Holy cow!
What the hell is this?
Hao Ren was completely flustered!
He had eagerly expected a cultivation technique, only to be presented with this, this, this…
The Golden Vase Plum, Illustrated Edition.
Who would want to read this? Absolutely no interest… Well, the content is quite exciting, and the illustrations are quite explicit, bah! Absolutely no interest!
Hao Ren was furious.
(╬◣д◢)
The immortal cultivation novels were so right; righteous cultivators are indeed hypocrites.
Bah!
Hao Ren angrily stuffed the Golden Vase Plum (Illustrated Edition) into his chest.
He wasn't taking this book back to read it, but to criticize it from a moral standpoint!
Yes, criticize!
After expressing his disdain for Gu Ziming, Hao Ren picked up Xing Yidao's storage bag again.
"System, help me open this storage bag."
This time, the system didn't dawdle. Perhaps it also felt that persuading Hao Ren to join the "Yuantong Divine Cult," such a heretical organization, didn't align with the central theme of "truth, goodness, and beauty." So, the system readily helped open the storage bag.
Whoosh!
A flash of white light, and Xing Yidao's spiritual imprint on the storage bag was erased. The storage bag opened on its own, and several items fell to the ground.
A bottle of pills, two books, and a letter.
Hao Ren examined them one by one, starting with the pills.
[Pill Name: Qi Gathering Pill]
[Grade: First-grade pill]
...
The pills were still Qi Gathering Pills. It seemed that demonic cultivators, like righteous cultivators, used Qi Gathering Pills during their cultivation.
Hao Ren unceremoniously pocketed the Qi Gathering Pills, bringing his total to thirty. That would be enough for him for quite some time.
Next, Hao Ren's gaze fell upon the two books, and his heart involuntarily sped up.
A cultivation technique, a cultivation technique, it had to be a cultivation technique!
Wait, a demonic cultivator's cultivation technique would definitely be a demonic technique!
As a protagonist who transmigrated, cultivating a demonic technique… this doesn't align with the core values… What the hell!
Hao Ren didn't care if it was a demonic technique; as long as it could be cultivated, it was fine.
Hao Ren picked up the first book, and soon, a string of information appeared in his mind.
[Magic Treasure Name: Curse Book]
[Grade: Unknown]
[Detailed Description: A very mysterious magic treasure, its origin is unknown, shrouded in misfortune and karma. By using this magic treasure, continuously copying the names and birthdates of those cursed, one can cast powerful karmic curses. Minor curses will cause the target to be plagued by bad luck and all endeavors to be thwarted. Severe curses can cause the target to develop inner demons, suffer backlash from them, and perish.]
Damn!
What a vicious magic treasure!
Heh heh, I like it, cough cough cough…
Hao Ren’s expression turned serious, his demeanor righteous.
Such an evil magic treasure, what if it fell into the hands of bad people? It's better for me to keep it!
Hao Ren immediately put away the Curse Book and, at the same time, fiercely spat at Xing Yidao.
Bah, demonic cultivators are truly wicked. I, representing the light of righteousness, condemn you!
After putting away the Curse Book, Hao Ren picked up the other book.
[Cultivation Technique Name: Vast Righteous Qi Art]
[Grade: Yellow-grade, first-tier cultivation technique]
[Detailed Description: A foundational cultivation technique for righteous cultivators. It has very low requirements for spiritual root aptitude, making it cultivable by anyone. This technique has strong compatibility, allowing one to switch to other techniques at any time in the future.]
Great!
Finally, a cultivation technique, and a righteous cultivation technique at that! Hahahaha…
Hao Ren was overjoyed.
As he laughed, he suddenly felt something was amiss.
Xing Yidao, a demonic cultivator, where did he get a righteous cultivation technique?
Shouldn't demonic cultivators practice demonic techniques?
Hao Ren picked up the last item from the ground, a letter.
This time, no system information flooded Hao Ren's mind. It was an ordinary letter.
Hao Ren opened the letter and began to read. The more he read, the stranger his expression became. In the end, Hao Ren looked at Xing Yidao with an expression of amused helplessness.
This Xing Yidao fellow was actually an "undercover agent."
Xing Yidao was from the righteous faction "Nine Dragon Peak." He was selected by the sect to infiltrate the "Yuantong Divine Cult" as a spy.
This undercover career was thrilling and spectacular.
If it could be filmed, it would be comparable to the Infernal Affairs trilogy!
Xing Yidao's undercover mission was very successful. He had successfully infiltrated the "Yuantong Divine Cult" and gained the trust of its high-ranking members.
On a dark and stormy night, Xing Yidao stole the "Yuantong Divine Cult's" most important treasure, the Curse Book, and notified "Nine Dragon Peak" of this matter.
The higher-ups of "Nine Dragon Peak" attached great importance to this. They quickly replied to Xing Yidao, ordering him to leave the "Yuantong Divine Cult" and informing him that experts from "Nine Dragon Peak" would be waiting to escort him along the way.
However, due to some unknown mishap, the experts sent by "Nine Dragon Peak" failed to meet Xing Yidao. Instead, Gu Ziming from "Shengfeng Sect" encountered Xing Yidao.
Gu Ziming, perhaps having read too much of The Golden Vase Plum, was too excited and not thinking clearly, and attacked the "demonic cultivator" Xing Yidao on sight.
Thus, Gu Ziming, a righteous cultivator, and Xing Yidao, a demonic cultivator, engaged in a life-and-death battle, ultimately resulting in both perishing.
This, this is truly… a tragic story.
Hao Ren was speechless.
As expected, the greatest threat to a "righteous undercover agent" was not "demonic cultivators," but rather "righteous cultivators" from the same righteous faction.
Hao Ren mused for a moment, then quickly gathered all his spoils and left the scene.
This place was not safe. Experts from "Nine Dragon Peak" could appear at any moment. He had to flee!
After Hao Ren left, he returned to the place where he had first transmigrated. There was a hidden cave there, which was perfect for him to hide in.
The cave was deep and winding, with bushes and grass concealing its entrance, making it difficult for ordinary people to discover.
Hao Ren burrowed into the depths of the cave and found it dry and warm inside, making it an excellent hiding place. He decided to settle down here.
Go down the mountain?
He would absolutely not go down the mountain. The outside world was too dangerous.
Gu Ziming and Xing Yidao were the best "negative examples."
Hao Ren decided to lie low in the cave and cultivate in peace.
After settling everything, Hao Ren took out the Vast Righteous Qi Art and began to cultivate.
This righteous cultivation technique was not profound; it could only be cultivated up to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. For the next stage, Foundation Establishment, one would need to switch to a more powerful technique.
This type of simple foundational technique had an advantage: low cultivation difficulty and low aptitude requirements, making it smoothly cultivable even for Hao Ren, who had "five-element mixed spiritual roots."
Uh…
Alright, theoretically cultivable.
Following the cultivation method in the Vast Righteous Qi Art, Hao Ren sat cross-legged for half a day. Apart from passing gas, he didn't sense even a trace of spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Sigh!
His aptitude was too poor!
Hao Ren was speechless. There was nothing he could do but take out a Qi Gathering Pill and pop it into his mouth.
If aptitude is lacking, compensate with "medicine."
After "taking medicine," Hao Ren successfully sensed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and, following the cultivation method in the Vast Righteous Qi Art, drew a trace of spiritual energy into his body.
As the spiritual energy entered his body, Hao Ren shivered. Pain, intense pain!
The sensation was like a red-hot iron brand being thrust into his body, causing him to gasp for breath from the agony.
Hao Ren's face contorted.
The immortal cultivation novels were all lies. They talked about cultivation being comfortable and enjoyable, but it was nothing like that!
Hao Ren wanted to give up, but in the end, he persevered.
For longevity, for invincibility, grit his teeth and cultivate!
Go for it!