Chapter 15 – Cultivaton Manual

Morning sunlight seeped through the thin cotton curtains of the inn room, lighting up motes of dust drifting like ethereal spirits. Jian Tian sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes shut, focusing intently on the thin stream of qi that flowed through his meridians. Each inhalation carried spiritual energy, every exhalation refined and circulated it. Ever since returning to Dragon Tale City with Ren Moxi and Bing Yue, every dawn felt like a gateway to a new chapter of strength.

Yet deep down, Jian Tian felt restless.

"Qi Refining… so slow…"

He clenched his fist, thinking about his master's casual power, how Ren Moxi could subdue even Nascent Soul cultivators with a flick of his fingers. If he wanted to survive this cruel cultivation world, he needed to grow – and fast.

A rustling sound broke his concentration. Opening his eyes, he saw Ren Moxi seated at the table, holding two thin jade manuals in his slender hand. Without even turning to look, Ren Moxi spoke with his calm, indifferent tone.

"Stop your useless breathing practice and come here."

Jian Tian quickly unknotted his sitting posture and moved forward, kneeling respectfully at his master's side. He suppressed the small flicker of annoyance at Ren Moxi's belittling words. After all, if not for this mysterious being, he would still be a wandering stray, living from hunt to hunt, always half-starved and half-afraid.

Ren Moxi set the manuals onto the table before him. One was black, with a blood-red dragon insignia embossed on its surface. The other was dark bronze with calligraphy styled like coiling dragons encircling a heavenly pillar.

"The black one is your sword cultivation manual – Dragon Severing Thirteen Forms."

His words were flat and casual, as if speaking about breakfast ingredients.

"It's complimentary with your Dragon Blood Sword. If you want to wield that weapon properly instead of waving it around like a farmer chopping weeds, study this."

Jian Tian's eyes widened with awe. His trembling hands reached forward to brush the manual's cover. A sword technique from the Dragon Slaying Sect, designed to match the Dragon Blood Sword itself! If practiced to mastery, it could likely slay true dragons, as legends whispered.

His breathing quickened. For a brief moment, his surroundings blurred, and he imagined himself standing atop a vast mountain peak, sword in hand, slaying a massive azure-scaled dragon with a single severing slash, earning the worship of thousands.

"Focus," Ren Moxi's sharp voice cut into his fantasy, snapping him back to reality. "Your eyes are rolling back in your head. Don't faint from excitement like an idiot."

"Y-yes, Master…" Jian Tian coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment.

Ren Moxi then tapped the bronze manual. "This is your qi cultivation method – Dragon Pulse Strengthening Sutra. Unlike your sword manual, this is your true foundation."

He paused, eyeing Jian Tian's thin frame critically.

"This sutra can build your qi base up to Heaven Ascending realm. If you don't die before then, it will grant you the qualifications to stand atop this world."

Jian Tian's eyes welled with tears at his master's casual pronouncement. A cultivation method that could lead to Heaven Ascending – the realm where cultivators began to transcend mortal limits. In any major sect, such a manual would be guarded by dozens of Spirit Severing elders, with outer disciples fighting to the death for a single page of it.

"Thank you, Master!"

Ren Moxi leaned back in his chair, looking utterly indifferent despite granting Jian Tian a gift that could change the fate of countless clans.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, another manual appeared – this one translucent ice-blue jade, with faint phoenix feathers etched along its cover. He tossed it casually to Bing Yue, who stood silently in the corner of the room.

She hurriedly caught it with both hands, her slender fingers trembling at its cold touch. Her eyes widened as she read its title.

"Ice Phoenix Manual…"

Her voice cracked with emotion, tears welling despite her stoic composure.

Ren Moxi waved dismissively. "Don't get too sentimental. It suits your ice qi affinity and your foundation establishment cultivation."

Bing Yue fell to her knees, bowing deeply. "Thank you, my lord… truly… thank you…"

But Ren Moxi's attention had already drifted. He yawned, his divine features radiant even in such a mundane moment. Then he cast a side glance at Jian Tian with a faint smirk.

"Between the three of us, you're the weakest, Jian Tian."

Jian Tian's shoulders slumped. "Master… you don't need to be so direct…"

"It's not an insult, it's a fact."

His voice turned flat and sharp.

"Listen well. Cultivation isn't about sitting cross-legged all day, daydreaming about becoming Sword Immortal. It's built from blood, danger, and life-and-death struggle. Go to the Mercenary Guild today. Take on ten beast hunting missions targeting Tier 2 beasts. Complete them all. I don't care how long it takes."

Jian Tian swallowed nervously. "Ten missions… in one go…?"

Ren Moxi's golden eyes narrowed slightly.

"Are you complaining?"

"No, Master! I will complete them."

Ren Moxi nodded slightly. "Good. Each beast you kill will feed your understanding of death. And only those who grasp death can truly cultivate life."

His words, delivered so casually, sent chills down Jian Tian's spine.

They spent the rest of the morning eating a simple breakfast. Bing Yue prepared rice porridge, pickled lotus root, and dried venison slices. As Jian Tian ate, he glanced at Bing Yue's lowered eyes. Though she was quiet, her mere presence felt like calming snow under moonlight.

After breakfast, they descended to the inn lobby. Ren Moxi walked gracefully, robes fluttering slightly despite the still air. Bing Yue followed, clutching her manual to her chest, like a girl holding her last hope. Jian Tian trailed behind them, feeling his cultivation base was nothing before their silent pressure.

As they emerged onto the bustling streets of Dragon Tale City, filled with merchants haggling over spirit plants, warriors bartering beast cores, alchemists selling fragrant pills, and talisman scribes hawking protective charms, Ren Moxi glanced casually over his shoulder.

"Don't die out there, Jian Tian. I'd hate to waste a sword manual on a corpse."

Jian Tian sighed heavily. "Master… your words are always so… uplifting."

"They should be," Ren Moxi replied without missing a step.

But inside, Jian Tian smiled faintly. Though his master's words were cold, each order, each insult, each gift – they were all a form of care only Ren Moxi could show.

With the sun rising high above Dragon Tale City's jade-tiled rooftops, casting golden rays across the merchant stalls and teeming crowds, Jian Tian tightened the strap holding his Dragon Blood Sword. The manuals were tucked securely inside his robes, pressing reassuringly against his heart.

"Ten Tier 2 beasts… no problem. I'll kill them all, master… just watch me!"

He ran towards the Mercenary Guild, his footsteps light with youthful determination, his eyes blazing with a fierce yet innocent resolve.

As he disappeared into the river of cultivators flowing through Dragon Tale City's bustling streets, Ren Moxi watched quietly, his gaze unreadable. Beside him, Bing Yue turned her delicate face towards their master, her thoughts hidden beneath her blue veil.

"Let's see if you can survive what's coming, little boy…" Ren Moxi whispered to himself, before turning away to walk towards the distant slave market – his next errand already planned.