My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 357: Chapter 176: Root and Leaf

”The True Master used the Celestial Martial method of ’Refining Intent’ to capture the True Intent of the Cold Abyss’s silent Guicang. He then used the foundation of Profound Water ’Yuan Control’ to absorb the Spiritual Mechanism of Ultimate Yin, which condenses the soul within the deep abyss. The two intertwined, thus forming this unique path of controlling cold with intent and storing True Essence within water...”

”However, its method is perilous, and its cultivation is like standing at the edge of an abyss. It requires great willpower to stabilize the soul and prevent the backlash of the cold intent. Furthermore, it requires an extremely cold environment or treasures of the Profound Nether attribute as support to even reach the entry-level...”

”Shortly after creating this scripture, True Master Cold Abyss went alone to the North Netherworld and was never heard from again. The complete scripture is kept by the Sect...”

”Cultivating this technique is exceptionally dangerous, and there is one ironclad prerequisite: one must first master the ’Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl.’”

”This Awl was created by True Master Cold Abyss, specifically designed to protect the mind and control the Cold Abyss True Intent. Without this Awl guarding one’s spiritual altar, cultivation will, at best, result in frostbitten meridians. At worst, one’s Divine Soul will be forever trapped in the Cold Abyss Illusion Realm, and their consciousness will be extinguished.”

”Thus, the Sect has a warning: ’Without the Awl, do not enter the gate of Profound Nether’...”

...

Qin Fang read the entire introduction without missing a single word, then let out a long breath, his eyes flickering.

’...So the Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl is actually a prerequisite Cultivation Technique for the Profound Nether True Water Scripture?’

He did have the Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl.

’It’s just...’

’Doesn’t this mean I’d be walking the path of the Celestial Martial Lineage?’

This made him feel a bit conflicted.

’A member of the Guiyuan Lineage like me, cultivating a technique from the Celestial Martial Lineage...’

’No matter how you look at it, it’s a little strange, isn’t it?’

But after only a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and decided this was the one!

’The path forward is already laid out. I’ve read the opening words of the Profound Nether True Water Scripture; its concepts are truly profound, and it is indeed a perfect fit for my situation.’

’As for the danger?’

’I have my Golden Finger, so what danger do I need to fear?’

’I’ve already figured it out. The dangers of cultivating in the Celestial Martial Lineage are basically all related to ’Breaking Through’. ’

’But I have my Golden Finger. As long as I cultivate to Perfection, I’ll automatically Break Through...’

’It seems there’s no need to worry at all!’

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated. He took out his Token and touched it to the introduction.

Immediately, the Token warmed slightly, and a message was transmitted.

It asked if he wanted to use his free Root Skill slot to redeem the ’Profound Nether True Water Scripture’!

Qin Fang directly channeled a stream of True Essence into it as confirmation.

The next moment, the Token flashed, transformed into a stream of light, and shot into the glowing aura of the bookshelf.

Then, a Jade Scroll floated out from within and drifted down.

Qin Fang caught it.

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

’The path forward is secured!’

This Jade Scroll had to be used directly within the Scripture Pavilion; it wasn’t allowed to be taken out.

So, without hesitation, Qin Fang sent his Divine Sense into the Jade Scroll.

The next moment, a vast torrent of information surged into his mind...

”Profound Nether True Water Scripture, Heart Method Summary.”

”Close your eyes and focus your spirit, turning your gaze inward. Let your intent sink three inches below the Yellow Court, your two kidneys as if suspended amidst the Big Dipper. Do not observe their form, but first feel their substance—as gentle as warm jade, as deep as the Cold Abyss...”

”Choose the Zi or Hai hour, when the nascent yang is born and yin is at its peak. Sit facing north, with your five centers open to the heavens...”

”When you inhale, visualize the Ultimate Yin Primordial Power between heaven and earth entering through your nose, sinking down the Ren Meridian, passing the Chest and penetrating the Middle Cavity, until it reaches the Dantian Sea three inches below your navel. When you exhale, visualize the turbid qi slowly dispersing from the pores all over your body, rising like mist. Your breathing must be fine, long, deep, and even, gradually extending a single inhalation and exhalation to over one hundred breaths...”

”During cultivation, first summon a phantom of the ’Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl’ in your Sea of Consciousness and guide it to sink into your Dantian. Use this Awl as an anchor, its tip dripping a single point of faint blue, cold light, like a suspended needle calming the sea. Ignore its motion, preserving only its stillness. Use the Awl’s absolute condensation to lock this cold light in place, preventing it from scattering or escaping, and thereby alter the very Nature of your True Essence...”

The Heart Method and the specific Cultivation Method flooded into Qin Fang’s mind in exhaustive detail, causing him to become completely engrossed...

An unknown amount of time passed before he had firmly committed the information to memory and finally let out a long breath.

He looked again at the Jade Scroll in his hand; it had already shattered, its spiritual light completely gone.

’It’s only the cultivation method for the First Realm of True Essence... the method for the Second Realm isn’t here.’

’To get the Second Realm, I’ll need ten thousand contribution points and have to go to the third floor to retrieve it...’

This information, naturally, came from the Jade Scroll.

He let out a soft breath, and a smile appeared on his face.

’The path to the Extraordinary has finally been reconnected.’

He glanced at the shattered Jade Scroll in his hand. There was a wooden bucket on the bookshelf for collecting them, and he tossed it inside.

’I have the Root Skill. Next up is the Leaf Skill...’

He looked towards another bookshelf.

’Extraordinary Level Leaf Skills... I wonder what the difference is compared to Mortal Realm Leaf Skills?’

Filled with curiosity, he walked towards the Leaf Skill section.

...The Leaf Skill section was far, far larger than the Root Skill section.

He casually picked one up and began to read.

*Profound Mist Locking River Barrier*... Transforms True Essence into Extreme Cold water vapor, forming a chilling fog that envelops an area. The fog can interfere with Perception and has the added effects of corrosive cold and Slow... The range and duration are heavily influenced by the total amount of True Essence and the environment. Its effectiveness is sharply reduced under a blazing sun or in strong winds.

*Profound Ice Bone-Piercing Needle*... Compresses and cools True Essence to an extreme degree, forming a translucent ice needle that shoots out. The cold energy has the effect of continuously eroding the meridians... However, its range is limited, and it has strict requirements for the True Essence’s Condensation Level and cold nature.

*Soft Water Transformation Body*... Allows True Essence to flow like water across the body’s surface, greatly enhancing flexibility and impact resistance. It enables unconventional evasions and can deflect a portion of the damage from direct hits... It continuously consumes True Essence and is less effective against heavy blows or area-of-effect attacks.

...

As he looked through them one by one, Qin Fang’s expression became somewhat dazed.

’So this is an Extraordinary Level Leaf Skill?’

’This is completely different from a Mortal Realm Leaf Skill, isn’t it?!’

Back in the Mortal Realm, the Root Skill was what really mattered. As long as your Root Skill improved and you developed Force, the actual Cultivation Techniques were of fairly average utility.