Chapter 25: Many Thanks for Senior Brother’s Guidance

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Many Thanks for Senior Brother’s Guidance

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Mastery +10]

Early in the morning, Liu Chen finished a Body Tempering session in half an hour. However, the Proficiency he gained hadn’t increased; it had actually decreased.

’Cultivation is getting harder and harder.’

Liu Chen couldn’t help but sigh. On the bright side, the time it took to circulate his Cultivation Technique had been greatly reduced. From now on, he should have enough time to cultivate five times a day.

"If anyone asks, just say that I taught you the Magic Skill two and a half years ago."

The voice of his master, Mo Xuan, suddenly sounded from behind, startling Liu Chen. He turned to see his master standing quietly behind him. With bamboo leaves resting on his shoulders, it was clear he hadn’t just arrived.

"I will bear it in mind."

Liu Chen nodded in agreement. He didn’t know the reason for the instruction, but he was sure it wouldn’t hurt. Besides, he had noticed some issues from observing his two junior sisters’ cultivation speed. Yesterday had been their fifth day of cultivation, yet the side effects of Body Tempering hadn’t lessened at all, which was completely different from his own experience.

"Aren’t you curious why?"

Mo Xuan opened his eyes and studied Liu Chen. ’This kid stood out in the mortal world, and his attitude toward me is good, too. Since arriving at Purple Bamboo Peak, he’s been methodical in both his work and cultivation. He doesn’t act like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old at all.’

’If I hadn’t already checked him thoroughly, I would’ve suspected this disciple of mine was the reincarnation of some great expert.’

"A tall tree catches the wind. Judging from my two junior sisters’ progress, my cultivation speed is a bit abnormal."

Liu Chen was very candid. ’It’s not that I have no desire to show off, that would be impossible. But my identity as a Spirit Chef is already conspicuous enough. It’s better to be low-key about my cultivation Talent.’

’If I run into someone with ill intentions, it might just save my life.’

"Just focus on your cultivation. My position will be yours sooner or later."

Mo Xuan nodded and turned to leave. He still had to deal with potential problems, like fabricating a plausible story for how the two of them met two and a half years ago.

’He manages the smallest bamboo grove, yet he doesn’t have to follow the rules of Purple Bamboo Peak and can even produce an Inner Sect Disciple Token on a whim. Master’s identity definitely isn’t just an ordinary Bamboo Garden Steward.’

Liu Chen muttered to himself, his gaze falling on a newly sprouted Bamboo Shoot. ’You’ll be this morning’s side dish.’

[Spirit Chef Proficiency +8]

In the kitchen, Liu Chen sighed as he looked at the Proficiency notification. The Proficiency he gained from the cold-dressed Bamboo Shoots was also gradually decreasing. ’It looks like if I want to gain a decent amount of Spirit Chef Proficiency, I’ll have to learn some new recipes from my junior sisters every so often,’ he thought.

The only problem was that there didn’t seem to be many usable ingredients on the back mountain. Besides Cyan Bamboo and Bamboo Shoots, everything else was basically useless weeds. His two junior sisters had already collected all the Purple Cloud Grass, saying they planned to sell it to disciples who raised Spirit Beasts in exchange for Spirit Stones.

Breakfast was leisurely. The only topic of conversation was that the letter had been sent, but it was unknown when a reply would arrive.

Liu Chen wasn’t bothered by this. His own living quarters were decent enough. As long as his two junior sisters didn’t feel it was too crowded, the wait wouldn’t affect him at all.

Besides, he could use this time to improve his Artifact Manipulation Technique, which would make construction much easier when the time came.

Thinking of the Artifact Manipulation Technique, an idea suddenly struck Liu Chen. ’Since these Basic Magic Techniques are meant to make life more convenient, why do Spirit Chefs still have to do all the cooking by hand?’

’Shouldn’t it be possible to just control the necessary objects and complete the cooking that way?’

’Perhaps this could be a way to cultivate multiple Magic skills at once. It could be completely integrated into daily life, which would definitely save some time.’

With a new idea in mind, Liu Chen glanced at his two junior sisters, who were currently in the middle of their Body Tempering. After confirming that their cultivation was proceeding without issue, he began his second Body Tempering session of the day.

Half an hour passed quietly. Liu Chen slowly opened his eyes. His two junior sisters were still immersed in their Body Tempering, so he went ahead and started his own cultivation for the day.

He hadn’t reached his goal with the Withering Skill yesterday; otherwise, it would have been his first Basic Magic Technique to reach Minor Success. Today, however, as a few weeds withered and died, Liu Chen felt a strange trance-like sensation. When he looked at the weeds again, he could clearly sense several important nodes within the network of their Life Force.

Casting the Withering Skill now required only half, or even less, of the Spiritual Power it used to, and weeds were reduced to ash.

[Withering Skill Proficiency +2]

[Withering Skill: Minor Success, 2/1000]

Liu Chen came back to his senses. Just as he was about to start practicing the next Magic, he saw his two junior sisters holding half-dead weeds and staring at him with burning intensity.

"Senior Brother, how did you do that?"

Ye Linglong couldn’t help but ask. She still hadn’t even reached the Beginner stage with her Withering Skill, but what her Senior Brother just did was clearly far beyond that. She guessed he had already reached Minor Success.

"Plants, like people, have what you could call vital spots. Try using the Withering Skill on different parts of the plant. You might discover the trick to it."

Liu Chen explained matter-of-factly. Although he could now see the network of Life Force and even its more important nodes, he had used this very method to practice the Withering Skill and Recovery Technique before he gained that ability.

Even if they couldn’t gain Proficiency like he did, they should still make some progress.

The two of them exchanged a skeptical look, then pulled up some nearby weeds and began to experiment.

After a few attempts and comparisons, Ye Linglong was the first to get the hang of it. When she cast the Withering Skill on a weed again, it was completely reduced to ash. With that, her Withering Skill had finally reached the Beginner stage.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong was pleasantly surprised. ’If his previous pointers were all just basic concepts, then this was a real technique that Master never mentioned. He must have figured it out himself.’

"I did it too."

A moment later, Ji Suyao’s voice rang out as well. Liu Chen turned his head and saw the weed in her hand rapidly wither into ash.

For a moment, Liu Chen was silent. ’Is this because of my influence, or is their Talent really that good?’ he wondered.

In a distant bamboo grove, Mo Xuan’s thoughtful gaze fell upon a Cyan Bamboo in front of him. With a casual flick of his finger, the stalk of Cyan Bamboo instantly withered into ash.

’This method does seem to save a bit of Spiritual Power.’

Mo Xuan nodded to himself. ’Although one would need to determine the nodes for each type of plant, there are only a few kinds of weeds on Purple Bamboo Peak. If this method were taught, it could save the Outer Disciples a lot of time managing the Bamboo Garden.’

"Are you actually learning from him?"

Bai Qiulan watched him, speechless. In truth, they weren’t always paying attention to the three disciples, but they had to keep an eye on them during a critical process like Body Tempering. As soon as the three finished, Liu Chen had started teaching the Withering Skill, so naturally, they had listened in.

After all, Liu Chen was a disciple too; if he taught something incorrectly, they would have to correct it immediately. But from the looks of it, the boy was truly talented.