After spending a day in his cave dwelling, Han Li stood before Li Huayuan and his wife once again the next day. He listened as his master said calmly, “Han Li, have you decided what you want from me? You can tell me now!”
“Disciple wishes for a cultivation technique suitable for his practice. I hope Master can grant me this request!” Without hesitation, Han Li immediately spoke the answer he had long prepared in his heart.
Upon hearing this, Li Huayuan showed no surprise. Instead, he smiled faintly at the young woman beside him, as if to say, “See? I wasn’t wrong. He indeed asked for a cultivation technique!”
Then he turned back to Han Li and said composedly, “Well, that’s a good choice! Come closer and let me examine your spiritual root attributes so I can decide which technique to bestow upon you.”
Hearing this, Han Li did not dare to delay and immediately stepped forward. The next moment, his wrist was grasped, and a stream of warmth quickly flowed through his meridians.
“Aside from the metal attribute, you can cultivate techniques of all other attributes! To think you have a four-attribute spiritual root—this truly surprises me! The other day, I could only tell from your outward appearance that your spiritual root was mixed, but I never expected it to be to such an extent!” After examining for a moment, Li Huayuan’s expression turned slightly peculiar, and he sighed softly.
The young woman beside him also showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this. Though she did not speak, she couldn’t help but glance at Han Li a few more times.
“Disciple’s aptitude is lowly, disappointing Master!” Han Li’s face flushed slightly as he spoke with some shame.
“That’s nothing. Since heaven allowed you to achieve Foundation Establishment, you must have your own destiny. However, this does make selecting a cultivation technique somewhat troublesome!”
“What do you mean?” Han Li blinked upon hearing this. Though he did not ask directly, his confusion was evident on his face.
“You really are something. Just explain it properly to your disciple. Always being so cryptic! What your master means is that he originally intended to pick a good technique for you, but now that he’s seen your spiritual root attributes, he’s hesitating! After all, the better the technique, the harder it is to cultivate. It might be better to give you a simpler technique so you can advance more quickly!” The young woman chided Li Huayuan gently before turning to explain warmly to Han Li.
“Exactly, my wife has said what I intended to say.” Li Huayuan nodded repeatedly. Then he elaborated further: “You must understand that the cultivation techniques we cultivators practice can generally be divided into three categories based on their power and effectiveness! The first type includes techniques that, once cultivated, result in average or even slightly slower progress in building spiritual power. However, the supernatural abilities and combat skills they come with are often powerful and extraordinary. In actual combat, practitioners of these techniques are like fish in water, capable of defeating higher-level cultivators even when their own spiritual power is still at a low level. Therefore, cultivators who know they have no hope of forming a Golden Core in this lifetime mostly choose such techniques.”
“The second type is the complete opposite. These techniques are remarkably effective at advancing spiritual power, easy to cultivate, and the practitioners face far fewer bottlenecks compared to those who choose the first type. But gains come with losses—the advantages of the first type are precisely the fatal flaws of this category. These techniques generally lack powerful self-preservation methods, and their supernatural abilities are pitifully weak! Essentially, choosing such a technique dooms a cultivator to remain weak among peers of the same level. However, many who aspire to reach higher realms of cultivation and dream of ascending also choose these techniques, as they are the easiest way to approach the Core Formation stage.”
At this point, Li Huayuan paused and suddenly smiled at Han Li. “I wonder, disciple, which type of technique would you choose, or which do you think suits you better?”
Han Li was taken aback by the question and hesitated for a moment before asking, “Master, didn’t you say there are three categories? Why have you only mentioned two?”
Upon hearing Han Li’s question, Li Huayuan and the young woman exchanged a knowing smile before he kindly explained to Han Li: “Indeed, besides the first two categories, there is a very rare third type of technique. These are the top-tier cultivation methods pursued by many cultivators. However, I do not recommend you cultivate them! None of your seven senior brothers have chosen such techniques either! Although they combine the strengths of the first two categories—being both powerful and remarkably effective at advancing spiritual power—cultivating them is not only restricted by numerous conditions and fraught with difficulties, but the process is also extremely dangerous. A single misstep could lead to eternal damnation! Your master’s wife cultivates a top-tier technique, and despite being extremely cautious, she nearly lost her life. So, unless one’s aptitude far surpasses others, cultivating these techniques is almost equivalent to suicide!”
“Although I have two or three top-tier techniques in my possession, do you think you could succeed in cultivating them? Of course, since this technique is compensation for you, if you insist on choosing a top-tier technique, I will give it to you. But if any dangers or difficulties arise in the future, you will have to resolve them on your own!”
Li Huayuan clearly disapproved of Han Li choosing the last category of techniques and thus warned him in advance.
Han Li frowned, lowering his head in deep thought. It was indeed a difficult choice. But before long, he raised his head, his eyes calm, clearly having made a decision.
“Master, please forgive your disciple’s impudence! Before stating my request, may I ask what technique Master cultivates?” Han Li suddenly asked.
“Hehe! I cultivate the top-tier technique ‘True Yang Art,’ but I myself possess the Triple Yang Body, second only to the Heavenly Spiritual Root. Cultivating this technique is like a fish in water for me—it far surpasses other techniques! Otherwise, how could I have formed a Golden Core?” Although Li Huayuan had not expected Han Li to ask this, he replied with pride.
“Disciple understands. Then I choose the second type of technique!” Han Li said calmly.
“The second type?” Li Huayuan’s expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to normal. He scrutinized Han Li with a meaningful gaze. The young woman beside him also showed considerable interest upon hearing this.
“You choosing the second type… what should I say? Your determination in pursuing cultivation is commendable, and that pleases me. But you must understand that the so-called ease of cultivating spiritual power applies mainly to those with good aptitude. Even among those with outstanding aptitude, only a small fraction manage to reach the peak of late Foundation Establishment with the second type of technique. Therefore, I still lean toward you choosing the first type of technique. Although the hope of forming a Golden Core is slim, it would at least allow you to hold your head high among Foundation Establishment cultivators and avoid being bullied. In truth, no matter which technique one cultivates, how many actually succeed in forming a Golden Core? Thinking back…”
Li Huayuan had originally intended to persuade Han Li, but as he spoke, he seemed to recall something from the past, and his mood grew heavy. He gradually fell silent.
Seeing this, the young woman beside him sighed softly and said to Han Li, “Han Li, have you really thought it through? Do you truly wish to choose this type of technique? Although your choice doesn’t quite align with your master’s and my thoughts, if your determination in pursuing cultivation is indeed this firm, your master naturally won’t oppose it. If you overestimate yourself and insist on choosing a top-tier technique, although we would still agree, it would greatly disappoint us. After all, that wouldn’t be a matter of determination but of aiming too high without the means to achieve it.”
“Exactly, your master’s wife has spoken my mind. I won’t say more. Now, I’ll ask you one more time: have you truly made your decision?” Li Huayuan, having regained his composure, nodded in agreement upon hearing the young woman’s words.
“Yes, disciple has made his decision!” Han Li said solemnly after calmly listening to Li Huayuan and his wife.
“Very well, since you’ve made your decision, follow me to the library. Wife, please wait here for a moment. Han Li and I will return shortly.” Seeing this, Li Huayuan said no more and stood up to lead Han Li out, leaving the young woman behind to wait.
The library was not far from the hall and was not very large—just an ordinary, low stone room. However, the entire room was protected by a fiery red barrier, making it impossible for anyone else to enter.
Li Huayuan walked up to the barrier and casually extended a finger, lightly swiping it across the barrier. Immediately, a gap about ten feet wide opened, just enough for two people to walk through side by side.
He then easily pushed open the stone door and led Han Li into the room.
Once inside, Han Li was astounded. The room was filled with all kinds of jade slips, scrolls, boxes, and books, all suspended in mid-air and emitting multicolored lights. There were at least fifty or sixty items in total—these were the cultivation techniques Li Huayuan had collected over hundreds of years through various means.
“Every item here has been sealed by me. If anyone other than my wife or me tries to take them, it will immediately trigger the formation in this room, trapping the intruder here until death.” Li Huayuan explained with some pride, but Han Li detected a hint of warning in his words and nodded repeatedly to show he understood.
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