My construction materials are weird

“Is this true?”

A martial artist from the Martial Alliance asked.

“Absolutely true. Would we, father and son, dare to lie in front of all of you?”

Wang Ting said decisively.

The leading martial artist of the Martial Alliance didn't speak, but instead, seemingly inadvertently, glanced at Lu Chu and Lu Ke.

Lu Ke appeared very excited, while Lu Chu was a bit surprised but quickly adopted a calm expression.

After this observation, the Martial Alliance martial artist knew that what was said was true.

The previous words were just flattery to build a relationship; now, this was the real deal.

“Clap clap!”

The martial artist then revealed a hearty smile, forcefully patting Wang Ting's shoulder: “Fellow Daoist, you've made a very wise decision.”

Wang Ting immediately felt a heavy impact, thinking that this person was very strong, but he didn't reject the shoulder pat, as it was a way of expressing closeness.

It meant they were temporarily accepted.

“Haha, you flatter me. It's mainly my father-in-law's decision. The old man has great foresight, and we juniors are just benefiting from it.” Wang Ting didn't forget his father-in-law at this time.

“Cough cough, haha!” The old father-in-law, Lu Chu, blushed, wanting to say something but unable to, only managing an awkward laugh.

His son, Lu Ke, felt enlightened, thinking that his brother-in-law was indeed worthy of his admiration, truly amazing.

What followed was simple. The three from the Martial Alliance began to vigorously court the three, suggesting they take the path of body cultivation.

“The three of you, no one understands body cultivation better than us, and no one understands the path of spiritualists switching to body cultivation better than us. Listen to me… body cultivation is the best choice. No matter how we define the strange, whether we call it a scourge or a lucky star, it cannot be denied that in the process of spiritualists merging with the strange and becoming entangled with it, the strange has more or less transformed the spiritualist's body. You agree with this point, right?”

The father and son nodded.

Although they hadn't switched to body cultivation, they still knew some matters and secrets.

The most suitable path for spiritualists is body refinement, followed by spirit refinement, and then Qi refinement.

As the martial artist said, in the fusion with the strange, the strange more or less changed the spiritualist's body.

Some spiritualists can still live even when they no longer resemble humans, which is the effect of a strong physique.

The body is also becoming strange.

The strange are fragments of the small world's will, born from the resentment of the human world.

To say that spiritualists fuse with the strange is actually a mutual influence. The distortion of the spiritualist's body and mind is evidence of the strange's erosion.

Such existence, according to the standards of true cultivators, is a body constantly being tempered by the strange.

It's just that the ability to repair and strengthen cannot keep up with the speed of the strange's erosion, so they are neither human nor ghost.

Once the rate of the body's enhancement exceeds the rate of the strange's invasion, the strange cannot harm the body, but only temper it.

And the Martial Alliance is an expert in this kind of tempering.

Remember the one who eats the strange? He is the founder of this path, eating the strange and using the strange, this infinite energy source, this infinitely rechargeable power battery, to temper the body and forge the will.

“It's good that the three fellow Daoists agree with this point. What follows will be easier to discuss… It is undeniable that spiritualists are all geniuses, the pride of heaven, at least compared to true cultivators. Your success rate in merging with the strange is stronger. Once you successfully merge, it is equivalent to an earth-shattering change.”

In the early days, true cultivators thought that spiritualists were the most talented group of people; otherwise, there wouldn't be so few of them.

Gradually, true cultivators' confidence was established, and the previous innate assumptions began to be denied. They needed to find real cases, not just simply assume things.

Therefore, after researching to a certain level, true cultivators had new discoveries.

After further research, there were new discoveries.

It was concluded that spiritualists all have extremely high spirit refinement aptitude. The special nature of the soul and the special nature of the soul field are the key to spiritualists merging with the strange.

Every spiritualist is a natural expert in spirit refinement.

If a person with the talent to become a spiritualist does not merge with the strange but instead learns the method of spirit refinement, he is definitely a genius.

“I dare not accept such praise; it's just good luck.”

Wang Ting replied politely, acknowledging part of what the martial artist said, but also humbly stating that it was just good luck.

They knew what the burly martial artist meant.

The so-called earth-shattering change is not only the ability to directly achieve transcendence from an ordinary person.

There are also changes in energy, spirit, and mind.

Before merging with the strange, the spiritualist's strongest talent was spirit refinement.

But once merged, the strongest is body refinement aptitude.

As mentioned earlier, the strange changes the spiritualist. The strange is a fragment of the rules, and the fragment is also a rule, which is equivalent to the rule changing the body.

Once you become a spiritualist, spirit refinement aptitude becomes second.

The reason is simple: it is not clean or pure. The soul is polluted and eroded by the merged strange.

Although there is still a good spirit refinement aptitude, it is a bit inferior compared to body refinement.

Some people may not understand: the strange pollutes the soul; doesn't it also pollute the body?

Why can the soul be polluted, but the body is fine?

Because the spirit is the master of man, Qi is the rush of man, and essence is the boat of man.

The spirit and Qi need a boat and a raft to carry them.

The boat has no fixed foundation; the spirit and Qi are the main.

It is easy to reshape the boat, but it is difficult to change the soul.

Therefore, body refinement is still the most suitable for spiritualists who switch cultivation. First, stabilize the foundation of existence, and everything will be easy to talk about.

“My Martial Alliance has already summarized a new method that does not require troublesome conversion. You can start practicing directly. The three of you choosing body refinement is the most suitable.”

The martial artist of the Martial Alliance said the key.

“Oh?” The three were stunned.

They really didn't know this, as it was a secret. What they knew was the conversion path of the eight guardians, Wu Hui and You De.

“In short, it is to cultivate while refining and merging the strange, without having to undergo the path of conversion or experience the weakness of starting over…”

Since the three had ideas, and the ideas were true.

In order to win over the three, the martial artist of the Martial Alliance chose to disclose some secrets.

They were not afraid that the three father and son would go back on their word. To dare to go back on their word would be equivalent to completely offending the Martial Alliance, which would be very miserable.

The three of them were so weak in cultivation that they were not afraid at all.

Therefore, the martial artist began to describe, while the three father and son became more and more afraid, feeling like they had been fooled.

This kind of secret is not something they should know at present. Now that they know it, they can no longer think about other things and can only follow the Martial Alliance; otherwise…

But the three father and son were only afraid for a moment, and then they immediately understood that they were already on the pirate ship, and there was no going back.

Since this is the case, then follow the Martial Alliance.

Their value is not great, and their cultivation is not very profound, so they don't have much qualification to negotiate.

Whether the martial artist is coaxing or threatening, don't take it as a threat or coaxing, but as an opportunity. If you think this way, you can understand a lot.

It is also good for the Martial Alliance to see the determination of their three father and son, the kind of loyalty, so that the three of them will have a much easier path in the future.

They might not possess supreme wisdom, but living in the mire and abyss of the human world, they certainly have plenty of petty cleverness.

For example, knowing how to seize opportunities and maximize value.

“Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. I’ve benefited immensely, truly benefited immensely.”

After listening to the martial artist's explanation of the secret, the three father and son had a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

Their gamble paid off; this path was indeed suitable for them.

As long as they were prepared, they could go to the Martial Dao Alliance. The Martial Dao Alliance had methods to suppress the strangeness within their bodies, the kind that would completely seal it away.

Then they could try cultivating, gradually removing the suppression corresponding to each level while using the energy of the strangeness to temper their will and refine their physical bodies.

This was definitely the best path the three father and son could obtain.

“Haha, it’s good that you three are satisfied. Let’s not beat around the bush; we recommended and guided you to join the Martial Dao Alliance because there are merits to be gained. So, please, don’t be polite. We don’t need to thank each other; we all get what we need… Moreover, we’ll be fellow disciples from now on, and we’ll be spending a lot of time together, so don’t be shy, haha…”

The martial artist was clearly very happy.

He hadn't expected such an unexpected gain—recruiting three spiritualists to switch to body cultivation and join the Martial Dao Alliance was a great achievement.

Although the Four Great Sects' standards for selecting people were becoming increasingly strict, they still highly valued spiritualists who switched paths.

With minimal resources, they could obtain an expert who was at least at the Profound Transformation stage. How could they not care?

Therefore, they had also issued a mission within the sect: as long as you could get a spiritualist to change their path and join the Martial Dao Alliance, you would receive corresponding points.

So, the three of them were also very happy.

“While that may be true, you three fellow Daoists still have the kindness of guiding and leading us, so we cannot help but express our gratitude,”

Wang Ting still said.

Hearing this, the three martial artists from the Martial Dao Alliance were even happier, nodding and smiling kindly, looking very favorably upon the three of them.

With the most important matter settled, what followed was simple.

The six people went from being on the verge of a great battle to feeling like they had met too late.

All of them were experts and didn't need to sleep or rest, so naturally, they talked until dawn.

“Rest assured, you three fellow Daoists, we can completely take over HS City tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, HS City will be a city protected by our Martial Dao Alliance. You can rest assured about this. Although my father and sons haven’t achieved much, we still have the decision-making power in the eyes of ordinary people, spiritualist martial arts halls, and Daoist temples.”

The Lu family, father and sons.

“Good, good, thank you, thank you. This way, we can relax… In addition, we will continue to recognize the martial arts halls. The martial arts halls in this city will still be incorporated under our command, but there will be a selection process… As for the Daoist temples, we have an agreement with the Daoist sect. The Daoist temples belong to them, and the martial arts halls belong to us, regardless of who governs which territory.”

The three burly men from the Martial Dao Alliance.

“As for the spiritualist side, besides us three father and son, the remaining five, three of them were supported by me. Although the remaining two are more senior, they are very obedient to me, so there are no problems. Perhaps we can…”

The Lu family, father and sons, didn't finish their sentence, implying 'you understand'.

The three from the Martial Dao Alliance naturally understood, to 'trick' these five people into changing their paths and becoming members of the Martial Dao Alliance.

“Understand, understand, understand, we understand. Then let's work hard together tomorrow. The points will naturally not be less for you three… Don't refuse; refusing would break the rules of the Martial Dao Alliance, and we can't bear that mistake… Although you three fellow Daoists have some savings, believe me, points are never enough. You'll know once you become true cultivators; points are too difficult to earn…”

The martial artist from the Martial Dao Alliance said.

“Fellow Daoist, could you offer some guidance?”

“It’s easy to say, easy to say… Everyone says that we true cultivators have many methods and strong abilities, but little do they know that these methods and abilities are all accumulated with points. If you want a spirit beast, you need to go to the Spirit Beast Sect to buy it. If you want pills, you need to go to the Merit Hall to buy them. If you need formation flags, you need… In short, everything requires spending points, not to mention daily cultivation. Entering the White Bone Pagoda requires points, choosing cultivation techniques requires… Weapons are also needed, as well as various sacrificial refinement secret methods…”

The martial artist spoke eloquently, every segment filled with two words: points.

He spoke of the difficulty of earning points, and even showed the difficulties that true cultivators face.

A world that is countless times more competitive than that of spiritualists, a place where you can be eliminated with the slightest carelessness.

But the three father and son didn't think so. In their eyes, it was all hope and opportunity.

In comparison, true cultivators seem very tired, but everything is worth it. Every effort is rewarded.

What about spiritualists? It seems like they don't need to be so competitive, but it also means that you don't even have the opportunity to be competitive. You can't even find a direction to improve.

Who is more uncomfortable?

One feels very competitive and tired, while the other wants to be competitive and tired but has no opportunity.

It's hard to say, so let's not talk about it.

Anyway, the three father and son's eyes were shining, seeing countless hopes.

The three martial artists also saw it, but they only had envy and didn't say anything else.

They were once like this, full of hope, but now…?

Now there is still hope, and effort is still rewarded. But they also completely understand that talent is the key.

Effort is only the lower limit, and talent is the upper limit.

Monsters who combine effort and talent are everywhere in the cultivation world.

…

On the other side.

With the return of the Four Great Sects, combined with the Merit Hall's missions, a new round of expansion has begun.

The arrival of the three from the Martial Dao Alliance in HS City is for this reason.

A new round of expansion has begun. The Myriad Spirits Palace will teleport cultivators to 'barren' lands, and the Four Great Sects and Eight Medium Sects will expand and develop.

Places without true cultivators, places with Mystics and Daoist techniques, are considered barren lands in the eyes of true cultivators.

In addition to the designated crisis cities that the Four Great Sects must save,

There are also some random cities that the Four Great Sects allocate based on the rescue rate of crisis cities.

For example, HS City is a benefit obtained by the Martial Dao Alliance for saving a crisis city.

The so-called crisis cities are the kind that Bi Xia mentioned before, which are already in imminent danger.

They may face pressure from small worlds, threats from realms, or cities that are about to be destroyed due to insufficient cohesion and falling stars.

In short, they are very dangerous cities, and the Four Great Sects will equally divide the rescue of these crisis cities.

One of the benefits is that safe cities with low conquest difficulty are also given to them.

HS City is one of the rewards.

Overall, whoever contributes the most, whoever has the strongest ability, gets more benefits.

There are both crisis cities that must be saved and safe and stable cities.

A new expansion is sweeping in, another opportunity to forge legends. The cultivators of the Four Great Sects, after a period of accumulation, have embarked on a new journey.

For the Martial Dao Alliance, it's a heavenly start.

… (End of this chapter)