https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-10-Fierce-Competition-and-Level-3-Body-Strengthening/13686392/
Chapter 11: Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa
In front of a skyscraper towering into the clouds in the heart of the city, Zhang Yu looked up, his gaze fixed on the massive structure that seemed to pierce the sky. At its peak, faint outlines of what looked like a celestial palace shimmered in the distance. This was the headquarters of Xianyun Group in Songyang City.
Beyond it, he could make out another, even taller building—so colossal it appeared to touch the very edge of the heavens. He knew it was Songyang’s tallest skyscraper, the Central Tower, said to stretch 999 floors high. It had been a familiar landmark on his daily commute to and from school.
Now, Zhang Yu turned his attention back to the building before him.
“Xianyun Group…?”
On the way here, Zhang Yu had already done some research online. Xianyun Group was a massive enterprise under the Wanfa Sect—one of the Top Ten Sects in Kunxu. The company specialized in developing and selling cultivation techniques, offering spiritual education, and publishing cultural products related to the immortal path. Given that the Top Ten Sects permeated every aspect of life in Kunxu—from food and clothing to housing, health, aging, and death—Zhang Yu wasn’t surprised at all that a giant like Xianyun Group would be affiliated with such a powerful sect.
He stepped inside, approached the front desk, and explained his purpose. After a series of procedures—registration, contract signing, and a brief medical check—he was led to a room that resembled a classroom.
Inside, several students were already seated. After waiting a while, when the number reached fifteen, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit entered and began explaining the day’s cultivation test.
“Good afternoon, everyone. I’m your instructor for today.”
“Each of you has signed a contract, but I must reiterate—everything discussed here today is strictly confidential. If any of you leak this information, no matter where you go, we will find you. Xianyun Group has the resources. And behind us is the Wanfa Sect. We don’t make idle threats.”
The students exchanged uneasy glances. They knew he wasn’t bluffing. With Xianyun Group’s power and the backing of a Top Ten Sect, such promises were more than credible.
“Today, you’ll be attempting a technique we call Trial Technique 113. Please watch the instructional video first.”
According to the video, this was a Qi Refining Realm breathing method—far more complex than the Basic Qi Circulation Method. Rather than a simple flow, it required establishing a full, intricate circuit of spiritual energy throughout the body. After watching, most students were utterly confused.
Only after the instructor’s detailed explanation did they begin to grasp the general idea—yet the complexity left them trembling with dread.
“Wait… are we really supposed to practice this? We’re not even close to capable!”
The cultivation path was absurdly complicated—like trying to draw the entire Along the River During the Qingming Festival on an A4 sheet. If Zhang Yu had to put it in his own words, it was like carving flowers onto a pile of excrement.
Not only could they not follow the path, most couldn’t even memorize it. Halfway through the explanation, they’d already forgotten most of it.
Forget spreading it—none of them had any confidence in even completing the test, let alone mastering the technique.
Feeling their unease, the instructor raised his voice.
“Relax. You don’t need to master this technique today.”
“In fact, beginners can’t possibly learn it on their own.”
“What we’re testing is a supplementary device designed specifically for Trial Technique 113.”
The students were then led into a testing room. Electrodes shaped like tiny needles were attached to their hands, feet, chest, and back—sensors that would monitor their spiritual energy flow in real time.
Then, mechanical arms extended, delivering thin silver needles connected by wires.
“The sensors will track your internal spiritual energy as you practice,” the instructor explained. “And the Yuan Ci Needles will be guided by the system, stimulating key points along your energy path to help you identify and correct your route.”
Zhang Yu listened, then realized: this was basically automated pathfinding… no, automated cultivation guidance.
Because the 113 technique demanded extremely precise timing and placement of spiritual energy, the system had to monitor the user’s flow while simultaneously using the needles to guide and correct it in real time.
But the risk was high.
If even a small error occurred in the energy path, spiritual energy could spiral out of control, spilling through the body. The result? Intense, burning itching, sudden chills, waves of pain, and a terrifying sense of internal chaos. If left unchecked, it could cause severe internal injuries. The longer the instability persisted, the worse the damage.
The only ways to survive: seek medical help from a powerful cultivator to forcibly suppress the energy (at a high cost), rely on sheer Physical Strength Level to endure until the energy burned out naturally, or—only if the cultivator managed to master the technique—learn to actively contain and redirect the errant energy through proper cultivation.
The instructor continued:
“Just as stated in your contract, compensation will be based on the percentage of the energy path completed. Finish 100% of the route, and you earn 10,000 yuan. Halfway through? Only 5,000.”
“Alright. If there are no questions, begin.”
Zhang Yu glanced at the Feather Scroll floating in front of him.
Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa Level 0 (0/1)
He thought to himself: So… just completing it once is enough?
Closing his eyes, he tried to initiate the technique, starting from his dantian and guiding the energy upward along his spine.
A slight prickling sensation flared at his back—proof that the Yuan Ci Needle was guiding him.
He followed the needle’s subtle signals, inch by inch, pushing the energy forward.
…
Outside the testing room, a group of researchers watched the screens in silence.
“It’s started,” said the lead researcher, a man with messy short hair, eyes glued to the fluctuating data.
The screen displayed real-time spiritual energy flow for each student as they attempted Trial Technique 113. A secondary display showed a visual map of their internal energy paths—green for correct, red for errors.
As seconds passed, red markers began to appear across the screens, spreading like ink in water.
The assistant watched, face grim.
“Sir, the precision of the Yuan Ci Needle guidance needs improvement. Otherwise, it won’t meet the demands of beginners.”
“Should we recruit higher Dao Heart Level candidates?”
The researcher frowned. “No. 113 and the Yuan Ci Needle were specifically designed for beginners. That’s the direction we’re committed to.”
“Besides, those with higher Dao Heart Levels already have better techniques. The passive qi absorption benefits of 113 are negligible for them. It’s the beginners who truly need it.”
At that moment, one student gasped and suddenly spat blood.
“Get him out,” the researcher said coldly. “Don’t let him disrupt the others.”
But soon, more students began to collapse—some turned pale and gasping, others screamed in agony before fainting. A few just looked sickly, their faces ashen, their bodies twitching from pain or unbearable itchiness at the energy points.
One by one, they were escorted out.
The researcher’s expression darkened.
“These students are terrible. Can’t we recruit better ones?”
The assistant whispered, “Sir, previous test subjects were injured too severely. No school is willing to cooperate with us anymore.”
The researcher snorted. “A bunch of poor kids. Whether it’s 113 or the Yuan Ci Needle, once perfected, this is a massive market for beginners. If a few die along the way? So what?”
…
Inside the testing room, only three students remained.
Two of them had minimal errors, their spiritual energy mostly stable—still pushing forward.
The third, however, was pale as death, trembling uncontrollably. The researcher paused, surprised.
“This one has made countless mistakes. He should be in agony by now… yet he’s still going?”
The assistant turned to him. “Shall we stop him?”
The researcher shook his head, intrigued. “If he wants to earn the money so badly, let him try.”
“Besides, more error data means better research.”
…
Back inside, Zhang Yu fought the urge to quit every time the ritual force whispered through his mind—cold, relentless, like a countdown ticking in his skull.
You idiot! Just do it yourself, why don’t you?
Every time he faltered, spiritual energy leaked, spilling into his flesh like needles of fire and ice. His entire body burned and froze in turns, wracked with agony.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he completed the full sequence.
He glanced at the Feather Scroll.
Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa Level 1 (0/20)
A small breath of relief escaped him.
He’d gambled. And he’d won.
Suddenly, memories flooded his mind—hundreds, thousands of repetitions of the technique, as if he’d been practicing for months.
In that moment, Zhang Yu felt he could, at will, gather and stabilize any runaway spiritual energy, weaving it into the complex circuit of the Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa.
But he didn’t act immediately. Instead, still shaking, still aching, he slowly rose to his feet.
The instructor hurried over, surprised.
“Are you alright, young man? I’ve never seen someone complete this with such a high error rate.”
Zhang Yu clutched his stomach, voice strained.
“I feel like my insides are on fire… and my limbs are frozen. My whole body is on fire and ice at the same time. It’s… unbearable.”
The instructor steadied him. “Let me take you to the infirmary.”
“No!” Zhang Yu snapped, waving him off. “I mean… I want more money.”
The instructor studied him—his trembling body, his pallid face—and finally said, “1,000 yuan. Sign another contract. After this, any injuries are your responsibility.”
After some negotiation, Xianyun Group agreed to add 3,000 yuan to his payment—on the condition that he assumed full liability for any future consequences.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
