Chapter 16: The Azure Dragon Sleeve and the Secret Art of Venomous Eyes

In this world, cultivators can freely switch their cultivation techniques before reaching the Dao Body stage. But once the Dao Body is forged, one must choose cultivation methods according to its nature, and changing paths becomes nearly impossible.

Thus, Cao Chengyu had no special requirements for Spirit Refining stage techniques. The "Song of the Yellow Court" excelled at condensing qi, and it would serve him well to the peak of Spirit Refining. It might just be a bit slower than usual, but he couldn’t give up its unique effects on improving aptitude and comprehension. He hoped that obtaining the "Song of the Yellow Court" for the Spirit Refining stage would lay a stronger foundation for his future.

Moreover, the previous two times he opened a box, he had received exactly what he needed most at the time, so he couldn’t help but have a glimmer of expectation. Therefore, when it came to cultivation techniques, he casually picked a copy of the "Morning Glow Qi Absorption Technique" as a cover.

After all, he was new here with no connections; it would be suspicious not to take a Spirit Refining technique.

As for the other secret arts and spell techniques, Cao Chengyu ultimately chose "Azure Flood Dragon Sleeve" and "Venomous Eye Secret Art."

Secret arts generally possess unique effects, each with its strengths at the same rank, and are classified similarly to spells: low, medium, high, and supreme grades.

The second floor of the Skytower Pavilion’s scripture library mainly held spellbooks for low-level cultivators—all low-grade.

The "Venomous Eye Secret Art" could identify poisons, sense invisible toxins, and absorb toxins to negate their harmful effects. Among low-grade arts, it granted near-immunity to poisons.

He learned this in preparation for dealing with Luo Yuzhu—after all, those who played with poison rarely had pure hearts. It was wise to be cautious.

The other art, "Azure Flood Dragon Sleeve," was truly remarkable—something Cao Chengyu only discovered due to a hidden effect on his attribute panel.

[Cao Chengyu]
Age: 14.7
Cultivation: Early Spirit Refining
Technique: Song of the Yellow Court
Skills: Basic Pill Refining (Level 1), Basic Artifact Crafting (Level 1)
Spells: Object Control, Windwalking, Azure Flood Dragon Sleeve (Medium Grade, Fragmented), Fivefold Fire Wheel Technique (Medium Grade)
Secret Arts: Venomous Eye (Low Grade)
Divine Powers: None
[Evaluation]: Spirit Refining White Guard of Skytower Pavilion, possesses the power to travel the greater Yue Dynasty.

Object Control and Windwalking were both basic spells, unranked, so Cao Chengyu hadn’t noticed them before. The Fivefold Fire Wheel was learned from a jade slip and was known from the start to be a medium-grade spell.

Only after handling the spellbooks did he realize he could discern their authenticity and grade through his panel, as long as he touched them.

After searching for a while, he found only three fragmented medium-grade spells, and among them, he chose Azure Flood Dragon Sleeve for its covert attacking methods.

With a book and two bamboo scrolls in hand, he registered them with Brother Liu and hurried back to his room.

As expected, Chi Mingzhu and Wang Daoming were still cultivating, while the other two roommates had gone to the Guyen Pavilion and likely wouldn’t return tonight.

He hung the "In Cultivation" sign on his door and began studying the three arts.

Among them, the Fivefold Fire Wheel was the one he was most familiar with—a fortunate encounter during his journey to the capital. He had long been ready to start practice.

Azure Flood Dragon Sleeve was only missing a special method to refine sleeves from wind-aligned flood dragon materials, but normal cultivation was unaffected.

Venomous Eye Secret Art was even simpler.

The process of learning them was smooth, thanks to the Song of the Yellow Court’s enhancement of his comprehension.

A day and a night passed.

He could now begin practicing the two newly acquired defensive arts.

However, Cao Chengyu chose to start with the Fivefold Fire Wheel.

This was the art he had studied the longest, and he already understood its core principles. As soon as he began practicing in earnest, his progress was unstoppable, quickly passing the Wolf Condensation stage and soon reaching the Leopard Condensation stage. Slowing slightly, he continued to make progress, and within half a day, he reached the Lion Condensation stage.

The Fivefold Fire Wheel could condense five fiery beasts: wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and dragon, each representing a stage.

Cao Chengyu had now reached the early Lion Condensation stage and was eager to test it out.

Forming a spell sign with his hands, spiritual energy surged.

"With the energy of fire, I gather the form of the beast! Fire wolf, fire leopard, fire lion—appear!"

A roar sounded before the forms appeared.

The air shimmered with heat as three beasts forged entirely from flame took shape.

The fire wolf and fire leopard had eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and markings—lively and vivid as living creatures. Only the fire lion’s eyes were fully materialized.

When the lion could be fully formed, like a real lion, he would have reached the fourth stage—the Tiger Condensation.

The wolf and leopard were about three meters long and 1.7 meters tall, larger than ordinary beasts and radiating the aura of an early Spirit Refining cultivator.

Still, compared to cultivators of the same rank, lacking magic weapons or profound arts, the spell was not as powerful as one might imagine.

Of course, among low-level cultivators, a medium-grade spell was already formidable.

Dispelling the three fire beasts, more than half his spiritual energy was depleted—a heavy cost, making it suitable only as a trump card.

With that practice complete, he moved on to the Azure Flood Dragon Sleeve. This technique mainly involved forming two flood dragon runes around the wrists to allow swift, covert casting.

Once the runes were roughly formed, he could no longer continue and needed further study.

Upon success, he casually flicked his sleeve at the corner of the table—a pale blue wind blade shot out, slicing through a table leg as if it were nothing, the cut smooth and seamless—astonishingly sharp.

Its spiritual energy cost was less than one percent, making it perfect for everyday combat.

The Venomous Eye Secret Art was similar—by condensing spiritual patterns in his pupils, the art was mastered. When activated, Cao Chengyu’s pupils glowed purple, enabling him to discern all kinds of poisons.

With no samples at hand, he only gave it a brief try before stopping.

Thus, after three days of cultivation, he had gained much from all three arts.

Cao Chengyu was quite satisfied.

With spell techniques at his command, he was now a true cultivator—his spiritual energy could finally be wielded in defense and combat, a leap from before.

After three days in seclusion, Cao Chengyu was craving a good meal.

He decided to go out and cook something for himself.

But as soon as he opened the door, he found all four roommates in the main hall. Luo Yongsheng and Liu Yun, faces flushed, were arguing with the other two.

Because each room was protected by a soundproofing array to prevent distractions or accidents during cultivation, Cao Chengyu had been completely unaware of the commotion outside.

His sudden appearance was a bit awkward.

Unexpectedly, Liu Yun—who considered himself closest to Cao Chengyu—immediately pulled him over and said, "Brother Cao, let me ask you: do you enjoy the company of women?"

"Well..." Cao Chengyu awkwardly scratched his toes—having certain tastes was one thing; admitting them was another.

Before he could answer, Chi Mingzhu snorted disdainfully, "Liu Yun, do you think everyone is like you? Cao Chengyu has been in seclusion for three days, surely refining new techniques and studying spells—unlike you idlers, wasting your days away. How can you compare yourselves to him?"