Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Early morning, Chaotic Sect's Spirit field number 77.

"Old Lu, time to farm!"

A man and a deer started rolling up their sleeves and getting busy, and although it was just farming, it was filled with passion!

Before long, a section of the field was planted with Spirit Rice. The seeds were sprouting at a rate visible to the naked eye, and in less than three days, a large swath of green glistening Spirit Rice rice was swaying in the small courtyard.

Ning Daoran, wearing a bamboo hat, was bent over checking on the growth of the Spirit Rice, resembling an experienced old farmer.

Days later, as the Spirit Rice grew and matured, Ning Daoran's heart almost reached his throat!

"Old Lu, it's time to harvest!"

It was the harvest season, and the man and deer became even more passionate!

After the new batch of Spirit Rice turned into grains, Ning Daoran noticed some details.

Most likely due to his less skillful planting technique, most of the grains were quite shriveled, but some of them were covered with golden and silver patterns, with abundant Spiritual Energy, especially the Golden Pattern Spirit Rice, which was so rich in Spiritual Energy that it almost started to flow outward.

Just then, the system's voice suddenly sounded.

Ding dong!

[This harvest earned: Spirit Rice (Treasure-grade) 124 grains, Spirit Rice (Rare grade) 8 grains, totaling 204 years of Refining Time]

...

"Refining Time?"

Ning Daoran's head buzzed, hearing this concept for the first time. Could this be the new benefit brought by the five points of the Grass and Tree Holy Spirit?

When he focused on Refining Time, the system prompted that it could be used to cultivate Cultivation Techniques, with benefits equivalent to actual practice.

"Ah? It can work like that?"

He clutched the rice grains in his left hand and gently raised his right hand, starting to attempt the cultivation of the Body Tempering Technique, pouring Refining Time into it.

The next moment, something incredible happened.

[First year, you try to understand the true intent of the Body Tempering Technique, unfortunately, your cultivation talents are dull, and you can't comprehend the deeper meanings of the technique. After one year, you begin to lose heart]

[Third year, you yell by the lake, "I must cultivate, no one can stop me!", while the frogs in the lake respond with croaks, seemingly mocking your incompetence]

[Fifth year, you sit for five years, with a withered appearance, when suddenly a spark ignites in your heart, and you seem to understand something—the true meaning of the Body Tempering Technique!]

[Your Blood Qi begins to transform, your strength continuously increases, undergoing three transitions of Blood Qi]

[Body Tempering Technique. Lower Grade Yellow (Entry-level)]

[Remaining Refining Time: 199 years]

Instantly, a strong surge of Blood Qi and Spiritual Energy rushed into his body, turning Ning Daoran red, that explosive strength continuously increasing!

"Finally, I've reached the entry-level…"

He shed tears of excitement and felt a slight shame for his mediocre talents.

Continue, let's go further!

[Twentieth year, you constantly struggle to comprehend higher levels of the Body Tempering Technique, however, your own limited talents seem like a curse, hindering every step]

[You cry and laugh, appearing like a madman to others]

[Thirty-sixth year, you've practiced the Body Tempering Pile a million times, feeling annoyed, as some people achieve enlightenment by practicing the Punching Pile a million times, but you simply can't compare]

[Fiftieth year, you've given up, planning to take a concubine and have children. As you gaze at your 300-pound concubine, a sudden flash of insight strikes, and you decide to continue your cultivation]

[Your Blood Qi starts to burn fiercely, bringing about earth-shattering changes to your entire being, with Blood Qi undergoing six transitions]

[Body Tempering Technique. Lower Grade Yellow (Small accomplishment)]

[Qi Refinement Realm (Second layer)]

[Remaining Refining Time: 154 years]

Ning Daoran sighed deeply, his gaze lowering to his arms, which were firmer than before as Blood Qi surged through them, feeling his Blood Qi flow smoothly!

Moreover, his realm had also ascended one level, yielding tremendous benefits!

Let's continue, there are still over a hundred years of Refining Time, try to push the Body Tempering Technique towards Great Success!

[Hundredth year, your Body Tempering Technique shows no further changes, once again causing you to doubt your life, feeling that your cultivation itself is a mistake]

[One hundred thirty-sixth year, you start to feel empty of Blood Qi, and you visibly age]

[One hundred seventy years, you persist relentlessly, unaffected by the mockery of others]

[Two hundred years, your Blood Qi flares up again, the Body Tempering Technique begins to Wash the marrow and change the meridians, you can clearly feel the earth-shattering changes in your body, at this moment, your Blood Qi has transitioned nine times]

[Body Tempering Technique. Lower Grade Yellow (Great success)]

[Qi Refinement Realm (Fourth layer)]

[Remaining Refining Time: 4 years]

...

Qi Refinement Fourth Level, is already the legendary mid-stage Qi Refinement!

Ning Daoran slowly exhaled, feeling the massive swirling Spiritual Power and Blood Qi inside him, his eyes filled with surprise!

"Old Lu, cultivating is so simple!"

He was incredibly excited, his complexion glowing.

Farming Spirit Rice, it must be sustainable farming of Spirit Rice!

The man and the deer were impassioned, continuing this exciting endeavor.

Ning Daoran had consulted several elder disciples; in this Cultivation World, Cultivation Techniques are graded according to mastery levels: Entry-level, Small Accomplishment, Great Success, and Perfect.

Logically speaking, Perfect is already the highest level, but there are always geniuses who find another path. It is said that beyond Perfect there are two more realms, but these elder disciples are also in the Qi Refinement Realm and do not know much themselves.

Ning Daoran was brimming with excitement.

Currently, just reaching Great Success in the Body Tempering Technique was already incredibly formidable, and there's still the Perfect level ahead!

Not to mention, after Perfect there are two more immense realms. Once mastered, there might even be a chance for Foundation Establishment!

After all, who could waste two hundred years on a basic technique like the Body Tempering Technique?

Qi Refining Stage practitioners have a lifespan of only a hundred years, and even Foundation Establishment Stage practitioners have a lifespan of only two hundred.

Cultivators are racing against their lifespan from the day they begin their cultivation practices. Being able to spend hundreds of years on a low-level technique like Ning Daoran is truly unique.

Therefore, as long as one continuously farms Spirit Rice, one can grow stronger!

...

On this day, the last Talent Point of the Qi Refining Stage was successfully exchanged.

Without a doubt, he invested his Talent Points into Commanding All Beasts, and immediately two bell sounds rang by his ear.

Ding-Dong!

[Commanding All Beasts First Tier completed, you can choose a Spiritual Beast to sign a Soul Contract with, enhancing its physical body and erasing its Divine Soul to become your loyal servant. Would you like to form a Soul Contract with Big Stupid Deer?]

He couldn't help hesitating.

Erase Big Stupid Deer's Divine Soul?

Once erased, it would forever become his Spiritual Beast, but perhaps it would no longer be itself.

In fact, Ning Daoran could feel Big Stupid Deer's dependence on him.

Every morning, as he lay half-asleep, he could feel Big Stupid Deer waking up. The old deer would always lift its head to check behind, and seeing Ning Daoran still lying on the straw mat, it would peacefully go back to sleep.

At this moment, man and deer stood side by side on a hill watching the sunset.

"Old Deer."

Ning Daoran touched Big Stupid Deer's bald forehead and asked, "Do you also miss father and mother?"

"Ow?"

Big Stupid Deer first let out a doubtful cry, then seemed to recall the appearances of its parents. Soon after, it gently nudged Ning Daoran's shoulder, meaning it did miss them.

"Good."

Ning Daoran smiled, "Then keep missing them."

System, no.

…

Time flew, and the cultivation of Spirit Rice in the Small Cloud Mist Array continued.

Suddenly, Ning Daoran rolled off the straw mat, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead, as he suddenly remembered something.

There was a rule in the sect: Outer Disciples had to take a mission to leave the mountain for trials each season, otherwise, their monthly allowance would be deducted.

To say nothing else, the deduction of the monthly allowance was absolutely intolerable.

"Old Deer, we need to leave."

After washing his hands, Ning Daoran changed into a neat Outer Disciple uniform and, together with Big Stupid Deer, went straight to the Contribution Hall.

Considering to keep a low profile, Big Stupid Deer was left outside while Ning Daoran entered the hall alone.

The Contribution Hall was bustling with people coming and going, all powerful senior brothers and senior sisters. Some senior brothers had an aura so imposing it kept others at a distance, and some senior sisters looked like little fairy maidens stepped out of paintings.

Ning Daoran discreetly took the simplest task, then left as quietly as he had come.

Naturally, no one noticed he had advanced from Qi Refining First Layer to Qi Refining Fourth Layer in such a short period.

The mission was simple.

A grandson of an old farmer in Qingniu Town was possessed, suspected to be influenced by a low-level Evil Spirit. This was very easy since such Evil Spirits were weak and any disciple who had introduced energy into their bodies could easily dispel the evil.

"Old Deer, let's go down the mountain!"

After obtaining the mission, Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer excitedly went downhill.

…

Qingniu Town wasn't too far away, and the mission was completed smoothly. Ning Daoran could tell at a glance that the young boy was indeed entangled by an Evil Spirit, so he injected a stream of pure Spiritual Energy and helped expel the Evil Spirit.

On the way back, man and deer passed through a terribly fierce forest, enveloped in smoke and fog, filled with miasma!

"Not good!"

Ning Daoran's heart suddenly began to thud erratically, overwhelmed by an extremely bad premonition. He hurriedly said, "Old Deer, Earth Tunneling!"

Before he could finish speaking, just as Big Stupid Deer tunneled into the ground, a "whoosh" noise of a feathered arrow sounded, and immediately, an arrow shot towards Ning Daoran's throat, swift and precise!

It was an ambush with lethal intent!

"My! Mother!"

Ning Daoran suddenly raised his hand to pull out the Azure Dragon Spear wrapped in fabric from behind him. His arms and chest muscles burst with Blood Qi Power as the Body Tempering Technique reached its peak in an instant!

With the enhancement of the Body Tempering Technique, his crimson skin membrane looked as if it had been set aflame!

Ning Daoran slightly turned his body, and the arrow that hit his face was deflected, causing a refraction!

"Puh!"

With the Body Tempering Technique at Great Success, his body was so sturdy that an arrow to the face only caused a flesh wound.

"Damn, what thick skin!"

The man in the tree exclaimed in shock.

"Come out!"

Ning Daoran pinpointed where the arrow had come from. His entire body's Mana erupted as he instantly leaped using a tree in front of him, striking with the Azure Dragon Spear toward the person hidden in the dense leaves.

"Ah!?"

The man hidden in the leaves, a man with severed brows, exclaimed in horror and hurriedly raised his bow to block.

"Clang!"

The bowstring broke on impact!

This burly man clearly had the strength of Qi Refining Fifth Layer, but he didn't even have the chance to draw his sword!

The second strike of the Azure Dragon Spear came right down on his head!

"Bang!"

Brain matter burst, blood spattered! In a flash, he had slain him!

"It's bad, the Third Master is dead, run!" Someone on the left jumped down from the tree and fled.

"Old Deer!"

Big Stupid Deer suddenly charged out like an arrow, knocking the man over, then fiercely trampling him for several rounds.

After a loud shout, Ning Daoran rushed towards another side. The Azure Dragon Spear swept horizontally, cutting another man hiding in the tree in half at the waist!

In an instant, three bandits were all vanquished!

…

Ning Daoran began to search the bodies, taking all useful items.

After finishing, he raised his right hand, his middle finger bent against his index finger's fingertip, his nail scraping and creating sparks of Spiritual Energy, which quickly formed a Fireball that fell on the corpses.

With the enhancement from his Mana Talent, flames explosively rose, and the three bodies turned to ash in an instant!

"Tut-tut-tut~~~"

Watching the fire blaze, Ning Daoran's heart belatedly thumped wildly. Although he appeared cool and calm on the surface, it was, after all, his first time killing someone in the Cultivation World, and inside he was incredibly anxious.