Translator: Anubis Translations
In this world, cultivation methods and martial skills are clearly categorized into grades: Mortal Grade, Spirit Grade, Mystic Grade, and so on...
The Outer Sect's Cultivation Method Hall has four floors. From bottom to top, they respectively house Mortal Grade low-tier, Mortal Grade mid-tier, Mortal Grade high-tier, and Spirit Grade low-tier martial skills.
In fact, the top floor hadn't been opened for many years. The thick layer of dust on the stairs leading from the third to the fourth floor attested to this.
The reason was that Spirit Grade martial skills were suitable for cultivators in the Postnatal Realm and above. Yet, even during the Outer Sect's peak, it was rare for Postnatal Realm cultivators to be kept outside the Inner Sect.
Even if there were a few, they would enter the Inner Sect at most a year later.
Another reason no one went to the fourth floor was that the Spirit Grade cultivation methods here paled in comparison to those in the Inner Sect's Cultivation Method Hall. Even if one practiced them, they would likely have to switch upon entering the Inner Sect, making it unnecessary.
Without hesitation, Wu Qi and the others rushed straight to the third floor, while Gu Feng merely glanced at the third floor before returning to the first.
The martial skills here were simply too expensive. Mortal Grade high-tier martial skills generally cost over thirty thousand, with some even nearing a hundred thousand.
Even the Mortal Grade mid-tier skills on the second floor cost ten to twenty thousand.
Gu Feng was rich—extremely rich, to be precise—but he couldn't sustain the gold-devouring beast in his mind.
To cultivate, he needed Spirit Stones. He had tried taking pills, but found that consuming the milky white Divine Fluid converted from Spirit Stones was the most suitable method for him, leaving no residue like pills did—a truly harmless option.
To obtain more Spirit Stones, he could either increase his income or reduce his expenses.
Gu Feng employed both strategies: skipping payments for meals was his way of cutting costs, and choosing cheaper cultivation methods was another.
Upon arriving at the first floor, Gu Feng didn't immediately look at the martial skills. Instead, he stood there, lost in thought.
"Cheap things aren't necessarily bad, but the cultivation methods here all have their flaws. I just need to choose a martial skill that maximizes my strength advantage."
After clarifying his thoughts, Gu Feng began scanning the rows of shelves.
"The 'Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm'—its name sounds impressive, but it's just a palm technique relying on speed."
"The 'Great Songyang Divine Palm'—what garbage! Continuously tempering with fire? Might as well get roasted like a pig's trotter."
"The 'Azure Dragon Claw'—this skill is an insult to the Azure Dragon, and it costs five thousand Spirit Stones? Might as well rob someone."
After browsing, Gu Feng was thoroughly disappointed. Just as he was considering going to the second floor, a martial skill called the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual' caught his attention.
What drew him wasn't the skill itself, but its price: five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones!
"So cheap! This must be the cheapest martial skill in the entire Cultivation Method Hall!"
Instantly, Gu Feng's spirits lifted, and he quickly grabbed the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual.'
To help disciples understand the gist of each martial skill, the first three pages of every skill could be read.
Like the others, the first page of the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual' contained a brief account of the creator's process and purpose.
After a quick read, Gu Feng's expression turned odd, and he felt an urge to laugh.
The creator of the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual,' Yi Tian, was a true genius.
In summary: the unfortunate Yi Tian, after joining the Sunset Glow Sect, saw his childhood sweetheart fall into the arms of a weaponsmith. In anger, he vowed never to use any weapon. Spending ten years observing the instincts of beasts, he painstakingly developed close-combat techniques, ultimately creating the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual.'
What truly convinced Gu Feng to choose this skill was the final line on the first page: "This is a martial skill created for the poor and struggling cultivators. By mastering this skill, you will become a human weapon, invincible in close combat. Every organ, every bone in your body will be a lethal tool, and you'll never need to spend money upgrading weapons again."
It made sense—so much sense.
Below the Postnatal Realm, Mortal Grade weapons were used; from Postnatal to Innate Realm, Spirit Grade weapons were necessary. As one's cultivation level increased, upgrading weapons became unavoidable.
With each grade, weapon prices grew exponentially. Some people even went bankrupt for a suitable weapon.
Gu Feng believed that Spirit Stones should be used wisely, not squandered. He was already a heavy consumer of Spirit Stones, often with few in his pocket. Where would he get the money to upgrade weapons?
With this in mind, he hesitated no longer, grabbed the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual,' and headed straight to the duty elder.
"Elder, I've chosen this martial skill!"
At that moment, Wu Lai and the others also finished selecting their skills.
Seeing Gu Feng choose the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual,' their first thought was that it must be an incredibly powerful skill, judging by its name.
However, when they saw its price, their expressions turned odd, as if they wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
"What were you thinking, choosing the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual'? I'm very curious to know your reasoning."
"Well, it only costs five hundred Spirit Stones, and I feel it's not weak!" Gu Feng chuckled, scratching his head.
Hearing this, everyone, including the duty elder, couldn't help but roll their eyes.
You've robbed so much stuff, and now you're crying poor? No one's borrowing money from you, stop pretending!
"Fine, if you want to choose it, there's nothing I can do. But remember, next time you want to select a martial skill, you'll need sect points."
"Understood," Gu Feng nodded seriously.
Starting from the second month, Outer Sect disciples were required to complete routine sect tasks to earn points. For more points, they could take on occasional tasks issued by the sect.
The points earned from tasks could be exchanged for items at the Task Hall or cultivation methods at the Cultivation Method Hall—very useful, but also quite dangerous, as one could die in the wild at any time.
"Elder, can I ask what happened to the creator of the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual'? Did he manage to get revenge on that weaponsmith?"
The duty elder, buried in paperwork, chuckled as if injected with a stimulant, suddenly perking up.
"Kid, you've been reading too many folk tales. Yi Tian never got his revenge. He died unexpectedly during an Outer Sect competition."
"What? He died? You're joking, right?" Gu Feng's mouth twitched, feeling utterly bewildered. The skill's introduction hyped it so much, yet its creator's death was so anticlimactic!
"Want to know how Yi Tian died?" The duty elder gave a strange smile.
"Yes, yes—"
"He mistakenly believed his body had become invulnerable. During the Outer Sect competition, he tried to block his opponent's sword with his chest.
He was pierced through and died on the spot, becoming one of the few fatalities in the history of Outer Sect competitions."
Pfft—
Wu Qi and the others couldn't hold back anymore, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"What? You think just because you've practiced Mortal Grade high-tier martial skills, you can defeat me?"
Whoosh—
His words were like a cold breeze, sending chills down everyone's spines.
Suddenly, the Mortal Grade high-tier martial skills in their hands didn't seem so appealing. With their talent, even if they mastered their skills to perfection, they wouldn't be a match for Former Brother!
"Hmph, I'll practice this 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual' and still beat you all senseless. What can you do about it?"
Gu Feng took out a handful of Spirit Stones, slapped them on the table, grabbed the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Manual,' and stormed off in a huff.
The duty elder shook his head with a wry smile, his withered hands picking up the Spirit Stones. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he shouted at Gu Feng's retreating figure:
"Kid, stop right there! This isn't enough for five hundred Spirit Stones!"
"I'm Elder Liu's man. A discount isn't too much to ask, is it?" Gu Feng yelled back as he ran off.
"That little rascal, even swindling an old man like me!" The duty elder laughed and cursed, then turned sternly to the stifling Wu Qi and the others.
"What are you laughing at? You lot make up the difference in Spirit Stones!"
What?!
(End of the Chapter)
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