Chapter 136, The Final Choice, Zhou Chun’s Ambition

Translator: Raznick

 

How could one cultivate a cultivation method if one couldn’t even understand the characters?

 

Facing Zhou Chun’s question, Zhou Daoyi merely smiled gently. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand these characters now. The Zhou Clan has translations of them; you can cultivate while referring to them.”

 

“The reason I brought you here today is mainly to let you experience these two Dao vessels, so that you can understand what a truly precious legacy is, and how it is generally protected and passed down.”

 

Speaking to this point, his expression changed again, and he looked at Zhou Chun with a solemn tone, warning him. “A word of advise: don’t rush to cultivate whatever you may get your hands on outside.

 

“Many cultivators will deliberately destroy valuable top cultivation method or secret art cultivation techniques and compile them into books to carry with them just to cause harm on any that kills them!

 

“And when trading or purchasing such things, it is also necessary to personally copy them from a Dao vessel and secret foils held by the other party, and carefully check in advance whether the Dao vessel is complete and whether it is an ancient object, and whether there are traces of tampering on the Daoist script!

 

“You should know that some unscrupulous cultivators will also deliberately patch up or make imitations of Dao vessels to sell for profit!”

 

This knowledge was also mentioned in the Foundation Establishment detailed explanation that Zhou Chun had previously read.

 

But that superficial knowledge was nothing compared to witnessing these two Dao vessels firsthand and personally listening to Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi’s warning.

 

Zhou Chun, listening to the advice, was also shocked and nodded solemnly. “I understand, I will certainly remember Clan Leader’s teachings.”

 

Zhou Daoyi nodded with satisfaction. “Well, then you can take these two Dao vessels and look at them carefully, and I will also explain to you the advantages and disadvantages of these two top cultivation method, so that you can choose yourself.”

 

The cultivation method recorded on the golden ancient cauldron was called Golden Cauldron Mystic Art, consisting of eight sections, divided into four inner and four outer sections.

 

The internal four sections detailed methods to cultivate, corresponding to the Foundation Establishment, Violet Palace, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul stages.

 

The external four sections comprised protective and defensive techniques, outlining special skills and mystical arts for overcoming enemies.

 

This cultivation method didn’t place exceptionally high demands on a cultivator’s talent; having a metal spirit root was enough.

 

However, that didn’s signify the cultivation method was easy.

 

To cultivate the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art, one must first absorb a substantial amount of refined metal Qi, forging a Dao Cauldron within the dantian. Subsequent cultivation would be based on this Dao Cauldron.

 

Forging the Dao Cauldron was extraordinarily perilous, easily damaging the Dantian and meridians. Many cultivators coveting this cultivation method’s power perished from premature attempts.

 

Even after the Dao Cauldron was forged, ongoing cultivation required regular absorbtion metal Qi to temper it, with increasing demands placed on the quality of the metal Qi.

 

Furthermore, after each major breakthrough, the Dao Cauldron would need to be broken and reforged; failure in this process would not only reduce all cultivation to dust but also scatter the cultivator’s soul.

 

Therefore, this cultivation was a do or die method.

 

Not to mention facing a life-and-death tribulation of breaking and reforging the Dao Cauldron.

 

Of course, risk and reward went hand in hand.

 

The benefits, even disregarding the defensive and protective techniques described in the external four sections of the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art, were significant once the cultivation method was mastered.

 

The spiritual power gained through cultivating the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art was imbued with concentrated metal Qi. This spiritual power could temper the body, making it considerably stronger than his peers, even capable of physically resisting attacks from lower-grade artifacts.

 

Additionally, the spiritual power’s penetrating and destructive properties were exceptional; even simple spiritual power intrusion into another person’s body could inflict torturous pain, making it difficult to counter and heal.

 

Metal mystical arts and artifacts forged with spirit gold, fueled by this spiritual power, could dramatically enhance their power.

Furthermore, once the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art’s first section was mastered, and the Dao Cauldron was forged, it came with a remarkably useful special skill called Golden Cauldron Profound Light, possessing immense power, and its potency increased with cultivation, benefiting the user for a lifetime.

 

Moreover, the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art greatly accelerates the refinement of spiritual power, ensuring a cultivator’s cultivation wasn’t hindered.

 

The cultivation method recorded on the jade bamboo slips was called Ancient Wood True Art, divided into twelve layers, with each set of three layers corresponding to a cultivation stage. It also documented several protective methods.

 

This cultivation method did not place stringent demands on a cultivator’s innate abilities, provided their spirit roots contained a wood attribute.

 

However, this cultivation method was incredibly resource-intensive!

 

To reach the first layer, one had to seek out thirty spirit woods of different properties, gather their vital essence to integrate into their spiritual power, and condense a Dao Wood within their Dantian. Future cultivation would also be based on this Dao Wood.

 

The process of refining the Dao Wood was equally perilous, potentially damaging the Dantian and meridian, even carrying the risk of woodification.

 

Many cultivators eager for this cultivation method’s power had been severely injured or lost their lives due to forceful practice.

 

Even after the Dao Wood was refined, the cultivation process required frequent gathering of essence from myriad woods to temper the Dao Wood, and demanded increasingly high quality spirit woods.

 

For each layer of cultivation achieved with this cultivation method, the cultivator must, as if starting from the very beginning, re-gather higher-grade spirit wood essence to integrate into the Dao Wood.

 

Failure to do so would make progressing to the next layer impossible.

 

Even if a cultivator resorted to pills or other treasures to forcibly break through a layer, the cultivation method’s power would not increase, and may even cause the Dao Wood to collapse, resulting in the complete loss of cultivation.

 

However, Ancient Wood True Art also offered substantial benefits to the cultivator.

 

Firstly, once this cultivation method was mastered, the cultivation speed would be exceptionally fast, allowing even a cultivator with average spirit roots to match the cultivation speed of those with superior spirit roots practicing common cultivation methods.

 

Secondly, after mastering this cultivation method, their spiritual power contained exceptionally pure wood vital energy, nourishing the physical body and prolonging life and maintaining youthfulness.

 

Simultaneously, the speed of recovery would be many times greater, even regenerating limbs.

 

The spiritual power cultivated using this method could greatly enhance the power of wood mystical arts and artifacts refined from spiritual wood.

 

Finally, even if only the first layer of this cultivation method was cultivated, it would also come with two powerful special skills: Ancient Wood Prison and Ancient Wood Armor.

 

At this point, after Zhou Chun was introduced the basic details of both cultivation methods, Zhou Daoyi concluded by saying, “Of these two cultivation methods, the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art, has more ambitious goals, greater power, and a longer legacy. Very few people should know about it.

 

“Although the Ancient Wood True Art is not as powerful as the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art, it is relatively easier to cultivate, has a faster cultivation speed, and is much safer!”

 

Having said this, he looked at Zhou Chun and advised further, “If I were you, I would certainly prefer the Ancient Wood True Art over the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art!”

 

Zhou Chun’s expression flickered slightly at the words.

 

However, he did not rush to make a decision, “Clan Leader, could you let me see the translations of these two cultivation methods?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Zhou Daoyi replicated the technique to open a protective barrier above a stone platform.

 

On the stone platform were several jade books, which were essentially larger jade slips.

 

Zhou Daoyi then beckoned, and the two jade books were taken from the platform and handed to Zhou Chun.

 

“Take a look for yourself!”

 

Having said this, he sat cross-legged to one side, awaiting Zhou Chun’s choice.

 

Zhou Chun held the jade books, first examining the cultivation methods of the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art.

Compared to what Zhou Daoyi said, this method of cultivate detailed the various trials and dangers encountered during cultivate, with many subtle details that Zhou Daoyi had not mentioned.

 

Of course, the records of the cultivation method’s power and various protective techniques were also more intuitive and detailed, truly tempting!

 

Afterward, Zhou Chun looked at Ancient Wood True Art.

 

As expected, its jade scroll also recorded many details that Zhou Daoyi had not spoken of.

 

The most important detail was Ancient Wood True Art’s specifics for the quantity and age of spiritual wood that needed to be infused after each breakthrough.

 

Only thirty ordinary spiritual woods of different properties and types were needed to lay the foundation for the entry level.

 

However, to break through to mid Foundation Establishment and cultivate the second level, fifty spiritual trees brimming with concentrated spiritual wood essence would be required to reinforce the cultivation method, and the properties of the spiritual wood should ideally be different.

 

The more varieties of spiritual wood infused into Ancient Wood True Art, the greater the reinforcing effect on this cultivation method.

 

If two cultivators cultivated the second level, one infusing fifty varied spiritual woods, their subsequent cultivation speed and power would be far stronger than the other cultivator who infused a large amount of the same kind of spiritual wood.

 

As one progressed, Ancient Wood True Art’s requirements for the quality and varieties of spiritual wood needed became increasingly high.

 

When reaching the Golden Core Stage, it could even require hundreds of spiritual woods, the kind that could be used to refine a third-grade artifact just by cutting them down!

 

When Zhou Chun saw this, his brow furrowed deeply.

 

To be honest, the initial sections of Ancient Wood True Art were truly captivating.

 

Not only was the cultivate difficulty considerably less than that of Golden Cauldron Mystic Art, the various benefits after cultivating it were also more tempting than simply enhancing a cultivator’s personal power, as was the case with Golden Cauldron Mystic Art.

 

However, seeing the massive quantity of spiritual wood required later in Ancient Wood True Art was truly shocking!

 

Rare spirit wood in the hundreds! And all were prime ingredients for third-grade artifacts. The amount of waste was insane!

 

Even a major sect like Green Lotus Monastery would have to fork out whole treasuries just to gather them all, and that for just one cultivator!

 

The number of spiritual wood required for those in the Nascent Soul Stage was even more absurd.

 

It was night impossible!

 

He suspected that searching the entire world might not yield that many high-quality spiritual wood.

 

Therefore, when Zhou Chun saw this, his expression immediately grew somber.

 

Zhou Daoyi, who had been meditating, suddenly spoke up, “We cultivators seek longevity and freedom, but we all know that true immortals who achieve that are practically nonexistent.

 

“For a rogue cultivator to reach Foundation Establishment is considered a life’s highlight.

 

“We, cultivators of a clan, usually only dare to dream of opening a Violet Palace.

 

“Even inner sect disciples of a major sect like Green Lotus Monastery generally aim to form a Golden Core in their lifetime.

 

“Therefore, don’t worry about the demands in Golden Core Stage and beyond after cultivating Ancient Wood True Art. It’s enough to simply glance at them.

 

“If you choose this cultivation method, with the power of our Zhou Clan, finding spiritual wood before you reach the Violet Palace Stage should be easy.

 

“And if you can successfully open the Violet Palace and become a pillar of our clan, then it will also be possible to leverage the entire clan’s resources to find the rest you needed for cultivation.”

 

He made his meaning quite clear.

 

His greatest hope was to form a Golden Core and enjoy a thousand years of life.

The cultivate method, which was safer and faster in the early stages, Ancient Wood True Art, was undoubtedly more practical than the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art.

 

But could a mere thousand years of life truly satisfy Zhou Chun?

 

He came to this world, a world where one could cultivate and seek immortality, merely to live a few centuries longer than a mortal?

 

In a world where there were already ancient beings in the Nascent Soul Stage who could live for at least three thousand years, would merely living a thousand years suffice for a transmigrator like him?

 

No!

 

Absolutely not!

 

Zhou Chun’s heart suddenly resonated with this conviction, he would absolutely refuse to limit the goal of this life to the Golden Core Stage.

 

Then he straightened his body, the heaviness in his brows vanished, and he looked resolutely at Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi, and said, “I have decided to cultivate the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art!”

 

Hearing his words, Zhou Daoyi’s expression changed, and he frowned, looking at him and asked, “Why?”

 

Zhou Chun said with a firm tone, “Hope! I don’t want to walk a hopeless dead end! Even if it looks wide and easy to walk!”

 

Hearing his answer, Zhou Daoyi couldn’t help but retort, “But choosing the Golden Cauldron Mystic Art might mean that you’d fall and die before you could even take a step on the path!”

 

Zhou Chun shook his head and said, “A hopeless dead end will cause suffering for those who walk it.

 

“And a path full of hope, even if it’s rugged and steep, will give hope instead!”

 

Speaking to this point, he couldn’t help but raise his head, and said with a soaring tone, “I am willing to be that person full of hope, even if it means dying!”