Chapter 3: Cultivating Techniques, Teaching Qiusheng and Wencai a Lesson

After forcing back Old Master Ren, the group returned to the righteous manor safe and sound. Uncle Nine immediately led Qiusheng and Wencai to clear out a few guest rooms; Ren Fa and Tingting each got one, and Zhang Cheng also received one.

Having just encountered a hopping vampire tonight, Uncle Nine was worried about Qiusheng's safety, so he kept him at the righteous manor as well.

Zhang Cheng paid them no mind; he returned to his room first to claim the two hundred merit points from his mission reward.

He immediately exchanged these two hundred merit points for the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra, which also came with the Spirit Refining Art.

"Host: Zhang Cheng"

"Profession: Daoist"

"Level: None"

"Strength: 1.2"

"Constitution: 1.1"

"Agility: 1"

"Intelligence: 1"

"Cultivation Method: Valley Clothes Heart Sutra Lv0 (0/10) (↑)"

"Spirit Refining Art Lv0 (0/10) (↑)"

"Equipment: Yellow Dharma Robe (1/1), Century-Old Peach Wood Sword (0/0)"

"Merit: 20"

Seeing the upgrade symbol on the cultivation methods, Zhang Cheng checked them. The system prompted that he could use merit points to speed up his cultivation rate tenfold, but it could not instantly increase experience.

This left Zhang Cheng feeling slightly regretful, as he would have to cultivate diligently if he wanted to become stronger.

However, he was also quite satisfied; at least speeding up cultivation was like using a cheat. He didn't think too much about it and immediately opened the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra to study. His peach wood sword had already lost its magical power, and the only thing he had to ward off evil was the dharma robe on his body.

Since he himself possessed no magical power, now that he had a method of cultivation, he naturally had to seize the time to refine True Qi and then learn the Spirit Refining Art. This way, he could convert True Qi into magical power, thereby gaining the ability to protect himself.

Zhang Cheng immediately used his merit points to activate the acceleration. As he examined the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra, his mind felt exceptionally clear; he understood the meaning of the classical Chinese text after just a few glances.

He then followed the instructions in the Heart Sutra and began to cultivate. Under the enhancement of the merit points, in just one hour, he had brought the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra to the introductory level. Next, he needed to cultivate the Spirit Refining Art.

Zhang Cheng did not hesitate and immediately added his final ten merit points to the Spirit Refining Art.

Outside the room, Uncle Nine walked over personally, intending to call Zhang Cheng to eat. They had left in such a hurry earlier that no one had finished their meal.

However, upon reaching Zhang Cheng's door, Uncle Nine immediately sensed something unusual. As a Maoshan disciple who had already cultivated magical power, he was extremely sensitive to fluctuations in magical energy.

Uncle Nine's brows furrowed slightly, and he immediately performed a technique to sense the source. He then whispered, "Eh, it seems to be the Spirit Refining Art? This is a technique that can be practiced after the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra; it is a genuine orthodox profound gate cultivation method."

Uncle Nine withdrew his magical power. He did not disturb Zhang Cheng and turned back to the main hall to invite Ren Fa and the others to eat.

Qiusheng immediately said, "Master, he's putting on quite the airs, isn't he? You went to call him and he didn't even come?"

Uncle Nine immediately scolded, "You're the only one with a loose tongue. Go get some food and keep it warm; Brother Zhang is currently practicing, he won't be finished for a while."

Seeing Qiusheng get scolded, Wencai stood to the side, winking and making faces.

Ren Fa smiled and invited Uncle Nine to take a seat, then pointed to a bowl of food and said, "Uncle Nine, come try this. This is a dish Tingting made; it's very delicious."

Uncle Nine immediately picked up a bite of the food, tasted it, and said, "Hmm, not bad. Miss Tingting is not only graceful and elegant, but she also has a talent for cooking. I wonder which young man will be lucky enough to have her later."

Wencai hurriedly said, "It would be best if it were me."

Hearing this, Uncle Nine glared at Wencai, who immediately lowered his head to eat. Ren Fa acted as if he hadn't heard anything and continued chatting happily with Uncle Nine.

Two hours later, Zhang Cheng finally cultivated the Spirit Refining Art to the first level, just reaching the introductory stage. He immediately converted the True Qi in his body into magical power and then infused it into the peach wood sword.

"Host: Zhang Cheng"

"Profession: Daoist"

"Level: None"

"Strength: 1.5"

"Constitution: 1.4"

"Agility: 1.3"

"Intelligence: 1.3"

"Cultivation Method: Valley Clothes Heart Sutra Lv1 (0/50)"

"Spirit Refining Art Lv1 (0/50)"

"Equipment: Yellow Dharma Robe (1/1),"

"Century-Old Peach Wood Sword (1/1)"

"Merit: 0"

Looking at the data, Zhang Cheng saw that the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra and Spirit Refining Art reaching the introductory level had actually increased his four attributes; the Valley Clothes Heart Sutra increased them by 0.1, and the Spirit Refining Art by 0.2.

Moreover, adding this one instance of evil-warding to the peach wood sword had exhausted all his magical power. He wondered if the number of charges on this peach wood sword could be stacked.

After cultivating for so long, Zhang Cheng felt hungry. Fortunately, Uncle Nine had left him some food. After finishing his dinner, he returned to his room to recover his True Qi and magical power.

Qiusheng, however, came to the courtyard outside Zhang Cheng's room with Wencai, carrying a jar. Wencai said with some worry, "Won't this cause trouble?"

Qiusheng said dismissively, "What are you afraid of? Master even said he has cultivated magical power. We're just playing a prank on him; nothing will go wrong."

He immediately lowered his head and said to the jar, "Little ghost, help me play a prank on the person in the room. If you succeed, I'll give you a basket of eggs."

Wencai muttered, "We still owe them a basket of eggs from last time."

Qiusheng hurriedly promised, "I'll make up for the last one too. If you don't help, you won't get the last one either."

A little ghost wearing a bellyband appeared and said, "You better remember that. If you lie to us again, we'll definitely teach you two a lesson."

Qiusheng hurriedly patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I definitely won't lie to you."

The little ghost snorted coldly, flew directly into the courtyard, and ran into Zhang Cheng's room. Zhang Cheng, who was in the middle of cultivating, felt a chill, which was most distinct amidst the warm, flowing energy around him.

Zhang Cheng's brows furrowed, and he thought: It seems there is a ghostly entity?

He did not open his eyes, but instead gathered his magical power and wiped it across his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw a little ghost. His heart trembled, but then he remembered he now possessed magical power—what was there to fear from a mere little ghost?

He immediately took off his dharma robe and lunged straight at the little ghost. Sensing the dangerous aura, the little ghost turned to run.

"Go!"

The Dharma robe fluttered, wrapping directly around the little ghost; the little ghost could not break free and lay on the ground.

Now that Zhang Cheng had magic power, he could independently control whether the Dharma robe used its evil-repelling power, so the robe merely trapped the little ghost without unleashing its evil-repelling force.

"Waa waa waa, I'm not playing anymore..."

Zhang Cheng shouted: "Shut up, who sent you here?"

The little ghost was startled and hurriedly said: "Qiusheng sent me here; he told me to play a prank on you, and then he would give me a basket of eggs."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng thought, well, you Qiusheng, you really are petty, then don't blame me.

He laughed: "You were definitely tricked by Qiusheng; bullying a little ghost like you is as easy as drinking water for me."

The little ghost was furious and said: "That Qiusheng, please let me go, Taoist, I want to teach him a lesson!"

Zhang Cheng smiled knowingly, put away the Daoist robe, and said: "Teach him a lesson for me while you're at it."

The little ghost ran outside the courtyard without revealing his form; seeing the sneaky Qiusheng and Wencai, he immediately called over other little ghosts from the ancestral hall, and a dozen little ghosts lifted Qiusheng and Wencai up.

Qiusheng said in terror: "Wah, little ghosts, what are you doing? Don't mess around!"

"Ah!"

Qiusheng and Wencai collided with each other, and both immediately clutched their crotches, grimacing in pain.

Zhang Cheng walked out of the courtyard and watched the little ghosts grab Qiusheng and Wencai, using sticks to beat the soles of their feet, causing the two to howl in agony.

Seeing Zhang Cheng, Wencai hurriedly shouted: "Asheng, stop watching, hurry and help!"

Zhang Cheng spread his hands and said: "These are the little ghosts from your own righteous manor, it's not convenient for me to intervene."

Qiusheng was helpless and had no choice but to shout loudly: "Master, help!"