Seeing this valuation, Chen Zhuo was stunned for a moment, and then ecstatic!
Five hundred spirit coins!
This could actually fetch five hundred spirit coins?
Chen Zhuo had assumed it would give him fifty or sixty spirit coins at most—just enough to cover his "checkup."
After all, this technique came from the ancient cultivation world and was somewhat outdated.
Yet who would have thought there was actually a reference point worth noting?
[Submit this technique?]
[Upon submission, this technique will become the property of the spell library. The submitter will receive a reward of 500 spirit coins.]
[The spell library shall reserve the right to analyze, deduce, and optimize this technique, and enter the improved version into the database.]
Without hesitation, Chen Zhuo selected "Yes."
Ding!
A crisp chime sounded, and Chen Zhuo's spiritual communication jade slip vibrated.
Chen Zhuo pulled it up and saw that, sure enough, a notification for credited spirit coins had arrived.
[The technique you submitted, "Cangming Embrace-Unity Classic," has passed preliminary verification. Reward granted: 500 spirit coins.]
[Current Balance: 545.3 spirit coins.]
Seeing this figure, Chen Zhuo felt thoroughly reassured.
With these five hundred spirit coins plus what was left of his previous savings, he had plenty to cover the technique diagnostic.
Once the submission was complete, a new line of text appeared on the jade platter:
[Improvement potential detected in this technique.]
[The spell library can perform in-depth deduction and optimization to improve the technique's cultivation speed, power, and breakthrough probability.]
[Deduction Fee: 3,000 spirit coins.]
[Deducer: Remnant Divine Consciousness of True Monarch Dumu.]
[Estimated Deduction Time: One business day.]
[Proceed with in-depth deduction?]
Seeing this option, Chen Zhuo decisively chose "No."
Three thousand spirit coins—what a joke!
His entire net worth totaled just over five hundred; how could he possibly afford that?
And even if he had it, he wouldn't spend that kind of money.
To Chen Zhuo, this technique was dispensable to begin with, something he had used merely to trade for spirit coins.
It wasn't as if he was going to cultivate it.
A water-attribute technique clashed with his wood spiritual root.
After confirming Chen Zhuo would not proceed with the deduction, the booth door opened automatically.
Chen Zhuo walked out of the booth in high spirits.
With five hundred spirit coins in hand, it was time to get down to business.
He headed toward the area on the right, which was designated for technique queries.
Compared to the submission zone, this side was far larger, boasting over a hundred private pods.
Chen Zhuo found an unoccupied pod and stepped inside.
The interior wasn't large, offering just enough room for a single person to stand.
Right in the center sat a handrail-like fixture fitted with several buttons.
Once the door closed, a gentle light illuminated the pod.
A pleasant voice sounded—neither distinctly male nor female, but soothing to hear:
"Welcome to the Spirit Flow Canon query system."
"Please place both hands upon the handrail. The system will commence a comprehensive diagnostic of your spiritual root, meridians, and condition, and the Spirit Flow Canon will provide the most suitable recommendations!"
Chen Zhuo complied.
The handrail grew slightly warm, and a gentle stream of spiritual power flowed from it into Chen Zhuo's body, circulating along his meridians.
This spiritual power was exceedingly mild, carrying not the slightest trace of aggression—just like a thorough physical examination.
After about a minute, the spiritual power withdrew from Chen Zhuo's body.
[Diagnostic complete.]
[Name: Chen Zhuo.]
[Cultivation: Fourth layer of Qi Refining.]
[Spiritual Root: Low-grade mid-tier single wood spiritual root, qi sensitivity rating: 20.]
[Physique: Inconclusive.]
[Meridians: Patency smooth, elasticity good.]
[Please state your criteria for a technique.]
Hearing this, Chen Zhuo took a deep breath and voiced the criteria he had prepared long ago: "Rapid cultivation, practical for combat, and good for survival."
Survival was the top priority.
Beyond that, the faster he could cultivate, the better!
Still, his spiritual root's qi sensitivity rating had actually increased by one point, rising from nineteen to twenty...
Why was that?
Could it be that spending more time exposed to spirit qi in the ancient cultivation world allows my spiritual root to revitalize and receive nourishment?
As Chen Zhuo pondered this, the spell library's dharma spirit finished its selection.
"Suitable techniques have been selected for you!"
Soon, three techniques appeared before Chen Zhuo:
The Kurong Classic, Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art, and Myriad Phenomena Art!
The Kurong Classic balanced offense and defense. Its downside was extreme difficulty and sluggish progression, making it a technique skewed toward the late game; the Nascent Soul cultivator True Monarch Kurong had taken it as his primary art.
To date, True Monarch Kurong had optimized this technique thirty-five times.
Yet no matter what, nothing could make up for the fact that its cultivation was painfully slow...
The Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art was the exact opposite of the Kurong Classic. Its cultivation was swift and accumulated spirit qi rapidly; it focused predominantly on defense, with relatively sparse offensive options, and was well-suited for health preservation.
Cultivators of this technique generally outlived their peers at the same stage.
Meanwhile, the Myriad Phenomena Art specialized in illusions and shapeshifting while offering weak frontal combat capability. It demanded tremendous divine consciousness, required supporting divine consciousness arts, and was wildly popular next door in the Yuqing Domain.
The Immortal Mansion has methods, which one do you like best?
Chen Zhuo's answer was...
The Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art!
Laying low and surviving was what mattered most.
Even more importantly, the Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art was a highly adaptable art. If he ever wanted to transition to other wood-attribute methods, it offered a seamless bridge.
It felt somewhat like an upgraded version of the Changchun Art.
As for lethal offensive methods, once he made some money, he could simply pick up a couple of swordsmanship arts as secondary disciplines.
[Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art, Qi Refining stage cultivation method redemption cost: 300 spirit coins.]
That was pretty cheap.
Chen Zhuo gave a slight nod.
He still had 445.3 spirit coins left, so after the exchange, he would keep 145.3 spirit coins.
Not bad at all.
Seeing this, Chen Zhuo immediately chose to redeem it!
In an instant, the spirit coins were deducted.
[Current Balance: 145.3 spirit coins.]
Following the deduction, Chen Zhuo's spiritual communication jade slip chimed with an incoming message.
[Taiqing City Immortal Mansion · Spirit Flow Canon: Greetings, Fellow Daoist Chen Zhuo. Your redeemed "Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art (Seventh Edition New Cultivation Qi Refining Stage Basic Model)" has been delivered to your spiritual communication inbox. Please cultivate according to the video tutorial. If any discomfort arises, seek medical attention promptly.]
"Great!"
Chen Zhuo felt a surge of excitement. Reining in his thrill, he immediately exited the booth and hurried back to his cave dwelling.
He could hardly wait to test the depths of the Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art!
Though the phrasing sounded slightly suggestive, Chen Zhuo was a respectable cultivator.
Riding the bus, Chen Zhuo casually scrolled through his group chats and checked on online classes.
Seeing no special online classes or schedule updates, Chen Zhuo relaxed. Upon returning to his cave dwelling, he transported straight to the ancient cultivation world without delay.
Arriving in the ancient cultivation world, Chen Zhuo took a deep, greedy breath as usual!
"So refreshing!"
Pure bliss.
Every time he crossed from the Immortal Mansion world to the ancient cultivation world, Chen Zhuo felt as though he had gotten high, reveling in supreme comfort.
"The video is stored locally. I'll use these three days to master the basics of the Ten Thousand Trees Homage to Origin Art, and then get ready to clash with those bastards ambushing me outside!"
Chapter 31