[Cultivation of "Heavenly Origin Technique" +1]
[Cultivation of "Heavenly Origin Technique" +1]
[Cultivation of "Heavenly Origin Technique" +1]
...
[Cultivation of "Heavenly Origin Technique" +1]
[Your diligent practice has triggered a special effect, Destiny Point +1]
...
[Cultivation of "Heavenly Origin Technique" +1]
[Cultivation of "Heavenly Origin Technique" +1]
[Your diligent practice has triggered a special effect, Destiny Point +1]
Shen Mo perused the status feedback from this night's cultivation session and at last found the hidden notification amidst the numerous prompts.
"Practicing, triggering a special effect?"
A hint of joy appeared on Shen Mo's face. "Just as I expected! I can gain Destiny Points from practicing!"
I should quickly try and see what changes these Destiny Points can bring me!
Thinking this, Shen Mo reopened the Destiny Panel and found that his previously dull Destiny Disc now glowed with interactive light.
"Let's try it out."
Focusing his mind, he lightly touched the section of the Destiny Disc corresponding to Talent.
[You spent 1 Destiny Point and tried to enhance your Talent, but failed.]
One Destiny Point vanished, and simultaneously, nothing else changed.
Only the content in the information column let Shen Mo understand the situation.
"So it can fail too... Let's try again." Shen Mo gritted his teeth and used up his last Destiny Point.
WHOOSH!
As the Destiny Points at the top of his panel cleared to zero, a new change occurred in the base column of the Destiny Disc representing Talent.
[Talent: High]
[You spent 1 Destiny Point, tried to enhance your Talent, and succeeded.]
"My Talent... really changed?"
Shen Mo stared blankly at the message before him, forcefully suppressing the joy in his heart, and began to circulate the Heavenly Origin Technique within his body.
[Your diligent practice has paid off with "Heavenly Origin Technique" cultivation +2]
After an hour, Shen Mo was astonished to find that the increase in his Heavenly Origin Technique cultivation had doubled.
Originally, with my Talent, I could only gain 1 proficiency point each time. Now, I can get 2 points.
If I continue like this...
「At the Riverside Sect, at the sect's entrance.」
After fiddling around in his residence for a long time, Shen Mo finally remembered he was on duty that day and hastily rushed over to guard the sect entrance.
"You're finally here! I thought you'd actually left the sect to go live a mundane life in the mortal world," a young man dressed in the same Riverside Sect outer sect disciple robe as him said upon seeing him arrive.
This individual, who was also assigned to guard the entrance with him, was named Cao Ren. He was one of the few friends Shen Mo had within the Riverside Sect.
In the past, Shen Mo had often confided in him, sharing his worries and concerns, as well as his thoughts of leaving the cultivation world.
"Even if I were really leaving, it wouldn't be this quick. I just woke up late today and got delayed a bit."
Shen Mo hastily took his post and casually responded.
"I heard Deacon Chen came to give you a Qi Gathering Pill last night?" Cao Ren leaned in, his voice tinged with envy. "That's an amazing treasure for breaking through the Body Tempering Realm! Having an uncle who's a Deacon looking out for you must be nice."
"Hasn't your old man given you plenty of spiritual medicines for cultivation too?" Shen Mo glanced at him and retorted.
Although guarding the sect entrance was a task looked down upon by Inner Door disciples, among outer sect disciples, it was considered a cushy job.
As a result, most of those who managed to land this assignment had some connections within the Inner Door.
Shen Mo had relied on a recommendation from Deacon Chen An, while Cao Ren relied on his father, Cao Shanyue, an Inner Door disciple. Both had gotten their positions through connections.
However, Cao Ren's talent was considerably better than Shen Mo's.
They were around the same age. Shen Mo had only just broken through to the Sixth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm the previous night, while Cao Ren had already reached the Ninth Layer.
It was estimated that in a few more years, Cao Ren would reach the bottleneck of the Body Tempering Realm and could attempt to break through to the Qi Gathering Realm.
If successful, he would be promoted to an Inner Door disciple, becoming a disciple truly recognized by the Riverside Sect.
"Don't you know my dad?" Cao Ren complained. "He's incredibly stingy. He barely has enough cultivation resources for himself, so how could he save any good things for me?"
"Over the past two years, all he's given me are a few decade-old Changbai Ginseng roots. Their effect on my cultivation is negligible, barely better than nothing."
Hearing Cao Ren's complaints, Shen Mo compared it to his own situation and felt even more grateful to Uncle Chen. Even one's own father could be so stingy, he thought. Uncle Chen's treatment of him was truly generous by comparison.
"Well, that can't be helped. Who asked you not to have a more generous father?"
"Hey, Shen Mo, didn't you say you were planning to leave the Riverside Sect?" Cao Ren's eyes darted around as he spoke. "Since you no longer seek the path of immortality, that Qi Gathering Pill is useless in your hands."
"How about you spare one for me?" Cao Ren patted his chest, promising, "If I can successfully break through and get promoted to the Inner Door, I will definitely find you in the mortal world in the future to repay this favor. I'll ensure your family enjoys a lifetime of glory and prosperity!"
The Qi Gathering Realm was merely the second realm in the cultivation world, far from making one a master.
However, the divide between cultivators and mortals was like a natural chasm.
For a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator to shelter a mortal family, ensuring their glory and wealth, was truly not an exaggeration.
"I knew you were up to no good."
Shen Mo shook his head, annoyed.
If Cao Ren had made this request before Shen Mo discovered the Destiny Panel, he might have actually been tempted and agreed to the deal.
But now, the appearance of the Destiny Panel had changed Shen Mo's perspective, so naturally, he wouldn't agree.
"I have three Qi Gathering Pills. I took one last night, so I have two left," Shen Mo said, looking at Cao Ren. "It's not impossible to spare one for you."
"But you need to offer something of equal value in exchange. I'm not interested in your vague promises."
"Something of equal value?" Cao Ren scratched his head. "What do you need?"
This question actually stumped Shen Mo.
Speaking of needs, the path of cultivation required vast resources, encompassing all sorts of things. Naturally, he needed a bit of everything. But needs also had their priorities. Right then, Shen Mo hadn't carefully considered what he urgently needed.
"Do you have any manuals on alchemy or talisman making?" Shen Mo asked after pondering for a moment. "If you can find some for me, I might consider giving you a Qi Gathering Pill."
What he urgently needed right now wasn't some divine technique or spiritual medicine, but rather a skill to make a living.
Elixirs and talismans were highly sought after in the Market.
If he could learn alchemy and how to make talismans, he could earn a good amount of Spirit Stones each month to cover his expenses.
Of course, alchemy and talisman making weren't without costs.
The raw materials required for some elixirs and talismans were also quite expensive.
If one's alchemy and talisman making skills weren't proficient enough, and the yield rate was too low, then making a living this way would be practically impossible.
But Shen Mo wasn't worried about this. After all, he had the Destiny Panel; he was different from ordinary people.
Moreover, he had just upgraded his Talent to 'High'.
Presumably, learning alchemy and talisman making wouldn't be too slow for him.