Chapter Fifty: Departure

Carefully putting away the Spirit Farmer's Handbook, Zhou Changwang then took out several jade slips he had purchased from the Sixfold Pavilion.

Compared to the jade slips engraved by independent cultivators, those bought from the Sixfold Pavilion were noticeably more elegant and refined. Zhou Changwang first turned his attention to the Defensive Technique.

In the previous battle, if not for the protection of the Golden Shield Talisman, even if he had managed to slay Wang Chang, he would have been severely injured himself. Now that the Golden Shield Talisman was spent, he naturally needed to learn a method of defense, so that should danger arise again, he would have some guarantee of safety.

He immersed his mind within the jade slip.

A long while later, Zhou Changwang returned to himself.

“This Defensive Technique isn’t difficult to cultivate, though its rune structure is somewhat complex, with as many as seven distinct runes.”

So thinking, Zhou Changwang began to practice each rune structure within his mind, familiarizing himself with the spell. This was always the most troublesome part of learning a new spell—the necessity to ‘write’ the runes using one’s own spiritual energy. One had to fully master the structure before the spell could be cast successfully.

Each unfamiliar rune was intricate and three-dimensional, and trying to commit it to memory was no easy feat. It was like copying a complicated landscape painting: even if one merely traced it, the slightest error would lead to great divergence.

Half an hour passed.

Feeling he had memorized the rune structures, Zhou Changwang began to attempt casting the spell.

Once, twice, three times, four times...

Failure, failure, failure...

Attempt after attempt, failure after failure. This was a familiar process. Possessing an attribute panel did not allow him to skip it.

Fortunately, he had experience cultivating other spells, some to minor or even major proficiency, and his understanding of rune structures was substantial.

After more than thirty attempts—

Buzz!

Finally, he completed the last rune structure, and his spiritual energy activated it.

The spell formed instantly.

Defensive Technique +1

Defensive Technique: Beginner!

At once, he felt a thin layer of shield envelop him.

This shield covered his entire body, yet did not obstruct his vision or impede his spellcasting.

“So, the Defensive Technique is mastered. The next step is to practice it repeatedly, to improve proficiency.” Zhou Changwang sighed, shifting his attention to the next spell—Lightfoot Technique.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Defensive Technique dissipated naturally. Zhou Changwang quickly cast it again, maintaining the spell without interruption.

An hour later, he successfully cast the Lightfoot Technique as well. The experience for Defensive Technique rose to (Beginner 8/100).

Next came Soundproofing Technique and Divination Technique...

Of the two, Soundproofing was the simplest, with only three rune structures; after a dozen or so attempts, he mastered it. As for Divination Technique, perhaps due to its nature as a calculation spell, it was notably difficult, with nine runes—almost as complex as a mid-tier spell.

Zhou Changwang practiced for two full hours, failing hundreds or thousands of times before finally succeeding and mastering it.

Once the spell succeeded, he felt a strange aura radiate outward, and then—nothing more happened.

“Perhaps it’s because there is no danger nearby?” Zhou Changwang muttered, not doubting the spell’s effectiveness, for the attribute panel clearly showed Divination Technique: Beginner.

Lastly came Breath Concealment Technique and Sword Control Technique.

Breath Concealment was not difficult; he mastered it within half an hour. Sword Control was about as challenging as Divination, but to unleash its full power, it needed to be paired with a magical tool—hence its high price.

After combining it with his magical tool, Zhou Changwang suffered some losses... The room was left with many scratches.

And that was with him deliberately controlling the spell.

“This spell is best practiced in open spaces,” Zhou Changwang mused, a smile creeping onto his face.

With Sword Control mastered, he could finally direct his magical tool with more flexibility, no longer limited to straight lines—it could turn and change direction as he willed.

As for wielding it with absolute freedom?

Zhou Changwang thought that would be possible only after reaching proficiency, or perhaps minor mastery, in Sword Control.

...

Several days passed.

Zhou Changwang stood at the city gate of the market town.

In the distance, a caravan of over a hundred people was gathering. Within the caravan, bloodsilver horses and single-horned wild oxen—spirit beasts—pulled wagons piled high with goods.

“Father, take care on your journey,” Zhou Changwang said, gazing at Zhou Qiankun, his expression complex.

Half a month earlier, his father had told him he would be leaving—returning to the mortal world, to live for himself.

Now that the moment had truly arrived, Zhou Changwang felt a touch of sorrow.

“Don’t worry, your father has traveled far and wide for so many years—what storms have I not weathered? This time I’m retiring to my homeland, and there’s no need to pass through dangerous places. There won’t be any trouble. The chests of gold and silver you gave me are more than enough for a wealthy life.

It’s you I worry for—after I leave, you’ll be here alone. Be careful. Above all, preserve your life; never take risks. Do you know why I sent you to the Spirit Herb Hall? Because the spirit cultivator’s profession is the safest in the cultivation world.

Though you weren’t chosen by the Spirit Herb Hall’s cultivators, and could only become a Spirit Farmer, it’s a stable job, and I can rest easy...”

With departure imminent, Zhou Qiankun, usually reserved, became uncharacteristically talkative, imparting much advice, most of it drawn from experience.

Zhou Changwang nodded attentively, without the slightest impatience.

“By the way, the reason I never let you learn martial arts wasn’t just my own preference; the real reason is that the martial path is a terrible drain on time. An ordinary person spends decades to achieve mastery and reach the innate stage. Even in the cultivation world, where resources are plentiful, it takes at least ten years—far too much for too little gain.

But after many years of observation, I’ve noticed that, though cultivators are powerful, their strength lies in spells—their bodies are quite weak. If a martial artist gets close, the cultivator’s combat ability drops sharply; they’re no match. I’ve even managed to slay mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators in close combat myself.”

Here Zhou Qiankun grew a little proud, then continued seriously: “So, I left you the ‘Eight Styles of Heavenly Origin.’ Practice it when you have time; at the very least, it will strengthen your body.”

“Zhou Qiankun...”

Just then, someone from the caravan called out.

“Coming,” Zhou Qiankun replied, giving Zhou Changwang’s shoulder a final pat, fixing him with a steady gaze, then waving once, and turning away.