"[Simulation ended. You may choose to retain one of the following rewards.]"
"[Option 1: Sixth-grade Martial Arts Realm.]"
"[Option 2: The first four layers of the 'Yi Wood and Li Fire Skill' and the insights gained from its cultivation.]"
Although Pei Xuanjing had only two options to choose from this time, he hesitated for a moment, rather than making an immediate decision as he had done previously.
The first option, advancing to the Sixth-grade Martial Artist Realm, was something Pei Xuanjing had long desired. After all, he had already perfected the Seventh-grade Realm, and a breakthrough would mean a significant enhancement in his strength.
However, the technique and insights of the "Yi Wood and Li Fire Skill" were equally crucial for him. Since he had reached the limit of his current cultivation technique and had no subsequent techniques to follow up with, even if he achieved a breakthrough to the Sixth Grade, he wouldn't be able to continue his cultivation for the time being.
The choice between an immediate breakthrough and acquiring the technique was a difficult one.
After much consideration, he finally chose the second option.
If the opportunity were only available once, he would without hesitation choose the first option and advance in realm. But since he held the Life Simulator, as long as sufficient Taoyun was available, he would have numerous opportunities to break through in the upcoming simulations. There was no need to rush.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." If he was to use the simulator to enhance his abilities, why not choose the most solid foundation possible?
Upon making his decision, the methods for cultivating the first four layers of the "Yi Wood and Li Fire Skill," as well as some insights for moving forward, became clear in his mind.
In the Great Ming, the classifications of Martial Studies were simple. Martial arts that couldn't help a Martial Artist break through to the Ninth Grade were considered inconsequential; those that could support cultivation up to the Seventh Grade but not beyond the Sixth Grade were lower level martial arts; those that could enable cultivation to the Fourth Grade but not past the Third Grade were considered intermediate; and those that could help break through the Third Grade were deemed high-level martial arts.
Although high-level martial arts were secrets of the top sects, even possessing just one intermediate martial art technique was enough to establish a mid-tier sect or family.
This technique, based on the Yi Wood Skill and Li Fire Skill, and incorporating the generating and restraining cycles of the Five Elements, now qualified as a mid-level martial art.
Mortal Martial Arts techniques, based on the most common attributes of the Five Elements, might not compare with techniques of Wind and Thunder, Rain and Snow, or Sun and Moon, but they were the most widely practiced, with the most practitioners and the easiest entry point.
Pei Xuanjing was very satisfied. Although currently only cultivating Wood Generates Fire, borrowing the momentum of wood,
he still had room for growth. If he could later incorporate Earth, Metal, and Water into his technique, integrating them into the Five Elements rotation, it would undoubtedly become a high-level martial art.
With the technique now in hand, Pei Xuanjing prepared to begin solitary cultivation, planning to disperse his Inner Qi and shift his cultivation practice.
He called Mr. Xu, explained that he was going into seclusion, and instructed him to deliver meals daily and bring out all the medicinal materials he had accumulated over the past two years for his use in cultivation.
Three days later, in the secret chamber of the Taoist Temple, Pei Xuanjing sat on the meditation cushion and began to disperse his cultivation.
An hour later, all the Inner Qi inside him had completely dissipated, leaving not a trace.
Despite having no Inner Qi, his Seventh Grade Realm did not vanish, and the sinews, bones, and membranes that had been nourished and transformed by the Inner Qi would not become fragile just because the Inner Qi had temporarily disappeared.
With just his current physical strength alone, without using any Inner Qi, he could still match an Eighth Grade Martial Artist in battle. This confidence was why he dared to disperse his Inner Qi.
However, he didn't delay long. Next, he stripped and stepped naked into a wooden bathing barrel prepared earlier.
The barrel was around ten feet wide and ten feet high, separated by a layer of Qing Shi stone with charcoal burning intermittently beneath, maintaining the water's temperature.
He stepped into the barrel and settled into a seated position, began to cultivate the "Yi Wood and Li Fire Skill," and new Inner Qi started to emerge in his Dantian.
"[Insight accruing, Taoyun +10.]"
"[Insight accruing, Taoyun +30.]"
...
Many prompts appeared in his mind, but Pei Xuanjing, unfazed, focused entirely on circulating his technique, letting his Inner Qi flow through his meridians and increasing steadily.
One day, Pei Xuanjing, who had been sitting in the barrel with slightly closed eyes, suddenly opened his eyes, a gleam sparking within them, his face breaking into joy.
Success!
After three months, using almost two years' worth of resources from the Everlasting Observance, he had successfully cultivated his Inner Qi back and even surpassed his previous levels.
Originally, even if he had cultivated both the Yi Wood Skill and the Li Fire Skill to the third layer, merging the two types of Inner Qi briefly to unleash formidable power,
such a fusion was temporary. Ultimately, the Inner Qi within him remained two separate attributes. To fully merge them would likely require at least nine years—similar to the durations in the simulations.
Now, however, things were different. His Inner Qi was unified, capable of mimicking both the vitality of wood and the explosiveness of fire.
This time, he could feel his Inner Qi was even more refined. He was confident that even without the simulator's help, he could rely on his own resolve to slowly convert this Inner Qi into True Qi and break through to the Sixth Grade within three to five years.
Moreover, there were additional gains.
One should note, for the Taoyun needed in the Life Simulator, besides the insights from techniques and manuals left by others, his own cultivation also earned him some Taoyun.
Although he had been accruing Taoyun whenever he refined the insights left by his predecessors, these gains had always been minor, barely a drop in the bucket compared to what was needed for a full simulation.
But this cultivation session, just within three short months, saw him amassing over 1300 Taoyun, which was completely beyond his expectations.
Based on the feedback from the simulator, since the host was cultivating a technique he created himself, unlike repeating others' insights, creating a technique was akin to being a trailblazer. All the insights gained were unique, hence the unexpectedly high Taoyun.
It seemed this choice was not only right but serendipitously unlocked another method to accumulate Taoyun faster.
This cultivation retreat was truly killing two birds with one stone.
After emerging from seclusion, he got updates on the current city's affairs from Mr. Xu. Aside from Jiang Yan still engaging in complex maneuvers with the Zhang family, there were no notable events.
After half a month of recuperation, restoring his entire being to its peak condition, and preparing some food and medicinal materials to replenish his strength, Pei Xuanjing readied himself for another simulation.