Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

The waning moon was about to disappear, and all around was bathed in light. Even with the Moon Rabbit Breathing Technique, which kept Ning Che's physical functions at their peak, he was still feeling somewhat mentally exhausted and wanted to rest.

Unfortunately, the situation still doesn't allow it.

Putting aside the fact that Zhong Hongyao's safety is still uncertain, and noting that his newly broken through realm should be consolidated, it's best to focus on improving it further. The fact that he hasn't studied magic for so long has already made him somewhat less capable.

The rat demon tried to escape, but he couldn't do anything about it.

When we were weaker, we didn't have to worry about this. Now that we're stronger, defeating our opponents is a piece of cake, so having ways to keep them in check is naturally necessary.

Having arrived at the foot of the mountain, Ning Che had no choice but to pull himself together, show his identity token to the night watchman, and head straight for the library at the summit.

The library was not yet open, but he wasn't in a hurry. He simply sat down on the ground at the entrance and began his cultivation.

The camp was quietest in the early morning, completely silent, with only the occasional sound of patrolmen walking in the distance, accompanied by the rhythmic rubbing of armor plates.

About an hour later, Zhao Yunshuo, carrying a small bag, looked to be in a good mood, with the light wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and slowly walked up from the foot of the mountain.

Upon seeing Ning Che, he quickened his pace and approached, asking with a hint of surprise, "Xing boy, what are you doing here?"

Ning Che opened his eyes and saw that it was Zhao Yunshuo who had come. He immediately stood up and said with a smile, "This young man was just about to learn some magic, so I waited here."

"I see, you're up early, kid." Zhao Yunshuo chuckled and stepped forward to open the palace door.

Ning Che, however, was in no hurry to enter. He followed Zhao Yunshuo and asked, "I've come here to find a spell that can slow down or hinder an enemy's movements, or, as a second choice, a spell that can divide the battlefield and isolate the inside from the outside. Does senior have any recommendations?"

"Yes, we have them all."

As Zhao Yunshuo sat down, he took out a small magical pot to brew tea from a small packet, and said without looking up, "You're aiming too high, kid. You want something extraordinary?"

"Indeed, it would be even better if it could be compatible with the 'Frost Flower of Calamity' that I cultivate."

Zhao Yunshuo snorted, got up and walked to the back shelf. Soon he brought out three books and placed them on the table.

"There are quite a few requirements. Let me make it clear first, we are not a place for training newcomers. Although there are many kinds of cultivation techniques and spells, we are not like those sects that specialize in one thing and have many supporting spells that form their own system."

"Furthermore, your cultivation method is too obscure; it doesn't even have a matching spellbook. I can only choose a few spellbooks with similar properties for you. I haven't practiced them myself, so I'm not sure if they're truly a good match."

"It's alright, as long as it's close enough." Ning Che didn't mind. Even if the spells didn't match perfectly, there wouldn't necessarily be any difference.

Furthermore, he really didn't have any other choice. He accepted even "Thick Earth, No Edge Blade" without hesitation, so what difference would it make?

"The first one, this one, Frost Seal. A seventh-grade spell, but it only costs one hundred merit points. After casting it, it can slow down the movement of everything around it, and the range is large enough, so it's a pretty good spell."

However, there is a significant drawback: this technique indiscriminately affects both friend and foe, and may even harm the user themselves. Only those whose magical power is of an icy nature can resist it.

Ning Che glanced at it, not wanting to choose this method, but waiting for Zhao Yunshuo to continue.

Zhao Yunshuo didn't rush to mention the second book. Instead, he poured a cup of tea for himself and Ning Che, saying, "Sit down. You've come at just the right time, kid. You're in for a treat! Come, try my newly acquired spiritual tea."

Ning Che sat down as instructed, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

It had a slightly bitter taste at first, but a mellow and fragrant aftertaste. Ning Che knew absolutely nothing about tea, but he still felt that this tea was indeed quite good.

Because after drinking it, it could be directly converted into extremely fine magical power. If he could drink it like water, it could probably increase his cultivation speed by about 10%.

Zhao Yunshuo also took a sip of tea, revealing a contented expression, and then continued:

"The second one is called the Mystic Ice Thorn. It's a seventh-grade technique, and it costs two hundred merit points. It's very powerful, and if it hits, it can slow down or even freeze the target. This spell is a normal seventh-grade technique, without any particularly obvious weaknesses."

Zhao Yunshuo then pointed to the last book: "The third gate, Frost Binding. A seventh-grade technique, worth three hundred merit points. The magic power forms a chain, which directly binds the body upon impact. Once bound, the cold air enters the body; the more one struggles, the tighter the binding becomes."

It sounds good, but it's actually a spell that tests your magical power. You have to use your own magic to fight against your opponent's magic; it's purely a contest of quality and quantity, with no room for trickery.

Ning Che reached out and pressed down on the third book.

"This is it."

Zhao Yunshuo looked at Ning Che and pointed a finger at him from a distance: "You, you—I knew you'd choose this. You're so confident in the quality of your magic power?"

Ning Che didn't explain much. Due to the Yin nature of his magic power, the special nature of his cultivation method, and other reasons, his magic power quality has always far surpassed that of his peers. After opening his dantian, he has made further progress and is probably unmatched among the eighth-grade cultivators. Naturally, he should make good use of this advantage.

Zhao Yunshuo also knew that the magical power cultivated by the Jieming Shuanghua Technique was extraordinary, and probably thought that this was Ning Che's reliance, so he didn't ask any more questions.

Ning Che handed over the card and "swiped the card," only to discover that he actually had a full 1,100 merit points!

After returning from the Rat Swamp, he had been away from home. He never expected that because he had quelled the Rat Swamp's demonic threat, he would receive so many more merits than originally planned.

Zhao Yunshuo pushed the book "Frost Binding" towards him.

Seeing that there was so much wealth, Ning Che was no longer in a hurry to copy the books and continued to ask, "Senior Zhao, there is one more thing."

Zhao Yunshuo was drinking tea when he heard this, so he put down his cup.

Ning Che asked directly, "I'd also like to borrow some books about formations. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Formations? You know that too?"

"I've heard it's incredibly powerful, and it seems there aren't any like it in the city. If I could succeed, wouldn't I be unique and one of a kind?"

"You're dreaming," Zhao Yunshuo laughed. "If it were really that good, wouldn't it be possible? Do you think you're the only one who could come up with that idea, or the only one who could learn it?"

Ning Che didn't give it a full answer: "Let's give it a try, what if?"

"If you want to try, I won't stop you. Look, the array formation books are all in that corner. I don't understand array formations either, so I won't mislead you, you great genius. You can choose for yourself."

Ning Che got up as instructed and went to choose the secret manual he wanted to borrow.

The books were covered in dust, as if no one had read them in a long time. Ning Che casually patted them a couple of times and looked at them one by one.

"Water and Fire Connecting Heaven Formation", "Six Plates Feng Shui Formation", "A Brief Explanation of Formation Techniques, Part One", "A Brief Explanation of Formation Techniques, Part Two"... "A Brief Explanation of Formation Techniques, Part Thirty-Six", "A Brief Explanation of Formation Techniques, Part One Supplement"...

Ning Che was stunned.

If it weren't for the fact that so many of these books clearly stated the words "Simplified Training," he would have thought the book was called "Complete Collection of Formations."

So he reached out and pulled out "A Brief Introduction to Formation Techniques, Part One," wanting to see what this thing was, since it took up more than two-thirds of all the books on formations.