72: Chapter 72 Xu Ruyu Has Another Purpose

Hearing his Revered Master use such an excuse to brush him off, the chill in Xu Ruyu's heart grew even colder.

As expected, Revered Master was indeed stalling him on purpose!

She was using seemingly reasonable excuses to deliberately suppress his cultivation progress!

She didn't care at all about whether he lived or died in three months; she only cared that he didn't escape her control before his "value" was squeezed dry!

Having confirmed this, Xu Ruyu became even more determined to be "thick-skinned" and grab as many benefits as possible.

His face timely showed a trace of "disappointment" and "confusion," but he still nodded "respectfully": "Revered Master's lecture is correct; it was this Disciple who was too impatient.

Then... this Disciple will follow Revered Master's orders and will surely solidify my Foundation well."

He paused for a moment as if suddenly remembering something, then switched to a "curious baby" expression and spoke tentatively: "Revered Master, besides being interested in Cultivation Techniques, this Disciple has also been quite fascinated by the paths of Formations, Artifact Refining, and Alchemy that are circulated within the Sect.

I've heard that if one can Revered Master these 'external paths,' it can be of great benefit to one's cultivation and even serve as a means of self-defense and protection.

I wonder... could this Disciple dabble in them a bit? Even if it's just learning the basics, it's better than just sitting in meditation and practicing Qi blindly."

Xu Ruyu spoke cautiously, packaging himself as a "studious" Disciple full of curiosity about the various arts of the Cultivation World, wanting to broaden his horizons.

He knew that compared to directly asking for core Cultivation Techniques to increase his cultivation level, these "auxiliary skills" appeared much less threatening, and the possibility of Xiao Nianyin agreeing was much higher.

Moreover, using these things to deliberately distract his cultivation was likely exactly what his Revered Master wanted to see.

Sure enough, hearing this request, Xiao Nianyin's eyes flickered slightly.

Formations, Artifact Refining, Alchemy... these were indeed "external paths." Although important, they were extremely time-consuming, energy-draining, and resource-heavy.

If a Cultivator became obsessed with them, it would often affect the progress of their main Cultivation Technique.

Xu Ruyu proactively suggesting he wanted to learn these was, in her view, exactly what she wanted!

It was the perfect opportunity to divert his energy and time, making it impossible for him to devote himself entirely to cultivation, thus delaying the speed of his cultivation progress!

Furthermore, the entry threshold for these arts was high. Without a teacher's personal guidance, it was difficult to achieve anything just by reading books, so she wasn't afraid of him actually learning any powerful methods that could threaten her.

It was a perfect strategy for delay and consumption!

Xiao Nianyin calculated quickly in her mind, but her face showed a look of "pondering," as if she were seriously considering her Disciple's request.

After a moment, she spoke slowly, her tone "tolerant" and "kind":

"It is not bad that you have such a desire to learn.

The path of cultivation is not just about bitter practice. Being well-read and learning through analogy can also benefit the Dao Heart.

Since you are interested in Formations, Artifact Refining, and the Dao of Alchemy..."

She paused, seemingly making a "major decision":

"This seat will make an exception for you this once.

From today onwards, every afternoon, you may take my token to the first floor of the Sect's 'Hall of Power Transmission,' the 'Pavilion of Miscellaneous Arts,' to read relevant classics for one hour."

As she spoke, she flicked her sleeve, and a palm-sized white token, neither metal nor jade, engraved with complex cloud patterns and the two characters for 'Ningyin,' floated in front of Xu Ruyu.

"Remember," Xiao Nianyin's voice carried a hint of warning, "these are ultimately external paths. Dabbling in them occasionally to broaden your horizons is fine, but you must not become obsessed and neglect your main Cultivation Technique!

Your focus must remain on the cultivation of the 'Qi Induction and Return to Origin Art' and the solidifying of your Foundation, do you understand?"

"Yes! This Disciple understands! Thank you, Revered Master, for your grace!"

Xu Ruyu hurriedly took the token, his face showing an expression as if he had "received a precious treasure," but in his heart, he almost laughed out loud.

It worked!

One hour every day, the Pavilion of Miscellaneous Arts in the Hall of Power Transmission!

He had heard from Su Mei before that the Pavilion of Miscellaneous Arts housed a wide variety of Cultivation Techniques accumulated by the Hehuan Sect over hundreds or even thousands of years, including Formations, Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Talismans, Puppets, Spirit Plants, and more!

While they might not be the top-tier core legacies, there was definitely no lack of basic theories and a large number of practical records!

To Xiao Nianyin, this was a "clever plan" to distract his energy and delay his cultivation; but to Xu Ruyu, an engineering guy with a modern scientific mindset who was worried about having no place to acquire basic physics and chemistry knowledge (metaphysical version) of the Cultivation World, this was like someone handing him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy!

It was the key to opening the door to a new world!

He could already see those Jade Slips and ancient books recording 'Principles of Five Elements Generation and Inhibition Formations,' 'Earth Fire Smelting Methods,' and 'Essentials of Spirit Medicine Extraction' beckoning to him.

To use a scientific perspective to analyze, deconstruct, and modify these traditional cultivation arts... 'Scientific Formations,' 'Electromagnetic Artifact Refining,' 'Chemical Alchemy'... countless whimsical ideas flooded his mind.

"If there is nothing else, you may withdraw. Cultivate well, and do not fail this seat's expectations."

Xiao Nianyin waved her hand, issuing the order to leave.

She felt her arrangement was ingenious; it both stabilized her Disciple and restricted his growth, and her mood improved slightly.

"This Disciple takes his leave!"

Xu Ruyu bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.

The moment he turned around, the "gratitude" and "respect" on his face quickly faded, replaced by a complex expression mixed with calculation and faint excitement.

Grasping the slightly cool token in his hand, Xu Ruyu looked back at the tightly closed hall doors.

"Revered Master, oh Revered Master, you want to use miscellaneous studies to stall me, but you don't know that what you've personally opened for me might be a door to another power system that even you cannot imagine."

"Wanting to slowly take back your cultivation? Wanting to deal with me after I lose my value?"

"Heh..."

Xu Ruyu tightened his grip on the token, turned, and strode toward the Hall of Power Transmission.

The sunlight stretched his shadow very long, and his figure, within the range of the Ningyin Hall covered by the Forbidden Array, actually exuded a sharp aura.

"Then let's see whose calculations are deeper, or if this 'engineering guy's' imagination is bigger and his hands are more skillful."

"Three months... we'll just have to wait and see."