4 A Step Towards True Cultivation

After the exhilaration of skipping levels passed, Jiang Lan realized how close she had come to dying under the influence of the mysterious petal. She felt a stab of fear when she recalled the looming choke-hold of death that had approached as her meridians narrowly escaped explosion.

She hypothesized that the petal in her brow must be some remnant of Jiang Xiulan, likely the source of the sense of self that did not match her body's memories.

This Jiang Xiulan must be a senior cultivator who had already experienced qi condensation. As a result, some of that comprehension had allowed Jiang Lan to directly advance to the seventh level. Unfortunately, the powers of the petal were too strong for her body's low-grade spirit roots and nearly took her already short-lived life.

Jiang Lan suppressed the temptation to use the senior's comprehension to continue advancing. She knew she wouldn't be able to hide her meteoric rise in levels for long, so it would be better to stabilize her realm and stay low-key. With her substandard talent, many would find it suspicious that she had reached the seventh level at fifteen.

There were too many stories in the cultivation world of the strong robbing the weak. Liu Lan's death was a clear example of the ironclad "might is right" mentality that ruled this society.

Although mid qi condensation cultivators were given the chance to borrow one cultivation method and one spell book from the sect's library after advancing, Jiang Lan decided to wait a few months before revealing the full extent of her progress. Planning to attribute her breakthrough to a lucky moment of enlightenment, Jiang Lan and Gao Yawen entered closed-door cultivation for several months after fulfilling their chores quota in advance.

Three months later, the pair emerged, Jiang Lan stably within the middle of the seventh level of qi condensation and Gao Yawen near the peak of the eighth level. During their cultivation, Jiang Lan had imparted what little comprehension she retained from her near-death experience and had helped Gao Yawen break through the peak of the seventh level.

Jiang Lan greedily breathed in the fresh air as they finally exited the confines of their shared room.

"Xiao Lan, we should head to the library now and start properly building our offensive and defensive skills. I still need to complete my annual sect mission by the end of next month." Though Gao Yawen had reached mid qi condensation long before Jiang Lan's breakthrough, she had only taken a cultivation method and had waited for Jiang Lan's advancement so they would be able to pick out their spell techniques together.

Jiang Lan's face brightened with anticipation, "Only with my own cultivation method, can I call myself a true cultivator."

At the library, they were greeted by the drowsy face of Elder Kang. He yawned widely as he lazily gestured for them to show their identity jades. After a perfunctory scan, he directed them towards the first floor of the library and addressed Gao Yawen, "You have one hour to make your decision. Choose wisely, if you have the ability."

Turning to Jiang Lan, he added, "You have an additional hour. Don't waste it."

Yawning once again, he shuffled back to the front desk, muttering, "It's much too early for this. All these goddamn eager children…"

Jiang Lan was filled with enthusiasm as she entered but deflated like a broken balloon when she saw the enormity of the sect's collection. She stared blankly at the walls filled with countless jades.

Jiang Lan weakly asked, "How are we supposed to choose only two?"

Gao Yawen reassured her, "Let us go through what we can, and if we miss some heaven-defying spell, then it is just not fated to be."

"This is why luck is important to cultivators." Jiang Lan laid to rest her unrealistic expectations and resigned herself to scanning through as many jades as she could get her hands on.

Once her allotted time was up, Gao Yawen exited the library first and headed to the mission hall, leaving Jiang Lan who had narrowed her decision down to three options for both cultivation methods and spell techniques:

Pearl Refining Yin Method

Popular among female cultivators in the sect. Nurtures the natural yin attribute in females and purifies spiritual energy into a pearl. Works well with ghost spells due to the yin attribute. Has a natural side effect of beautification as a side effect of purification. Advancement speed and comprehension required are both average.

Four Breaths, Four Minds Method

Strengthens both the mind and body by continuously breaking their limits. Inflicts unimaginable pain on the cultivator and uses the pain of body strengthening to sharpen the mind. Brings the cultivator to the peak of qi condensation in four steps: advancement speed is faster than the average, but breakthrough at each step is more difficult than advancing through normal levels. Requires an average level of comprehension.

Eight Trigrams Cauldron Method

Popular among aspiring alchemists. Uses the dantian as a cauldron and refines spiritual qi into a pill form. Advancement is slower than average but comprehension relies on the understanding of pill refinement. An increase in alchemy ability can trigger advancement in cultivation. Requires a high level of comprehension.

Ghost Summoning Technique

The most widely used spell in the sect. Used to summon ghosts or evil spirits which can be used alone or combined with low level weapons as temporary weapon spirits. Can infuse attacks with a special attribute, depending on the quality and level of the ghost. Average comprehension ability required.

Thousand Face Ghost Technique

Illusion spell that uses the fragments of ghosts and evil spirits to trap opponents and conceal oneself. The quality and quantity of fragments increases the power of the illusion. Has low attack power but is a useful for defense and escape. Can trap higher level cultivators, but the wider the level gap, the shorter the duration of the illusion. Low comprehension required.

Ten Finger Curse Technique

A series of curses that are unleashed with each finger. Curses are formed based on cultivation method. Power of attack increases with momentum of each finger released. Weak with initial mastery, but strength increases exponentially with each finger mastered. Most flexible potential. Comprehension required increases with each finger.

If she wanted to play it safe, the Pearl Refining Yin Method, paired with the Ghost Summoning Technique or the Thousand Face Ghost Technique, would be her best bet. However, the money-making ability of alchemists was fatally tempting to the perpetually poor Jiang Lan and she toyed with the idea of taking the Eight Trigrams Cauldron Method.

In the end, Jiang Lan discarded the Eight Trigrams Cauldron Method. Although it was a feasible option for cultivators backed by clans, as a lone cultivator, she was unable to purchase the raw materials needed to even begin embarking on the path of alchemy. Unless she was blessed with a miraculous talent that would attract patrons to support her, this path was a dead end, and she could not afford to take the risk.

After further consideration, she then eliminated the Pearl Refining Yin Method. Jiang Lan knew that with the secrets in her body, she would need something to explain her abnormal cultivation speed. Though the Four Breaths, Four Minds Method was unpopular, there was still a short history of senior cultivators who had practiced this method and reaped the benefits of a rapid initial advancement.

As for her spell, Jiang Lan chose the Ten Finger Curse Technique with the logic that its weak initial mastery could be supported by her method's fast initial advancement, and vice versa. Using these two as the base for her foundation, Jiang Lan knew she would be embarking on a painful and arduous path. However, she remained optimistic.

As a cultivator aiming for a higher goal, she would gamble with this life of hers and move past a life focused purely on survival. Jiang Lan desperately desired more power.

She left her uncertainties behind as she stepped out of the library and into the cultivation world. As she looked around for Gao Yawen, who had promised to wait for her after receiving her annual assignment, Jiang Lan was puzzled to find no trace of her friend near the entrance.

She headed towards the mission hall and quickly found Gao Yawen, confronted by the familiar face of a particularly irritating senior brother. She could feel her own anger swelling up, bolstered by the ever-present strand of resentment in the back of her mind.

Jiang Lan grimaced through clenched teeth and spat out a name like it was a profanity,

"Du Jianhao."