Another Cliche Cultivation Story

Ji Xian looked at the books with satisfaction.

The three books were unique and he hasn’t come across any other like them.

The Solitude Art uses one’s emotion to cultivate. The stronger the emotion, the better. Unfortunately, this comes with a downside as it will affect the personality of one who chooses to cultivate this method. Ji Xian guessed based on the name that the City Lord cultivate this method.

The Core Devouring Method requires you to devour beast cores. This way of cultivating is incredibly fast but beast cores are usually not safe to consume. Although it contains a huge amount of Essence, it’s impure. This is the reason why cultivators would rather use spirit stones than beast cores to cultivate. This method allows you to consume beast cores while breaking down the impurity, but Ji Xian noticed that the speed at which it breaks it down is too slow. At most, it will only slow down the build-up.

The last book contains the Soul Liberation Art, which allows one to cultivate their soul. The soul has always been a mystery, perhaps the Upper World has more information on it but Ji Xian had doubted at one point that information about it exists in the Lower World.

“Looks like I was wrong. Maybe soul cultivation isn’t as hard to find as I thought.”

Ji Xian put aside the other books and started reading the Soul Liberation Art.

An unknown amount of time later, he closed the book and start rubbing his temples.

“This book is so hard to read.”

He wasn’t able to finish it in one go. Every letter, every word, every sentence, made his head hurt as though his mind is being hit by a hammer. 

Unbeknownst to him, the difficulty of reading the Soul Liberation Art is too high for anyone to read! The City Lord had once attempted to read this book but just reading a couple of words had almost rendered him unconscious, the same can be said for the old man residing at the top of the pagoda.

Shaking his head, Ji Xian put the book in his spatial ring to read for another time. He didn’t have any qualms about stealing. 

He spent the rest of his time reading the Solitude Art and the Core Devouring Method before quietly leaving. He didn't take these two methods with him as he has already retained the information and added them to his vault of knowledge.

The formation around the pagoda was disabled for a split second before immediately becoming active again. Ji Xian appeared outside and looked at the darkened sky. He had spent half a day reading, and most of it was because of the Soul Liberation Art.

Looking back at the pagoda behind him, a smile appeared on his face, “How long will it take before he discovers the missing book, I wonder.”

With a flash, he disappeared. 

Half an hour later, an angry roar can be heard inside the pagoda.

Ji Xian returned to the colosseum and sat down next to Xia Lihua. 

She glanced at him and asked, “Where did you go?”

“Oh? You don’t know?” Ji Xian teased.

Xia Lihua slightly pouted with an annoyed expression, “Hmph! My spiritual sense couldn’t locate you.”

Ji Xian smiled, he looked at the still ongoing competition before closing his eyes. Although he appeared fine, he was mentally taxed from reading the Soul Liberation Art and needed rest.

Next to him, Xia Lihua gave him a curious glance but didn’t bother him.

The intense battles between the disciples of each Sect were starting to die down. Without surprise, the top ten sects became the winner of each group. 

At one time Xia Lihua noticed the city guards had become more active. The City Lord had also disappeared. Using her spiritual sense, she can see they were all searching for something or someone.

The timing of this immediately made her suspicious and she couldn’t help but glance at Ji Xian with an amused expression. 

Guo Xinyi and Xiao Yueyin also felt that something was wrong but seeing as the City Lord hasn’t contacted them, they didn’t feel the need to worry.

The disciples of the ten Sects were given time to rest and their opponents were announced. 

Blue Moon Sect versus Sacred Way Sect

Grand Sword Sect versus Veil Shadow Sect

Beast Call Sect versus Serene Yang Sect

Dreamless Sect versus Ardent Yin Sect

Score Note Sect versus Arcane Mountain.

After two hours of rest. 

The Chosen of the Blue Moon Sect and Sacred Way Sect led their juniors to a large platform. The two Chosen didn't battle it out at the start but allowed their juniors to go first to increase their experience.

After an intense bout one after another, the two Sects were tied, thus it was time for the Chosen to fight. The Chosen of the Blue Moon Sect, Yue Li, took out a spear while the Chosen of the Sacred Way Sect, Luo Guanting, was bare-handed.

Ji Xian had also woken up to watch the battle. He had yet to fully recover but he was no longer as tired as before. He was waiting for this moment to observe the Divine Arts and Cultivation Method of the top ten sects in depth. 

Yue Li waved his spear and a cold crescent moon appeared behind him while Luo Guanting had a dense golden aura that gave off a very holy feeling.

The two charged ahead! Yue Li stabbed out with his spear aiming at his opponent’s head.

He pierced Luo Guanting’s head but he wasn't happy, it was only an afterimage! He quickly looked behind him and saw a fist coming toward his chest!

Bang!

He held his spear across his chest as the punch made contact causing the spear to bend.

Yue Li quickly retreated. He appeared fine but the crescent moon behind him looked dimmed and more transparent. 

…

“Interesting.” Said Ji Xian

Xia Lihua was next to him and nodded, “A Divine Art that creates a miniature moon that can passively strengthen and shield its user, it’s at least a Mid-grade Divine Art.”

Ji Xian also agreed and said, “Yes, unfortunately, it’s tied to his cultivation method. Otherwise, it would rank higher.”

As he spoke, he started the simulation in his mind. Using the knowledge he currently has of the Divine Art from observation, he went through countless simulations to discover ways to use this Divine Art without the Cultivation Method.