Chapter 2 : Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Technique Pavilion
Just as Ning Ri’s thoughts were drifting, Xun Cang finished pondering. After looking him up and down for quite a while, he grabbed his hand again. Spiritual energy once more entered his meridians. After circulating halfway through, Xun Cang withdrew his spiritual power and finally gave his conclusion:
“I think you are very well suited to join our Defying Heaven Sect.”
Ning Ri, who had still been anxiously wondering whether he could make it into the second round of interviews and whether he could join the Defying Heaven Sect at all, was instantly stunned.
Huh?
I’m suited to join just like that?
Isn’t this a little too hasty?
Xun Cang added, “Although I do not understand exactly what has happened to your body, I think your condition is extremely unusual. It is very heaven-defying.”
“It aligns very well with the principles of our sect.”
“So there is no need for you and me to go through the principles interview anymore.”
“You may pass my stage directly.”
Ning Ri was still somewhat dazed. “Ah... so that’s how it is? Then this junior thanks Elder Xun!”
That said, something still feels off...
Shouldn’t the Defying Heaven in your Defying Heaven Sect mean defying the heavens themselves?
Why does the whole vibe seem a little strange?!
Xun Cang continued, “There is no need to thank me. However, you still need to participate in a disciple trial before you can officially join the Defying Heaven Sect. As for whether you are qualified to take part in that trial, Elder Zhou of the Outer Sect will have to decide.”
“So next, you may go and meet Elder Zhou first. If he agrees, then you will be able to participate in the disciple trial.”
Upon hearing that, Ning Ri immediately said, “All right!”
...
Because Ning Ri was the last person being examined, the disciple assessment came to an end as soon as he passed.
After leaving the Defying Heaven Sect Disciple Recruitment Office, it was the stele-pretending burly man from before who led Ning Ri toward Jingui Garden, where the Outer Sect disciples carried out their activities.
Ning Ri politely asked, “Senior Brother, may I ask how this junior should address you?”
The stele-pretending burly man said, “My name is Li Cheng. You can call me Senior Brother Stele...”
Seeing the look of astonishment that flashed across Ning Ri’s face, Li Cheng explained, “Because of the path I cultivate, I need to be a testing stele lately. It is best if everyone calls me a stone stele. That way, I can strengthen my identification with being a stele.”
Ning Ri: “?”
What are you even talking about?
Is this some kind of joke?
Ning Ri forced a dry laugh. “Haha, Senior Brother Stele, pardon this junior, but why do you need to become a stone stele?”
Li Cheng did not hide anything. In a deep voice, he said, “What I cultivate is the 【Path of Defying Heaven through Wondrous Objects】. Heavenly treasures descend into the world in secret accord with the will of heaven. Wondrous objects are born and nurtured by heaven itself, and the raw material of a testing stele—【Spirit-Touch Stone】—is no exception.”
“【Spirit-Touch Stone】 can detect another person’s spirit root, directly pointing to the essence of a cultivator. It is inseparably connected to the Heavenly Dao’s power to govern the countless cultivators of the world.”
“If I can successfully become a testing stele, that will prove I have grasped a trace of heaven’s will. Then I will be able to act on behalf of heaven and successfully defy heaven.”
After hearing all that, Ning Ri found himself at a loss for words for a moment. Still, it somehow sounded rather reasonable, so he said, “Then this junior will first wish Senior Brother success in seeking the Dao, and an unobstructed path ahead.”
“Haha.” Hearing Ning Ri’s words, Li Cheng laughed, patted him on the shoulder, and asked, “Junior Brother, what are your thoughts on defying heaven?”
Upon hearing that, Ning Ri pondered for a moment before saying, “To cultivate diligently, become an immortal, live as long as heaven and earth, and in the end surpass the Heavenly Dao. That is my understanding of defying heaven.”
The moment he finished speaking, Li Cheng said in surprise, “You’re actually from the traditional cultivation school?”
Ning Ri said, “May I ask what Senior Brother means by that?”
Li Cheng replied, “The traditional cultivation school advocates focusing primarily on cultivation. What you described falls into that category, but our Defying Heaven Sect does not.”
“Traditional cultivation and ancient methods of defying heaven are not entirely useless, but their efficiency is too low. Besides, they are outdated, and the environment of heaven and earth is no longer as favorable as it was in ancient times...”
“So these days, we are researching new-style methods of defying heaven. We have not abandoned cultivation, but we place greater emphasis on finding a path of defying heaven that one’s heart truly accepts. That makes things much easier.”
At that point, Li Cheng said with some regret, “To think that you advocate traditional cultivation. That really is...”
Hearing this, Ning Ri lowered his voice and said, “Senior Brother, actually, it isn’t that I strongly advocate traditional cultivation either. I think cultivation for the new era suits us better. You know how it is—I’ve always liked the new and hated the old.”
“Ah! Junior Brother Ning, you jest.” Li Cheng saw what Ning Ri meant and hurriedly said, “Do not worry. Even if you advocate traditional cultivation, you can still join the Defying Heaven Sect. The Defying Heaven Sect merely wishes to gather fellow Daoists who harbor the will to defy heaven, so that we may seek the immortal path together. Whether you are traditional or new-style, you may still join us.”
“Come, enough of that for now. I’ll first take you to wait at the Technique Pavilion in Jingui Garden.”
“Once Elder Zhou has examined your physique, he will make the final decision.”
Ning Ri said, “Yes!”
...
After arriving at the Technique Pavilion, Li Cheng left first to look for the person he had called the master of the Technique Pavilion—Elder Zhou Heng.
As for Ning Ri, he stood outside the Technique Pavilion, thrilled beyond measure.
Looking at the ancient and elegant building before him, his heart surged with excitement.
Wasn’t this exactly why he had come to the Defying Heaven Sect in the first place?!
Li Cheng had told him he could browse freely and look around as he pleased inside the Technique Pavilion. That made him extremely happy. There was actually such a good thing in the world?!
His cheat was very simple.
As long as he had read the main text of a cultivation method once, a skill would be generated for it in his panel.
That was how he had obtained the Qi Refining Art and Gale Step before.
Once the skill was generated, he could start assigning points to it!
That was why he was so excited.
Li Cheng had let him go into the Technique Pavilion and browse however he liked. Wasn’t that like letting a mouse into a grain jar?
After entering the Technique Pavilion, Ning Ri immediately found the cultivation method section.
Because the pavilion here was only open to Qi Refining disciples, there was only a single jade slip containing a cultivation method—
【Basic Qi Refining Art】.
As for Foundation Establishment methods above that level, they were not kept here.
The way to examine a jade slip was very simple: just press it to the forehead.
Ning Ri was not picky. He immediately picked up the 【Basic Qi Refining Art】 and pressed it to his forehead...
Swish, swish, swish!
As the space before his eyes twisted, passages of the cultivation method appeared before him. The text was dense and perfectly clear. He quickly flipped through the contents up to third-level Qi Refining cultivator. One more page, and it would be fourth-grade Qi Refining...
With his eyes closed, Ning Ri looked at the jade slip, his breathing quickening. His heart pounded, his hands trembled, and as he circulated his divine sense, he began to turn the page...
A line of text came into view:
“Submit contribution points to view the full main text.”
Ning Ri: “?”
Expressionless, he put the jade slip back.
Now he understood why people were allowed to browse freely!
So it was paid reading!
But...
After thinking for a moment, Ning Ri swept his gaze around the room, and his eyes suddenly lit up...
Even if it was paid reading, there had to be free content no matter what!
He could still cultivate the free part!
He was not picky!
With that thought in mind, Ning Ri immediately picked up the technique beside it...
【Iron Bones Art of the Crocodile Turtle】!
A long section of free main text appeared before him.
The moment he finished reading it, a new skill immediately appeared on his panel—
【Iron Bones Art of the Crocodile Turtle · Incomplete】: 0
Free Skill Points: 0
Ning Ri’s reading speed was limited, and Senior Brother Stele had moved rather quickly, so he had only managed to read the free content of one jade slip before someone arrived outside the Technique Pavilion.
But he was already quite satisfied.
He could come back later and freeload some more.
Once he found an empty place later and reset 【Mortal Blade Arts】, he would be able to finish upgrading this newly acquired incomplete technique.
At that moment, Li Cheng’s voice came from outside the Technique Pavilion:
“Junior Brother Ning, Elder Zhou has arrived!”
Ning Ri had just been about to answer.
Suddenly, another excited voice rang out:
“Let me see at once just who it is that can still refine Qi with stones in their acupoints!”
“That’s way too heaven-defying!”
Ning Ri: “...”