Chapter 15 Evergreen Technique (Thanks to the leader Ye Luo Xi Yang Xie!)

It was the transformation brought by the "Return to Nature" level of Soul Searching Technique.

Junior Brother Ning, Ning Daoran, pondered for a moment.

As his mastery of the Soul Searching Technique deepened, his spiritual power grew stronger, causing a quantitative change that eventually led to a qualitative transformation.

When the Soul Searching Technique reached the supreme realm of "Return to Nature," he unexpectedly developed Divine Sense ahead of time!

Possessing Divine Sense in the Qi Refinement Middle Stage was outlandish, but due to the "Return to Nature" aspect of the Soul Searching Technique, it seemed quite reasonable.

His Divine Sense began to madly patrol around Qiongbi Peak!

At Spirit field number 78, Ma Quanyou was picking his feet while admiring his mountainous, hefty chest muscles in a copper mirror.

At Spirit field number 79, Granny Yun Cui was cooking porridge, Chen Weimo's favorite dish.

At Spirit field number 80, the couple Hong Ming and Zhong Yan... well, that's indescribable.

At Spirit field number 81, Huang Shan was practicing cultivation, seemingly a wood attribute technique, but he was so bad that he was sweating profusely from urgency.

...

It was said that cultivators in the Early-stage Foundation Establishment could scan dozens of meters with their Divine Sense, but Ning Daoran could scan areas a hundred meters away. Did this mean his Divine Sense was even stronger than those in the Early-stage Foundation Establishment?

Outlandish, but acceptable!

Soon, he withdrew his Divine Sense. It was enough fun for the first time; he shouldn't be too arrogant.

If someone powerful within the sect detected his Divine Sense, and they came looking for him, that would truly be a grave danger.

Thus, it was better to keep his Divine Sense hidden and use it only when needed.

Days continued to pass.

During this time, Han Bing visited several times, and with the resources of a direct disciple from the Inner Sect, she had already broken through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer a year ago. Ning Daoran always felt that Han Bing's future realm might possibly be higher than his own.

...

"Junior Brother Ning!"

Outside the Small Cloud Mist Array, a familiar voice called out.

An Inner Fire Feather Hall disciple, Lin Sheng!

Lin Sheng, although impulsive and a believer in being "Courageous and Diligent," still followed proper protocols. He wouldn't barge into the Small Cloud Mist Array without a response from Ning Daoran, despite, to Lin Sheng at the Late-stage Qi Refining, the defense of the Small Cloud Mist Array being almost non-existent.

Entering the Small Cloud Mist Array for him was like pushing open a rickety, crumbling door.

"Senior Brother Lin!"

Ning Daoran opened the array and said with a smile, "Come on in!"

Lin Sheng strode into the small courtyard, looked around as usual, and laughed, "It seems like there's still no improvement in Junior Brother's cultivation. It really worries me!"

In his left hand, he carried a jug of Spiritual Wine, and in his right, a carp weighing at least two pounds, its tail fins glimmering with gold and its body pulsing with rich spiritual energy.

"Spirit fish?"

Ning Daoran was dumbfounded.

"Ah, you recognize it? I thought you wouldn't."

Lin Sheng laughed heartily, "This Spirit fish is a great item. I bought it from a vendor for four spirit stones. Let's cook it well and the three of us brothers will drink together!"

"Sure!"

Ning Daoran immediately picked up the Spirit fish, "Old Lu, make it braised!"

Before long, a table full of dishes was set up, with the Spirit fish being the most eye-catching. Its flesh was fresh and tender and contained rich spiritual energy, which could enhance blood qi and improve cultivation upon consumption.

"Senior Brother Lin."

Ning Daoran poured the wine and smiled, "Is there some good news?"

"Indeed."

Lin Sheng grinned, "Not to hide from you, but I've just broken through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, and have been promoted to a deacon in the Inner Fire Feather Hall. I now have over a dozen junior brothers under me, and I've earned a lot of contributions from several extremely difficult tasks I recently completed for the Sect."

"Good for you, Senior Brother Lin!"

Ning Daoran clinked glasses with him, "As your Junior Brother, I'm gloating!"

"This is exactly why I came to speak to you."

Lin Sheng said, "Junior Brother, you barely leave the door, always taking the simplest Outer Sect tasks. When will you amass enough Sect contributions?"

He raised an eyebrow slightly, eyes full of vigor, "Tell me, which cultivation techniques from the Contribution Hall do you want? We can't exchange for the three True Inheritance Techniques, and only the Sect Leader's senior sister can learn the Inheritance Techniques, so let's not discuss those. Just name it, and I'll exchange it for you."

"Ah?"

Ning Daoran's mind buzzed. Swapping for any presentable cultivation technique in the sect required a lot of contributions, and Lin Sheng was willing to exchange cultivation techniques for him. This truly meant treating him as a brother...

"Maybe not."

He smiled, "The contributions you earned were also earned by risking your life. Besides, you need resources for your own cultivation. It's better to keep them for yourself to exchange for Advancement Elixirs."

"Lin Sheng."

Lin Sheng's expression suddenly turned cold, "Do you not consider me, Lin Sheng, your brother?"

"How could I not..."

Ning Daoran felt a tingling in his scalp.

"Enough talk, just tell me which cultivation technique you want. As long as it's not exclusive teachings like the True Yang Furnace Technique or the Purple Cloud Sword Technique, I can get it for you!"

"Alright then."

Ning Daoran saw that Lin Sheng was really about to turn hostile and said, "Senior brother, if I am fortunate enough to reach the Qi Refining Mid Stage, then I plan to choose both wood and fire attribute techniques. The two complement each other, wood attribute techniques assist in advancement, and fire attribute techniques aid in combat, so..."

"I understand."

Lin Sheng laughed and asked, "The Evergreen Technique or the Flame Sun Skill, which one do you want?"

The Chaotic Sect was not a large sect, and there weren't many cultivation techniques suitable for Qi Refinement Realm. For wood attributes, there was the Evergreen Technique, and for fire attributes, the Flame Sun Skill, but these techniques could only be obtained from the Sect once a cultivator reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and only one copy each.

If you wanted more, you'd have to rely on exchanging Sect contributions.

"Let's go with the Evergreen Technique then."

Ning Daoran said, "I've heard that once the Evergreen Technique is cultivated to a deep level, it can increase one's lifespan..."

"Hold on!"

Lin Sheng dashed off in a rush, exiting the Small Cloud Mist Array and took to the skies with his Royal Weapon!

In less than half the time needed for a cup of tea, Lin Sheng returned.

He tossed a jade scroll inscribed with the Evergreen Technique to Ning Daoran, and the dishes hadn't even cooled down yet!

'Damn…'

Ning Daoran silently exclaimed in his mind, Senior Brother Lin was awesome, acting with such decisiveness!

He quickly stuffed the jade scroll into his chest and lifted his cup, saying, "Senior brother, let's keep drinking. I'll remember this!"

"Mm, why should we stand on ceremony between brothers?"

Lin Sheng laughed heartily, "Junior brother, as long as the Evergreen Technique is suitable for you, then my contribution wasn't wasted. Come, drink more spiritual wine, break through your realm soon, don't let your senior brother wait for you too long in the Foundation Establishment Stage!"

"I'll try my best, hahaha~~~"

Ning Daoran determined in his heart, Lin Sheng was truly a good brother to him, he would never let him down in the future.

Even if it involved some karma and risk, he would never fail Senior Brother Lin!

...

After a satisfying meal and drink, Lin Sheng departed.

Ning Daoran went down to a secret chamber twenty zhang underground.

"Burp~~"

After a satisfying belch, he cautiously took out the jade scroll from his chest. This scroll, which Lin Sheng obtained in exchange for a large amount of Sect contributions, was extremely precious to Ning Daoran.

The jade scroll with the duplicated technique was a one-time use item, meaning, once a cultivator opened it with their spiritual sense, only they could open it hereafter.

If a second person tried to open the jade scroll with their spiritual sense, it would trigger a self-destruct mechanism within the scroll.

Upon channeling his divine sense, the jade scroll activated, and the Evergreen Technique was uploaded into the Grass and Wood Holy Spirit System.

There were still over ten thousand years left in refining time. Should he use a little now?

Then save up a few more years' worth of refining time to prepare for attempting the Return to Nature Level Body Tempering Technique?

He hesitated for a short while, then decided to start cultivating.

The Evergreen Technique was said to be exceedingly slow but very stable in cultivation, and at very high levels, it was said to replenish the physical body and extend one's lifespan due to the abundant wood attribute spiritual power.

However, there were few in the entire Chaotic Sect who cultivated the Evergreen Technique.

The reason was not only that it consumed too much cultivation time but also that the Evergreen Technique, being a wood attribute technique, offered very limited enhancement for combat. If one could not master offensive techniques, even if one's Evergreen Technique reached a high level, they would still just be a lucky charm.

A late-stage Foundation Establishment who was not adept in combat might not even defeat an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator of the gold or fire attribute!

It was said that many in the Chaotic Sect once chose the Evergreen Technique as their main cultivation technique and later regretted it!

Most of these people remained in the Qi Refinement Realm, and even if a few talented ones reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, they were still at a weaker level.

Basically, those who cultivated the Evergreen Technique either ended up alchemists or spirit plant growers, not achieving much.

But Ning Daoran had no such concerns; it was merely about spending some extra refining time.

And once the Evergreen Technique was cultivated to a sufficiently high level, not only could he increase his lifespan and eliminate the anxiety over lifespan but also, as wood generates fire, a highly advanced Evergreen Technique could nourish the Flame Sun Skill or even the True Yang Furnace Technique he planned to cultivate later.

Ning Daoran's cultivation plan had been clear for a while: once he reached the Late-stage Qi Refining, he would obtain a copy of the Flame Sun Skill, mastering the fire attribute technique first.

And there was a rule in the Sect: once a Sect Disciple reached Foundation Establishment, they could choose one from the three Great True Inheritance Techniques. Ning Daoran had set his sights on the True Yang Furnace Technique.

Ever since he had seen Lin Sheng use the True Yang Furnace Technique once, it left an impression of iron-blooded, fiery masculinity on Ning Daoran. In that moment, he felt that his path to cultivation had to be just like that, a cultivation of pure masculinity shining brightly like the sun!

...

He sat cross-legged, slowly closing his eyes, pouring the refined time into the cultivation technique.

[In the fourth year, as you look at the Evergreen Technique, it feels vaguely familiar. You feel this technique seems specifically designed for you as your wood attribute spirit root begins to stir]

[Evergreen Technique. Yellow Rank Top Grade (First Layer)]

[In the nineteenth year, as you repeatedly study the Evergreen Technique, understanding its subtleties, your wood attribute spirit root grows healthier and the wood attribute spiritual power inside your body grows denser]

[Evergreen Technique. Yellow Rank Top Grade (Second Layer)]

"Ah?"

Ning Daoran was baffled. So fast? Could it be that I have an extraordinary talent that remarkably matches the Evergreen Technique?!

Since that's the case, continue practicing. Since there's plenty of refined time left, the Return to Nature Level Body Tempering Technique can wait!