Chapter 172: Earth Fiend Divine Ability

Yan Buji picks up a jade tablet on the stall and asks, "Daoist fellow, what kind of technique does this record?"

The vendor looks at Yan Buji twice, smiles, and says, "You have good eyes, fellow Daoist; this is one of the Seventy‑Two Earth Fiend Divine Abilities, the Wall‑Opening Divine Ability…"

"Huh?!"

The vendor chuckles, "The high‑fidelity imitation of the Wall‑Opening Divine Ability, the Splitting Technique!"

Yan Buji, speechless, says, "How much does this technique cost?"

"Not expensive, three hundred Spiritual Stones."

Yan Buji immediately puts down the jade tablet, "Then it truly isn't meant for me."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't think it's pricey, fellow Daoist. The Seventy‑Two Earth Fiend Divine Abilities are only glimpsed by Nascent Soul Great Achievers, and this Splitting Technique indeed originates from one of those…"

"If it's truly that precious, are you willing to sell it?" Yan Buji sneers.

"Hehe, my goods really sell themselves. But if you truly want it, we can negotiate a bit," the vendor forces a laugh.

Yan Buji raises an eyebrow, "Does your Splitting Technique have any cultivation requirements?"

"Well…"

"You also have to think of us wandering cultivators; buying it and not being able to practice is just wasteful, right? Moreover, opening a shop without any honesty—looks like you're not cut out for business," Yan Buji shakes his head.

The vendor sighs, "Fine, you have a point. This Splitting Technique has an unusual lineage; it's a high‑fidelity version of one of the Seventy‑Two Divine Abilities, and the minimum cultivation requirement is that one must be in the Foundation Establishment Stage."

Yan Buji's face twitches, and he immediately thinks of getting up and leaving.

Foundation Establishment Stage?

Does that mean I have to wait until the Year of the Monkey and the Month of the Horse?

"If that's the case, why don't you go find those senior cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage and give them a look?"

"You think I have no ideas? Then I still couldn't sell it," the vendor says helplessly.

"So you…," Yan Buji says, looking puzzled.

"There's no choice. I urgently need Spiritual Stones, otherwise I might as well keep them in my pocket to gather dust."

Yan Buji waves his hand, "Alright then, I wish you a quick sale of that Splitting Technique."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't you see? This Splitting Technique is strong; the description says that after mastering it you won't reach the level of a Divine Ability that can split a mountain with a single finger, but it easily dispels some simple techniques, which is still useful!"

"I'm not even in the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"....."

Should have known not to ask about the cultivation requirement!

The vendor looks forlorn, Yan Buji sighs, rolls his eyes, "Fine, then I'll also take these jade tablets, three hundred Spiritual Stones."

"Aren't you being excessive? These are at least exquisite techniques, not commonly seen…"

"Who knows where you got them from; I'd still have to bear the risk."

"No, no, add a bit more!"

"Three hundred fifty."

"Five hundred!"

"Four hundred."

"Deal!"

Yan Buji puts away the jade tablets, glances at the vendor a few times, then turns and leaves.

This vendor's background is not small; he carries at least three Accumulation Devices on his person, and his cultivation is not weak—he's actually in the Lianqi Fourth Layer.

But how can a Lianqi Fourth Layer cultivator have so many technique manuals?

Yan Buji ponders for a moment, but doesn't intend to probe further.

The person's origin has little to do with him, and besides he has urgent matters now.

After returning to his residence, Yan Buji takes out the jade tablets he bought and begins to examine them one by one.

"That cultivator's background is indeed impressive; he even has a Bee‑Edge Shield?" Yan Buji exclaims in surprise.

The Bee‑Edge Shield technique is a type of Spiritual Shield; most cultivators learn a Spiritual Shield to protect themselves, but the defensive effect varies greatly depending on the cultivation technique used.

This particular Bee‑Edge Shield technique is extremely rare; it can protect the spirit while also safeguarding the spiritual consciousness, and as long as one stays within the Bee‑Edge Shield, attacks on the spiritual consciousness are repelled.

Yan Buji now has no way to speak of offensive or defensive capabilities concerning spiritual consciousness; it all relies on his Martial Dao Profound Skill foundation, which gives his spiritual consciousness greater depth than ordinary cultivators.

"This is essential," Yan Buji says after a few glances, confirming that the Spiritual Shield construction within the Bee‑Edge Shield is highly profound, and decides to cultivate it.

Immediately, Yan Buji looks at the other two jade tablets.

One is a fire‑attribute Sculpting Fire Technique, the other is a wood‑attribute Entwining Wood Snake.

The Sculpting Fire Technique, according to its description, is a high‑end skill that manipulates flames; the higher the quality of one's Spiritual Fire, the better the effect, but the drawback is that this high‑end skill consumes spiritual consciousness heavily.

The Entwining Wood Snake is simpler; it creates several wood snakes using wood‑attribute mana, which can emerge from underground shadows, fitting Yan Buji's need to entangle enemies.

"I won't practice the Sculpting Fire Technique for now; without abundant Spiritual Fire I have no reason to waste that effort."

Thinking that, Yan Buji sits down and begins to comprehend these two techniques.

Previously, Yan Buji had no confidence he could fully grasp these two techniques, but with the Golden Foil Pattern's aid, at worst his spiritual consciousness would just be a bit more hollow.

Seven consecutive days.

Having successfully learned the two techniques, Yan Buji feels his arsenal has grown considerably; although it doesn't grant a one‑strike kill, it should be sufficient against ordinary cultivators.

After resting two days, Yan Buji returns to the arena.

Using Huang Hao's name, Yan Buji wins nine consecutive battles in three days, simultaneously exposing his Lianqi Fourth Layer cultivation, drawing the covert attention of many cultivators.

Yet this is still a pinch when it comes to ranking.

The leaderboard lists only the top fifty; even with thirteen straight victories, Yan Buji still lacks the qualification to enter, unless he proactively challenges a listed cultivator and gets defeated, which is the fastest way to appear on the list.

But that would be too ostentatious.

Yan Buji's current role as Huang Hao is not that of a fame‑seeker; in each duel his demeanor matches someone who simply wants to spar with fellow cultivators. If he now showed a desire to climb the rankings, he would invite jealousy and needless trouble.

Besides, his target is those cultivators from foreign forces; they're all on the list, so if he can't get to them in a short time, there's no need to go provoking them first.

"Winner! Huang Hao!"

Another easy victory was secured; Yan Buji faced the cultivator below the arena, clasped his fists and laughed, "I accept your concession, Daoist friend."

"Huang Hao, I underestimated you. I thought that with you at Lianqi Fourth Layer and me at Lianqi Fifth Layer, soon reaching the mid‑stage peak of Lianqi, I could easily handle you, but your duel experience is indeed formidable!" The cultivator's face flushed red, and after clasping his fists he turned and left.

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow.

Freelance cultivators really are carefree after all.

What mid‑stage peak of Lianqi? Isn't that just almost Lianqi Sixth Layer? Is it really worth saying that?

"Huang Hao, impressive! You even won a cross‑realm battle!"

"Huang Hao, I have confidence in you; keep the record up and maybe you'll make the list too!"

Yan Buji clasped his fists and said, "Hahaha, dear Daoist friends, you flatter me. I'm here to spar with everyone, not to get on the list. If there are strong opponents, I will willingly concede defeat."

"Oh? Is that so?"

A young man disdainfully stepped onto the arena, and the referee beside him shouted, "Huang Zhou, will you continue to defend the arena?"

Yan Buji observed the aura emanating from the youth, realizing he was stronger than the cultivator earlier and should already be at Lianqi Sixth Layer.

Logically, a Lianqi Sixth Layer cultivator dealing with a Lianqi Fourth Layer should not find it troublesome, and Yan Buji, having just finished a battle with his magical power depleted, is even less of a match.

However, seeing that the opponent seemed prepared, Yan Buji couldn't help but clasp his fists and say:

"I am Huang Zhou; how should I address you, Daoist friend?"

"Hmph, I am Chen Song! Seeing that you've just been in a battle, obediently concede defeat and step down, otherwise don't let others say I bully the weak with my strength!"