After earning the spirit stones, Xia Li planned to go directly find somewhere good to cultivate.
Only, just as he was about to say his farewells...
"Brother Xia, if you don't have anywhere to go, why not join Lingxu Cave Heaven with me?"
To get Xia Li's goods as soon as possible, and to prevent Xia Li from being troubled by Xuan Dan Sect people, Lin Ye proposed that Xia Li join a sect together with him.
"Aren't you a disciple of Cloud Mountain Sect?"
"I was expelled not long ago."
Lin Ye sighed, seemingly not wanting to elaborate on what he'd experienced at Cloud Mountain Sect.
"Tell me about this Lingxu Cave Heaven."
"That requires first discussing sect rankings. From lowest to highest: Gate, Sect, Cave Heaven, Holy Land."
"Of course, this ranking isn't absolute—it's generally based on the sect's territorial scale. Anyway, Cave Heavens are basically stronger than Sects."
Lin Ye informed Xia Li that the power they'd be joining was one rank higher than Sects.
"And then? Since you want to join this Cave Heaven, there must be something special about it?"
"Of course. Lingxu Cave Heaven is one of the few sects that hasn't joined the Heaven Alliance. The Heaven Alliance is a coalition of major powers united to prevent the Great Era from arriving."
"That does show some backbone."
Xia Li nodded. It seemed this Lingxu Cave Heaven's conscience hadn't completely rotted away.
"But Brother Lin, I've thoroughly offended the Xuan Dan Sect. Will Lingxu Cave Heaven still accept me? Or do I need to disguise my identity?"
"Disguise what? It's precisely your true identity that's needed!"
"The Xuan Dan Sect's founder originally defected from Lingxu Cave Heaven. Xuan Dan Sect's heritage is Lingxu Cave Heaven's legacy. If Xuan Dan Sect hadn't joined the Heaven Alliance, they would've been annihilated by Lingxu Cave Heaven long ago."
"So your act of killing Xuan Dan Sect disciples is not only innocent in Lingxu Cave Heaven's eyes—it's meritorious!"
Lin Ye provided Xia Li an excellent reason for joining.
But Xia Li still didn't quite want to join a sect. Mainly because he had too many secrets—being discovered would be extremely dangerous.
"How does Lingxu Cave Heaven treat its disciples? Will they forcibly probe someone's secrets?"
"Who can say for certain? But Lingxu Cave Heaven has a good reputation, so basically no."
"Of course... I can only guarantee they definitely won't on the surface. What happens in secret, no one can say. Give it some thought?"
Lin Ye continued persuading. He truly considered Xia Li a friend, thinking that joining a sect together with a friend would allow them to look after each other.
"If there's no complicated entry examination, I can give it a try."
Xia Li had another important reason for not joining a sect—he had no spiritual roots.
Even though he'd obtained spiritual roots through the Evolution Serum, they were probably the worst quality.
In cultivators' eyes, this was completely mortal-level aptitude—someone who couldn't reach immortality in their entire life. Even with dumb luck entering the cultivation path, they'd be stuck at Qi Refining forever without advancing an inch.
But what was he now?
If someone probed him...
Good heavens, such garbage spiritual roots and he achieved Heaven-path Foundation Establishment? What kind of heaven-defying thing is this? Is this something that could appear in our world?
"Brother Xia, are you Heaven-path Foundation Establishment?"
"Yes."
"That's all that matters then. Heaven-path Foundation Establishment means no examination needed."
"Alright then..."
With examination exemption, Xia Li thought he might as well try. He was quite curious about this world's sects.
Of course, the main reason was still that he had good escape tools. The Disordered Phase Sphere's random unstable teleportation was dangerous, but it also gave it the characteristic of being unblockable and hard to trace.
Moreover...
The Disordered Phase Sphere was a purely technological product that didn't use spiritual energy—spiritual energy-based methods couldn't stop it.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Then let's depart. Come aboard my flying boat."
Lin Ye summoned a flying boat from his storage ring—a small craft that could only accommodate about ten people.
The flying boat took off, then headed toward Lingxu Cave Heaven under Lin Ye's control.
"Speaking of which, how's Liu Jingfeng doing?"
Inside the flying boat's cabin, Lin Ye brought out some spirit fruits and spirit wine to entertain Xia Li, while Xia Li thought of the pitiful Liu Jingfeng.
That poor first genius of the Liu family.
They'd all left, and with Liu Jingfeng's cultivation crippled, how would he survive alone?
"He's embarked on the path of Ancient Cultivation. In ancient times, we cultivators didn't refine qi or spirit—we focused solely on body refinement. That was all we could refine."
"Right now... he's probably fighting demon beasts somewhere in a forest."
Speaking of this, Lin Ye's tone carried some worry. The Ancient Cultivation path was extraordinarily difficult—even he had retreated despite knowing the difficulties.
"Then we should wish him well. Surviving great calamity brings great fortune."
"Indeed. I only hope the Ancient Cultivation technique I passed to him proves useful."
To help Liu Jingfeng pull himself together, Lin Ye had passed on the Ancient Cultivation technique he'd obtained from a mysterious ruin—he'd spared no effort for his junior.
"Brother Lin, might I have a look? I'm quite curious about Ancient Cultivators."
After all, Earth's Ancient Cultivators seemed to focus on body refinement too.
"Of course. Here."
Lin Ye produced a bronze fragment. Upon receiving it, Xia Li immediately had Heaven Chip scan it.
The fragment seemed to record some special technique...
【Decoding complete...】
【Technique: Dragon Transformation Art - Incomplete Volume】
【Currently unable to assess technique grade】
【Warning: Cultivating this technique will cause abnormal bodily changes, permanently altering biological characteristics. Not recommended for cultivation】
"Brother Xia, what do you think of this Ancient Cultivation technique?"
"Great advantages, great drawbacks too. But for Liu Jingfeng whose dantian has been destroyed, he has no other choice."
"That's how Ancient Cultivation paths are—once you embark on it, there's no turning back. You can only walk it to the end. Otherwise, I'd really want to try."
"I thought Ancient Cultivation was the predecessor of martial arts, but it seems that's not the case."
Xia Li also had Earth's Ancient Cultivation techniques, but the Mountain Sea Scripture: Foundation Chapter wouldn't cause bodily changes.
After this.
Xia Li and Lin Ye chatted for a while before each sat down cross-legged to cultivate.
Lin Ye's flying boat had a Spirit Gathering Array, making cultivation quite effective. Xia Li decided to start converting his spiritual energy right there on the boat.
He hadn't started cultivating since receiving the Mountain Sea Scripture: Foundation Chapter—he was still using the Thousand Essence Technique.
【Switching techniques...】
【Converting spiritual energy...】
【Estimated time: thirty hours】
Techniques couldn't be changed at will. After all, different techniques produced spiritual energy with different characteristics. Thus, even with Heaven Chip assistance, changing techniques would take ten to fifteen days.
The reason he hadn't changed techniques on Earth was to avoid wasting time. The more abundant the spiritual energy environment, the faster the modification.
Though Earth had spiritual energy chambers he could use, why be that kind of mark? Freeloading off Lin Ye's Spirit Gathering Array was far more sensible.
One day later, at dusk.
Xia Li opened his eyes. All the spiritual energy within his body had been converted. The spiritual energy cultivated by the Mountain Sea Scripture was as vast as rushing rivers.
The Mountain Sea spiritual energy could transform his body. Meridians that were once like small streams were carved into rivers, main channels widened into great rivers, and blocked apertures were instantly opened.
