Chapter 61: Desolate Mountain Spirit Land

Although this trip gave a clue about the Sanhua Tong Secret Method, the greater benefit is that Yan Buji now has a preliminary understanding of the cultivation world.

"Why does he think I'm a Lianqi Level 2? Could it be that although he can sense who is a cultivator, his perception of cultivator strength is limited to very low‑level cultivators?"

So my strength is close to that of a Lianqi Level 2 cultivator?

Indeed, breaking through the Tianren Realm is different; at least in the cultivation world I'm no longer considered a mortal.

As for that so‑called Lingyu and the Bai Cao Men Ancestor's relic, Yan Buji could figure it out with his toes that it's definitely Chen Li's scheme.

He gave himself ten years to break through to Lianqi Level 10 before he would bring him there, indicating that even if he's a mortal he isn't afraid of becoming a killer later; perhaps the Lingyu isn't as simple as he thinks.

Yan Buji pondered for a moment, and after returning to the Wang family, immediately hid in the basement, carefully considering his future plans.

First, cultivation is necessary; his own martial strength is insufficient when facing true cultivators.

Not to mention how wondrous the Sanhua Tong Secret Method is, merely skimming some of the things recorded in the Bai Cao Men scriptures left him utterly shocked.

Among them, it not only records the cultivation method of the Sanhua Tong Secret Method, but also various things called 'Spiritual Material', and what uses they have!

It mentions that Spiritual Materials are divided into one to Fivefold Transformation, called Mortal‑Transformation Spiritual Materials; from six to nine transformations, they are called Celestial Materials.

Even after a brief glance, Yan Buji knew these things are far beyond what a mortal can access; terms like increasing magical power or regrowing severed limbs are unimaginable.

More importantly, it also records several techniques specifically for cultivating Spiritual Materials!

"Spring Breeze Moistening Rain Technique, Trapped Insect Technique, Discriminating Earth Technique… the names are so straightforward."

These techniques mention a usage called 'magical power'; presumably cultivators cultivate their own magical power, which is conceptually similar to a common warrior's internal Qi.

However, magical power is evidently several levels above internal Qi, otherwise how could it aid the growth of Spiritual Materials?

These techniques may lack lethal power, yet they constitute a threshold for Yan Buji entering the cultivation world.

If I could also cultivate magical power…

Then, even pretending to be a disciple of some sect would give me some confidence.

Moreover, this scripture also mentions something called an 'Accumulation Device' that can assist cultivators in tending Spiritual Materials?

Accumulation Device?

Could it be the small wooden mallet I have in hand?

There isn't much information about the Accumulation Device, and Yan Buji only retained the term.

After reading the scripture, Yan Buji closed his eyes and organized the information:

"First, cultivators' magical power cultivation, Lianqi, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul each have ten levels of realms;"

"Second, some heavenly and earthly treasures used by cultivators are called Spiritual Materials and Celestial Materials;"

"The Accumulation Device, a tool used by cultivators, is unlikely to be only for simple care of Spiritual Materials; it may involve combat or assist cultivation;"

"Then there are techniques, with various profound effects."

Although I have organized it, it's still far from understanding every aspect of cultivators.

For example, at the simplest level, Yan Buji doesn't even know how to forge magical power, let alone claim his strength could match a Lianqi Level 2 cultivator; that would be empty.

If Chen Li were a Lianqi Level 1, even learning some of the Bai Cao Men basic combat techniques, I would probably be unable to…

Mortal martial arts have limits; the last time dealing with Liu Feng was only because Liu Feng was weak, it doesn't mean other cultivators aren't capable.

"I still need to find a way to forge magical power first; although I have Liu Feng's cultivation method, that thing is too hard to comprehend."

Yan Buji frowned, not intending to go to the Lingyu marked on the map right now.

Going there without knowing how to train is useless.

But there's no need to stay at the Wang family; before leaving, Yan Buji left a letter for Wang Fugui, telling him about his agreement with Chen Li, concealing a large amount of matters, and asking him to be careful with his words in the future so as not to expose his identity.

Considering his own face, Chen Li will most likely ignore the 'old friend' Wang Fugui's introduction of 'Ji Bu' to him.

Yan Buji let out a light laugh, but after leaving the Wang family he fell silent.

"Cultivation, paradoxically, turns the simplest things into the hardest to obtain. Yet since breaking through the Tianren Realm is roughly equivalent to a cultivator's Lianqi Level 1–2, it shows I'm not a mortal after all; surely some changes in certain places caused this shift in perception."

Is it the spirit?

Yan Buji's biggest change after breaking through the Tianren Realm is the spirit, allowing him to sense information left by cultivators; it indicates that entering the Lianqi Phase is inevitably linked to the spirit.

"Spiritual changes must be directly related to forging magical power, and cultivators seem to rely on the Lingqi that exists between heaven and earth. Just as warriors need abundant food to train, a cultivator's magical power cannot be water without a source."

Yan Buji thought.

"Then how does the spirit sense Lingqi and channel it into the body to generate magical power?"

So my most crucial task now is actually to sense the existence of Lingqi!

Yan Buji's eyes brightened; he left the capital and went to the outskirts, meditating beneath a tree.

After a night, Yan Buji maximized his spirit, but still did not perceive any unusual things in the surrounding environment.

"Could it be that, like Chen Li, even if I have talent in martial arts, cultivation also requires talent!"

Yan Buji's face darkened; he abandoned the accumulation of his first half‑life, endured countless hardships and years of scheming to enter the cultivation world, only to receive an answer that he lacks talent!

Cannot think like that!

Yan Buji shook off the despondency in his mind; if cultivation were truly that simple, cultivators would already be everywhere in the world!

Perhaps the location is unsuitable?

Humans being unsuitable is impossible, unless I meditate for ten years and still cannot feel Lingqi!

Yan Buji gritted his teeth and took out the map to look.

"It's actually not far from the capital?"

Yan Buji pressed his chin; the area near the capital is teeming with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, surely there must be cultivators traveling.

If there truly is a Lingyu, could they not discover it?

Strange, odd.

First go take a look, then decide.

Thinking so, Yan Buji set off toward the location indicated on the map.

Soon after.

He arrived at a mountain valley, seeing only that this place was desolate and uninhabited, overgrown with weeds, not even a single tree grew.

Huh?

This really differs greatly from the spiritual land I imagined.

However, there were still indications on the back of the map; Yan Buji walked around the mountain a few times and indeed discovered an anomaly.

「Someone is actually buried here? 」

Yan Buji looked at that medium-sized tomb robber's hole; although it was well hidden, covered with wooden planks, dirt, and weeds, it could not escape Yan Buji's detection.

This tomb robber's hole couldn't have been dug by Chen Li, could it?

Quite professional.

Or maybe it's not a tomb robber's hole?

No, it should be. If this tomb robber's hole was indeed dug by Chen Li, he probably also stumbled upon this spiritual land beneath the desolate mountain by chance; his real purpose was likely originally to come dig for treasures or the like.

Yan Buji thought for a moment, then kicked open the wooden planks and threw a match down.

Seeing the match not extinguish, and only after the firelight disappeared from view, Yan Buji then nodded.

「However, this tomb robber's hole is quite deep, about twenty or thirty meters, right? A tomb of this depth... and it's buried in the mountain, not something ordinary commoners, or even some nobles and officials, could enjoy. 」

Could it be that Chen Li dug up the tomb of some royal clan member?

That would indeed be interesting.