Mortal: I have a gathering technique

The moon sets high in the sky.

Fang Qing and Han Li returned to their residence one after the other, and as usual, they chatted about their experiences and gains.

Before long, Fang Qing noticed a hint of joy flashing in Han Li's eyes from time to time. He was about to ask why.

Unexpectedly, Han Li spoke first to probe:

"Senior brother seems to be in a better mood today than the past few days. Could it be that he found something good?"

Fang Qing was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "I think my junior brother is about the same."

After saying that, the two looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time.

After a long pause, Han Li spoke first: "Let me speak first."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand and produced a bluish-white jade slip, explaining with delight:

"I'm in luck today. I've managed to buy a pill formula that's perfect for Qi Refining cultivators to improve their mana. Please take a look, Senior Brother."

As he spoke, he handed the jade slip to Fang Qing.

Fang Qing raised an eyebrow, accepted the jade slip with composure, and placed it on his forehead.

As his divine sense surged and entered the jade slip, passages of text appeared in his mind.

The jade slip contains an ancient formula called "Rongyun Pill," a potent pill suitable for cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining.

Fang Qing paid special attention to the spiritual herbs needed for alchemy and found that all the raw materials were still circulating in the cultivation world and had not disappeared.

Only then did he understand why Han Li was so agitated.

Fang Qing even guessed that Han Li had most likely bought all the seeds of these spiritual herbs.

"Not bad, not bad. Although it's an ancient formula, it can still be made. Congratulations, junior brother!"

Fang Qing cupped his hands in congratulations, then gave Han Li a deep look before smiling and saying:

"If you ever manage to gather all the spiritual herbs and refine the pills, remember to share some with your senior brother."

Fang Qing's tone was clearly joking, but Han Li felt a chill run down his spine when he heard it.

When he looked up and noticed Fang Qing's ambiguous smile, he involuntarily shuddered.

"What does my senior brother mean by that? He seems absolutely certain that I'll be able to gather all the materials..."

"He...he couldn't possibly know anything..."

While Han Li was filled with suspicion and wild thoughts, he suppressed his inner fear and agreed with an awkward smile:

"Sure, sure!"

When speaking with intelligent people, you must know when to stop!

Seeing that Han Li had become somewhat alert, Fang Qing decisively changed the subject and started talking about his own gains:

"I'm also quite lucky today. I've found a body-refining method. If you're interested, junior brother, you can make a copy."

As he spoke, he took out a jade slip and placed it in front of Han Li.

Seeing this, Han Li quickly put away his distracting thoughts and followed Fang Qing's example by sticking the jade slip to his forehead.

Fang Qing spoke up to provide timely science popularization:

"This is a Buddhist cultivation method for building a physical body. The complete technique has seven levels. This technique is extremely famous throughout the entire cultivation world. If you can cultivate to the fourth level, your physical body will be strong enough to withstand even top-tier magical artifacts!"

Han Li was startled upon hearing this and asked incredulously, "Is it really that powerful?"

"Of course!"

Fang Qing gave a very affirmative look.

The Vajra Mantra originated in the Demon Realm, but was later modified by a powerful demon from the Spirit Realm into a demon cultivation method, also known as the Three Brahma Holy Techniques.

After obtaining the Three Brahma Holy Techniques, the Buddhist cultivators of the Spirit Realm modified them, turning them into the [Mingwang Technique] suitable for human cultivators and the [Vajra Technique] suitable for mortals.

The seventh level of the [Vajra Technique] actually corresponds to level one to seven demonic beasts.

A level seven demon beast is equivalent to a late-stage Core Formation cultivator in the human race in terms of cultivation level, but because of its powerful physique, it can briefly contend with a Nascent Soul stage expert in the human race.

Correspondingly, a cultivator who has mastered the Vajra Technique can also briefly contend with an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

In the original novel, Han Li was able to completely rival the early stages of the Nascent Soul realm for two reasons:

First, he ate the body-refining sacred fruit "Dragon Scale Fruit" as a fruit;

Secondly, he also practiced the [Bone Tempering Technique] he obtained from the Golden Dragon King.

A combination of factors led to his extraordinary performance.

At this moment, although Han Li had not yet made up his mind to practice it, seeing Fang Qing praise the Mingwang Technique so highly, he could not resist the temptation and copied it.

Fang Qing didn't stand on ceremony with Han Li and copied the formula for Rongyun Pill as well.

Soon after, the two returned to their respective rooms.

………………

Second-floor bedroom.

Fang Qing carefully studied the Mingwang Manual by referring to the jade slip.

Compared to the Great Sun Divine Illumination Record, the Bright King Technique is much simpler. Fang Qing only had to study it a few times before he almost completely understood the essence of the first level of the technique.

At that moment, he took a deep breath, and following the instructions of the technique, he formed the lotus mudra with his hands, sat cross-legged with his lower body, and adopted a strange and complex posture with his upper body that resembled a demon.

Then, begin performing the exercises according to the incantation.

Compared to the Vajra Mantra, which requires the infusion of spiritual energy into the body, the Vidyaraja Mantra is much simpler to cultivate.

Especially when one possesses cultivation, there is no need to absorb and refine spiritual energy from the outside world; one can directly use one's own magical power to cultivate.

At this moment, as Fang Qing thought, a wisp of the supremely yang and powerful energy of the Great Sun was drawn from his dantian and slowly flowed into his meridians.

Immediately afterwards, under Fang Qing's control, this wisp of silk began to operate according to the Mingwang Technique.

However, almost the instant the Mingwang Technique was activated, a faint golden light appeared on Fang Qing's body, making him look as if he were plated with a layer of gold.

But at the same moment, he felt an indescribable, piercing pain all over his body, inside and out.

Stimulated by this pain, Fang Qing began to convulse completely out of control.

After barely completing one cycle of cultivation, Fang Qing immediately stopped practicing.

The moment he opened his eyes, a look of fear involuntarily flashed across his face.

In just a short while, cold sweat had already seeped from his forehead due to the pain.

"Damn, that hurts so much!"

Fang Qing couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Although he had long known that suffering was a staple of body-refining techniques in the mortal world.

But when Fang Qing truly experienced this pain, he couldn't help but begin to doubt whether cultivating both body and spirit was worth it.

It should be noted that body refinement in the mortal world can only enhance physical strength and increase power; it cannot generate supernatural abilities, nor does it even have corresponding combat skills.

Even in the Immortal Realm, it is still the same. The so-called Mystic Immortals are really just Strength Immortals. Apart from their physical bodies and sheer strength, they have no other abilities.

To be honest, the effort put in was not proportional to the reward.

"No wonder the little monk Kusang had that expression when he talked about the Vidyaraja Mantra; this thing is not for humans to cultivate."

"If I remember correctly, in the original story, even with his Nascent Soul level physical body and Great Cultivator level divine sense, Old Demon Han found it difficult to endure the pain when cultivating the Bright King Technique."

"For safety's sake, I'd better not cultivate for now. If I exceed my limits and damage my mind, I'm doomed!"

After much deliberation, Fang Qing temporarily abandoned the idea of ​​cultivating the Bright King Technique.