Chapter 12: Choosing Techniques and Diligent Practice

The scripture pavilion was a grand hall measuring thirty meters in length and twenty meters in width. Inside, the books were not overcrowded but rather loosely arranged, totaling around a thousand volumes.

These thousand books were all cultivation techniques for the innate realm, capable of being cultivated up to the Golden Core realm. In the outside world, they would be considered top-tier martial arts secrets, but here, there were a thousand of them.

Fifty-five individuals had already found the techniques they desired and were diligently reciting them.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shan began meticulously browsing through each book, one by one. Among the selections, there were a total of sixteen books with a white imprint at the back, indicating they were the finest secrets.

After spending half a day filtering through them, Zhang Shan finally selected two technique manuals: the "Great Sun Divine Technique" and the "Yin True Scripture." One was focused on extreme strength, while the other emphasized extreme softness. Each manual had ten layers, with the formation of true essence at the sixth layer and a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm after the tenth layer.

The "Great Sun Divine Technique" was for physical cultivation, while the "Yin True Scripture" was for practicing in the distant Zhong mansion.

Compared to the "Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture" and the "Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Art," the content of these two books was evidently shorter.

Feeling hungry, Zhang Shan decided to return for a meal. Once satiated, he planned to come back to continue memorizing the scriptures. During this time, Zhang Shan did not transcribe these techniques but carried them with him to memorize. It wasn't that Zhang Shan hadn't considered transcribing them; he understood the importance of the first read-through, as it often led to the most profound insights.

Eight days later, Zhang Shan had completely memorized the contents of the two manuals.

His dwelling was nestled within a valley, boasting a splendid environment with a waterfall cascading into a deep pool. Adjacent to it was a small courtyard, surrounded by a patch of land where a plethora of seeds provided by the Kaiyang Sect lay.

Looking at the seeds in the house, Zhang Shan felt somewhat perplexed. Self-sufficiency? In the Kaiyang Sect, there were no servants, and everything relied on oneself. If one found it troublesome, they could hunt animals in the mountains for food or gather some spiritual fruits to eat, as the entire internal area was an entire mountain range with abundant resources. However, one needed to be wary of fierce beasts in the mountains; if one died, there would be no one to take care of it.

In the residences of the disciples, it was absolutely safe because each dwelling was protected by an array, preventing poisonous insects and fierce beasts from approaching.

Of course, only those in the innate realm still needed to eat. Once they reached the Golden Core realm, they could rely on the energy of heaven and earth instead of grains and miscellaneous grains.

Looking at the seeds, Zhang Shan felt somewhat strange, but in the end, he sorted them out—some for vegetables, some for rice. After spending a few days, Zhang Shan divided the patch of land next to the house and planted the seeds accordingly. By the time he was done, everything was in perfect order.

Inside the house, there were various utensils, evidently used by previous occupants.

The Taiyin Scripture was a supreme Yin cultivation method, complemented by a set of sword techniques. For now, Zhang Shan practiced it with his hidden body, as he had recently reached the innate realm, making it just the right time to cultivate.

The Dayang Divine Technique, on the other hand, was an extremely Yang cultivation method, paired with knife techniques. Practicing it around flames could enhance its effects.

Fire? Where would he find fire? Zhang Shan looked around the place, puzzled by its pristine cleanliness. He couldn't help but feel incredibly strange—back in the Great Kun Empire, whatever he wanted, he got. Here, why did it feel like he was even more miserable than a poor farmer?

However, for the sake of his cultivation path, Zhang Shan endured it.

Closing his eyes, he began the first stage of the Dayang Divine Technique. This technique refined the muscles, skin, tendons, and bones with true qi. Zhang Shan quickly immersed himself in the practice, spending half a day on it until dusk approached, just barely grasping the basics.

Having exhausted his provisions, he caught some fresh fish from a nearby pond and cooked himself a meal.

The night passed in cultivation, with Zhang Shan not slacking off in the slightest. The next day, as soon as it dawned, he picked up the large knife that was already in the house and, along with some rope, went to chop firewood.

Once outside the valley's protective array, it was no longer safe. Gently observing the surrounding forest, Zhang Shan didn't venture too deep, only cutting down two large trees on the outskirts and dragging them back with the rope.

Outside the courtyard, he chopped the trees into smaller pieces and stored them in the woodshed.

Next, Zhang Shan practiced his knife techniques.

Within the Dayang Divine Technique, there were only two knife techniques: "Forcefully Splitting the Mountain" and "Cutting Down All Enemies." However, when it came to knife techniques, one must pay attention to the rhythm of splitting and cutting. All things had weak points; it wasn't about brute force but finding those weak points. Just like the grain of a tree, if one could strike within its pattern, the power would multiply, creating a profound effect.

Then chopping wood it was. Zhang Shan quickly discovered that the wood with the most grain lines was the easiest to practice on.

With the wood he had chopped in the morning, Zhang Shan began his wood-chopping career. Following the movements and techniques of the Dayang Divine Technique, he chopped down piece after piece. The former rich young master found himself doing manual labor.

At first, if his body movements were off, his knife techniques would be wrong. Even when his knife techniques were correct, he couldn't accurately hit the grain lines. Even if he did hit them, the grain lines would suddenly change midway, preventing him from chopping all the way through.

However, Zhang Shan persisted.

Two days later, his body movements and knife techniques had become proficient, but he still couldn't chop all the way through along a single grain line. Disappointed in himself, Zhang Shan went to fetch more wood and found that all the wood had been chopped into small pieces.

None of the wood was left intact.

Looking at the chopped wood, Zhang Shan kept some for cooking and brought the rest outside the courtyard. He dug a large pit according to his specifications and made square blocks of soil to place on the side.

He filled the pit with the chopped wood.

Zhang Shan then positioned himself in the center of the pit where there was no wood, lit a fire, and sat cross-legged. Flames rose around him as he began to continuously practice the Dayang Divine Technique.

Under the intense heat of the fire, the Dayang Divine Technique stimulated his cultivation. Zhang Shan felt as if the flames were constantly tempering his body, while his true qi absorbed the heat from the fire, nourishing him continuously.

His entire body was flushed red by the flames, but Zhang Shan felt that this method of cultivation was more than twice as fast as before.

Having tasted the benefits, Zhang Shan redoubled his efforts in cultivation until all the wood around him turned into ashes, and the flames died out before he finally rested.

Watching the ashes in the pit, Zhang Shan quickly dug them out and brought them to the nearby fields as fertilizer, making good use of waste.

Whether chopping wood to practice knife techniques or burning wood to cultivate his spiritual power, even during rest, Zhang Shan worked hard to keep his true qi flowing and maintained a state of cultivation. Without stopping for a moment, Zhang Shan practiced the Dayang Divine Technique very diligently.

Finally, after a month, he reached the first level of the Dayang Divine Technique. The first level! After a month of effort, Zhang Shan's face showed extreme excitement.

At this moment, not far from Zhang Shan's courtyard, near the vegetable field, there was a big house. Beside it was a large shed, stacked with chopped wood. This big house was built by Zhang Shan himself during this period—a kiln, a large kiln.

While practicing, flames rose inside, and Zhang Shan sat in the center, resisting the heat, tempering his body, and practicing the Dayang Divine Technique. At the same time, he also made bricks and stones, baking them into bricks for his own use in building the house.

It was in this kiln that Zhang Shan achieved the first level of the Dayang Divine Technique.

Naked, Zhang Shan pushed open the stone door and stepped out of the kiln. His entire body was hairless, burned clean by the flames, yet miraculously, his skin remained unblackened, just slightly reddened.

Reaching the edge of the deep pool, he plunged in and carefully washed his body. After the cleansing, he felt much more comfortable all over. After preparing some food, he resumed his training. In addition to the Dayang Divine Technique, Zhang Shan also practiced the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture and the Devil's Body Tempering Technique. Although these two techniques were auxiliary, they still possessed their own mystical aspects.

Due to the wear and tear on his clothes from his training, Zhang Shan usually trained shirtless.

The next day, Zhang Shan left the valley with his knife to chop wood.

Meanwhile, inside the Open Sun Hall, Tianxingzi, the Widowed Sister, and Xuexinzi had already returned. They all frowned in silence, as if they had just finished discussing something.

At that moment, Tianling Er, who had received news, suddenly ran into the main hall.

"Dad, did you get the Somersault Cloud?" Tianling Er immediately asked upon entering the hall.

"Somersault Cloud?" Tianxingzi paused noticeably, while the Widowed Sister and Xuexinzi looked at Tianling Er strangely.

Somersault Cloud? What Somersault Cloud?

"That guy named Zhang Shan told me about it. Don't lie to me," Tianling Er said playfully.

"Told you what?" Tianxingzi frowned, casting a strange glance at Tianling Er.

"It's the Somersault Cloud, a cloud that can travel tens of thousands of miles with just one leap!" Tianling Er exclaimed excitedly.

The three exchanged glances, then simultaneously stared at Tianling Er with mouths agape.