Cultivation: Beginning with the Heart Reflecting Heaven and Earth

"I see that this wood-chopping task, if you meet the requirements, not only will you get special medicinal meals, but you'll also receive spirit stones as a reward. Is that true?"

Lu Qian had already looked at the other tasks and found that only chopping wood was like this, which made him a little puzzled.

The tasks issued by the sect are usually rewarded with contribution points, which can also be exchanged for spirit stones at a one-to-one ratio, but very few people do this.

Because some items can only be purchased with contribution points, not spirit stones.

The wood-chopping task offers both medicinal food and double rewards of contribution points and spirit stones. With such good benefits, the fact that they are always recruiting people makes Lu Qian somewhat suspicious.

"The reason is actually quite simple. How many spells can you beginners cast? It's far from enough for chopping wood. So before the wood-chopping task begins, the sect will teach you a sword technique for free. But before you master the sword technique, you'll have to put in a lot of effort to chop enough wood. The medicinal food is specially prepared to nourish your bodies."

The outer sect steward didn't try to hide anything and said it directly, "Although there are spiritual veins where the spirit trees grow, most people find it difficult just to complete the tasks and don't have time to cultivate. The spirit stones are meant to compensate for your cultivation time."

Lu Qian finally understood.

Those who specialize in crafting weapons or alchemy would normally be teaching skills, while those who raise fish or tend to spiritual herbs would have plenty of free time to cultivate on spiritual veins.

Chopping wood is the only hard labor that takes up a lot of time, so naturally other benefits should be provided, such as spirit stones and medicinal food, as compensation for this.

"In that case, I'll choose to chop wood!"

Lu Qian quickly made up his mind.

What he most wants to go to is definitely the Pill Pavilion, but without a certain foundation, he can't go even if he wants to. Therefore, this path is not worth considering for the time being, and the same applies to talisman making.

Raising fish is an option, but the cycle is too long; you can't leave them for at least several months.

One advantage of chopping firewood is that as long as the delivery volume is large, you can settle accounts frequently and leave at any time.

"Alright then, take this voucher to Wanmu Forest, there will be someone there to assist you."

The outer sect steward had already explained it to several people, so he didn't say anything more to Lu Qian. He gave him an iron token and went to talk to the others.

Lu Qian stood there for a while and felt that there were fewer people coming to accept the mission than he had expected. "They should all be trying out the basic techniques."

Many tasks cannot be accepted by disciples who have not yet mastered the basics of cultivation techniques. For example, guarding spiritual herbs requires learning a special spiritual rain technique. If one has not even reached the first level of Qi Refining, one will naturally not be selected.

"I think I'm progressing relatively quickly."

Next, Lu Qian didn't waste any more time and went straight to the Wanmu Forest.

The Myriad Trees Forest is where the Canghai Sect cultivates spiritual materials. It mainly consists of first-tier spiritual materials that are abundant and easy to cultivate. It is said that there are also high-tier spiritual materials deep within the Myriad Trees Forest, but they are protected by an array and are generally inaccessible to ordinary people.

Half an hour later, Lu Qian saw the bustling crowd ahead, completely unconcerned that it was already night. Every now and then, someone would return carrying a large bundle of timber to hand in their task, and then leave again.

"Once one's cultivation reaches the mid-stage of Qi Refining, one begins to replace sleep with meditation, and there is indeed little difference between day and night."

Lu Qian didn't join the crowd; he first glanced at the notice next to him.

[For every 100 jin of ironwood handed in, one contribution point and one spirit stone will be awarded; contributions of 300 jin or more will be counted.]

[For every 200 catties of redwood handed over, one contribution point and one spirit stone will be awarded; contributions of 600 catties or more will be counted.]

[For every 50 catties of green bamboo you submit, you will receive one contribution point and one spirit stone. Submissions of 150 catties or more will be counted.]

These are the three common types of woodcutting tasks. There are also some less common spiritual materials that require introductions from specialists; ordinary people without connections can't even see them.

Green bamboo is actually the juvenile form of the hundred-year-old bamboo. There really are some that grow to be a hundred years old, and they won't just ask someone to cut them down.

"Hey bro, wanna do a quest together?"

A deep voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Lu Qian had already noticed the burly man with a full beard beside him, so he wasn't surprised. He simply asked, "Aren't the missions all solo? How can we do them together?"

The stubble-faced man grinned. "Of course, one person can do it, but do you know that this firewood is not so easy to chop? Ironwood is incredibly hard, no less so than pig iron, and green bamboo has amazing resilience. If a novice tries to chop it, they can easily injure their arm."

"So, the only thing suitable for people like us is Akagi. It's a bit hot, so we need to drink more water. But we need over 600 catties of Akagi to make a profit. It would take one person at least two days to cut it. So, cooperation is the best solution."

"Thank you for your kindness, brother, but I still need to choose a sword technique and learn it first."

Lu Qian did not immediately agree, and declined with an apologetic expression.

"Okay, I'll go ask someone else."

The stubble-faced man didn't necessarily want to invite Lu Qian, but he felt a bit contemptuous. He had seen too many people like this—yet another one who thought he was a genius in swordsmanship, but in reality, most of them were just mediocre.

To chop wood well, one's cultivation level and swordsmanship are the most important factors. A higher cultivation level means more internal energy and greater strength, making it easier to chop wood. However, these beginners have little cultivation level to begin with.

As for swordsmanship, there are indeed some geniuses who immediately display their brilliance upon first encountering the art, effortlessly chopping wood. However, such people are one in a hundred, and not everyone can achieve this level of skill.

Lu Qian could naturally see the amusement in the bearded man's eyes, but he didn't bother to explain. What ordinary people couldn't do, he might be able to do as well, because he was no ordinary person.

After accepting the wood-chopping task, you can learn sword techniques for free. There are three types: One Qi Sword, Rainbow Piercing the Sun Sword, and the most popular Fine Rain Sword Technique.

These three sword techniques each have three levels, but you can only learn the first level for free. It's enough for chopping wood anyway. It's said that there are further sword techniques in the Canghai Sect, but you need to exchange them for contribution points. Only people with certain talents would go out of their way to learn them.

The One Qi Sword technique requires a high level of comprehension. When striking the sword, one must be resolute and have no regrets. The angle of the strike, the speed of the sword move, and even the opponent's information must all be thoroughly understood in order to achieve a decisive effect and defeat the enemy with a single strike.

Those who are confident in their swordsmanship talent usually choose the One-Qi Sword. Once they have mastered it, it is very easy to use for chopping wood. Even if their true energy is insufficient, one strike is enough.

The Rainbow Piercing the Sun Sword technique consumes a lot of true energy, but it is very powerful. Those with profound cultivation who choose this sword technique can chop wood with tremendous strength, making bricks fly.

The Fine Rain Sword Technique is effortless and requires no comprehension; its main feature is its simplicity. Each strike aims at the same point, making it very suitable for beginners.

Of these three sword techniques, the One Qi Sword is undoubtedly the most advanced. It is said that the sect later developed an advanced sword technique called the Innate One Qi Sword, which is extremely powerful, but the fewest people choose it.

Lu Qian chose the jade slip containing the Qi Sword, and not only that, he also took on the task of cutting down the green bamboo.