The Invisibility Technique, a method that utilizes mana to blend oneself into the surrounding terrain, thereby evading others' detection, is, overall, a minor skill. Nonetheless, in certain circumstances, it may prove useful.
The Sound Absorption Technique is even more absurd. It allows one to manipulate mana to create a tiny field within the body that absorbs sounds emanating nearby, making them imperceptible to others.
Both of these techniques are quite underwhelming, even somewhat peculiar.
However, *Ning Daoran's thoughts quickly coalesced into a new idea: What if the Concealing Breath Technique, Invisibility Technique, and Sound Absorption Technique were used simultaneously?*
*Only one word came to his mind to describe it.*
*Stealth!*
*Yes, stealth! The ultimate skill of assassins!*
*If these three basic techniques could be mastered to perfection, it would be absolutely unimaginable!*
*Learn them first, but avoid investing refined time to cultivate them. Prioritize using refined time to cultivate the Body Tempering Technique.*
*Utilize resources where they matter most!*
"Ning Daoran."
The voice of a senior brother guarding the Book Collection Pavilion sounded at the perfect moment. "Your reading time is up, come out."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Exiting the pavilion and retrieving his identity jade token, he was suddenly greeted by an enthusiastic cry from Big Stupid Deer outside.
Ning Daoran froze in mild shock, noticing that Big Stupid Deer was still tied to the wooden pile outside. A kind-hearted senior sister had even fed it some grass.
"Old Lu!"
He immediately lowered his voice solemnly and said, "You can't eat things given by others at random. Do I need to remind you of this rule?"
"Moo~~~"
Big Stupid Deer rubbed against his shoulder, blinking its eyes rapidly to inform him that the senior sister was pretty and seemed nice.
"Let this be the last time. Let's go home."
Ning Daoran patted the deer's head, smiling as he untied the rope and tucked it away.
Normally, he wouldn't tether Big Stupid Deer, as the deer also disliked being tied up.
He returned to Spirit Field 77 and resumed cultivating Spirit Rice, tirelessly harvesting.
...
One particular evening.
On a sultry night, Ning Daoran stir-fried green soybeans with young chicken, sautéed shredded potatoes with green peppers, and steamed a big pot of Spirit Rice.
"Old Lu, it's too hot."
He fanned himself vigorously while saying, "How about we move the table outside to eat?"
"Moo!"
Big Stupid Deer wagged its tail furiously, utterly exhilarated at the thought of dining outdoors again.
Not long after, the man and the deer carried their table full of dishes outside, placing it in the open area outside the Small Cloud Mist Array. They each grabbed a stool and began enjoying their hearty dinner.
While the house was stiflingly hot, the breeze of a summer night outside was exceptionally refreshing.
"Ha..."
Ning Daoran held his rice bowl and suddenly chuckled, recalling his childhood in his past life. Back in the 1990s, his family was poor and didn't have air conditioning. On summer nights, they also moved the table outside to eat.
"Old Lu, feeling cool?"
Big Stupid Deer buried its face in the food bowl, gobbling rice non-stop while nodding repeatedly. It only lifted its head briefly when it needed to pick up some side dishes.
How does a deer hoof manage to use chopsticks to grab food?
Don't ask.
Big Stupid Deer was gifted.
At that moment, two figures passed by Spirit Field Courtyard 77.
Walking ahead was a young girl dressed in a light blue Outer Disciple gown. She looked no older than twelve or thirteen, her features exceptionally refined.
*With one glance, Ning Daoran realized she was a budding beauty who, once grown, would no doubt be breathtakingly gorgeous.*
Behind her followed an old man clad in a gray robe.
These two were none other than the master and servant of Spirit Field 78.
"Huh?"
The girl noticed the man and deer dining together. She seemed to think it would be impolite not to greet them, so she stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said, "Senior Brother Ning Daoran, my name is Han Bing. We joined the sect at the same time, but I entered the sect a day later than you."
"Oh..."
Ning Daoran immediately put down his chopsticks and rose to reply, "Ning Daoran greets Young Junior Sister Han Bing!"
"Moo~~~"
Big Stupid Deer lifted its neck and let out a cry as a greeting.
Han Bing couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.
At that moment, the old man behind her frowned slightly and cleared his throat.
"Senior Brother, I'll take my leave now."
"Alright."
Watching Han Bing and her servant leave, Ning Daoran felt indifferent. It didn't matter; he would mind his own business, cultivate his Spirit Rice, and remain unaffected by the storms of the outside world.
...
*The seasons passed, and time flew by. Before long, winter arrived at year's end.*
North winds cut like knives, and the mountain forests swirled with layers of snow.
Inside the small house of Spirit Field 77, a basin of charcoal burned brightly. Ning Daoran leaned against Big Stupid Deer for warmth. During winter, Big Stupid Deer's thick fur provided extraordinary coziness.
*Perhaps due to consuming copious Spirit Rice, its fur was silky and top-grade.*
Ning Daoran gazed out at the swirling snowstorm as inspiration struck him, prompting him to sing aloud:
"Snowflakes flutter, north winds howl~~~~ The world~ is vast~ and desolate~~~~"
Big Stupid Deer perked up its ears, enjoying the melody with half-closed eyes. The soulful tune was delightful.
...
"The day's plan begins with morning; we cannot slack off—let's train!"
Ning Daoran stood up and glanced at the refined time he had accumulated over half a year. It had reached over four thousand years.
*He had tried numerous methods to increase the efficiency of gaining refined time.*
*He explored scaling up and down the infusion of Spirit Rice with Grass and Tree Holy Spirit energy, but the results remained unchanged.*
*He experimented with staggered planting, sowing rows of Spirit Rice at different times to create a time differential.*
*But all his efforts ended in disappointment. The Grass and Tree Holy Spirit System adhered to certain "rules": a fixed annual output of refined time totaling no more than ten thousand years, regardless of planting methods.*
*Whether he maximized or minimized production, the refined time yield either stayed consistent or decreased due to reduced output. Increasing yield was simply impossible.*
With over four thousand years of refined time, equivalent to four thousand years of lifespan for an ordinary cultivator to devote to a single technique, the thought of its implications was overwhelming.
He set up a Body Tempering Pile in the warm room, assuming a horse stance infused with refined time, and resumed cultivating the Body Tempering Technique to strengthen his foundation!
[Year One: Staring at the perfected Body Tempering Technique, you feel there's no room for improvement; you've reached the pinnacle of your cultivation.]
[Year 999: After a thousand years of meditation, you begin doubting yourself. Could your talent and comprehension really be so shockingly poor?]
[Your hair turns gray, and those who cultivated alongside you have already passed away, one after the other.]
[Year 2006: Over two thousand years have come and gone. You sit silently with the Body Tempering Technique in hand, unable to decipher the text on the scroll—it seems like a heavenly book beyond comprehension.]
[Year 3100: Your flesh begins to wither under years of cultivation, leaving you like a drying pool, nearly unable to sustain practice.]
"I! Ni! Ma!"
*Ning Daoran stared blankly. Three thousand years without breaking through the perfected Body Tempering Technique? Just what sort of god-awful talent and physique had he inherited this time?*
*He began mentally chastising his past self—if not for him, this talent would likely never touch the Immortal Cultivation Path in this lifetime.*
*Although worrying that four thousand years of refined time might not suffice, Ning Daoran resolved to risk it and continue investing in cultivation.*
[Year 4222: Finally, your blood energy shows signs of transformation. In that moment, you felt like a person stuck in a dry well seeing a glimmer of light above. Your long-dormant Daoist Heart awakened at last.]
[Your flesh boiled and surged as the energy refined your marrow and meridians. The compressed and pure energy coalesced into Spirit Mastery, washing through your body and completing the Twelve Blood Qi Transmutations.]
[Body Tempering Technique, Lower Grade Yellow (Perfect).]
[Qi Refinement Realm (Fifth Layer).]
[Refined time remaining: 356 years.]
...
"Whew..."
Ning Daoran exhaled deeply after emerging from his refined time. His body felt like it was ablaze.
The perfected Body Tempering Technique had transformed the spiritual power on his skin into faint pieces of Spirit Mastery, hinting at extraordinary defensive capabilities.
Now, with the perfected Body Tempering Technique, his physique deservedly earned the term "as solid as a rock."
If the Third Master fired an arrow at him now, it likely wouldn't even scratch his skin!
There was even more good news.
He ascended to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement!
In fact, his Qi Refinement Fifth Layer was now near fullness.
Strictly speaking, he was at the "Late Stage of Fifth Level of Qi Refining, Great Perfection," or even a "Half-step Qi Refining Sixth Level."
*With each breath, Ning Daoran sensed his blood energy and physical properties reaching unprecedented heights. His inner vitality burned as bright as a torch in the night.*
*His flesh glowed with a fiery red hue, as spiritual energy reinforcing his body continuously infused weapons-grade Spirit Mastery.*
*The perfected Body Tempering Technique was incredibly powerful, verging on miraculous!*
*"No… keep humble, stay low-key, don't let your mindset drift."*
Ning Daoran took a deep breath and settled into his chair.
*The saying goes, "a person who grows arrogant will eventually suffer the consequences," especially in the perilous cultivation world. His achievements were hard-earned and must be cherished.*
In the next breath, he activated the Concealing Breath Technique to suppress his qi aura to the Third Level of Qi Refinement.
*Having spent half a year in the sect and luckily progressing from the First to the Third Level of Qi Refinement seemed reasonable enough.*
...
"Fellow Daoist Ning Daoran, are you home?"
At that moment, an elderly voice called from outside—it was Old Lu.
"Yes!"
Ning Daoran opened the Small Cloud Mist Array, inviting Old Lu inside the courtyard before reactivating the formation.
Old Lu, being merely in the early stage of Qi Refinement, couldn't possibly observe anomalies in his crops' spiritual properties within a short time frame.
"I just returned from Yellow Dragon Square, grabbed a jar of wine and a roasted chicken, and thought I'd stop by to chat with you."
"Sounds great!"
Ning Daoran grinned, then gestured at his deer with a thumbs-up motion behind him. "Old Lu, go stir-fry us some dishes."
Without hesitation, Big Stupid Deer grabbed a frying pan and went to cook.
Old Lu's expression flickered with astonishment.
*Holy crap, a spiritual beast that cooks? That's the most absurd thing ever—it seems Outer Sect disciples really live differently!*
The two chatted and downed glasses of hard liquor together.
After three rounds, Old Lu finally revealed his true purpose indirectly.
"Recently, while exploring the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range, I discovered a ruin with its protective formation breached. I suspect it might be the resting place of a Perfect Qi Refining Cultivator. Would you care to join me on an expedition?"
*'Explore a secret realm?'*
*Ning Daoran immediately felt his heart sink. His instincts told him this wasn't good—it came with a high risk of death.*
He politely declined, remaining resolute despite Old Lu's repeated persuasion.
Eventually, Old Lu left disappointed.
*Watching his retreating figure, Ning Daoran felt contemplative.*
*Ridiculous. Why risk exploring secret realms when growing Spirit Rice within the sect safely advances your cultivation and longevity?*
He was inherently cautious and only pursued goals he was fully confident in achieving.