Chapter 217: Sword Art

The divine ability of the last three layers of the sword art was a technique called the "Sword Shadow Splitting Technique." The prerequisite for practicing it was to first possess a flying sword-type magic treasure; of course, a flying knife would also work. Net

After practicing it, when facing an enemy, this divine ability could use the sword light of the flying sword to conjure a sword shadow identical to the flying sword, which could confuse the enemy's vision and attack the enemy along with the main body. Although the sword shadow only had one-tenth of the power of the main body when first formed, its power could increase with the advancement of the sword art layers, and by the ninth layer, it could have one-third of the power.

Moreover, when practicing the sword shadow, one could conjure more than just one; starting from the seventh layer, one could refine an additional sword shadow for every layer advanced. In this way, when the Azure Essence Sword Art was practiced to the extreme, one could simultaneously have three sword shadows that looked identical to the flying sword but only had one-third of the power.

Looking at it this way, this "Sword Light Splitting Technique" divine ability seemed quite good and worth practicing.

But Han Li already knew that among the many Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Yellow Maple Valley, no one had truly practiced it deeply; the trickiness involved must be quite significant. Therefore, he greatly regretted not having inquired clearly about the reasons back then, only thinking that he certainly wouldn't practice this Azure Essence Sword Art, so he had just carelessly brushed it off.

By now, although Han Li knew that this technique had major problems, he still had to bite the bullet and practice it, only hoping that this technique wouldn't have any sequelae similar to qi deviation.

However, he also thought about it from another perspective: although others hadn't practiced it deeply, they still had two or three layers under their belts. Looking at it this way, practicing it a little shouldn't be a big problem.

Holding onto this self-comforting thought, Han Li helplessly began to absorb the medicinal efficacy that was about to erupt within his body according to the method of the Azure Essence Sword Art.

This cultivation technique only ran through a single cycle simply, and Han Li felt a "boom"; the feeling of absorbing the medicinal efficacy and having his magic power surge made him so comfortable he nearly cried out.

Immersed in this wonderful sensation, Han Li couldn't help but let the technique cycle over and over again, while his consciousness gradually wandered far away.

He didn't know how long he had been meditating, but when Han Li absorbed the last trace of medicinal efficacy within his body, he finally woke up from that wonderful experience.

The awakened Han Li was slightly sluggish for a moment, but then stood up without a word. Then, squinting his eyes and tilting his head to think for a moment, he suddenly raised his arm and gestured in front of him; immediately, a section of azure sword qi a foot long shot out from his finger, chilling and incomparably sharp.

Seeing this cold light, Han Li was not happy but instead gave a bitter smile. Then, his arm suddenly flicked, and the azure light surged violently, instantly turning into more than a zhang long, nearly piercing into the stone wall opposite.

"This is bad. I didn't expect the residual medicinal efficacy to be so strong that I actually practiced the fourth layer of the sword art in one go. I wonder if there will be any major obstacles," Han Li muttered with an uncertain expression.

"Whatever, at most I just won't practice this sword art anymore in the future!" Han Li murmured, then lowered his arm, and the azure sword qi vanished.

However, Han Li, whose curiosity had been greatly aroused, still picked up that "Azure Essence Sword Art" book, flipped through the technique for the protective sword shield, and silently memorized it several times.

Then, after lowering his head and pondering for a moment, Han Li closed his eyes, and immediately opened them wide again; a strange protective shield had already appeared on his body.

This protective shield was entirely azure, similar in size to an ordinary defensive shield, but its surface was no longer in the usual smooth form, but rather showed a thorn-like shape like a hedgehog, and it seemed to faintly reveal a kind of baleful aura.

"Is this the protective sword shield?" Han Li carefully observed the thorn shield on his body, somewhat surprised.

"The sword art says that this shield can automatically release sword qi to counterattack enemies. It's a pity I can't test it right now!" Han Li thought with great regret.

Then, Han Li moved his hands and feet, and after carefully checking the essence within his body again and finding nothing wrong, he set his mind at ease, packed up his items, and left the geothermal room. Then, he happened to run into the ugly man head-on.

Recalling the ugly man's astonished expression when he saw him, Han Li couldn't help but smile knowingly in the air.

At this time, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and Han Li returned to the Hundred Medicine Garden without meeting a single person.

He had originally used the excuse of finding a place to go into seclusion for Foundation Establishment, so the garden had naturally been handed back to the little old man. This left the other party completely unhappy, blowing his beard and staring at him for quite a while.

When Han Li entered the garden, the little old man was meditating in front of the thatched hut, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Although he didn't open his eyes, he still accurately called out Han Li's name. This was no wonder, as apart from the little old man, only Han Li could enter and exit the Hundred Medicine Garden's restrictions freely.

However, the moment this Uncle-Master Ma called out Han Li's name, he suddenly sensed something, opened his eyes wide, and looked at Han Li in disbelief.

"You actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment?"

"Uncle-Master Ma, this disciple indeed luckily entered the Foundation Establishment stage!" Han Li bowed and said with a light smile.

Although the little old man was astonished for a while, he gradually returned to normal. But he still muttered in his mouth:

"Too unbelievable! You actually really entered the Foundation Establishment stage!"

After muttering a few words, his expression suddenly turned serious, and he said solemnly:

"Since we are both Foundation Establishment cultivators, there is no need to mention the title of Uncle-Master anymore; from now on, let us address each other as fellow disciples! I am slightly older, so if Junior Brother doesn't mind, you can just call me Senior Brother Ma!"

Hearing this, Han Li nodded with a smile and did not object. This matter of dividing seniority by realm was a convention in the cultivation world, and there was nothing to be modest about.

Next, the little old man, who was now Han Li's Senior Brother Ma, entered the house with Han Li. Then they sat down separately at a table and brewed a pot of good tea.

Not long after sitting down, the little old man couldn't wait to ask about Han Li's Foundation Establishment process.

Han Li naturally wouldn't tell the other party the truth, but he didn't hide the matter of Foundation Establishment in the geothermal room, honestly revealing it to the other party. Because with a little investigation, the other party could easily find out about this matter.

He only said that he had rented a geothermal room in the Yuelu Hall, then took the Foundation Establishment Pill awarded by the sect and went into seclusion inside for nearly a year, and just like that, he had luckily succeeded.

The little old man listened intently to what Han Li said, while "tsk-tsking" in wonder incessantly.

After hearing the other version of the story Han Li told, he blinked his eyes and said to him:

"Junior Brother Han! Listening to what you said, your Foundation Establishment process is about the same as others! To be able to succeed in Foundation Establishment with such aptitude, I can only say that Junior Brother had great luck, to have even a one-percent chance fall upon you!" Because the little old man had been very familiar with Han Li for the past few years, he spoke straightforwardly, without hiding his envy of Han Li in the slightest, and even an expression of jealousy appeared directly on his face.

"Hehe! This can only be said that Junior Brother I am blessed by the stars; I didn't expect myself to enter the Foundation Establishment stage so easily!" Han Li laughed and said with a smile.

"However, since Junior Brother Han has succeeded in Foundation Establishment, you should go to the Sect Master to say hello and have Sect Master Zhong register your name! In this way, Junior Brother's treatment in the future will be handled according to high-tier disciples, and the spirit stones received every year will not be few!" The little old man said jokingly.

"Many thanks for the guidance, Senior Brother!" Han Li's expression moved upon hearing this, and he said sincerely.

"It's nothing! Regardless, you and I have been together for so many years, so I will try my best to tell you about things you should be reminded of." The little old man waved his hand and said indifferently.

"Actually, after Foundation Establishment, the biggest benefit given by our sect is allowing Foundation Establishment disciples to open their own cave dwellings anywhere in the Taiyue Mountain Range to practice alone! And also..."

Next, the little old man explained to Han Li in detail many things that should be kept in mind and paid attention to after entering the Foundation Establishment stage, making Han Li nod incessantly as he listened.

But when the other party finished explaining these things and chatted with Han Li casually, Han Li still couldn't help but ask the other party about the "Azure Essence Sword Art."

"Azure Essence Sword Art," a look of astonishment flashed across the little old man's face!

But after looking deeply at Han Li, he didn't pursue the matter and thought for a moment before saying:

"I have indeed heard some things about this Azure Essence Sword Art, and I have also practiced three layers of it. This sword art is not our Yellow Maple Valley's sect technique, but the sect-protecting peerless art of a sect called the Profound Sword Gate that was destroyed by our sect many years ago. And originally, it wasn't nine layers, but thirteen layers. It is said that the Sect Master of the Profound Sword Gate at that time, seeing that the sect was about to be destroyed, actually wanted to destroy the sword art on the spot, but several of our sect's ancestors at the time didn't act slowly and forcibly snatched half of the cultivation technique from the other party's hands, while the remaining half was destroyed and lost. So the Azure Essence Sword Art currently circulating in our sect is only a remnant. At most, it can be practiced to the Core Formation stage, and there is no subsequent cultivation technique. As for the complete sword art, I heard that it even has cultivation techniques for the Spirit Transformation stage, but I don't know if it's true or false?"

The little old man shook his head and said this, reached out to pick up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and continued:

"The Azure Essence Sword Art, lacking subsequent cultivation techniques, although inferior to other first-class cultivation techniques, is actually quite good in terms of power! Especially its sword qi and the instantaneous characteristic of the protective sword shield, which are sought after by many Foundation Establishment fellow disciples. Therefore, if it is relatively easy to practice, there are still many people in our sect willing to use this sword art as their main cultivation technique! After all, the cultivation technique for the Nascent Soul stage is too far away for us, and it is impossible to use it at all."

Net ===== CHAPTER 218 =====