Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Chapter 35 The Realms of Cultivators (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

Under the guidance of Saint Monk Longhai, Jiang Liu had been cultivating the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound for some days. He had not intended to use Skill Points to learn it, wanting to see if he could learn a non-system skill through cultivation, just like anyone else.

However, after so many days of cultivation, he had gained nothing, which filled Jiang Liu with a sense of helpless frustration.

It seemed that he should just use Skill Points to learn skills honestly. It was convenient and fast, and there was no need to spend so much effort and cause himself unnecessary trouble.

With the system's prompt, Jiang Liu didn't hesitate to make his choice. After spending 1 Skill Point, a sense of enlightenment rose in his mind, and he successfully learned the first layer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.

Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound (First Layer): Emit a dragon chant from the mouth that can repel all targets in the vicinity, Attack Power +50, Cooldown Time 300 seconds; In the normal state of cultivation, gain 1 Experience Point every 10 seconds, to improve to the next level, Level 11 is required.

"Hmm, indeed, learning skills this way is definitely the most convenient for me…" Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction after reviewing the new skill he had acquired.

Indeed, spending time on cultivating skills didn't suit him at all. With that time, he would rather slay demons and level up more comfortably.

Of course, Jiang Liu also found the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound skill very powerful. It was his first area-of-effect attack skill that could not only repel targets but also add an increase to Attack Power.

What's important is that the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound is not just a simple skill but also a cultivation method.

Could it be that when he meditates and cultivates, he would gain Experience Points, which in essence means increasing his Cultivation Level?

The repelling control effect, the area effect of the attack, the additional 50 Attack Power, plus the increase in Cultivation Level during meditation...

The benefits of the first layer of Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound were quite comprehensive and powerful, rightfully so, as it was a famous supernatural power of the Great Buddha Temple.

Moreover, the skill levels of other skills generally are divided into Primary Level, Middle Level, High-Level, and Great Perfection, but Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound displayed it as the "First Layer."

It looks like I'll need to keep spending Skill Points to improve.

"Eh, wait, can the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound level up further?" Jiang Liu focused his attention on the skill, and then he suddenly realized that, like other skills, the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound could continue to be enhanced by investing more points.

"The one I silently recited was just the method for the first layer of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, right? I can learn it by just learning the first layer? I don't need to see the method for the second layer and can directly improve to the second layer by adding points?" Jiang Liu was shocked and amazed as he saw the option to elevate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.

If that's really the case, then in the future, if he came across other divine skills, even if they were incomplete and he just had the first layer, he could learn the complete version?

He had been at the Great Buddha Temple for some days. Every morning, he would follow Longhai to cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, and in the afternoon, he would spar with the disciples of the temple. During these days, by defeating many disciples, Jiang Liu had gained a fair amount of Experience Points, just enough to raise his level to 11.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Jiang Liu decided to use his last Skill Point to try to raise the level of the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound.

Prompt: Not enough Skill Points, 2 Skill Points needed.

"What?" Jiang Liu was taken aback by this pop-up prompt.

This was the first time he had encountered a skill that required 2 Skill Points to level up. His previous skills, whether it was the Arhat Fist or the Swift Fire Bead, only needed 1 Skill Point to improve.

…

A dining table was set with a delicious vegetarian meal. Saint Monk Longhai and Daoji sat opposite each other.

Daoji ate with his head down, quickly, while Saint Monk Longhai dined in a leisurely manner.

"Disciple, what do you think are your chances of victory in the upcoming spar with Jiang Liu?" With Daoji's meal nearly finished and Jiang Liu yet to arrive, Longhai initiated the conversation.

This question made Daoji involuntarily recall the scene when he had fought against Jiang Liu at Esquire Zhang's place.

Even though my cultivation level was higher, I suddenly lost the ability to use my martial arts skills, which led to one wrong move, ending in total defeat. Today, my cultivation is deeper, and I'm on guard...

"Master, if Brother Jiang Liu's martial arts are the same as that day, I'm fully confident, a hundred percent sure. However, his cultivation level has also improved a lot these past days, and he has reached the Meridian Unblocking Realm. To be cautious, let's say I'm eighty percent sure," Daoji said, appearing very confident.

"Hmm, your cultivation level has long since reached the Meridian Unblocking Realm, while Jiang Liu has only reached this realm a few days ago, indeed your chances of winning are greater.

However, strength is not solely determined by cultivation level; Dharma treasures, spells, and even the environment, temperament, strategy, and luck, etc., all these are crucial to the outcome," Saint Monk Longhai nodded slightly as he offered his advice.

"Thank you for your teachings, Master," Daoji nodded and replied.

The dining hall of the Great Buddha Temple was vast, large enough to accommodate thousands of people dining at the same time. Normally, without any important matters, Longhai wouldn't dine in his Zen Room.

Although the area where he and Daoji sat was undisturbed by others sitting nearby, a few monks passing by still unconsciously listened to the conversation between the master and disciple.

Soon, many monks and disciples in the dining hall began to whisper among themselves, and the news about the upcoming match between Jiang Liu and Daoji spread quickly.

After hearing this news, many people perked up.

In these days, Jiang Liu had been sparring with several young disciples every afternoon; everyone had more or less a concept of his martial arts abilities. But what about Daoji, as the direct disciple of Saint Monk Longhai? This made many people curious.

After lunch, many young monks were not in a hurry to leave; they gathered in groups of three or five to chat idly, also waiting to see the two begin their match.

It wasn't long before Jiang Liu, wearing a blue monk's robe, walked into the dining hall.

He got himself a meal and sat down at the table beside Longhai, bowing his head to eat while also deeply contemplating his own situation.

Having stayed at the Great Buddha Temple for some days now, Jiang Liu had gained an understanding of the cultivation path in this world.

For instance, demon creatures, as Gaoyang once said, differ in strength and are categorized as Demons, Demon Soldiers, Demon Generals, etc.

Similarly, the cultivation path for humans is divided according to the level of cultivation:, Qi Refinement, Meridian Unblocking, Body Tempering, Controlling-Law...

So far, these are all Jiang Liu knows about the human cultivation path, he didn't inquire about the realms beyond since they were still too distant for him.

The Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, as Saint Monk Longhai has said, is divided into six levels.

The first level can be cultivated in the Qi Refinement Realm, the second level requires the Meridian Unblocking Realm, the third level necessitates the Body Tempering Realm, and so on.

Having learned the Heavenly Dragon Zen Sound, the skill display showed that raising the skill level required level 11.

Does that mean level 11 corresponds to the Meridian Unblocking Realm?

And levels within 10 correspond to the Qi Cultivation Realm...

Could it be? Is my character level, every 10 levels, corresponding to a different realm?

Deep in thought about his own situation, he ate silently, without a word, and neither Longhai nor Daoji next to him showed any intention of disturbing him.

Just like that, half an incense's time quickly passed, and Jiang Liu's meal was completely finished.

"Brother, please!"

Having waited for so long and now seeing that he had finished eating, Daoji directly spoke up, issuing a challenge to Jiang Liu.

(PS: Asking for recommendation tickets, I need lots and lots of them. Waking up at 5 a.m. to write, I suddenly found that my new book has dropped another rank, it breaks my heart...)