Coordination

Bing Li, True Disciple Elder of the Ice Court?

Su Bai's expression remained calm and composed as he replied in a flat tone, "The Academy Master is overthinking it. There are no secrets between Elder Bing Li and me that need to be concealed; it's just ordinary cultivation exchanges and old agreements."

He naturally remembered this Eldest Senior Sister from the Ice Court.

Three years ago, not long after the Inner Sect Grand Competition concluded, she took the initiative to seek me out and bluntly proposed to explore the possibility of integrating Cultivation Method, using "Dual Cultivation Mutual Verification" as a starting point.

She was willing to pay the price just to have Su Bai fight her junior brother Zhao Hanshuang, whose Dao Heart had been broken, and to help him break free from his Heart Demon.

Unfortunately, Zhao Hanshuang seemed to be deeply mired in self-doubt at the time, and was unable to regain her composure and take the initiative to fulfill her promise.

Not long after, Su Bai set off for the Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm, a place cut off from the world. Three years passed without any word from him.

Now that Su Bai has returned after achieving Foundation Establishment, his identity is completely different.

Unless Zhao Hanshuang can also create a miracle in these three years and cross that insurmountable barrier to advance to the Foundation Establishment, the natural gap caused by the difference in their cultivation levels makes a fair fight between the two extremely unlikely.

As for whether Zhao Hanshuang's Dao Heart can be rebuilt?

In Su Bai's view, those were tribulations on someone else's path of cultivation. External forces might be able to give them a push, but whether they could ultimately overcome them depended on their own hearts.

He didn't worry about it much.

At this moment, the most important thing occupying Su Bai's mind was another plan that concerned the very foundation of his own Dao Path.

Copy the Yellow Tier Sword Dao Talent [Sword Enlightenment Root] from Academy Master Xu Shangran!

The [Nine Heavens Sword Soul Art] is Top Grade Sword Cultivator Cultivation Method that directly leads to the Golden Core Dao. Its profound and mysterious nature makes its cultivation extremely difficult.

Without exceptionally high Sword Dao Talent, it would take a very long time to even begin to understand and master the art.

The terrifying boost of "2000% speed in learning Sword Dao Divine Ability" granted by [Sword Enlightenment Root] is the perfect key to quickly mastering this technique and laying an unparalleled foundation in swordsmanship.

In comparison, while Su Bai's own [Clear Heart Sword Intent] 1000% increase is already quite remarkable, its efficiency is still twice as low.

Such differences can be amplified to the point of affecting Dao Path when cultivating Top Grade Cultivation Method.

Moreover, the [Immortal Talent Reflection] ability has been idle for quite some time since it was refreshed last year.

Currently, there are no other special Spirit Root or Talent within the sect that urgently need to Copy.

At this moment, attacking Xu Shangran and Copy his [Sword Enlightenment Root] technique is undoubtedly the most cost-effective and suitable choice for our current needs.

Su Bai had already carefully examined Xu Shangran Shangran's Talent Interface using [Survey] several years ago. In just a few years, it was impossible for it to have undergone any fundamental changes. Therefore, there was no need to test it again this time; he could simply Copy.

With his mind made up, Su Bai's expression turned solemn. He took half a step back, bowed deeply in Xu Shangran's direction, and performed a very solemn salute.

"Disciple Su Bai's achievements in Foundation Establishment and his glimpse into the basics of Sword Dao are entirely due to the Academy Master's Sword Dao, meticulous instruction, and tireless cultivation."

"I owe my success in this cultivation to the Academy Master!"

Su Bai bowed formally, performing a deep salute.

This ritual was partly for the purpose of Copy physical contact, and partly came from the heart.

There's no way around it; Cultivator are used to using Object Manipulation Technique to receive items, so opportunities for physical contact are really rare.

Xu Shangran tried to use his Spiritual Power to make Su Bai straighten up, but Su Bai had already anticipated Xu Shangran's actions, so Xu Shangran quickly discovered that Su Bai, who had already advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm, did not move an inch.

So he stepped forward and personally helped Su Bai up... "There's really no need for that..."

Su Bai then stood up, seizing the opportunity to activate his Copy ability. "Copy Court Master Xu's Sword Dao Talent [Sword Enlightenment Root]..."

The Immortal Talent Reflection will activate immediately!

[Selected target Sword Dao Talent ' Sword Enlightenment Root ' to Copy...]

[Copy successful. Target Sword Dao Talent: Sword Enlightenment Root has been Copy.]

[This Sword Dao Talent overlaps with the host's existing Sword Dao Talent ' Clear Heart Sword Intent '. It can be reconciled and displayed as the same Talent. Reconcile?]

Coordination and integration are not the same thing.

Previously, Ice Attribute Spell and Divine Ability could be fused because the differences between the two were not significant.

Furthermore, after the fusion, the new Beyond Third-tier showed a significant increase in power.

However, Clear Heart Sword Intent and Sword Enlightenment Root are clearly completely different Sword Dao Talent, so they can only be coordinated and not merged.

There will be no increase after coordination; it will simply be a summary of the effects of the two Yellow Tier Talent.

"Let's coordinate it a bit, so the interface is clearer," Su Bai decided after a moment's thought.

[Coordination successful!]

Coordinate with the new Sword Dao Talent [Clear Heart Enlightenment Root]!

[Clear Heart Enlightenment Root]: Increases the speed of learning Sword Dao Divine Ability by 2000%, grants innate Sword Qi of Sword Dao Divine Ability, Power Increase of Sword Heart by 100%, and allows for preliminary foresight of surrounding dangers through sword heart. After learning Sword Dao Divine Ability, wisdom root has a chance to improve the Divine Ability, and with the right opportunity, one can create Swordsmanship.

Su Bai felt a sudden clarity in his mind, and the [Nine Heavens Sword Soul Art] he had read before became even clearer.

With Xu Shangran's help, he straightened up, his face still showing gratitude. "Propriety cannot be disregarded. The Academy Master has shown me great kindness. Su Bai can only repay even a fraction of this kindness by diligently cultivating and improving, and by using the sword in his hand to bring glory to the family."

Xu Shangran had no suspicions, believing Su Bai to be loyal and righteous, and was overjoyed. He patted Su Bai on the shoulder and said repeatedly, "Good, good! It's best that you have this intention!"

The three of them talked for a while longer under the Clear and Cold moonlight.

Xu Shangran briefly mentioned the recent situations of several promising talents added to the Sword Academy in the past three years, such as Hong Yi and Jin Yangsheng, some noteworthy rumors inside and outside the sect, as well as Zhao Shanhe's performance during his tenure Chief and some minor adjustments to the daily operations of the Sword Academy.

Su Bai then bid farewell to the Academy Master, leaped up, and returned to his cave at Qingyun Cliff to begin his secluded cultivation.

The most urgent task is to master the Main Cultivation Method.

Su Bai glided silently toward Qingyun Cliff and disappeared into the palace in an instant.

Qingyun Cliff, a Quiet Chamber cave dwelling.

The stone gate closed with a rumble, preventing the flow of light and isolating it from external interference.

Su Bai sat cross-legged on the Prayer Mat without pausing, immediately immersing his mind in the Jade Slip containing the [Nine Heavens Sword Soul Art].

With the blessing of [Clear Heart Enlightenment Root], Su Bai's efficiency in comprehending the basic Spiritual Power circulation of this technique reached an unbelievable level.

The exquisite diagrams in the Jade Slip seemed to come alive in his eyes, disassembling and reassembling on their own.

It quickly matched his own Spiritual Power characteristics.

At many crucial points, he could even intuitively "see" more than one feasible scheme for fine-tuning the flow of Spiritual Power, and could roughly judge its advantages and disadvantages.

In just over ten days, the slowly rotating liquid Spiritual Spring within his body had completely transformed from the residual inertia of the "Radiant Qi Refining Technique" into a brand-new cyclical system of the "Nine Heavens Sword Soul Art," imbued with a hint of innate sharpness.

The moment the transformation of the Cultivation Method was completed, the most direct feeling was twofold: first, the overall efficiency of absorbing Refinement external Spiritual Qi increased by about 30%; second, the Spiritual Power itself seemed to become lighter, and its circulation became more agile and swift. With a thought, the speed at which Spiritual Power burst forth was slightly faster than before.

With a solid foundation, the next step is to cultivate the core Divine Ability corresponding to the Foundation Establishment Realm of this technique, which is also the foundation of the entire Sword Art.

First layer, [Initial Sword Soul Condensation].

The so-called "Sword Phantasm" is a true seed of the Sword Dao that Sword Cultivator cultivator condenses by using his supreme Sword Dao Will, pure Qi and Blood and spirit as fuel, drawing on the Earth Veins's metal energy as a furnace, and refining it a thousand times in the depths of his dantian and spiritual sea. It is formless and intangible, yet real and True Seed.

It is not a physical flying sword, but it is the source of the increased power of all Sword Dao Divine Ability, the bridge to the great sword path in the the Unseen, and the foundation for the future sublimation of Sword Intent and the condensation of Sword Soul.

To cultivate this method, one must rely on external aids, namely, rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures containing pure Earth Veins metal energy.

The piece of Geng Metal that Xu Shangran gave him was Upper Grade treasure of this kind. It was the essence crystallized from the Earth Veins metal energy after tens of thousands of years of precipitation, and it was an excellent item to help condense the Sword Phantasm.

On this day, Su Bai adjusted himself to Peak where his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were completely at their best.

He took out the fist-sized piece of Geng Metal and placed it steadily in the abdomen corresponding to the Dantian Sea of Qi.

He then abandoned all distracting thoughts, gathered all his Consciousness like rivers flowing into the sea, and sank it into the slowly rotating Chaos Spiritual Spring in his dantian.

Following the Method Formula, he carefully manipulated a wisp of extremely pure Liquid True Essence, slowly peeling away a corner of the Spiritual Power seal that enveloped the Geng Metal.

"Laugh--!"

A subtle yet refined aura of Geng Metal Qi, its color a pure platinum, suddenly burst forth like a ferocious beast released from its cage after being imprisoned for millennia, surging into Su Bai's dantian and spiritual sea!

"Hmph!" Su Bai's body trembled violently, his face turned deathly pale, and veins on his forehead bulged faintly.

An indescribable, excruciating pain instantly swept over me!

The moment that Geng Metal Qi entered the dantian, it was as if a red-hot iron caltrop was forcibly stuffed into the most delicate and tender organ!

It wasn't just the sharp pain of being frantically pierced and penetrated on the Spiritual Power level; at the same time, a sharp sensation that seemed to freeze and tear the Consciousness apart erupted, reaching deep into the soul!

A tearing, throbbing pain shot through my lower abdomen, a mix of agony that nearly made me faint.

The scene before my eyes was blurry, my ears were ringing, and I could hardly breathe.

Su Bai gritted his teeth and, relying on the extraordinary focus and unwavering will brought by [Clear Heart Enlightenment Root], forcibly stabilized his almost collapsing mind. Following the profound methods recorded in [Initial Sword Soul Condensation], he began to guide this wisp of violent Geng Metal Qi.

Time stretches out infinitely amidst pain and focused concentration.

After cultivating for just over an hour, Su Bai was already drenched in sweat, his clothes were completely soaked, and his face was as pale as paper.

Even with Su Bai's willpower, he had no choice but to pause his cultivation and rest for half a day before resuming it.

"Although the cultivation process is painful, the results are remarkable. This is only my first time cultivating, but I can already clearly feel the changes in my Spiritual Power, and the Sword Qi I generate is much stronger."

Su Bai formed Sword Art with his hands, and the Sword Qi on the Azure Dragon Sword flashed and disappeared.

"If I were to truly condense Sword Phantasm, few Cultivator of the same level should be able to withstand a single strike from me..."

Moreover, after condensing the Sword Phantasm, Su Bai can unleash Sword Qi solely through the conversion of Spiritual Power, without needing a magic sword.

Based on the current progress, Su Bai felt he still had a good chance of successfully condensing the Sword Phantasm before the Geng Metal was completely consumed.

Su Bai then took out another Golden Marrow Pill and swallowed it.

After Refinement the medicinal power, I couldn't feel any fluctuations in the Spiritual Power within my body.

These Spirit Pills, meant for the Late Qi Refining realm, are completely ineffective against Foundation Establishment Cultivator whose Spiritual Power has already liquefied.

"It seems I still need to make a trip to the Inner Sect Grand Hall to exchange the remaining Contribution Points for Spirit Pills to solidify my Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation."