The Ambitions to Conquer the Official Career-Chapter 666: Crafty Hands

After a while, the old lady came out carrying several yellowed books.

"These were written by the old man himself, based on his memories. They were intended to be passed down through the family. Unfortunately, none of the children in our family have the talent needed for cultivation."

The old lady sat down and handed the books to Ji Yang.

Chu Shuyuan snatched the books first and started flipping through them.

Ji Yang smiled and Chu Shuyuan handed him one, saying, "Take a look at this."

When Ji Yang took it, he saw that it was a Qi Induction-level cultivation technique called Qi-Inducing Spell.

After flipping through it for a while, he felt it wasn’t any better than the one he had. He had long passed the stage of Qi Induction, so this technique was of no use to him.

"As long as they are children of the Chu Family, I will teach them to cultivate this Qi-Inducing Spell."

The old lady interjected while Ji Yang was looking through the book’s content.

Chu Shuyuan took the book from Ji Yang and said after a while, "It really is the one you always made me practice when I was young, but no matter how hard I tried, it was no use."

The old lady said, "You have all practiced it, and if you could have achieved Qi Induction, it would have shown that you had the talent for cultivation. Sadly, none of you did."

Ji Yang asked, "How can one determine if they have that talent? Surely they can’t just keep practicing indefinitely?" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"If a person has good talent, they can induce Qi within three practice sessions. Those in the middle might take a month, and the worst wouldn’t take more than a year. If they can’t do it after a year, then it means they have no talent."

"Grandma, no wonder you stopped letting us practice after a year," Shuyuan lamented.

Ji Yang picked up another book, which was a sword technique called Phantom Sword Technique.

The old lady explained, "This Phantom Sword Technique was specifically modified for us by the old man from a sword technique within his sect. It’s suitable for people like us without cultivation talent. I have practiced this sword technique as well."

Ji Yang flipped through it and discovered that although the technique wasn’t difficult for him, just by perusing, he had a rough understanding and believed he could master it with some practice.

Clearly, this sword technique was of a much higher level than the haphazard sword techniques he had learned, and it did have some use for him.

He handed the book to Chu Shuyuan.

Chu Shuyuan skimmed it and said with a wry smile, "Grandma, I’ve also practiced this technique. It was too difficult."

The old lady retorted, "Enough of that. Our Chu Family just aren’t the cultivating types, all too lazy and afraid of hardship."

It was clear that the old lady looked down upon the people of the Chu Family.

Ji Yang chuckled and then picked up the last book.

This was a book about the Blessed Lands and Caves, filled with secret hand gestures.

After looking at it for a while, Ji Yang asked in confusion, "Grandma, what are these hand gestures about?"

"The old man said these are the hand gestures needed to enter the Blessed Lands and Caves. They must be used in conjunction with True Qi to be effective. You have True Qi, so I believe you can perform them."

Chu Shuyuan’s eyes gleamed as she said, "If we follow little Ji and he performs the hand gestures, the passage would open, and we could all enter."

The old lady gave a bitter laugh and replied, "You think too simply. Let me tell you, when these gestures are performed, only the person doing them can enter. They can’t bring others with them. If it were possible, I would have followed your grandfather inside a long time ago."

Shuyuan complained, "Why is it so?!"

"It’s an immortal technique, not something common folk can easily understand. Don’t get your hopes up. And by the way, I’ve heard from your grandfather that not everyone in the Blessed Lands leads a comfortable life. There are mundane people living there too."

"Grandma, that’s not right. Didn’t you say that ordinary people couldn’t enter?" she queried.

"Those cultivators also want to start families. Not all of their children have talent for cultivation. Those without talent may be able to live there because they were nourished by Spiritual Energy since conception."

"Is there enough room in the Blessed Lands for so many people?" Shuyuan was obviously curious.

"You know too little about the things of the immortals. Who said the Blessed Lands are small? They are a miraculous place, as if they are in this realm and yet not. They have their own world inside, vast indeed. Even your grandfather didn’t completely understand their scale."

"How did grandfather enter? Was he born there?" Ji Yang inquired.

"He wasn’t born there. He was brought in to cultivate. In fact, some cultivators who wish to temper their hearts amidst worldly dust come to the mortal realm. When they find people with talent, they bring them inside. Besides increasing the strength of their sects, this practice also helps prevent issues related to inbreeding."

Ji Yang nodded slightly, reflecting on the cultivators’ awareness of the pitfalls of inbreeding and their efforts to ameliorate it.

"Although your grandfather had talent, it wasn’t very good, so his cultivation pace was slow. After learning of the suffering in Hua Country, he decided to come out and help. You know the rest—the war ended, and his cultivation level declined almost to nothing. In the end, despite his age, he still passed away."

Ji Yang sighed to himself, then looked through the hand gestures more carefully, making sure to memorize the content thoroughly.