Chapter 33: What Is Accumulation

The next day, after Yan Buji cultivated through the night and woke feeling refreshed, he turned and saw Rou Er off, then found Xiao Ran and gave a usual greeting.

"Nephew, did you sleep well yesterday?" Yan Buji asked.

Xiao Ran, still half‑asleep, was startled: "Huh? Uncle, I rested well yesterday, thank you, Uncle."

"Hmm, what do you want to do during this time?" Yan Buji asked with a smile.

"Um... little nephew, I want to go see Lingshan Academy."

"That..." Yan Buji was momentarily stunned.

It's not particularly hard to discuss, but what does Xiao Ran intend to do at Lingshan Academy?

"Do you want to study?"

"I just want to take a look," Xiao Ran said awkwardly.

Could it be because of Rou Er?

Yan Buji looked at him; it was clear Xiao Ran was hiding something, yet whether it was for Rou Er was uncertain.

Xiao Ran clasped his hands and said, "Uncle, that was just a passing joke; I know academies are hard to get into. For now I'll wander around the city, and I'll leave when the time comes."

"Nephew, don't think I'm nagging; you do have a place to go, it's just not the right time yet, right?"

"That's how it is."

Yan Buji nodded: "Very well, a good man aspires to the four directions. If you have a worthy destination, I sincerely rejoice for you. When you set out, you must inform me, otherwise I won't recognize you as my nephew! Here are three hundred taels of silver; take it and spend it."

Xiao Ran quickly waved his hand: "Uncle, how can this be..."

"Don't be polite. What relation do I have with Brother Xiao? Since Brother Xiao is gone, I am still your elder; I don't need this small amount of food and drink from you. Take it!" Yan Buji placed the silver note into his hand and laughed.

Xiao Ran inhaled deeply, clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Uncle."

"You're welcome; if you need anything, just come to me. In short, I have many acquaintances in Lin Shan Cheng, and if trouble arises I'll help you."

"Yes, I will certainly not cause you trouble."

Yan Buji watched Xiao Ran leave and did not interfere further.

He just felt that Xiao Ran's attitude toward him was unusually restrained today; could something I did yesterday have made him uneasy?

"Probably not. I've been benevolent enough to him; could this kid be overly scheming, thinking my kindness hides ulterior motives?" Yan Buji wondered.

Although he indeed was that kind of person, Xiao Ran didn't look like it.

If he truly were like me, then indeed one should be extra cautious.

Yan Buji didn't want to overdo it, so he assigned two household servants to follow him. Of course, these servants weren't specially trained; if Xiao Ran were careful he could notice them, but the point was for Xiao Ran to notice.

Yan Buji told the servants to keep an eye on Xiao Ran, to step in if trouble arose, and otherwise ignore everything else.

As for whether Xiao Ran would cause trouble, if he discovered the servants and had his own plans, these two servants would likely be unable to keep up with him.

Yan Buji didn't want to create more incidents, but the necessary statements still had to be made.

Xiao Ran left Yan Residence and wandered around the city.

He hadn't gone far before noticing two Yan Residence servants trailing him, and his heart sank: "Uncle even sent people to follow me?"

【Hehe, kid, your uncle isn't a harmless guy; perhaps he's keeping an eye on you to see what motives you have for coming to the Yan family.】

Xiao Ran laughed, "If that's the case, why would Uncle send such a layperson? He knows my father was once a warrior. Even if I weren't, does he lack insight?"

【If you think that way, aren't you falling right into the mental trap they've set for you? What if they intend you to think so?】

Xiao Ran's face darkened; recalling that Uncle had truly shown no prejudice toward him yesterday and today, openly and covertly giving him face, and now was willing to part with a large sum of money, how could he be such a scheming person?

【Old thing, I know the saying that hearts are hidden behind the belly, but I have nothing that Uncle needs; yet Uncle has already been generous enough to me, so don't speculate!】

【Hmph!】

The old thing in his mind remained silent, evidently unable to find any flaw in Yan Buji.

The fact was indeed so: Xiao Ran now had nothing, yet brazenly sought refuge with the Yan family; Yan Buji didn't dismiss him but treated him courteously, which already showed he was a good person.

Even if he truly practiced some demonic or evil cultivation...

Um...

【Old thing, what internal skill does Uncle actually practice? You say some aspects feel familiar—what's that about?】

Although Xiao Ran thought Uncle wasn't a bad person, practitioners of demonic or evil arts usually need to kill to cultivate, right?

Maybe not, but at least one should investigate thoroughly.

【Hmm... it's somewhat like the Demonic Blood Unhuman Scripture, a heretical cultivator technique that can amplify spiritual perception through qi blood and magical power, and even possess three different Accumulations simultaneously.】

【Accumulation?】

【You don't know what cultivators rely on against enemies, do you?】

【Isn't it the legendary flying swords, magical treasures, gourds, and the like?】

【Those things do exist; do you know how flying swords and magical treasures originate?】

【How do they come about?】

【Accumulation, built up over time.】

【The character 'Accumulation' can be described by the sayings 'piling earth builds a mountain, piling water forms a deep pool.' Cultivators rely on their own magical power to fuse Spiritual Material, first creating a framework blueprint within their bodies, then filling that blueprint with piece‑by‑piece Accumulations, which eventually become flying swords, magical treasures, and various other wondrous implements. As for cultivation methods, none directly point to the pinnacle of the immortal path; even the great ancient sects have left countless cultivation methods for disciples to choose. By gradually combining and arranging them, a cultivator refines a brand‑new technique, breaks through a realm, then in the new realm selects other methods to further perfect their art, continuously advancing forward!】

【So it means each cultivator can only follow their own cultivation method; one can borrow others' methods to integrate into one's own, but it is never suitable for large‑scale propagation or practice?】

【Hehe, that's right, so you think a cultivator can rely on a single supreme technique to reach the ultimate peak? In fact not; no matter how gifted you are, cultivation depends on gathering various techniques, constantly tweaking them to refine your magical power and break through realms. During this, one must also refine external objects into Accumulations, using them to adjust one's cultivation and combat implements.】

【For cultivators, Accumulation is extremely important; you can think of an Accumulation as a fragment. Only when countless Accumulations 'pile up' together, combined with your own understanding of cultivation and continual tweaking, can you achieve the desired function.】

【These Accumulations that 'pile up' become known as Accumulation Devices, which are divided into three major categories: those that aid cultivation, those for combat, and Exotic Accumulation Devices. An ordinary cultivator in the Qi‑refining stage can rarely have more than two Accumulation Devices, and only a prodigy of extraordinary talent at the peak of Qi refinement could choose an extra one. A single technique that can simultaneously possess three Accumulation Devices—just imagine, that's a step ahead, literally step by step!】

Xiao Ran found a teahouse, sat down, ordered a pot of tea, and thought for a long time.

【So among cultivators, the number of Accumulation Devices is the proof of strength?】

【There are no absolutes; occasionally a few top‑tier masters specialize in a single Accumulation Device. But orthodox cultivation works this way: to advance, each minor realm breakthrough requires another technique to link with your current method; only when you reach a major realm breakthrough must you fully integrate all ten layers of techniques to achieve completeness. To acquire other techniques, one either trades with others, joins a major sect with ample resources, or resorts to cunning theft, which demands continuously refining Spiritual Material into Accumulations and then into devices. The higher the quality of Spiritual Material, the more intricate and exquisite the Accumulation, and the stronger the Accumulation Device. From one to five they are called Common‑Transformation Accumulation Devices; from six to nine, Celestial‑Transformation Accumulation Devices. Most of these devices carry the cultivator's unique ideas and creativity; generally, even if others refine them, their power is greatly reduced.】