CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: SWORD TECHNIQUE

"Indeed, it’s me."

Ji Yuan smiled and cupped his hands together, surprised that this elderly master still remembered him.

"What? You actually mastered this ’Water Drop Finger’?" The white-haired cultivator looked at the handsome young man before him with some astonishment.

Ji Yuan maintained his cheerful demeanor, "It was a fluke, a fluke."

"Come, show me."

The white-haired cultivator was intrigued.

Mastering the ’Water Drop Finger’ isn’t difficult, but executing it smoothly is rather challenging.

Ji Yuan looked around; how to demonstrate it in this Hundred Treasures Tower?

The elderly man with a wizened face was even more direct, summoning two Water Shields with a single hand gesture, then patting his chest and saying, "Come, attack me."

"Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"

Ji Yuan felt hesitant, but thankfully, the Magic Room was isolated. Otherwise, the commotion would surely have attracted a crowd.

"I told you to attack, just do it, stop this endless talking!"

The elder glared, his Qi Cultivation late-stage aura radiating outward, giving Ji Yuan some pressure.

"Then, senior, please be careful."

With the words spoken, Ji Yuan hesitated no longer, immediately extending his hand and tapping several times, sending multiple Spiritual Lights flying, consecutively breaking through the two Water Shields.

Seeing one of the Water Drop Fingers strike the elder’s chest, a red light flashed on him, dissipating the Water Drop Finger instantly.

The magic robe’s power was indeed formidable.

"Senior, you okay?"

Ji Yuan certainly saw the Water Drop Finger truly hit him, so he quickly inquired.

"I’m fine; why wouldn’t I be?"

The elder’s hands, which were resting behind his back, trembled slightly.

It wasn’t an injury, just a shock; after spending over a decade in retirement at the Hundred Treasures Tower, he had long forgotten the taste of life-and-death combat.

So when the magic came so close earlier, it really startled him.

He had thought Ji Yuan could at most execute one Water Drop Finger, but never expected him to perform so many in a row.

The cultivators on duty outside sensed the Spiritual Qi fluctuations in the room and came inquiring, several even watched Ji Yuan with a vigilant look.

After a thorough explanation, the elder finally sent them away, and his gaze returned to Ji Yuan.

"Boy, you’ve been secretly practicing Body Refinement quite diligently, haven’t you?"

"This junior truly doesn’t know, just practicing blindly." Ji Yuan really wasn’t aware of how the Body Refinement levels were divided.

"Show me some punches and kicks." The elder said.

Rarely encountering a senior willing to offer guidance, Ji Yuan wouldn’t miss this opportunity, promptly complying by casually executing a set of punches in the room.

The elder stroked his beard, nodded repeatedly after watching.

"Not bad, your Body Refinement has reached a small achievement."

"Small achievement?"

"Yes, Body Refinement isn’t divided into many stages: entry, small achievement, great achievement, and then it becomes like Vajra. When you refine to the Vajra level, even with just your physical body, you can withstand the magic of the Foundation Establishment Stage, practically unbeatable in the Mortal Realm."

Having spoken, Ji Yuan now understood.

"Not bad, you show talent in the Body Refinement path. If you can join the Water Dragon Sect in the future, I will introduce you to a senior... a Foundation Establishment master who practices both Body Refinement and Qi Cultivation, which should be suitable for you."

The elder seemed to remember something, and sighed deeply, his gaze turned somewhat forlorn, "But you’d better hurry, because I don’t have much time left."

Having not reached Foundation Establishment, one’s lifespan is little more than a century; not much time for living.

Ji Yuan solemnly bowed deeply to him.

"Thank you, senior."

"Here’s the second and third layers of ’Water Drop Finger,’ totaling 35 Spirit Stones; take it."

Ji Yuan first paid the Spirit Stones, then placed his hand on the Jade Scroll, as the inheritance surged forth, Ji Yuan understood the effects of the second and third layers of the Water Drop Finger.

The second layer is called ’Piercing Stone.’

At the fingertip, three strands of sapphire Spiritual Light as thin as hair are condensed, forming a spiral intertwining, and upon striking the target, the Spiritual Light continuously penetrates the same spot with a "water dripping through stone" force, accumulating damage that can easily break through the opponent’s Magical Artifact or Protective Magic.

This second layer of ’Water Drop Finger’ can be described as an armor-piercing tool.

As for the third layer, it requires late-stage Qi Cultivation to perform.

It’s named ’Explosive Accumulation.’

After enlightenment, Ji Yuan felt it was much like a Water Bomb, extracting Spiritual Qi from within, compressing it into a dark black water droplet, which explodes upon firing, subsequently transforming into a hundred Water Blades indiscriminately slicing within ten zhang.

The attack power is extremely strong, a rare area attack.

But compared to the first two layers, the third layer’s consumption is much greater.

No matter; first, I’ll master the second layer after returning.

The third layer will probably have to wait until the late Qi Cultivation stage to learn.

As the white-haired elder prepared to lie back down to rest, Ji Yuan asked, "Senior, is there any magic suitable for the Flying Sword?"

"Flying Sword?"

Ji Yuan flicked his wrist to summon the White Water Flying Sword.

"Water attribute, quality is passable." The elder closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before speaking, "You’ve got ’Water Drop Finger’ for offense, pursuing extreme attack further doesn’t hold much meaning, see how this sword technique suits you."

After he spoke, he pulled out another Jade Scroll.

Ji Yuan pressed his hand to it, this time it wasn’t the full content, just a simple summary.

After checking briefly, Ji Yuan’s eyes lit up.

The elder smiled, "This ’Canglang Sword Technique’ first layer ’Entangling Waves’ traps the enemy and can complement the effect of your ’Water Drop Finger’ second layer."

"The second layer ’Echo Mirror’ can confuse the enemy, useful for evasion or escape, a good effect."

"The third layer ’Ninefold Waves’ is about extreme attack; from my experience, this sword technique should suit you best."

Ji Yuan shared the same view, nodding readily.

"This is the one, how much spirit stone for it?"

Receiving such a technique, especially purchasing all three layers at once, Ji Yuan was prepared for a significant expenditure.

Unexpectedly, in the end, the elder shook his head.

"No need for Spirit Stones."

"Huh?"

Ji Yuan looked up, instinctively thinking he misheard.

Unexpectedly, the elder smiled, "This sword technique came from a Tribulation Cultivator whom I acquired it earlier and then recorded it in the sect’s Scripture Pavilion, so I have the right to decide whether it’s charged."

"Senior, this..."

Before Ji Yuan could finish, the elder waved his hand over the Jade Scroll, a blue light flashed, and a stream of memories emerged in Ji Yuan’s mind.

Could it be... I got it for free?!!

Ji Yuan withdrew his hand and sincerely bowed to this white-haired cultivator, "This junior Ji Yuan is greatly indebted to you, senior."

"There’s nothing much to thank for, just return and practice diligently, if there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to come here and ask me."

Ji Yuan rose, looked at the senior caring for him, and softly asked, "May I ask your honorable name, senior?"

"It’s not much of a name, Xu Fugui, you can call me Elder Xu." The elder replied amiably.

"Thank you, Grandmaster Xu."

Ji Yuan switched to a slightly more fitting form of address.

Xu Fugui waved him off.

Only after seeing him leave did Xu Fugui’s gaze become somewhat dazed, then he glanced northward, speaking inwardly:

"Master, your disciple is dull, can only try to find a junior brother to return."

The senior practicing both Qi Cultivation and Body Refinement that Xu Fugui mentioned earlier was none other than his own master.

Sadly, he wasn’t gifted in Body Refinement, unable to truly enter the hall.

Much less inherit the teachings.

Now encountering a junior like Ji Yuan so talented in Body Refinement, he naturally wanted to offer some help.

It would be best if it succeeded; if not... he wouldn’t lose anything.

After leaving, Ji Yuan pondered for a while, wondering why Elder Xu was so kind to him.

Thinking it over, unable to come to a conclusion, he decided it must be kindness.

The path of cultivation, wealth, magic, companions, and place; perhaps Grandmaster Xu was a benefactor on the path of immortality.

Finally, Ji Yuan went to purchase a few high-grade protective Talismans, then on the way home, he started contemplating silently.

’Water Drop Finger’ must be learned.

’Canglang Sword Technique’ must be mastered.

Additionally, the Yin Ghost Array requires attempts at modification.

To rely on my own... insight, can I perhaps use the method of creating a Talisman Room to produce an Enlightenment Room for myself?