Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

A good night’s sleep.

Early the next morning, Chen Li, with Zhou Hong’s assistance, put on a new set of Returning True Sect Daoist robes.

"You were born to wear robes like these!" Zhou Hong gently smoothed out the wrinkles on the robe. The second-order moon-white robe, imbued with various arrays, showed a faint spiritual light, making her man look even younger and more outstanding. Her heart swelled with adoration:

"You look so handsome!"

"There’s no such thing as ’born to do anything’," Chen Li thought silently to himself before responding,

"I probably won’t have much time for Shu on regular days; you can take her around to explore. There are all sorts of shops on the mountain peak- you can buy whatever you’re missing without worrying about the cost."

"Mm, don’t worry, I’ll definitely take good care of Shu."

Chen Li walked out of the bedroom, where Zhang Shuniang had diligently prepared breakfast early.

"Uncle!"

"How was your sleep last night?" Chen Li asked with a smile.

"I couldn’t really sleep, so I ended up practicing Qi Cultivation in meditation all night." Zhang Shuniang said, her face blushing.

"You’ll get used to it after a few days."

After breakfast, Chen Li bid farewell to Zhou Hong and Zhang Shuniang and left for the Scripture Pavilion.

The Transmission Jade Slip given by Xia Hongyi included a detailed map of the sect, which made finding his way easy.

In the early morning forest, the green shade was deep, and the fresh air, combined with a layer of misty fog, rendered everything blurry and surreal. Ascending the narrow moss-covered mountain trail, surrounded by the noisy yet ethereal bird calls, was an experience to savor.

"Senior!"

"Senior!"

"Uncle Master!"

Along the way, the Qi Cultivation disciples of the Returning True Sect saw Chen Li’s Daoist robe and bowed respectfully.

Chen Li felt quite good about it.

The standard Daoist robes for Guest Elders and inner disciples at the Foundation Establishment level were the same in the Returning True Sect, without deliberate distinction. If one did not know the person, it was easy to get the address wrong.

However, the Returning True Sect did not strictly require Foundation Establishment cultivators to wear standard Daoist robes.

As long as they had the money, they could provide their own.

For instance, several Foundation Establishment cultivators he saw the day before were not wearing the Returning True Sect’s standard robes.

After winding around, Chen Li arrived at the Scripture Pavilion.

The place was dense with spiritual energy, with formations faintly visible, prompting Chen Li to inwardly exclaim,

"This must be one of the most heavily defended places within the entire sect!"

An old man with graying hair sat at the desk in the main hall of the Scripture Pavilion, dozing off slightly. Hearing Chen Li’s footsteps, he opened his murky eyes and gave him a look up and down: "A new Guest Elder?"

"I’m disturbing Fellow Daoist," Chen Li cupped his hands together and took out the Guest Elder token from his storage bag: "By the order of the Stewardship Sect Leader, I’ve come to select a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique."

The old cultivator carefully checked the token, then returned it to Chen Li, and subsequently pulled out a book thick as a brick from his storage bag, pushing it over with a disinterested air,

"You can obtain one Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique for free. If you want anything else, you’ll have to pay with Spirit Stones.

Here is the catalog of the Scripture Pavilion’s collection. Once you’ve decided on a technique, just let me know. I’ll register it for you, and someone will bring it to you." The old cultivator spoke languidly, "You can go to a side room and take your time looking and choosing!"

Chen Li was already accustomed to this rule.

Even buying books in a bookstore was done this way.

In this world, knowledge was precious; you couldn’t just flip through it recklessly. It all began with checking the catalog.

Chen Li took the catalog book.

Immediately, a Qi Cultivation disciple, modest and compliant, led Chen Li to a private room.

"Senior, this way, please!"

Inside the private room, there were only a few people, mostly Qi Cultivation disciples, both men and women; the atmosphere was extremely quiet, only the clear sound of pages turning was audible.

Chen Li found a spot and sat down.

He began to look through the catalog.

The catalog was divided into two parts: Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment.

Each part was further divided into: Cultivation Technique section, Body Refinement section, Secret Technique section, Spell section, Combat Technique section, Formation section, Talisman-Making section, Anatomy section, Herbal Medicine section...

Many pieces of knowledge that were simply not available in the outside world were presented here before Chen Li’s eyes.

"Wait, there’s no Alchemy or Artifact Refining?"

After thinking for a moment, it became clear to him; Alchemy and Artifact Refining were major sources of income for a sect and not something to be lightly shown to others. Probably only direct disciples of the sect would have the opportunity to study these arts.

He wasn’t in a hurry, so he continued to peruse the catalog.

Though called a catalog, each entry came with a succinct and essential description.

When flipping through the techniques, he came across the Evil-Breaking Skill, at the First Order Ninth Grade, which he had been searching for quite some time.

"Only five Mid-grade Spirit Stones, that’s not expensive," Chen Li noted to himself.

Soon, Chen Li reached the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques.

Mixed Yuan Cultivation Skill Foundation Establishment Chapter: This cultivation technique strengthens both the spirit and body, creating a formidable physique and dense spiritual power. It greatly exceeds peers in both defense and combat ability. However, it is quite demanding in terms of resources, requiring meditative baths with special preparations. Those without substantial wealth, beware.

Three Yang Skill Foundation Establishment Chapter: This cultivation technique boasts vigorous spiritual power, with faster progress in the early and middle stages, slowing in the later stages. Practitioners of this technique tend to become more irritable and should pursue Dual Cultivation or Heart-Calming techniques in conjunction.

Longevity Art Foundation Establishment Chapter: This cultivation technique nurtures a harmonious spiritual power, capable of balancing the five energies, consolidating the foundation, healing illnesses, and prolonging life—it’s considered a technique for longevity.

Returning True Skill Foundation Establishment Chapter: This technique seeks to return to the original source, cultivating spiritual power that becomes more refined and agile with each level. While cultivation may be slower, it allows practitioners to accumulate silently and achieve breakthroughs more easily.

Verdant Cloud Skill Foundation Establishment Chapter: ...

Chen Li carefully compared them.

After some hesitation between Mixed Yuan Skill, Returning True Skill, and Longevity Art, he still chose Longevity Art.

Firstly, that was what he practiced during the Qi Cultivation Stage, so he could seamlessly transition to the Foundation Establishment Chapter of the same art. Moreover, there was a very good chance the Returning True Sect would have the Longevity Art available for the Golden Core Stage if he was fortunate enough to reach it, so there would be no need to switch techniques.

Secondly, what could be more important than longevity?

As long as one is alive, there is hope.

The Golden Core Ancestor of the Sect of Longevity had lived for over six hundred years. If he hadn’t been attacked by the three factions, he probably could have lived many more years.

Though it’s said that during the Foundation Establishment one lives three hundred years,

and in the Golden Core one lives eight hundred years,

these are the limit of one’s lifespan.

Just like in my previous life, there were people who lived long enough to reach the age of one hundred and twenty or so, but the average lifespan was less than eighty.

To live to two-thirds of the limit is already considered to die a natural death.

Chen Li had just reached the Foundation Establishment and his lifespan had reached 268 years. Aside from Body Refinement, it’s probable that the reason includes the practicing of max level Longevity Technique.

If I were to switch to another Cultivation Technique, without the boost in Spiritual Power from the Longevity Technique, my lifespan would likely drop significantly!

This would truly be a loss greater than the gain!

Next, Chen Li perused the catalog of Spells and discovered that, compared to the four or five dozen Spells available during the Qi Cultivation Stage, there were considerably fewer in the Foundation Establishment Stage, a total of just eighteen, and most of them were of Second Order and of low to moderate level.

Among them, the ones at Second Order First Grade included: the Earth-Shocking Skill, the Rainbow Transformation Skill, and the Penetrating Vision Skill.

"Now that I have my main Cultivation Technique and the Secret Technique of the Heavenly Gang Strength, as well as the basic swordsmanship for Body Refinement. Besides, there are a few Spells that I haven’t yet mastered to max level. It is better to master one than to know one hundred superficially, as trying to grasp too much can lead to confusion. It’s better to max out these skills first," Chen Li thought to himself,

"However, this Penetrating Vision Skill could be worth learning."

Such a Spell, like the Invisibility Technique, is mostly useless most of the time, but at critical moments, it can save one’s life.

Such as seeing through where an enemy is hiding.

Or detecting hidden weapons!

Chen Li reviewed the entire catalog several times, got a rough idea of its contents, and then got up to go register with the old cultivator.

"One Longevity Technique for Foundation Establishment. One Evil-Breaking Skill, and one Penetrating Vision Skill," said the old cultivator as he spoke and took notes with a pen.

Upon mentioning the last Spell, the old cultivator couldn’t help but glance at Chen Li and chuckled slyly, showing a hint of lewdness, which quickly disappeared as his face turned serious, "Are these three all that you want, or have I missed any?"

Chen Li, somewhat puzzled by the man’s laughter, replied, "No, that’s all."

"The Longevity Technique is free, the Evil-Breaking Skill costs five Mid-grade Spirit Stones, and the Penetrating Vision Skill costs twenty Mid-grade Spirit Stones. You’ll need to pay a total of twenty-five," he said.

After Chen Li paid, the old cultivator added, "The law must not be passed on lightly. You must take a spiritual oath, never to divulge the Sect’s techniques!"

"What kind of oath?" Chen Li asked, puzzled.

Fortunately, the old cultivator was well-versed and didn’t find it strange at all,

"Repeat after me, ’I hereby swear to the Great Dao, in my practice of the Sect’s techniques, I will never intentionally or unintentionally impart them to anyone. Should I ever divulge them, my cultivation will never progress for eternity, and I shall be struck down by heavenly retribution, never to transcend in perpetuity.’"

Chen Li began to recite after the other.

Truth be told, at first, he didn’t take it very seriously.

But as he continued to speak, he started to feel that something was off. This strange feeling seemed to imply that something beyond his comprehension was responding to his words, and his expression naturally grew solemn and reverent.

Once the oath was finished,

the strange atmosphere vanished as if everything prior had been an illusion.

"Just now..." Chen Li started to speak, then stopped.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

"Heh heh, that’s what taking a spiritual oath is like. You’ll get used to it after a few times!"

Get used to it after a few times?

Chen Li was speechless in his mind.

When the old cultivator was not smiling, he seemed quite serious, but when he did smile, there was an especially sleazy feeling about him.

Completely unaware that Chen Li was secretly criticizing him, the old cultivator handed the paper slip to a Qi Cultivation disciple standing beside him with a bow.

The disciple took the slip respectfully and scurried upstairs to retrieve the techniques.

A short while later,

Chen Li put three one-time Transmission Jade Slips into his storage bag and left the scripture pavilion.

...

He returned home, instructed Zhou Hong and Zhang Shuniang not to disturb him,

and hurried to his quiet room, closing the stone door behind him.

He sat cross-legged on the cushion,

took out the jade slip for the Longevity Technique, and immersed his Spiritual Sense into it.

Soon, a set of techniques for Foundation Establishment appeared in his mind,

The content was exceedingly detailed. Although the entire technique consisted of only a few hundred characters, the commentary had tens of thousands of characters. He read it silently more than ten times, until his mind had completely memorized all content, beyond forgetting, then withdrew his Spiritual Sense.

"Crack!"

The jade slip in his hand swiftly cracked and soon fell apart.

Chen Li didn’t pay it any mind and tossed the slip to one side.

He pondered over the technique deep in his heart, grateful for the detailed commentary; if it had been just the technique, understanding it thoroughly would have been rather difficult for him.

There were far too many cryptic references in the technique, like deciphering a code.

Not until Chen Li had thoroughly digested the technique, 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

did he begin trying to practice the Foundation Establishment Chapter of the Longevity Technique.

...

"Success!"

He opened his eyes, feeling joy in his heart.

He thought for a moment and opened the game panel,

only to find that the original ’Technique: Longevity Technique Grandmaster: 3200/3200’

had changed to ’Technique: Longevity Art Foundation Establishment Chapter - Introductory: 8/100’

"It seems I thought too much; everything must start again," Chen Li thought to himself, getting up to leave the quiet room, as the outside world was completely shrouded in darkness.