Mortal Cultivation: Starting from Hiding in the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion

The next morning, Su Xiaoyuan got up early.

Yesterday's welcome banquet was so lively that it didn't end until midnight. Those who practice cultivation have a large appetite and a high alcohol tolerance, and in the end, everyone was drunk and staggering.

He went directly to Shanggong Hall.

Without Master Fang's help, things might have turned out differently; this favor is truly immense.

He went straight to the second floor, where Fang Baichuan was still sitting behind the counter.

Sometimes Su Xiaoyuan was quite puzzled. Did this Hall Master Fang not need to cultivate? He was here every day.

Fang Baichuan also saw Su Xiaoyuan at the same time. He put down the book he was holding and a smile appeared on his lips: "You're out?"

Su Xiaoyuan bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Hall Master Fang, for helping this junior."

Fang Baichuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over Su Xiaoyuan.

Suddenly he paused, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression changed from casual to surprised.

"Fifth level of Qi Refining?"

Fang Baichuan's tone was clearly surprised.

Su Xiaoyuan did not deny it: "I was lucky enough to have gained some understanding."

Fang Baichuan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly shook his head and chuckled: "Lucky? I've been in the Nine Profound Sect for so many years and have seen quite a few geniuses, but there are really not many who can break through from the third level of Qi Refining to the fifth level in just over ten days. You make a very lighthearted way of saying 'lucky'."

Su Xiaoyuan smiled but didn't reply.

Fang Baichuan suddenly changed the subject: "Now that you have reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, according to the rules of the Nine Profound Sect, you no longer need to do those lowest-level menial tasks."

He asked casually, "So, how about it? Want to register with me?"

Su Xiaoyuan's heart stirred.

Although Shanggong Hall is not a powerful institution like the Law Enforcement Hall, it holds a significant position within the sect.

If you can register here, you can not only get rid of those heavy menial tasks, but also have access to more sect resources and information.

More importantly, Fang Baichuan has a very good reputation and has always taken good care of his juniors, making him trustworthy.

He immediately cupped his hands and said, "That would be great. However, the sect assessment is in two days. I will come to bother Hall Master Fang again after I pass it smoothly."

Fang Baichuan nodded and didn't say anything more: "Then go and prepare well."

Su Xiaoyuan asked, "Hall Master, is Senior Brother Wei Hang here?"

Fang Baichuan said, "Wei Hang went to do something for me and won't be back until later. Okay, I understand your intentions. Go ahead."

"This junior takes his leave."

Su Xiaoyuan bowed again, then turned and walked away.

After leaving Shanggong Hall, he headed towards Yanfu Society.

As soon as I reached the door, I heard a commotion coming from inside.

"The brushstrokes at the turn of this rune are wrong! They should be more rounded!"

"What do you know? This kind of sharp angle is better at activating lightning-attribute spiritual power!"

"But if you draw it like that, the talisman paper can't withstand it, and it'll be ruined halfway through!"

Su Xiaoyuan couldn't help but smile; these bookworms.

He pushed the door open and entered, and the arguing stopped abruptly.

"Hey, Junior Brother Su." Zhang Yao was also there and greeted him upon seeing him.

Since Su Xiaoyuan completed the revision of the third-order talisman and refused Zhou Lin's offer to take him as a disciple, his reputation in the Talisman Research Society has soared.

Everyone came forward to greet him.

Su Xiaoyuan smiled and cupped her hands in greeting: "I just came out of seclusion and came here specifically to see my fellow disciples."

Zhang Yao sized him up, then suddenly widened his eyes: "You've broken through again?"

Su Xiaoyuan touched her nose: "I guess so."

"What do you mean by 'considered'?" Zhang Yao looked at him speechlessly. "Your cultivation level really changes every day! Last time I saw you, you were only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and now, after just a few days, you're at the fifth level? Did you eat some rare and precious treasure?"

Su Xiaoyuan laughed and said, "If Junior Brother comes across any rare and precious treasures, he should share them with his senior brothers immediately."

Zhang Yao shook his head, clicking his tongue in admiration: "I'm truly impressed by your advancement speed. It seems that after this sect assessment, you should be a shoo-in for the inner sect."

Lu Ji, who was standing to the side, said, "By the way, with your skill in talismanic arts, you could also try applying for the talisman assessment."

"A talisman assessment?" Su Xiaoyuan had never heard of it.

"That's right," Lu Ji explained, "The sect's assessment doesn't just consist of martial arts competitions; there's also a special assessment of talismans. It's a competition to see who has the strongest talismans."

Su Xiaoyuan waved her hands repeatedly after hearing this: "That won't do, I don't have any talismans at all."

Competing in talisman making is an expensive affair. Although I can draw a few talismans, compared with my fellow disciples who study talismans every day, I am far behind in terms of the number of talismans I have and my experience in combining and matching them.

Zhang Yao nodded. Although Su Xiaoyuan was quite talented in the art of talismans, she was still a beginner and short of money.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Su Xiaoyuan took her leave.

After leaving the Talisman Research Society, he strolled towards the Martial Arts Pavilion.

The weapon he currently possesses is that mysterious black staff, but he doesn't yet have a set of staff techniques to match it.

Previously, his fight with Zhao Rongcheng relied entirely on brute force and instinct, without any strategy or technique whatsoever.

He wasn't afraid of the tight schedule. Given his ability to trace things back to their origins, he could achieve complete mastery after just one attempt.

Returning to the Martial Arts Pavilion, Su Xiaoyuan was filled with mixed emotions.

Who would have thought that he would remain here for eleven years, repeating the same life every day, year after year, almost believing that he would live his life in a daze like this forever.

In just over ten days, everything has changed dramatically.

His gaze swept across the proofreading room, and he noticed that the door was ajar. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over.

Through the half-open door, he saw that there was only one person sitting in the proofreading room.

He was a monk in his thirties, wearing a simple gray robe, engrossed in a pile of scrolls, holding a brush in his hand, occasionally sketching on them.

Su Xiaoyuan barely needed to use her divine sense to detect the other party's cultivation level, which was at the third level of Qi Refining.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Hearing the knock, the man looked up and saw Su Xiaoyuan standing at the door. He quickly stood up.

"Is Senior Brother here to proofread the cultivation technique?"

Su Xiaoyuan looked at him and felt a strange sense of familiarity.

"Junior brother, there's no need for such formalities." He waved his hand and said, "Just twenty days ago, I was sitting in this very spot, sketching and drawing on those scrolls day after day. Who would have thought that fortunes would turn around like this, and now I'm walking in here as a guest."

Upon hearing this, the man suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "So you are Senior Brother Su."

Su Xiaoyuan was also somewhat surprised: "You recognize me?"

The man smiled and said, "I've only heard about it. A few days ago, two senior female disciples from the inner sect came to see you."

Someone is looking for him? Su Xiaoyuan frowned.

He asked calmly, "Do you remember what those two people looked like?"