In the end, Su Qing didn’t make the exhausted Xu Ningying demonstrate the swordsmanship.

It was just a swordsmanship demonstration, after all.

Su Qing could learn it just by watching once.

So it was only a matter of time.

’I’m burning through these Great Replenishing Pills too quickly.’

In just a few days, he had surprisingly used nearly a hundred of them.

During each cultivation session, Su Qing would basically stuff five or six pills directly into his mouth.

’How does money disappear so fast?’

With a quarter of his assets gone, Su Qing really did feel a pang of regret.

’Time to get back to cultivation!’

Despite the ache in his heart, Su Qing took a few more Great Replenishing Pills and sat down in the room to cultivate.

「The next day.」

"You wanted a sharp and aggressive swordsmanship."

"As it happens, I learned one at the Demon-Extermination Bureau."

"It’s called the Geng Metal Sword Technique."

"It’s perfect for someone like you with a Five Elements Spirit Root. As long as you have Gold Spiritual Qi, you can cultivate it."

Su Qing watched Xu Ningying on the training grounds as she spoke.

"So, are you going to teach me or what?"

"I can’t teach you this one..."

"This is the manual I copied for you last night. Remember to burn it after you’re done reading."

Xu Ningying sighed and took out a book.

She said, "This isn’t exactly a swordsmanship technique, but it’s more powerful. If you cultivate it for ten years, no one at the same level in Shangjing will be your match."

"Er... ten years?"

Su Qing took the book and read it carefully from cover to cover.

An hour passed.

[Geng Metal Sword Technique: Use Gold Spiritual Qi to nurture Geng Metal Sword Qi. Attacks can be imbued with Geng Metal Sword Qi.]

[Can be synthesized]

’The description makes it sound amazing, so why did Xu Ningying seem to dislike it so much?’

Su Qing didn’t get it.

Besides, based on his understanding of the Geng Metal Sword Technique’s description, Su Qing felt that any of the Five Elements Spiritual Qi could be used to nurture Sword Qi.

After all, the book taught how to cultivate a Magic technique.

"..."

’I really want to try it, but experimenting on my own body is too dangerous.’

Having obtained the Sword Formulas, Su Qing used his Fire Spiritual Qi to burn the book in his hands.

The Gathering Spirit Level really didn’t provide much Spiritual Qi.

Just ten minutes of use would completely deplete his body’s Spiritual Qi.

’It would be great if the Synthesizer could display my stats. That way, I’d know how much progress I’m making.’

Su Qing thought, looking at the panel.

The moment he finished the thought,

the panel blurred.

——

Host: Su Qing.

Realm: Tenth Layer of Body Tempering [Cyan Flood Dragon Posture: Mastery (54/1000)]

Third-Layer of Gathering Spirit [First Level Five Qi God Demon Skill: Entry Level (246/500)]

Physique: 1 (Current physical fitness as standard)

Spiritual Qi: 1 (Current physical fitness as standard)

Synthesis Lv11 (321/1200) [Synthesis Success Rate +11%, Mutated +1%, Evolution +8%, Divinization +1%, Demonization +1%]

——

——

"Huh?" Su Qing stared at the panel. It now displayed Physique and Spiritual Qi.

He couldn’t help but feel pleased.

’So the panel can actually display data based on what I’m thinking?’

’This is great.’

Su Qing was overjoyed.

’Change the Physique stat to 10 and the Spiritual Qi stat to 3.’

——

Physique: 10 (Current physical fitness as standard)

Spiritual Qi: 3 (Current physical fitness as standard)

——

Su Qing was even happier when he saw the change.

’From now on, use this as the baseline. Any changes in my strength should be reflected in these numbers.’

Su Qing repeated the thought, but the Synthesizer didn’t react. He’d only know if it worked once his strength actually improved.

Having his own stats displayed, where he could see his progress, further fueled Su Qing’s desire to cultivate.

Su Qing immediately ran back to the house Xu Ningying had arranged for him.

He sat cross-legged to cultivate.

Constantly popping pills.

...

「Five days later.」

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~

Someone knocked on the door.

"Su Qing, are you in there? Su Qing!"

"Answer if you’re in there! Otherwise, I’m coming in."

Xu Ningying’s voice carried in from outside.

Xu Ningying hadn’t realized Su Qing was still at her residence. It wasn’t until Yinyin mentioned it that it occurred to her. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

She hadn’t seen Su Qing in five days.

——

Host: Su Qing.

Realm: Tenth Layer of Body Tempering [Cyan Flood Dragon Posture: Mastery (54/1000)]

Gathering Spirit Fourth Level [First Level Five Qi God Demon Skill: Entry Level (402/500)]

Physique: 10

Spiritual Qi: 4

Synthesis Lv11 (321/1200) [Synthesis Success Rate +11%, Mutated +1%, Evolution +8%, Divinization +1%, Demonization +1%]

——

Su Qing opened his eyes and saw the Skill Level of his Cultivation Technique.

A smile touched his lips.

Five days, and he could now run nearly three full Circulations a day.

What incredible progress.

"I’m cultivating inside, what’s wrong?"

Su Qing got up and shouted.

Then he walked to the door and opened it.

Xu Ningying glanced at Su Qing, who looked no different than before, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought you’d already left my place. I didn’t expect you to still be here."

"Just borrowing it for a bit. I want to cultivate here."

Su Qing smiled.

"Cultivation, cultivation... Is that why your Martial Arts are so powerful?"

Xu Ningying was astonished. "Are you cultivating that technique right now?"

Su Qing nodded.

"You shouldn’t cultivate for too long in one day, or you risk damaging your meridians."

Xu Ningying advised with heartfelt sincerity.

Su Qing, however, didn’t care. He could feel the state of his own meridians.

’Damaged? Far from it. My meridians are being strengthened and expanded.’

Perhaps it was the effect of the Five Qi God Demon Technique.

It made sense when he thought about it. This was a Cultivation Technique that could be Divinized, Demonized, and Evolved.

Incomparably powerful.

"Since there’s nothing wrong, I’ll keep using this room for now."

"If you want to kick me out, that’s also fine."

Su Qing was eager to get back to his cultivation. The Five Qi God Demon Technique demanded practice, and he wanted to use up all his Great Replenishing Pills before thinking about anything else.

"Sigh..."

"Fine, fine."

"Even at the Demon-Extermination Bureau, we don’t have many people who can go without food or drink like you."

"Could it be you secretly sneak out at night to eat?"

Su Qing paused for a moment, then smiled. "Of course. How else could I not be hungry?"

"I’m at a critical point in my cultivation. Let’s talk again after I’ve cultivated for another ten days or so."

After speaking, Su Qing gave her a bright smile and closed the door.

’What the heck? This is my house.’

Xu Ningying thought, exasperated.

"Yinyin, let’s go back. Don’t disturb Su Qing."

"Yes, Miss."

...

’I’m about to break through to the Mastery Level.’

’It’s so frustrating. I’ve been cultivating for almost twenty days and I’m only just about to reach Mastery.’

’It’s going to take forever to reach Perfection.’

Su Qing couldn’t think about anything else. He wasn’t even willing to practice the Cyan Flood Dragon Posture, which gave ten Skill Level points per hour of stance training.

It was all because cultivating the Five Qi God Demon Technique to Perfection would grant him the Five Qi God Demon Body.

A special constitution!

How could Su Qing possibly pass that up?

Having the Chaotic Life Body, he knew just how amazing a special constitution could be.

If he didn’t have the Chaotic Life Body,

Su Qing estimated he wouldn’t have even made it out of Flood Village back then.

’Cultivate, cultivate.’

’I wonder if I could join a Sect?’

’But I don’t have a Spirit Root.’

But he didn’t dare try to join a Sect. If they tested him and found he had no Spirit Root, it would be extremely dangerous.

Being able to cultivate without a Spirit Root—what else could he be but a Demon Cultivator?

’I guess joining a normal Sect is out of the question... What about a Demonic Sect?’

As he considered this, he realized he couldn’t go on without more Immortal Cultivation Techniques or Secret Techniques.

Judging by Xu Ningying, the Immortal Cultivation standard in Shangjing couldn’t be very high.

...