Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 191: Chapter 142: Dual Purpose

Days passed in the stability of cultivation, and Li Shiming resumed his duty of maintaining the Sect Array at Jiufeng every few days. His understanding of formations was also improving through the continuous sharing of knowledge within the IBMz15.

After some time, he had accumulated a substantial amount of good deeds, which gave him the confidence to once again visit the Hidden Technique Pavilion.

The inside of the Hidden Technique Pavilion was very quiet, with several cultivators searching for the cultivation techniques they needed.

Li Shiming walked lightly, spotting the familiar figure of Senior Brother Liu.

This was normal, of course, considering the lifespan of cultivators and such a favorable task as working in the Hidden Technique Pavilion. Unless one was promoted to Foundation Establishment or chose to retire and stop progressing, most would continue to stay in the Hidden Technique Pavilion.

“Senior Brother Liu!” Li Shiming greeted with a smile at Liu, who seemed lost in thought.

“Your Identity Jade Disc, what cultivation technique do you wish to obtain?” The same words, uttered with casualness as always.

Yet when Liu looked at Li Shiming, he clearly recognized him.

“Ah, Mr. Li, it’s been a long time!” Senior Brother Liu said with a smile on his face.

“Senior Brother Liu, I must trouble you again!” Li Shiming said as he handed over ten Spirit Stones.

This time, Liu didn’t extend his hand to display his familiar skill of receiving items but quickly withdrew his hand as if afraid he might carelessly accept them.

“Mr. Li, aren’t you slapping my face? Just say the word; if it’s within my power, I’ll see it done without hesitation!” Senior Brother Liu said, patting his chest in assurance.

His stable position in the Hidden Technique Pavilion certainly indicated that he had some backing.

He knew some of the secrets that most disciples in the Sect did not, such as Li Shiming’s conflict with Yun’s Trading House, a situation even Peak Master Zhao of Gen Peak hadn’t been able to suppress. It ended with the punishment of one Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Yun Family being assigned to guard the coast of the Heavenly Sea line forever, and all upper echelons of the Yun Family were subject to trial and termination.

Although Liu didn’t know who was backing Li Shiming, he could be sure that it must be one of the Elders.

Such a powerhouse’s favor was not something he dared to collect Spirit Stones from, and he felt restless just thinking about having accepted Spirit Stones from Li Shiming on two previous occasions.

Li Shiming gave a smile, placing the ten Spirit Stones aside, having no intention of taking them back once he brought them out.

“I need to find a cultivation technique that allows for multitasking. I’d appreciate your help, Senior Brother Liu!” he requested.

“Multitasking?” Senior Brother Liu hesitated for a moment and then explained, “During the Qi Refinement Realm, cultivators need to polish their spirit and body for Foundation Establishment, achieving a harmonious unity between the two. Therefore, there is no multitasking technique among the Qi Refinement Realm skills in the Hidden Technique Pavilion!”

Senior Brother Liu’s statement was very certain. Although he seemed idle managing the Hidden Technique Pavilion, he had memorized the names and descriptions of all the Qi Refinement Realm techniques it held—this knowledge was why he could remain working there.

“Does this mean if I want to acquire a multitasking technique, I need to look on the second floor?” Li Shiming frowned slightly and asked, pointing upwards.

“There’s no point thinking about the second floor, Mr. Li. The Sect’s rules state that even if a Qi Refining cultivator has enough good deeds, they cannot exchange for Foundation Establishment Stage Skills unless they’ve reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. Moreover, the Divine Separation Technique at that level requires Spiritual Thought to cultivate!” Senior Brother Liu shook his head as he clarified.

Li Shiming nodded in understanding; the rules of the Sect were quite straightforward.

The first floor of the Hidden Technique Pavilion held skills for Qi Refinement Realm and mortal cultivation techniques, which were not particularly valuable.

Even top-tier techniques such as ‘Vajra Body Protection Divine Skill’ and ‘Sword Manipulation Technique’ could be exchanged if one had sufficient good deeds. However, all these techniques shared a common characteristic—they included only the portion applicable to the Qi Refinement Realm, eliminating any concern of them being leaked outside.

In contrast, Foundation Establishment Stage Skills were much more valuable, their worth far too great to allow Qi Refining cultivators to access them.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Liu!” Li Shiming said somewhat disappointedly as he clasped his fists in farewell.

Senior Brother Liu looked at the ten Spirit Stones left aside and inwardly sighed, admiring Li Shiming’s character. His mind raced as he rapidly sifted through the information he had seen.

“Wait a moment, Mr. Li!” Just as Li Shiming was about to step out of the Hidden Technique Pavilion, Liu called out to him.

“Senior Brother Liu?” Li Shiming turned his head in surprise.

“The multitasking technique Mr. Li is seeking may not be among the Qi Refinement techniques, but there is indeed one there—a mortal technique from the Martial World. It is said that very few have mastered it. However, because it touches slightly on the spirit, it has been included in the Hidden Technique Pavilion!” Senior Brother Liu pointed to a spot and explained.

After speaking, Liu already walked in that direction, and Li Shiming quickly followed.

Unlike the cultivator techniques stored as Jade Scrolls, the volume he was looking for was preserved in the form of a book.

Senior Brother Liu accurately arrived at the desired location, confidently picking up a book, revealing how familiar he was with the first floor of the Hidden Technique Pavilion.

He handed the book to Li Shiming, who reached out to take it.

“Ambidextrous Combat!” Li Shiming read the name of the technique softly to himself.

If he didn’t know he was in a Cultivation World, he might think he had traversed to the world of martial arts crafted by Mr. Jin; the name of this technique was just too much of a coincidence.

As he flipped through the pages, a large portion of text mixed with Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian scriptures caught his eye. It was clear that the author aimed to display literary talent, but honestly, in the eyes of someone like Li Shiming, who had achieved third place in the imperial examinations, it came across as somewhat pretentious.

Obviously, ‘Ambidextrous Combat’ was indeed a technique for multitasking, but the person who wrote about the technique made it sound more mysterious than it was. Without a familiarity with the knowledge of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, one would likely struggle to understand the technique at all.