The message also stated that the path of Cultivation is Heaven-Defying, and relying solely on the few things the Sect left him would likely make progress difficult.

Therefore, he, an Outer Sect Disciple, was also permitted to join other Schools for Cultivation.

Upon closer thought, if a Mortal acquired this Cultivation Technique and Cultivated it a little, joining a small Sect with some resources would still be more than enough.

Seeing this, Song Yan judged that the Sect Master was probably gone for good.

His words no longer cared for respecting teachers or the Dao; he only hoped that his Sword Sect’s sole remaining Disciple could survive precariously in the Cultivation World, and that would be considered a success.

"This is a bit too humble."

Actually, for Song Yan, an ant in the Cultivation World, whether it was an Outer Sect Disciple of Cave Abyss Sect or an Outer Sect Disciple of the Sword Sect, it was all the same.

To survive and seek the Dao for eternal life, that was the true principle.

However, the sights and scenes he witnessed at Cave Abyss Sect were, after all, his first glimpse into the Cultivation World, and the seemingly bitter words in the Sword Sect’s letter indeed lightened his heart considerably.

But none of this was the most important; what truly gave Song Yan a headache was the Cultivation Technique left for him: Spirit Transformation Chapter.

This Cultivation Technique looked like a fragmented piece of some Immortal treasure scripture, or perhaps a compilation of excerpts from various Cultivation Techniques.

It consisted of three parts: the General Outline, the Sword Planting Technique, and the "Essentials of Swordsmanship."

The General Outline stated that the core of the Sword Sect’s Cultivation Technique lay in the Sword Planting Technique.

Upon closer inspection, the content of the Sword Planting Technique was mainly divided into two parts.

First, after a Cultivator Cultivates to Qi Refining fourth layer and possesses a certain amount of Spiritual Qi, they use Spiritual Qi to sever all Spiritual Roots, disperse all their Cultivation, open the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, and plant the seed of the Dao of the Sword.

In other words, a Cultivator must not have a Spiritual Root within their body.

Second, Cultivate a Natal Flying Sword to serve as a bridge for communication with the Sword Treasury and to compensate for the shattered Spiritual Root’s lifeblood.

"Disperse Cultivation and re-Cultivate..."

Song Yan sighed deeply.

This first condition alone already made him restless, unable to focus on how to Cultivate a Natal Flying Sword.

Perhaps for those with extraordinary talent or those supported by family wealth, when faced with a precious Cultivation Technique, they would not hesitate to disperse their Cultivation and re-Cultivate.

Qi Refining fifth layer.

It wasn’t that profound of a Realm.

But for a low-level Cultivator like Song Yan, only he knew how arduous the journey had been.

If he hadn’t had the advantage of Divine Sense from two lives, and hadn’t met a benefactor like Granny Qin... he would probably have ended up like Senior Brother Zhao Fengcheng, with no hope of Foundation Establishment and expelled from the Sect.

Now, such a dangerous choice lay before him, indeed making things difficult.

"But no matter what, I absolutely cannot take this risk before completing this external mission and returning to the Sect."

A few days after returning to the Sect from Stone Ridge, Song Yan received a notification that he had been selected as an Outer Sect Disciple to participate in a joint Sect mission a few months later.

The person who notified him was an Outer Sect Deacon named Chen Chen, whom he had never met, but a few days later, it became Senior Brother Lin Qing who gave him detailed instructions for the mission.

"Jiran Valley..."

Song Yan had heard of this place before; Jiran Valley was on the border of Chu Country, near the territory of Qi Country.

Although called a valley, it was actually a valley and a large area of terraced fields for planting spiritual grains and medicinal gardens for planting herbs nearby.

This place was jointly discovered by Profound Origin Sect, Spirit Talisman Sect, and Cave Abyss Sect back then, so they jointly owned it, and daily chores and spiritual grain care were also handled by people from each of the three Sects.

With abundant Spiritual Qi and a remote location, it was undisturbed on normal days, truly a place for quiet Cultivation, if not for this Spiritual Qi fluctuation.

When he used to go to the Outer Sect Affairs Hall to receive missions, he often saw Outer Sect Disciples participating in a type of mission called "Spiritual Grain Ripening."

However, it generally required Disciples skilled in using water-element Spells, so Song Yan never thought he would go to that place.

This mission seemed to be different.

"External missions, even with Inner Sect Disciples leading the team, always carry risks no matter what..."

Song Yan temporarily put aside this "Sword Planting Technique."

"I’ll make a decision after the mission is completed and I return to the Sect..."

However, although he couldn’t Cultivate the Sword Planting Technique for now, there was a method within this Sword Planting Technique that he could try in advance.

It was less of a method and more of a means.

Condensing the True Essence of the Dao of the Sword.

Originally, Sword Sect Disciples would plant the seed of the Dao of the Sword in the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, and as they Cultivated Spiritual Qi, Sword Qi would gradually emerge within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion.

This Sword Qi could be used to condense the True Essence of the Dao of the Sword.

At the end of the Sword Essence section in the Spirit Transformation Chapter, it was mentioned that if there was no Sword Qi yet, one could also follow the Cultivation Technique to directly condense Sword Essence with Spiritual Qi, but the consumption would be considerable, and the power would be discounted.

Song Yan tried it briefly, and his progress was not slow, but the Spiritual Qi consumption was indeed severe; this single Sword Essence would probably take half a month to condense.

In addition, the Essentials of Swordsmanship recorded many "Basic Sword Arts," which were a timely help for Song Yan, a layman in the Dao of the Sword.

Most of the Dao Arts and Spells in the Sect required exchange with Sect contribution points, and contribution points could often be directly exchanged for Spirit Stones, so Song Yan had always been reluctant... He had originally planned to exchange for a volume of offensive Spells before this mission, but since he had already obtained the Essentials of Swordsmanship, he saved another sum of contribution points.

"Let’s go to the appointment first..."

Song Yan stood up.

Tonight, as Granny Qin said, was the "Night Market"... At night, in the center of Lingyuanze Market.

A male and a female Cultivator arrived at the entrance of the Night Market.

The young male Cultivator kept adjusting the white wolf mask on his face, seemingly a little unaccustomed to it.

"What are you doing?"

"Granny Qin, this mask has fur, it’s a bit itchy..."

"Bear with it! You’re so grown up, why are you so fussy..."

Granny Qin did not wear a mask, but simply cast a Spell Song Yan had never seen before, slightly adjusting her appearance.

Perhaps it was a female Cultivator’s obsession with appearance; even with her appearance changed, she still had a face as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal.

"..."

Arriving at the entrance of the Night Market, there was an ordinary-looking Cave Abyss Sect Disciple guarding it.

"I am Chen Qi, Deacon of Lingyuanze Market."

"May I ask your names?"

Whether it was Song Yan’s illusion or not, he always felt that this person’s voice was very familiar.

Perhaps it was a Disciple from the Sect whom he often saw, who had also changed his appearance now.

"I am Qin Yue."

A false name?

"Tong Chuping."

Song Yan also casually reported the name of a dead person.

"Senior Brother Tong, Senior Sister Qin, the entry fee is three Spirit Stones..."

Song Yan was stunned and turned to look at Granny Qin.

Qin Xijun frowned and secretly transmitted a message: "Who are you looking at? Pay up."

I pay?

Song Yan was annoyed, enduring the heartache, and took out three Spirit Stones from his qiankun bag.

"Uh... Senior Brother, it’s three per person..."

"Ah?!"

I’m not doing anything, just walking in costs me three Spirit Stones per person, and who knows if those Blood Pills, Yin Puppets, and Rebirth Nails are even worth that price!

Song Yan almost wanted to turn around and leave, but at this moment, Granny Qin’s slender jade hand suddenly wrapped around his neck.

"Senior Brother, I want to go..."

Qin Xijun rested her head on Song Yan’s shoulder, leaning into his ear, her breath like orchids: "Take me in to play, okay..."

Song Yan was speechless.

No, who was Granny Qin acting for... The ordinary-looking Disciple just smiled as he watched them "flirt," saying nothing.

Alas, pay up.

With six Spirit Stones gone, Song Yan’s heart was bleeding.

Now, Song Yan barely had enough to cover the cost of refining Qi Nourishing Pills.

"Senior Brother, please wait..."

"Hmm?"

"One more is needed."

Song Yan was stunned, then felt a chill down his spine.

Chen Qi smiled amiably.

"Spiritual pets count as one."