Chapter 17: Cultivation Methods
Instructor Yan said, "The breathing technique previously taught by the sect is similar to a cultivation method—it also helps you refine spiritual energy—but it's quite rudimentary and only suitable for cultivators below the third layer of Qi Refining. After reaching the third layer, you must choose a proper cultivation method. Of course, you can continue using the breathing technique, but your progress will be much slower…"
"This is the sect's catalog of cultivation methods available to outer sect disciples. It lists the method's name, compatible spiritual roots, required spirit stones, rare items needed to break through bottlenecks, as well as each method's effect. Take a look yourselves."
Instructor Yan handed out the catalogs. Each disciple received one, Mo Hua included.
The booklet was thin—only about ten pages—but densely packed with records of dozens of cultivation methods and their related details.
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask," Instructor Yan said.
The disciples sat quietly for a moment before one of them raised his hand and asked,
"Sir, are cultivation methods also divided by attribute and rank like spiritual roots?"
Instructor Yan gave the disciple a bland glance. "You're already at the third layer of Qi Refining, yet you're asking such a basic question. Seems you didn't pay attention in Instructor Zhou's class. Copy Introduction to Cultivation once and hand it in three days from now."
The disciple looked as if struck by lightning. He froze for a second, then lowered his head. "Yes, sir." Internally, he kicked himself.
Careless... I forgot this wasn't Instructor Zhou today and asked the question out loud...
Instructor Yan glanced around the room and said earnestly,
"Instructor Zhou is older, with a gentle nature. He doesn't discipline you much, and many of you probably don't pay full attention in his classes. But selecting a cultivation method is a major matter. Let me explain it again. Pay attention—don't complain if it's dull."
The disciples all sat up straighter.
"Just like spiritual roots, cultivation methods are divided by both attribute and rank."
"Spiritual roots come primarily in the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Some roots are pure single-element; others are mixed. There are also complete five-element roots, either lesser or greater in form. Besides the five elements, some rare variants arise from elemental mutations—such as ice, lightning, wind, or yin-yang roots. These are extremely rare and difficult to encounter."
"Spiritual roots are also ranked in nine grades, from low-low, low-mid, low-high… all the way up to top-high. Each rank reflects a significant difference. The higher the root grade, the greater the cultivator's innate talent, and the more spiritual energy their sea of qi can contain."
"Cultivation methods are similarly divided—by attribute and by rank. When choosing a method, you must align it with your root: metal roots with metal methods, water roots with water methods, and so on. Ideally, you also match the method's grade to your root's grade."
"A root's attribute determines the nature of your spiritual energy—the rarer the attribute, the more unique the energy. A root's grade determines your cultivation potential."
"But… are rarer spiritual roots always better?" one disciple asked hesitantly.
"Not necessarily," Yan replied. "For disciples from major clans or sect legacies, rare roots are a boon. But for ordinary cultivators, the rarer the root, the fewer suitable methods you'll find. Some roots might not have any matching methods at all. In that case, it's a curse."
"What if I cultivate a method with a different attribute than my root?" another asked.
"Then nothing will happen—because you can't cultivate it," Yan said flatly. "If you have a metal-water root, you simply can't learn a wood-earth method."
"No exceptions?"
Instructor Yan raised an eyebrow. "Not in the Dao Court's recorded scriptures of the past 20,000 years. If you do find one, feel free to tell me—I'd like to see it for myself."
The disciple shrank into silence.
Another asked, "Do we have to match the method's grade to our root's grade?"
Yan replied, "A higher-grade root can cultivate a lower-grade method. But a lower-grade root cannot handle a higher-grade method."
"But why would someone with a high-grade root choose a low-grade method? Wouldn't they be limiting their spiritual power?"
Instructor Yan explained, "The higher the method's grade, the more spirit stones it costs, and the rarer the materials needed to break bottlenecks. Some of those materials are so rare and expensive, they're completely out of reach for ordinary cultivators. If you choose a high-grade method but can't afford to cultivate it… you'll regret it when it's too late."
"And what if someone with a low-grade root cultivates a high-grade method anyway?"
"According to the Compendium of Cultivation Methods, if your method exceeds your root grade, your sea of qi may be damaged from absorbing too much spiritual energy. In severe cases, it can collapse entirely, ruining your cultivation. Some even fall into madness and die."
"But some people do go mad… so does that mean some don't?" one disciple asked brightly.
Instructor Yan gave him a meaningful look.
"Don't always think you're the exception. Just because others run into problems doesn't mean you won't. Some people might have fate on their side—but don't gamble your life on something as fickle as luck. That's just walking the road to death."
Many of the disciples had secretly nurtured this same idea. Upon hearing this, they all felt a chill and dropped the thought.
Instructor Yan continued,
"These aren't just rare cases. They're the hard-earned lessons of twenty thousand years of cultivation history. If you don't learn from your predecessors, you'll stray from the path. Once you go astray in cultivation, it's hard to turn back. Some people manage to recover, but many are lost forever."
He sighed, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes. Mo Hua felt the instructor seemed to be hiding some personal burden.
But Instructor Yan said no more. He simply pointed at the Tongxian Sect Qi Refining Outer Sect Method Catalog and said:
"Use what I've taught you to find a suitable method. Remember—don't aim too high. The most suitable method is the best method."
The disciples all lowered their heads and began flipping through the catalog.
Mo Hua had a basic understanding now and started searching through the options.
His spiritual roots were lower-mid grade, so he could only choose from similarly ranked methods. Still, curiosity got the better of him—he wanted to see what high-grade methods looked like.
He flipped to the final pages and read a few high-grade entries:
"Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Art": Upper-lower grade, suitable for earth roots. Can cultivate 120 cycles of spiritual energy. Requires at least 5,000 spirit stones to complete the Qi Refining stage. Needs spiritual items such as Profound Yellow Grass, Bitterwater Root, and Celestial Stone...
"Gentle Water Scripture": Upper-lower grade, suitable for water roots. Cultivates 130 cycles of spiritual energy. Requires 5,200 spirit stones to complete Qi Refining. Needs items like Hundred-Year Rootless Water and Silver Serpent Blood...
"Five Elements Qi Absorption Art": Upper-lower grade, compatible with all five-element roots. Cultivates 150 cycles of energy. Requires 6,000 spirit stones and materials like Gold Essence Stone, Molten Flame Rock, and Century Soil...
Mo Hua's jaw dropped.
"Just reaching the end of Qi Refining costs five to six thousand spirit stones?! And that's just the refining cost—it doesn't even include the spiritual herbs and treasures for bottlenecks. Some rare items might cost even more than 6,000…"
Mo Hua barely earned fifty spirit stones a month. Seeing the price tags in the thousands made his scalp go numb.
He had heard others say: even if a rogue cultivator had a high-grade spiritual root, they still couldn't afford to cultivate a high-grade method.
If someone insisted on doing so, there were only two ways:
One: Join a major sect, become an inner disciple or a personal disciple under an elder, and bind yourself to the sect for life, never allowed to leave.
Two: Marry into a wealthy family and let them sponsor your cultivation. But in doing so, you'd have to give up your name, family, and past. You'd gain a future, but lose yourself.
Whichever path you chose, you were giving up your freedom.
No wonder cultivators often said: Fate first, fortune second, Family Background third.
A cultivator's life was shaped first by their spiritual roots, then by their birth.
To defy destiny and rise—how hard that truly is...
Mo Hua let out a long, quiet sigh.
(End of Chapter)