Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Each time, Qiu Changtian politely declined.

After stepping onto the path of cultivation, cultivators’ needs for the outside world had already been reduced to the extreme.

No need for food or water, there were fasting techniques; no need for elimination, there was impurity removal; no need for breath, they practiced the tortoise breathing technique.

In a word, it was all about sitting in meditation and practicing breathing exercises, and time would quickly pass by.

When the day to open the Demon Locking Tower arrived, Qiu Changtian changed into a moon-white Taoist robe and also took a green jade flute, preparing to act according to the strategy recorded in the Kunlun Mirror.

Seeing that Ling Yunpo was right in front, he took out the flute and played. Before he was seen, the sound of the flute arrived first, making a dashing entrance in his white robe.

Having played the last note, Qiu Changtian stepped down from the sword light and onto the ground, arriving at the Demon Locking Tower under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Listening carefully within the Sea of Consciousness, he only heard the Kunlun Mirror report a few “+1 Synchronization Values,” and then it was quiet.

Qiu Changtian was immediately somewhat displeased.

However, these Shushan disciples were inexperienced with his true power, so it was expected they couldn’t contribute a large amount of Synchronization Value.

It could only be said that they were all short-sighted.

“True Person,” he greeted Jinghua True Person with a bow.

“Qiu Xian nephew indeed has a refined interest,” said Jinghua True Person with a faint smile.

With the relationship of Ziwei Master, Jinghua True Person’s tolerance for him was extraordinarily high. As a result, the Shushan disciples nearby immediately became agitated—they all wanted to know who this unfamiliar guest was, to receive such a favorable response from Jinghua True Person.

Qiu Changtian exchanged pleasantries with Jinghua True Person and then bowed to the astonished Shushan disciples:

“Kunlun’s Qiu Changtian greets all the Shushan Taoist friends.”

The Shushan disciples hurriedly returned the greeting, and the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Among them, in the team from Red Sun Peak, there was a Refining Mansion stage disciple named “Xu Anze.” His gaze towards Qiu Changtian carried a different meaning from his fellow sect brothers and sisters.

In reality, he was an undercover spy who Eastern Emperor Path had planted within Shushan. He quietly pondered at this moment:

“Previously, I received a secret message from the sect, saying that a member of the Demon Race, ‘Marquis of Mount Tu,’ planned to infiltrate the Demon Locking Tower to rescue someone important and that I should await instructions to make contact with this individual.”

“Could it be that this Kunlun Chief Disciple Qiu Changtian is the Marquis of Mount Tu, who has sneaked in under disguise?”

“Hmm, assassinating the Kunlun Chief Disciple along the way and then using an Illusion Technique to take on his appearance. Considering that Shushan is not familiar with Kunlun disciples, this possibility is quite high indeed.”

“Later on, I should still find a way to make contact and test the waters.”

Jinghua True Person then told his disciples the matters they should pay attention to before leading the team into the Demon Locking Tower.

Walking alongside Jinghua True Person, Qiu Changtian’s Kunlun Mirror began to project the video recorded by the “future Kunlun Mirror,” guiding him to act according to the strategy.

Well, it was time to take a look back at Ling Yunpo and transmit the strategy to the Kunlun Mirror of the past.

Qiu Changtian turned his head to cast a covert glance at his past self, then turned his head back, focusing intently on the path ahead.

After passing through a narrow corridor, he entered the grand hall with eight gates on the first level of the Demon Locking Tower.

While Jinghua True Person was still detailing the rules of engagement, Qiu Changtian took the opportunity when no one was paying attention and, according to the strategy, directly slipped away to descend to the lower level.

Before even reaching the third level, he saw Xu Anze chasing after him from behind, calling him to a stop:

“Qiu Taoist friend! Everyone is acting on the first level; why have you run down here alone?”

Upon reading the strategy’s dialogue, Qiu Changtian immediately understood this man’s identity and thus replied with a sneer:

“If we didn’t leave the first level, how would there be a chance for me to contact you alone?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Anze immediately became serious, frowning as he asked:

“Who exactly are you?”

Qiu Changtian replied with an expressionless face:

“Our clan has an agreement with your faction. According to it, your faction should provide assistance in this operation. I wonder if the agreement still stands?”

As he spoke, his right hand, which had been hanging down, silently began to gather Jade Pivot Thunder in his palm.

Looking at the ball of green Thunder Light forming in the hand of the other party and the terrifying threatening aura it emitted, Xu Anze immediately felt his soul on the edge, knowing that if he let half a word of refusal slip from his mouth, Marquis of Mount Tu would kill him on the spot. He quickly nodded and said:

“Of course, it still stands! This lowly one has seen Marquis of Mount Tu, please give your orders.”

The ability to speak of “agreement” and “assistance” suggested that this person must undoubtedly be the Marquis of Mount Tu!

Qiu Changtian snorted coldly through his nose and said:

“I came here in a hurry, and I did not expect that Shushan Demon Locking Tower would open today.”

“Indeed.” Xu Anze hurriedly said, “Normally, it should have opened in a few years.”

“But recently, the elite disciples from Kunlun Penglai entered the East Sea Pavilion, and many of them have greatly increased their strength. Thus, in desperation, the Shushan higher-ups opted to open the Demon Locking Tower trial ahead of schedule.”

“Their trial is their own business, but they must not ruin my important affair,” Qiu Changtian said irritably. “To rescue that person, I will need to leave the team for quite a long time. You must immediately create chaos within the team and divert everyone’s attention!”

“Understood, to create chaos,” Xu Anze immediately nodded in agreement, his mind spinning rapidly. “I’ve got it! Two disciples from Qingluo Peak are also participating in the trials this time. If I arrange a little incident and blame it on An Zhisu or Ling Yunpo, with the hatred for Qingluo Peak within Shushan, that will surely turn the team upside down!”

Qiu Changtian was near to spitting blood: great, turns out I’m the one who caused this damn mess!

“No, wait!” Xu Anze thought carefully for a moment before speaking again, “Each floor of the Shushan Demon Locking Tower has eight separate gates to mystical realms, all connected only through the central hall.”

“If I set up a trap for these two people, it would be easy for them to prove they were not present… Better to falsely blame it on Qi Sha True Person, leaving them with no way to clear their names!”

Qiu Changtian was beyond exasperated but eventually replied:

“Not bad. I’ve heard that Qi Sha True Person has been in seclusion for a long time, unseen by anyone—who knows if he’s alive or dead or if he has secretly broken out of seclusion? Using this to misdirect would indeed suffice.”

“Marquis of Mount Tu is indeed wise. However, there is still a difficulty,” Xu Anze said with a flattering smile. “As I mentioned before, each floor’s Eight Gates Mystical Realm is connected solely by the central hall.”

“If we delay too long, and an accident happens in any one of the mystical realms, Jinghua True Person will surely investigate everyone who entered that realm. After a few times, simply by process of elimination, it would be easy to trace back to me.”

“I’ve heard that Marquis of Mount Tu’s Illusion Technique is exceptionally unique. Could you bestow a simple method on me, allowing me to disguise myself as a disciple from another peak? If I can just confuse Jinghua True Person’s judgment, I have the confidence to hold up the team’s progress and prevent them from coming down too soon, thereby not spoiling your important affair.”

Qiu Changtian sneered inwardly: this guy is unrepentantly cunning, actually finding an excuse to ask for Daoist Magic!

If it was the real “Marquis of Mount Tu,” perhaps appreciating his quick wit, he might indeed grant him an Illusion Technique… But where would I conjure such a technique from?

But then?

He looked at the strategy broadcast by the Kunlun Mirror, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly said:

“Your point is indeed valid.”

“I have a talisman script here, called ‘The Godspeed Talisman of the Water Veins,’ which allows you to leap between different water veins.”

“The leaping distance has been set by me, and it can only transport you between water veins on the same floor. If you enter any mystical realm, by activating this talisman with your True Yuan, you will be able to leap to another realm, undetected by others.”

“Furthermore, this talisman can only be used four times at most before needing recharging from me. Be careful with it and don’t waste it.”

Xu Anze listened helplessly, recognizing that the Marquis of Mount Tu was indeed cunning and astute; not only did he refuse to bestow an Illusion Technique, but he also handed over a Strange Object with limited uses, clearly unwilling to let him gain any advantage.

On Qiu Changtian’s side, his face expressionless, he followed the unique method recorded in the Kunlun Mirror’s strategy, silently circulating the Water System Divine Light among the Five Elements Divine Light, and resetting the jumping route of the Godspeed Talisman of the Water Veins.

Then he handed it over to Xu Anze.

“Thank you, Marquis of Mount Tu.” Xu Anze quickly expressed his gratitude.

“If there is nothing else, you may leave now!” Qiu Changtian waved his hand, his heart full of a thousand words, which couldn’t find their way out.

Where did the method to set the Godspeed Talisman of the Water Veins come from… No, this whole strategy, who wrote it in the first place?!