A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

The shopping street was vast, but after a full circuit, only two shops could meet Lü Zhong’s needs.

Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion was a major chain of Magic Technique stores spanning multiple regions. Not only did it have a branch on Yanling Mountain, but it even had a sizable one in a remote backwater like Qingliu Square. True to its name, "Ten Thousand Laws," it offered a full three sets of foundational Magic Technique manuals, each with a different focus.

The first was *Flying Star Sect’s Magic Introduction*, originating from the Flying Star Sect. According to the book’s own description, it was a manual focused on the systematic training of Magic Cultivators. For cultivators aspiring to walk the path of a Magic Cultivator, it contained extremely detailed spell tutorials and explanations of various casting principles. By studying it diligently, one could become a full-fledged Magic Cultivator.

The second book was similar to the first, also a manual for training Magic Cultivators, but with an extreme focus on firepower. Its goal was to overwhelm enemies with a barrage of Magic Skills in a short period. Titled *Sun Flame True Monarch’s Initial Understanding of Magical Combat*, it also provided detailed explanations of foundational Magic Techniques and principles. However, its purpose wasn’t to create a well-rounded practitioner. Instead, it heavily emphasized the execution of various offensive Magic Skills and the rapid casting of Low-level Techniques.

There was also *Independent Cultivator’s Magic Guide*, written by a Central Earth Nascent Soul Independent Cultivator. This book addressed the most practical needs of Loose Cultivators, leaning more toward the practical application of Magic Skills with relatively little guidance on theory. It stated it would only cover the fundamentals of Magic Techniques, dedicating most of its pages to selecting combinations of skills for different regions and various casting techniques. It even specifically mentioned that the book contained various tips on how to make money using Magic Skills.

Of these three foundational Magic Technique manuals, Lü Zhong was leaning toward one of the first two. Although *Independent Cultivator’s Magic Guide* was practical, it deviated from his current purpose: to shore up the weaknesses in his foundational Magic Techniques.

’I won’t rush my decision. I still haven’t been to Mingfa Tower, and they have a foundational Magic Technique manual too.’

Lü Zhong exited the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion and glanced up at the moonless night sky. He went against the flow of the crowd, heading straight for Mingfa Tower.

The faction behind Mingfa Tower was no small force; it was common knowledge that it belonged to the Luoyun Sect.

The Luoyun Sect, ranked alongside the Heling Sect and the Golden Rainbow Sect, was a Magic Cultivation Sect with over ten thousand disciples. It was one of the three Major Sects in the northwestern frontier of the Southern Barbarian region, occupying the vast Luoyun Region. Two Core Formation Ancestors currently presided over the Sect.

The fact that Mingfa Tower was allowed to operate within Yanling Mountain Market showed that the relationship between the Luoyun Sect and the Golden Rainbow Sect was a deep one. This corroborated a common rumor: that the Luoyun Sect and the Golden Rainbow Sect were joining forces to oppose the Heling Sect.

This made Lü Zhong’s mind race, and he couldn’t help but speculate about the Heling Sect’s true strength.

However, he was in Yanling Mountain Market, the Golden Rainbow Sect’s territory. Information regarding the Heling Sect was strictly controlled here. Anyone wishing to learn more had to rely on hearsay and street gossip, which was not only difficult to verify but also rarely yielded any useful intelligence.

Upon entering Mingfa Tower, Lü Zhong, clad in his Dharma Robe, received a warm welcome.

*Luoyun Technique Foundation*, the only foundational Magic Technique manual for sale in Mingfa Tower.

Lü Zhong gave it a cursory glance. It was similar to *Flying Star Sect’s Magic Introduction*, a book focused on training Magic Cultivators, with considerable sections on spells and casting principles. However, unlike the Flying Star Sect’s goal of comprehensive training, the Luoyun Sect’s manual aimed for a fusion of techniques and artifacts. It stressed the coordinated use of Magic Techniques and Magical Artifacts, not pursuing long-range combat but instead favoring finishing off opponents in close-quarters battle.

This much was evident from the Magic Skills sold at Mingfa Tower.

The immensely powerful *Magic Sword Skill*; *Flame Stream Breath*, which spewed a great gout of fire; and *Spirit Stele Seal*, which specialized in breaking all kinds of protective barriers—all three of these Magic Skills were for close combat. There were also fast-casting skills similar to the *Late Sun Sword Skill*, like the soul-shaking *Tiger Roar Sound* and the opponent-disrupting *Attracting and Repelling Magic Ring*.

Long-range Magic Skills were few and far between, mostly limited to dime-a-dozen techniques like the *Fireball Skill* and *Ice Needle Technique*.

"How much is this book?" Lü Zhong asked.

"Apologies, this book isn’t sold directly. It must be redeemed with a Luoyun Order," the Receptionist said with an apologetic expression, and then began to explain. "The Luoyun Order is issued by our Luoyun Sect and can be obtained by making contributions. Sir, would you like to learn the details of how to earn them?"

Lü Zhong heard this and thought, ’So there’s a catch?’

Only after the Receptionist finished explaining the details of earning contributions did Lü Zhong finally understand.

This was clearly a way to use Loose Cultivators as de facto Outer Disciples. Whether it was cooperating with Luoyun Sect disciples to guard resource points, participating in the extermination of Evil Cultivators in the region, or processing various raw materials, the tasks were basically the same as what other Sects assigned to their Outer Disciples.

Outer Disciples did all the dirty, exhausting work, yet received few, if any, Sect benefits.

To put it bluntly, Outer Disciples were just Temporary Workers.

And the Luoyun Sect’s method was to use *Luoyun Technique Foundation* as bait to lure Loose Cultivators into being their Temporary Workers.

’The goal is probably to save money by using Temporary Workers.’

’After all, Temporary Workers fend for themselves, don’t need to be given any Sect benefits, and if they die, they’re just tossed into a mass grave.’

Lü Zhong did a quick calculation based on his most proficient Talisman-Making Skill and the value of a Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talisman. He estimated how quickly he could accumulate Contribution Points and was shocked to find that he would have to make talismans for three whole years just to earn enough for a single Luoyun Order, which he could then use as a Token to exchange for *Luoyun Technique Foundation*.

And that was only because the Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talisman was so valuable, earning a large number of Contribution Points for each one he crafted.