12: Hunyuan Suoyang Jue

"Big Brother~ This is the money for the Medicinal Pill this time! Count it!"

"Next time, next time when Big Brother concocts new treasures, you must think of your Junior Sister first, okay!"

She cast a flirtatious glance and began to get dressed with fluid movements.

Yao Delong looked at the heavy bag of Spirit Stones, and a tremendous sense of satisfaction welled up within him.

Over 5,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones! This was a massive fortune he hadn't seen in either of his two lifetimes!

"Easy to talk about, easy to talk about!" He grinned, rubbing his hands together. "The medicinal herbs…"

"Rest assured! The medicinal herbs are more than enough!" Luo Yan immediately interjected. After putting on her clothes, she returned to her shrewd and capable manager persona.

Only, there was a hint of a different kind of charm between her brows and eyes.

"Big Brother, just focus on your Alchemy! Whenever you need more, come and take it! My door is always open for you~"

Yao Delong stowed the Spirit Stone bag into his Storage Ring.

He took one last deep look at Luo Yan's breathtaking curves, still hidden beneath her silk dress.

Only then did he push open the door to the quiet room, feeling satisfied.

Carrying the medicinal herbs, he walked out of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, facing the rising morning sun, his steps... slightly unsteady.

Looking at the pitiful number of 20 yin yang points on the System interface, he focused his mind on the [Spiritual Power Affinity] column.

He saw that next to the originally dim "2", a grey "+" sign appeared.

[Ding! To increase Spiritual Power Affinity to 3 points, 30 points are required! Current points insufficient!]

Yao Delong felt his vision go dark and his steps faltered; all his days and nights of running around...

...had only barely reached twenty points! And yet, he was still far short of even increasing it from 2 to 3? Was the path of cultivation really so bleak?

"No... I cannot give up! Lifespan! I need Lifespan!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. The sharp, intense pain allowed him to break free from despair and regain a sliver of clarity.

Spirit Stones! He still had Spirit Stones now! If his Lifespan wasn't enough, he would smash his way through with money! He would smash a path out!

That's right, I have the System. Others need to spend time and talent to learn Cultivation Techniques, but I don't. I only need yin-yang value. After clarifying his thoughts...

...he hesitated no longer. Dragging his slightly weary but exceptionally determined steps, he walked toward the towering, ancient Scripture Pavilion of the Yin Yang Sect.

At noon, with the scorching sun overhead, Yao Delong finally arrived at the Scripture Pavilion.

"Damn it, not being able to fly on a sword during the Qi Refinement Stage is exhausting. I have to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible!"

He secretly made up his mind.

Arriving at the main hall of the Scripture Pavilion, the enchanting yet distant Deacon Luo Tianying was still languidly leaning behind a rosewood table.

She was still holding a Jade Slip that shimmered with spiritual light, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with her.

The sound of Yao Delong's footsteps broke the silence of the hall. Luo Tianying raised her eyelids indifferently.

When she saw that the person who had arrived was none other than the old man who had come a few days ago to exchange for the lowest-level Martial Skill and Alchemy manual, a clear flicker of surprise finally crossed her charming eyes.

What is this old geezer... doing here again? She raised her eyebrows slightly.

A few days ago, his Junior Sister paid for him, but that little girl wasn't here today.

Looking at his dying appearance, were those two Cultivation Techniques not enough for him to practice? Had he come to the Scripture Pavilion to try his luck again?

Yao Delong ignored Luo Tianying's playful gaze and walked straight to the Cultivation Technique section. His goal was clear—a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique!

And it had to be the best one possible, with the greatest potential!

On the bottom shelf of rows marked "Profound Rank", his gaze quickly swept over the heavy or ancient-looking Jade Slips and animal skin scrolls.

Finally, it rested on a square Jade Slip that had a warm, lustrous color, resembling black jade.

On the surface of the Jade Slip, five flamboyant ancient seal characters exuded a heavy, masculine energy: Primal Yang Locking Art Profound Rank Intermediate.

"Primal Yang Locking Art?" Yao Delong's heart stirred. The name sounded powerful! Domineering!

Locking Yang, locking in one's essence, Qi, and blood? Wasn't this exactly what fit his current situation?

The surging essence, Qi, and blood brought about by the Perfection of the 《Dragon Locking Art》 was just waiting for a high-level Cultivation Technique to guide the construction of his dao foundation! This was it!

Without hesitation, he took down the Jade Slip and turned to walk toward the registration desk.

Clack. The Jade Slip was gently placed on the smooth surface of the rosewood table.

Luo Tianying's gaze swept over the words Primal Yang Locking Art on the Jade Slip.

Then it fell onto Yao Delong's face, which was lined with deep wrinkles and clearly written with "not much Lifespan left."

Her red lips parted slightly, and her languid voice carried a hint of imperceptible mockery:

"Profound Rank Intermediate Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique, Primal Yang Locking Art, 3,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, or 300 contribution points."

After speaking, she moved her gaze back to the Jade Slip in her hand.

As if she were certain that this old guy in front of her absolutely could not come up with this huge sum of money, and that he was purely wasting her time.

However, the embarrassment, awkwardness, and nervousness she had expected did not appear.

Instead, Yao Delong's withered palm brushed across the dusty, old Storage Ring at his waist.

Thud! With a muffled sound, a heavy Storage Pouch filled with Spirit Stones appeared in front of her, and at the same time, he returned the two previously borrowed Jade Slips.

"Exactly 3,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Deacon Luo, would you like to count them?" Yao Delong's voice was calm and ripple-free.

Luo Tianying was slightly taken aback!

Those indifferent eyes focused on Yao Delong's old, withered face for the first time, carrying a hint of astonishment.

Three thousand Spirit Stones was absolutely a huge sum for someone in the Qi Refinement Stage, especially for someone like Yao Delong, who was notoriously a "trash and pauper"!

Did he go and rob the treasury of the neighboring Pill Cloud Peak, or did he really sell those books for fooling children to some sucker?

And it had only been a few days, and he was already returning the Cultivation Technique! Had this old geezer taken the wrong medicine?

Ordinary Disciples who borrowed Cultivation Techniques always dragged it out until the full month before returning them.

His speed... either he hadn't read it at all, or... it was just plain strange.

"The amount is correct. I must remind you that if you return the Cultivation Technique, you will have to pay again if you want to borrow it! Make sure you've thought it through."

She gave Yao Delong a deep look, her eyes complex, and said nothing more.

She took out a special jade talisman and pressed it onto the black Jade Slip, leaving a mark.

"The Jade Slip is registered. It must be returned within one month. You must not spread it; violators will be severely punished according to the Sect rules."

"Many thanks, Deacon. You don't need to worry about the Cultivation Technique!" Yao Delong put away the Jade Slip, neither humble nor arrogant.

Feeling the weight of the Cultivation Technique, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

[Ding! Luo Tianying, Favorability +10, currently 30 (Slightly Curious)]

Yao Delong didn't expect that borrowing a Cultivation Technique would actually arouse the curiosity of a Nascent Soul old monster!

Leaving the Scripture Pavilion, Yao Delong did not return to his peak but instead changed his direction.

He walked straight toward another crowded hall in the Sect—the Mission Hall.

The tall hall doors were wide open, and it was bustling with noise inside.

Disciples wearing the attire of various peaks were gathered in front of the huge mission light screen, discussing, either taking or submitting missions.

When Yao Delong's iconic hunched figure and aged face appeared at the entrance...

...the originally noisy hall became eerily quiet for a moment!

Countless gazes—astonishment, curiosity, disdain, mockery...

...shone upon him like physical beams of light!

"Holy crap? Am I seeing things? Is that... Old Man Yao from Luoxia Peak?"

"Him? What is he doing in the Mission Hall? Taking a mission? What kind of joke is that in the cultivation world!"

"Tsk tsk, with those old arms and legs, I'm afraid even a low-level demonic rabbit could kick him to pieces, right?"

"The sun has truly risen from the west! Why not just wait for death on his peak instead of coming out here to make a fool of himself?"

"He's going to make the Yin Yang Sect lose all its face! Hurry up and get lost back!"

Harsh mockery surged like a tide, mixed with undisguised malice.

Several young and hot-headed male Disciples even crossed their arms and shouted sarcastically in a shrill, mocking tone.