My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 354: Chapter 175: Choosing a Method

”So... that’s how it is...”

After Qin Fang finished reading the entire Initial Understanding of Xingxiang, a look of sudden realization dawned in his eyes.

The book briefly described the five primary Natures of True Essence.

They were Kunyuan, Cyan Wood, Profound Water, Li Fire, and Geng Metal, respectively.

These five Natures naturally corresponded to the Five Elements.

All things in heaven and earth are born from the transformation of the Five Elements.

Earth provides form and Wood substance; Water and Fire are the Qi Mechanism; Metal presides over grim slaughter and Sharpness... These five are the foundation of all existence.

Even special phenomena such as wind, lightning, ice, and baleful auras were merely the results of intense interactions and transformations of the Five Elements’ Qi Mechanism.

For instance, wind often forms from the swiftness of Metal and the soaring of Fire.

Lightning is the clash of yin and yang, an eruption of Metal and Fire.

And ice is what forms when Water encounters the cold of Metal and freezes...

Thus, all phenomena ultimately stemmed from the miraculous interplay and transformation of the Five Elements.

The True Essence Realm was the beginning of the Divine Domain, and the perfect time to establish the Nature of one’s own True Essence.

In addition to these accessible yet profound introductions to the True Essence Natures, the book also briefly outlined the focuses of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect’s Six Great Supremes Inheritance.

The Nine Hell Lineage, for example, followed the path of Body Refining. They forged supreme physiques and used strength to validate their Dao. The Kunyuan Aspect was naturally the best for them, with Cyan Wood being a close second.

The Wuhui Lineage used the sword to face their foes, refining an ultimate Sharpness. They naturally focused on the Geng Metal Aspect, with Li Fire as a secondary choice.

The Jinghong Lineage was known for its myriad ingenious techniques, pursuing the extremes of change... It naturally prioritized the Profound Water Aspect and the Li Fire Aspect.

The Luzhan Lineage fueled war with war and stopped killing with killing. They refined the ultimate arts of slaughter and explosive power, thus prioritizing the grim slaughter of Geng Metal, with the explosive burst of Li Fire as a secondary choice.

The Guiyuan Lineage practiced Hidden Blade and Simple-mindedness, placing extreme importance on fundamentals. They primarily focused on the Cyan Wood Aspect, with the Profound Water and Kunyuan Aspects as secondary options.

As for the most unique lineage, Celestial Martial, they refined Divine Sense and didn’t have strict requirements for the True Essence Nature... However, Profound Water was still the best choice, as the Profound Water Nature was most suited for calming one’s mind...

The descriptions in the book brought Qin Fang to a sudden understanding, and the path forward gradually became clear to him.

’The Nature I’m most compatible with right now is actually Profound Water...’

Qin Fang mused.

’I’ve consumed that mysterious liquid and eaten a Treasure Fish. I’ve also mastered the Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl... According to the book, everything I’ve accumulated so far is related to the Profound Water Aspect.’

’If I cultivate a Root Skill of the Profound Water Aspect, all my previous gains will quickly pay off, and my progress will naturally be swift.’

’Actually, if the Celestial Martial Lineage’s cultivation didn’t seem so dangerous, it would be the path most suited for me...’

Qin Fang thought to himself.

’Even a Great Power like the Supreme Elder from a thousand years ago lost control and went mad... It just goes to show how treacherous the Celestial Martial Lineage’s Path of Divine Sense is.’

’Of course, besides the cultivation being too dangerous, there was another reason I ultimately chose Guiyuan...’

’The Celestial Martial Lineage’s status Within the Sect is just too low.’

’The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect is a massive Sect, internally divided into the Six Meridians.’

’Although the Six Meridians are supposedly united, it’s obvious that with things like resource competition on the line... how could they be a completely unified monolith?’

’A weaker lineage naturally lacks a voice in matters.’

’It could even be difficult to secure resources.’

’I’m a newcomer, with no background to speak of. If I also chose the Celestial Martial Lineage... that would be starting the game on impossible difficulty...’

’...I already started as a refugee once. I’ve had more than enough of that hardship.’

’Since I have a choice, I’m certainly not going to be stubborn and pick the Celestial Martial Lineage.’

Still, Qin Fang hadn’t chosen the strongest lineages, Nine Hell or Wuhui, either.

These were the Sect’s two strongest lineages, with flourishing ranks.

But precisely because they were so prosperous...

...internal conflict was inevitable!

...and Qin Fang just wanted to cultivate.

He had no desire to be drawn into some inexplicable internal power struggle.

The Path of Jinghong, based on its description, didn’t align with his temperament.

As for Luzhan, they were a bunch of madmen who knew nothing but battle...

After thinking it over and over, only Guiyuan remained...

...as the most suitable choice for him.

The Guiyuan Lineage held a special status Within the Sect.

Though its ranks were not as full and its power was less than that of Nine Hell and Wuhui...

...their responsibility for Refining Elixir Powder for the Hundred Herbs Courtyard...

...gave them a subtly transcendent status...

...did anyone not understand the value of an Alchemist?

Moreover, its members all practiced Hidden Blade and Simple-mindedness and were peaceful by nature... As a result, many internal conflicts were naturally avoided.

Qin Fang wasn’t some kind of porcupine; most of the time, he considered himself a rather amicable person.

...This was the biggest reason he had chosen to join Guiyuan yesterday.

’I wonder if Chen Shanhe’s Profound Nether True Water Scripture came from the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect... It would be for the best if it did. If not... I’ll have to seriously consider which Root Skill to choose next.’

Qin Fang closed the Initial Understanding of Xingxiang and continued onward, his brow slightly furrowed.

At the same time, a question formed in his mind.

’The Six Great Supremes Inheritance doesn’t seem to lock one into a specific True Essence Nature... Each lineage has at least two or three freely selectable Natures, and as long as you choose one of their corresponding Root Skills, it seems you can eventually cultivate the Six Great Supremes Inheritance... How strange.’

As Qin Fang pondered this, he suddenly stopped walking and looked up.

A look of utter shock appeared in his eyes...

He had arrived at his destination.

Before him was a vast, white stone plaza.

But this plaza wasn’t built on any mountain peak...

It was nestled between several precipitous, encircling peaks!

...It was a massive, man-made aerial platform.

The entire platform was built from a white, jade-like stone. Its edges were wreathed in mist, making it seem as if it were floating unsupported in a churning sea of clouds.

Disciples came and went in small groups across the wide expanse of the white stone plaza, a ceaseless flow of traffic.