Chapter 77: Choosing Techniques

“Elder Brother Wang, it’s time to wake up and get to work.”

Huang Butong approached the window and tapped on the windowsill.

“New recruits just arrived?”

The little old man lying in a rocking chair lifted his eyes briefly, then settled back upon seeing Huang Butong.

With a tap of his hand, a coin automatically flew out from a nearby cabinet and landed in Huang Butong’s palm. Upon receiving the coin, Huang Butong beamed with delight; after all, this was what he had been working for all along.

“After securing their spots, Shizun instructed me to bring them here,” Huang Butong respectfully said while stowing away the coin.

“Let them register.”

The little old man gestured towards the writing utensils beside him. A blank book shifted slightly, then swiftly flew off the shelf like a butterfly, circled the room once, and landed open on the table. The inkstone nearby began grinding ink autonomously. Once ready, a brush dipped into the ink and hovered above the opened book.

This spectacle captivated Huang Ying, Chen Luo, and the other newcomers, their eyes gleaming with awe.

Truly, the ways of immortals.

This was far more intricate than the minor spells they had learned outside; the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone seemed almost alive.

“Such precision is achieved through the Controlled Object Technique,” explained Huang Butong nearby. “It’s one of the essential magical arts every cultivator must master. Once you reach the intermediate stage of Qi Refinement, you can begin learning it.”

“Huang Ying, four spiritual roots: Wind, Metal, Earth, Water.”

“Medium-grade Four Spirit Roots. Among five-element types, there are three categories; for five-elemental types, also three, indicating a lower-middle aptitude.”

The brush swiftly moved, recording the information onto the book.

Standing close by, Chen Luo could see what the brush inscribed.

Five Elements? Five Spirits?

The entry process required detailed records, but this concept of five elements and spirits was entirely new to him. Even Longevity Daoist, back in the Yue Kingdom, hadn’t mentioned such distinctions, possibly because he himself wasn’t aware of how spiritual roots were categorized.

“Fu An, five spiritual roots: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.”

“Xun Xian, six spiritual roots: Wood, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Water.”

“Yao Zhenghai”

Each subsequent individual stated their aptitudes as the brush diligently recorded them.

“Chen Luo, three spiritual roots: Water, Wood, Thunder.”

Chen Luo also shared his own tested aptitude results.

“Medium-grade with three spiritual roots: two five-elemental and two quintuple elemental; overall medium aptitude.”

After the brush recorded Chen Luo’s information, the booklet lay open for a moment before automatically flying back to its shelf. The nearby brush and inkstone returned to their respective places, resembling sentient magical beings.

“Two medium-grade spiritual roots, three supplementary ones - just passable.” The little old man on the reclining chair waved his hand once more.

The temporary water-drop-shaped identity tokens they had received on the flying boat flew out from each of them, landing in the hands of the small old man. Then, from another nearby shelf, new identity tokens emerged.

These tokens were no longer temporary but deep brown, featuring a large ‘Comprehension’ character within the water drop shape.

After distributing the tokens, a set of Daoist robes and a magical sword flew towards each disciple.

With this, the distribution of entry supplies was complete.

“All right, if there’s nothing else, you may leave now. Don’t block the entrance here,” said the old man, dismissing them as soon as he finished handing out the items.

Huang Butong promptly led them away from the hall.

Next, Huang Butong led them back to the initial wing area and allocated a secluded room for them, familiarizing them with their surroundings.

Having fewer disciples had its advantages; at least they wouldn’t have to crowd into communal dormitories.

“Lastly, you need cultivation techniques.”

Huang Butong guided them towards another side chamber.

With the identity tokens from Little Old Man Wang Zhong, they encountered no further obstacles along the way and effortlessly reached the Techniques Pavilion.

“As new disciples, according to Peak of Enlightenment’s rules, each of you may select one technique free of charge.”

At the entrance to the Techniques Pavilion, Huang Butong did not enter.

Accessing this place required payment. In the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, the most valuable currency was task points, needed for everything from clothing, food, shelter, to even cultivation.

Since Huang Butong’s cultivation base hadn’t reached a bottleneck, and he already had sufficient techniques to practice, he naturally chose not to waste his points entering.

“Many thanks, Senior Brother,” they expressed gratitude before stepping inside the Scripture Pavilion.

As soon as they entered, the formation guarding the entrance flickered briefly. Upon detecting their identity tokens, the light dimmed once more.

“Finally, access to cultivation techniques,” Chen Luo silently sighed with relief.

Unlike Huang Ying and others born in this world, Chen Luo lacked fundamental knowledge about immortal cultivation. The information he had gleaned from the Yue Kingdom’s Great Mausoleum was severely outdated. Many of its legacies were based on ancient methods, carrying high risks in cultivation, and had largely been discarded here.

“The second bookshelf on the left houses introductory cultivation techniques. Choose carefully; each person can select only one.”

A voice echoed from behind the shelves.

Only then did they notice that at some point, a young green-robed cultivator had appeared near the bookshelves, engrossed in a book. Even while speaking, their head remained lowered without acknowledging the newcomers.

“Yes,” the group responded cautiously, not daring to say more.

As fresh recruits to the immortal sect, everyone seemed unfathomably profound to them.

They carefully navigated around the green-robed cultivator and stopped in the area designated for introductory techniques. Holding back their excitement, they quickly began browsing through the available texts.

Like many new disciples, they gravitated towards cultivation manuals with impressive names. For instance, Huang Ying held “The Grand Dao Secret Art,” an introductory technique. Similarly, the other three searched, believing they could find hidden treasures amidst the sea of books.

However, Chen Luo did not rush to choose.

With his foundation from the True Immortal Classic, he was more interested in basic knowledge. Thus, he bypassed the others and started browsing from the edge of the bookshelf.

Due to access restrictions, they could only view the covers and brief descriptions of each book.

The first book Chen Luo picked up was titled “Four Arts of Immortal Cultivation,” with an even shorter description:

‘Fundamentals of the Four Arts of Immortal Cultivation. After reading this, you can pretend to be a half-knowledgeable fraud.’

Speechless, Chen Luo silently returned the book to its place.

As expected for books offered freely to newcomers, one couldn’t expect much substantial content.

“Foundation of Qi Refinement?”

Chen Luo paused, then pulled out another nearby book.

‘A simple Qi refinement method, suitable for progressing to the intermediate stage of Qi Refinement.’

Setting down the secret manual, Chen Luo glanced at other books, including those held by Huang Ying and her friends, briefly skimming through them as well.

Although the bookshelf appeared large, the number of manuals they were allowed to peruse was very limited, totaling around twenty volumes.

With just over twenty books, Chen Luo quickly finished reading them all using his mental acuity. In the end, he returned to the shelf and once again picked up the “Foundation of Qi Refinement.”

“Have you all made your selections?”

A voice echoed behind them.

The green-robed cultivator, who had been browsing books at another shelf earlier, appeared unexpectedly behind the group. He seemed quite young, around twenty years old, with deep black eyes like tranquil pools and slightly pale skin, as if he hadn’t seen sunlight for a long time.

“Yes, we have,” they quickly replied.

There were only a few free introductory techniques available, leaving little choice, knowing well that eventually, they would need to upgrade later on.

“Good.”

The green-robed cultivator extended his hand and pointed towards each of them.

Despite the slow motion, strangely, none of them could evade it, including Chen Luo.

With a touch at their forehead, a faint glow entered their minds. Instantly, the books in their hands dissolved, emitting a green light from their pages, which merged along with the cultivator’s gesture into their brains.

“The cultivation techniques have been transmitted to you. Review the contents once you return. Now, please leave.”

Without waiting for their response, the green-robed cultivator waved his sleeve, summoning a gust of wind that lifted the group and swiftly carried them out through the main entrance.