Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 32 Supplementary Cultivation of Two Skills: Lead, Mercury, Blood, Treasure Seed, and Secret Techniques (5.2 thousand words)
Despite his fluctuating emotions, Fang Shu remained composed and continued to attend the banquet. After chatting and laughing with Li Hou'er and the others, he left the paper mill and returned to the dojo.

After all, he couldn't say he was jealous or resentful of Li Hou'er; he just couldn't help but feel envious when he saw such a good thing.

Especially after seeing his neighbor Uncle Li's beaming and contented expression, he couldn't help but think of his second uncle, Yu Le.

My second uncle is still suffering in the mine.

Upon returning to the Taoist temple, Fang Shu felt even more motivated, and his desire to enter the Taoist path and refine his essence intensified.

He reviewed his recent cultivation progress through the Daoist talisman, and a thought began to form in his mind.

And so on this day.

After many days, the master of the pavilion reappeared before everyone and inspected his disciples.

Fang Shu stopped practicing his exercises and took the initiative to step forward to greet him.

"Greetings, Master. I have some questions about cultivation that I would like to ask you."

The owner of the guesthouse remained calm, glanced at him, and nodded indifferently.

The other party did not ask Fang Shu what the problem was, but instead gestured for Fang Shu to follow them to a quiet room next to the main training hall.

The owner of the private residence sat leisurely in his armchair, glancing at the teacups on the coffee table.

Fang Shu understood immediately and quickly made tea and poured water.

The other person blew on the tea, a satisfied look on their face, before saying, "You've been in the academy for three or four months now, and you've studied and practiced quite diligently. If you have any questions, please ask."

Fang Shu organized his thoughts and said in a deep voice:

"My aptitude is limited. Although I have been practicing hard recently, taking pills, and applying insect blood, my cultivation efficiency has not been able to improve any further."

"Master, do you have a way to increase my cultivation efficiency so that I can enter the Dao as soon as possible?"

The owner of the guesthouse gave a forced smile, staring intently at Fang Shu, and chuckled softly:
"This is easy to handle. The market has medicines like Marrow Extraction Powder to improve cultivation efficiency, as well as pills like Power Enhancement Pills that can increase a large amount of qi and blood at once. Just choose one of the two to buy."

Fang Shu knew about things like the Marrow Extraction Powder and the Power Enhancement Pill.

Judging from its name alone, the former is clearly not a good thing. It increases the efficiency of cultivation by squeezing out the potential of the human body and even irreversibly shortening lifespan. It is even more ruthless than the most potent medicines.

Furthermore, when taking the drug, the user will experience unbearable pain in all the bones of their body. Once taken, it is very likely to become addictive, and the pain will continue even if the user refuses to take it. Even if the user manages to overcome the first tribulation, they will be unable to overcome the second tribulation for the rest of their life.

As for the Enhancing Power Pill, it is slightly better than the Marrow Extraction Powder and is also more expensive, but it is still a potent medicine that relies entirely on external medicinal effects to increase a large amount of qi and blood in the patient at once.

If one is an immortal who has already refined their essence, their internal energy and blood will naturally dissolve the external energy and blood in the power-enhancing pill, leaving fewer hidden dangers.

However, those who have not yet entered the Dao have no foundation. Taking the power-enhancing pill in advance is tantamount to ruining their future. Even if they do not stop at the second tribulation, they will stop at the third tribulation or the Qi-refining stage, and will find it difficult to refine Qi for the rest of their lives.

Fang Shulian was very cautious about defilement of his primordial essence and primordial yang, fearing that it would damage his potential, so how could he possibly come into contact with these two types of drugs?

He immediately shook his head and asked:

"Master, is there any other way that won't harm the body, kill the person, or diminish their potential?"

The owner of the inn sipped his tea, speaking with an air of nonchalance:

"Yes, there are, but such requests for instruction are not covered by the dojo's tuition fees."

The old woman held up one finger.

Fang Shu wasn't surprised. Before coming to ask for advice, he had done some research and inquired about the other party's preferences.

So he deftly took out a string of coins from his pocket and presented it to the other party with both hands.

In the Dugu Pavilion, such specialized consultations often cost a thousand coins each time.

The other party noticed the talisman money, tapped the coffee table, and gestured for Fang Shu to place it on it.

Then, the old woman coughed lightly:
"If you want to improve your training efficiency, just practice a few more techniques."

"What?" Fang Shu looked up, staring at the other person in surprise.

The owner of the private club explained:

"The reason why your cultivation efficiency has stagnated is simply that your body can no longer absorb more medicinal effects, and can no longer withstand more daily training or more toxins."

To solve this problem, you either need to change your cultivation method to one that is more suitable for you and faster, or you need to find a cultivation method that can change your innate constitution.

The other party paused for a moment: "In addition to cultivation techniques, you can also cultivate corresponding spells, which can also improve your body's absorption of the effects of medicine and your tolerance to toxins."

For example, if you practice a spell that refines the skin membrane, the amount of insect blood you can use each day will naturally increase, thus improving your daily training results.

Fang Shu listened, and gradually understood.

The owner is still explaining:
"Generally speaking, I would advise someone like you who practices asceticism to learn more spells to possess. This would not only give you the ability to protect yourself, but also improve your physical body and make it easier to earn money."

However, I must remind you that practicing magic before entering the Dao will actually delay your cultivation. After all, magic not only requires comprehension but also the refinement of magical artifacts, which will deplete your mental and physical strength.

Instead of messing around with things in a short time, it's better to properly study and master one technique.

Fang Shu nodded in agreement.

He had experienced this when he was refining the Long Tongue Sword, and he also decided that he would not refine any magic spells or artifacts before entering the Dao.

Fang Shu's eyes shone brightly as he waited for the owner of the private residence to offer further advice.

The old woman looked at him and said calmly:
"It seems you don't want to choose the path of practicing more spells, so we can only start with cultivation techniques."

Our school's insect-based martial arts are among the most advanced in the market, and we can even use insect blood to enhance our skills, which some schools consider a short-sighted method. Given your status, there's no substitute.

Since that's the case, you'll have to find a way to cultivate another technique as well. My suggestion is that this technique should prioritize stability over speed, ideally one that can improve your physical constitution. A combination of speed and slowness will complement each other perfectly.

The innkeeper added, "Furthermore, remember that you can cultivate multiple spells. However, you cannot cultivate too many cultivation techniques; two are already the limit for ordinary people."

Moreover, the practice of both techniques is not simply a matter of one plus one equals two. If it can increase efficiency by 20%, then it is already a good combination.

If one practices too much or too many different techniques, not only will it waste one's energy and may result in no progress, but the techniques may also conflict with each other, harming one's health.

Now Fang Shu understood completely, and a slight joy welled up in his heart.

With the Daoist talisman by his side, he could study and analyze the secret texts day and night, and he was not afraid of the difficulty of the cultivation method at all, as long as it was suitable for him.

Then his eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, asking for guidance:

"Please teach me, Master, what kind of cultivation method can be matched with the insect cultivation method in the temple and is suitable for helping me to change my physical constitution."

This disciple is not afraid of hardship, fatigue, or the difficulty of the practice!

Upon hearing this, the owner of the guesthouse finally showed a hint of surprise in her eyes, but she did not reply immediately.

Just when Fang Shu thought the old woman was still asking for money for the talisman, she unexpectedly pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve and flicked it to Fang Shu.

The other person sipped their tea:

"This is my calling card. You can take it to other martial arts schools to ask for guidance. As for the martial arts techniques that can match our school's insect technique, you can ask Yu'er yourself."

However, seeing that you possess the Long Tongue Sword skill and have some affinity with the Burning Tail Pavilion, I suggest you focus on studying the techniques there. It might be easier for you to grasp the basics.

Upon hearing the words "Burning Tail Pavilion," Fang Shu's face immediately showed surprise.

He didn't expect that the master of the Du school would tell him to go to other martial arts schools to seek out martial arts techniques, especially the Shaowei school that had rejected him before, instead of directly offering him several martial arts techniques to buy.

And, does the Burning Tail Hall really sell martial arts techniques to outsiders?

The owner of the private club seemed to have read his doubts and said calmly:

"It's not that I'm trying to fob you off, but the techniques used in the Burning Tail Pavilion are indeed more effective at altering one's physical constitution than those used in our sect. When the old man from the Burning Tail Pavilion left the sect, he brought quite a few of these techniques with him."

What you can obtain are not the unique or improved techniques of the Burning Tail Pavilion, but only the original techniques passed down from the Immortal Sect, and they are not cheap.

"By the way, the disciples of the Burning Tail Pavilion occasionally come to me seeking immortal techniques, so we can verify and comprehend them together."

These words immediately dispelled Fang Shu's doubts.

He thought to himself, "It's quite rare that martial arts schools can lend each other their techniques, even if they aren't unique."

He pondered that the rumors circulating in the town were indeed true; the Taoist temples in the town were actually set up to select talents for the Immortal Sect.

Otherwise, without the instructions of the Immortal Sect, why would the Taoist temples in the town act this way? It would be more reasonable for each of them to cherish their own possessions.

After all, as far as he knew, the spells and medicines in the various Taoist temples were never open to people outside the temples.

For example, the Ant Spirit Ointment in the Solitary Gu Pavilion.

The master of the sect only allows his disciples to use it themselves. It is forbidden to sell it or lend it to family members. Otherwise, if caught, the magic will be taken back and his immortal skills will be ruined!

Following that, Fang Shu inquired about the details of seeking immortal skills at other Taoist temples.

It turns out that going to other martial arts schools to borrow skills is not only expensive, but you can only borrow the original texts, and you can only learn from inanimate objects and secret manuals on your own. Unlike Fang Shu, who was taught the insect skills, he did not have an ant master to help him learn.

Having understood all this, Fang Shu cupped his hands in farewell and prepared to leave. But at this moment, the innkeeper suddenly called him back and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

The other party said in a nonchalant tone:

"Don't say I'm too stingy. I'm charging you a thousand coins just to ask you a question."

Since you are not afraid of hardship or difficulty, I have a recipe for refining Gu here. If you have some free time, you can study it and try to understand it.

Once you've finished comprehending one portion, if you can refine it, you can bring the Gu worms back to me to exchange for another.

Fang Shu respectfully accepted the Gu formula.

He glanced at it and discovered a method for refining something called "Sleepy Worm." Once refined, this worm seemed to help people sleep, making them sleep more soundly.

Fang Shu immediately felt a little better.

The thousand coins weren't just for asking a question and that was it; at least I got a Gu formula, which can be considered half a spell.

After giving the Gu formula to the guesthouse owner, he served tea and saw the guest off, without glancing at Fang Shu again.

However, after Fang Shu left...

The old woman squinted her eyes and slowly muttered to herself, "Not particularly gifted, but her comprehension is not bad. She can master my insect technique in just three or four months."

She pondered for a moment, then sighed, "It's a pity that I already have Qin Bao'er. The royal jelly brewed by the beekeepers in the pavilion is limited, so it can only be used for Bao'er to try to improve her physical constitution."

Otherwise, I'd like to spare some for you, kid, to test the waters.

Fang Shu was unaware that, apart from cultivation techniques and spells, the Dugu Pavilion possessed precious medicines capable of directly altering one's physical constitution.

However, these medicines are not sold to the public, and even knowledge of them is kept secret. They are one of the true foundations upon which the establishment survives.

quickly.

After Fang Shu took his leave, he found Senior Sister Yu'er in the Taoist temple.

Senior Sister Yu'er was as kind as ever, answering all his questions and even taking the initiative to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of his supplementary cultivation method.

After a conversation, Fang Shu made up his mind and decided which auxiliary cultivation technique he should seek.

However, he did not rush to obtain the technique. Instead, he found Li Hou'er, asked him a few questions, and went out to inquire about auxiliary cultivation techniques in the market.

Until the early morning of the following day.

Fang Shu, carrying a heavy 10,000 taels of silver, arrived once again in front of the Shaowei Restaurant.

As soon as he entered the hall, the shouts of the disciples in the Burning Tail Hall reached his ears. The number of disciples and their spirits in this hall seemed to be better than those in the Solitary Gu Hall.

In an instant, Fang Shu's mind was filled with thoughts of what his situation would be like now if he had joined the Shaowei Hall back then.

But he suppressed these distracting thoughts and, without giving them further thought, bowed to the female Taoist priestess who had emerged from the Burning Tail Pavilion.

This time, it was Xiao Lili who received Fang Shu.

When the woman first saw Fang Shu, he seemed vaguely familiar. Upon recognizing him, she assumed he was here again to seek apprenticeship. She quickly prepared her words, intending to feign ignorance and persuade Fang Shu to leave.

"Young man, our establishment currently has no plans to accept apprentices, please..."

Fang Shu responded with a polite smile:
"Fellow Daoist, I am not here to seek apprenticeship or learn skills, but rather to request to observe the immortal techniques of your esteemed establishment."

He handed the name card in his hand to the female Taoist priestess with a whisk at the Burning Tail Pavilion with neither arrogance nor servility.

Xiao Lili's face immediately became flustered, realizing that she had blushed again. She pretended to be calm and took the name card from Fang Shu's hand, only to find that it was the name card of the owner of the nearby Dugu Pavilion.

“In that case, I will go and inform them for you. Please wait a moment, fellow Daoist.” Xiao Lili, carrying the name card and taking the talisman money, quickly walked into the hall.

Seeing this, Fang Shu withdrew his gaze.

He was relaxed, unlike last time when he stood there dumbly outside the hall. Instead, he walked to the entrance of the practice hall on his own, leaned against the doorpost, and closed his eyes to rest.

During the time Fang Shu waited, disciples from the Shaowei Pavilion kept coming out of the hall.

Because of Fang Shu's unfamiliar attire, many disciples took a second look, and one of them even showed a strange expression.

After thinking it over, the other party decided to greet Fang Shu and patted Fang Shu on the shoulder.

Before he could even get close, Fang Shu opened his eyes, stared at him with a wary expression.

This reaction caused the other person to stop what they were doing.

Yin Xiaojian then realized that her actions were not only abrupt but also extremely rude to cultivators.

But Yin Xiaojian did not apologize. Instead, displeasure flashed in his eyes, as if he had been humiliated.

The man casually cupped his hands in greeting: "Fang Shu, what a coincidence! Are you here to become an apprentice at the dojo?"

Fang Shu recognized the person who had just arrived. It was the toad boy who had been on the same boat and had spent a night with the toad woman on the boat.

He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Greetings, Brother Yin."

After exchanging pleasantries, a disciple from the Shaowei Pavilion greeted Yin Xiaojian. Yin Xiaojian, with his protruding belly, responded with a strong voice, "Coming!"

As he left, the man patted his thin chest and said:
"The dojo doesn't plan to accept any disciples this year, so don't waste your time waiting. If we do accept disciples in the future, I'll definitely let you know in advance!"

After saying that, the other party left without even asking where Fang Shu lived, and walked away happily.

After walking a distance, Yin Xiaojian revealed a mocking smile:

"Hmph! Want to get into the museum? A toad trying to eat swan meat."

Yin Xiaojian already knew that his family's spot in the academy had been snatched from Fang Shu's hands, just one step ahead of Fang Shu's.

This gave him a sense of disdain, like a winner looking down on a loser.

Fang Shu squinted as he watched the other person leave, feeling displeased. He felt as if the other person was trying to get his attention.

But Fang Shu didn't pay much attention to this person. He continued to close his eyes slightly and rest.

………………

the other side.

Xiao Lili took the name card and went to her father, Xiao Hu, who was in charge of her family, and told him about Fang Shu.

Manager Xiao Hu had long forgotten about the matter between Fang Shu and his nephew.

Without much thought, the man nodded in agreement, accepted the name card from the master of the hall, turned around and went into the storeroom, took out the original copy of the immortal technique that Fang Shu had requested, and registered it.

Only after the registration was completed did Xiao Lili reveal Fang Shu's identity.

Manager Xiao Hu raised an eyebrow: "Huh! It's actually the poor boy from the Yu family."

The fellow looked at the completed registration documents and the talisman coins beside him, his eyes darting around as if he were pondering something.

Xiao Lili snatched the original manual of the immortal technique from him, glared at him, and warned him:
"He's a disciple of the Solitary Gu Sect now. Keep your filthy thoughts to yourself, or you'll ruin the relationship between our two sects!"

After being scolded by his daughter, Manager Xiao Hu was not angry at all, but he didn't take her words seriously at all.

He muttered to himself:

"It's only been a few months, and he's already coming to our sect to seek merit. It seems that the techniques of the Dugu Sect are probably not suitable for that kid."

"I told you long ago to let him come work as a handyman in this building first. He didn't listen to me, and now he's paying the price."

Holding the original manual of the immortal technique, Xiao Lili had some doubts in her eyes. According to her observation, Fang Shu's blood and qi were now abundant, which was quite different from before. He did not seem to have wasted his time in the Dugu Pavilion.

However, she didn't think too much about it. She turned around and walked quickly outside, returning to the entrance of the hall, and readily handed the original manual to Fang Shu.

Fang Shu took the immortal skill and, seeing that the process of seeking the skill went smoothly, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He immediately cupped his hands in greeting:
"Thank you, fellow Daoist. I will definitely come to repay you in half a month."

Xiao Lili shook her whisk, smiling broadly:

"Just call me Xiao Lili. Our two institutions have a fairly good relationship, so there's no need to be so polite. You can come back in a month."

"I once visited your Dugu Clan to seek out cultivation techniques, and I even got along quite well with your maid, Yu'er."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu was slightly surprised, nodded, and took the initiative to give his name.

Although the two had grown closer, Fang Shu still opened the original manual of the immortal technique in front of the other person and carefully examined it page by page.

This action caused Xiao Lili's expression to stiffen slightly.

Fang Shu ignored the other party. After carefully studying the technique, he found that there was nothing wrong with it, and then he relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

Before the entrance to the Burning Tail Pavilion, on the manual of martial arts he held, were eight large, gilded characters:
The Secret Method of Lead, Mercury, Blood Treasure Seedling!
(End of this chapter)