Chapter 238: The Choice

After staying in the cave dwelling for a day, the next day Han Li stood before Li Li Huayuan and his wife again and heard his master say indifferently:

"Han Li, have you thought about what you want me to give you? You can speak now!"

"The disciple wants a cultivation technique suitable for my own cultivation, and I hope Master can fulfill this wish!" Han Li, who had long since had the answer in his heart, said immediately.

Li Li Huayuan didn't show any surprise, but instead smiled slightly at the young woman beside him, meaning: See, I told you, what he wants is indeed a cultivation technique!

Then he turned his head and said to Han Li calmly:

"Hmm, this choice of yours is not bad! Come closer, let me check your spiritual root attributes, and then I will decide what technique to bestow upon you."

Han Li didn't dare to hesitate and immediately leaned over. Then, his wrist was grabbed by the other party, and a stream of heat quickly flowed through his meridians.

"Besides metal attributes, you can practice techniques of other attributes! You actually have four-attribute spiritual roots; this truly surprises me! Back then, I only saw that your spiritual roots were mixed from your appearance, but I didn't expect it to be to such an extent!" Li Li Huayuan probed for a moment, his expression slightly strange, and sighed softly.

The young woman on the side was also slightly surprised upon hearing this. Although she didn't speak, she couldn't help but look at Han Li a few more times.

"The disciple's aptitude is poor, making Master disappointed!" Han Li's face flushed slightly, and he said shamefully.

"That's nothing. Since heaven allowed you to successfully establish your foundation, there must be your own fortune. It's just that in this way, the selection of cultivation techniques becomes a bit troublesome!"

"What do you mean?"

Han Li blinked upon hearing this. Although he didn't take the initiative to ask, the look of confusion on his face was unmistakable!

"You really are... just explain it properly to the disciple; don't always speak in half-sentences! Actually, your master means that he originally wanted to pick a good cultivation technique for you, but now that he sees your spiritual root attributes, he is a bit hesitant! After all, the better the cultivation technique, the harder it is to practice. It would be better to give you a simpler technique that would allow you to advance faster!" The young woman scolded Li Li Huayuan before explaining softly to Han Li.

"Not bad, what Madam said is exactly what I wanted to say." Li Li Huayuan nodded repeatedly. But then, he explained in detail:

"You must know that the cultivation techniques practiced by us cultivators can be broadly divided into three categories based on their power and effects! The first category is techniques where the magic power refinement speed is average or even slightly lower, but the supernatural powers and means to defeat enemies they carry are often powerful and extraordinary. They are like a fish in water in actual combat, and even when magic power is at a low level, they can defeat cultivators of higher levels. Therefore, cultivators who know they have no hope of Core Formation in this life mostly choose this type of technique."

"The second category is exactly the opposite. These techniques have astonishing effects in refining magic power, are easy to practice, and the chance of encountering bottlenecks is far smaller than for cultivators who choose the first type of technique. But there are gains and losses; the advantages of the first type of technique are the fatal flaws of this type. These techniques basically have no powerful self-protection means, and their supernatural powers are pitifully small! Basically, once you choose this type of technique, you are destined to become the weak among cultivators of the same rank in your future cultivation career. But similarly, many cultivators who want to pursue a higher level of cultivation and dream of entering the Heavenly Dao choose this type of technique. After all, they are the closest to allowing cultivators to approach the Core Formation stage."

When Li Li Huayuan said this, he paused, then suddenly smiled and said to Han Li:

"I wonder, disciple, which type of technique you would choose, or which type of technique you think is more suitable for yourself?"

Han Li was stunned upon hearing this question and hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Master, aren't there three categories? Why did you only mention two?"

Li Li Huayuan smiled knowingly at the young woman after hearing Han Li's question, and then said to Han Li kindly:

"Indeed, besides the first two categories, there are a few third-category techniques. These are the top-tier cultivation methods pursued by many cultivators. However, I do not recommend you practice them! And none of your seven senior brothers practice this type of technique! Although they almost concentrate the strengths of the first two categories, being both powerful and astonishing in refining magic power, practicing them is subject to many conditions, is full of difficulties, and the cultivation process is very dangerous. If you are not careful, you will fall into an irrecoverable situation! Your Mistress practices a top-tier technique, and even though she was so careful, she was still almost killed, so unless you are a cultivator with aptitude far exceeding others, practicing them is no different from 'suicide'!"

"Although I have two or three top-tier techniques in my hands, do you think you can succeed in practicing them? Of course, because this technique is to compensate you, if you insist on choosing a top-tier technique, I will give it to you. But if any danger or difficulty arises in the future, you will have to solve it yourself!"

Li Li Huayuan clearly didn't approve of Han Li choosing the last type of technique, so he warned Han Li in advance.

Han Li frowned and pondered deeply. This was indeed a very difficult choice.

But before long, Han Li raised his head, his expression calm, clearly having made a decision.

"Master, please forgive the disciple for being rude! Before I state my request, may I ask what cultivation technique Master practices?" Han Li suddenly asked.

"Hehe! As your master, I practice the top-tier technique 'True Yang Art'. But I myself am a 'Three Yang Body' second only to Heavenly Spiritual Roots, so practicing this technique is like a fish in water, and it is far superior to other techniques! Otherwise, how could I have formed a Golden Core?" Li Li Huayuan, although he hadn't expected Han Li to ask this, said proudly.

"The disciple understands. Then the disciple chooses the second type of technique!" Han Li said calmly.

"Second type?"

Li Li Huayuan's expression shifted, but he immediately returned to normal, re-examining Han Li with a meaningful gaze. The young woman on the side also showed interest upon hearing this.

"You choose the second type—what can I say? Your heart for cultivation is so firm; I am very gratified. But you must know, the so-called easy refinement of magic power is only for those with better aptitude. And even for those with outstanding aptitude, only a small portion can practice the second type of technique to the peak of the Foundation Establishment late-stage. Therefore, I still tend to recommend you choose the first type of technique. Although the hope of Core Formation is very slim, it can at least allow you to hold your head high among Foundation Establishment cultivators and not be bullied by others. In fact, among those who practice any technique, how many can truly form a core? Back then..."

Li Li Huayuan originally wanted to persuade Han Li, but as he spoke, he seemed to recall some past events, and his mood suddenly became heavy, and he gradually stopped speaking!

It was the young woman on the side who sighed and then said to Han Li:

"Han Li, have you thought it through? Do you really want to choose this type of technique? Although your choice doesn't quite align with your master's and my wishes, if your heart for cultivation is truly this firm, your master naturally won't oppose it. If you overestimate yourself and insist on choosing a top-tier technique, although my husband and I would also agree, it would just make us too disappointed. After all, that wouldn't be a question of whether your heart for cultivation is firm, but of being too ambitious."

"Not bad, your Mistress has spoken my mind. I won't say anything more. I'll just ask you one more time: have you really decided?" Li Li Huayuan came back to his senses, heard his wife's words, and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, the disciple has made up my mind!" Han Li listened quietly to Li Li Huayuan and his wife's words and said in a deep voice.

"Hmm, since you have made up your mind, then follow me to the library. Madam, please wait here for a moment; Han Li and I will be back in a while." Seeing this, Li Li Huayuan didn't say anything more and brought Han Li out, leaving the young woman to wait there.

The library was not far from the main hall and was not very large. It was just a low, ordinary stone room, but the entire stone room was protected by a fiery red barrier, and no one else could enter.

Li Li Huayuan walked to the barrier, casually waved a finger across it, and the barrier immediately parted to reveal a gap a few feet wide, just enough for the two of them to pass through side by side.

Then he pushed open the stone door and brought Han Li into the stone room.

Once inside, Han Li's eyes were opened. In the stone room, all kinds of jade slips, book pages, boxes, and books were suspended in the air, emitting strange lights of five colors, numbering fifty or sixty. These were the cultivation techniques Li Li Huayuan had collected through various means over the past few hundred years.

"Each of these things here has been placed under a restriction by me. If they are not picked up by me or Madam, it will immediately trigger the formation in the stone room and trap the intruder to death." Li Li Huayuan explained to Han Li with some pride. But Han Li still heard a hint of warning in it, so he nodded repeatedly to show he understood.

【End of Chapter】 ***