Choosing a Technique

The Technique Pavilion was located in the center of the Demon Suppression Division. It was a three-story building that didn't take up much space, and contrary to what one might expect, it wasn't heavily guarded. Instead, it felt quite serene.

Ye Xiaofan followed Li Yan into the Technique Pavilion. Inside, only one drowsy Demon Suppression Guard was resting his chin on his hand, staring blankly.

"Mid-grade techniques are on the second floor. Follow me."

"Normally, the Technique Pavilion is crowded with people. But recently, many of the villages and towns under Qingyang County's jurisdiction have been plagued by demons, so ninety percent of our people are out on missions," Li Yan said with a smile, seeing Ye Xiaofan's curious expression.

Ye Xiaofan nodded and followed him up to the second floor.

Zhang Zhenzhong, who was responsible for registration, heard footsteps and looked up sleepily. His eyes lit up when he saw Li Yan.

"Captain Li, personally bringing a newcomer to collect techniques."

Although Zhang Zhenzhong was speaking to Li Yan, his gaze was fixed on Ye Xiaofan. A newcomer being able to come to the second floor meant they were a genius. And to be personally brought by Li Yan, who was in charge of teaching newcomers, meant they were a genius among geniuses. Leaving a good impression wouldn't hurt. Such a talented newcomer, as long as nothing unexpected happened, would undoubtedly become a pillar of the Demon Suppression Division in the future.

"Not bad. This is Ye Xiaofan, the orphan of General Ye Tianhe. Guess how long it took him to get the hang of the Basic Breathing Technique. If you guess correctly, I'll treat you to a drink," Li Yan said to Zhang Zhenzhong with a smile, clearly on good terms.

"A day?" Zhang Zhenzhong ventured a guess, seeing Li Yan's smug expression.

"Hahaha, wrong. It only took him the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

"What?" Zhang Zhenzhong stared at Ye Xiaofan in disbelief. "You're saying he mastered the Basic Breathing Technique in the time it takes to drink a mouthful of water? This, this..."

"That's right," Li Yan nodded proudly at Zhang Zhenzhong.

"Hoo, it seems Qingyang County is about to produce a genius even more formidable than Lord Left Thousand Households Officer." Zhang Zhenzhong's gaze towards Ye Xiaofan became even more fervent, and he began calculating how to build a good relationship with Ye Xiaofan. He truly yearned for progress. He wasn't even born during the era of the Left Thousand Households Officer, and he hadn't joined the Demon Suppression Division when the Baihu Xiao appeared. Now, he couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.

Ye Xiaofan watched the lifespan on his panel decrease bit by bit, feeling anxious. He needed to choose a technique and cultivate it quickly to detoxify himself. Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Zhenzhong, noticing Ye Xiaofan's urgency to select a technique, chuckled. "Haha, it seems Brother Ye is in a hurry." He stopped chatting with Li Yan and quickly retrieved three leather-bound books from under his desk. One contained breathing techniques, one contained blood qi application techniques, and one contained movement techniques.

"Little Brother Ye, these contain brief introductions to various mid-grade techniques. Once you've chosen, I'll go get them for you."

Ye Xiaofan didn't stand on ceremony and quickly began flipping through them.

Tiger Roaring in the Mountains Breathing Technique: Primarily cultivates the lungs among the five internal organs. The lungs belong to metal. Upon mastery, one's blood qi becomes as fierce as a tiger, extremely strong and yang, increasing the destructive power of blood qi.

Surging Waves Breathing Technique: Primarily cultivates the kidneys among the five internal organs. The kidneys belong to water. Upon mastery, one's blood qi becomes like surging waves, each level higher than the last.

Withered Wood Meets Spring Technique: Primarily cultivates the liver among the five internal organs. The liver belongs to wood. Upon mastery, one's blood qi becomes vigorous with vitality, possessing detoxification effects. With complete mastery, there is a half-percent chance of developing a body immune to poisons.

Seeing the Withered Wood Meets Spring Technique, Ye Xiaofan's eyes lit up, and he immediately decided to cultivate this technique. He then proceeded to look through the blood qi application techniques. Li Yan and Zhang Zhenzhong quietly watched Ye Xiaofan rapidly flip through each page.

Wind and Rain Swordplay: Nine forms and thirty-six moves with endless variations. Upon mastery, the sword momentum is continuous and possesses strong penetration.

Void-Breaking Slash: Three forms and nine moves with broad and powerful saber momentum, unmatched in courage. Upon mastery, the saber strikes are accompanied by thunderous sounds.

Mountain-Collapsing Fist: Three forms and eighteen moves. The fist strikes drive the power of blood qi. The fist strikes are like heavens collapsing and earth cracking, unstoppable by enemies, unblockable by mountains. Upon mastery, the sound of the fist is like roaring thunder.

Sword Drawing Technique: No forms, no moves. Once a sword is drawn, it transforms endlessly. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the strengths of various sword arts to achieve success. The more sword arts mastered, the higher the grade, and the greater the power of the Sword Drawing Technique. Its upper limit is unknown.

The phrase "its upper limit is unknown" was enough for Ye Xiaofan to decide to cultivate the Sword Drawing Technique.

Swallow's Three Dips in Water: Utilizes leverage to leap and dart, with a body as light and swift as a swallow. Upon mastery, one can use leverage to leap nine zhang (about 30 meters) further with three consecutive uses.

Wind God Steps: As fast as a hurricane, leaving no trace on snow. Upon mastery, one can use the wind to traverse nine zhang (about 30 meters) in the air.

"Captain Zhang, I've made my choices," Ye Xiaofan said, putting down the movement technique book and looking at Zhang Zhenzhong.

"Oh, you mean it."

Zhang Zhenzhong took out a wooden plaque and picked up a brush, looking at Ye Xiaofan.

"Withered Wood Meets Spring Technique, Sword Drawing Technique, Wind God Steps."

Zhang Zhenzhong paused when he heard "Sword Drawing Technique."

"Young Brother Ye, although the Sword Drawing Technique is only a mid-grade technique, mastering it can be comparable to a top-grade technique. However, cultivating this sword technique requires understanding and integrating other sword techniques, making it extremely difficult to practice. Have you considered it carefully?"

"I'll go with the Sword Drawing Technique."

The matter of spending silver was trivial, and the difficulty of cultivation was not an issue.

Zhang Zhenzhong and Li Yan exchanged a glance and said nothing more.

Zhang Zhenzhong recorded it in the files. After Ye Xiaofan made the Great Dao Oath according to the rules, vowing not to spread the techniques, he took three books from the shelf and handed them to Ye Xiaofan.

"Young Brother Ye, you cannot take the techniques out of the Technique Pavilion. You have one month to study them here without needing merit points. This plaque is your proof of receipt, so don't lose it."

Ye Xiaofan nodded and took the wooden plaque. "Thank you, Captain Zhang."

"Xiaofan, this is your credential for the Pill Treasure Pavilion. You can collect three Blood Qi Pills and one Hundred-Forged Treasure Sword. I'll be going now. If you have any problems, feel free to find me."

After seeing Li Yan off, Ye Xiaofan found a private booth and began to read the three techniques.

With his system, he only needed to quickly browse through them.

Time trickled by.

As Ye Xiaofan was browsing the breathing techniques, his body suddenly trembled. His internal organs chimed in unison, and strands of blood qi, as thin as a strand of hair, flowed from his heart. Ye Xiaofan felt a warmth spread through his body, as if a heavy burden that had been pressing on him had been halved.

Ye Xiaofan quickly looked at his status panel.

[Lifespan: 2 hours (Severely Poisoned) (Weakly Suppressed)]

[Realm: None (0.1/100)]

[Technique: Basic Breathing Technique (Minute Perfection 0/400)]

He saw that the Basic Breathing Technique had already reached Minute Perfection. His lifespan, which had dropped to 1.9 hours, instantly increased by 0.1 hours back to two hours at the moment the Basic Breathing Technique reached Minute Perfection.

"It seems that blood qi can suppress the toxins in my body, and the quality of the blood qi I cultivated is comparable to a low-grade technique."

Generally, the first strand of blood qi cultivated by a low-grade technique was as thick as a strand of hair, a mid-grade technique was two strands, a high-grade technique was three strands, and a top-grade technique was six strands, with variations depending on individual talent.

A smile appeared on Ye Xiaofan's face, and the tension that had been gripping him eased slightly.

He could temporarily suppress the toxins in his body, which gave him more time to cultivate.

He had originally planned to finish reading the Withered Wood Meets Spring Technique and then go back to cultivate.

Now, he decided to read all three techniques.

An hour later, Ye Xiaofan put down the Sword Drawing Technique.

His status panel flashed with three red prompts.

[Discovered Withered Wood Meets Spring Technique, do you wish to spend 1000 taels of silver to simplify the technique?]

[Discovered Wind God Steps, do you wish to spend 1000 taels of silver to simplify the technique?]

[Discovered Sword Drawing Technique, do you wish to spend 1000 taels of silver to simplify the technique?]

Looking at the prompts, Ye Xiaofan's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Simplifying a mid-grade technique actually cost 1000 taels of silver, which was enough to buy 10 Blood Qi Pills and enough for a cultivator below the fourth level of Body Refinement to cultivate for three months.

"Fortunately, there's the 1000 taels of compensation from my father, Ye Tianhe, otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to get money."

"Since I've received your family's favor, I will definitely avenge you when I have enough strength."

Ye Xiaofan shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions. For now, the person who poisoned him in secret would surely make another move if they saw him alive and kicking. He had to get stronger as quickly as possible.

During Ye Xiaofan's time in the Technique Pavilion, the news of him mastering the Basic Breathing Technique in an instant spread throughout the entire Demon Suppression Division.

Along the way, people he knew and didn't know kept greeting him.

Just as Ye Xiaofan finished collecting the Blood Qi Pills and the Hundred-Forged Treasure Sword, a Demon Suppression Guard found him.

"Ye Xiaofan, Vice Commander Sun wishes to see you. Please come with me."

Vice Commander Sun, who was Sun Chenyu's father, made Ye Xiaofan feel a hint of vigilance. In his memory, this person had vied for the position of Vice Commander with Ye Tianhe and ultimately won. He was no longer the ignorant child he once was. Sun Chenyu had always targeted him, and Ye Xiaofan wouldn't believe otherwise.

"May I ask what Vice Commander Sun wants with me?"

The person who came shook his head and didn't say anything more.