Chapter 25: Jade Blade, Mandarin Duck Axes

The outer districts possess spiritual energy.

Whether it is the natural essence filling the heavens and earth, the energy drifting over from the millions of mountains in the Eastern Wastelands, or the essence leaking out from the inner districts, there is more or less spiritual energy to be found.

Otherwise, so many rogue cultivators would not have gathered here from all corners.

However, the concentration of that spiritual energy was barely enough for cultivation.

It was truly a struggle; during his previous bitter cultivation, Luo Chen's progress bar would only move a tiny bit every half month.

In other words, if he wanted to max out the one hundred points of progress for the third level of the Qi Refining stage, it would take a full four or five years.

During that time, he couldn't afford to use spiritual power recklessly; he had to ensure that every single session of cultivation yielded a benefit.

In reality, the original owner of this body had indeed endured for over three years, yet his cultivation had not advanced an inch.

Of course, part of the reason was the struggle for livelihood, which left him with insufficient time to cultivate.

It was only after Luo Chen crossed over and used his Proficiency Panel to grind the proficiency of the *Everlasting Spring Art* to the "Proficient" level that the situation began to improve bit by bit.

Even under these circumstances, he had remained stuck at a progress bar of seventy-something for a long time.

Ultimately, it was only by relying on a bottle of Qi-Nurturing Pills, combined with his "Perfect" level *Everlasting Spring Art*, that he had managed to make the difficult breakthrough to the fourth level.

But if he had been cultivating in the inner district back then...

That time could have been shortened by at least one-third!

"This is the charm of a spiritual vein!"

"And this is only a first-grade spiritual vein!"

"It's hard to imagine how fast the disciples of sects located in second or third-grade spiritual veins must cultivate!"

Luo Chen let out three exclamations in rapid succession, revealing his turbulent emotions.

If he were in those places, would he be able to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining before his lifespan ran out?

Luo Chen didn't know; he only knew that his life was already much better than before.

Moving forward, he had to work hard to secure a long-term residence in the inner city. This was the true land of cultivation, not the murky, chaotic place of the outer districts, which was mixed with dirt, excrement, and the occasional scent of blood.

However, these reflections were cut short by a sudden, bone-chilling cold when midnight arrived.

"Why is it so cold?"

"Even with my fourth-level Qi Refining physique, I'm struggling to endure it."

"I must buy a quilt tomorrow!"

It wouldn't do; he was too cold to sleep.

Luo Chen climbed out of bed, deciding to find something to do.

Processing medicinal herbs was out of the question, as he lacked the necessary tools and ingredients.

Luo Chen took out the set of Jade Green Blades and attempted to inject spiritual power into them.

*Buzz...*

A crisp humming sound rang out, but the seven flying blades remained motionless.

"Is something wrong?"

He thought for a moment and injected spiritual power into them one by one. It wasn't until he injected power into the largest wooden blade that all seven blades simultaneously erupted with a bright green glow.

"So the sub-blades are controlled by the mother-blade."

Having realized this principle, Luo Chen began to play with them with increasing excitement.

Under his control, the seven flying blades hovered around him like floating cannons.

"Go!"

Luo Chen pointed toward a corner of the floor, and a sub-blade shot out instantly.

Like an arrow, the sub-blade emitted a hum and whistled as it pierced into the ground.

The speed was fast, and the power was decent.

The green brick floor was pierced through as easily as tofu.

And this was just a single sub-blade; what if all seven were deployed at once?

What if the seven blades formed a formation that could both attack and defend?

Intrigued, Luo Chen awkwardly ran to the corner to pull the small wooden blade out.

"I must buy a *Traction Technique*; I can't afford to skimp on this money!"

Indeed, he had not yet learned a *Traction Technique*, so his spiritual power could only move in straight lines.

It was a combat style that could be described as: "I'll just provide the brute force, and you handle the miracles."

The Soul-Breaking Nails were fine, as they were designed to strike and never return.

But this set of Jade Green Blades was meant for fluid movement—advancing and retreating with ease, forming a forest of blades.

Without a *Traction Technique* to coordinate them, it would be a waste of such magical tools.

After playing with the Jade Green Blades for a while longer, Luo Chen reluctantly stowed them into his storage bag.

In theory, a *Traction Technique* was actually a flexible application of spiritual power. If one were sufficiently familiar with their spiritual power, they could control various magical tools freely even without knowing the specific spell.

But clearly, Luo Chen lacked both the proficiency and the comprehension.

Or rather, most low-level cultivators could not reach that level.

With so little spiritual power to begin with, where would they find the opportunity to become that familiar with it?

This was why high-level cultivators had made the great contribution of creating *Traction Techniques* for low-level cultivators.

Since he wasn't playing with the blades anymore, Luo Chen had other ways to pass the time.

Lightness skills and reading!

Since the room wasn't furnished yet, there was plenty of space.

The *Carefree Wanderer* technique was not just a lightness skill focused on speed; at higher levels, it emphasized freedom, ease, and composure.

Luo Chen moved through the room, leaping from the ceiling to the floor, making sure to retract his strength with every movement.

To his surprise, compared to his previous, more explosive movements, this provided a completely different kind of insight.

Holding the book *Records of the Six Realms' Charms*, Luo Chen had only read halfway through.

Previously, the most he knew about were the Jade Tripod Sword Sect and the He Huan Sect.

After all, one was a local prominent sect, and the other was a sect known for its many romantic escapades.

"Mu Qingcheng, the 'Mandarin Duck Axe' of the six great assassins in Tianfan City—a rare female powerhouse among Golden Core cultivators. Her twin Mandarin Duck Axes possess the power to invert heaven and earth and sever yin from yang."

Luo Chen read with admiration.

Among the six great prominent sects of the Far Eastern Six Realms, one was world-renowned for smithing: Tianfan City.

The Wanbao Pavilion in Dahe Workshop was an enterprise of Tianfan City.

This sect was exceptionally skilled at smithing; besides common magical tools, they had a particular fondness for forging various exotic weapons.

Over the years, they had managed to forge six powerful, exotic magical treasures.

Tianfan City had bestowed these upon six great Golden Core cultivators, who had since built legendary reputations.

Take Mu Qingcheng, whom he was reading about now: ten years to Foundation Establishment, a hundred years to Golden Core. Although she had never participated in the wars of expansion, she had carved out a formidable name for herself among Golden Core cultivators.

Relying on her Mandarin Duck Axe treasures, she had successfully opened up markets for Tianfan City's industries even in the territories outside the Far Eastern Six Realms.

After reading about this female cultivator's exploits, Luo Chen felt her strength was immense, but he only came away with one realization.

"So even Golden Core big shots have to work their asses off to earn spirit stones!"

What he was doing now was actually no different from them.

In other words, he was essentially a Golden Core big shot!

*Squeak!*

The layout of this single-entry courtyard was quite traditional, with the main gate and the side rooms adjacent to each other.

Thus, when Luo Chen woke up early in the morning to go shopping, he happened to run into the girl in colorful clothing returning from work.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, *yawn*..." Cai Yi let out a yawn, her slender waist drawing the eye.

"Returning so late?"

Cai Yi said helplessly, "Business at the Tianxiang Pavilion has been excessively good lately. Naturally, those of us who dance and sing have to work harder."

Excessively good?

Hasn't the business at Tianxiang Pavilion always been good?

Looking at Luo Chen, who was about to head out, Cai Yi asked curiously, "Are you heading out? By the way, I haven't asked yet—what do you do? To be able to afford living in the inner city at the fourth level of Qi Refining..."

"I'm an alchemist. I usually set up a stall at the rogue cultivator market in the south of the city. If there's anything you want to buy, I can bring it back for you," Luo Chen said.

"An alchemist!"

Cai Yi's sleepiness vanished instantly.

Her neighbor was actually that impressive.

"Let's chat later, I have a busy day ahead."

Luo Chen waved his hand and hurried out the door.

Miss Cai Yi leaned against the doorway, watching Luo Chen's retreating figure, lost in thought.