Staying In The World Of Cultivation

Chapter 20: Mid-stage Qi Refining

Su Fan, who had already lost hope, suddenly couldn't believe it.

But Ye Tianhe continued, "The sword techniques you used that day were quite impressive. Let's have a little spar later..."

Su Fan quickly nodded. He finally understood why Ye Tianhe had come looking for him.

What a crazy sword fanatic.

Every day, all he thinks about is practicing swordsmanship and killing.

Ye Tianhe put down his wine glass, stood up excitedly, and pulled Su Fan towards the exit.

"Let's go... we can drink later..."

Su Fan quickly held him back and smiled, "Senior, it won't take long. Let's drink first..."

The two of them didn't drink much before Ye Tianhe dragged Su Fan's wine glass into the courtyard.

Ye Tianhe didn't even draw his sword, standing with his hands behind his back in the courtyard.

"Use the sword techniques and footwork from that day, don't hold back, come on..."

Su Fan took out the broken sword from his storage bag, held the hilt with both hands, and was about to swing the sword when he suddenly remembered something.

"Senior, please don't use flying swords..."

Are you kidding? He had witnessed the power of a flying sword that day.

Once the flying sword was unleashed, this small courtyard would probably be gone.

After hearing Su Fan's words, Ye Tianhe couldn't help but laugh and cry.

"I started learning swordsmanship at the age of seven. I swing my sword tens of thousands of times every day. If we don't use flying swords, can we sword cultivators still fight?"

Su Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief. With a thought, his figure instantly floated towards Ye Tianhe.

Ye Tianhe's eyes lit up. It was not easy to cultivate the Wind Control Technique to such a level.

With a Spirit Partitioning, Su Fan's figure suddenly disappeared from where he was standing, as if teleporting.

The Thunder Ghost Steps at the Great Accomplishment stage was not comparable to before, instantly closing a distance of four to five meters.

In the blink of an eye, Su Fan had already arrived beside Ye Tianhe, and his big sword swung fiercely.

"Tidal Slash..."

The Nine Extreme Continuous Slashes at the Profound Realm had already formed a formidable momentum.

Clang!

Ye Tianhe drew his long sword and casually made a slash.

Su Fan instinctively saw a dazzling sword light, like a flash of lightning, blocking the edge of his sword.

Bang!

A tremendous force almost made Ye Tianhe's sword slip from his hand, and he took several steps back.

He was stunned at that moment.

How could this kid be so strong? How heavy is that broken sword?

Instead of getting angry, he became even more excited after being caught off guard.

Taking advantage of the situation, Su Fan's figure flashed again and appeared at the side of Ye Tianhe.

Using his right foot as the axis, he swung his big sword in a circle and slashed again.

"Limitless Slash..."

The two of them fought dozens of rounds in the courtyard, with Su Fan knowing that he only had a slight advantage with the first strike.

After that, Ye Tianhe purely used him to practice swordsmanship.

After all, he had grown up playing with swords since he was a child, and every sword contained Sword Intent.

Facing the ferocious and fierce Nine Extreme Continuous Slashes, he could easily resolve them with a casual sword.

Su Fan also became excited, and the Dao Seed within him exploded.

Blazing and dazzling electric light instantly enveloped his sword, madly attacking Ye Tianhe.

Seeing the purple electric light on the sword, Ye Tianhe's eyes lit up.

With a swing of his long sword, he blocked Su Fan's sword.

He felt a surge of scorching electric current entering his body, and his figure suddenly stagnated.

"Not good..."

His spiritual energy rapidly circulated through his meridians, and his figure retreated more than ten steps before finally expelling the electric current from his body.

Su Fan finally seized a chance, swung his sword, and launched a nine consecutive strikes in one breath.

But he didn't seize the opportunity and was easily resolved by Ye Tianhe's casual sword strikes.

There was no way, they were two realms apart.

"Let's stop, let's stop..."

Su Fan was panting heavily, having just executed over a hundred sword strikes, each one with all his might.

Despite his strong physical body, he was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.

Ye Tianhe laughed and said, "Your physical body is well-trained, except for not using a flying sword, I've done my best."

"Your talent in swordsmanship is impressive. If I had met you twenty years ago, I would have definitely brought you back to our sect."

Upon hearing this, Su Fan shook his head vigorously, as if denying it.

But it's a bit exaggerated.

Sword cultivators are like madmen, always fighting and killing every day.

They won't stop even if they are killed.

Ye Tianhe looked at him with a smile and said meaningfully, "The Thunder Body Refining is quite rare..."

Su Fan almost cried out, as if he had a choice.

"No way, my aptitude is not good..."

Ye Tianhe smiled ambiguously and added, "It's a bit like the path of the demonic sect..."

Su Fan's face turned pale, just as he was about to defend himself, he saw the other party wave his hand.

"The ancient body cultivation path, what's the difference between immortal sects and demonic sects? In the past, we sword cultivators were like the demonic sect, haha..."

Su Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Nowadays, sword cultivators are even more ferocious than the demonic sect.

Ye Tianhe looked at the broken sword in Su Fan's hand.

"Where did you get this sword?"

"I got it from an artifact refining shop, it cost me a spirit stone."

After Su Fan finished speaking, he handed the sword to Ye Tianhe.

As a senior sword cultivator, he must have a broad knowledge and should be able to identify it for him.

Ye Tianhe took the sword, gave it a shake, and almost threw it on the ground.

He struggled to hold the hilt of the sword and laughed, "Wow, it must weigh two to three hundred catties, what material is it made of..."

Seeing Su Fan shaking his head, he held the sword with both hands and carefully examined it.

After looking at it for a while, he shook his head and said, "I can't tell either, my master should know."

Su Fan almost laughed, he didn't want to go find his master just for a broken sword, forget it.

Ye Tianhe took out a jade slip from his storage bag and handed it to Su Fan.

"This is a sword technique that I accidentally obtained in a Secret Realm. Your talent in swordsmanship is good, you can take a look at it. Although the ancient body cultivation sword art is powerful, with your cultivation level, you won't be able to unleash much power."

Su Fan didn't expect that Ye Tianhe would actually give him a set of sword techniques.

Are all sword cultivators so straightforward? They had only known each other for a short while, and he was giving away sword techniques just like that.

He took the jade slip and sincerely said, "Thank you, senior..."

Ye Tianhe waved his hand with a smile.

"This sword technique is useless to me, but it might be useful to you."

After Ye Tianhe left, Su Fan returned to the cultivation room.

He sat cross-legged on the cushion and lit a stick of incense in the incense burner beside him.

This was the Soul Calming Incense, and it cost one spirit stone for each stick.

It was made from several precious and rare aromatic ingredients, with the main ingredient being the powder of the soul-nurturing wood, a wood attribute spiritual material from the world.

The Soul Calming Incense could gather the mind, nourish the spirit, and also help with cultivation.

When he was practicing swordsmanship with Ye Tianhe just now, he faintly felt a breakthrough opportunity.

Su Fan took out a yellow Spirit Pill and stuffed it into his mouth.

He blocked out all distractions, focused on his dantian, and entered a state of selflessness.

He activated the Primordial Origin Technique and the "Gathering Spiritual Qi" formation on the "Pure Treasure Robe," absorbing all the surrounding spiritual qi into his body.

Unconsciously, he completely immersed himself in his cultivation. He didn't know how long had passed when Su Fan regained his consciousness.

A cold breath spread throughout his body, as if every cell was being stimulated by the cold breath.

His body couldn't help but tremble, and every inch of his flesh and blood exuded a joyful emotion.

"I've made a breakthrough..."

Su Fan opened the panel and let out a sigh of relief.

[Name] Su Fan

[Life Force] 36/92 years

[Realm] Qi Refining Fourth Layer: 1/100

[Cultivation Techniques]

1. Primordial Origin Technique (Rank One): 34/100

2. Cross Training Body Tempering Art (Rank Two): 115/200

3. Heavenly Demon Sacred Body Technique (Rank One): 100/100

4. Ghost Demon Spirit Forging Technique (Rank Two): 13/200

[Techniques]

1. Aura Examination Technique (Proficient): 615/800

2. Light Body Technique (Proficient): 727/800

3. Spirit Concealment Technique (Proficient): 598/800

4. Intent Manifestation Fist (Proficient): 451/800

5. Void Spirit Law (Intermediate): 55/200

6. Corpse Controlling Technique (Intermediate): 47/200

7. Object Controlling Technique (Intermediate): 99/200

8. Nine Extreme Continuous Slashes (Proficient): 523/800

9. Spirit Dispatching Imperial Corpse Technique (Intermediate): 32/200

[Skills]

1. Green Lamp Talisman (Novice): 65/100

2. Evil Expelling Talisman (Advanced): 35/400

3. Water Avoidance Talisman (Intermediate): 105/200

4. Armor Horse Talisman (Intermediate): 95/200

5. Arrow Avoidance Talisman (Intermediate): 158/200

6. Silent Sound Talisman (Intermediate): 110/200

[Divine Abilities]

1. Thunder Law Eye (Advanced): 35/400

2. Thunder Ghost Steps (Advanced): 317/400

Su Fan finally entered the mid-stage of Qi Refining, no longer a low-level cultivator in the cultivation world.

At least in the Little Sun Market, among the numerous independent cultivators, reaching the mid-stage of Qi Refining is considered a middle-level status.

To put it this way, among the tens of thousands of independent cultivators near the market, less than thirty percent have reached the mid-stage, and less than ten percent have reached the late stage.

The majority of independent cultivators are still lingering in the early stage of Qi Refining, and there are many cultivators with white hair.

After breaking through to the mid-stage, Su Fan's dantian expanded significantly, and his spiritual energy increased by nearly twice.

His gaze condensed, and his divine sense quickly spread out to the surroundings, extending to a distance of over sixty zhang before stopping.

Within a radius of two hundred meters, everything was within his grasp.

The transformation of the Thunder Dao Body greatly improved Su Fan's divine sense's lower limit.

Coupled with his daily cultivation of the "Ghost Demon Spirit Forging Technique," his divine sense became even more solid and pure.

Now, Su Fan's divine sense intensity is already comparable to a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator.

Saint Yun, everything is nonsense; cultivation is the foundation.

At this moment, it was already midnight.

Su Fan came to the small courtyard outside and took a deep breath.

The long journey of ten thousand li has finally taken its first step.

He took out the jade scroll from Ye Tianhe and placed it on his forehead.

Technique Imparting Jade Scrolls are usually given by sects, but how could a struggling independent cultivator have such treatment?

A small jade scroll records the complete set of sword techniques through the transmission of spirit, including all the words and images.

After a while, Su Fan put down the jade scroll.

This set of sword techniques is called the "Purple Sky Thundering Sword Technique," which allows one to control the sword with divine sense, making the sword as fast as thunder.

When cultivated to the extreme, with a single thought, the flying sword can instantly kill enemies thousands of miles away.

No wonder Ye Tianhe said it was useless to him; ordinary people simply can't cultivate it.

Perhaps he mistakenly thought that Su Fan could control thunder and lightning, so he gave him the sword technique.

But he didn't know that Su Fan was just a big electric stick.

Moreover, there is a threshold for cultivating this sword technique. One must have a thunder-based flying sword that has been nurtured by thunder for a long time.

Where can he find a thunder-based flying sword?

The flying swords used by sword cultivators are completely different from ordinary Law Weapon flying swords.

Even casually refining a Five Elements flying sword for sword cultivators would cost several times more than a Law Weapon flying sword.

Not to mention the rare thunder-based flying sword, it is difficult to gather the materials for artifact refining alone.

And any Law Treasure related to thunder, ice, wind, and other elements can only be refined by experienced master refiners.

Sword sects with a long heritage like the Purple Sun Sword Faction have their own sword tombs.

When disciples pass away, the flying swords will return to the sword tomb, waiting for new disciples to choose.

Let's put it away for now; after all, he can't cultivate it now.

In the following days, Su Fan stayed at home to consolidate his cultivation.

Now, Su Fan's daily schedule is packed. He practices Primordial Origin Technique twice in the morning and evening, and Ghost Demon Spirit Forging Technique once at night.

Both techniques are the foundation of cultivation, so he never neglects them.

During other times, he mostly practices Nine Extreme Continuous Slashes and Intent Manifestation Fist, and occasionally brushes up on various spells and divine abilities during breaks in cultivation.

In addition to these, he also has to make time to make talismans, so he hardly has any idle time.

Despite this, after entering the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he has been considering whether to learn some middle-grade spells.

Although he has already reached the proficient level in Light Body Technique, Aura Examination Technique, and Spirit Concealment Technique, starting from such a low point, he still feels somewhat unsatisfied without experiencing middle-grade spells.

After careful consideration, Su Fan decided to give it a try.

First, learn a Middle Grade spell and see how it works.

He chose the Middle Grade "Wind Control Technique," which is actually an upgraded version of the Light Body Technique, but its power is not to be underestimated.

Of course, using the "Wind Control Technique" requires a lot more spiritual energy, and the difficulty of learning it has also increased.

Su Fan didn't really care about it. How difficult could it be compared to calculus?

However, he underestimated the difficulty of the Middle Grade spell.

It wasn't until the next day at noon that he couldn't even touch the door.

Su Fan had no idea that the spell books he bought in the market were all common items.

Things like talismans and spells were fine at lower grades, but once it reached Middle Grade, the information recorded in the books became very vague, without any true transmission.

Sects and cultivation families would have dedicated halls for transmitting techniques, with specific people responsible for teaching.

As an independent cultivator, where could he find someone to teach him?

Su Fan could only rely on his own exploration, but after spending so much time, he couldn't even touch the door.

Looking at the "Detailed Explanation of Middle Grade Spells" he bought in the market, he was so angry that his liver hurt.

He spent thirty spirit stones on this useless book.

It's too unfair.

"F*ck it, I'm not learning anymore..."

Su Fan was about to throw the book away, but before he could, someone suddenly appeared in front of him.

It startled him, and he was about to draw his sword, but then he realized it was Ye Tianhe.

"Senior..."

Ye Tianhe nodded but didn't pay him any attention, walking straight towards the house.

"It's okay, you do your thing, I just came to sit for a while..."

Su Fan couldn't help but laugh and cry. You're not being polite at all.

"Senior, please feel free..."

Ye Tianhe didn't turn around, just waved his hand.

"What are you having for lunch? That monster meat from last time was good, do you still have some?"

Su Fan didn't know what to say. He didn't even know whose house this was.

"Yes, I'll steam some later..."

Ye Tianhe nodded in satisfaction. When he was about to enter the house, he turned around.

"By the way, what are you doing?"

"Um... learning a spell..."

"You're a talisman master, why are you learning that stuff? If you have the time, it's better to practice your sword..."

A flash of inspiration struck Su Fan, and he quickly asked, "Senior, do you know the Wind Control Technique?"

Ye Tianhe nodded, puzzled. "Didn't you learn the Wind Control Technique? I saw you use it last time."

"Senior, last time I used the Light Body Technique..."

"What..."

Ye Tianhe stared at Su Fan in confusion.

"You do it again..."

Su Fan nodded, focused his thoughts, and suddenly he felt like a piece of paper, as if being blown by the wind, he floated up.

With a "whoosh," he landed on the wall of the opposite courtyard.

Ye Tianhe was even more confused. What the hell...

You call this the Light Body Technique?

After a while, he finally recovered.

"Okay, if you say it is, then it is..."

Even if it's faster, what about my sword?

Ye Tianhe walked over, took the "Detailed Explanation of Middle Grade Spells" from Su Fan's hand, and casually flipped through it.

Then he looked up, furrowing his brows, and asked, "Where did you buy this book?"

"Um... in the market..."

Ye Tianhe smiled and shook his head, then with a "whoosh," he tore the book apart.

You bastard...

Su Fan's eyes turned red. Those were thirty spirit stones.

Can sword cultivators do whatever they want?

If I could beat you, I would have killed you with a single sword.

Before he could get anxious, Ye Tianhe took out a jade slip from his storage bag and threw it to him.

"Don't read those useless books, they mislead people..."

After saying that, he glanced at Su Fan with disdain on his face and turned back into the house.

Even if it's a low-level spell jade slip like this, you can find it lying on the ground in any small sect.

But even so, sects strictly prohibit these things from flowing into the market.

Of course, sword cultivators are an exception.

They have always looked down on talismans and spells.

(End of this chapter)