Chapter 16: The Incomplete Technique

The Ningshin Jue, a Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier cultivation method, Wood attribute.

Moderate speed of Qi absorption, moderate speed of Qi wheel formation, slow speed of Qi wheel rotation. Has a calming and focusing effect; one full cycle of cultivation takes two ke.

“Not my style,” Cang Luo said casually.

The Guiyuan Jue, a Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier cultivation method, Water attribute.

Moderate speed of Qi absorption, fast speed of Qi wheel formation, moderate speed of Qi wheel rotation; one full cycle of cultivation takes three ke.

“This one neither,” Cang Luo shook his head.

Nengqi Jue, Huiyuan Jing, Jiuyao Shengong, Budong Jinshen Jue...

After careful selection, Cang Luo realized that Qi absorption speed, Qi wheel formation speed, Qi wheel rotation speed, and time required for one full cycle were the four parameters determining a cultivation method’s quality.

The first three values were slow, moderate, or fast; the fourth parameter’s values were one ke, two ke, three ke...

“Hmm, straightforward and clear. Though it’s only Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier, the name’s quite impressive.”

None of these were what Cang Luo wanted; he was searching for a Thunder attribute or Space attribute cultivation method.

The former was to find a way to charge his phone; the latter was to return to Earth—surely Space attribute had something to do with teleportation arrays?

He knew that even if he cultivated the Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier method to death, he could never decipher a teleportation array; even Senior Xuan, who had reached Wu Di’s realm, was still researching it.

But that didn’t stop his longing for Space attribute—whether in games or novels, any skill tied to Space was always incredibly powerful.

Only when Cang Luo was nearly finished browsing all the methods did he spot one Thunder attribute method; as for Space attribute methods, he hadn’t even seen a single wooden tablet.

As the disciple examining it stepped away, Cang Luo immediately leaned in and snatched up the wooden tablet to inspect it closely.

Leiqi Jue, a Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier cultivation method, Thunder attribute.

Moderate speed of Qi absorption, moderate speed of Qi wheel formation, fast speed of Qi wheel rotation; one full cycle of cultivation takes four ke.

Cang Luo exclaimed in surprise: “One full cycle takes an entire hour? That means if I cultivate this method to Warrior Second Layer, it’ll take twice as long as cultivating the Ningshin Jue?”

After hesitating, Cang Luo ultimately chose the Leiqi Jue, hoping it might help charge his phone; he memorized the name and headed toward the rack holding hand-to-hand combat techniques.

Standing at one end of the rack, Cang Luo saw a crowd of disciples gathered around a wooden tablet; he moved closer to see what technique could draw so many spectators.

Not only was the crowd large, they were whispering among themselves, and the wooden tablet was held in one disciple’s hand.

Cang Luo couldn’t see it, so he asked a nearby disciple: “Brother, what technique is this? Why is everyone standing here?”

The disciple he asked replied offhandedly: “It’s Fuhu Quan. Too hard to cultivate, so everyone’s hesitating whether to pick it.”

The name doesn’t sound impressive. Cang Luo asked again: “Could any brother read it out loud for this junior?”

As soon as Cang Luo finished speaking, the disciple holding the tablet read aloud: “Fuhu Quan, a Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier combat technique, Earth and Wind dual attributes.

High power, high consumption, high cultivation difficulty; when used, whirlwinds form on the fist surface, capable of tearing through the target’s skin...”

Cang Luo hadn’t expected combat techniques to have dual attributes—no wonder it attracted so much attention—but it wasn’t for him.

Cang Luo left the crowd and searched deliberately for a Thunder attribute combat technique.

After careful inspection, he finally grasped a wooden tablet inscribed with the three characters: Benlei Zhang.

Benlei Zhang, a Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier combat technique, Thunder attribute, moderate power, low consumption, moderate cultivation difficulty.

This palm technique is renowned for rapid consecutive strikes; when cultivated to minor completion, it can induce numbness in the target...

“Hmm, this one’s good. I’ll take it. Now only the movement technique remains.”

A few minutes later, Cang Luo selected a movement technique called Jifeng Bu.

He chose it quickly because most movement techniques were Wind attribute, and their descriptions showed little difference, so he picked one that looked pleasing.

After selecting all three methods, Cang Luo was about to leave when he noticed an outer disciple shaking his head in resignation as he hung a faded ancient book back onto the cultivation method rack.

Huh? Why is there a book here? Aren’t all the introductions on wooden tablets?

Cang Luo saw the disciple return the book and leave, even being mocked by a passing disciple.

Cang Luo’s curiosity flared; he walked over and picked it up to examine it.

The book’s cover bore four bold, imposing characters: “Meiti Shengong.” But that wasn’t the point.

The point was a smaller line beside it: “Earth-Rank Upper-Tier cultivation method.” Yet the font and color of those characters looked like they’d been added later.

How could an Earth-Rank Upper-Tier cultivation method be here?

And it was a paper manuscript, not a wooden tablet—was it misplaced? Or fake?

Cang Luo, puzzled, opened the first page; the technique’s description didn’t seem fake.

It was a method that consumed one’s essence and flesh to temporarily expand the dantian, increasing Qi and strengthening the Qi wheel; Yang attribute, compatible with most cultivation methods, consisting of nine levels.

Activation instantly boosts combat power several-fold, but the cost is immense.

While activating Meiti Shengong, the body suffers damage: skin cracks, burns, even internal organ hemorrhaging; prolonged rest and healing are required after battle.

Cang Luo understood: this was a tactic that killed a thousand but lost eight hundred of oneself.

But why was it placed among Yellow-Rank Lower-Tier methods, untouched by anyone? Was it too hard to cultivate?

He turned to the next page: the first-level cultivation method, presented in text and a diagram of meridians and acupoints.

It detailed which meridians to traverse, which acupoints to pause at, how long to remain there, and precautions—all clearly marked with dashed lines on the meridian-acupoint diagram.

It concluded: “First-level cultivation requires seventy-seven full cycles; upon activation, the cultivator’s overall combat power doubles.”

Warning: If the cultivator’s constitution is average, do not exceed fifteen minutes of activation, or meridians may snap and the body explode.

“The cost is indeed high, but surely not enough to deter everyone? As long as timing is calculated, it could be a perfect counterattack move!”

Cang Luo was tempted, growing more puzzled why no one had taken it—until he turned to the page containing the second-level method and understood why.

The manuscript, beginning from page five, was stained with ink—apparently seeping upward from the bottom pages.

The contents of the final eight levels were completely illegible, blackened beyond recognition; Cang Luo guessed the previous owner had accidentally dropped it into an inkstone.

“Sigh!” Cang Luo sighed, feeling regretful—this manuscript had clearly been here a long time.

Veteran disciples knew: only new recruits would even pick it up.

Cang Luo returned the manuscript to its place, noticing several disciples glancing at him with knowing smiles—as if saying: You thought you found treasure?

Cang Luo gave them an awkward smile, indicating he’d never seen it before, then prepared to leave.

But at that moment, Cang Luo suddenly had a flash of insight.

The Yuanwu Continent couldn’t remove the stains on manuscripts—but Earth could.

With Earth’s advanced technology, it could perfectly restore it!

The thought made his heart pound rapidly.

Though the cost of using this method was high, he didn’t have to cultivate it himself.

He could sell it!

This was an Earth-Rank Upper-Tier cultivation method! Above it was only Heaven-Rank—surely it was priceless.

But how could he take it?

Cang Luo saw another steward passing by and stepped forward to whisper: “Brother Steward, why is this ‘Meiti Shengong’ placed here? Can I claim it?”

As soon as Cang Luo spoke, many disciples turned to stare, their eyes filled with disbelief and mockery.

One disciple laughed: “Is this guy mentally impaired? He actually thinks this is Earth-Rank Upper-Tier?”

“Exactly! Can’t he see those six characters ‘Earth-Rank Upper-Tier’ were added later? Even if it were real—

a mostly incomplete cultivation method isn’t worth cultivating, let alone if it’s fake—qi deviation could kill you.

I bet he’s read too many tales of cliffside treasure hunts. Haha.”

“Truly not worth cultivating. Though the first level lets you fight one or two levels higher, the post-battle recovery requires massive time and pills—worthless!”

“Better to diligently cultivate a normal method than waste time on this broken one. This guy’s Dao heart is unstable—his future achievements are already clear.”

The surrounding disciples voiced their opinions; the steward shared the same view.

He told Cang Luo: “This manuscript was left here for sale by an outer disciple over a year ago.

Many have looked, but no one’s ever bought or cultivated it. Are you going to?”

Cang Luo ignored the gossip and asked directly: “How much?”

The steward said: “The disciple originally wanted a hundred low-grade Qi stones, but no one bought it, so he lowered the price repeatedly.

Finally, he said anyone who offers a price can have it—so you decide.”

Cang Luo’s heart leapt; he ventured: “One... one low-grade Qi stone?”

“One?” The steward blinked, amused, glancing at Cang Luo as if thinking: You really dare to offer that?

He’d planned to refuse, but then remembered this manuscript had sat here over a year—annoying and troublesome.

So he hesitated, then shrugged: “Fine. One low-grade Qi stone. Take it.”

Cang Luo was stunned—he’d expected the steward to exploit him like the previous one, Chen Zhishi, but the man agreed without haggling.

Disciples who overheard the exchange were shocked, suddenly wanting to buy it—even offering two low-grade Qi stones.

To them, though the incomplete method was useless, buying it for two—or even one—low-grade Qi stone wasn’t bad.

It could be used to trick others!

They hadn’t bought it before because the price was too high; as outer disciple Warriors, they had no spare money for useless items.

Seeing this, Cang Luo quickly pulled out one Qi stone and shoved it into the steward’s hand, then stuffed the “Meiti Shengong” into his robe and bolted out the door amid the crowd’s regretful stares.