Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 79: Spirit Pattern and Cultivation Technique
One month later.
At midday, Zhang Yao finished his day’s work and returned to his residence on the west side of the gorge’s depths.
Within Qingyunfang City, there are twelve hundred acres of Spirit Field, with a total of six stewards. He was assigned under a steward of the Ouyang Family, responsible for looking after seven acres of Spirit Field.
Unlike the rough nature of Celestial Capital Mountain, the Spirit Rice here is a rarity, requiring daily care, rain or shine.
Fortunately, Zhang Yao has cultivated his Magic to the Realm of Perfection, allowing him to finish his work every morning, leaving him with free time to manage at will.
"Spending three hours a day tending to the Spirit Field does take some time."
"If only I could buy a private courtyard within the residential area, I could focus entirely on cultivation without being bothered by fieldwork."
"It’s a pity, though, that even the cheapest private courtyard costs over a thousand Spirit Stones, which is too expensive."
Returning to the west-side residential area, Zhang Yao felt a bit regretful.
He only realized after moving in that there are separate private courtyards on the west side available for rent or purchase, but even renting them is not affordable for an ordinary loose cultivator.
Come to think of it, a common Spirit Farmer in the marketplace earns only ten low grade spirit stones a year, which isn’t enough to cover a year’s rent for a private courtyard.
"Whew!"
He returned to the Quiet Chamber of his residence, sat cross-legged, and began to breathe spiritual qi and cultivate.
The spiritual qi in the west-side residential area is more abundant than in the marketplace district. This is a deliberate adjustment by the two major families controlling the Grand Array of the marketplace, considered a hidden benefit for spirit farmers and tributors alike.
Of course, the place with the highest concentration of spiritual qi within the marketplace is still the mansions of the two major families on the east side.
Afternoon:
After cultivating for several hours, Zhang Yao lay on a reclining chair in the courtyard, flipping through a book.
The book was not thick, with the large words "Basic Spiritual Pattern Explanation" on the cover. It was something he purchased from a shop on South Street for ten spirit stones.
A spirit pattern is a mystical runic script in the cultivation realm, half resembling text and half symbol, capable of linking celestial and earthly spiritual qi to produce various wondrous effects.
Within the Hundred Skills of Cultivation: Array, Talisman, and Artifact Refining, there is significant overlap, with the fundamental reason being the spirit pattern.
Different spirit patterns can be combined, stacked, and nested to achieve a variety of wondrous uses. They can evolve into restrictions, be used to set up arrays, carry magic to craft talismans, or be refined into Magic Bans, and forge Magical Artifacts.
"Not bad."
As Zhang Yao perused the book, reviewing and discovering new insights, he became increasingly satisfied in his heart.
"It was worth picking you out with my first glance, even if it nearly emptied my savings."
"If one masters the way of spirit patterns, later on, whether becoming an Artifact Refiner, an Array Master, or even a Talisman Master, there will be a solid foundation."
During his years at Celestial Capital Mountain, he had also learned a lot about spirit patterns from Fatty Chen.
However, Fatty Chen himself was from the Wild Fox Sect, with many missing pieces in his knowledge, far less comprehensive than this "Basic Spiritual Pattern Explanation."
"Hmm, among the twelve basic earth-attribute spirit patterns, the one most adept at complementing fire attributes should be this one..."
Sparks of thought flickered in Zhang Yao’s mind as he continuously explored the mysteries of the spirit patterns.
With a Martial Arts Cultivation supporting his middle stage Qi Refining realm, combined with his longer lifespan, the strength of his Divine Soul even surpassed that of some late stage Qi Refining cultivators.
This innate advantage made learning the Hundred Skills of Cultivation as if he had extraordinary talent, allowing Zhang Yao to progress rapidly.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Just as Zhang Yao was deeply immersed in exploring spirit patterns, a knocking sound suddenly echoed.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Yao raised an eyebrow, seemingly guessing the identity of the visitor, and languidly spoke:
"Old Qi, come in yourself."
The door to the courtyard opened, and a bald old man entered with a grin.
"Younger Brother Zhang, I just closed the shop and felt the itch to play again."
"If you have nothing to do, come and play a few games with me."
"All right."
Zhang Yao put away the book and came to the stone table in the courtyard, gesturing:
"The usual rule, you play black."
"No problem."
The bald old man sat down with great interest, quickly taking the black pieces and began a battle on the chessboard with Zhang Yao.
Old Qi is the owner of a shop on South Street, specializing in selling low level techniques and various books, with a Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation.
By coincidence:
A month ago, when Zhang Yao went to purchase the "Basic Spiritual Pattern Explanation," he happened to find Old Qi pondering over a chess manual, and casually offered a few comments.
Old Qi is obsessed with chess, but there aren’t many cultivators who are passionate about it, so in the vast Qingyunfang City, he couldn’t find a single like-minded individual.
Upon encountering Zhang Yao by chance, he was overjoyed, wishing to become immediate confidants, and even offered a fifty percent discount on the spot. From then on, they became friends, and he often visited Zhang Yao for chess games.
Over time, the two became quite familiar with each other, gradually developing a genuine friendship.
"You lost."
In less than half an hour, Old Qi was utterly defeated, his face turning quite displeased.
As a cultivator, he has a photographic memory and quick thinking, but Zhang Yao’s chess skill, even among mortals, could be considered "Chess Saint," so Old Qi naturally lost more than he won.
"Damn it! Again!"
He angrily waved his sleeve, resetting the black and white pieces on the chessboard to zero, intending to start another game.
"So you’re cheating if you can’t win?"
Zhang Yao glanced at him and said leisurely:
"Your chess etiquette reflects your character; it seems you can’t handle losing."
"Who would want to lose if they could win?"
Old Qi replied and started placing pieces again with determination, but this game also ended with his defeat against Zhang Yao.
"It’s really uncanny..."
He sat on the stone bench, frowning tightly, still reviewing the details of the previous game.
"By the way, Old Qi."
As Zhang Yao tidied up the chess pieces, he suddenly spoke:
"I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
Old Qi didn’t even raise his head, replying casually.
"Hmm..."
Zhang Yao deliberated his tone before speaking:
"You’re a shop owner, well-informed. I wonder if you’ve come across any cultivation techniques for specific spirit root attributes?"
"Hmm?"
Old Qi looked surprised, raising his head and asking:
"Specific spirit root attributes? Why are you asking, are you thinking of changing your cultivation technique?"
"Of course not."
Zhang Yao waved his hand, saying:
"I’m already in the middle stage of Qi Refining. Wanting to change cultivation techniques now seems too late."
Normally, unless the techniques are from the same lineage, changing techniques equates to abolishing one’s cultivation and starting anew.
But this step is unavoidable for Zhang Yao.
The "Thick Earth Spell" he cultivated is just a common technique, only allowing him to cultivate up to the Qi Refining Perfection, with no subsequent techniques.
And at the mere Qi Refining Stage, trying to create the Foundation Establishment Stage techniques on one’s own is nothing but a fool’s dream.
Since he’ll eventually need to change techniques, the sooner, the better. If not for the high risk in the early stage of Qi Refining, he would have ventured to Wei Kingdom long ago to seek a top grade cultivation technique suitable for his spirit root attribute.
"That’s true."
"Switching now would mean decades of hard cultivation would go to waste."
Old Qi didn’t doubt him, thought for a moment, then said:
"Your question is actually quite specific."
"In general, all techniques in the world can be categorized into two types—pursuing the Dao or pursuing magic."
"Techniques pursuing the Dao often have rapid breakthroughs and weak bottlenecks, but the magical power cultivated is comparatively weak. The techniques also don’t include aggressive or defensive spells, making combat a significant disadvantage."
"Techniques pursuing magic go the opposite direction, with difficult breakthroughs and tough bottlenecks, but the magical power is exceptionally strong, and the high level skills that accompany the techniques are formidable in power, making it advantageous in combat, easily earning a renowned reputation."
At this point, he paused and continued:
"Of course, most techniques in the world aren’t that extreme."
"Ninety percent of the techniques currently passed down strike a balance between the two, containing both pathways of pursuing the Dao and ranks of pursuing magic."
