Chapter 2: Ah Jin and the "Longevity Spring Art"

Chapter 2: Ah Jin and the "Longevity Spring Art"

This "Wordless Book" was a family heirloom from his previous life. When Chen Ji casually flipped through it, he lost consciousness and woke up as "Chen Ji" in this world.

The "Wordless Book" had followed him here.

Fortunately, the "Wordless Book" proved useful.

Any skill Chen Ji mastered could be continuously improved through practice.

It was equivalent to the heavens rewarding diligence—effort would always yield results.

It was thanks to the "Wordless Book" that Chen Ji was able to refine the "Vajra Talisman" technique he had inherited from the original owner and barely make a living in the market.

Gathering his thoughts, Chen Ji looked at the panel projected by the "Wordless Book":

[Name: Chen Ji]

[Lifespan: 27/77]

[Spiritual Root: Metal 17, Wood 26, Water 18, Fire 23, Earth 16]

[Realm: Qi Refining Third Layer]

[Cultivation Technique: Longevity Spring Art (Beginner 1570/2000)]

[Spells:]

① Rain Transformation Art (Beginner 45/200)

[Skills:]

1. Talisman Making

① Basic Talismans:

Vajra Talisman (Advanced 337/1600)

"Everything is clear at a glance!"

Chen Ji was astonished.

Since discovering the utility of the "Wordless Book," Chen Ji had gained a perfect understanding of his own metrics, even his lifespan was clearly marked.

Although his Qi Refining Third Layer cultivation was low, it had given him a life expectancy of 77 years.

After all, the path of cultivation was a journey toward immortality, especially for wood-attribute techniques, which were known for their gentle, life-extending, and regenerative properties.

Beyond that, however, things were rather pitiful.

All his stats were mediocre, unremarkable, with no standout features. He only knew one spell, the "Rain Transformation Art," which came with the "Longevity Spring Art."

It could be said that the original owner had toiled for twelve years with almost nothing to show for it—though this was the reality for most rogue cultivators in the market.

Limited by their "heritage," their foundations were far inferior to those of sect or family cultivators.

But now that Chen Ji had transmigrated here, things were different.

"Heaven rewards diligence!"

Effort would always yield results—no pain, no gain. This was the effect of the "Wordless Book."

In simpler terms, as long as Chen Ji continuously practiced a skill, technique, or spell, he could keep increasing its proficiency.

Proficiency levels were roughly divided into "Beginner," "Intermediate," "Proficient," "Advanced," and "Perfection."

Whether there were higher levels beyond that, Chen Ji didn't yet know.

Moreover, the effects were "permanent"—once achieved, they wouldn't dissipate due to external forces and were no different from what Chen Ji had truly mastered.

With the "Post-Ox-Horse Saint Body" he had cultivated through over twenty years of hard work in his previous life, this "proficiency panel" was a perfect fit.

As for the "Wordless Book's" ability to "keep up with the times," Chen Ji could only comment:

"Tsk~, my Chen family ancestor was really trendy."

Shaking his head and chuckling, Chen Ji packed up his stall and prepared to return to his cave dwelling, as it was getting late.

Chen Ji's cave dwelling was located north of the market.

The Qinghe Market was established by the Song family on a first-grade spirit vein, running from north to south. The northern part of the market, naturally, had the thinnest spiritual energy.

It was also where the rent was cheapest.

What was called a "cave dwelling" was essentially a self-built house with a basic restriction spell included in the rent.

"Swish!"

With a wave of his hand, Chen Ji cast a spell, and the door to the cave dwelling automatically opened. He stepped inside slowly.

Upon entering, what greeted him wasn't the desolate cave he had imagined in his previous life, but something more like a rural farmhouse.

There was even a small plot of farmland in the yard, though Chen Ji's plot was barren and clearly untended.

After all, Chen Ji couldn't afford "spirit soil," nor did he have the skills of a "spirit farmer."

"I'm so hungry."

The first thing Chen Ji felt upon returning home was hunger. After setting up his stall for most of the day without eating, even a cultivator's body couldn't hold up.

After all, he was only in the early stages of Qi Refining and couldn't yet abstain from food.

"This is ## disgusting!"

Sitting at the table, Chen Ji took out a bag of "Fasting Powder" and began scooping it into his mouth.

He couldn't afford "spirit rice," so he had to make do with "Fasting Powder."

It required no cooking—just open the bag and eat. It had almost no taste, except for a pungent smell that shot straight to the brain. It looked like a pile of powder, completely unappetizing.

Rumor had it that it was made from low-grade spirit beasts, processed without removing fur or bones.

"If this were my previous life, even a dog wouldn't eat this!"

After setting up his stall all day, coming home to eat a few scoops of "Fasting Powder," and having his back straightened all day, it finally gave out...

This only strengthened Chen Ji's resolve to create "Gathering Qi Talismans."

"Squeak~ squeak~"

"I know you eat it, and I'm not calling you a dog. I know you're a monkey!"

Chen Ji's tone was somewhat resigned as he reached out to catch a monkey jumping over from the side. It was covered in golden fur, short and stout.

It somewhat resembled the golden snub-nosed monkeys Chen Ji had seen in his previous life, but shorter and fatter.

This chubby golden monkey was named "Ah Jin," the original owner's pet.

The original owner had stumbled upon a secret realm as a child and obtained Ah Jin there. It was also in that secret realm that he acquired the "Longevity Spring Art," came into contact with cultivation, and became a cultivator.

Since then, the two had relied on each other for survival until now.

"You can't refine pills, you can't control fire, you're not a marten, not a peacock—if only you were a little green bottle or something."

"Squeak~ squeak?"

Chen Ji chuckled, ignoring the confusion in Ah Jin's big eyes, and turned to the side.

"Whoosh!"

With a basic spell, Chen Ji lit an oil lamp, illuminating the entire cave dwelling. Taking advantage of the light, he walked over to a makeshift bookshelf he had built and pulled out a book from the most prominent spot—

"Longevity Spring Art."

It wasn't recorded on a jade slip for passing down techniques but was instead a book, just like those in the mortal world.

Spreading it open in front of him, Chen Ji saw a passage of seal script glowing with a faint green light.

This was the original text of the "Longevity Spring Art."

Unlike ordinary cultivation techniques, every time Chen Ji practiced with the "Longevity Spring Art" spread out beside him, his cultivation speed increased slightly.

The boost wasn't huge, but it was noticeable.

After multiple tests, Chen Ji confirmed that it was real, not just a psychological effect.

"Maybe it's related to that secret realm?"

The original owner's memories weren't very clear, as it had happened in his childhood. Back then, he had just wandered around a bit before being teleported out.

All he had brought out were the "Longevity Spring Art" and Ah Jin.

"Perhaps there's still much of that secret realm left unexplored."

"I'll go back and take a look when I reach the late stages of Qi Refining."

The thought was fleeting. Chen Ji then calmed his mind, sat down cross-legged, and began meditating to cultivate.

[Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1570/2000)] → [Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1571/2000)]

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the proficiency of the "Longevity Spring Art" increased by one point.

"This is how it works!"

[Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1572/2000)]

[Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1573/2000)]

[Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1574/2000)]

...

[Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1585/2000)] → [Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1586/2000)]

After finishing his cultivation session, the proficiency of the "Longevity Spring Art" finally settled at [Longevity Spring Art: (Beginner 1586/2000)].

"No pain, no gain!"

"Take it slow, no rush. Step by step, I just need to keep working hard..."

With a burning gaze, Chen Ji murmured to himself.