I can extract hidden information from everything.

Chapter 5 Mysterious Female Qi Technique

"How much is this?"

Xu Yan picked up a black stone and asked.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man, dressed in tattered clothes, and looked somewhat dejected.

Upon hearing the sound, he raised his eyelids to glance at it, then lowered his head to tidy up the items on his stall.

"It's not worth much, just give me a penny."

Xu Yan took out a coin from his pocket, handed it to the stall owner, took the stone, turned around and left for the next stall.

The stall owner was puzzled.

This is a stone he picked up by the river; apart from being somewhat attractive because of its black color, it's completely useless.

The cloth is placed here to hold down the sticking-out rags, since what he's selling is actually on top of the cloth.

"Did I sell it too cheaply?"

The stall owner muttered to himself, wondering if he had misjudged the item; it was worth more than a penny.

But when he looked up, Xu Yan was already gone.

……

"The Mysterious Female Qi Technique? What is that?"

Xu Yan wandered around the market but found nothing else. He then found a quiet corner and began to examine the black stone carefully.

Before my eyes, a wisp of smoke appeared, condensing into mysterious characters.

Ordinary pebbles

[Hidden Information: Mysterious Female Qi Technique (A Taoist cultivation method that allows one to condense a breath of Mysterious Female Qi to suppress evil spirits)]

[Extraction criteria: 2,000 abdominal breaths]

"These conditions aren't too difficult."

After a moment's thought, Xu Yan decided to give it a try.

Abdominal breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, allows you to make your breathing more voluntary with just a little distraction.

Xu Yan strolled along the street, switching to abdominal breathing.

By late afternoon, he had walked the entire street but still hadn't made any new discoveries.

Items containing hidden information are not so easy to obtain.

The only gain was this stone, and the abdominal breathing exercise that was about to be completed.

Xu Yan found a secluded spot and completed the last breath of abdominal breathing.

Once completed, a line of text immediately appears in front of you.

[Reward Obtained: Mysterious Female Qi Technique]

Once the words appeared, they vanished without a trace.

At the same time, a situation different from that when extracting resentment arose.

A roaring sound came from my mind, spreading like waves.

Xu Yan sensed that a voice suddenly rang out.

"The spirit of the grain is immortal; it is called the Mysterious Female. The gate of the Mysterious Female is called the root of Heaven and Earth!"

The moment the sound rang out, a warm current appeared in her lower abdomen.

"This is... the Qi of the Mysterious Female!"

Xu Yan disregarded the fact that he was in a secluded alley and immediately sat down cross-legged, circulating his qi according to the instructions of the Mysterious Female Qi Formula.

After circulating through the Xuanpin Qi for one cycle, it slowly came to a stop.

Xu Yan opened his eyes, a hint of excitement flashing in them, but he quickly concealed it.

"Is this... a power beyond that of ordinary people?"

He clenched his fists, the power of the Xuanpin (mysterious female) flowed, and his fists became powerful, as if he could kill a bull with one punch.

At the same time, he also gained a preliminary understanding of the Mysterious Female Qi Technique.

The so-called Mysterious Female Qi Technique is about cultivating a breath of Mysterious Female Qi. Once mastered, it can strengthen the body, ward off evil, and fight enemies.

The stronger the Xuanpin Qi, the stronger the amplification.

Xu Yan suppressed his excitement and looked at the empty space in front of him.

Smoke appeared and condensed into a line of text.

【Xu Yan】

[Realm: Early Stage of Daoist Canon]

[Mysterious Female Qi Technique (Initial Stage): 10%]

These are newly appeared characters, and they represent a change that occurred after obtaining the Mysterious Female Qi Technique.

What was the initial stage of the Daoist Canon?

Xu Yan rubbed his chin.

He had never been exposed to it, so he didn't know what this realm represented.

But the following text is easy to understand.

"Initial understanding represents a level, and the following levels represent my progress."

"As long as you cultivate, your progress will increase."

After finishing the analysis, Xu Yan slowly stood up.

Having gained nothing today, he plans to return and practice the Mysterious Female Qi Technique to catch up on his progress.

……

Nothing happened along the way.

It was nearly afternoon when we got back to the alley.

As soon as Xu Yan approached, he smelled the aroma of food. With a smile on his lips, he walked towards Ye Shu's house.

Ye Shu carefully placed a plate of food on the table. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and looked at it, then chuckled.

"Old Xu, come and try my cooking!"

Xu Yan didn't stand on ceremony and took a bite as soon as he picked up his chopsticks.

"Not bad, your skills are improving, Lao Ye."

The two were close friends, so there was no awkwardness between them.

Ye Shu walked to the side, picked up a jar of wine, and poured a bowl for Xu Yan.

"Today, to celebrate your new lease on life, let's have a good drink!"

He was truly happy, both for his friend and for the return of the old atmosphere.

Xu Yan didn't want to spoil the mood, so he raised his wine bowl and clinked glasses with Ye Shu.

"Come!"

The two drank their wine in one gulp and then chatted over their food.

Xu Yan noticed that although Ye Shu was happy, there was a hint of gloom between his brows, and he had already guessed the reason.

"You're not planning to take the exam again?"

He raised his wine bowl and drank another cup.

A surge of Xuanpin Qi dispelled any sense of intoxication in him.

Ye Shu sighed, then patted his chest: "Take the exam! Why wouldn't I take it? I'm determined to be a good official who speaks up for the people."

Xu Yan smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then don't give up."

As a close friend, he knew Ye Shu's ambition: to achieve fame and success in this life.

It wasn't for wealth or power, but because he wanted to realize his ambitions.

In Xu Yan's opinion, Ye Shu was talented, but lacked luck; for some reason, he always failed the exams.

But Ye Shu never gave up, a tenacity that surpasses that of many.

"Let's not talk about this!"

Ye Shu waved his hand: "Today is a joyous occasion, let's not talk about such unpleasant things. Come on, let's keep drinking!"

Xu Yan didn't say anything more, picked up the wine bowl, and continued drinking with Ye Shu.

This drinking session lasted for half an hour.

"Snapped!"

Ye Shu collapsed, still slurring his words even though he was drunk.

"Old Xu... I'm so happy for you... really..."

Xu Yan shook his head slightly, showing no signs of intoxication.

He carried Ye Shu to the bed, tidied up the food on the table, and then returned to his own room.

After arriving home, Xu Yan lit an oil lamp, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began circulating his Qi according to the Xuanpin Yiqi Technique.

The warm current continued to flow, but Xu Yan remained calm as ice.

The world is not as safe as he imagined; he needs to hurry.

As the warm current continued to flow, the night passed quickly.

……

The next day.

As dawn broke, Xu Yan opened his eyes, his gaze revealing no fatigue, but rather a great deal of energy.

"It's truly miraculous that cultivation can counteract sleep."

Before my eyes, smoke appeared and condensed into words.

[Mysterious Female Qi Technique 10% → 15%]

Overnight, the progress increased by 5%, but Xu Yan didn't know whether it was fast or slow.

But for Xu Yan, the possibility of growth is a good thing.

Xu Yan was preparing to go out for a meal and then come back to continue his cultivation.

But just then, footsteps suddenly sounded.

"Coroner Xu, someone has died! Please come to the scene immediately!"