Chapter 39
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Chapter 39: Mental Cultivation Technique
Having finally reached level 10 with the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, Zhang Yu now planned to switch his Feather Book’s specialization and choose another cultivation art to upgrade.
After deciding not to sign a contract with the Student Council and instead fight his way into one of the Top Ten Universities, Zhang Yu had come to a few realizations.
First, without the Student Council’s investment, his resources would inevitably be far more limited.
Furthermore, to get into one of the Ten Greats, the pressure he would face in the future would be much greater than what he is experiencing now.
His resources will be limited, yet the pressure will become even heavier.
Therefore, Zhang Yu knew he had to be meticulous in allocating and utilizing his resources to ensure he could develop quickly and efficiently in the same amount of time.
To achieve this, he had to play to his strengths, which were his absolute self-discipline and astonishing potential.
Simply put, he needed to practice a stronger and more difficult cultivation art.
For Zhang Yu, the master of the Feather Book, the logic was simple. If he was going to diligently practice a cultivation art, the more powerful it was, the better the results.
It was like having one Zhang Yu diligently practice the Great Desolate Heaven-Imprisoning Finger while another focused on the Foundational Long Palm. Even just by their names, it was clear which one held more promise.
But this isn’t something that can be done so casually, Zhang Yu thought to himself.
The more powerful a cultivation art, the higher its entry threshold.
It was like how any dog can learn the dog paddle, but synchronized swimming isn’t for everyone.
Among the Expert-Grade Cultivation Techniques, he had yet to meet the requirement for the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique in his possession, which demanded a third-level Dao Heart.
Therefore, the primary condition for cultivating a powerful cultivation art was to meet its prerequisites.
Zhang Yu’s gaze swept across his phone screen, reading the requirements each powerful cultivation art placed on its practitioners.
“Dao Heart! Magic Power!”
Just as his high school teachers often said, the Dao Heart and Magic Power were the foundations on the Path to immortality.
A person’s Dao Heart level represented their control and capacity for the immortal path power.
Magic Power was the fundamental force that fueled all cultivation arts.
The thresholds for the vast majority of powerful cultivation techniques were related to one’s Dao Heart and Magic Power.
To cultivate powerful cultivation arts, one must possess a sufficiently high Dao Heart level and enough Magic Power.
“In terms of Magic Power, I’ve already reached Level 10 with the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method. It’s like I’m constantly using the Breathing Technique to absorb spiritual energy and refine magic power every moment.”
“My Dao Heart level, on the other hand, is what I’ve neglected to improve during this period.”
Zhang Yu checked his savings. After paying for rent, utilities, food, and other miscellaneous expenses, he had just over 62,000 ¥ left.
Even if he spent all that money on boosting his Magic Power, it would only be enough to rent a Heavenly Spirit Root for a little over ten hours. It was like an all-nighter at an internet cafe, the effect would be fleeting and with a limited improvement.
After days of contemplation, Zhang Yu decided he should purchase a more potent mental cultivation technique to quickly raise his Dao Heart to level 3. Then, he could switch to the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique to accelerate his progress even further.
After all, in the Qi Refining Stage, Dao Heart levels ranged from 1 to 10, similar to how Magic Power scaled from 1 to 100.
Raising his Dao Heart to level 3 would take a considerable amount of time. A mental cultivation technique that was more powerful and better suited to him than the Basic Heart Refining Method could save a great deal of that time.
Only after Zhang Yu’s Dao Heart Level and Magic Power had both increased could he cultivate a more powerful Cultivation Art. This was a quicker and more cost-effective path for his current development.
Zhang Yu had spent the past few days researching and considering which Mental Cultivation Technique to purchase.
Basic-Grade, Advanced-Grade, Expert-Grade…
Among the Mental Cultivation Techniques Zhang Yu could currently afford, the Basic-Grade ones were the cheapest but offered little improvement for him.
Expert-Grade techniques were powerful, but they were not only expensive but also had high cultivation entry threshold, making them unsuitable for him at this stage.
In contrast, Advanced-Grade Mental Cultivation Techniques, which most students learn four months into their first year, were perfect for Zhang Yu.
From an effectiveness standpoint, the first year was a time for laying a solid foundation. The Basic Cultivation Techniques promoted by high schools were all developed by the Ten Great Sects and were known for their balanced and moderate approaches, making them ideal for building a strong foundation.
Adding an Advanced-Grade Mental Cultivation Technique at this stage would be a waste of effort. It was far better to focus on improving a single Basic Cultivation Technique.
That was why even wealthy students typically focused on the basics in their first year. They only began to truly exert themselves in their second year by learning various expensive Mental Cultivation Techniques.
This was one reason why at Songyang High School, the wealthy students’ grades often only began to pull far ahead of the poorer students in their second year, while talented students from poor backgrounds often started to slide down in the rankings during the same time.
In terms of cost, Advanced-Grade Cultivation Arts are significantly cheaper than Expert-Grade ones, but the subsequent expenses are just as substantial.
After all, self-studying Cultivation Arts is incredibly difficult. For the vast majority of people, simply being given a manual is not enough to learn from it. They usually require guidance from a Teacher.
An Advanced-Grade Mental Cultivation Technique might cost only a few hundred or a thousand, but the subsequent tutoring, classes, and guidance could easily cost many tens of thousands in fees.
This reminded Zhang Yu of certain games from his past life where the base game was free, but the various items and characters could cost thousands upon thousands to unlock through micro transactions.
Run for your life.jpg
However, these two points were perfectly suited to Zhang Yu.
Tutoring? Not happening.
I, Zhang Yu, would achieve divine mastery through his own efforts, relying solely on my own peerless talent.
Opening the bookmark section of the shopping website, Zhang Yu looked at the Mental Cultivation Technique he had selected. It was an Advanced-Grade Cultivation Art known as the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art.
Just from its name, the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art sounded fierce and domineering, an unyieldingly firm technique that could shake the very soul.
But upon closer inspection, Zhang Yu realized that this Mental Cultivation Technique required a mindset akin to a diligent bull plowing barren fields, one that was hardworking, endured hardship without complaint, and persevered through adversity.
More crucially, the technique’s most powerful state required the cooperation of another person who could constantly push and suppress the cultivator by assigning them tasks, much like a leader or a boss.
The more orders given, the more pressure applied, and the longer the working hours, the stronger the effects of the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art would become.
For ten consecutive years, the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art had been voted the best Mental Cultivation Technique for construction sites and the most beloved technique among bosses.
Yet it was also a “beast of burden method” whose user ratings consistently remained below 1.2 out of 5.
Zhang Yu glanced at the user reviews.
★☆☆☆☆
Required by the company. It’s really useful.
★☆☆☆☆
Giving a five-star rating in installments.
★☆☆☆☆
Got chewed out by the idiot boss again today.
After scanning a few reviews, Zhang Yu felt an overwhelming wave of resentment. Clearly, the vast majority of people who cultivated this Beast of Burden Methods were forced to practice it, which perfectly fit the technique’s requirements.
[T/L Note: “Beast of Burden Method” (牛马心法 – niú mǎ xīn fǎ) – The term “牛马” (niú mǎ) literally means “oxen and horses,” animals traditionally used for heavy, menial labor. In modern Chinese, especially online slang and workplace contexts, “牛马” has become a potent metaphor for exploited workers. It signifies individuals forced into relentless, thankless toil under harsh conditions and pressure, often feeling dehumanized and lacking control – essentially, being treated like work animals.]
Zhang Yu then turned his attention to the specific requirements for the beast of burden method.
The recommended configuration stated that the user must be forced to work over 18 hours per day.
Zhang Yu thought for a moment. He seemed to be compelled by the Ritual Power 24/7, so he met this requirement.
He moved on to the next point.
The methods of coercion had to include at least verbal intimidation. Threats involving salary were even better, as harsher pressure yielded better results.
Zhang Yu considered his current situation. He was being threatened with death, which certainly fit the bill.
“This Drudgery technique really suits my current circumstances, and the main selling point is the price…”
Zhang Yu looked at the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art. The current price for its usage rights was only 588 ¥.
This was one of the lowest-priced Advanced-Grade Cultivation Arts Zhang Yu had ever seen.
However, to get started with it, a practitioner needed a ‘Boss’ to cooperate. For this reason, the Platform also recommended a guidance service priced at 1,000 credits per day.
After all, many jobs required this technique for employment, but many people needed to find a job and get a Boss before they could successfully cultivate this technique.
To address this job-seeking dilemma, the Platform had specifically introduced a paid guidance service.
So I’m supposed to pay money to hire myself a Boss?
Zhang Yu cursed inwardly. He knew he certainly did not need this service. He already had something compelling him 24/7.
It was safe to say that the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art was a technique perfectly suited to Zhang Yu’s current situation in terms of effectiveness, price, and requirements.
For 588 ¥, he could not lose out or get scammed. Even if he found his mindset could not adapt, the loss would not be significant.
The only thing that bothered Zhang Yu was the technique’s underlying philosophy.
However, he was no longer the same Zhang Yu who had just transmigrated. Facing Kunxu’s harsh environment and the relentless pressure from the Ritual Power, he had already learned to adjust his mentality and thinking to adapt to his surroundings.
Zhang Yu took a deep breath and thought, A beast of burden it is, then. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I’ll swallow my pride when I have to. I’ll just be a beast of burden for a while and accumulate strength.
With my potential, even if I’m just silently accumulating strength, a day will come when I can punch a hole in the sky.
Zhang Yu was very clear on this. He was not cultivating the beast of burden method because he was willing to be a one. It was a temporary accumulation of power, an investment for a better future.
Order placed, payment made, delivery received.
In the blink of an eye, he received an electronic copy of the Mental Cultivation Technique.
After carefully reading it once, a new Cultivation Art appeared on the Feather Book.
Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art 0 (0/1, 1/1 Dao Heart Level)
Zhang Yu sat cross-legged and began cultivating this Mental Cultivation Technique.
He cleared his mind, striving to maintain a state of mental tranquility, and began constructing the visualization diagram for the technique in his mind.
It was a picture of an old bull lowering its head, silently tilling the barren land.
But after constructing it for a while, Zhang Yu felt something was amiss.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he immediately stopped cultivating and sat motionless.
A moment later, a chill surged from his heart, and a countdown began echoing in his mind.
This time, when Zhang Yu resumed cultivating the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art, it immediately felt right.
Within few minutes, the image of the old bull lowering its head and silently tilling the barren land, was clearly etched in his mind.
At that moment, he felt as if he had transformed into a silent, hardworking bull, enduring hardship without complaint. The lingering discontent in his heart had largely dissipated.
As he completed the final stroke of the visualization diagram, countless memories of practicing the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art flooded his mind, allowing him to master this technique in an instant.
Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art, Level 1 (0/3)
“Just three more practice sessions to level up?”
Zhang Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He wondered, “Is it because this cultivation art perfectly aligns with my current state?”
After waiting a moment for the countdown in his mind to begin, Zhang Yu began practicing the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art again, visualizing the diagram of the old bull tilling the barren land in his mind.
After repeating this process three times over roughly ten minutes, Zhang Yu felt a surge of mental clarity. His understanding of the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art deepened further, and the meditation diagram in his mind became increasingly vivid and dynamic.
Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art, Level 2 (0/6)
Especially after upgrading the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art to Level 2, Zhang Yu found that Cultivation no longer felt so tedious or unbearable.
Is this the effect of the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art? It makes one less afraid of hardship and more willing to grind…
Only after Zhang Yu stopped circulating the Mental Cultivation Technique did the familiar fatigue, boredom, and urge to slack off flood back into his mind.
A moment later, after waiting for the Ritual Power to descend, Zhang Yu reactivated the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art. The restlessness and escapist thoughts that had plagued him instantly vanished, allowing him to settle down and cultivate in earnest.
“This Cultivation Art… It’s not as bad as I thought.”
He suddenly recalled a line from the preface of the Cultivation Art, written by its founder, who called himself the Wild Bull Great Sage.
May all under heaven face hardship with less suffering in their hearts and more hope in their souls.
A thought struck him. Perhaps the creator of this Cultivation Art didn’t intend for it to be a mere beast of burden technique.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Yu inhaled deeply, feeling a tremor in his sea of consciousness. His Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art had advanced to Level 3 (0/9).
After cultivating a while longer, he felt both his Magic Power and physical strength suddenly become as responsive as his own limbs, growing increasingly controllable and tangible.
“My Dao Heart Level has reached Level 2.”
Though Zhang Yu had sensed his Dao Heart Level was nearing an upgrade, he could not help but marvel at his rapid progress since cultivating the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art.
This Cultivation Art was perfectly suited to his current state.
“Then I’ll just keep being a beast of burden. As long as the rewards are sufficient, being a beast of burden isn’t so bad.”
Zhang Yu plunged back into cultivating the Desolate Bull Soul-Pacifying Mind Art. As the art circulated, he seemed to lose all sense of the tedium and toil of cultivation. Instead, it was replaced by a growing sense of satisfaction from his accumulating progress.
It was like an old bull diligently tilling a barren land, finding fulfillment in the ever-expanding fertile land beneath its hooves.
