CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: SEVENTH GRADE GRANDMASTER

The zombie died in a blaze of flames amidst strange cries.

[You used the array to kill the zombie guarding the house, Array +1, now 2/100]

The system prompt appeared, and Shen Wang’s eyes lit up.

Indeed, it can be done this way.

However, using the power of the array is too wasteful of spirit stones, especially when only killing one zombie, it’s somewhat overkill. Luckily, he can go out to sell talismans to exchange for massive resources, so it’s bearable.

For the sake of array experience, he had to continue wasting resources to kill the zombies lining up.

After consuming his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, he activated the defensive power of the array to recover on the broken wall, trying not to affect his cultivation.

This way, he could gain roughly two points of Master-level Swordsmanship and ten points of array experience overnight.

During the day, he fully focused on making talismans to enhance his Master-level Rune Magic experience, gaining four points each day.

He nourished his meridians twice a day, gaining four points of cultivation improvement daily. Additionally, with his own cultivation paired with the visualization method, he could achieve five points of improvement daily.

Moreover, alchemy provided 3 points of experience daily, and the expansion of his Dantian over a hundred days was also in progress, rapidly boosting Shen Wang’s cultivation and various experiences.

Ten days passed quickly.

Due to the cultivators at Jinshui Lake, Shen Wang didn’t go out again and focused daily on cultivation and improvement.

On the night of the tenth day, Shen Wang smoothly broke through to the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation, his spiritual power becoming significantly more abundant.

This was later than he expected, primarily because his cultivation improvement accompanied Dantian expansion, which slowed down the speed of realm advancement.

After the breakthrough, Shen Wang opened his system panel to check again.

...

[Name: Shen Wang]

[Lifespan: 118]

[Cultivation: Sixth-layer Qi Cultivation]

[Spirit Root: Middle-grade Five-elements Mixed Spirit Root]

[Cultivation Technique: Gathering Essence Technique (97/100), Blood Wolf Step (83/100), Blood-Transforming Palm (78/100)]

[Skills: Master-level Rune Magic (59/100), Master-level Sword Control Technique (15/100), Artifact Refining (32/100), Alchemy (28/100), Fireball Technique (100/100) ...]

[Existing Longevity Species: Shen Chuxue]

[Status: Longevity species nurturing (17/100), Dantian expansion (14/100), Fire Attribute Spell Insights (31/100), Body Technique (35/100), Water Attribute Spell Insights (5/100)]

...

It can be seen that he now has two master-level experiences, Sword Control Technique and Rune Magic have become his primary means.

The Dantian has expanded by fourteen percent. Since the space is three-dimensional, the impact is not too obvious. Even if it eventually expands by double, the impact on the realm would only allow for gathering double the spiritual power.

He checked his daughter’s status; she has shifted from fetal confusion to occasional awakening. It should be that the daughter recovers her Empress intelligence at night to practice the visualization method.

He had no objection to this matter. After all, she is reincarnated, not possessing his daughter. Since she’s here, she’s part of his family.

Moreover, he received the Luo God Visualization Method from his daughter, too thankful to not be pleased.

Overall, his improvement over these ten days was quite apparent. Coupled with the Treasure Body level physique, he couldn’t be compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators but could definitely handle three to five late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators.

If paired with talismans in battle, then another three to five would also be manageable.

After much contemplation, he decided to join those seven from Jinshui Lake in exploring the Ancient Cultivator’s Cave Mansion.

It’s not that he must get the Black Death Blade technique, but these people know where he lives.

If he doesn’t go with them, they probably won’t be at ease.

He prepared a large number of talismans just in case. If this journey goes smoothly, he should acquire some other cultivation technique manuals, especially those related to body refinement, to further unlock his Treasure Body potential.

Wolf Step and Cotton Palm have been cultivated almost to completion, yet he found it impossible to fully utilize his Treasure Body potential, requiring more advanced cultivation technique manuals.

With a decision made, he organized the talismans refined during this period, took only a portion, and handed the rest to Jia’er, instructing her to freely use them when necessary.

Talismans don’t require high standards like magical artifacts; ordinary martial artists can use them, just needing activation to unleash their power.

He fully activated the Inverted Yin Yang Array, ensuring ordinary zombies couldn’t intrude, just in case.

If anything unexpected happens while he’s away, Jia’er will have the means to respond.

"Husband, how many days will you be away?"

Jia’er wasn’t willing to let go.

"About three days. All of you stay at home and don’t go out during the day."

Shen Wang instructed, concerned that his lair being known by those people might lead to some vile tactics, like capturing his family to threaten him.

"Yes, Jia’er won’t step out of the house while Husband is away."

Jia’er nodded earnestly.

"Then I shall leave."

Clasping Jia’er’s hand, Shen Wang turned and walked toward the outside.

"Husband, be careful on your journey, Jia’er will be waiting for your return."

Jia’er begrudgingly watched Shen Wang leave.

Outside the house, Ning Xia and others had already appeared.

Shen Wang spoke first: "I’ll go with you on this trip."

The seven were surprised, thinking Shen Wang would refuse. They had delayed for ten days and assumed he wouldn’t venture to the Ancient Cultivator’s Cave Mansion with them, preparing resources to buy his stone talisman.

"Younger Brother Shen truly is the Shen Family’s hero. Though fallen from grace, his spirit remains indomitable."

The burly man with dark skin laughed heartily, revealing in his words that they had already investigated Shen Wang’s information.

Shen Wang halted a yard away, looking at the seven: "Since you know who I am, introduce yourselves."

He only knew that Jinshui Lake was a site for loose cultivators, and among the seven, apart from Ning Xia who originally contacted him, he didn’t recognize anyone.

"Alright."

The burly man smiled and said, "I am Chen Xian, Lay Disciple of Lin Yuan Temple, Seventh Grade Grandmaster."

He explained his status, with Lin Yuan Temple being a Buddhist sect force second only to Lingxi Sect in Xi Province, combining Buddhist techniques and martial arts. Previously, there was even news of a Grandmaster going to Baixi City to kill monsters.

As for the Seventh Grade Grandmaster, it pertains to the level of a Grandmaster.

A postnatal martial artist differentiates into three levels corresponding to the first three realms of early-stage Qi Cultivation, while Innate Grandmasters span nine grades, with first grade being the lowest and ninth grade the highest, corresponding to the fourth to twelfth layers of Qi Cultivation.

Ordinarily, Qi Cultivation cultivators can achieve Foundation Establishment at the ninth layer, but not everyone can achieve this, and some need additional accumulation for three layers, evolving to twelve layers.

The same applies to Martial Arts Grandmasters. Martial artists primarily refine essence and transform it into Qi, where their True Qi isn’t as pure as that of Qi Cultivation cultivators, they usually need to cultivate to ninth grade, compressing and purifying Innate True Qi to its limit to advance into the realm of Grandmasters.

Thus, Chen Xian’s Seventh Grade Grandmaster level actually corresponds to the presence at the tenth layer of Qi Cultivation, even higher than Shen Wang’s level before his Dantian was damaged.

A character like this is indeed formidable. He cupped his fist: "It’s admirable that a lay disciple can reach this level, Brother Chen is remarkable."

He was sincere, not flattery, since the status of lay disciples from Lin Yuan Temple wasn’t even comparable to his own as an outer sect disciple of the Celestial Travel Sect, mostly learning basic techniques. To reach this stage, this person surely isn’t simple.

"Brother Shen is too kind."

Chen Xian grinned broadly, for no one disliked genuine praise.

Shen Wang nodded, considering that since this time the group was led by Buddhist sect lay disciples, their character shouldn’t be too wicked.

After all, if Chen Xian were to commit evil deeds, Lin Yuan Temple wouldn’t possibly ignore it.

...

Address some situations.

Firstly, the protagonist isn’t a waste; he possesses a middle-grade Five-elements Mixed Spirit Root. His talent is decent in small families (the more mixed each grade is, the less talent. With different grades, certainly, the higher the grade, the better the talent).

Secondly, about the protagonist not having Hundred Arts before; without the cheat, learning Hundred Arts is purely a waste of time since he lacks talent in Hundred Arts (this was specifically mentioned).

Thirdly, the family’s cultivation of the protagonist, helping him heal his Dantian, providing a place for retirement, has its secrets, with runic protection—why run away? If he runs elsewhere, it’s more dangerous now, can’t ghosts and monsters act?

Fourthly, ghosts aiming for his daughter can’t enter the ancestral house. Now, with reinforced array, why can’t he venture out to find resources? To keep training low-level techniques?

Fifthly, Qi Cultivation and Martial Arts are both cultivation systems (both cultivating Dantian), and both can refine the body, just that martial artists have stronger physiques. All of these contents are in the original text, even specifically explained; what are some people reading?

Sixthly, the book writing isn’t great; read if you like. Don’t make unfounded claims.