Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

"Awoo~~~"

Big Stupid Deer cheerfully bounced off to stir-fry some vegetables, just because among all the members of the Chaotic Sect, only Lin Sheng, the senior brother, would call it Junior Brother Lu.

That one address as Junior Brother Lu could make Big Stupid Deer happy for half a year. It really needed a sense of belonging.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, your True Yang Furnace Technique is about to make a Small Accomplishment!"

As Xu Ning doled out the dishes, he inquired about the secrets of the upper echelons of the Cultivation World, "By the way, I only know of the 'Entry-level,' 'Small Accomplishment,' 'Great Success,' and 'Perfect' stages of mastery for a cultivation technique. Is there anything beyond these stages?"

"Junior Brother, you've come to the right person."

Lin Sheng laughed heartily after gulping down a drink, "When I just became a disciple years ago, Master got drunk and boasted about this to us disciples.

Typically, the depth of mastery for a Cultivation Technique is just what you've mentioned, but for a genius, they can break through even the Perfect barrier. Beyond Perfect, there are two more stages!"

He gestured deeply for another cup of wine.

Understanding his hint, Xu Ning picked up the wine jug, filled up his cup, and raised an eyebrow, "Senior Brother, please go on."

Lin Sheng chuckled, "The first stage beyond Perfect is called the Transformation Realm. Those who can cultivate a technique to this level are indeed the cream of the crop.

However, there is one more realm above the Transformation Realm, called Return to Nature!

To use Master's own words, achieving Great Success in a technique is the creator's limit, while Transformation Realm represents eclipsing the forebears, advancing further upon a hundred-foot pole!

As for Return to Nature, that's something mystical. Master said, those who can cultivate a technique to Return to Nature are unique geniuses within the Cultivation World because Return to Nature represents the true limit of a technique, the pinnacle of Unity with Heaven and Man."

"Wow..."

Xu Ning expressed his genuine admiration. It seemed his guess was right, after the Transformation Realm of the Body Tempering Technique, there was indeed another stage, Return to Nature!

If the Transformation Realm was already this powerful, wouldn't Return to Nature be invincible?

As long as he could hold out, quietly farming in the mountains for years, he could easily cultivate the Body Tempering Technique to Return to Nature and become the first person in the history of the technique's cultivation!

Just thinking about that made him burst into laughter.

...

Lin Sheng was a rough man who didn't notice much. He whispered softly, "Junior Brother, try taking this Spirit Nourishing Pill and go into seclusion for a month. If you break through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, I'll guarantee you a place in the Inner Sect!"

"Cough cough, we'll see… I'm not too confident in my own talents, and advancing to the Inner Sect involves carrying out various perilous tasks— I worry about my abilities…"

"Hmph!"

Lin Sheng slightly raised an eyebrow, "Junior Brother Ning, that is not the right way to think. How can cultivators like us be so hesitant on the path of immortality?

You must know that Heaven has never given any pity to us mortals. Since ancient times, those who cultivated sought to defy the heavens; only by struggling against the odds might there be a glimpse of dawn. If we go with the flow, we are doomed to live as mere mortals!"

He seemed a bit disappointed, "I won't repeat these words to you a second time, so as not to harm the harmony between brothers."

"I understand."

Xu Ning nodded, "Senior Brother is looking out for me, I get it all. But everyone's path is different, and I hope you can understand that as well."

Lin Sheng felt somewhat dejected, realizing his misconduct, drank a few more cups, and then left.

...

One clear morning.

On the balcony of the second floor of the courtyard No. 77, Xu Ning drank a cup of tea, feeling it was very nourishing to his character.

Beside him, Big Stupid Deer was sitting in a chair, took a sip of tea, and lightly indicated that the tea was somewhat bitter.

Xu Ning had a new idea. He decided to cultivate the Rain Transformation Technique.

Having joined the sect for two and a half years, on the surface, he had cultivated from the First Level of Qi Refining to the Third Layer, not particularly "brave and diligent." Such a pace of cultivation was quite common among Outer Disciples.

Having farmed Spirit Rice for two and a half years, he had a special talent in the path of Spirit Plant cultivation. It was reasonable that he had accidentally cultivated the Rain Transformation Technique to the Fourth Layer.

Thus, spending over three hundred years refining time, he easily cultivated the Rain Transformation Technique to the Fourth Layer.

With the Fourth Layer of the Rain Transformation Technique, he could grow Second-order Green Bamboo Spirit Rice, which was his real goal.

Just when spring was blooming, last year's Spirit Rice could be harvested, and this year's could just be planted with the Green Bamboo Spirit Rice— provided that he went to the Contribution Hall to register and receive the Green Bamboo Spirit Rice seeds.

"Old Lu, let's go out!"

The man and the deer headed towards the Main Peak, greeting all the fellow disciples coming and going along the way, showing a good popularity.

The Hall.

"Qiongbi Peak, Spirit Field No. 77, Xu Ning..."

An Outer Sect deacon with a white beard frowned in disbelief, looking over, "You say you've cultivated the Rain Transformation Technique to the Fourth Layer and can now grow Second-tier Green Bamboo Spirit Rice?"

"That's right."

"Show me a demonstration."

"Yes, Martial Uncle!"

Xu Ning raised his hand lightly, and immediately a wisp of azure water clouds pulsed between his fingers, exquisitely moist and mystical.

"It really is the Rain Transformation Technique at the Fourth Layer!"

The deacon elder exclaimed in surprise, "Little fellow, how did you manage to cultivate the Rain Transformation Technique to the Fourth Layer in just over two years?"

"I'm not sure myself."

Xu Ning scratched his head in some confusion, "I just focus on the Spirit Field every day. Before I knew it, I became more skillful in using the Rain Transformation Technique, and it advanced to the Fourth Layer."

"It seems you do have a gift for the path of Spirit Plant cultivation. Alright then, how many Green Bamboo Spirit Rice seeds do you want to apply for?"

"Twenty pounds?"

"That's doable!"

With a flourish, the Outer Sect deacon approved, and Xu Ning carried the twenty pounds of seeds back to Qiongbi Peak.

...

Soon after, at the Outer Door Hall.

"Xu Ning… Rain Transformation Technique at the Fourth Layer…"

An Outer Sect Elder with a split-mouthed smile said, "It seems that our Outer Sect has found a treasure. There's no doubt that he is a genius with a talent for Spirit Plant cultivation. Elder Xu, you really missed out initially."

Elder Xu Ning couldn't help but sneer, "Just a mere Spirit Plant Man. Even if he has talent in that field, what's the use? He's nothing but a stepping stone for others."

Many elders chuckled lightly and said no more.

Chaotic Sect Master Peak, Purple Cloud Peak.

In front of the Sect Master's Cave Mansion.

A woman dressed in a simple and elegant white robe stepped out of the cave. She possessed an immortal charm and extraordinary beauty with a full bosom and long, flawless jade legs—it was Jiang Yu, the Chaotic Sect's Sect Master, and the only cultivator in the Golden Core Stage within the sect.

In terms of seniority, Jiang Yu was actually the junior of three Inner Sect Elders. However, on the day she achieved Great Success in her Golden Core, she was appointed as the new Sect Master by her predecessor and thereafter presided over Purple Cloud Peak.

"Sect Master."

An Outer Elder passed a register, saying, "There's another Spirit Plant Man in the Outer Sect's Spirit Field Department who can cultivate Second-tier Spirit Rice with the Fourth Layer of the Rain Transformation Technique."

"Oh?"

Jiang Yu calmly replied, "Martial Uncle Huang, although our Chaotic Sect's Spirit Field Department isn't the largest, there should be at least a dozen people who can plant Second-tier Spirit Rice, shouldn't there? What's so special about this?"

"Reporting to the Sect Master, this youth has only entered the sect two years ago and is merely twenty-two years old."

"I see."

Jiang Yu glanced at the register: "Ning Daoran, Outer Disciple, Ninth Grade Mixed Spirit Root, Third Level of Qi Refining..."

Suddenly, she lost interest and said, "Since he has talent in Spirit Planting, the Outer Sect should provide some convenience for him; it is good to employ people according to their skills. If he has any needs in his cultivation, we can also afford him some convenience. The Chaotic Sect does not mistreat talented disciples, even if their talent lies in farming."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

...

Spirit Field No. 77.

Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer were already working eagerly and industriously.

After harvesting all the Spirit Rice from the outer three acres and burning the straw stubble, turning over the soil, they began nurturing the seedlings of Green Bamboo Spirit Rice. These seedlings were extremely precious and delicate, requiring constant care from the Rain Transformation Technique.

Fortunately, Ning Daoran had now achieved a high level of mastery in Spirit Planting Skills, performing every step with precision.

Of course, the Grass and Tree Holy Spirit state was disabled when planting—the external spirit land could not accommodate Spirit Rice blessed with the support of the Grass and Tree Holy Spirit.

One year, he forgot to disable it and had to uproot everything overnight.

It was nothing to fret over; caution was the key.

A few days later.

Other fields also shimmered a bright green as everyone harvested a season of Spirit Rice and planted new seedlings.

On the field ridge, Old Lu sighed deeply.

"Old Lu has worries?"

Ning Daoran, accompanied by Big Stupid Deer, happened to pass by.

"No particular worries."

Old Lu smiled, "Just that as the years increase, there seems to be no breakthrough in my cultivation. I've been thinking, rather than depleting my lifespan and dying in meditation, I might as well take a final chance. Perhaps I can reach the middle stage of Qi Refinement and see the scenery that it offers before the end of my life."

Ning Daoran was momentarily at a loss for words; what kind of scenery could the middle stage of Qi Refinement offer? It was just more of the same.

"Fellow Daoist Lu also has this desire?"

The voice of Xin Yan came over as he rolled down his trouser legs, saying, "Recently, I've also been feeling anxious for progress, and I lack a suitable magic artifact to refine my cultivation.

I've heard that the prohibitions in Nansong Secret Realm have loosened recently, and many Early Stage Qi Refinement Loose Cultivators plan to explore together. Would Fellow Daoist Lu be willing to join?"

"I have been thinking exactly that!"

Old Lu mused for a moment, then turned his gaze to Ning Daoran: "Fellow Daoist Ning, you possess exceptional talent and have been stuck at the Third Level of Qi Refinement for over a year. Would you like to go together?"

"I'll pass; I wish both of you luck," Ning Daoran declined calmly.

Exploring a secret realm was something he wanted to avoid at all costs unless absolutely necessary.

Two months later.

Xin Yan and Old Lu left Qiongbi Peak together in search of opportunities in the outside world.

The peak became a bit quieter all of a sudden, but with Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer still making a racket daily, Qiongbi Peak remained lively.

...

Half a month later.

News came from the Outer Sect that Old Lu had encountered trouble on his journey and would never return.

The person who brought the news to the Outer Sect was Xin Yan. Old Lu had entered a deadly miasma in the Secret Realm and perished within, with no chance to retrieve his body.

Under the old banyan tree, atop the large stone slab.

After Zhao Lichen delivered the news to Ning Daoran and others, he left.

Granny Yun Cui's face was expressionless. Such was the fate of a Loose Cultivator; there was nothing to complain about.

Zhong Yan pursed her lips, feeling inwardly relieved that her daoist couple, Xin Yan, had survived.

It wasn't long before Xin Yan returned.

"Fellow Daoist Ning!"

Xin Yan managed a bitter smile, "Old Lu... he's not coming back."

"Hmm."

Ning Daoran remained calm: "It's a pity. Elder Lu was quite good..."

"Yes..."

After chatting for a few moments, Xin Yan left with his wife.

However, in the moment he embraced his wife, he inadvertently revealed the hilt of a purple short knife tucked at his waist under his robe.

"..."

Ning Daoran lapsed into silence.

The cultivation world was truly perilous!