Chapter 39: Heart Method

The Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method had finally reached Level 10, so Zhang Yu planned to switch the specialization of his Feather Scroll and choose another cultivation method to upgrade.

After deciding not to sign a contract with the Student Union and instead to break through the encirclement to get into one of the top ten universities, Zhang Yu also realized a few things.

First, without the Student Union's investment, the resources he controlled would inevitably be more limited.

To get into one of the top ten universities, the pressure he would face in the future would be far greater than now.

With more limited resources and heavier pressure.

Therefore, Zhang Yu would have to meticulously plan the allocation and utilization of his resources from now on to ensure he developed faster and better within a given timeframe.

To achieve this, he would naturally have to maximize his strengths—absolute self-discipline and astonishing potential.

In simple terms, this meant cultivating stronger and more difficult methods.

For Zhang Yu, the owner of the Feather Scroll, when diligently cultivating a method, the stronger the method learned, the better the effect, naturally.

It was like one Zhang Yu diligently practicing the Great Desolate Heaven-Imprisoning Finger, while another Zhang Yu diligently practiced the Basic Long Palm; one could tell which had more potential just by the names.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "...but this isn't something that can be achieved easily."

The more powerful a cultivation method, the higher its threshold.

Just as even a dog can learn the dog paddle, but synchronized swimming isn't for everyone.

Among expert-level cultivation methods, like the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Art that Zhang Yu possessed, he still hadn't met the requirement for Level 3 Daoxin.

Therefore, to cultivate powerful methods, the primary condition was to meet their thresholds as much as possible.

Zhang Yu's gaze swept across his phone screen, looking at the requirements presented by the various powerful cultivation methods...

"Daoxin! Mana!"

As high school teachers often said, Daoxin and Mana were the foundations of immortal cultivation.

Daoxin level represented a cultivator's control and capacity for immortal power.

Mana was the most fundamental power for activating various cultivation methods.

The thresholds for most powerful cultivation methods were also mostly related to Daoxin and Mana.

Therefore, to cultivate powerful methods, one must have sufficiently high Daoxin and Mana.

"Regarding Mana, I now have the Level 10 Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, which means I am constantly breathing in spiritual energy and refining Mana."

"However, my Daoxin level is what I've neglected to improve during this period."

Zhang Yu checked his savings. After a new round of rent, utilities, and miscellaneous expenses like food during this period, he currently had just over 62,000 left.

Even if all this money were used to increase Mana, it would only rent a Heavenly Spiritual Root for a dozen hours or so, like booking a private room at an internet cafe overnight. It would vanish in an instant, and the improvement would be extremely limited.

Therefore, after much thought over the past few days, Zhang Yu still felt he should purchase a stronger heart method to quickly raise his Daoxin to Level 3, and then switch to cultivating the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Art, further accelerating his Daoxin improvement.

After all, Daoxin levels during the Qi Refining stage range from Level 1 to a maximum of Level 10, similar to Mana going from 1 to 100.

Raising the Daoxin level to Level 3 would not be a quick process. If he had a heart method stronger and more suitable for him than the Basic Heart Refining Method, he could save a significant amount of time.

And after both Daoxin level and Mana had increased, then cultivating stronger methods would be the fastest and most cost-effective development path currently.

Regarding which heart method to purchase, Zhang Yu had already researched and considered many options over the past few days.

Basic level, Advanced level, Expert level...

Among the heart methods Zhang Yu could currently purchase, the basic level was the cheapest, but offered little improvement for him.

While expert-level methods were powerful, they were not only expensive but also had high cultivation thresholds, making them unsuitable for him at the moment.

Instead, advanced-level heart methods, which seemed rather useless to most first-year high school students four months into the school year, were just right for Zhang Yu.

In terms of effectiveness, the first year of high school was precisely the time to build a foundation. The several basic cultivation methods promoted by the high school were developed by the Ten Great Sects, and were most balanced and peaceful, excellent for laying foundations.

At this point, learning an additional advanced-level heart method would be mentally and physically taxing, and it would be better to focus on improving a basic heart method.

Thus, even wealthy students often focused on basic foundations in their first year of high school, and only in their second year did they exert themselves individually, learning various expensive heart methods.

This was also one reason why, at Songyang High School, the scores of rich students often only began to show a huge gap with those of poorer students in their second year, and why the rankings of talented poor students often began to decline in their second year.

From a price perspective, while advanced-level methods were much cheaper than expert-level ones, the subsequent costs were just as significant.

After all, self-studying cultivation methods was too difficult. For most people, it wasn't a matter of just being given a secret manual and learning it casually; they often needed to hire a teacher for guidance.

An advanced-level heart method might only cost a few hundred or thousand, but the subsequent teaching, classes, guidance, and tutoring fees could amount to tens of thousands.

This reminded Zhang Yu of some games from his previous life: the base game was free, but various items and characters cost thousands to acquire through in-game purchases.

It was a terrifying prospect.

But these two points were very suitable for Zhang Yu.

Tutoring? Not happening.

I, Zhang Yu, will rely solely on myself and still cultivate divine techniques with my unparalleled talent.

Opening the shopping website's favorites bar, Zhang Yu looked at a heart method he had chosen.

Advanced-level cultivation method, Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art.

Just by its name, it seemed like a mighty, domineering, unyielding, and soul-stirring heart method.

However, a closer look revealed that the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art required a matching mindset: one of diligence, uncomplaining endurance, and perseverance, much like an old ox plowing virgin land.

What was particularly crucial was that the strongest state of this heart method also required the cooperation of another person—a role that could constantly pressure and suppress the cultivator and continuously assign tasks to them, such as a leader or a boss.

The more orders received, the harsher the pressure, and the longer the working hours, the stronger the effect of the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art.

The Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art had been chosen as the best construction site heart method for ten consecutive years and was the most favored heart method by bosses.

It was also a "workhorse" method whose user ratings had consistently been below 1.2 points for years.

Zhang Yu looked at the user reviews.

"Required by the company, truly useful."

"Five-star rating for installment payments."

"Got chewed out by the idiotic boss again today."

After a quick glance, Zhang Yu felt a strong wave of resentment wash over him. Clearly, most cultivators of this "workhorse" heart method were forced to cultivate it, and they all seemed to perfectly fit the method's requirements.

Zhang Yu then looked at the specific configuration requirements for the method.

Recommended Configuration:

1. Forced to work 18+ hours daily.

Zhang Yu thought for a moment: he was seemingly forced by the ritualistic power 24 hours a day, so that fit the requirement.

He then looked at the next item.

2. Means of coercion: at least verbal oppression; salary threats are preferred, and the harsher the oppression, the better the effect.

Zhang Yu thought about it: he was currently being threatened with death, which again fit the requirement perfectly.

"This workhorse heart method is indeed very suitable for my current state, and the price is also key..."

Zhang Yu looked at the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art; the current price for its usage rights was only 588.

This was one of the lowest-priced advanced-level methods Zhang Yu had ever seen.

However, to get started, a cultivator also needed a "boss" to cooperate, so the platform also recommended a daily guidance service priced at 1000.

After all, many jobs required this heart method for entry, but many people needed to find a job and have a boss before they could cultivate this heart method.

Therefore, to solve this employment dilemma, the platform specifically launched a paid guidance service.

So they're paying to hire a boss for themselves, huh?

Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, knowing that he certainly didn't need this; he already had something forcing him 24 hours a day, everywhere he went.

It could be said that the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art, in terms of its effect, price, and requirements, was a heart method perfectly suited for Zhang Yu's current situation.

At 588, he wouldn't be losing out or getting scammed; even if he found his mindset couldn't adapt, the loss would be minimal.

The only thing that bothered Zhang Yu was the underlying meaning of this cultivation method.

However, he was no longer the Zhang Yu from when he first transmigrated. Faced with the harsh environment of Kunxu and the repeated coercion of the ritualistic power, he had learned to adjust his mindset and thoughts to adapt to his surroundings.

Zhang Yu took a deep breath, thinking to himself, "If it means being a workhorse, then so be it. Circumstances force one's hand."

"If I need to be timid, I'll be timid; I'll be a workhorse for a while."

"With my potential, even as a workhorse quietly accumulating power, there will eventually be a day when I can pierce a hole in this sky."

Zhang Yu knew clearly that cultivating this "workhorse" heart method wasn't about being willing to be a workhorse, but about temporarily accumulating strength for a better future.

Order, pay, receive.

In an instant, he received a digital copy of the heart method.

After reading it carefully, a new cultivation method appeared on the Feather Scroll.

Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art 0 (0/1, 1/1 Daoxin)

Zhang Yu sat cross-legged and began to cultivate this heart method.

He cleared his mind, tried to keep his spirit calm, and began to construct the meditative image of this cultivation method in his mind.

It was a picture of an old ox lowering its head, silently plowing virgin land.

But after constructing it for a while, Zhang Yu felt something was off.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he quickly stopped cultivating and sat motionless.

Moments later, a chill rose in his heart, and a countdown sounded in his mind.

This time, as Zhang Yu cultivated the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art again, it immediately felt right.

A few minutes later, the image of an old ox lowering its head and silently plowing virgin land had been outlined in his mind.

At this moment, he seemed to have transformed into a silently working, uncomplaining ox, and much of the displeasure in his heart dissipated.

As he completed the outline of this meditative image, numerous memories of practicing the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art seemed to appear out of thin air in his mind, allowing him to grasp the method in an instant.

Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art Level 1 (0/3)

"Just three more practices to level up?"

For a moment, Zhang Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Is it because this method is so well-suited to my current state?"

So he waited for a moment, and once the countdown sounded in his mind, Zhang Yu practiced the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art again, beginning to outline the meditative image of the old ox plowing virgin land in his mind.

After practicing it three times in this manner, back and forth, and about ten minutes passed, Zhang Yu felt a surge in his spirit. His understanding of the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art deepened further, and the meditative image outlined in his mind became even clearer and more vivid.

Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art Level 2 (0/6)

Especially after the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art reached Level 2, he increasingly felt that cultivation wasn't so tedious anymore, nor as unbearable.

"Is this the effect of the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art? It makes people less afraid of hardship, more capable of enduring intense effort..."

Only when Zhang Yu stopped the operation of this heart method did he feel thoughts of fatigue, tedium, and laziness surge back into his mind.

Moments later, after waiting for the ritualistic power to descend, Zhang Yu activated the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art again. The restlessness and evasive thoughts in his mind were instantly swept away, allowing him to cultivate diligently.

"This method... doesn't seem as bad as I initially thought."

He suddenly recalled a sentence from the preface of this cultivation method, spoken by its founder, who called himself the Great Sage Desolate Ox.

"May all people facing hardship have less bitterness in their hearts and more hope."

A thought suddenly surged in his mind: "Perhaps the person who created this cultivation method didn't intend it to be a workhorse heart method."

In the blink of an eye, nearly half an hour passed. Zhang Yu took a deep breath, feeling a tremor in his Sea of Consciousness. His Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art had already advanced to Level 3 (0/9).

After cultivating for a bit longer, he suddenly felt both his Mana and physical strength within his body become as easily controlled as his own limbs, becoming increasingly controllable and tangible.

"My Daoxin level has increased to Level 2."

Although Zhang Yu had already felt that his Daoxin level was close to leveling up, at this moment, he couldn't help but marvel at the rapid progress he made after cultivating the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art.

This cultivation method was indeed very well-suited to his current state.

"Then I'll continue being a workhorse. As long as the compensation is enough, being a workhorse is nothing."

Therefore, Zhang Yu then immersed himself once again in the cultivation of the Desolate Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art. As the method operated, he seemed to increasingly feel less of the tedium and toil of cultivation, and instead, a sense of accumulated satisfaction welled up in his heart.

It was like the sense of accomplishment felt by an old ox diligently plowing virgin land, seeing more and more fertile soil appear beneath its feet.