certain level, could transform into Ice-attribute; Earth-attribute could transform into Metal-attribute—both transformations greatly increased power.

Each attribute had pros and cons; even the ones Cang Luo cared most about—Thunder and Space—were no exception.

Thunder-attribute techniques matched Fire-attribute in power, had the fastest energy circulation and mobilization speed, and their techniques excelled in speed—but they also consumed heavily.

Space-attribute techniques were unpredictable and elusive, but the hardest to cultivate and also consumed significantly.

The other attributes were decent too: Earth-attribute techniques stored primordial energy comparable to Yang-attribute, even denser, and greatly strengthened the body—techniques focused on strength and defense.

Wind-attribute enhanced agility and accelerated energy recovery; its techniques emphasized lightness and speed.

Cang Luo thought of game classes: wasn’t Wind-attribute like a rogue?

Earth-attribute like a warrior-tank? Interesting…

Cang Luo was about to ask which Thunder and Space techniques were available when the clerk suddenly changed tone: “Though there are many attributes, a martial cultivator usually trains only one.

Because martial cultivators have limited energy, and different attributes’ heart methods and primordial energy repel each other.

Also, the dantian has limited space and storage capacity—primordial energy should be abundant, not mixed.”

Here, the clerk paused, then continued: “But there are exceptions—for example, those who primarily train Fire-attribute heart methods often also train Wood-attribute.

Because Wood generates Fire; these two methods are compatible, allowing them to absorb some Wood-attribute energy to use for healing.

Still, not everyone can handle training multiple attributes simultaneously.”

At this point, the clerk looked at Cang Luo expectantly, thinking: Ask me! Ask me what attribute suits you!

I’ll tell you—just need a small fee…

Cang Luo had no idea the clerk’s goal was to sell him paid knowledge—he just thought people from this martial world were genuinely friendly, not hoarding secrets.

Cang Luo nodded: “I see—different attributes have different functions.

Could Elder Brother tell me if I’m suited to train two different attributes?

If not, which one would be best for me?”

As soon as Cang Luo finished, the clerk’s face lit up; he rubbed his hands and grinned: “Of course, of course! Elder Brother will personally select the perfect technique for you and guide your cultivation—you’ll become Emperor, become Immortal!

But… but Elder Brother is short on funds right now—could Young Brother lend me five lower-grade primordial stones?”

Saying this, the clerk gazed at Cang Luo with heartfelt expectation, waiting for his answer…

Cang Luo froze. Damn, so you’re after the five lower-grade primordial stones new disciples get?

You’ve got to be kidding me—no wonder you were so eager. All that spiel—you’ve probably scammed plenty already?

Wait, those details he said weren’t in the ‘Technique Overview’—did they tear those pages out to sell knowledge to newcomers?

Realizing this, Cang Luo immediately refused and stepped back two paces, palms open: “Thank you for your guidance, Elder Brother, but I have no money at all.

The five lower-grade primordial stones I just received were exchanged for silver taels and sent home to support my parents.”

After speaking, Cang Luo ignored him and walked straight toward the bookshelf storing techniques, determined to choose on his own.

The clerk, seeing Cang Luo’s firm refusal, showed no anger—he’d seen this countless times.

He glanced at Cang Luo’s back, shrugged indifferently, and turned to find his next target.

“Hey, Young Brother, wait a moment—I see your bones are extraordinary, a martial genius born once in a hundred years…”

Hearing the clerk’s words, Cang Luo stared blankly. Sure enough—he’d guessed right. This guy was scamming people!

Cang Luo heard this from Elder Chen and was left speechless—just as he’d suspected, this guy was trying to swindle people!