Actually, he was confident that he could master the Small Cloud Rain Technique to perfection within a year, but it's a good habit to reserve some leeway, so Ji An reported it as three years.
Even so, in the eyes of others, this seemed like a difficult goal to achieve.
Zhao Mengyao's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes reflected a profound meaning.
Are there Qi Refining Disciples in the sect who have mastered magic techniques to perfection?
Yes, there is one right beside her.
However, these individuals all focused their time and magical power on perfecting magic techniques after losing hope in Foundation Establishment, thereby gaining the qualification to stay longer in the sect.
Those who have hopes for Foundation Establishment wish they could spend all their time refining magical power to advance their cultivation.
Cultivation is the foundation of everything, especially breakthroughs in the Great Realm, which can significantly extend one's lifespan.
Living longer grants more time to leisurely refine techniques and elevate cultivation.
Generally speaking, if cultivators can keep advancing their cultivation rapidly, they are unwilling to spend too much time practicing magic techniques to grasp their mysteries.
However, if it just takes three years to master a magic technique to perfection, no cultivator would refuse.
Chu River raised an eyebrow, opened his mouth to say something, but then awkwardly closed it.
In half a year, he barely managed to achieve Minor Achievement in the three basic Artifact Refining magic techniques and felt completely lacking confidence.
His Cultivation Realm was higher than the others, yet his progress on spells lagged behind, and he understood the gap between Minor Achievement and Great Success!
Zhang Yuanshan watched the blood-like afterglow paint Ji An's profile and saw the restrained divine light in his eyes, feeling inexplicably moved.
Before even considering whether the other party could achieve this goal, his calm demeanor alone was reassuring.
"Then we shall wait and see," Zhang Yuanshan raised his eyes to the sky, adding:
"The double hour is late, and we must return to our respective hall gates. Farewell, junior brother."
Another challenge passed.
Ji An breathed a sigh of relief in his heart; acting tough was exhausting!
If he couldn't project that aura, it would be a failure.
"Please wait, senior brothers and sisters."
He dashed into the bamboo building through the rain, found a few small cloth bags, emptied and cleaned them, and filled them with more than ten pounds of Yellow Sprout Rice each.
He then found a piece of oilcloth to wrap the bags, tucked the oilcloth into his arms, and ran out with a stooped posture.
"There's nothing good here, but if the senior brothers and sisters don't mind, please accept some Spirit Rice."
Friendships are built through repeated interactions.
Regardless of motive, these individuals have indeed helped him, and he can rely on them in the future.
Zhang Yuanshan generously picked up a cloth bag and laughed:
"Good, after tasting Junior Brother's Spirit Rice, its fragrance lingers in my mouth, gladly accepted."
The other two also took the Spirit Rice and then left riding Talisman Bird.
Under the setting sun's reflection, the three shadows slowly grew smaller in Ji An's eyes, and he instantly turned and returned to the bamboo building.
He changed into dry clothes, sat cross-legged on the Pudun, and cultivated the Qingyuan Scripture; how could he let the Spiritual Power in the Yellow Sprout Rice go to waste!
When he opened his eyes again, a double hour had passed, and now his cultivation duration was half a moment longer than when he initially started training.
Moonlight filled the room, and the wooden sculpture on the windowsill, polished with patina, reflected like fractured glass.
"Tomorrow I'll sell part of the Spirit Rice, need to accelerate the pace to enhance cultivation."
With the Stone Turtle's consumption and his inherently mediocre aptitude, cultivating without pills was too slow in raising his cultivation.
Ji An also intended to break through the Mid-stage Qi Refining as soon as possible, as higher cultivation allowed for more magical power storage, enabling more magic techniques and thus the planting of more Spirit Field.
If not considering the debt burdened on him, he already had an embryonic perfect loop for improving his cultivation.
Ji An stood up to stretch his legs and feet as maintaining one posture for long made his body slightly stiff.
The Immortal Vein within a Qi Refining Cultivator was not much robust, unable to nourish every part of the body during cultivation, which was another reason why Qi Refining Cultivators couldn't train for extended periods.
Once breaking through to Foundation Establishment, this concern would be eliminated.
When the numbness in his legs completely dissipated, Ji An began practicing the Sharp Gold Technique.
Although the second-layer spell could resolve the aphid issue on Spirit Grain, practicing the Sharp Gold Technique allowed for more precise control over magical power and also helped strengthen Divine Sense, so he devoted more time to this magic technique.
Ji An felt he was in particularly good form today, fine threads of Gold Element Spiritual Qi condensed and transformed freely at his will.
Whether gathered into a bundle or spread out, it was smooth and effortless.
With an undistracted mind, he immersed himself in this beautiful feeling.
When he once again gathered the Gold Element Spiritual Qi, he suddenly felt something different this time.
A faint gold beam as thick as a pinky finger shot from his fingertip, flying four to five meters away, aiming for the wooden sculpture on the windowsill.
What the hell, did I master the Six Meridian Divine Sword?
Ji An was momentarily stunned, then overwhelmed with joy, he suddenly stepped forward, picked up the wooden sculpture and held it to his eyes.
The wooden sculpture bore a hole punctured by Gold Element Spiritual Qi, the entrance was not smooth, feeling slightly jagged to the touch.
Closing one eye, he looked through the small hole at the bright moon outside.
Slowly moving, he saw moonlit leaves, saw the star-filled Celestial Vault.
Who says Planting Technique can't hurt people!
Ji An's mouth stretched to his ears, if this was used against someone, an early-stage magic cultivator might not withstand it, right?!
[Sharp Gold Technique (Mastery 49%→ 51%)]
What a pity! It wasn't a sudden enlightenment.
Though saying pity in his heart, Ji An's eyes shone brightly.
His fingers brushed against the wound on the wooden sculpture, lips moving:
"What a pity, though it's a good thing, it is you who got hurt."
This wooden sculpture had accompanied him for many years, forming an emotional attachment.
He decided to find some matching wood material to patch the little hole when he had time.
Ji An carefully recalled the state of gathering threads into a bundle, beginning to reproduce the previous operation.
After failing more than ten times, he finally succeeded again, this time the victim was a cucumber on the wooden frame.
"Yay!"
He wanted to cast the spell again, only to realize that his Spiritual Power was almost exhausted, and his head was faintly aching, a sign of overusing Divine Sense.
Cultivation is a long-term process; having a breakthrough instantaneously is impossible according to authentic mystical teachings.
Sitting cross-legged on the Pudun, Ji An began reflecting on why his state was so excellent during today's spell practice.
After long contemplation, he gradually found some clues.
Since entering the sect, despite the Stone Turtle's aid, his personal cultivation was tough, virtually calculated strictly.
His subconscious was too overthinking, lacking straightforwardness, not aligning with the true essence of Metal Element Technique.
Today, after conversing with Zhang Yuanshan and the others, unconsciously revealing ambition, his actions naturally carried some sharp vigor.
By the time he practiced spells, the sharp spirit in his heart hadn't dissipated, so cultivation of the Sharp Gold Technique coalesced perfectly.
He recalled the night he first learned the Sharp Gold Technique, his mindset containing a hint of unstoppable determination.
"State arises from the heart, the world shifts as the heart turns, where the heart aims, the state resides."
Ji An chanted leisurely, feeling as if he was vaguely touching a door.
If he could open this door, his cultivation of spells would be twice as effective with half the effort.