Chapter 200 - 194: Ten Thousand Spirits Technique
"An Eighth-Layer Spirit Platform?"
Yu Changsheng was momentarily stunned, but not particularly surprised. To be taken by Lu Ruikai as a Direct Disciple, an Eighth-Layer Spirit Platform was indeed a fitting qualification.
"Mm," Elder Wei nodded. Thinking Yu Changsheng felt disheartened, he thought for a moment before saying, "But don’t lose heart. Although he has an Eighth-Layer Spirit Platform, his actual strength may not necessarily compare to yours."
"Besides, the number of layers on a Spirit Platform isn’t set in stone. In a few days... perhaps you’ll have your own fortuitous encounter."
Elder Wei gave Yu Changsheng a meaningful look, his tone slow and calm.
"I have disappointed you, Master."
Yu Changsheng shook his head, his eyes lowered as he spoke softly.
"Nonsense. You are already outstanding."
Elder Wei spoke lightly. With a wave of his sleeve, a Jade Tube materialized and floated down before Yu Changsheng.
"Since you have already achieved Foundation Establishment, it’s time to change your main Cultivation Technique. This is the one I found that is most suitable for you."
"Take it and study it well. If there is anything you don’t understand, just come and ask me."
"Okay." Yu Changsheng composed himself. His purpose in coming today was, in fact, to obtain a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique.
"By the way, without my permission, you are not to share this technique with anyone, not even your closest loved ones. This technique is precious; treat it with care. It will self-destruct after you finish reading it."
Elder Wei nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly for a moment. His voice took on a more serious tone.
Yu Changsheng’s expression froze. His heart stirred as he cupped his fist and nodded emphatically. "This disciple understands."
"This Cultivation Technique has been gathering dust with me for many years. In all this time, you are only the second person to cultivate it."
"Oh? And who was the other person? Was it you, Master?" Yu Changsheng asked curiously.
"Not me. Although this Cultivation Technique is good, it is not suitable for me. The other person... his surname is Cao."
Elder Wei shook his head, glancing at Yu Changsheng as he spoke plainly.
"Alright then."
Yu Changsheng didn’t press further. ’Someone with the surname Cao... who else could it be but Cao Jinxian?’
"Mm, you may go. Cultivate well. I will be leaving for a while. Take care of any business you have, and try not to stir up trouble. I will be back after some time."
After giving a few more instructions, Elder Wei handed Yu Changsheng several bottles of Elixirs and continued:
"Aside from your own Cultivation, do not neglect your Spirit Beasts. Now that you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, you should also strive to help all three of your Spirit Pets advance in rank as soon as possible."
"As a Beast Master, your foundation lies in Beast Taming. If your Spirit Beasts’ Cultivation falls too far behind, it will only slow down your own progress."
"I will find a way to help my Spirit Pets advance as soon as possible."
Yu Changsheng nodded. He chatted with Elder Wei for a while longer, not asking what his master would be doing, and then took his leave, returning to his cave residence.
After activating all the Arrays outside his cave residence, Yu Changsheng slowly pressed the Jade Tube to his brow. He swept it with his Divine Sense, and in an instant, all the information about the Cultivation Technique was etched into his mind.
"The Ten Thousand Spirits Technique..."
"Heaven gives birth to all things, and thus there are ten thousand spirits. Spirit contained in the earth gives rise to life force. Spirit held in the heavens manifests the cosmos. Spirit hidden in matter creates motion..."
"All things have spirit. Beasts have beast-spirits, and humans have human-souls. To cultivate this technique, one must be blessed by the heavens with a sensitivity to spirits; only then will their efforts be multiplied. It is specialized for Beast Masters... Cultivated to its depths, one can merge with the spirits of all things, and command them at will..."
The Cultivation Technique was long, and its profoundness was incomparable to any other technique Yu Changsheng had ever seen. Likewise, its Grade was also the highest he had ever encountered.
An hour later, after he had finished absorbing all the information within the Jade Tube, it let out a HUM and shattered abruptly.
WHOOSH...
Yu Changsheng let out a long breath, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
’No wonder Master repeatedly warned me not to share it, and was so solemn about it...’
’This Cultivation Technique... it’s worlds beyond anything in the Wanxiang Sect. It must be among the absolute best. More importantly, it feels like it was tailor-made for me.’
’Crucially, without a special Physique, even if someone cultivated this technique, they would likely find it impossible to progress, achieving half the results with twice the effort. But with my Spirit Beast Affinity Physique, it aligns perfectly with the core of this Cultivation Technique. Cultivating it should be much easier.’
Overcome with emotion, Yu Changsheng carefully recalled the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique, then sat cross-legged and began to meditate. The technique automatically began to circulate within his body. In his Qi Sea, the Seventh-Layer Spirit Platform started to glow brightly with the technique’s operation, and strands of energy flowed out, dispersing into the world.
The wind rustled the grass... The world fell silent...
At that moment, Yu Changsheng entered a profound state. The gentle breeze in the air, the skylark high above, the insects in the grass, the small weed growing in a crack in the wall...
Everything seemed to lean toward Yu Changsheng. From each of them, tiny, formless motes of light emanated, converging upon him.
’Is this... their spirit?’
Yu Changsheng muttered to himself. His thoughts followed this connection, extending further into the distance, and soon enveloped the skylark high in the sky.
He could feel that, in this moment, all these things were not only emanating spirit but also goodwill toward him. He could sense their affinity for him.
At this moment, it was as if he had, in some way, become one with his surroundings. His Divine Sense expanded by many times, allowing him to see much farther.
When Yu Changsheng focused his attention on the skylark, he could clearly feel its wings suddenly stop beating. It turned and began to circle in place, as if reluctant to leave.
Surprised, Yu Changsheng thought for a moment, then placed a sliver of his Divine Sense upon the skylark and carefully sent out a ripple of thought.
’Can you take me to that mountain peak over there?’
"CHIRP!"
The skylark chirped sweetly and, astonishingly, nodded like a human. It spread its wings and flew toward the distant Sword Control Peak that Yu Changsheng had indicated. It didn’t try to clear away the weak strand of Divine Sense he had placed upon it; instead, it allowed the sense to take root in its Sea of Consciousness, even actively nurturing it.
And so, Yu Changsheng’s vision moved along with the skylark. Sword Control Peak came into view, a distance that had long since surpassed the normal range of his Divine Sense.
’Is this what the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique calls... Touch Spirit?’
’To sense the spirit in all things, to attempt to communicate, and even to place one’s own spirit upon them to commune with heaven and earth...’
Yu Changsheng felt a flash of understanding, gaining a preliminary grasp of the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique, which only filled him with greater awe.
’And this is just the beginning. No wonder it said my cultivation would yield twice the results with half the effort. This Cultivation Technique truly is the most suitable for me. What’s more, as a Beast Master, the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique is simply a priceless treasure.’
Yu Changsheng mused to himself. After comforting the skylark, he withdrew that sliver of his Divine Sense from it. The connection between them instantly severed, and the shared vision vanished.