Chapter 50: Mastery of Arcane Techniques

The reason why the Five Deficiencies and Three Lacks are so terrifying is that you alter another’s fate on their behalf. But if your own destiny is insufficient, the consequences will instead befall those around you. The more wondrous the arts of Qimen Dao, the more fearsome their side effects. In Cao Chengyu’s eyes, it was more like an equivalent exchange. If, for instance, one could fix the target of the exchange, fix the cost, or even eliminate it altogether, perhaps the miraculous effects of Qimen Dao would vanish. Such extraordinary techniques are indeed rare. Besides this Minor Six Ren Palm Technique, he had never heard of other divination arts anywhere.

Cao Chengyu primarily acquired this palm technique for his own use, never intending to defy heaven and alter others’ fates—besides, a mere Minor Six Ren could not accomplish that. To truly reach such a level, at the very least, a Celestial Phenomena Immortal would be required. With no further concerns, he casually chose one among the Five Deficiencies and Three Lacks: Solitude. (Don’t worry, the protagonist won’t wither.) After all, what need does an immortal cultivator have for offspring? To wander alone and carefree, with perhaps a fair companion, is enough.

He exchanged for a large number of spells and a standard second-grade pill refining technique; with his contribution points spent to zero, Cao Chengyu returned to diligently study the arts, absorbed their mysteries, and sought to integrate them with the spells stalled at ninety-nine percent mastery. With his extraordinary comprehension, the process went smoothly. However, fusing the essence of other arts rendered the original names obsolete, so Cao Chengyu spent a month elevating all his spells to high-grade, renaming each as he went.

He took the opportunity to study the second-grade pill refining technique. With his first-grade consummate mastery in pill refining, he soon broke through to the second grade. Under the influence of high comprehension, his theoretical knowledge soared; only hands-on practice remained. Pill refining relies on practice—how effective his second-grade pill success rate would be was as yet unknown.

Thus, in total, four months passed since he broke through to the Dao Physique—one hundred days of Foundation Establishment passed peacefully, and he was ready to spar with others. His foundation was exceptionally solid, and his spiritual power was five times that of a peer at the same level. Such was one of the additional effects of the Five-Viscera Wheel Body—though, that was all.

He called up his “Health Report”:

[Cao Chengyu]
Age: 15.8
Cultivation: Early Dao Physique Stage (5%)
Cultivation Method: Yellow Court Classic
Skills: External Alchemy and Albedo (Second Grade, 3%), Basic Artifact Refining Method (First Grade, Consummate)

Spells: Azure Jiao Sleeve (High Grade, 16%), Five-Wheel Departing Fire Method (High Grade, 16%), One-Yuan Heavy Water Shield (High Grade, 1%), Cloud Riding Art (High Grade, 1%), Ultimate Ice Shadowless Sword (High Grade, 1%), Hundred Beasts Thunderous Roar Body Refinement (High Grade, 1%)

Secret Arts: Poisonous Eye (High Grade, 1%), Body-Scorching Fire Technique (High Grade, 27%), Minor Six Ren Palm Technique (Mid Grade)

Divine Ability: Law Derivation (?)

Artifacts: Maple Leaf Sword (Low First Grade), Bamboo Leaf Swimmer (Low First Grade), White Jade Lotus Platform (Low Second Grade), Jade Pearl Zither (Mid First Grade)

[Evaluation]: A luxurious skill set, still lacking a soul-refining technique. Oh, and missing a woman to open the treasure chest, and a younger brother.

Ignoring the arrogant quips from his subconscious, his array of high-grade spells, all suited for the Purple Mansion stage, was indeed splendid. The pill refining technique was acquired from the library, not a special pill method bestowed by the ranking board, so elevation through deduction was possible. The Minor Six Ren Palm Technique had not reached perfection, so it was normal that he could not deduce it further.

In four months, progress in deducing high-grade spells had only increased by about fifteen percent—a slow pace. This was likely because his Yellow Court Classic had not kept up, weakening the effect of his Law Derivation divine ability. Thus, the speed had slowed, and it was highly likely he would be stuck at ninety-nine percent again, though this time it was not due to insufficient scripture, but because Law Derivation was lagging.

“The road ahead is rough…” Cao Chengyu sighed. He hadn’t expected that simply breaking through to Dao Physique and advancing in all aspects would have taken nearly a year.

Only four months remained until his sixteenth birthday—how time flew.

By then, Luo Yuzhu would also be emerging from seclusion. That wouldn’t do—he had to obtain a primary treasure chest as soon as possible. Otherwise, once Luo Yuzhu emerged, there would be no chance.

Thinking thus, Cao Chengyu left his residence to get some fresh air and wander about.

Yet, a letter plunged him into despair.

The sender was none other than Yang Jiuxuan.

Cao Chengyu held heartfelt respect for this Mr. Yang, who had once recommended him to the Celestial Observatory. Without that letter, he would never have entered the circle of scions in the capital, nor cultivated so freely. Otherwise, just the harsh training environment of an ordinary White Guard, the lack of a pill room, and relentless missions to slay demons would have worn him down.

How could he have tasted the joys of Dao Physique cultivation today?

Yang Jiuxuan’s letter was brief, stating that he believed Cao Chengyu lacked the aptitude for immortal cultivation and was coming solely to test his scholarly knowledge. If satisfactory, he would take him to participate in the Dayue Imperial Examinations. Securing a minor official post would be no issue.

For commoners, passing the Imperial Scholar exam was the minimum requirement, but for a great Confucian or the favored disciple of a renowned figure, one could go straight to the higher exams.

Yang Jiuxuan had once held office in the capital, later demoted to county magistrate of Gan County, and eventually lost all office, retiring to Immortal Gate City as a teacher. If not for producing a prodigy like Cao Chengyu, he might never have returned to the capital in his life.

The letter had been sent over a month ago.

In other words, Yang Jiuxuan would arrive in the capital in at most two months.

Unbidden, memories of childhood terror surfaced for Cao Chengyu—even as a grown man, he’d been struck across the palms by Yang Jiuxuan, leaving him with a natural fear, as if a parent were coming.

Frightened to the core.

His springtime joy and plans to frequent pleasure quarters had to be canceled.

Cao Chengyu realized he truly needed to find a way into a capital academy, if only to avoid being scolded by Yang Jiuxuan for neglecting his studies and being obsessed with… other pursuits.

Still…

Two months remained—it was enough.

Given his level of education, wasn’t passing the imperial examination in a feudal society a walk in the park? He hadn’t studied history for nothing.

With this, his confidence swelled again.

Shedding his worries, he left the capital for the suburban racetrack, taking Little Wind out for a ride.

At the Dao Physique stage, he could already soar through the air. Equipped with the high-grade Cloud Riding Art, an evolution of the Yellow Cloud Technique, a golden cloud formed beneath him at will, carrying him aloft. Its speed was at least ten times that of the Bamboo Leaf artifact—like trading a bicycle for a sports car, stepping straight into the ranks of the wealthy.

Speaking of artifacts, he noticed he still lacked a truly usable weapon, relying entirely on his profound mastery of spellcraft to overawe others. With the White Jade Lotus Platform as protection, artifacts didn’t seem especially important—no big deal.

He spent the day riding, feeding Little Wind some Spirit Awakening Pills in hopes it would embark on the path of a demon beast and truly become his companion.

After all, this creature had been in his care since birth, and he was deeply attached to it.

From this day forward, Little Wind remained by his side, no longer sent back to the racetrack, making it easier for him to feed it elixirs whenever he pleased.