'Mmh, she's a good person, that Elder Yu.'
Gu Chengming thought as he walked, rubbing the warm jade token in his hand.
The token she gave him could be exchanged for an Elder-level Cultivation Method.
Of course, even if he were given those profound high-level techniques, they would be useless to him right now.
After all, he was only at the Third Layer of the First Realm; he couldn't even touch the threshold for entry.
But right now, he really was lacking Cultivation Methods.
Currently, he only had the [Cleansing Heart Mantra] and the [Huiyuan Sword Art].
Although progress with the [Huiyuan Sword Art] was smooth, the amount of Affection he could grind from daily practice was limited. He couldn't possibly practice twenty-four hours a day.
As for the [Cleansing Heart Mantra], he hadn't found a clear strategy for it yet. He could only rely on occasional triggers from his daily actions, which was extremely inefficient.
Therefore, getting another romanceable Cultivation Method was particularly important.
Gu Chengming didn't delay and walked directly towards the sect's library with the token.
The library was located on the main peak of the Wenjian Sect. It was a magnificent and towering structure.
Gu Chengming arrived at the first floor of the library. The person in charge of managing technique exchanges here was also a female disciple.
She sat behind the counter, organizing rolls of jade slips with a focused expression.
Gu Chengming stepped forward and placed the token Yu Wenqiu gave him on the counter.
Hearing the movement, the female disciple looked up. When she saw the token engraved with the character "Autumn" (Qiu), she was visibly stunned.
"This is... Elder Yu's token?"
She asked somewhat hesitantly, a trace of uncertainty in her tone.
Gu Chengming nodded and gave an affirmative sound.
The female disciple couldn't help but re-evaluate Gu Chengming in front of her.
She scanned him up and down, her gaze lingering on his cultivation of the Third Layer of the First Realm for a moment, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
'A trash at the Third Layer of the First Realm.'
'But... he looks quite decent. Delicate features, clean temperament. Although his cultivation is low, that face is indeed quite capable.'
A thought popped up uncontrollably in her mind.
'This person... couldn't be a gigolo kept by that Elder Yu, right?'
She had heard that Elder Yu was extremely lazy and arrogant, relying on her extraordinary talent to frequently disregard sect rules. She had previously been criticized by some Elders.
And now, she had gone from bad to worse, starting to keep gigolos within the sect?
This female disciple didn't know that the rumors circulated privately due to dissatisfaction with Yu Wenqiu had caused her to have a huge misunderstanding of the Elder Yu she had never met.
Of course, the rights and wrongs between these Elders were not something a small managing disciple like her could get involved in. She tactfully didn't ask further. She simply took half a step back without batting an eyelid, creating a bit of distance from Gu Chengming, and then asked in a strictly businesslike tone:
"What kind of Cultivation Method does... Elder Yu want to exchange for?"
Gu Chengming pondered for a moment.
Actually, on the way here, he had already made up his mind. He wanted to exchange for a Body Tempering Cultivation Method.
His choice of a Body Tempering method was made after careful consideration.
He discovered that when a Cultivation Method's Affection increased, the Fixed Attribute Points rewarded were often closely related to the characteristics of the technique itself.
Just like the [Huiyuan Sword Art], being a sword technique, it rewarded the [Strength] attribute.
So, if he cultivated a Body Tempering technique, following this logic, when its Affection increased, there was a high probability it would reward him with [Constitution] attribute points.
In this way, perhaps he could solve his problem of having too low a Constitution attribute, which was causing the continuous HP drain status?
Moreover, Body Tempering techniques generally didn't have high requirements for the cultivator's realm. They tested the cultivator's will and physical endurance more, making them the most suitable techniques for a low-realm disciple like him right now.
So, he stated his request:
"I want a Body Tempering Cultivation Method. Preferably one that doesn't have high requirements for realm, capable of tempering muscles and bones, and enhancing the physique."
The female disciple nodded upon hearing his request. She turned and walked to the bookshelf behind her, skillfully searching through rows of jade slips.
Soon, she returned with a crimson jade slip.
"This [Hundred Bones Resonance] might suit you."
She placed the jade slip on the counter and introduced it:
"This technique was obtained by the sect from an ancient ruin in the early years. It is a purely external body tempering method that does not involve any spiritual power circulation, so it has no requirements for the cultivator's realm."
"Cultivating this technique can cause the muscles and bones deep within the body to resonate. When cultivated to great success, it can cause the body and spirit to resonate together, drawing the rhythm of heaven and earth into oneself."
"However..."
"This technique has another characteristic."
The female disciple paused, explaining patiently:
"When cultivating this technique, it consumes a large amount of the cultivator's Qi, blood, and vital essence. Therefore, those who cultivate this technique must supplement themselves with large amounts of spiritual medicine and blood food to replenish the consumption. Otherwise, not only will they fail to enhance their physique, but they may also damage their foundation due to Qi and blood deficit, and even risk shortening their lifespan."
"All in all, this is a technique that... requires extreme resources. Although it has no requirement for realm, there aren't many disciples in the sect who choose to cultivate it."
The female disciple evidently saw that Gu Chengming was choosing a technique for himself, so she hesitated for a moment before recommending this one.
'Although it requires extreme resources, as that Elder Yu's gigolo, he shouldn't be lacking in resources, right?'
Hearing her introduction, Gu Chengming's eyes lit up.
"This is the one!"
Seeing him be so decisive, the female disciple was stunned again.
After all, Gu Chengming's Charm value of twenty-five was still quite useful.
'Just... sigh, what a pity.'
'His cultivation is so low, and he's even someone else's gigolo.'
'If only I were a high-realm cultivator too...'
The female disciple thought this in her heart, but her face showed nothing.
She just nodded, then quickly processed the technique exchange procedure for Gu Chengming and handed him the copy of [Hundred Bones Resonance].
Throughout the process, she maintained a polite but distant attitude, as if afraid of getting involved with Gu Chengming and offending that legendary, temperamental Elder Yu.