Instructor Yan taught sternly, "The breathing technique passed down by the sect, similar to cultivation techniques, can also refine spiritual power, but it's rather rudimentary and only suitable for cultivators below the third level of Qi Refining. After reaching the third level of Qi Refining, one must choose a true cultivation technique to study. Of course, continuing with the breathing technique is possible, but cultivation progress will be much slower..."
"This is the catalogue of cultivation techniques provided by the sect for outer disciples to cultivate. The catalogue lists the names of the techniques, the suitable spiritual roots, required spirit stones, breakthrough spirit objects, as well as the effects of the techniques. Take a look yourselves."
Instructor Yan distributed the catalogue, each disciple receiving a copy, including Mo Hua.
The catalogue was thin, only about a dozen pages, but densely packed with records of dozens of cultivation techniques and related matters.
"If you have any doubts, you can ask me," Instructor Yan said.
The disciples were quiet for a moment, then one raised his hand and asked, "Teacher, do cultivation techniques also vary by elemental attributes and grades like spiritual roots?"
Instructor Yan glanced lightly at the disciple and said, "You're already at the third level of Qi Refining and asking such a simple question. It seems you haven't paid attention in Teacher Zhou's classes. Go back, copy 'Introduction to Dao Cultivation' once, and give it to me in three days."
The disciple felt as if struck by lightning, stunned for a moment before bowing his head and saying, "Yes," though he was deeply regretful inside.
Careless, forgetting that Teacher Zhou isn't the one teaching now, he blurted out whatever came to mind...
Instructor Yan surveyed the group and said earnestly, "Teacher Zhou is older and lenient, not strict with you all. You might not take his classes seriously. However, choosing a cultivation technique is crucial. Let me explain it again, listen carefully and don't find it dull."
The disciples straightened up and listened attentively.
"The spiritual roots of cultivators are primarily classified into attributes based on the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Some are purely one element, some are combinations, and there are also rare spiritual roots like Ice, Lightning, Wind, and Yin-Yang, which are quite rare and difficult to encounter."
"Furthermore, spiritual roots are divided into nine grades based on their aptitude, ranging from lowest-low, low-middle, low-high, to middle-low... all the way to highest-high grade, with significant differences between each grade. The higher the grade of spiritual roots, the better the innate talent for cultivation and the higher the limit of spiritual power that can be contained in the Qi Sea."
"The classification of cultivation techniques also corresponds to attributes and the nine grades, similar to spiritual roots. When selecting a technique, it should match your spiritual roots: choose a technique of the same attribute as your spiritual roots and ideally of the same grade."
"The attribute of spiritual roots determines the unique qualities of a cultivator's spiritual power. The rarer the attribute, the more special the cultivator's spiritual power. The grade of spiritual roots determines a cultivator's innate talent, with higher grades indicating better potential for cultivation."
...
"Is it better if spiritual roots are rarer?" a disciple timidly asked.
"Not necessarily. For disciples from prominent clans and sects, it's advantageous. But for ordinary cultivators, rarer spiritual roots mean fewer choices in available techniques. Some might even find no suitable techniques to learn, which is not favorable," Instructor Yan explained.
"What if the attribute of the technique doesn't match the attribute of the spiritual roots?" another disciple asked.
"It won't work," Instructor Yan said. "As a cultivator with Metal-Water spiritual roots, you simply can't learn Earth-Wood techniques."
"Are there any exceptions?"
Instructor Yan raised an eyebrow and said, "In over twenty thousand years of Daoist records, none have been found. If you encounter any, let me know; it would be a learning experience."
The disciple shrunk back, silent.
"Instructor, must the grade of the technique match the grade of the spiritual roots?" another disciple asked.
Instructor Yan said, "Higher-grade spiritual roots can cultivate lower-grade techniques, but lower-grade spiritual roots cannot cultivate higher-grade techniques."
"But if you have higher-grade spiritual roots, why would you choose lower-grade techniques? Wouldn't that mean less refined spiritual power?" a confused disciple asked.
Yan Instructor said, "The higher the grade of a cultivation technique, the more spirit stones are required for cultivation, and the more precious the breakthrough spirit treasures needed. Some of these treasures are simply beyond the means of ordinary cultivators. Don't choose high-grade techniques only to realize halfway through that you can't afford to cultivate them. Regret then comes too late."
"Then what if someone with a low-grade spiritual root learns a high-grade technique?" the disciple asked again.
According to the records in 'Cultivation Techniques Scriptures,' Yan Instructor explained, "If the grade of the technique exceeds the cultivator's own spiritual root, most practitioners will suffer damage to their Qi Sea due to absorbing too much spiritual power. In severe cases, the Qi Sea may collapse, cultivation will be wasted, or they may even fall into demonic path and perish."
"Since some suffer from demonic path, does that mean others don't?" one disciple's eyes lit up with curiosity.
Yan Instructor looked meaningfully at him, "Don't always think you're the most special. Just because someone else had problems doesn't mean you won't. Some cultivators may have exceptional luck, but don't gamble your life and death on such fleeting fortune."
Many disciples at the scene had entertained similar thoughts before, and upon hearing this, they all felt a chill, not daring to entertain any other ideas.
Yan Instructor continued, "These are not isolated cases, but countless lessons learned over more than twenty thousand years of Daoist development. Ignoring the experiences of predecessors often leads to missteps. Once a cultivator strays from the path, they often lose control; some may find their way back, but many never do."
Yan Instructor sighed, his expression somewhat downcast. Mo Hua sensed that Yan Instructor seemed preoccupied with something.
However, Yan Instructor didn't say anything more, instead pointing to the 'Outer Sect Cultivation Techniques Catalog of Tongxian Sect':
"Based on what I just explained, look through it yourselves and choose something suitable. Remember, in cultivation, it's best not to aim too high; what's suitable is always best."
The disciples bowed their heads and began flipping through the catalog of techniques.
Mo Hua understood the gist and began searching for techniques.
Having a lower-middle grade spiritual root, he could only cultivate techniques of that level. Yet, he was curious about what high-grade techniques looked like.
Mo Hua turned to the end of the catalog and looked at several high-grade techniques:
"Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Technique": Upper-lower grade, suitable for Earth-elemental spiritual roots, can cultivate 120 cycles of spiritual power, requires at least 5,000 spirit stones for complete Qi Refinement, and needs breakthrough spirit treasures: Mysterious Yellow Grass, Bitter Water Root, Celestial Mysterious Stone...
"Gentle Water Technique": Upper-lower grade, suitable for Water-elemental spiritual roots, can cultivate 130 cycles of spiritual power, requires at least 5,200 spirit stones for complete Qi Refinement, and needs breakthrough spirit treasures: Hundred-Year Rootless Water, Silver Snake Blood...
"Five Elements Absorption Technique": Upper-lower grade, suitable for Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth elemental spiritual roots, can cultivate 150 cycles of spiritual power, requires at least 6,000 spirit stones for complete Qi Refinement, and needs breakthrough spirit treasures: Gold Element Stone, Molten Fire Stone, Hundred-Year Earth...
Mo Hua was astonished.
"To complete Qi Refinement requires at least five or six thousand spirit stones, and that's just for refining. It doesn't include auxiliary cultivation or breakthrough spirit treasures. Some rare spirit treasures might cost more than five or six thousand spirit stones..."
Mo Hua had toiled for a month to earn fifty spirit stones. The thought of spending thousands gave him a headache.
Mo Hua had also heard from others that even with high-grade spiritual roots, ordinary solo cultivators simply couldn't afford high-grade techniques.
If they insisted on cultivating them, there were generally only two ways.
One was to find a major sect, become a disciple under an elder, enter the inner sect, and be tied to the sect for life without ever leaving.
The other was to marry into a family, have the family support your cultivation, but the family would require you to change allegiance, forsake your name, parents, background, and everything from your past. Despite gaining prospects, you wouldn't be yourself anymore...
In any case, both choices amounted to being dependent on others. Although there was hope in cultivation, it also meant losing control.
No wonder cultivators often said, "One's fate, two's luck, three's geomancy."
A cultivator's fate is determined by their spiritual roots once, and their background is determined again.
Wanting to change fate was easier said than done...
Mo Hua sighed deeply.
(End of the Chapter)