Chapter 2: The Difficulty of Cultivation

If one sets aside the transmigrator's ambition for Longevity, a Lower Grade Dao Foundation is actually a decent choice.

Even if one constructs a Lower Grade Dao Foundation, as long as one does not seek out conflict, it is no problem for an ordinary cultivator to live for over two hundred years; this lifespan is even longer than the national destiny of some mortal kingdoms.

By then, I can marry another one hundred and eight wives, and life will be boundless joy.

Chen Ci's thoughts flashed by, and he hurriedly stopped his daydreaming, reflecting on himself three times.

Chen Ci, oh Chen Ci, you have already transmigrated to a xianxia world, how can you only marry one hundred and eight wives?

No, stop, what I mean is, the perspective must be even grander!

Why does he always find himself thinking that way without realizing it?

He, Chen, has an iron-willed backbone and is single-mindedly devoted to the Dao; this must be the influence of his predecessor's memories.

Chen Ci steadied his mind and began to organize his own Daoist cultivation methods and grand plan for cultivation.

This body originates from the He Mountain Sect, a major heterodox sect that holds quite a reputation in the borderlands, boasting that within its gates there are a thousand mountains and a thousand methods, and every method can reach the divine.

However, such words are best just listened to; although the He Mountain Sect has dozens of Golden Core True Persons and can be considered numerous and powerful, it does not possess a single True Person who has attained Longevity, so in the cultivation world, it barely has any name at all.

Yet even so, the Three Yin Qi-Eating method in Chen Ci's hands, which can barely construct a Dao Foundation, is a secret immortal sect method that would be fought over by many miscellaneous schools and rogue cultivators if it were outside.

In this world of cultivation, true method lineages are very difficult to obtain.

"The quality of my predecessor's Three Yin True Qi is poor; I must make plans early."

Chen Ci withdrew his gaze from the panel; to go further on the path of cultivation, he must at least cultivate Superior Grade True Qi, construct an Upper Grade Dao Foundation, and form an Upper Grade Golden Core.

The He Mountain Sect's fundamental technique, the *He Mountain Scripture*, surely contains corresponding methods, but these have nothing to do with Chen Ci, an Outer Sect Disciple, so the most urgent task is to find a higher-quality Qi-refining technique.

Either disperse all the Three Yin True Qi in his body and cultivate anew.

Or find a higher-level True Qi of the same origin to improve the quality.

These two paths are each harder to walk than the last.

Chen Ci scratched his head, having no clue at all; his predecessor was limited by cultivation and vision, so his understanding of this world was still too little. In this small patch of land in Changping County, his status as a He Mountain Sect Outer Transmission was already a top-tier lineage, and there was no hope of finding another Superior Grade technique.

Fortunately, the He Mountain Sect values artifacts over techniques; most of his skills lie in the Dharma Artifacts he refines, so even if he disperses his cultivation and starts over, he will not be without the power to protect himself.

"Practice first; as for the two Dharma Artifacts... the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag can be refined, but the Yin Horse Pagoda Lock should be forgotten."

The corner of Chen Ci's eye twitched; this Yin Horse Pagoda Lock is a dark, yin-filled chain, and each layer of Prohibition can control the souls of five Yin Horses. When linked together, it resembles the Iron Pagoda in mortal military formations, charging and crashing with no small power, but refining it requires using every means to torture a good horse, and only when the horse dies can it form a Yin soul, then it can succeed.

Research by predecessors of the He Mountain Sect found that the probability of forming a Yin soul when torturing a horse one has raised oneself is much higher, at least three times stronger than a common mortal horse.

It's a bit inhumane.

This Dharma Artifact is indeed good for bullying the weak, but it has little significance against experts; two layers of Prohibition are enough for transportation.

"Even with a sect and a lineage, it's this difficult; if I had transmigrated as a rogue cultivator or a mortal, how would I even play?"

Chen Ci muttered to himself: "Others start from a Golden Core, how is it that when it comes to me, not only is my technique inferior, but I also have to crawl and scramble from the very beginning."

"It is truly too difficult for me."

Sanyin Temple, main hall.

Niu Ji, GanYang, and Long Xianzhi had long been waiting in the hall, not knowing what their master had to instruct.

The three of them were once mountain bandits and great thieves; when they ran into the predecessor while out doing business, they were lucky not to die, and only then did they honestly take up the promising profession of Daoist acolytes at Sanyin Temple, not daring to have a shred of rebellious intent.

For one, all three had been terrified by the predecessor.

For another, being a dog for a cultivator is also quite sweet.

Moreover, the three of them remaining at Sanyin Temple was not without a longing for the immortal Dao and Longevity.

"Master!"

After Chen Ci took his seat, the three bowed and prepared to kneel, but he waved his hand to stop them: "I will keep it brief; who is going to deliver the tribute this year?"

The three were somewhat surprised, as in previous years their master never cared about these trivial matters.

Niu Ji, having followed Chen Ci the longest, gathered his courage and asked: "Does Master have other arrangements?"

"I have established Sanyin Temple for some years now, yet you three have still not achieved Zhoutian Consummation. Have you been slacking off in your daily practice, thinking that I, your master, have no means left?"

"The small ones dare not!"

The three were horrified and knelt together to beg for mercy.

Chen Ci reached into his sleeve, pulled out a talisman sword, and threw it on the ground: "Merit must be rewarded, and mistakes must be punished. If there is no one promising under my seat, and I have to worry about everything, what use are you? If something goes wrong with the tribute on the road, your dog lives cannot compensate for it. All of you, get up."

After a pause, Chen Ci continued: "This is a Three Yin Sword Talisman, containing three strands of my True Qi. Once activated, it can cut metal and break jade with ease. However, since you do not have True Qi, you must use Essence Refining to nurture it. Whoever goes to escort the tribute this year, take it for self-defense."

Upon hearing this, a fiery look appeared in the eyes of all three; the bitter chore of previous years had suddenly become a hot commodity, and they would have to fight hard for it.

"Additionally, write down all your mortal martial arts. I will organize the techniques for you. If you cannot achieve Zhoutian Consummation within ten years, you might as well go to the backyard to be used as fertilizer."

Chen Ci said indifferently: "Remember, Sanyin Temple does not keep idlers."

The three were startled upon hearing this, but judging by the tone, their master seemed to really want to cultivate them as Apprentices; did this not mean they also had a chance to step onto the immortal path?

What a massive stroke of fortune!

*Copper Armor Art*, *Dragon Elephant Art*, *Stone Lock Hunyuan Art*, *Black Tiger Saber*, *Wind-Chasing Sword*, *Land-Leaping Technique*.

That night, Chen Ci flipped through the basic mortal techniques before him, pondering something in his heart, and finally placed his gaze on the *Stone Lock Hunyuan Art* and the *Land-Leaping Technique*.

Cultivation in this world, although there are thresholds for aptitude and temperament, does not have the concept of spiritual roots. The distinction between immortal and mortal exists, but they are not isolated. The essence of cultivation is to sense spiritual Qi, refine True Qi, and refine Dharma Power.

A natural Dao seed like Chen Ci can directly cultivate True Qi, taking a step ahead of others, but if a mortal can practice from postnatal to innate, and open up the Zhoutian meridians, it is not impossible to sense spiritual Qi and step onto the Dao path.

Since arriving in this world, although Chen Ci inherited his predecessor's cultivation experience, it was not his own personal experience after all; not only were some memories blurry, but he also felt that some details were quite discrepant. Since he decided to abandon the Three Yin True Qi, he might as well start cultivating from the beginning, which could also be considered gaining a clearer understanding of this world's cultivation system.

"I am someone with a Dao Heart."

Chen Ci praised himself, patted the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag at his waist, and a strand of Black Sha flew out, grinding a huge bluestone in front of him into powder, leaving only two cyan stone locks.

He sensed it and estimated it consumed the True Qi of one of his Acupoints.

"No wonder there is a distinction between immortal and mortal. Even if a mortal expert practices to the peak, they only have a few hundred catties of strength in their gestures and can move ten zhang in three breaths over a short distance."

Chen Ci made a comparison: "But once True Qi is cultivated, one can easily have a thousand catties of strength in both arms, and not only are they impervious to mortal weapons, water, and fire, but various Dharma Artifacts, spells, and talismans have their own wonders. The difference in combat power is more than a hundredfold."

As long as True Qi is not exhausted, it is basically impossible for a cultivator to be killed by a mortal, but if the True Qi is exhausted, then it depends on the skills one has at hand; after all, a Qi-refining cultivator is still a mortal body.

Chen Ci took a breath, withdrew the True Qi throughout his body back into his Acupoints, and began to lift the stone lock relying solely on his physical strength.

Fansu Martial Arts have always started from tempering the physical body, sinews, and bones.

(End of this chapter)