Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique

Though not born into poverty, Mu Lin’s grandfather had aged, and he refused to burden the old man further.

This left Mu Lin acutely aware of his inability to cultivate through wealth. He eliminated vast categories of cultivation methods, then grimly realized most techniques in the sprawling Scripture Pavilion demanded specific resources. Few required only Hard Practice to succeed – and those were generally weak.

【Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique】

【Grade: Earth-level Low】

【Consume Black Water Mystic Serpent’s vital blood to forge its serpentine physique, shedding mortality to attain draconic form. Mastery grants mountain-lifting strength and ability to summon winds and rain.】

【Requirements: Black Water Mystic Serpent’s vital blood…】

【Five Organs and Five Ghosts Diagram】

【Train the five organs to command five ghosts. At mastery, manipulate the five elements through ghosts and nurture five guardian deities.】

【Requirements: Five ghosts, abundant spiritual materials for vitality…】

【Blood God Blade】

【Sacrifice one’s own vital blood…】

【Requirements: Massive blood-replenishing materials or high-grade blood…】

Scanning these entries, Mu Lin numbly noticed stronger cultivation methods demanded rare resources or special constitutions. Even sword cultivators needing minimal external aids required quality spiritual blades for proper training.

He finally muttered with bitter amusement: "Only a handful of methods need nothing – mostly lowly Yellow-level. Few Xuan or Earth-level… at least this narrows my choices." He’d have preferred three days of deliberation over this forced efficiency.

Two incense sticks later, Mu Lin finished reviewing viable options and settled on two techniques:

【Nine Turns Breathing Technique】

【Mind Intent Sword】

The Nine Turns Breathing Technique required only absorbing and Refining spiritual energy. Its Xuan-level ranking came solely from energy purification through nine cycles – but this multiplied cultivation time.

"The hundred days of awakening favors early progress. Even avoiding a ‘D’ rating matters. This technique’s slowness guarantees failure." Shaking his head, he examined 【Mind Intent Sword】.

This sword technique prioritized mental cultivation over blade quality, demanding only forging a sword from pure will. Its soul-piercing attacks ranked among Scripture Pavilion’s strongest – all Earth-level methods here were Low grade, including this one.

Yet its fatal flaw overshadowed advantages: extreme difficulty. Other methods offered guidance paths or elder consultation, but this…

The Mind Intent Sword cultivation method focused on the power of the mind and spirit—this truly required personal enlightenment, as no one else could teach it.

Yet the mind was unpredictable and thoughts elusive. Mu Lin himself did not feel confident about mastering this technique.

In the end, the helpless Mu Lin could only turn his attention back to the Paper Folding Secret Manual.

"No other options left."

"Resource-free cultivation methods are rare. Unless I settle for Yellow-level techniques with no future prospects… Though the Paper Folding Secret Manual has poor reputation, the Yin Eight Sect remains a millennia-old inheritance. Its grade reaches top-tier Earth-level—the best method available to me!"

After deciding to practice the Paper Folding Secret Manual, Mu Lin immediately retrieved the first technique he’d examined earlier—the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique.

His reason for choosing it was to compensate for the manual’s flaws, though this would be addressed later.

With his selection made, Mu Lin brought the jade slip to the elder managing the Scripture Pavilion for unsealing.

Only the first three levels were revealed—subsequent layers required contribution points. The Great Spirit Dynasty hadn’t established the Taoist Palace for charity; they needed skilled Taoist Palace students to work, using advanced techniques as leverage.

Mu Lin didn’t complain. Only powerful beings could afford grievances—he simply obeyed the rules.

The unsealing proceeded without incident. The disinterested elder barely spoke to him.

Soon Mu Lin pressed the jade slip to his forehead for memorization. This proved simple—the slip directly transmitted information.

"Hiss…"

He grimaced as the Black Water Mystic Serpent’s Transformation Technique’s extensive content made his head throb from the sudden influx.

Rubbing his temples, Mu Lin headed to the classroom instead of his dorm. Two reasons drew him there: Teacher Ma provided guidance, and a spiritual energy node beneath the room enhanced cultivation.

As he reached for the classroom door, it opened before he could touch it. Teacher Ma emerged with a cold-faced girl.

"???"

Though curious about their business, Mu Lin stayed clear. He leaned against the wall until they passed before entering.

Inside, he found his previously excited classmates thoroughly dejected. Even the perpetually cheerful fatty Zong Xiu looked crushed.

Approaching Zong Xiu, Mu Lin whispered: "What happened?"

"Sigh… We got humbled." The chubby youth sighed deeper. "Brother Mu, why must the gap between people be so vast? Why must Qi Practitioners be divided between Level 1 and Level 2 Spiritual Roots?"

Mu Lin rolled his eyes. "I should be complaining! At least you have ‘Good’ Spiritual Roots Talent—mine’s rated ‘Average’!"

Zong Xiu chuckled awkwardly, his mood slightly lifted by having someone beneath him. He then explained their dismay:

It concerned the cold-faced girl—Ji Xue, one of Taoist Palace’s three first-class talents. She’d just Successfully Awakened.