Crossing from path to path, our little caravan has quite a bit to think about while we travel through on the main road leading out of the sect.

The others now have new weapons, some of which they are used to, others not so much.

I am quite surprised, though, to see how scarily comfortable Mei Lin looks, swinging a sword almost twice as large as herself around. Of course, I’ve given a few pointers from my knowledge base and scan to help them with using their weapons.

Since the carriages drive themselves on roads like these, I had Shi or Ai stay at the reins while I worked with the others on the tops of the carriages. Emulating the moves they should make as they mirror my actions.

The trip to the edge of the outer city on this main merchant road will be quicker than if we went through the sect. Only a day or two’s journey.

I still find it strange how normal everyone sees it that the time on the main road changes. While our journey is quick, others may spend much longer on the road.

A glance down at my seal, representing my status as a core disciple and the part of the road we may go on, gives me a clue.

Turning my attention to other matters, I realize this is probably the best chance I have to focus on myself.

After all, I did just receive another cultivation method.

The Xing Family’s ‘Tortoise Swallows Dragon’ cultivation method.

Since my Boundless Healing cultivation method allows me to ‘slot in’ another cultivation method, as long as it follows the no harm rule, that means I can integrate most of its power into my own.

With its focus on three aspects: protection, turning received attacks into qi/cultivation for the user, and hiding cultivation amount/realm, it should allow me to do the one thing I’ve been scared about in revealing my power.

Protect those around me.

While I can heal myself and others, it would be one step better to prevent people from being hurt in the first place. And in some ways, protect them from being taken or tortured.

“Hey guys, I’m going to head inside the carriage to cultivate a bit. Do you guys need anything else from me?”

I speak out my thoughts, just in case one of them needs me.

The others look at each other in surprise, as I rarely actually cultivate. Shi’s the one to speak for the group, in response.

“Go ahead, let us know if you need us to help with anything you need!”

I nod, then dart inside. With the privacy protections on, I can hear everything outside, but they won’t be able to hear or see inside. Unless I wish, of course.

Using this moment of reprieve, I dive deep within myself to rediscover the way to integrate this new method. As I do this, I grab the recently received jade slip with the cultivation method.

Swirling throughout my body is the qi I've nurtured using my original healing method.

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Every piece, channel, and aspect of my body assists in making the conversion of my qi into healing qi easier. But at reaching Rank 4 of Qi Condensation, something has changed.

The passages, channels, and dantians of my body have gradually increased. Just a little.

And the qi flows through normally, but now with one major difference. There’s a core of healing qi that goes through my meridians and dantians, but the outer layer of that core is just normal qi. Filling up extra space that used to be filled to the brim.

From what I can tell, I can adjust that ratio to any point that I desire. Strangely, it seems reminiscent of how the Omnibus Cultivation System I had made operates, in allowing an easy transition between methods.

As a test, I inset my qi into the Tortoise Swallows Dragon slip, allowing myself to practice and learn it.

…

In an instant, I'm mentally whisked away to expansive plains. One where a man stands across from me, his eyes and face hidden in darkness.

Nonetheless, I can tell he’s looking at me with a critical eye. The feeling of being judged by an existence far beyond my own fills me. One that I can tell is not truly sentient, but just a shadow of the original.

Whoever this once was, reached far beyond Nascent Soul.

… how did the Xing family fall so far?

Either way, the level of judgment increases by every second. Increasing the weight upon my body. Subconsciously, my healing activates, causing me to handle every increase. To this, there is a glance of surprise from the being before they turn directly toward me. Acknowledging my ability.

The weight escalates even more than before.

An arms race begins, where he keeps scaling further and further, against my healing.

The weight comes close to surpassing my healing capacity several times, but it slows down slightly enough to catch up. Of course, it only gets faster and faster.

… he’s playing with me.

Though, in the same vein, it could be said that he is testing my worthiness to use the method. Maybe this is the second level of the slip, meant to prevent those who would unjustly take what belonged to the Xing Family.

Just as soon as it had begun, it stopped.

Considering this is all in the cultivator soul level and the healing only strengthens me, in many ways, this was a boon to me. Allowing me to grow stronger than I had before. If I fought the demonic cultivator in my soul again, I’d be confident of beating him up.

I have a suspicion that the slip’s governing presence recognized such an aspect.

Giving a deep bow to the shadow before me in gratitude, I see they give a nod in return. Confirming my thoughts.

Adding to that, the entity points behind me, drawing my attention to the very large and glowing symbol of the Xing Family. Leading me to realize that this has been here from the start. Showing that I’ve been recognized by the Xing Family and allowed to practice the method.

… doesn’t that mean this asshole wanted to mess with me, just because?

The moment I think that, I can feel a sharp look in my direction, which I pointedly ignore. He can’t tell what I was thinking.

Probably.

Either way, I see his hands move around him, as a shimmer forms around his body. One which I promptly imitate.

The barrier.

Like a bubble from a bubble wand, it envelops me until it surrounds my entire body in a circle.

With another wave of the hand, he changes it from a bubble surrounding him to a shield in front, which I also replicate.

It is in this way that move after move is shown to me, that I then copy. Because of my scan and the way the jade slips work, not a single movement or technique is missed.

Ending in the same technique that I saw from everyone in the Xing family. The layering of the shield over my body.

Whoosh…..

Like a sea breeze washing over the body, I can tell I’ve completed the movements for the first through third level of Qi Condensation in the method.

Even though I can’t see his face, I can tell there’s a grin there, all before he rushes far faster than I can blink toward me. Disappearing into my form.

A rush of knowledge for all levels after these fills me. Far more than would normally be given to someone learning the method. Thankfully, I'm quite accustomed to gaining a large amount of knowledge.

For others, though… it would likely knock them out for days on end. A final admonishment from the founder of the method, I suppose, for using something that wasn’t meant for them.

My eyes finally open to the morning light.

It’s already been almost two days. I shake my head with a scoff.

I guess that old man still succeeded in taking me out of commission for a while.