The first floor of the Technique Pavilion housed every spell and secret art available to Qi Refining disciples.

After depositing his storage bag at the entrance, Han Yu entered. Any exchange of Jade Slips had to pass through Deacon He and be recorded at the pavilion’s stone tablet, making it impossible to smuggle anything out.

Han Yu strolled past the wooden shelves, his gaze sweeping over the techniques he had already mastered.

Phantom Body Technique, Sharp Gold Technique, Wind Blade Technique, Ice Condensation Technique, Flame Technique, Beast Taming Technique…

He had not only learned these but had honed them to proficiency. There was no need to linger here.

He paused briefly before the spells he had yet to learn: the Green Wood Protection Technique, Earth Armor Technique, Light Body Technique, Great Strength Technique, Heart Confusing Technique, and Vision Confusing Technique.

Han Yu felt a tug of desire. Each of these would undoubtedly be useful.

However, he hesitated. Using his two rare “Transmission Opportunities” on common spells worth merely five or ten Minor Merits felt like a waste. Since the tokens couldn’t be used for spells beyond the Qi Refining stage anyway, he needed to select the most valuable options available—techniques that would cost a fortune in merits otherwise.

He moved on.

A row of shelves displayed professional arts: Introduction to Talismans, Talisman Crafting, and Talisman Paper Making.

Further down was the Alchemy section, containing recipes and guides suitable for Qi Refining cultivators.

Beyond that lay the Artifact Refining section: Introduction to Artifact Refining, covering offensive and defensive Magical Artifacts, flight tools, and puppets.

Han Yu held an interest in all three paths, but none were urgent.

Alchemy was premature; he lacked key ingredients like Jade Spirit Berries and the formula for the Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pill.

As for Artifact Refining, while the slice of Thousand-Year Sunkwood Heart he used for cultivation was a top-tier material, he only had a sliver. In the future, as he accumulated more Sunkwood Heart from his training, he would certainly need to learn refining. But for now, it wasn’t a priority.

Moreover, these introductory manuals were better bought with Minor Merits over time. Burning a Transmission Opportunity on a basic Introduction to Artifact Refining would be inefficient.

He bypassed the shelves for Spirit Plant cultivation, Formation arrays, and miscellaneous travelogues. While knowledge was power, his opportunities were limited.

Finally, Han Yu arrived at the section dedicated to Secret Arts.

Spirit Root Refining Art.

A wooden placard bearing this name hung in the most conspicuous spot. However, the space beside it was empty—no Jade Slip. It was a silent statement: the sect possessed this forbidden art, but disciples were barred from learning it.

Han Yu moved to the next secret art: Spirit Explosion Technique.

This one had a Jade Slip and a brief description on the placard: Disregards safe circulation cycles to forcibly detonate one’s entire reserve of Spirit Breath. Releases massive power instantly to attack enemies or flee.

Han Yu saw the fatal flaw immediately. If the explosion failed to kill the enemy or secure an escape, the user would be left drained of Qi and suffering internal backlash. It was a desperate move that left one at the mercy of others. Too unstable.

He continued down the line, dismissing several similar self-harming techniques until he stopped again.

Green Wood Protection Technique.

The description read: Absorbs the aura of spirit wood to form a protective barrier. When situated among forests or vegetation, it grants exceptional camouflage and concealment capabilities.

It had no obvious drawbacks and aligned perfectly with Wanchun Valley’s wood-attribute cultivation methods. The camouflage aspect also synergized well with his Breath Concealment Technique and Thousand Illusions Secret Art.

This was worth it. It would add a layer of secret defense to complement his defensive Magical Artifact.

Han Yu took the Jade Slip.

He took two more steps and stopped in surprise before another placard.

Spirit Nurturing Technique.

The Demon Blood Sect’s Spirit Nurturing Technique has a place here?

He leaned in for a closer look and realized his mistake. This wasn’t the demonic version. This Spirit Nurturing Technique utilized Spirit Breath, Spirit Stones, or Spirit Rice to nurture and enhance the spirituality of objects and animals.

The Demon Blood Sect’s version used one’s own essence blood to feed mundane beasts, driving them to become ferocious and obedient.

There were similarities, but the core difference lay in the fuel. Han Yu fed his crows essence blood, but that alone didn’t turn them into spirit beasts. The large crow’s flock had only evolved into low-grade spirit beasts after consuming the Spirit-Stealing Rats and Spirit Blood Vines, which were rich in spiritual energy.

Ordinary crows couldn’t process spirit energy. It was only because the large crow—acting as a conduit and leader—guided the flock that they could absorb the energy and evolve.

The orthodox Spirit Nurturing Technique in the Technique Pavilion was likely more complex than just feeding items Qi. Specifically, Han Yu was clueless about how to “nurture” a Magical Artifact to increase its power. This knowledge was valuable.

After a final glance at the other options, Han Yu made his choice.

He held the Green Wood Protection Technique and the Spirit Nurturing Technique in his hand—two Secret Arts.

He then returned to the shelves and picked up the Introduction to Artifact Refining and the Vision Confusing Technique.

He approached Deacon He.

Seeing four Jade Slips, Deacon He frowned, concerned the disciple was biting off more than he could chew. “Are you certain?”

“I am certain, Deacon He.”

Deacon He didn’t press further.

The two Transmission Opportunities covered the expensive Secret Arts. The Introduction to Artifact Refining and Vision Confusing Technique cost a total of fifteen Minor Merits.

Han Yu paid the price, leaving him with twenty Minor Merits remaining.

He retrieved his storage bag, made a brief stop at the Medicine Garden to meet Sun Kang, and then returned to the Spirit Field Department to immerse himself in cultivation.

Months passed in a flash, the quiet routine unbroken until the Green Grain Spirit Rice ripened once again.

Southern Region. Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.

Here, the peaks pierced the sea of clouds like jagged fangs, and mist clung to the valleys like a shroud. As the domain of the Spirit Beast Sect, no ordinary hunter or woodcutter dared trespass.

The main peak, Crouching Dragon Cliff, resembled a colossal beast lying in wait. Its winding paths were paved with blood-veined stone, slick with moisture.

A hundred li behind the main peak, deep within a forbidden zone, a thousand-zhang waterfall crashed into a freezing Cold Pool. The roar of the water was deafening, drowning out all other sounds day and night.

Beside the Cold Pool, a bearded man in heavy armor sat cross-legged, as still as a statue.

Several figures wearing bamboo hats descended slowly from the sky and approached him.

“The esteemed Sect Leader of the Spirit Beast Sect, hiding here in ‘quiet cultivation’ just to avoid Ye Guxing,” the leader of the group sneered, his voice cutting through the water’s roar. “You truly have a leisurely spirit!”

Song Wanxiong opened his eyes. They were thick with blood vessels.

“You should know better than I how formidable that stinking rock Ye Guxing is,” Song Wanxiong rumbled. “After all, you personally tasted the terror of nearly being annihilated by him.”

“Saint Blood.”

At the mention of his name, the Saint Blood Perfected One tore off his bamboo hat, revealing a pale, aged face twisted in fury.

“You still have the face to say that!” he roared.

“If you hadn’t told me that both of Wanchun Valley’s Golden Core cultivators were dead—that it was the perfect opportunity for my Demon Blood Sect to seize the valley and re-establish our foundation—would I have brought all my years of hidden forces out of the shadows? Ye Guxing and Qi Wanfa swept them away like dust!”

The old man pointed a trembling finger at Song Wanxiong. “And you! After setting me up, you led the entire Spirit Beast Sect to cultivate the Blood Refining Technique! You act more recklessly than my sect ever did! Tell me, am I the remnant of the Demon Blood Sect, or are you?”

Song Wanxiong remained unmoved.

“If you believe I am, then so be it. What difference does it make?”

The Saint Blood Perfected One stared at him, his eyes cold.

“You truly are shameless.”