C6 Mental Cultivation Method
Zhou Jibo strolled back to his residence within the Zhou family's courtyard, a string of candied fruits in hand, having finished his shopping for the day.
The quaint, antique charm of the streets had initially piqued his curiosity, but he soon grew accustomed to it.
What really grabbed his attention were the items for sale that catered to cultivation. For instance, the Element Gathering Powder, priced at ten taels of silver, was steep for the average civilian, yet for Warriors, it was merely a consumable to marginally enhance their cultivation level.
Cultivation manuals, on the other hand, demanded at least five hundred taels of silver—a sum beyond the reach of a civilian family, even if they were to pool a lifetime of savings.
Without the backing of a major clan or a formidable force, the path of martial arts for commoners was limited to scraping together only the most rudimentary of skills.
"The fabled pills ranging from first to ninth grade, and weapons of heaven, earth, black, and yellow ranks, are nowhere to be found in all of Icefair City. Despite being home to the Zheng, Zhou, and the even more formidable Yu family, it remains a modest city at best."
With this newfound layer of understanding, Zhou Jibo marveled at the expansiveness of the world and the wonders of martial arts cultivation. Savoring the last piece of candied fruit, he delighted in the pure, natural flavors—the honey glaze was particularly delectable.
"Young Master." Ninghe, the young maid, peeked in through the doorway, concern in her voice. "Is everything alright?"
Tossing the bamboo stick aside, Zhou Jibo greeted her with a warm smile. "Ninghe, what brings you to ask?"
"Young Master?" Ninghe responded, her expression one of confusion. She didn't grasp his meaning.
"Besides my parents, there are only three people who have free access to my quarters—Fangyin, Ninghe, and my guard, Zhou Xiuyun. Where did you all disappear to this morning?" Zhou Jibo inquired with a calm detachment.
How could they have allowed Zheng Xunqin to so easily waltz in and take his bone root? And Kong Chuyang to barge into his yard and create a commotion without anyone intervening?
Hearing his question, Ninghe quickly explained, "Zhou Xiuyun mentioned that the rouge shop had received a shipment of high-quality cosmetics. He'd managed to save up some money to buy some for Fangyin and me. We had to go early, or they would have been sold out."
Cosmetics?
Zhou Jibo's innate potential was squandered due to a duplicitous guard and two naive, foolish maids who had ventured out to purchase makeup.
"Where are Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin? Summon them," Zhou Jibo commanded.
"I don't know where they've gone. They were just with me a moment ago," Ninghe replied, bewildered.
From her response, Zhou Jibo pieced it all together.
It turned out that Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin were the traitors; they had fled. Ninghe, left behind, was clueless—still unable to grasp the situation.
The Zhou family's circumstances were dire.
"Request two trustworthy aides from my father to secure my courtyard. From now on, no one is to abandon their duty. Understood?" Zhou Jibo directed Ninghe.
Ninghe might not have been sharp, but she was compliant. She promptly carried out his orders.
Shortly thereafter, she returned with two guards, and together they bowed before Zhou Jibo.
He instructed them to vigilantly watch over the courtyard before he retreated to his room to focus on his cultivation.
In today's sparring with Zhou Qian, Zhou Jibo had demonstrated superior martial skills.
Yet, Zhou Qian's ninth layer Acquired realm prowess significantly outmatched Zhou Jibo's own fifth layer, in both reflexes and strength. Despite Zhou Jibo targeting his weaknesses, Zhou Qian managed to hastily adapt, leaving them at a stalemate.
Zhou Qian was formidable, but his expertise was acknowledged only within the Zhou family. In Icefair City, he was merely a notch below those of the Innate realm.
And Icefair City itself was a minor locale; the true martial arts masters never showed themselves here.
Just how powerful was the Shrine of Astral Radiance that the Zheng family had allied with? And the Second Palace Holy Son?
These thoughts pressed on Zhou Jibo, the urgency of time weighing on him.
He had a staggering hundred million attribute points to claim, yet diligent cultivation was essential. Only by advancing his cultivation level could he access those points incrementally, steadily amassing strength.
He was determined to bolster his power without delay!
Within three months, Zhou Jibo needed to resolve his feud with the Zheng family before the arrival of the Shrine of Astral Radiance's emissary.
To settle the score with the Zhengs, he first had to stabilize the tumultuous state of the Zhou family and rally everyone together.
His sole method to achieve this was to enhance his martial prowess and eliminate those who defied him.
Zhou Jibo channeled the Zhou family's medium-grade Yellow Rank mental cultivation method, with his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root amplifying its effects. Vitality converged within him, as if he were immersed in the soothing embrace of a warm spring.
This rate of cultivation was nearly double that of his previous Earth Spirit low-grade bone root, producing vitality that was purer and devoid of any impurities.
His original Earth Spirit low-grade bone root was a sign of genius Icefair City hadn't witnessed in over a decade. Now, his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root significantly outperformed the lower grade in his cultivation efforts.
As the night swiftly passed, Zhou Jibo effortlessly advanced to the next cultivation level by dawn of the following day.
Simultaneously, he received a notification from the system.
"Congratulations on reaching the sixth layer of the Acquired Stage. You have been awarded 100,000 attribute points."
With his cultivation ascended by one layer, his physique became noticeably more robust and his internal vitality more substantial, enhancing the might of his Mountain Suppressing Palm technique.
Should Zhou Jibo engage in combat with Zhou Qian as he did the day before, he was confident he would outmatch him.
Yet, these were not his only rewards.
Upon reaching the sixth layer of the Acquired Stage, he gained an additional 100,000 attribute points, adding to the 500,000 he had at the fifth layer.
This meant that with each advancement in the Acquired Stage, he would gain 100,000 attribute points.
"Factoring in the previous 10,000 points, I now possess over 110,000 attribute points," he reflected.
After a brief contemplation, Zhou Jibo decided, "Allocating 110,000 attribute points to bone root alone won't suffice. But if I invest them into the Zhou family's mental cultivation method and the Mountain Suppressing Palm, that should do the trick."
He then decided to enhance the Zhou family's mental cultivation technique first.
His cultivation progressed remarkably quickly, thanks to his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root. Yet, merely employing the Zhou family's mental technique at the medium Yellow Rank wasn't sufficient to fully harness the vitality accumulated by his superior bone root. Clearly, this was an inadvertent squandering of his innate cultivation potential.
"Deducting 30,000 attribute points, the Zhou family's mental technique is now elevated to the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method, a low-grade Profound Rank technique."
A low-grade Profound Rank Dawn Mental Cultivation Method?
A completely new and more intricate mental technique materialized in Zhou Jibo's mind.
This Dawn Mental Cultivation Method could more efficiently utilize the vitality amassed by the Earth Spirit top-grade bone root, bolstering Zhou Jibo's physical strength and vitality for a more comprehensive and detailed cultivation experience.
He noticed a note indicating the possibility of further martial skill enhancements.
Zhou Jibo opted to invest additional attribute points.
"Deducting 60,000 attribute points, the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method is now advanced to the Frost Mental Cultivation Method of the top-grade Profound Rank."
A top-grade Profound Rank Frost Mental Cultivation Method?
A surge of elation washed over Zhou Jibo as he assimilated the new technique's circulation method and effects from his mind.
The Frost Mental Cultivation Method had such astonishing capabilities!