With that, Zhang Deming waved his hand. An illusory book floated from before Qu Qizhong to him. Looking at the name on the cover, Zhang Deming paused, stunned.

Ruyi Vine

’This is...’

At this moment, Qu Qizhong looked at the book and said, "The Ancestor said this should be a Technique developed by a Cultivator who combined the Technique of Wishing Size with the Wood Vine Dao.

However, a mutation occurred after its development.

The Technique was successfully developed, but it exhibited many flaws characteristic of an Earth Evil Technique. Although it’s a Tier One Technique and can be used for Foundation Establishment, its difficulty is comparable to Tier Five. It’s a typical example of a mutated Technique from the Earth Evil Seventy-Two Techniques that was botched during its development.

That’s why someone put it up for sale and sold it so cheaply.

This Technique has little practical value and is mostly for collection purposes. If you hadn’t instructed us, Steward, we might not have acquired it."

As Zhang Deming listened to Qu Qizhong, he flipped through the book. The more he read, the more delighted he became, until he could no longer hide the joy on his face.

Seeing Zhang Deming smile, Qu Qizhong’s face also lit up with pleasure.

After a long moment, Zhang Deming said, "I’ll take it. It’s quite good. And I won’t take it for free. I’ll give you one Contribution Point for it."

Qu Qizhong’s face lit up with surprise. "Then thank you, Steward Zhang," he said.

Zhang Deming smiled. "You’re welcome. It’s only right. I’ve always said that the Alliance is a platform, not a means to exploit you."

Zhang Deming paused before continuing, "The transaction system is still under review, so I’ll issue it as a task."

Qu Qizhong nodded. "Yes!"

Zhang Deming held out his hand, and the Book of All Living Beings exclusive to Zhang Wu appeared. He then chose to issue a task.

Task: Technique Collection

Category: Collection (Long-term Task)

Task Description: Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Techniques, Earth Evil Seventy-Two Techniques, strange techniques left over from ancient times, etc., are all acceptable. Cultivation difficulty will not be a consideration.

Details: Reward is variable, depending on the Technique.

Issuer: Zhang Wu (Hundred Transformations)

Completed by: Rumors (Contribution ready to be claimed)

As Zhang Wu issued the task, the six people who possessed a Book of All Living Beings were all stunned. They had just seen the notification for the new task when they immediately saw another notice that Qu Qizhong had already claimed its reward.

Looking at Qu Qizhong on the leaderboards, who already had six Contribution Points, the others felt a sense of urgency.

This was a fresh start, a clear opportunity to get ahead. But now, someone was already several steps ahead of them. How could they not feel anxious?

After claiming the task reward, Qu Qizhong’s face lit up with joy as he looked at his six Contribution Points.

After staring at it for a moment, he dismissed his Book of All Living Beings and said, "If you have no other business for me, Steward, I’ll take my leave now."

Zhang Deming nodded and, with a wave of his hand, tossed Qu Qizhong out.

After Qu Qizhong vanished, Zhang Deming also left the Spirit Nurturing Space. Back in his room, he took out a record book.

Light flashed from the Array in his hand as characters began to leap forth one by one. In a moment, Zhang Deming had finished inscribing a copy of *Ruyi Vine*.

Zhang Deming was very fond of this Technique. It was a perfect match for his Vine Technique and would greatly enrich his ’Basic Attack’ methods.

Zhang Deming checked his inventory: Merit: 22.4, Qi Fortune: 195.6, Karma: 2.4.

Over the past six months, four shops had been successively completed. The sale of four to five hundred Spirit Nurturing Beads each month brought Zhang Deming an average of three Merit and over thirty Qi Fortune monthly.

Zhang Deming had been accumulating these resources for a full six months. It was safe to say he had never been this wealthy.

Looking at so many resources, Zhang Deming felt the urge to spend a large portion of them at once. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

’But when I look at the Enhancement Skill, I know I need to keep saving Qi Fortune. And looking at the requirements to unlock new functions... I’d better keep saving Merit, too!’

’Still, using some Qi Fortune to learn two Techniques should be fine.’

Holding *Ruyi Vine*, Zhang Deming initiated the editing process.

"4 Ordinary Energy required to edit a small plug-in.

Editing conditions met!

Note: Due to the special nature of this Skill’s path, an additional two specific ’Sequence’ energies must be consumed to begin editing."

’Huh?’ Zhang Deming paused as he looked at the information on the panel. ’This is the first Tier One Technique I’ve seen that needs four Energy to edit, and two of them even have to be the ’Sequence’ type.’

’Sleeve Qiankun’s Energy cost doubled when advancing to Tier Three, and this Ruyi Vine has a special requirement just for the Entry Level. It seems the Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Techniques and the Earth Evil Seventy-Two Techniques all have their own special requirements.’

’For a person, this would manifest as needing a specific Talent.’

Zhang Deming was a little taken aback. ’I don’t have many ’Sequence’ energies right now, but I’m bound to get one every few dozen, so I don’t have to feel too bad about spending them.’

’The only thing that was a real pain was the ’Cycle’ type. Apart from that one time I got incredibly lucky, I haven’t seen another one since.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Deming chose to edit. Gazing at the completely different architecture, he carefully began to compile it.

’{

if (possess Vine Path Magic Rune) {

if (possess sufficient Spiritual Power AND cast Ruyi Vine)

{then, Ruyi Vine cast successful}

else {then, Ruyi Vine cast failed};

} else {then, Rune cannot be formed};

{then, Wishing Size is possible};

};’

’Looking at the code in front of me, this is by far the most complex core code I’ve ever seen. This alone shows how difficult this Skill is to cultivate.’

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Deming clicked "Test Run." When no issues arose, he selected "Upload and Complete."

Countless Runes appeared, but instead of gathering into a ball of light, they transformed into innumerable motes of light. They flew into Zhang Deming’s Dantian, fusing with the Vine Technique script hosted there.