C8 Sorting Items

A three-headed divine bone, five cultivation techniques, two fractured swords with their tips still intact.

There were also various bones, strands of hair, and pieces of skin—likely items Elder Hsu had prepared for his clone. But Chu Xing, having acquired something superior, had no need for them now.

Lastly, there were just a few articles of clothing.

"Teacher, you must have been in quite a predicament! Not a single spirit stone for me, but you could've at least left a few divine swords, or more cultivation techniques!" Chu Xing lamented with a wry expression.

The two swords were Profound Grade magic treasures of the Low Rank.

Magic treasures are potent weapons that cultivators forge using their spiritual energy and specialized techniques. Typically, only those at the Foundation Stage can begin this process of refinement.

Magic treasures are categorized by their power into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Grades, each with High, Middle, and Low Ranks. Heaven Grade is the most superior, while Yellow Grade is the least.

The cultivation techniques included the Middle Rank Earth Grade 'Longevity Technique,' the High Rank Yellow Grade 'Cloud Soaring Sword Technique,' 'Spiritual Introduction,' the Low Rank Earth Grade 'Water Sky Technique,' and the High Rank Profound Grade 'Sunflower Water Sword Technique.'

"The 'Longevity Technique' is a Middle Rank Earth Grade technique with a wood attribute, quite fitting for Chu Hao. I'll pass it on to him when the opportunity arises," Chu Xing mused, his thoughts turning to Chu Hao.

Chu Xing resolved to practice the 'Cloud Soaring Sword Technique.' He was entirely unfamiliar with it, but after witnessing Gao Wu's martial prowess earlier in the day, he was eager to learn. The 'Sunflower Water Sword Technique' would clearly be more advantageous for someone with an innate water attribute.

Finally, Chu Xing eagerly delved into the 'Spiritual Introduction.' It wasn't a cultivation technique per se, but rather a guide on harnessing spiritual energy.

As it turned out, most people could only begin to cultivate their spiritual energy upon reaching the Nascent Infant Stage, except for those with a natural gift for it, who could start as soon as they awakened their spiritual powers.

The sea of consciousness, also known as the sea of knowledge, is one of the most enigmatic aspects of the human body. Damage to it could result in severe cognitive impairments, leading to conditions like mental retardation, psychosis, or a vegetative state.

There are five methods for harnessing spiritual energy. The first involves imbuing weapons with spiritual energy to vanquish foes. The more potent the spiritual energy, the greater the number of weapons one can wield and the more formidable the attack.

The second method is spiritual perception. Practitioners can disperse their spiritual energy around them, gaining an intimate understanding of their surroundings. Those with exceptional abilities could extend their senses to encompass an entire planet or even a galaxy.

The third method is a direct spiritual attack, where one's spiritual energy penetrates the enemy's consciousness to launch an assault. This tactic is fraught with peril; success could render the enemy incapacitated, insane, or even result in death. However, failure could leave the assailant's own psyche severely damaged and difficult to restore.

The fourth method involves crafting illusions with spiritual energy to ensnare enemies. Less powerful users might temporarily bewitch their foes, while the more adept could trap them indefinitely.

The fifth method employs secret arts to dominate the enemy. The control exerted over the adversary depends on the potency of these mystical techniques, potentially reducing them to servitude. Elder Hsu's "Three Elements Cheats" is a prime example of such a practice.

Upon finishing the text, Chu Xing clutched the book tightly, his excitement palpable. As someone gifted with spiritual energy, he was clueless about its application, akin to an infant who, without guidance, struggles to learn speech.

Elder Hsu, not being a spiritual talent himself and pressed for time, had not instructed Chu Xing in the ways of spiritual energy.

Eager to experiment with the second method, Chu Xing closed his eyes and projected his spiritual energy outward. It moved swiftly and unimpeded, and in a flash, a detailed panorama within a ten-meter radius materialized in his mind's eye. He could discern everything with crystal clarity, from the tiniest ant to the layers of soil beneath the earth.

Chu Xing reveled in his newfound ability, taking time to explore aspects of the world he had previously overlooked.

Next, Chu Xing retrieved two sword tips, intending to use them as conduits for his spiritual energy. Given that both were of Low Rank Profound Grade, he anticipated their power would be considerable.

One was five centimeters in length, the other ten, both gleaming with an icy glint.

Chu Xing began by maneuvering the five-centimeter sword tip through the air. Initially, its flight was erratic, zigzagging like a bee. The ten-centimeter tip was even more sluggish.

"My mental strength is still lacking. Why is it that the iron nails at school moved faster than this? Could it be the superior quality of the sword tip material?" Chu Xing mused, confident in his assessment.

With a hint of frustration, Chu Xing remarked, "And here I was hoping to control several swords at once? Managing just one is challenging enough. Time to test its power."

The Flying Sword lunged at the tree ahead, slicing through it as effortlessly as through tofu.

"The Immortal Sword truly is remarkable, far surpassing any common iron found on Earth. You're the one I'll choose," Chu Xing declared, as he brought the sword tip back in front of him, his voice tinged with excitement.

For now, Chu Xing couldn't grasp the more advanced applications of his mental energy. His focus returned to the two broken swords, their earlier display of might fueling his anticipation.

One broken sword measured sixty centimeters, the other sixty-five.

"It turns out both swords were originally seventy centimeters in length. This sixty-centimeter one is just right for me."

Chu Xing grasped the broken sword and struck at a tree twenty centimeters in diameter. The blade seemed to glide through the trunk with ease. Moments later, as if belatedly realizing what had happened, the top half of the tree toppled forward.

The thud of the tree's fall resonated loudly in the still of the night.

Quickly stowing the broken sword, Chu Xing dashed off to avoid detection. If someone stumbled upon the scene, it would be difficult to explain.

"I hadn't anticipated this at all! Otherwise, I wouldn't have chopped so impulsively," Chu Xing reflected. As a 21st-century youth, he was well aware of the importance of trees.

With plenty of time left, Chu Xing sought a new spot to practice the Cloudsoaring Sword Technique, but to his dismay, he struggled to perform it well.

He resumed practicing with the sword tip, pushing himself until a headache forced him to stop. Finally, he settled into cultivating the Profound Heaven and Earth Technique.

The next morning.

"Hold it right there, Chu Xing, come here."

As Chu Xing entered the classroom, he spotted Wang Feiqiang blocking the doorway, leaning on a wooden stick six centimeters thick and a meter long. Wang was wearing baggy pants, obscuring any detail of his posterior.

Wang Feiqiang, noticing Chu Xing's lack of response and indifferent gaze toward his backside, became infuriated.

"What are you staring at? Didn't you hear me tell you to come here?"

"Brother Qiang, Chu Xing wouldn't do that," a classmate interjected in defense of Chu Xing.

"We'll tell the teacher later, you can't just hit people for no reason."

...

"How can you be like this? Chu Xing hasn't done anything to you," Lee Xiaoran protested with fervor.

"Did I say it was him? I just told him to come over. You should see how dumb he looks," Wang Feiqiang retorted, raising his voice even higher and brandishing the stick at Chu Xing.

It was then that Chu Xing realized what was going on. Apparently, after Wang Feiqiang got hurt the day before, he had stewed over it all night, suspecting that someone in the class had secretly awakened a supernatural ability and used it against him.

Wang Feiqiang, a superpowered individual himself, couldn't let go of the humiliation of being stabbed in the butt. He had taken up a post at the door, interrogating each student one by one. If he sensed something was off, especially with someone who lacked a powerful family backing, he would strike them with his stick. Many had already suffered his wrath.

"What seems to be the problem?" Chu Xing approached calmly.

"Was it you who poked me yesterday?"

"I'm not sure what you're talking about. If there's nothing else, I'm going to go."

Wang Feiqiang, unsettled by Chu Xing's composure and aware of his orphan status and previous provocations, had long been looking for an excuse to teach Chu Xing a lesson.

As Chu Xing turned to leave, Wang Feiqiang swung the stick at his backside. Chu Xing, ever vigilant of his surroundings, saw the stick coming and swiftly stepped forward to dodge it, continuing on to his seat without further incident.

Wang Feiqiang, witnessing Chu Xing effortlessly sidestep his wooden stick, immediately singled him out as the culprit. None of the other students had managed to evade the attack, prompting Wang to bellow, "It has to be you!" In a fit of rage, he hoisted the stick high and swung it down at Chu Xing.

Chu Xing nimbly dodged again. He had no desire to escalate the situation. As an orphan with no one to turn to, he had learned early on how to fend for himself—by staying out of sight.

Humiliated, Wang Feiqiang's anger boiled over. He tossed aside the stick and, despite his limp, charged at Chu Xing.

But Wang Feiqiang, who had only recently discovered his affinity for the metal element, lacked any formal training in cultivation techniques. He was no match for Chu Xing.

Chu Xing deftly stepped to the left, and Wang Feiqiang, unable to halt his momentum, tumbled to the ground.

The onlooking students were astounded by Chu Xing's agility, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. They couldn't help but suspect that Chu Xing possessed some extraordinary ability.

Chu Xing felt trapped. If he didn't dodge, Wang Feiqiang's punch could cause serious injury—it wasn't just any ordinary punch.

Now, even if Chu Xing denied it, skepticism would linger. Besides, he did indeed have something to hide, making it all the more challenging to keep his secret.

"Chu Xing, you jerk. Deny it all you want, but why did you hit me?" Wang Feiqiang scrambled to his feet, pointing and shouting at Chu Xing.

"You're too full of yourself. I'm sorry, and I'll cover your medical expenses," Chu Xing offered.

This only fueled Wang Feiqiang's fury. "I've earned my arrogance. Today, you're going to take a hit from me, or this isn't over."

Chu Xing, at a loss for a solution, finally responded, "If you can beat me, then you can have your shot."

"Fine, let's go another round," Wang Feiqiang declared, raising his fists for another attempt.

Determined, Chu Xing summoned his will and caused pens, sticks, and books to levitate before Wang Feiqiang, who froze in terror.

"You're no match for me," Chu Xing declared, then turned and made his way to his seat.