Chapter 29: The Hope of Unshackling

Night fell.

Luo Chen leaped from the rooftop, descending like a thousand-pound boulder, yet his landing was as light as a feather.

Carrying the last winnowing basket into the house, he checked the progress of the afternoon's drying process and nodded with satisfaction.

"The medicinal herbs from Baicao Hall are indeed guaranteed in quality!"

In the past, when he purchased herbs from rogue cultivators, many were semi-processed.

Either they were intentionally left with useless parts to increase the weight, or they were insufficiently dried, leaving too much moisture and preventing the medicinal potency from concentrating.

In short, there were always various deficiencies.

Consequently, every time Luo Chen acquired raw materials, he had to re-process the ordinary herbs using his own expertise, aside from those requiring special treatment.

But this batch purchased from Baicao Hall had none of these issues.

With only simple processing, they had already reached the standard required for refining.

As expected, there is a reason for the high price!

After putting everything away, Luo Chen took out the spellbook he had purchased from Wang Yuan earlier that day from his storage bag.

*Five Essential Spells for Qi Refining Cultivators.*

Fireball Technique, Attraction Technique, Wind Riding Art, Spiritual Vision Technique, and Healing Technique.

This single set of spells would sell for five hundred low-grade spirit stones at Lingyuan Pavilion, and the buyer would have to swear a Dao oath not to resell them.

As for teaching them personally, there were no such restrictions.

However, few people would go out of their way to spend money to learn such basic spells.

Luo Chen had bought them from Wang Yuan for only two hundred spirit stones; it had to be said, he had saved a massive amount!

Of course, the consequence was that his brow remained furrowed the entire time he was reading.

"The cultivator who transcribed this book... why is their handwriting like dog shit!"

"And this page is covered in bloodstains; I can barely make it out."

Sighing, Luo Chen could only hold his nose and press on; after all, Wang Yuan had warned him about this before the purchase.

A willing buyer, a willing seller!

"I have already mastered the Fireball Technique, and it is about to reach Grandmaster proficiency. I did lose forty spirit stones on that one."

"A pity I had to buy the whole set; I can't exactly tear out a few pages!"

Flipping to the page for the Attraction Technique, Luo Chen grew interested.

The contents of the book went "thus and so, like this and that."

"So that's how it is!"

After reading the entire entry for the Attraction Technique, Luo Chen had an epiphany.

Rather than calling it a spell, it was more of a method for training the control of spiritual power.

Humans are born with souls, and once a cultivator begins refining spiritual qi into their body, a spiritual sense is born within the soul.

However, the spiritual sense is limited by the cultivator's realm. During the Qi Refining stage, one can only perform internal inspection; it cannot be projected outward.

This restriction is only lifted once a cultivator advances to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Since the spiritual sense cannot be projected during the Qi Refining stage, one cannot achieve perfect control over spiritual power released externally.

So, how does one master the control of external spiritual power?

A high-level expert had provided a series of methods to gradually strengthen the control of spiritual power.

From small to large, from novice to expert—with time, one could easily manipulate external spiritual power.

"Then let me give it a try!"

Luo Chen found a small pebble and held it in his palm.

Rise!

Fall!

Up and down, the pebble danced in his hand.

Go!

With a *whoosh*, the pebble landed on the ground.

Return!

With a beckoning motion of his hand, the spiritual power extending from his body to envelop the pebble began to slowly retract, following the reverse flow of the Attraction Technique mantra.

It did return, but very slowly, and maintaining that spiritual bond was quite taxing on his spiritual power.

If he were using a magic tool engraved with formations, he definitely wouldn't be able to pull it back.

But Luo Chen was not discouraged. Being able to pull the pebble back proved that this training method was viable.

Next, as long as he followed the steps and gradually increased his training in spiritual power control, he would soon be able to manipulate that set of Jade Blades.

He practiced dozens more times until he felt his internal spiritual power had depleted by ten percent before he stopped.

He opened his attribute panel.

[Name: Luo Chen] [Lifespan: 27/75] [Spiritual Roots: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth] [Realm: Qi Refining Stage, Level 4: 1/100] [Cultivation Method: Eternal Spring Art (Perfect): 340/500] [Spells: Fireball Technique (Perfect) 432/500, Carefree Wanderer (Proficient) 275/300, Entanglement Technique (Skilled) 180/200, Cleaning Technique (Entry) 52/100, Attraction Technique (Entry) 5/100] [Skills: Tier 1 Alchemist: Fasting Powder (Grandmaster) 590/1000, All-Purpose Pill (Entry) 70/100] [Achievement Points: 2]

"As expected, this spell isn't difficult. I can easily reach entry-level through self-study."

Looking at the new "Attraction Technique" entry in the spells column, Luo Chen was satisfied.

Aside from a small mantra for reversing spiritual power, the rest of the Attraction Technique consisted of very basic exercises.

Its entry difficulty was much lower than spells like the Fireball Technique, which required at least three mantras.

In fact, this was by design.

Even without learning the Attraction Technique, as long as one's control over spiritual power was proficient enough, one could manipulate magic tools during the Qi Refining stage.

The existence of this spell was simply the result of an expert reverse-engineering the process and expanding upon it.

After reviewing the Attraction Technique entry, Luo Chen took the opportunity to check the other items on his attribute panel.

"My lifespan still hasn't changed?"

He felt a bit depressed.

Logically, after breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, his body should be improving; he should have a few more years than his previous life's limit!

Could it be that he was truly destined to only live to seventy-five in this life? Or perhaps, lifespan only increases after breaking through to a major realm?

He couldn't figure it out!

His gloom dissipated somewhat when he saw the proficiency levels of several spells.

The Fireball Technique was about to break through to the Grandmaster level; his persistent practice had not been in vain.

The lightness skill, *Carefree Wanderer*, was progressing the fastest; from Entry to Proficient, he should be able to break through to the Perfect level very soon.

With his intention to practice, the long-stagnant proficiency of the Entanglement Technique also began to climb.

The advancement of these spell proficiency levels not only brought leaps in combat power but also provided Luo Chen with Achievement Points!

When the *Eternal Spring Art* reached the Perfect level, it had provided one point.

If he could accumulate another ten Achievement Points, he could master a brand-new type of pill.

Even though he didn't even have a recipe yet.

However, compared to these spells, what Luo Chen cared about most was the skills column.

[All-Purpose Pill (Entry) 70/100]

He was only thirty proficiency points away from an upgrade!

Once that happened, the success rate of the All-Purpose Pill should increase, and he would possess a true specialized skill to live long-term in the Inner City.

After browsing the attribute panel, Luo Chen couldn't help but breathe a massive sigh of relief.

For a long time, the shortage of spirit stones had been a shackle on his cultivation.

To break this shackle, he had been increasing his production of All-Purpose Pills just to raise his proficiency and generate real profit.

Now, he finally saw the hope of breaking free!

"This calls for a celebration!"

Luo Chen walked outside; it was already late at night without him realizing it.

He glanced toward the direction of Tianxiang Pavilion, then immediately shook his head.

*Can't do it, can't do it. I really don't have the money to spend.*

"Forget it, I'll just set off some fireworks for myself!"

He fired four Fireball Techniques into the sky.

Watching the fireballs explode in the night sky, with sparks blooming like rustling silk, he grinned.

Then, a roar came from next door.

"What is all this noise in the middle of the night!"

It was a woman's voice, full of vigor.

Luo Chen shrunk his neck, and after ensuring he wouldn't cause a fire, he hurriedly fled back into his house.

*Too reckless!*

(End of Chapter)