Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

All the sects that were slightly reputable had sent their cultivators to Shang Wu City. Currently, Shang Wu City had not yet fully transformed, and it was separated by several dozen miles, so there was no immediate danger.

Many sects hoped to obtain the latest information, so they sent their disciples here to closely monitor the situation.

Among them, there were several sects with immense strength, as they all had experts at the Combined aperture tempering realm.

Within the territory of this dynasty, it was not only the Cloud Immortal Sword Sect that possessed experts at the Combined aperture tempering realm. If that were the case, the Cloud Immortal Sword Sect would not have gained fame throughout the region, but would have dominated the entire dynasty.

Combined aperture tempering realm cultivators were natural overlords. While there weren’t many experts at this realm within this dynasty, there were still a few. However, in their daily lives, most of these combined aperture tempering realm cultivators maintained their own territories and seldom interfered with one another. Each ruled their own domain, and there was no clear hierarchy among them.

Back when the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had two Combined aperture tempering realm experts simultaneously, it was already considered a formidable force among many factions, not far behind in terms of reputation.

Because of this, many people rushed to Immortal Cloud City, hoping to join the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

Around Shang Wu City, various forces had gathered, and there were occasional conflicts, but for the most part, they exercised restraint. After all, the most critical issue at the moment was the eerie being within Shang Wu City.

One day, a massive boulder suddenly flew from the direction of Shang Wu City and crashed onto the ground, producing a deafening noise.

This noise attracted nearby cultivators, who cautiously approached. After confirming that there was no danger, they gathered around and noticed that this huge rock was engraved with text. Once they carefully read the inscriptions, the expressions on their faces changed dramatically.

There is nothing else; the text on this giant stone is actually a cultivation technique. The reason that made their faces turn pale is that this cultivation teaches how to transform a cultivator into an eerie being.

It’s not about becoming half-human, half-eerie; it’s about becoming genuinely eerie, in the state of an “eerie-being.”

Being half-human and half-eerie still centers around being mostly human, with some parts of the body transformed eerily. In essence, it involves harnessing eerie power through the drive of elemental energy.

While this cultivation is also cruel, at most, it can be as unconventional. However, compared to the true eerie being state, which is considered a common enemy, there is absolutely no comparison.

After seeing this cultivation, these cultivators dared not delay and promptly relayed the information back to their respective sects or factions.

Two hours later, numerous cultivators at the Aperture tempering realm arrived at the giant stone. They looked at the recorded cultivation with solemn expressions. Some of them considered destroying the giant stone on the spot, but they were stopped by others.

Half a day later, a terrifying pressure emerged in the sky, indicating that combined aperture tempering realm experts had arrived.

It wasn’t just one of them; within moments, several waves of pressure covered the surroundings, leaving ordinary cultivators breathless. Even those at the Aperture tempering realm stage stood obediently below, not daring to make any unnecessary movements.

The giant stone was suspended in mid-air, and several consciousnesses clashed in the sky.

The contents of the cultivation had actually been transmitted to various factions almost immediately. These combined aperture tempering realm experts had already seen the cultivation’s contents.

They had come here only to confirm.

H

It can only be practiced by those at the combined aperture tempering realm, and as one’s life nears its end, the chances of success increase. It’s utterly absurd!” a voice angrily exclaimed, like the roaring thunder.

“Looking at what this cultivation says, there’s some reasoning behind it, perhaps not entirely false,” someone whispered.

“Oh, so you want to give it a try? Transform yourself into an eerie being? Well, then, your West Cliff Sect can prepare to be annihilated!” someone sneered.

“Annihilate my West Cliff Sect? Hahaha, Zhang Tu, you can certainly try, whether it’s the West Cliff Sect that gets wiped out, or if you, Zhang Tu, die in front of me first!”

“I never had the chance before, but today, I’m eager to try!” Zhang Tu said fiercely.

“Enough, we haven’t dealt with Master Xi Lian yet, and you’re already fighting amongst yourselves. This will become a joke!” someone quickly tried to mediate.

“Hmph!” Zhang Tu snorted coldly and said no more.

“Eliminate an old man like me? 1 kindly offered you this cultivation, and this is how you repay me?”

A sinister voice echoed in the sky, and a chilling aura instantly spread in all directions. The combined aperture tempering realm experts ignored this chill, but the cultivators on the ground felt their bodies stiffening.

The aperture tempering realm experts only sensed their elemental energy slowing down, but for those below the aperture tempering realm, even moving a step seemed almost impossible.

“Master Xi Lian? You old man, you dare to show up today! Everyone, let’s join forces and eliminate this eerie being!” Zhang Tu’s aura suddenly exploded, and his killing intent covered the direction of the Shang Wu City.

“Killing an old man like me is a minor matter, I can be killed at any time. But don’t you want to understand this cultivation a bit?” A figure appeared in mid-air, and it was Master Xi Lian himself.

He looked at the surrounding combined aperture tempering realm experts with a faint smile and said, “Becoming an eerie being may have many drawbacks, but one thing you cannot deny is that it greatly extends our lifespan.”

A few combined aperture tempering realm experts, who had been gearing up with Zhang Tu’s words, couldn’t help but show a hint of curiosity at Master Xi Lian’s words.

The lifespan in the aperture tempering realm is two hundred years, while in the combined aperture tempering realm, it’s three hundred years.

Three hundred years, in the context of the average human lifespan in this world, is nearly four to five times longer. To ordinary people, individuals with such lifespans appear godlike.

However, for those in the combined aperture tempering realm, three hundred years is still too short. It’s not enough time for them to advance to the next level of cultivation.

In any faction or power, combined aperture tempering realm experts are considered supreme beings. No one surpasses them, and they are born rulers.

They enjoy all the world’s riches, and their every word is obeyed without question. It’s a life of unparalleled freedom and indulgence. Three hundred years are simply inadequate.

But unfortunately, combined aperture tempering realm experts can only reach a lifespan of three hundred years. Increasing it even slightly is exceedingly difficult. Lifespan is something they all avoid but ultimately have to confront.

ii

Do you intend to devour all of us to extend your lifespan?” Zhang Tu sneered.

“I can sustain my wisdom by just consuming only fifty thousand people a year.

If you all cultivate, you would need just this many people as well. Isn’t this a good deal?” Master Xi Lian laughed loudly.

The expressions of several combined aperture tempering realm experts changed.

Is fifty thousand people a year too much? It seems like it because the combined population of many towns might not even reach fifty thousand. Devouring fifty thousand people in a year would be equivalent to consuming an entire town.

However, at the same time, fifty thousand a year might not be considered much. Because this kingdom is vast with many towns, fifty thousand seems insignificant in comparison.

If becoming an eerie being and maintaining one’s wisdom only requires these conditions, it doesn’t seem entirely unacceptable. After all, compared to exhausting one’s lifespan and facing death, living on is undoubtedly more tempting.

“Nonsense! Just with your words, how can you disrupt our mental state?” Zhang Tu shouted angrily, and a surge of blade light swallowed Master Xi Lian’s phantom.

“Hahaha, this technique, you all can take it back and contemplate it. If you have any doubts, feel free to come find me. I’ll be waiting!” Master Xi Lian’s voice resonated from the direction of Shang Wu City, shaking the surroundings.

Zhang Tu glanced at the other combined aperture tempering realm experts with his stern face. With a flash, he disappeared, realizing that the others had lost interest in surrounding and killing Master Xi Lian.

They were all captivated by Master Xi Lian’s words.

It didn’t necessarily mean they would cultivate it, as becoming an eerie being was not a trivial matter. But contemplating the technique back home was entirely reasonable.

As for killing Master Xi Lian, Shang Wu City was still there, and whether it happened sooner or later didn’t matter much.

The oppressive aura in the sky gradually dissipated, and the cultivators on the ground couldn’t help but exhale a sigh of relief. The words they had just heard weighed heavily on their hearts.

Especially for those combined aperture tempering realm experts, they understood the pain of nearing the end of their lifespan and being unable to break through in their cultivation. If they could extend their lives, many cultivators might resort to various means.

Master Xi Lian’s technique became widely known quickly because too many people and factions were aware of it, making it impossible to keep it a secret. It soon spread far and wide.

News about the combined aperture tempering realm and the appearance of an eerie being was naturally suited for spreading, so all the streets and alleys in every city were abuzz with discussions about this matter.

Countless people cursed vehemently, filled with anger.

There were also many who felt uneasy, not knowing if this was true or false. If it were true, would those combined aperture tempering realm experts, akin to gods, really choose to cultivate this?

If it were true, it would be a disaster for ordinary people.

In the Primordial Sword Sect, Chen Fei also heard these rumors, and his brow furrowed.

Master Xi Lian’s move had effectively scattered the combined aperture tempering realm experts who were surrounding him. At least for a short period, it was unlikely that any combined aperture tempering realm experts would attempt to surround and kill him.

The power of an eerie being was inherently versatile, and Master Xi Lian had intentionally transformed Shang Wu City into an Eerie Being City, greatly inflating his own power.

As a result, without several combined aperture tempering realm experts cooperating, it was impossible to destroy Shang Wu City.

However, such battles would inevitably lead to casualties. Each combined aperture tempering realm expert was an important figure in their faction, and any misstep would be a massive disaster for their respective forces.

Cooperation was already difficult, and now this new technique had completely disrupted the situation.

Master Xi Lian had played a big move, and it remained to be seen how the various parties would respond to this eerie being.

The question remained: Would there really be combined aperture tempering realm experts nearing the end of their lifespan who would choose to cultivate this technique in exchange for a longer life?

Everyone values their life, especially those high and mighty combined aperture tempering realm experts!

Chen Fei’s gaze involuntarily shifted toward the Primordial Sword Sect. If we’re talking about combined aperture tempering realm experts nearing the end of their lifespan, wasn’t there one right there?

“Is Master Chen here?” Chi Shuqing, from the Sunken Water Pavilion, stood outside Chen Fei’s courtyard, smiling warmly and speaking softly.

Chen Fei appeared outside the courtyard, looking somewhat surprised at Chi Shuqing. Compared to their last meeting, Chi Shuqing had become even more charming and enchanting. In her gaze towards Chen Fei, there were even more ripples like water.

“Has your injuries fully healed?” Chen Fei asked with a smile.

“The last time your treatment was extremely effective, and my cultivation has improved a bit as well. I’m deeply grateful,” Chi Shuqing said with a slight bow, a hint of blush quietly creeping up her cheeks..